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Serving the Canadian rental industry for 45 years.
4
EDITORIAL
Our business calls for a more cautious approach to technology uptake than some.
The bird’s eye view of where the lift business is going from aerial giant, JLG.
www.canadianrentalservice.com
Retaining employees means keeping them challenged. by Russ Dantu
6
INDUSTRY NEWS
Stockholder reports from the multinationals...Skyjack changes production strategy... White’s unionizes...
24
MYTHBUSTING TELEMATICS
Those flashy screens on all the new equipment might be more useful and less complicated than you think.
WENT HONG
Traffic control PPE dos, don’t and requirements. by James Hong
12 LIFT OFF
Three entrepreneurs plus a hot construction sector make for rapid growth in southern Ontario. 26 2023 AERIAL EQUIPMENT SHOWCASE 30
SNOOK’S LOOK
Let’s get our aggregate supplies closer to our projects. by Andrew Snook
Move slow and protect things
by Patrick Flannery
The rental industry has a particular attitude toward new technology uptake.
Aquick flip through our pages this month brings a recurring theme to mind: the constant flow of new technology into the world of construction and tools. In just the 12 years I’ve been editing this magazine, I’ve seen Tier VI diesel, lift load sensing, virtual reality training, telematics, lithium battery power, remote and automated equipment control, digital vehicle security and a whole suite of software advances either introduced or expand hugely in importance and market penetration. Yet many of these technologies are still not seen in the average rental fleet. Why?
This issue includes a discussion of telematics from our friends at Finning. Interestingly, they’ve framed it as debunking four myths about the technology. When you feel you need to address myths, you know you’ve encountered some resistance in the marketplace.
The benefits of delivering the “gee whiz” factor pale next to the risks.
This issue also includes an item about the big changes at Skyjack as one of Canada’s home-grown lift manufacturers moves to become a global producer, opening and expanding factories around the world to take advantage of regional conditions. The big change on the product side is Skyjack’s launch of its E-Drive scissors, incorporating AC brushless drive motors to replace its hydraulic drives. Skyjack admits it waited longer than many other lift manufacturers to do this. But its attitude toward the change reflects, in my view, the company’s profound connection to the rental industry (Skyjack only sells to rental stores). They clearly wanted to make sure everything was perfect and would work well before launching the product. They wanted to make sure their existing customers would still be able to maintain the new drives with as shallow a learning curve as possible. And they wanted to
avoid any major cost increase. To ensure all this, the company assumed the risk of being late to market and looking like it was behind its competition.
This cautious, incremental approach is the same way most rental stores approach technology change. First, do no harm. We all want to give our customers better equipment that will do more for them. But the benefits of delivering the “gee whiz” factor pale next to the risks of delivering something that the customer can’t figure out how to use or breaks under the abuse our fleet inevitably takes or gives our service teams struggles to fix or just doesn’t work as advertised. You’re going to have some heavy lifting moving a rental store manager off the solution that he and his team understand inside and out and that has worked reliably for years. The nature of the business makes us conservative. It’s our profits at stake, after all, not to mention our reputation. Visiting the spring equipment shows, you’d think the entire industry was going to be powered by lithium batteries in the next year or two. In reality, maybe not so much.
Read our back page column carefully this time. This is not the Snook you’re looking for. Adam Snook, owner of JustBins in Regina, has taken a hiatus from his excellent Hope Is Not A Plan column citing extreme busy-ness. Stepping in for now is Andrew Snook, an old colleague of mine here at Annex Business Media who has thrown off the shackles of corporate publishing and now roams the world as a freelance journalist and novelist. His background includes editing Rock to Road (aggregates and roadbuilding), Canadian Forest Industries, On Site and Crane and Hoist, among others. So Andrew is well positioned to give us some thoughts on the industries and markets we care about. I just hope you’re not snookered by the similar names. CRS
skyjack.com/simply-more
INDUSTRY NEWS
WHITE’S UNIONIZES
Workers at William F. White International, a division of Sunbelt Rentals, have voted in favour of joining the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, a union representing support workers in the entertainment industry. The union says “concerns over job security, wages and a changing work culture inspired these workers to come together to improve their working conditions by forming a union.”
