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E DIToRIAL:
The ancient art of networking by Patrick Flannery
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The 2013 Ram
Our summer truck review takes a look at Ram’s big upgrade to its Pentastar V6.
10
President’s Message
Take time to make time with effective time management. by Ed Dwyer
12
Well connected
Success in the family business is only the first step for Rentshop’s James Morden.
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Lifting safely
Help your customers get more out of your miniexcavators with these safe lifting tips.
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Legalese
The devil’s in the details when it comes to contractual agreements. by Deryk Coward
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Armoured up
Innovations in tire protection can protect your customers’ productivity.
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Compact excavator showcase Our look at the small but powerful.
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The Back Page
Beware of letting customers down once you have set a high standard. by Kizer and Bender
The ancient art of networking
Some cultures have been thinking about business relationships a lot longer than ours has.
The Chinese have a word, guanxi, that is hard to define in English but forms one of the most important concepts in Chinese society and business. It refers to how connected a person is to other people and to an entire network of peers and acquaintances. But it is not just about knowing people. It is about how well you know them and the depth of your experience with them.
It is a measure of personal connection, not of formal relationships like marriage or employment. It is not necessarily connected to wealth, power or social status. Someone who employs thousands of workers could have less guanxi than one of those workers.
Guanxi measures a person’s influence in terms of how obligated others will feel to help that person or do favours for him or her and, by the same token, how obligated that person will be to the others in his or her network. Guanxi is a bit like the Western idea of charisma or popularity, but more serious and not so related to an inherent personal quality. It is always a two-way street; no one accumulates guanxi without giving some to someone else. Failing
ON THE WEB:
NER expands into Canada
National Equipment Register has made its way into Canada in an effort to further combat the issue of equipment theft in North America. The program was launched in Canada on July 1, and theft summits have been ongoing across the country.
Ammann launches new line of paving equipment
At a recent event in Barrie, Peter Price and the Canadian Ammann team launched the Ammann paving equipment lineup. Up to 50 contractors, equipment dealers and industry analysts attended the full-day event staged at the Barrie facility of McDowell Equipment, one of Ammann’s two Ontario distributors.
Rothwell becomes director of business development at Talbert Gerald Rothwell is the newly appointed director of business development at Talbert Manufacturing. Rothwell is an industry veteran with more than 22 years of inside/outside sales and dealer development experience.
by Patrick Flannery
to acknowledge one’s guanxi relationship to another person is a serious breach of etiquette.
Like most basic concepts, guanxi takes a long time to explain, but now that you have read about it, you probably realize it is something you have understood innately for a long time. And you can probably think of people who have great guanxi and are experts at accumulating more.
This issue’s cover profile is about one such person and the company he runs. James Morden is one of those rare people who actually enjoy politics. Meetings, conferences, receptions, dinners – Morden dives in knowing that every conversation he has, every hand he shakes, increases his guanxi and empowers him to meet his personal goals. Again, it probably is not something Morden ever thinks about consciously, but maybe his story will inspire you to think a little bit about your own guanxi and what you can do to improve it.
We bid a fond adieu (or maybe just an au revoir) to George’s Corner, our back-page column by ABCO general operations manager, George Olah. George has bowed out citing a crazy workload, which is something we all can relate to. I want to personally thank George for all his insightful and entertaining contributions. For now, I’ll be using the Back Page to print interesting, informative and entertaining items I find in my travels around the industry and the Internet. This month, you will find an interesting perspective on customer perception from the popular customer service gurus, Kizer and Bender. In it, they show how great service can actually hurt your reputation with customers…if things are allowed to slide. Since the rental business is a service business first and foremost, I know everyone will benefit from this reminder about the importance of service quality on every visit.
You will find good advice coming from all quarters in this issue. CRA president Ed Dwyer shares his thoughts on time management in his President’s Message on page 10. Once Ed has whetted your appetite to save time and money, we will follow up in September with our showcase of cutting-edge software solutions from the biggest names in the business. Don’t miss it! CRS
FLANNERY IN CHARGE
United Rentals has announced the appointment of Matt Flannery as executive vicepresident and chief operating officer, effective with the closing of the company’s merger with RSC Holdings announced on April 30. He previously served as executive vice-president of operations and sales, and leads the RSC integration process.
Flannery brings more than two decades of industry experience to his new position, including seven years with McClinch Equipment, an acquisition of United Rentals in 1998. From 1998 to 2008, he held management positions with United Rentals at the branch, district, regional and national levels, including senior vice-president of operations.
Michael Kneeland, chief executive officer of United Rentals, said, “Matt understands every nuance of our business, as well as our customers and markets. Over the past four years, he has helped drive our strategy and guide our operations through the economic downturn. Most recently, he has been instrumental in preparing for our landmark combination with RSC, and will continue to play a key role in that transition. We are delighted to welcome him to his expanded role on our leadership team.”
THE RENTAL SHOW CRACKS THE TSNN TOP 100
Trade Show News Network has released its latest TSNN Top 250 Trade Show rankings of the largest shows in the U.S. for 2011. The Rental Show was number 99. The TSNN rankings are based on net square footage of exhibit space. The Rental Show 2011 took place Feb. 27 to March 2 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The trade show occupied 219,400 net square feet of exhibit space. There were 610 exhibiting companies.
Las Vegas was the most popular city on the TSNN Top 250, with 55 shows held there including the top two – ConExpo-Con/Agg and the International Consumer Electronics Show.
February and March tied for second on the list of busiest months in 2011, with 28 shows in each. January ranked first with 32 shows.
TSNN is a leading online resource for the trade show, exhibition and event industry. Its website, TSNN.com, owns and operates an event database that contains data about more than 19,500 trade shows, exhibitions, public events and conferences. This is the second year for the TSNN Top 250 Trade Show rankings.
CANADIANS LAND ARA AND CRA SCHOLARSHIPS
The educational goals of three Canadian students just became a little easier to achieve, thanks to ARA Foundation and affiliate scholarships awarded for the 2012/2013 academic year. The recipients are selected by the ARA Foundation scholarship committee. There were 29 scholarship winners in total. The Canadian winners are: Melanie Cougle of Perfect Party Place in Bowmanville, Ont., Laura Snell of NJS Design Event and Party Rentals in Clinton, Ont., and Peter Van Staveren of Stayner Rental in Stayner, Ont.
“The winners, who were selected during an anonymous screening of applications, were awarded these scholarships based on their academic success, leadership, rental industry involvement, written essays on rental-related questions and references,” says Jenni Venema, ARA Foundation director of development. “Many received multiple scholarships, ranging from $500 to $3,000, which will go a long way in helping them pursue their education related to the equipment rental industry.”
Cougle won an ARA Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships worth $2,000 and the Dorothy Wellnitz Scholarship worth $1,000. Snell took home the Doug Mitchell Scholarship worth $1,000 as well as an ARA Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship. Van Staveren received an ARA Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship.
The ARA Foundation is a philanthropic organization supporting the equipment rental industry since 1976.
EVENTS
July 14
CRA Atlantic Summer Social and Golf Stanley Bridge, P.E.I. 8 www.crarental.org
G.C. Duke Equipment has announced it has been appointed the Canadian distributor for Monster Power Equipment. Monster Power Equipment manufactures high-quality, truck-mounted, leaf and debris loaders in several configurations along with a very high-quality, stainless steel, push sand/salt drop spreader. Monster will also be introducing a complete line of walk-behind blowers in time for summer. No matter what customers require when it comes to leaf/debris loaders, from an offthe-shelf, 14-horsepower tailgate model to a 35-horsepower tow-behind or a custom-built, 20-cubic-yard, 100-horsepower model, G.C. Duke and Monster Power Equipment say they can supply. G.C. Duke maintains a full complement of parts and support staff to help rental operators service their customers.
NEW EVENT HORIZONS
Luxe Rentals, a Montreal-based modern event furniture rental company, and Location Gervais , an event rental provider that has operated in Quebec since 1919, have joined forces to become one of Quebec’s largest and most diverse event resources. The combined companies own over 100,000 square feet of warehouse space with constantly updated inventory and the ability to cater to clients large or small, traditional or modern.
The Haute Coutellerie collection of modern and innovative tabletop rentals, designed and assembled by Luxe creative director Charles Kay, will be available through Gervais this fall. A play on words from “haute couture,” this new brand features sleek, polished, stainless steel platters and serving utensils from Italy, Laguiole knives from France, flatware from Portugal, leadfree crystal from Austria and fine bone China, all with a whimsical twist on shape, detail and finish. The collection includes sushi conveyors, made-infront-of-the-guest gelato makers, Mongolian grills and dual-colour cascading chocolate fountains. The company hopes the new line, coupled with Gervais’ reputation for reliability and service established over the last 93 years, will turn Luxe and Gervais into a one-stop shop for event rentals.
Luxe and Gervais look forward to exceeding the expectations of their clients with selection, quality, service and competitive pricing. The sales department, led by Brian Harris from Luxe and Bertrand Cote from Gervais, say they are ready to cater to the clients’ every need.
FOREMAN OFFERS KOMPTECH
Komptech USA has added a new partner to its network. Foreman Equipment is now the authorized Komptech equipment distributor for British Columbia and the Yukon, offering local sales, parts and service support for the complete Komptech product line. Foreman has been a distributor of Powerscreen crushing and screening equipment for more than 25 years and joins a list of other Powerscreen dealers that also represent Komptech equipment.