“We are very excited to welcome workers from White’s into the IATSE”, said John Lewis, IATSE international vicepresident and director of Canadian affairs. “Our members interact with these workers on a daily basis, and it only makes sense that they begin to receive benefits and representation similar to other IATSE film and television workers.”
William F. White International is a national film equipment provider, offering services in several provinces. To date, only those workers at the Toronto location have joined the union. “The industry works best when workers are paid and treated equitably,” said Lewis, adding, “There is real strength and benefit when workers come together.”
SMALL BUSINESS TO FEDS: EXTEND CEBA DEADLINE
More than 30,000 business owners have signed a petition by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business calling for an extension to the current Canada Emergency Business Account repayment deadline. Only four months are left until the CEBA repayment deadline on Dec. 31. If the CEBA loan is not repaid by then, small business owners will lose the $20,000 forgivable portion and pay the entire amount at a five percent interest rate. CFIB has sent a joint letter to deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, calling for more time to repay CEBA loans while keeping the forgivable portion. More than 250 business associations from coast to coast and across all sectors signed on. CFIB’s research shows that one-fifth of all businesses in Canada — nearly 250,000 small businesses — could be at risk of closing their doors next year unless the federal government changes the deadline. CFIB is pushing the federal government to extend the repayment deadline for the CEBA loan to the end of December 2025 or at least 2024. Business owners can sign CFIB’s petition to extend the repayment deadline at cfib-fcei.ca.
CANADIAN REVENUE FORECAST BUMPED UP
The American Rental Association has released an updated forecast for the construction and industrial equipment rental industry. In the quarterly update, the ARA presented significant changes in the economic forecast, particularly for construction and industrial equipment (CIE) rental revenues. In the previous forecast, North American CIE rental revenue was expected to reach $45.5 billion in 2023 and $46.7 billion in 2024. With new considerations, the CIE rental revenue is expected to total $56 billion this year and $59 billion in 2024. With current CIE forecasts including both traditional and specialty rental as the new industry measure, Canadian CIE rental revenues are expected to reach $4.4 billion in 2023 as opposed to previous forecasts totaling $3.7 billion. In 2024, Canadian CIE rental revenue is predicted to total $4.4 billion, an increase from the previous forecast of $3.8 billion. Canadian general tool equipment rental revenue is down slightly from the last forecast at $991 million. However, stronger growth is expected in 2024 and beyond as the forecast indicated 2024 revenue at $1 billion.
There are two factors underpinning these changes. The first is the data on non-residential construction spending used in the model and the second is the increasing importance of specialty rental to overall rental revenues. Recent analysis by economists at the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has suggested that data for non-residential construction spending produced by the U.S. Census Bureau has underestimated non-residential construction spending by at least 20 percent since the second quarter of 2021.
“The Fed economists’ analysis is both well-reasoned and analytically sound and we believe that this new information needs to be included in our revised forecast,” says John McClelland, ARA vice-president for government affairs and chief economist. “The second change in our forecast is the inclusion of information about specialty rentals, which has been a growing trend. Recent work by our partners at S&P Global has constructed a 10-year time series of specialty rental from multiple data sources. Incorporating this new information into our model now gives specialty rentals a larger share among the variables that forecast CIE revenues.”
In the United States general tool market, rental revenue growth will slow through 2023, totaling $14.9 billion this year. This is driven by weakness in residential construction markets. Growth in 2024 is predicted to slow as well, with revenues equaling $15.7 billion in 2024.
SKYJACK EXPANDING GLOBAL PRODUCTION CAPACITY
Gerry Clementino is operations manager at Skyjack’s Guelph, Ont., plant. Production restructuring will see this plant focus on vertical masts, DC and RT scissors and R&D.
Skyjack has outlined a large program of activities that has led to a global transformation of its manufacturing footprint in the last year. The program goal is a global unit capacity increase of 235 percent globally when compared to 2022 capacity and will take the number of manufacturing plants from two in Canada to five globally with new facilities in China, Hungary and Mexico.
Skyjack president Ken McDougall comments, “Prior to COVID we were pushing the boundaries at our Canadian plants to the extent that we had simply had no more space. COVID itself brought a new series of challenges that highlighted the need to revisit supply chain and logistics structures with a view to more localization.”
The initial phase of development has seen an increase in fabrication and vertical integration at the company’s Canadian plants. These changes will see a focus on the production of vertical masts, DC and RT scissors, with telehandlers and booms moving to the new plant in Mexico. Skyjack will also develop the Canadian plants as an innovation hub that will see an increased advanced engineering structure and the co-ordination of design and development activities across the company’s regional structure, now consisting of three regional business units: Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. In 2022 Skyjack announced its intentions to open manufacturing facilities in China. This new facility is scheduled to be in production in third quarter 2023. Last year also saw increased activity in Europe as Skyjack expanded in Oros, Hungary. The facility offers 113,000 square feet of space. Production of the new SJ45 AJ and SJ60 AJ articulating boom product started in October 2022 and the plant is destined to supply articulating booms, telescopic booms, DC and compact RT scissors to Europe. January 2023 saw the first telehandler come off the production line of the new Skyjack Mexican plant. Located in Ramos Arizpe, Skyjack’s Mexican plant has two phases. Phase one sees a 200,000 square foot plant for telehandlers and booms, with the focus of production aimed at the Americas region. Phase Two, which has already been initiated, will see an additional 490,000 square feet of space.
McDougall updated progress on the transformation program in a recent interview with Canadian Rental Service. “We’re pretty much on target, a little bit behind in a couple areas in terms of timing,” he explained. “Phase One Mexico’s running. Phase Two is well underway. We’re getting ready to, later this fall, open up the whole facility. And then we’ll start into our Phase Two of the move, which will be some new production. As a function of opening Phase One Mexican production we were able to move compact RT production in Canada into a larger footprint and be able to expand capacity. In Europe, we’ve got two models running now. We have articulated booms and will have compact RTs running by the end of the year and then into other scissors into next year. Again, that will open up North American capacity for the North American operations. And those machines will be supplied into Europe. so that production goes into the in-market. The market philosophy we’re working with won’t be 100 percent because we will still be exporting machines from country to country. But we’ll be minimizing freight. In China we’re well underway, we’re already making compact machines – 15- to 19-foot scissors. So everything’s marching along quite nicely.”
COMING EVENTS
2023
Sept. 12
Ontario CRA Golf Guelph, Ont. crarental.org
Sept 14
CRA BC Region Meeting Richmond, B.C. crarental.org
Oct. 23 - 24
ARA Women in Rental and Young Professional Network Clearwater Beach, Fla. ararental.org
2024
Feb. 1 - 3
CRA National Rental Show Ottawa crarental.org
Feb. 15 - 16
Canadian Concrete Expo Toronto canadianconcreteexpo.com
Feb. 18 - 21
The ARA Show New Orleans, La. arashow.org
March 26 - 27 Quebexpo Drummondville, Que. crarental.org
March 27 - 28
Atlantic Heavy Equipment Show Moncton, N.B. ahes.ca
Sept. 17 - 18
Canadian Rental Mart Calgary canadianrentalmart.com
Check canadianrentalservice.com for updated listings of industry Coming Events
INDUSTRY NEWS
MULTINATIONAL FIRST HALF RESULTS ROUNDUP
The three largest publicly traded multinational rental corporations have released their stockholder reports for second quarter of 2024. Here are exerpts from their investor bulletins.