“We are excited to have Foreman Equipment as our new partner”, said Todd Dunderdale, sales director for Komptech. “Having a local dealer in Canada makes business so much easier across country lines. Plus with Foreman’s longstanding customer relationships, we can really hit the ground running.” Komptech already has customers in B.C. and they can now be serviced by a local dealer.
With locations throughout British Columbia, Foreman Equipment is one of Western Canada’s leading suppliers of quality screening, crushing, roadbuilding and now recycling equipment. The company carries over $1 million in parts inventory at its main warehouse in Abbotsford, B.C., in order to provide local support to keep its customers up and running profitably.
EULISS WORKING WITH ALLEN
Jay Allen, president of Allen Engineering, has announced that Roger Euliss has been appointed to the newly created position of sales director for the company. In this position, Euliss will be responsible for growing Allen’s business in both the domestic equipment rental industry and the global equipment sales market.
Euliss will also continue as president of Equipment Synergy International, which is a manufacturer and distributor of small- to medium-sized construction equipment including light compaction equipment, concrete placing and finishing machines, concrete cutters, de-watering pumps, portable generators and related specialized equipment. Prior to founding ESI, Euliss was president and COO of Multiquip, where he served the equipment rental industry for over 28 years.
Allen and Euliss also announced, effective July 1, the formation of a joint marketing agreement between Allen and ESI designed to help both companies grow their equipment presence in the important domestic construction equipment rental market. Allen and ESI will be sharing some of their sales and marketing resources under this agreement to grow market share.
Allen Engineering is headquartered in Paragould, Ark.
Your customers will think you walk on water.
With a single set of Versalite decks and interchangeable legs of different lengths, you can create just about any staging setup you can imagine in no time. Versalite goes up without pins, tools or separate assemblies. Just slip the legs into the sockets and tighten them into place with a few quick turns. You can choose from a variety of flooring options that won’t curl or peel and provide excellent traction even when wet. It’s the all-in-one system that doesn’t compromise strength, durability or ease of setup. And the classic styling and clean, simple lines make it appropriate for any venue or event.
NEW ¼-round decks and NEW surface options
NEW leg pocket design for faster, sturdier setup
by ED DWYER, CRA PRESIDENT
TAKE YOUR TIME
Good time management is making your association more effective.
Time is our most precious gift. To make the best use of it we need to use good time management skills. Time management is critical to running a successful business while having a personal life at the same time. Although we cannot actually create time, we can put ourselves in control by managing our time. Time management means planning and setting aside a certain amount of time to get things done. Today in the rental industry we have many different projects going on at once. We cannot focus on any one project and forget about everything else. We have to be able to multitask and manage our time to be successful.
At our CRA national head office, time management is very important with a staff of two to run our growing organization. To free up time for our staff to deal with the day-to-day concerns of our members we are outsourcing and using technology. Over the past year we have outsourced our payroll to a payroll service that is very cost effective; they do direct deposits, keep all the records and save a few man-hours. As well, our financials are now prepared and reviewed by an outside bookkeeper on a monthly basis.
We have purchased Ipads to loan to our national board members to use during their terms. These Ipads will be loaded up with such things as our meeting books. We can now email updates or changes to the books. Our office will not have to spend countless hours putting together sixteen binders and we will save the expense of couriering them all over Canada twice per year. We have also purchased a new trade show registration program called Cvent to manage our events. Getting started involves a lot of hours setting up, but that time will pay off in time savings for our CRA office starting next year and every year after.
Ed Dwyer owns and operates C & T Rentals in Winnipeg, Man. He is past president of the Manitoba Rental Association and also an active member of TAB (The Alternative Board).
Another way we can be efficient in time management is to hold regular meetings with key people in our organizations and delegate tasks to the people best able to do them. A team approach is very effective in time management. There should be an agenda prepared and a secretary to take the notes at all meetings. Unfinished business can be rolled over to the next meeting and everybody should leave the meeting with a job to get done. The secretary should send the minutes of the meeting and the objectives to all the participants as soon as possible afterwards. At your CRA, this is the approach we are taking. Our Website, Membership, Trade Show, Social Media/Advertising, Policy and Procedures and Executive Committees are all active and doing great things for the association with new and exciting ideas. Our executive director, Mandy Wellnitz, creates the agenda and records the minutes to keep all of our committees on track.
Another time management tool is technology. Little things, like having all your messages emailed or texted to you instead of having bits of paper and sticky notes all over your desk, or having and using your smart phone to answer some of your emails and messages right away, can save a lot of time and preserve a written copy of your responses. You will not have to worry about losing your messages.
If you are not into technology, then making a written checklist of things you have to get done and keeping it handy is the key to being organized. There is a great feeling of accomplishment when you get to check something off your to-do list. Also setting aside a dedicated time to work on different projects is very effective, for example Mandy has now set aside each Wednesday morning to work on our CRA website. If you see a problem on our website, let her know.
Freedom from your business is very important in time management. Taking time away from your business to spend with your family is very important. To do this, you may have to delegate some of your responsibilities to other people. This is good for team building, and you may find that you are not as important to your business as you think you are, which I think is a good thing. As my business coach from The Alternative Board constantly reminds me, “The more you work in your business, the less it is worth.” As a business owner, I feel it is my responsibility and goal to structure my business so it can run without me. CRS
WELL CONNECTED
Rentshop president James Morden knows the value of association and collaboration.
At the relatively young age of 36, James Morden has taken over Rentshop, his father, Paul’s, thriving rental operation in Alliston, Ont. Rentshop is going strong thanks to its established position in the community and the steady leadership of Morden and longtime employees Janet Pacini and Ken Laver. But Morden has his sights set on an even loftier goal.
by PATRICK FLANNERY
Rentshop occupies about an acre of land right off Highway 89 on the way into Alliston from the 400, the main route south to Toronto. It is an Echo dealership as well as an Air Liquide distributor. Morden services such brands as Ariens, Husqvarna, MTD and Bobcat, renting landscaping and light construction equipment to local homeowners and small contractors. He is a repair depot for MTD, as well. Rentshop is also a fully accredited industrial gas and welding supply shop, James’ father, Paul Morden, started the company 27 years ago, hitting the timing right on the head as Honda opened its Alliston car assembly plant the very next year. Today, the $2.6 billion plant produces seven Honda models, including the Civic, and Alliston has more than doubled in size. Renting equipment to the Honda construction effort was a major source of growth in the company’s early years, and providing gas and welding supplies has been a steady source of revenue ever since. Rentshop employs five full-time staff and three part timers in the summer. It serves an area of about 30 kilometres around Alliston, which is a community of 11,000 about an hour’s drive north of Toronto. Counting the surrounding area, Morden figures Rentshop serves about 50,000 people. Morden is alone in the rental business in Alliston itself, which has allowed him and his father to establish a great position in the market. But threats still exist. “Fifteen
years ago, Alliston was much smaller and everything was word-of-mouth,” Morden says, explaining his approach to the local market. “Now the town is twice the size and there is less awareness of who we are and what we do. Plus, there are seven big shops in Barrie, including the national chains, so we aren’t immune to competition any more.” In response, Morden has worked hard to maintain Rentshop’s profile in the community. He has a large billboard on the outskirts of town. He is something of a social media guru, and uses Facebook, Twitter and other social media to keep the store top of mind.
WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY
Sponsorships and community involvement are also a big part of Morden’s promotional strategy. One thing he is particularly proud of is the company’s 20-year history of sponsoring an award for the student at the local high school who graduates with the highest marks in welding. The Gas Shop Welding award gives the winning student a welding starter kit Morden calls Top Of The Class that includes a jacket, a welding helmet, respiratory protection and other safety gear, all in a convenient package. Rentshop also helped out the Canadian Rental Association’s promotional efforts by donating equipment to Bryan Baeumler’s House of Bryan II shoot in the cottage country nearby. Morden’s aerial lifts had to be driven in on a
Through hard work and dedication to the association, Morden has landed some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, including the 2010 CRA Rental Person of the Year award seen here.
flatbed on roads you could barely get the truck down, then loaded from a sandy beach onto a barge and rafted out to the build site. The cost, and risk to the equipment, was considerable, but Morden was willing to go there in order to get the benefit to his shop and the association.
There is a good reason why community participation and active involvement in associations are part of Morden’s strategy. Morden took over Rentshop in 2006 after graduating with a political science
degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Asked how he decided to get into the family business, he says, “I fought it for quite a while. I went to university and when I came out in 2001, it didn’t seem as bad as it did before. Plus, I am interested in politics and what better way to get involved in the business community is there than to run this shop?”
ASSOCIATION AMBITIONS
Morden’s interest in politics is evident from his track record at the CRA. It
seems as if he is everywhere, and not just because of the infamous cardboard cutouts known as Flat James. Morden has already risen through the chairs of the Ontario local and is now chairman of the provincial association. He is also the national director for Ontario and sits on a number of national commitees. He oversees the CRA’s social media and online strategies. His work and friendships in the association have already won him the Ontario Rental Professional of the Year award in 2005,
COVER
the CRA’s Rental Person of the Year award for 2010, and Rentshop the Region 10 Award from the American Rental Association. Morden makes no secret of his goal to one day be elected the national CRA president.
About the association, Morden says there is developmental work to be done, but things are going in the right direction. He says the reformed committee structure is allowing the executive group to “divide and conquer,” and gives members more long-term interest in the association’s activities. “The association is on a good track right now,” he says. “Each committee chair is in charge of something he really likes and is interested in.” Morden is proud of his work in the associations to encourage more young rental operators to get involved and to increase the CRA’s digital profile.