United
United reported rental revenue of $2.981 billion at a margin of 16.6 percent. Year-over-year, fleet productivity decreased two percent. Gross rental capital spending was $2.048 billion. Rental revenue increased 21.1 percent year-over-year to a second quarter record of $2.981 billion, reflecting broad-based strength of demand across the company’s end-markets and the impact of the Ahern Rentals acquisition. General rentals segment rental revenue increased 22.5 percent year-over-year, including the impact of the Ahern Rentals acquisition, to a second quarter record of $2.189 billion. Rental gross margin decreased by 270 basis points year-over-year to 36 percent, primarily due to the impact of the Ahern Rentals acquisition. Specialty rentals segment rental revenue increased 17.3 percent year-over-year to a second quarter record of $792 million. Rental gross margin increased by 240 basis points to 48.6 percent, primarily due to better cost performance and fixed cost absorption on higher revenue.
Herc
Herc Holdings reported equipment rental revenue was $702 million and total revenues were $802 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $605 million and $640 million, respectively, for the same period last year.
Larry Silber, president and CEO, said, “In the second quarter, Team Herc increased equipment rental revenue by 16 percent on 7.8 percent higher pricing, despite continued supply chain inefficiencies and labour disruptions in the film and television industry, which has all but halted our studio entertainment business. Growth in national account revenue and local market expansion through acquisitions and greenfield locations drove rental revenue higher, while strong returns on fleet sales represented an incremental benefit to total revenue. This, coupled with cost efficiencies, supported a 24 percent increase in adjusted EBITDA year over year. Our nonresidential and industrial markets are healthy and growing with outsized opportunities coming from federally funded, largescale infrastructure and mega projects. The favourable market environment coupled with our expanding branch network, broad selection of premium equipment, leading customer experiences, comprehensive fleet management services and advanced technologies position us to continue to capture abovemarket growth in 2023 and over the long-term,” said Silber.
Sunbelt
Sunbelt reports that as of June 30 the company’s total fleet was approximately $6.2 billion at original equipment cost. Average fleet at OEC in the first half increased year-over-year by 27 percent compared to the prior-year period. Average
fleet age was 46 months as of June 30 compared to 49 months in the comparable prior-year period. Group revenue was up 24 percent with U.S. rental revenue up 24 percent. Sunbelt added 165 locations in North America with $3.8 billion in capital invested in the business up from $2.4 billion in 2022. $1.1billion was spent on 50 bolt-on acquisitions.
Brendan Horgan, CEO of Sunbelt parent company, Ashtead, said, “We are executing well against all actionable components of our strategic growth plan in end markets which remain strong. We invested $3.8 billion in capital across existing locations and greenfields. In addition, we spent $1.1 billion on 50 bolt-on acquisitions which, when combined with greenfield openings, added 165 locations in North America. This significant investment is enabling us to take advantage of the substantial structural growth opportunities that we see for the business as we deliver our strategic priorities to grow our general tool and specialty businesses and advance our clusters. We enter the final year of Sunbelt 3.0 with clear momentum in strong end markets, which are enhanced by the increasing number of mega projects and recent U.S. legislative acts. We are in a position of strength, with the operational flexibility and financial capacity to capitalise on the opportunities arising from these strong markets and ongoing structural change.”
Canada’s rental-only revenue increased 20 percent to $548 million Canadian, up from $456 million in 2022. Markets are robust and the major part of the Canadian business is growing in a similar manner to the U.S. with strong volume growth and rate improvement, in a good rate environment. As highlighted previously, the lighting, grip and lens business was affected by market uncertainty, with the threat earlier this financial year of strikes by production staff in Vancouver, resulting in productions being delayed or moved elsewhere. Rental revenue increased 22 percent to $696 million, while Canada’s total revenue was $827 million.
Canadian business continues to develop and enhance its performance as it invests to expand its network and broaden its markets. However, this ongoing investment, including greenfields, acquisitions and the infrastructure of the business, combined with drag from the lighting, grip and lens business, contributed to an EBITDA margin of 40.7 percent (45 percent in 2022) and a segment profit of $167 million ($144 million in 2022) at a margin of 20.2 (22.9 percent in 2022). Capital expenditure for the year was $3,772 million gross and $3,105 million net of disposal proceeds. This was slightly ahead of plan as the company took delivery of $100 million of planned first quarter 2023/24 deliveries early. Accordingly, Sunbelt has reduced its plan for 2023/24 by $100 million. As a result, the group’s rental fleet in April at cost was $16 billion and its average fleet age is now 35 months. Reflecting the early first quarter fleet deliveries, the plan for 2023/24 now is for gross capital expenditure to be in the range of $3.9 to 4.3 billion.