Thinking about issues facing the rental industry today, Morden worries that 2012 may not turn out to be the bullish year of growth that many Canadian rental operators were hoping for. “We all thought the rental industry was going to go great guns this year, but it has been slower. We expected better,” he says. “The year started out strong with the warm March, and May was actually really good, but June has been slower.” Morden has quite a bit of iron in the yard right now, and hopes things will get moving again soon.
He would like to see the CRA work closely with other associations to help rental operators with complicated regulatory requirements, such as those facing propane distributors. He says there was a tough time of playing catchup when the Technical Standards and Safety Authority tightened regulations in the wake of the Sunrise Propane explosion in Toronto in 2008, and even now that the adjustments have been made, his propane operation faces increased costs. The licensing costs for larger tanks are so high that most operators try to stay below a certain size, but that choice means more visits from the gas truck and more trips to jobsites to meet customer demand. He does not think the CRA should get involved in training directly, but could collaborate to have third-party training available to rental operators.
LINKED UP ONLINE
scanned with a phone or tablet. When it comes to communication and interaction, there is no such thing as too much as far as Morden is concerned.
Rentshop’s ambitious president can think big because he has such experienced hands guiding the day-to-day activities of the shop. Pacini joined Morden’s father two weeks after he first opened in 1985 and handles all the internal paperwork and office management. Laver, the store’s mechanic, has been there almost as long. Together, they give customers a comfortable experience. “We want to be professional, but at the same time guys should have that feeling that they are standing in a friend’s garage,” Morden explains. “I like to stand here and talk to customers about the equipment rather than try really hard to sell them something. That is how I like to be sold.”
For the future, Morden is eying a run for provincial or even federal office. But for now, both Rentshop and the Canadian rental industry get to benefit from the talents of this natural leader and communicator. CRS Rentshop carries a full line of light construction and landscaping equipment for small contractors and homeowners. But it has also claimed a niche in supplying welding gas and supplies to local industry.
Morden has made a reputation for himself around the industry as something of a social media guru. He is active on the CRA Facebook and Twitter accounts, and frequently posts updates about Rentshop, as well. He is excited about the possibilities of mobile technology for marketing and selling at the store level, talking enthusiastically about “augmented reality” in the form of print ads and store displays that come to life as video when
Teamwork.
ARMOURED UP
Innovations in tire protection can keep wheeled heavy equipment on the job.
In mining, quarrying and some earthmoving applications, dump trucks used to carry waste, ore or coal from the working face to the processing plant rely on large, expensive, earthmover tires to carry out their tasks.
by RUD-ERLAU
One damaged tire at a mining operation means an entire team out of production. Using tire protection chains enables mine operators to use wheeled vehicles without excessive downtime.
Depending on site conditions, these tires can be subject to poor traction, abrasive attrition and sidewall damage. Poor traction due to soft clay conditions or iced-up haul roads is a safety issue. A skidding, 400-tonne truck is a dangerous thing. Tire abrasion is an asset issue. Abrasion can rapidly destroy tires, leading to premature and costly replacement.
Truck operators have overcome both these problems by adopting the same remedies used to protect the tires of wheeled loading shovels, bulldozers and graders. Fitting a suitably patterned, durable set of tire protection or traction chains to the truck’s drive wheels provides extra grip and absorbs abrasion, in effect doubling or tripling tire life.
For trucks, there remains the risk of sidewall
damage from sharp flints and shale-like debris and, once damaged in this way, the weakened tire becomes a write-off with no possibility of extended life as a re-mould. Although haul roads are regularly cleared of spills and rock falls, it only takes one stray flint to instantly destroy a tire and disable a truck with the consequent interruption to productivity.
With loader, bulldozer and grader tires it is accepted practice to protect tires from sidewall damage with an impenetrable, tight-meshed chain but, while tire protection chains have been tried with dump trucks, the long travelling distances involved make this solution impracticable and short-lived.
Some 70 years ago, responding to the needs of the newly arrived pneumatic-tired mining
loaders, RUD-Erlau devised and developed the first tire protection chains, going on to hold over 65 per cent of the world market for tire protection and traction chains in mineral mining, forestry, scrap, demolition, steel making and other heavy industries. Due to feedback from their tire-protection-chain engineers, RUD-Erlau was well aware of the vulnerability of dump truck tires and asked the research and development team to tackle the problem.
With more than 130 years’ experience in the development and manufacture of chain components, the team’s first instinct was to create a device based on steel-alloy elements. However, success only came when the team turned its attention to materials used in other industries and developed Sideflex. A sturdy set of replacement wheel nuts and extensions supports a simple steel ring to which is attached a fanned array of overlapping platelets. These platelets shield the entire sidewall of the truck tire, deflecting rock fragments harmlessly away.
While the mounting components are made of steel, the all-important Sideflex shield is manufactured from a sophisticated engineering polymer that has found many applications in automotive and other industries. This robust material, which is used to protect automobiles, has a unique memory capability that enables the platelets to flex and deform upon impact and then return to their original shape without any loss of integrity.
The entire Sideflex assembly is so lightweight and low-profile that owners of dump trucks – small and large – have, for the first time, a cost-effective means of protecting and saving their expensive tires. Having already undergone many months of extensive real-life, no-holdsbarred field trials in quarries, Sideflex is performing well and delivering its promised potential.
An example of how tire protection chains can protect assets and boost productivity can be found at the Mangoola coal mine. Xstrata celebrated the inception of its latest coal mine in 2010. Having, purchased the Anvil NSW mine project from Centennial Coal Company for $425 million back in September 2007, Xstrata had invested close to
$1 billion to bring the now-named Mangoola mine to production in 2011. Located about 20 kilometres west of Muswellbrook and about 10 kilometres north of Denman in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales in Australia, the open-cut Mangoola mine is set to deliver coal for domestic use and export grossing, at current world prices, some $900 million per year over an expected 18-year mine life.
Now a fully operational mine with the coal handling and preparation plant working and all outstanding equipment on site, trains are already transporting coal either to Macquarie Generation’s Bayswater and Liddell power stations or to the port of Newcastle for shipment to customers in eastern Asia. Three hundred employees have been engaged for Mangoola Coal’s day-to-day operations and a further 700 indirect employment opportunities are expected to arise from the development.
With first-class equipment and a skilled workforce, the Mangoola Project was delivered three months ahead of schedule and $178 million under budget. Site preparation and infrastructure improvements kicked off in January 2009 and by February 2010, the earthworks, coal handling, preparation plant and rail facility were in place. August 2010 saw commencement of overburden stripping and by November that year the first run-of-mine coal was being stockpiled. Just three months later, in February 2011, the first coal wash took place and was entrained just 11 days later.
The yellow iron inventory at the mine is impressive, with Liebherr, Cat and LeTourneau featuring high on the shopping list. Four teams of earthmovers, supported by SKF drill rigs and Cat 773 service carts, are bringing home the coal. One team is headed by a new Liebherr model, the 1,250-kilowatt R9400 backhoe excavator equipped with a highcapacity 22-cubic-metre, 40-tonne bucket. Five, 137-cubic-yard, 195-ton Cat 789 dump trucks, a Push Cat and a tracked Cat D11 bulldozer complete the waste stripping and coal excavation set.
A second team, also engaged in waste removal and coal extraction, consists of a 1,287-horsepower, turbocharged, tracked Liebherr R9250 with a 17-cubic-metre
bucket and 11-metre dump height; six CAT 789 dump trucks with a combined carrying capacity of 2,400 tons; two 433-kilowatt CAT D10 tractor-dozers and a 854K model Push Cat.
Designated for waste disposal duties, with an operating weight of over 660 tonnes, is the flagship: a 2,240-kilowatt Liebherr R966 crawler faceshovel sporting a 34-cubic-metre, 60-tonne bucket supported by two 170-cubic-metre, 240ton, CAT 793 dump trucks, two 634-kilo -
watt CAT D11 track-mounted bulldozers, a 7.3-metre-wide CAT 24M grader and a 100-ton, CAT 777 watercart.
Delivered in September 2009, the core unit at the mine includes a LeTourneau L1850 loader, six CAT 793s with a combined haul capacity of 1,440 tons, a 16M Grader with a 4.9-metre mold board, a CAT D10 bulldozer and a further 100-ton CAT 777 watercart.
Considered one of the most popular in LeTourneau’s loader line, the L-1850 is
VERSATILE AND PRODUCTIVE
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Company on the move
SAFETY AND YOUR SEWER MACHINE
By Marty Silverman, VP Marketing General Pipe Cleaners, McKees Rocks, PA
Ahorror story: A man tells his helper to put a drain cleaning machine in a ditch filled with water. The frayed extension cord lies across the wet ground. The helper, wearing rubber boots, tries to use the machine but complains he is getting shocked. The man calls his helper a sissy and gets in the ditch wearing street shoes. When he turns on the machine, he is electrocuted.
Another horror story: A maintenance foreman has two of his men get in a hole to guide the cable into the line. The machine sits on the street above with a young boy operating the foot pedal. When the cable hits an obstruction, it begins to buck. The men yell to stop the machine but the boy doesn’t. The cable suddenly kinks. One of the men lets out a yell. He has just had two fingers ripped off his hand.
Each of these sad stories could have been avoided. Fortunately, several simple safety rules can help rental centres educate – and protect – customers using drain cleaning equipment.
Rule 1. Use common sense.
Common sense, practical precautions could have prevented both tragedies. So trust your intuition. If you suspect a situation is dangerous, it probably is.
Rule 2. Know how to operate the tool properly.
Make sure you, your counter people, and most importantly, your customers understand how to safely use the tool you’re renting them. Manufacturers offer extra instructions to hand out to customers, instructional videos in multiple languages, and instructions and videos on their website or via QR code decals so your customers can view them at home or on their smartphone.
Rule 3. Rent the right tool for the job.
Nothing will get you in trouble faster than using the wrong tool. Tool selection guides are available to assist you and your customer to select the right tool for the job.
Rule 4. Always monitor surrounding hazards.
Drain cleaning machines operate close to water. Check for frayed power cords and loose wires.
Rule 5. Only use equipment with built-in electrical safety devices. Insist on drain cleaning equipment with Pneumatic Foot Pedals. An air bubble triggers the on-off switch through an air hose. Switching actually occurs at the motor – several feet away above the wet ground. So no electricity runs between the pedal and machine. Each machine should include a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). And use only heavy-duty extension cords of proper length – no more than 50 feet. Lighter or longer cords can result in severe power loss and dangerous motor overheating.
Rule 6. Carefully check electrical outlets.
Only plug machines into Properly Grounded Outlets. If in doubt, check outlets with a ground checker before connecting equipment.
Rule 7. Dress for protection.
Only use Leather Gloves when handling drain cleaning snakes. Cloth or rubber gloves can easily catch in rotating coils of cable.
Laminated operating instructions are attached to the machine for easy access.
debris.
Rule 8. Keep it close.
Cage-type drain cleaners should be securely placed within two feet of a drain opening. If you can’t position equipment that close, run cable through a guide tube or metal pipe to prevent whipping.
Rule 9. Let the machine work for you.
Don’t force the cable through a blockage. Let the cutter do the work. Otherwise, you risk damaging the cable – and injuring yourself. If the cable starts bucking or twisting, STOP. Slide the excess cable back into the cage. Then proceed again, slowly feeding the cable into the drain.
Rule 10. Clean up!
Neutralize or remove any corrosive drain cleaners from drains before starting work. Exposure to those chemicals can injure operators – and damage cable.
Rubber gloves alone are dangerous. Always wear protective leather gloves over rubber gloves. Spinning cable can easily tear rubber gloves, and take your fingers with them.
Safe cleaning practices help, too. Health-care workers apply a solution of one part chlorine bleach to twenty parts tap water (1:20) to blood spots on clothing. Your drain cleaning cable and work clothes can be cleaned the same way.
Check the machine when it comes back from a rental to make sure it’s in good condition before putting it back into your rental fleet.
Protect top-to-bottom. Wear safety glasses, goggles to guard eyes from flying drain
New QR code decals allow rental customers to view instructional videos on their smartphones.
FEATURE
New tire protection devices use advanced automotive polymers to armour-plate the sidewall, protecting it from sharp rocks and other debris.
offered with a 30-cubic-metre, 54-tonne bucket as standard equipment. Powered by a 1,419-kilowatt diesel engine, the L-1850 is designed to centre-load most haul trucks rated for payloads between 236 and 327 tonnes.
Mother Nature had no thought for the miner when she laid down the Mangoola deposits. Concealed by 15-90 metres of sandstone conglomerate, the three 9-10 metre coal seams are inter-bedded with three- to four-metre-thick, late-Permian, tuffaceous bands. Tuff is an unforgiving mixture of volcanic rock and mineral fragments in a volcanic ash matrix, formed when a combination of ash, rock and pyroclastic or tephra mineral fragments were blasted into the air by volcanic action then fell to the ground as a mixed deposit.
The L1850 loader’s Michelin X-Mine D2 60/80-57 tires are subject not only to heavy abrasion from the sandstone and tuff but are also under constant threat of sidewall damage from such unpredictable content as razor-sharp, unweathered shards of rock. As the only wheeled loader on site, the Letourneau is far too valuable an asset to be standing idle for want of a tire when it should be earning its keep loading trucks. Given the current limited availability of giant earthmover tires and high replacement costs, Mangoola has taken practical, pre-emptive steps to save unnecessary expense and unwelcome delays in production. From its arrival, new, in August 2010, Mangoola has protected the L-1850’s drive-wheel Michelins with a pair of Fels Crown X22 tire-protection chains. Supplied, installed and supported by RUD Australia and manufactured by RUD Kettenfrabrik of Germany, the chains provide the all-round protection that keeps loaders such as the L-1850 operating on schedule.
The robust, tight-meshed, 22-metre, ribbed links of RUD’s Fels Crown encase the tire, absorbing abrasion that would otherwise quickly powder the tread and, by deflecting sharp rock fragments, prevent sudden-death, sidewall penetration. While the extension of a new tire’s life up to three times is a significant benefit, another big plus is seen in guaranteeing productivity through assured plant availability and a significantly reduced cost per delivered tonne.
Since fitting the tire protection chains, the L-1850 has worked over 9,000 hours without reporting any unscheduled workshop visits for tire repairs or replacements. CRS
TRUCK REVIEW
REINVENTED RAM
Our correspondent reviews the 2013 Ram pickup.
The Dodge Ram, or just Ram as it’s now called, was all-new in 2009. Since then Chrysler has pulled itself out of a financial hole and the newly minted Ram brand steadily has built a strong following, particularly in Canada.
by HOWARD J. ELMER
Chrysler has made more than the usual mid-cycle cosmetic changes to the 2013 Ram.
Now, four years in, the 2013 Ram is getting a mid-cycle refresh – one that may very well redefine that term. Why? Well, at first blush you’ll note the photos show a bit of grille work and new sheet metal bends. These and a few interior tweaks (and maybe a few new paint colours) are the norm for most refreshes. But this Ram is doing so much more and frankly it’s what’s under the skin that has the truck world buzzing.
A new V6 engine and revolutionary eight-speed transmission is at its heart. Whether Ram says so or not, everything you are about to read about here is because of one word: EcoBoost. This competing V6 engine in the Ford F-150 has been a huge sales success – one that has necessitated this radical upgrade to Ram (a truck that has
long built its reputation on the V8 Hemi engine alone). And they have done it. Mechanically this 2013 Ram is anything but mid-cycle eye candy; it is virtually a new truck.
Having heard the rumours of what Ram was up to I wrangled an invite to a very small, exclusive technical background briefing in Dallas, Texas. Spending hours with the engineers down there revealed a truck that boasts more than a dozen significant changes, all aimed at reducing fuel consumption, while preserving the soul of this very popular pickup truck.
The engine in this new Ram is the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, which has been upgraded to make 305 horsepower and 269 foot-pounds of torque. It is coupled to an all-new, eight-speed transmission (developed by ZF of Germany) and, while
TRUCK REVIEW
the power and fuel savings implications of this combination will be obvious to most readers, it is the sum total of all the technical changes that has brand president and CEO Fred Diaz confident enough to flatly say his Ram will beat Ford’s EcoBoost.
Let’s look at what this engineering team has managed to do for the Ram. It starts with this eight-speed automatic transmission – definitely a first for pickups. Add to that Chrysler’s Pentastar V6 for a 20 per cent savings in fuel over the current Hemi powertrain. It also weighs 35 kilograms less than the V8. But the Hemi is not going away. It continues to be available and some six months after the Pentastar/eight-speed arrives late this year the Hemi will also get hooked up to the ZF for at least a 20 per cent fuel savings as well.
Stop/start technology has been added to the truck. A proven system that has been used sparingly by various brands, this system stops the engine at lights and restarts it as soon as the foot is lifted off the brake. This addition alone increases fuel efficiency by up to 3.3 per cent, Ram says.
Active air shutters are another first on a pickup truck. Shutters are currently found on a few high-mile vehicles like the Chevy Cruise Eco. These vents open and close as needed for cooling, and increase aerodynamics and fuel efficiency by around 0.5 per cent. They also shorten the engine warm-up time.
A new electric power steering system adds five horsepower to the Pentastar output total while reducing fuel consumption by 1.8 per cent. This is also a proven system that eliminates the constant power draw of a hydraulic pump as well as offering new steering effort calibrations matched to speed and road
Significant changes to the Pentastar V6 are designed to make it competitive with the Ford F-150’s EcoBoost in terms of both power and fuel efficiency.
conditions, which in turn reduce driver fatigue.
Variable-value timing is another not-new idea added to the V6 and the Hemi V8 that saves fuel.
Pulse-width modulation is one I had not heard of. Seems that alternators produce way more power than is needed by most of a truck’s electrically run components. This system reduces that parasitic electrical draw by the fuel system and cooling fan, which reduces fuel consumption by 0.4 per cent and increases component durability.
Even though this is a mid-cycle upgrade, the team could not resist redesigning parts of the frame. By using high-strength steel they reduced overall weight by 14 kilograms.
Tires are often-overlooked potential fuel savers. The Ram is now kitted out with new, low-rolling-resistance tires as standard. The front air dam has been lengthened to increase aerodynamics, adding a 0.6 per cent improvement to Ram fuel economy. The material is a rubberized polymer, which the guys assured me will take a beating and hold its shape.
The weirdest result comes by adding a new wheel-to-wheel side step, which was found to be aerodynamically more efficient, delivering an added 0.5 per cent fuel consumption improvement. It offered another bonus: the longer step now provides a foothold for reaching into the front of the box.
The one thing missing from all the information I gathered in Texas is the new payload and towing figures. I asked and they would not say; however, Chrysler does confirm two things: first, they will use the new SAE towing standards to determine the weights and, second, by the time the “first drive” program comes around in August they will have the numbers. For my part, I feel confident in saying that with this Ram Pentastar/ eight-speed taking on the Ford EcoBoost powertrain, Ram will have to match or exceed Ford. Ford currently publishes a tow limit of 11,300 pounds the EcoBoost-equipped F-150.