EquipmentWatch is a trusted source for heavy equipment data and intelligence, producing leading database information products for the construction equipment industry. It is a world leader in heavy construction research and serves more than 15,000 professional, high-volume users of construction and lift-truck data. Find more heavy equipment intelligence at equipmentwatch.com.
Cross-Canada Rate Report
The Cross-Canada Rate Report is provided to Canadian Rental Service as a free service to the Canadian rental industry. Rate data shown are national averages generated by quarterly surveys of hundreds of Canadian rental companies. Rates shown are reported list rates and may not reflect the actual changes to any particular customer. For in-depth analysis, subscribe to CounterTalks at canadianrentalservice.com or through your favourite podcasting service.
Number of rental companies:
Number of stores:
Number of rates collected in Q2 2023:
LIFT OFF
CanLift achieves steady growth in southern Ontario.
When Ryan Fitzgibbon and Johnny Dragicevic were hanging out as teens, the last thing they might have imagined was that they’d co-found an extremely successful rental business with Johnny’s younger brother, Marko, some years down the road.
by TREENA HEIN
RIGHT: Vito Lattanzio positions a Genie in CanLift’s spacious back shop. The company has expanded three times since 2009 and now lives in a purpose-built facility on 3.6 acres of land housing over 900 lifts.
It’s been a smooth ride, though a lot of hard work of course and not without risk. But from the start, the biggest challenge these partners have had to face is how to handle the growth of their firm, CanLift Equipment in Burlington, Ont.
You could say Marko’s career choice was what led the three to co-found CanLift in 2009 (with a fourth partner, Jacob Fuller). Marko was working as a mechanic and operations manager at a smaller independent rental firm focused mostly on lifts. Johnny was also helping out with sales and operations while working on his career in real estate. Johnny reached out to Jacob and Ryan (who were business partners in an online marketing company) to do some on-line lead generation when the majority of rental companies were still relying on traditional print advertising to attract new customers.
Somewhere around 2008, Marko and Johnny had decided to purchase a few lifts of their own, having established an arrangement with the rental firm owner to share rental profits from this equipment. But when the downturn of 2008
hit, they were eventually downsized from their roles. By spring of 2009, the four friends decided to capitalize on their collective knowledge one evening sitting in Johnny’s backyard, laying the groundwork for a rental firm of their own.
“There was a lot of equipment available on the market due to the crash, and we bought a few dozen lifts from various places,” Johnny explains. “It was a really great opportunity to build a fleet at a low cost.” And so, CanLift Equipment was born.
They then found a small building to rent in Oakville to house their operations, shared with a contractor customer. Johnny and Marko were full time with day-to-day operations while Ryan and Jacob worked to launch the business with a website and other marketing tools. In less than a year, they’d outgrown their building, found a new one-acre site with a 10,000-square-foot building on it and moved in. They also started to hire more staff for serving customers and delivery.
But again, they rapidly outgrew their location. As luck would have it, the same person they were renting from had another, larger,
property to rent in nearby Burlington, with a 24,000-square-foot shop on 2.3 acres. It became home for the next few years – but again, they grew. In 2017, the partners purchased land and built a new building of roughly the same size but on 3.6 acres. They now have 900 pieces of aerial work platform equipment in their fleet, and more on order.
“Our customers range from everything from manufacturing, commercial and industrial clients to a few residential contractors,” says Marko. “We have about 45 staff now, with 15 of those being mechanics. That includes staff at our London location, which we opened in 2012.”
Their secret to success has been simple: Hard work and an incredible staff, dedicated to unparalleled customer service.