For a mid-cycle refresh this is a massive update, with fuel economy being the key target – but there was more. The 2013 Ram has also added an air spring suspension. This system will automatically adjust to speed and load while manually operated settings will be available for off-road operation and even a low-profile “park” mode. The truck will be able to lift and lower as much as four inches with the press of a button. The 2013 Ram with all these upgrades will arrive in dealer showrooms in the last quarter of this year. CRS
The most effic ient flameless hea ter on the market –reclaims more useable hea t than the nearest competitor.
Extreme Reliability.
No maintenance required due to shaft power conversion to heat.
Higher
Static Pressure.
4 times higher static pressure at comparable CFM –
52% Higher Discharge Temperature.
Setpoint adjustable up to 275°F regardless of ambient temperature
Outperforms Competitors
Hydraulic Units 2 to 1.
One H1350 does the job of 2 competitor units
Fuel Consumption.
Fuel consumption is 20% better than the nearest competitor, resulting in monthly operation expense savings of over $5,000
SAFE LIFTING
Your customers might be doing more than just digging.
The versatility of hydraulic excavators is virtually unmatched in the world of construction equipment. Whether you are talking about compact, mid-range or large excavators, these do-it-all machines can take on a variety of jobs by switching among dozens of attachments.
by DOOSAN INFRACORE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AMERICA
Helping your customers understand how to use excavators for lifting will increase your equipment’s value to them and help ensure everything, and everyone, comes back in one piece.
Other than digging, one of the most frequent – and overlooked – tasks performed by hydraulic excavators is lifting. On the jobsite, excavators are called on to lift, move and place a wide range of materials. As a result, learning to lift safely is a primary concern for every contractor who owns or operates a hydraulic excavator.
Let’s begin with the basics:
The lifting capacity of any hydraulic excavator, be it large or small, is limited by two factors: hydraulic capacity and tipping capacity. Hydraulic capacity is the point at which the excavator runs out of hydraulic power, or stalls. Tipping capacity is just that: the point at which the excavator begins to tip or lift off the ground.
Manufacturers test excavators to determine how much weight they can safely lift at various heights and distances from the centreline of the machine. Based on these tests, they create lift charts, which are printed in the machine’s operation and maintenance manual and/or
posted within sight of the operator, for example, on the canopy, cab roof, hood or window of the excavator.
It is important to spend a little time understanding how to read an excavator lift chart. At the top of the chart, there will be information indicating the machine configuration upon which the chart is based. For example, for a compact excavator, this information may include boom length, arm length, the weight of the standard bucket and the weight of the quick coupler, if standard. There may be several lift charts for a large or mid-range excavator, based on various combinations of boom length, arm length, bucket size and shoe width.
In both cases, the values on the lift charts take into account the weight of the standard bucket and the quick coupler, if standard. Typically, rated loads marked with an asterisk are limited by the machine’s hydraulic capacity and do not exceed 87 per cent of test. Rated
Insulated Blankets
Sizes available: 6’ x 24’, 8’ x 24’, 12’ x 20’, 12’ x 24’
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of 3/16” (3 layers) and 1/4” (4 layers)
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MODEL E55
Keep the bucket hook pointed directly over the load. The load can become unbalanced if the hook line is twisted and starts to rotate. Use short slings to prevent excessive load swing.
Most mini-excavators include a decal like this to inform users of the machine’s lifting capacity. Non-professionals will need to be educated on how to read the decal and apply it to their job.
loads without an asterisk are limited by the machine’s stability, or tipping capacity, and do not exceed 75 per cent of test.
The next thing you need to determine is the lift point height, which is in the far left column on the lift chart. The lift point height refers to the distance from the ground to the bucket pin or hook, not from the ground to the object you’re lifting. When you’re measuring the lift point height, consider how high you will need to lift the item, including the height of the item itself, the length of the lifting device (for example, a chain or a sling), and at what height you want to place the item (for example, on a trailer).
Next, determine the lifting radius from the centreline of the swing point. This distance is shown in the top row of the lift chart. At this point, you need to determine if you are lifting over the front of the excavator or over the side. In addition, if you are using an excavator with a dozer blade or outriggers, such as a wheeled excavator, you need to determine whether or not the blade or outriggers are down.
Now find the cell on the lift chart where the lift point height and lifting radius intersect. The number shown is the excavator’s lifting capacity at that point. If the cell is blank, the excavator has no lifting capacity at that point, and lifting should not be attempted.
Generally, as you move to the right on a lift chart, lifting capacity will decline. Also, with an excavator, lifting over the side is generally more limited than lifting over the front.
BE ALERT TO JOBSITE CONSIDERATIONS
Ultimately, the operator is responsible for all jobsite- and lift-related conditions, and must respond to changes in those conditions that could pose a hazard.
Before starting to lift:
• The excavator should always be on a firm, level and uniformly supporting surface. Do not attempt to lift on soft or uneven ground or slopes.
• Be sure the excavator has not been modified in any way and is well maintained.
• Always lift squarely over the side or over the end of the machine. If equipped, select the digging mode on the excavator before using the machine for lifting work.
• Avoid travelling with a suspended load, swinging it too quickly or lifting with an uneven sling. If the surface area of the load is large enough, wind gusts can create side-load conditions. Tag lines held by workers on opposite sides of the load can help prevent side loading caused by wind gusts.
Remember that the weight of slings and any auxiliary lifting device (and/or the weight difference of any attachment heavier than the standard configuration) must be subtracted from the rated lift capacity to determine the allowable net lifting load. Do not do any lifting with a breaker.
It is recommended that you feel your way into any lift as a precaution against tip-over. One method is to position the boom at 90 degrees over the side of the machine. Slowly lift the load until it clears the ground. A lift over the side is the most unstable, and as the load is swung into the front zone of the excavator, it will become more stable. Do not increase swing radius after the load is lifted.
Also, note that if a load is picked up from the front zone and swung into the side zone, a tip-over could result, causing a fatal injury.
Always try to maintain the lifting eye straight below the centreline of the arm and bucket pin. That way, the weight of the load is being primarily held only by the pin, and not by the bucket cylinder, link and link pins.
PICK-AND-CARRY PRECAUTIONS
Moving with a load, or pick and carry, requires additional precautions. When performing a pick and carry, always align the boom with the forward direction of machine travel. Maintain this boom position when turning the machine. Turn only when necessary, at the slowest speed and at a wide turning radius.
In addition, use the shortest lifting distance possible. Keep the load as close to the ground as conditions will permit. Provide tag lines to prevent the load from swinging. Swinging can cause a change in radius, and a change in radius could exceed the load chart or cause a tip-over condition. Govern travel speed to suit conditions and avoid sudden starts and stops.
Finally, if you have any questions, always consult the excavator’s operation and maintenance manual. CRS
Years of practical applications and knowledge enable us to develop machines that stand out in the crowd.
An Ohio road contractor relies on tough drilling equipment.
ny contractor will tell you productivity is of vital importance on every project. Between tight deadlines, penalties for delay of completion and a dedication to exceed personal expectations on every job, construction crews have every reason to ensure uptime remains high.
In the case of road repair projects when live traffic is thrown into the mix, the urgency to complete the work and move the crews off the road quickly is that much greater. And it’s that exact reason an 18-month road repair project in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, pushed the limits of efficiency for one local concrete crew. Sprague Road in Cuyahoga County is the main east/west artery between the cities of North Royalton and Parma. As such, it sees a lot of daily traffic and has taken its fair share of abuse over the years. With funds limited in recent years, Sprague Road was one of many rehabilitation projects placed on the back burner, and one in dire need of repair. In fact,
one particular two-mile stretch of the road had been slated for a major overhaul. When the Cuyahoga County Engineers received an LPA grant in early 2011 to fund the work, the project was immediately put in motion. The original project scope on Sprague Road called for the repair of approximately 53 per cent of the designated stretch of roadway. Cuyahoga County engineers estimated about 38,000 square yards of concrete would need to be removed, reinforced with rebar, replaced and overlaid with 3 1/4-inch asphalt. The project also called for drainage repairs, a new sidewalk and guiderail installation, striping and landscaping. All in all, an 18-month project
Cioffi/Liberta worked day and night to meet the Ohio Department of Transportation’s seemingly impossible deadlines. Downtime was not an option.
SJIII 3219 SCISSOR LIFT
Variable speed front wheel hydraulic drive and 90° steering, allows our compacts to maneuver in the smallest spaces.
The SJIII 3219 offers an easy to service, low maintenance design in a compact and versatile package. Featuring a 3’ roll out extension deck, the SJIII 3219 offers a working height of 25’—25% gradeability, and boasts an industry leading 550 lb capacity. Durable steel swing-out component trays provide unrestricted access for easy maintenance and service.
CASE STUDY
that carried a $5 million dollar price tag.
An Akron, Ohio-based construction company, Cioffi/Liberta Construction, secured the winning bid and was awarded the project, which was set to begin in April 2011. No stranger to highway repair projects, the family-owned company is primarily focused in the concrete industry, with roadway rehab one of its specialties. The company also has experience on a wide range of projects in the
residential and public works arenas. With experience and knowledge under its belt, Cioffi/Liberta was ready to dive in head first and get the project in motion. The company dedicated a crew of 16, led by John Chyla, project superintendent, and Mike Totaro, operations manager. Both were relatively new to Cioffi/ Liberta, yet experienced veterans in the heavy highway construction industry.
In addition to expertise and drive,
Totaro brought something else important to the project: pneumatic dowel drilling equipment from E-Z Drill. A manufacturer of drilling and doweling equipment for approximately 25 years, E-Z Drill offers a variety of machines, including on-grade, on-slab and equipment-mounted units with gang options from single up to five-gangs. With a project that would daily consist of dozens of concrete patches requiring reinforcement bars, thousands of precise holes would need to be drilled. Such a large number of holes in such a short amount of time made it necessary to have productive, reliable drilling equipment.
“I have been in the industry for more than 30 years, and have been using E-Z Drill equipment for nearly 25 of those,” Totaro said. “I had already briefly introduced the crew to the equipment, so we were all eager to see what the drills could do on the Sprague Road project.”
Indy Equipment & Supply, a distributor of E-Z Drill equipment in Cleveland, supplied the drills to Cioffi-Liberta Construction. Totaro worked closely with Derek Shelt, service manager, to get the proper mix of units, as well as accessories to tackle the job.
While the engineers’ original project scope seemed like a tall order to begin with, Cioffi/Liberta quickly realized the project was going to become much more challenging. First, the timeline was significantly cut.
“Because Sprague Road is such a major artery, the Ohio Department of Transportation and the engineers decided they simply couldn’t let this project go on for 18 months,” Chyla explained. “We were told we would actually need to complete the project in six months –one-third the amount of time as defined in the original estimate.”
If that wasn’t challenging enough, the road proved to be in much worse shape than the engineers originally thought. The project scope quickly expanded from replacing 53 per cent of the 52-foot-wide roadway, to replacing 77 per cent.
“Anyone who has ever worked in the highway rehab industry knows that this expanded scope is virtually unheard of,” Chyla said. “Typically, when a project gets to a point where this much of the road is being repaired, the scope will
CASE STUDY
call for a complete rebuild of the entire road.” However, in the case of Sprague Road, ODOT and the Cuyahoga County Engineers decided to move forward with the repair.
Still confident and ready for the challenge, Cioffi/Liberta’s 16-man crew arrived onsite armed with a total of five E-Z Drill units. Each unit was different and assigned to a specific portion of the drilling. The Model 210 Twin Vertical was used in the early stages of the repair to pull patches, typically about six feet long by 10 feet wide and nine inches thick, according to Chyla.
After the patches were fully removed and cleaned up, the actual drilling portion began. The crew had an EQ MT 210-3 unit, which is a three-gang equipment mounted unit, a Model 65B single-gang on-grade drill and two Model 210B slabrider units, one single and one two-gang.
“On average, we were replacing about 80 patches per day,” Totaro estimated, “making it imperative to have a variety of drills to match the various logistical conditions along the road.”
It was also imperative the crew complete the drilling portion quickly in order to keep pace with the fresh concrete pours, something Chyla felt early on would be one of the most challenging parts of the job.
“We needed to complete a certain amount of work per day to stay with the progress schedule, and the drilling was either going to make us or break us,” he explained. “Thankfully, we didn’t have to
do this amount of drilling by hand.”
Exceeding the engineers’ original estimate, the crew was pouring more than 400 square yards of fresh concrete daily, which required the drilling of more than 1,600 holes per day. Describing the project as an “astronomical amount” of drilling, Chyla’s primary concerns were speed and precision. Not only did the holes need to be drilled quickly, they also had to meet the engineers’ spec. One-and-one-quarterinch dowel bars were required, meaning each of the thousands of holes had to be the exact same diameter and spaced precisely. Each hole had to be identical, from the initial drilling to the cleaning. According to Chyla, “It would have been impossible to do this amount of drilling without the E-Z Drill equipment. It’s all about productivity and precision.”
Additional drilling was required every 25 to 30 inches along the length of the road for installation of an anchor and hook bolt, which tied together the longitudinal joints. With the extensive amount of drilling, the crew benefited from the E-Z Drill units’ ability to work quickly and accurately, and without much effort on the operator’s part.
“I trained the crew on the E-Z Drill equipment prior to the project, but this was the first time any of them actually ran the equipment on a jobsite,” Totaro said. “I wasn’t nervous though, and it was about as smooth and seamless a process as I could have imagined.”
With the drilling portion going extremely well, the crew was able to
shift focus to the other major, unexpected challenge – the weather.
“We dealt with so many rain days and delays,” Chyla recalled. In fact, the summer of 2011 ended up in the record books as the rainiest in the county’s history.
“With the weather restricting our work on an already-tight timeline, it just further brought to light the need for good, reliable equipment,” Totaro said. “If we didn’t have equipment we could depend on, there’s no way we could have kept pace.”
In addition to precision and reliability, the E-Z Drill units delivered high uptime, a benefit Totaro attributes to the pneumatic operation.
“The drills pretty much took care of themselves, and we didn’t have to spend hardly any time on maintenance or repairs,” he said. “And I don’t recall any unscheduled downtime due to equipment failure. It was fantastic.”
“Not only did Indy provide us with the E-Z Drill units at the start of the project, it supplied everything we needed to keep the drills up and running throughout,” Totaro said. “From drill steel and bits to the peace of mind knowing Derek and his crew were there for us, they really helped us succeed in this project.”
Despite the project’s expanded scope, reduced timeline and the unpredictable weather, the Cioffi/Liberta crew continually met deadlines, surpassing the county and ODOT’s expectations. During progress meetings, Chyla recalls, people were “astonished” that the project was going along at the scheduled pace, especially considering all the outside factors.
Weathering everything that was thrown its way, Cioffi/Liberta was able to successfully complete the concrete portion of the Sprague Road project in just three months. After the concrete work was finished, subcontractors came in to overlay 3 ¼-inch of surface course asphalt, as well as complete the pavement markings. Cioffi/Liberta Construction also hired a subcontractor to complete the area’s landscaping and guardrail installation along the stretch. The crew wrapped the entire Sprague Road project on Nov. 18, 2011 – just seven months after it began, and only a month off from the desired six-month completion timeline. CRS
Sprague Road is a major artery in Cuyahoga County, just south of Cleveland, Ohio.
The devil’s in the details
by Deryk Coward
Contracts come up in the business world every day. Whether you are leasing property or equipment, setting up employment agreements (as discussed in my last column), or creating an agreement with a supplier, contracts are everywhere and they are relied upon when disputes arise between parties. But what happens if your contract won’t hold up in court? This month we’ll look at some common mistakes in contracts and discuss some steps you might take to avoid some of the more common pitfalls.
Quite simply, does the contract clearly outline what the parties are agreeing to? Using broad, undefined language, such as, “The parties agree to do business with one another,” can be found to be too vague and a court may find that the contract fails for lack of certainty. The contract should outline exactly what actions are being performed by each party to the contract, in what period of time are they being performed and what sort of consideration (payment or something in lieu of payment) is being provided in exchange.
On a business level, it probably makes good sense for you to have well-defined business terms with other parties. When everyone knows their roles and responsibilities, there is less room for interpretation and therefore less opportunity for disputes to arise.
Sometimes parties will draw up a contract to exchange property or service in exchange for something that has happened previously. This is another common flaw. It is a rule of common law that past consideration is no consideration at all. If Jack helped Dave with some drywalling on Saturday, Jack cannot come into Dave’s office on Monday and ask Dave to sign a contract exchanging future services of Dave’s for Jack’s help with the drywall. Things that have happened in the past cannot be used as payment for future goods or services. If Jack wanted payment for his help, he should have had a contract in place before he helped with the drywall.
Another tip for individuals wishing to better define their agreements is to send confirmatory written communications. You may be out in the field and agree with a client that a certain
thing will happen or agree on a certain price for a piece of equipment. As soon as you get back to the office, send an e-mail or write a letter to the person confirming your discussion and the terms as you understand them. That way, if you get into a dispute down the road, your timely communication will be most helpful in getting your way in court.
Many contracts include “exclusion clauses” to help people or companies avoid liability if certain situations should arise. People may suffer if their property is damaged or services are inadequately provided, as there will be no compensation due to an operative exclusion clause. It is imperative for both parties to a contract to be aware of what they are signing or agreeing to. If you are the party intending to rely upon an exclusion clause in one of your contracts, make sure the other party has specific notice of the clause and what it means, or you may not be able to rely on it down the road.
Another common pitfall is that occasionally courts will decline to uphold a contract because the person who signed the contract on behalf of a company was not authorized to do so. For example, you might get the secretary at a company to sign for receiving a package delivery without any problems, as it is part of the normal duties of a secretary. But what if that secretary signed an employment contract to hire a new salesperson? Or a purchase agreement with a supplier? Those contracts would typically fall outside of the role of a secretary in the company. Some transactions require that an executive sign for the company. Make sure that you have the right person signing for the contract. If you are in doubt as to who is authorized to sign on behalf of a particular company, you can ask the party with whom you are dealing, and you can also perform a search of the company at your Provincial Corporations Branch. You can also seek the input of your legal counsel, to determine whether the person you are dealing with has the authority to sign. This article is not intended as legal advice for you, for any particular fact situation you face. If in doubt, consult with a lawyer entitled to practise in your jurisdiction. CRS
From a very inauspicious beginning in a small blacksmith shop originally started in 1882 by Edward Brunner and Severin Lay, Brunner & Lay, Inc. and its affiliated companies have become recognized as the quality leaders, as well as the world’s largest manufacturer of paving breaker tools. Today, using the latest state of the art equipment in its facilities throughout the world, Brunner & Lay, Inc.’s entire output is devoted to the manufacture of pneumatic and hydraulic tool accessories for the construction, rental, mining, and demolition industries.