USING TIME WISELY
The new building at the present location was officially opened in February 2020, just in time for implementation of lockdowns related to COVID-19. “It was scary,” says Ryan, “but we used our time to dive into all of our procedures. We
looked at how we could do things differently, how we could handle equipment more efficiently and, across the company, doing more with less.”
In retrospect, as for other firms, the lockdowns were a blessing in disguise. “It forced us to re-evaluate and streamline,”
says Ryan. “We laid off staff at that point, but they were soon back as CanLift was declared essential.” Since then, business has been busier than ever, with the staff level increasing from 30 in 2020 to its present 45.
“Construction and manufacturing have
More Availability
Richard Reginio is one of 15 mechanics CanLift employs to keep the lifts in top shape.
PROFILE
From left, Sylvia Ventresca, Jen Kucan, Adel Lattanzio and Kevin Farr keep things running smoothly in the office.
been booming in the area since we started the business,” Johnny explains. “There’s lots happening: massive projects in electric vehicle manufacture, greenhouses, hospitals, warehouses. Our customers tell us they are booked solid for three years, so our forecast is great. Along the way, our salespeople have done a
great job at growing the business organically, and Ryan has done a lot through online channels to accelerate our growth. And we’ve always had a reputation for being a Mom-and-Pop business that serves our Mom-and-Pop customers really well.”
Ryan adds, “Our customers want to be able to talk to the owner and that’s what we give them. When people call, they get another human being. It sets us apart from the corporate firms.”
But do Johnny and Marko take equal turns fielding equipment-related calls after hours or on Sundays? “Well, Marko is seven years younger than me and Ryan, so he has to take more of the calls and show respect for his elders,” laughs Johnny.
MANAGING GROWTH
The supply chain has been tight the last three years, especially for parts, which has presented challenges for CanLift as it has grown. But growth has also meant adding more staff, another tough challenge for the firm and one that Marko, Ryan and Johnny have addressed in several ways.
Years ago, they had sponsored a relative of Johnny’s wife to immigrate from Serbia and work for CanLift as a mechanic. At the time, they didn’t think of using that hiring strategy again, but a few years ago an equipment contact in South America asked if they needed mechanics. Through an immigration lawyer, CanLift has now offered immigration employment contracts to three
other mechanics, from Argentina, Brazil, and just recently, Columbia. These employees enjoy the same very competitive salaries and excellent benefit package that CanLift has in place to both recruit and retain its other workers.
“Our employee retention is very high,” says Ryan, “with great wages and benefits and a great company culture. We’ve had quite a few people come to us from other rental companies looking for a more positive work environment. We have flexible hours in the shop and our team knows that if they have any issues, they can speak to us directly. We have staff barbeques and breakfasts regularly, and lots of swag (company caps, toques, t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, even socks) which everybody likes. We also have a group RRSP program, we permit leaves from work where needed, and we made sure to have some mental health supports within the benefits coverage. We want to ensure good physical and mental health and that means a good work-life balance.”
But of course, this isn’t always easy to achieve in the rental business. “We have after-hours emergencies and sometimes have to work a lot of the weekends,” Marko says. “There can be early mornings and late nights, but we lead by example.”
REFLECTING ON THE JOURNEY
For Ryan, what’s been most rewarding is seeing their brand progressively get more well-recognized all across Ontario. “The CanLift brand – the logo ideas that are always evolving, the website, the swag – I’m involved in the design and production of it all,” he says. “I love seeing staff proudly wearing our branded clothing, and seeing our equipment on the road, on job sites all across Ontario. Staff, friends and family are always sending me pictures of equipment they’ve spotted. I’m also very proud of our company culture. Our staff are all very close and loyal. We are one big happy family. It’s also very, very rewarding for me to build a brick-and-mortar business compared to my career before, which was purely in e-commerce, software development and
online marketing.”