The worldwide operations encompass manufacturing plants and warehouses on three different continents. These include seven facilities in the United States, three in Canada, three in Great Britain,
one in Germany, and two in Australia.
Brunner & Lay products are divided into three major categories: tools used for the demolition or cutting of concrete and stone, drill steels and carbide tipped bits which are used to drill blast holes in quarries, mines, and construction projects, and small chipping and electric hammer tools which are used by the general construction trade.
It is with great pride that the Brunner & Lay organization can point to the many wonderful highways, dams, airfields, mines & quarries, and national monuments it has shaped. These include, but are not limited to Mt. Rushmore, Hoover Dam, the Chunnel connecting England and France, the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado, and Olympic venues worldwide.
Brunner & Lay is confident that its products will contribute to worldwide health, growth, and prosperity far into the future.
Put down those shovels. Mini-excavators can help with small jobs and large.
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Tell your customers to throw away the shovels and dig these compact yet powerful mini-excavators for their home landscaping projects.
COMFORT IS KING
Bobcat
8 www.bobcat.com
Designed for tough applications, the Bobcat CT235 is well suited for demanding chores or long days on landscaping or groundskeeping projects. Users can spend less time maintaining and more time operating it with easy access to service items and a durable, steel hood to protect internal parts.
Comfort is king in the CT235, thanks to a standard suspension seat, easy-to-reach controls, tilt steering and open foot space. There’s even a cup holder to make the operator’s time in the CT235 more enjoyable. A hydrostatic drive system makes changing directions effortless. Add optional turf tires for minimal ground disturbance on sensitive surfaces.
SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE
Wacker Neuson
8 www.wackerneuson.com
Wacker Neuson’s Vertical Digging System is available on select compact excavators and is offering advantages to users. The VDS compensates for height differences on uneven terrain and quickly sets the operator in an upright position, greatly increasing productivity. This innovative system enables operators to tilt the cab and boom of the excavator by up to 15 degrees with the push of a button, allowing the operator to compensate for slopes up to 27 per cent. The excavator can then be used to dig more precisely in a vertical position, which significantly speeds up excavation and backfilling work, resulting in time and material savings of up to 25 per cent. Operators can remain in an upright position, making it easier and more comfortable to operate. Increased stability is a further benefit, creating a safer environment for operators and across the job site as a whole. The job site uses
for the VDS are endless. Not many sites actually provide a level working surface, so Wacker Neuson’s VDS can be engaged in a variety of applications. These compact excavators with the VDS are ideal for such applications as digging on an embankment, straddling concrete curbs and digging in narrow areas. The VDS also allows for vertical holes to be dug on an incline with an auger and bit attachments.
FITS THROUGH A STANDARD DOOR
8 www.easternfarmmachinery.com
The Fiori MiniDig700 is a micro excavator designed for extremely tight operating conditions. At only 30 inches wide with expandable tracks to 37 inches, it will fit through a standard doorway and weighs only 1,760 pounds for easy transport. Powered by 14-horsepower, water-cooled, diesel engine, with auxiliary hydraulic remotes, planetary final drives, expandable dozer blade and two-speed travel selection, the MiniDig700 has
the features of much larger machines in a smaller package. Digging depth is 63 inches. A slightly larger MiniDig 1000 is also available.
GREAT VISIBILITY
Terex 8 www.terex.com
The 18-horsepower Terex TC20 compact crawler excavator is designed with a top-mounted boom cylinder to provide maximum protection during operation. The boom on the TC20 is offset to the right in order to provide exceptional visibility to the operator. A quick-couple bucket adaptor makes it easy for bucket and attachment changes, and this unit is plumbed with an auxiliary hydraulic circuit with open (pressureless) retune to provide additional flexibility in adding attachments. The TC20 has an operating weight of 4,455 pounds with a maximum dig depth of eight feet, two inches and a maximum reach of 14 feet, four inches. It has a bucket capacity of 1.38 to 6.18 cubic feet.
Fiori
Polyethylene Tarps
Tarp
Sheet
SHOWCASE
Ditch Witch 8 www.ditchwitch.com
The Charles Machine Works, manufacturer of Ditch Witch underground construction equipment, has introduced a new line of compact and powerful walk-behind trenchers, each of which is designed and manufactured to provide an exceptional return on investment for small business owners, particularly equipment rental companies. The RT12, RT16, RT20, and RT24 are designed for durability and maximum performance with minimal downtime.
The entire line of Ditch Witch walk-behind trenchers incorporates a stacked, in-line hydraulic pump configuration that effectively eliminates vertical shafts and the use of belts and/ or flywheel reduction systems, and ultimately reduces downtime. All Ditch Witch walk-behind trenchers have fully hydrostatic ground drives, with simpleto-use, hydraulic, skid-steer-style steering. They feature a solid, adjustable trail wheel that helps keep the unit stable and reduces breakover when loading, unloading, and travelling over curbs and other uneven terrain. Also, to keep the trencher boom in the ground during operation and/or maintain down pressure when placing the boom in the ground, the trail wheel gives the machine another point of leverage besides the track undercarriage. From the digging teeth to the heavy-duty steel frame, the Ditch Witch organization designs and manufactures virtually every component of its trenchers and other equipment lines at its 30,000-squarefoot manufacturing facility in Perry, Okla. Twelve-, 20-, and 24-horsepower Honda engines power the Ditch Witch RT12, RT20, and RT24, respectively. The RT16 is equipped with a Vanguard Briggs & Stratton engine that performs as well as, or better than, other engines in the 16-horsepower class.
CAN GET THE WHOLE JOB DONE
Bobcat
8 www.bobcat.com
The Bobcat E26 compact excavator has an operating weight of 5,690 pounds and an overall width of 59 inches. The excavator is powered by a 27-horsepower diesel engine that is Interim Tier 4 compliant. The unit’s minimal 0.8 inches of tail overhang allows the machine to fit in tight surroundings, and it leaves a lighter footprint than the 325 and 425 models it replaces. Ideal for landscapers and municipal projects, this excavator complements larger machines when space is constricted, and is perfectly capable of completing entire jobs on its own.
ZERO TAIL SWING
Gehl
8 www.gehl.com
The Gehl Model 383Z features zero-tailswing manoeuvrability without compromising operator comfort or service access. The 383Z has the largest operator’s compartment in its class and the innovative tiltable cab provides excellent service access. Dig depth is 11 feet with 28.8 horsepower at 2,400 RPM. The operating weight with the cab canopy and air conditioning is 8,002 pounds. Dimensions of the 383Z are eight feet, two inches tall by five feet, eight inches wide by 15 feet, 9 inches long. Standard features include an enclosed canopy, advanced hydraulic system, heater, double variable displacement pump, SAE/ISO central pattern selection, an auto twospeed transmission, two-way auxiliary hydraulics with flat-faced couplers, independent boom swing, a third return line and a dozer blade. Optional equipment includes air conditioning, a counterweight, a radio, roof-mounted worklights and a travel arm.
Scaffold Sheeting
• 20’x100’
• reinforced threads Woven into fabric for strength
• transparent to allow Light Penetration
• flexible and easy to Handle
•
Powerblankets
• Ideal for:
• Ground thawing
• 12’x20’
• Hemmed & Grommetted edges
• Heavy Weight Design
• Bright Orange for Visibility
Construction Tarps
• concrete curing Insulated Blankets
• Ideal for construction and Demanding covering applications
• reinforced rope Hem with eyelets every three feet
• Many sizes available
Photo courtesy of Breck scaffold solutions Inc.
COMPACT EXCAVATOR
ERGONOMIC CONTROL CONFIGURATION
The compact excavator range of Volvo EC15C, EC17C, EC18C and EC20C is ready to help customers you tackle all their jobs, from digging trenches and footers to drainage work, loading and site preparation. Each of these mini excavators is built for all-day comfort in the cab and to comfortably fit in and around a wide range of job applications. Top-features of the EC15C mini excavator include a combination of slew and offset controls ensure high performance and smooth operation. Slewing is controlled via the left joystick and the offset movement via a switch on the right joystick. As a result no offset pedal is needed leading to more foot space, increased operator comfort and productivity. The cab is among the most spacious and comfortable in its class and comes with TOPS, ROPS and OPG1 safety structures as standard for optimal operator protection. Along with the excellent all-round visibility, a multi-adjustable operator seat and the clear instrument panel, this cab offers a maximum of comfort and jobsite safety. All service points are easily accessible under the engine hood for increased machine uptime and reduced operating cost. The machine is equipped with levers and travel pedals managed by hydraulic servo controls allowing precise and progressive machine movements. Due to the short pedal
displacement the operator can easily drive the machine with the feet while operating the digging equipment leading to higher productivity and operator comfort. The one-piece cast counterweight offers high wear resistance. Thanks to its high and round shaped design with the integrated engine hood, bonnets and panels are well protected from potential damages when operating on confined sites.
The K008-3 mini-excavator from Kubota has a 10-horsepower engine and a dig depth of five feet, eight inches. It weighs in at just one metric tonne. The auxiliary flow is 5.6 gallons per minute and the bucket breakout is 2,200 pounds. Powerful and dependable, the K008-3’s diesel engine delivers superior horsepower and performance. It offers low noise and vibration levels, exceptional fuel efficiency, and complies with the EPA’s 2008 Tier IV emissions regulations. A TwoPattern Selection System is standard equipment, allowing the operator to select the most familiar operating control pattern, either ISO or SAE. Equipped with a swing angle of up to 60 degrees, the K008-3 lets the operator dig a straight trench along any wall. All the hydraulic hoses are hidden within the boom and dipper arm. By
running inside the dipper arm, the bucket hoses are also well protected from damage. Well-padded and contoured, customers will appreciate the comfort of the operator’s seat, especially during long days of operation. A convenient toeheel pedal lets the operator easily operate both the boom swing and upper-house swivel at the same time. To help perform basic maintenance, the K008-3 comes complete with a toolbox conveniently located under the operator’s seat. The new coolant temperature gauge helps prevent the engine from overheating by keeping the operator informed. Located close to the control levers, a warning lamp lights up when the coolant temperature rises to 115 degrees, and turns off when it falls to 108 degrees or below. A Rollover Protective Structure provides users with an extra measure of safety. It folds down to make for easier transporting and storage of the excavator. By routing its auxiliary hydraulic hoses through the boom, the K0083 no longer requires lengthy hoses when connecting implements. Furthermore, a shorter hose length greatly reduces the risk of snagging and causing damage. A fullopen engine hood and new engine layout makes daily inspection and maintenance of essential components a snap. Mechanics have easy access to the radiator, battery, coolant, fuel filter, and dual-element air-cleaner. To enable passage through narrow spaces such as doorways and gates, the adjustable width track frame can reduce the K008-3’s track width down to two feet, four inches by simply operating a single lever. Plus, changing the blade width is as easy as removing one pin by hand.
POWER IN LIMITED SPACE
Hyundai Construction 8 www.hceamericas.com
Operators appreciate the versatility, comfort and productivity of Hyundai Construction’s line of compact radius excavators. These state-of-the art earthmoving machines are perfect for tight, confined job sites and designed for maximum performance. For projects requiring small excavators, the R27Z-9 and R35Z-9 zerotail-swing models offer a tail-swing radius of 2.7 feet and 2.1 feet, respectively. This gives users a choice for easy, efficient operation on sites where space is tight. The 6,350-pound R27Z-9 is powered by a reliable 23.1-horsepower Mitsubishi S3L2 engine. The machine has a dig depth of eight feet, two inches and bucket-digging force of 4,520 foot-pounds. The R35Z-9 weighs 8,050 pounds and is powered by a 26.5-horsepower Yanmar 3TNV88, water-cooled, fourcycle engine. The R35Z-9 has a dig depth of 10 feet, four inches and a bucket digging force of 7,050 foot-pounds. You can select rubber or steel tracks on either the R27Z-9 or the R35Z-9. In the middle of the Hyundai compact radius lineup are the 13,010-pound R60CR-9 and 18,410-pound R80CR-9 compact radius models. The tail-swing radius
of the R60CR-9 is a tight 3.7 feet, while the R80CR-9 is just 4.2 feet. The large size and nimble manoeuvrability make these models ideal for light construction, utility, demolition, landscaping and other applications where space is limited, but power is needed. Both models are powered by the fuel-efficient Yanmar 4TNV98 diesel engine. This engine gives the R60CR-9 model 55.2 horsepower and 58.2 horsepower for the R80CR-9. The dig depth for the R60CR-9 reaches 11 feet, nine inches. The R80CR-9 offers a dig depth of 13 feet.
RECONFIGURED FOR EASIER USE
The five new compact-radius Cat E Series mini hydraulic
excavators – 303.5E CR, 304E CR, 305E CR, 305.5E CR and 308E CR SB – all use new engines that meet Stage IIIA/ Tier 4 Interim emissions regulations and incorporate new features such as the COMPASS control panel, standard high-ambient cooling package, more efficient auxiliary hydraulics, and redesigned control layout. The new models are designed to carry on the solid performance of their D Series predecessor, while adding even greater value for the customer.
All the E Series models are equipped with a new digital control panel that is specially designed for Cat mini excavators – COMPASS – Complete Operation, Maintenance, Performance And Security System. Built into the COMPASS monitor are an anti-theft system, which requires a five-digit alphanumeric password to start the machine, and an economy mode feature (3.5to 5.5-ton machines), which potentially can lower fuel use up to 20 per cent by adjusting engine speed. An automatic engine-idle system drops
engine RPM to idle after four seconds of inactivity.
Also available through the COMPASS panel is a continuous-flow feature for auxiliary hydraulics, which maintains selected flow without operator intervention. An adjustable auxiliary-flow control for work tools also is new. Both main-line and optional secondary auxiliaryhydraulic systems can be adjusted on a scale of 1-15 via the monitor for added control when handling, for example, a tilting bucket/coupler or thumb. Also, a number of different work-tools come preset into the control panel for the operator to choose.
Other refinements for the five E Series models include a standard high-ambient cooling package, electric fuelpump-priming system, a fourpost canopy (3.5- to 5.5-ton machines), new ergonomic joysticks, and relocation of a number of controls for operator convenience, for example, two-speed travel switch to the blade lever, secondary auxiliary hydraulic engagement to the left joystick, and manual pattern changer from the floor to the COMPASS
monitor.
All new E Series machines use an end-damping system in both the boom and stick cylinders to reduce shock loads and to reduce material spillage. E Series sticks are thumb-ready, with brackets welded in place and relief valves already built into the main valve.
The 308E CR SB will be available only in a swing boom configuration. The new model is designed with enhanced stability, compared with its predecessor, and, optional counterweights are available for use in extreme situations when added stability is required. The 308E CR SB also gets a 17-per cent boost in engine horsepower, which translates into faster hydraulics for improved travel speed, maneuverability and grade climbing.
In addition, the 308E CR SB is fitted with a larger cab than its D Series predecessor, and is available only as a cab model, with standard air conditioning, heated air suspension seat, and radio. Other E Series models can be configured as a four-post ROPS canopy or with a cab.
You can’t afford to be lukewarm
by Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender
Once the service bar is set, beware of going under it.
Recently, a waitress scowled at Rich when he told her the coffee burned his mouth. She said, “Listen honey, nobody wants lukewarm coffee.” Know what? She’s right. Lukewarm doesn’t cut it anywhere. Now, before you read any more of this column we want you to get up and pour yourself a nice glass of lukewarm water. Take a sip. You are probably agreeing with our waitress right about now: lukewarm is bland. And it is disappointing. Especially when you are expecting some over-the-top, white-hot service ... er, water. You get the picture.
White-hot customer service is a good thing, and when you consistently deliver it, customers form a higher level of expectations for your store. Once you achieve that level of superior service, you can never let your guard down, because that service level is now your norm. If a customer returns to your store and is disappointed for whatever reason, their experience becomes lukewarm. That single little slip will hurt your reputation more than if the customer came to the store expecting lukewarm service.
You are only as good as a customer’s last experience in your store.
We decided to test this theory, so we held a focus group to discuss service levels in a few particular stores. After much discussion, we sent our focus group participants to a store with a reputation for superior customer service, and to a similar store with a not-so-great service reputation.
At store number one, the superior service store, our shoppers received “just OK” service.
At store number two, the one with the
reputation for inferior service, they got just what they expected. Now, here is the problem. Or the opportunity. Each of our shoppers voiced disappointment with the first store because they didn’t get the superior service they expected. They were, however, fully satisfied with their shop- ping experience in the second store. When we dug deeper, the thing that amazed us was that even though their service experience in the first store was not up to their expectations, it was still viewed as far better than the service in the second store. They felt good about their experience in the second store, but they were angry at the first store for letting them down. Go figure.
Do not doubt that these perceptions play into how much business you get. A recent study by Polaris Market Research found that 72 per cent of shoppers said they would tend to be loyal to a company that treated them well.
On that rare occasion that your store associates don’t deliver knockout customer service, your customers feel let down. And every retailer knows you are only as good as a customer’s last experience in your store. Once you have committed to move the service bar up a few notches above the competition, you cannot afford to let your guard down. Your service reputation, no matter how good it is, has nowhere else to go but up. It is hard, but that is reality.
Tiffany’s service is not lukewarm; Starbuck’s service is not lukewarm; Nordstrom’s service isn’t lukewarm; and neither is yours.
This year, vow to be better than ever. Write a customer service standard for all to follow, and put it in a place where no associate can miss it. Talk about it every day. Reward associates when they consistently carry your customer service torch. And throw out whatever’s merely lukewarm . . . for good. CRS
Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender are nationally recognized experts on customer service, customer retention strategies, “messing with the media,” and everything retail. Contact them by e-mail at info@kizerandbender.com.
REVIEWS OF HATZ SMOKE FREE ENGINES ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD.
While others are having a devil of a time meeting the latest U.S emission standards, Hatz has risen to the next generation of Tier IV Final engines. It’s almost supernatural how our engineers eliminated over 90% of nitrogen oxides (nox) and particulate matter (pm) from our emissions to get approval from those on high. But it’s all part o Hatz commitment to keep making a complete line of worldwide emission-compliant engines. So power your equipment with Hatz Tier IV Engines and you’ll be a saint with the higher powers.
SJIII 3226 SCISSOR LIFT
A standard 0,9 m roll out extension deck and an industry leading 900 lb capacity.
The SJIII 3226 DC Electric Scissor Lift offers high capacity and a large platform area, making it suitable for any on-slab application. Featuring variable speed rear wheel hydraulic drive, the SJIII 3226 offers a working height up to 9,9 m and 30% gradeability. It comes equipped with a standard 0,9 m roll out extension deck and can be driven at full height.
The SJIII 3226 can also access through standard doorways.