For Marko, customer satisfaction and retention is among what’s most rewarding. “Providing equipment is just one facet of our business, and having a mechanical background I know that anything with moving parts can fail at any given time,” he says. “It’s the customer support and expectations to have that equipment reliable and up and running with minimal downtime that’s instrumental in their satisfaction and confidence in Canlift as a trusted partner. When long-standing customers refer us to their colleagues, it makes me happy for our team and the hard work they put in to continually achieve this. We could never have reached these heights without putting our customers first and our team should be very proud of that!”
For Johnny, one of the most gratifying things is the journey. “From a backyard conversation to a greenfield startup to where we are today 14 years later has been nothing short of exhilarating,” he says. “The ups and downs (pun intended) of owning and running a lift business is always a learning curve, one that can never be done alone. We are very thankful for our wonderful and dedicated staff. They were all instrumental in getting us to where we are today. It starts with having drivers and dispatch on site before 5 a.m. to mechanics working late into the evening to have equipment ready yet again for a 5 a.m. start, to all the work behind the scenes that goes on all day to produce the customer satisfaction we like to see. Nothing makes me more proud than the team effort that gets us over the goal line day in and day out.”
The next growth goal is how to expand the London location. “We need more land there, and we may add another new location, as soon as the end of this year,” says Johnny. “We’d also like to add more branches throughout southwestern Ontario in future.” CRS
Find more photos from our visit to CanLift on Instagram at crs.magazine
WHAT WENT HONG
All about the yellow vest
by James Hong
There’s more to traffic control PPE than meets the eye.
Keeping your staff and customers safe when delivering and servicing roadside fleet requires a knowledge of personal protective equipment. And there are some twists particular to traffic control PPE, so here are some things you should know.
When planning any job, including traffic control projects, it is always necessary to do a risk assessment coupled with legislative jurisdictional checks prior to deciding which class of visibility apparel is required. All construction workers including traffic control persons are always required to wear personal protective equipment specific to their assigned task. They should always wear items with the CSA standard. A CSA symbol on the safety gear means it’s been tested against accepted North American standards.
There are three types of reflective material used to maximize visibility. Retro-reflective material bounces back light from the light source. This works extremely well with vehicle headlights and other job site work lights at night. Fluorescent material requires a natural source of sunlight to function; ultraviolet rays from the sun have a reaction with the fluorescent colours which increases visibility. This interaction is most effective in poor lighting conditions. The third type of material known as combined-performance material is often but not always a fluorescent material that is also reflective. Geek fact: the CSA does not use the term “reflective” because, technically, most surfaces are already reflective. The CSA term is “throw back light.”
There are three classes of safety vests. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety quotes the CSA Standard requiring any high-visibility safety apparel to meet the following criteria for the stripes and bands:
There must be a waist-level horizontal stripe or band that goes completely around the body at the navel or belly button with a minimum width of 50 millimeters. There should also be two vertical
stripes on the front passing over the shoulders and down to the waist. On the back, a symmetric “X” extending from the shoulders to the waist. On Class 3 apparel, stripes or bands encircling both arms and both legs are added. You’d be surprised at how many workers and even site managers are not aware of these standards.
There are standards for the colour background as well. Class 1 apparel requires a minimum of 0.14 square metres of background material. Class 2 and Class 3 apparel requires full coverage of the background material. Background material can be fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, fluorescent red, bright yellow-green or bright orange-red.
Additional to the safety vest are reflective arm and leg bands and strips. The bands provide increased and 360-degree visibility. They are important not only for the public to see workers but also for co-workers and even the worker wearing the PPE to better see their own actions in the case of severely limited visibility. The strips can be applied to any outer clothing, as well as gloves, boots and hard hats. They are an excellent way to stay visible.
Along with PPE protection, depending on the job site environmental hazards, it may be necessary to augment PPE with safety devices such as hearing protection, hard hat chin straps, safety glasses and/or respirators. Additional to safety devices, tools also play a role in safety. For traffic control people, a flashlight with a red signalling wand is required as well as communication tools. For traffic control workers, the minimum self-supplied PPE requirement is CSA-approved safety footwear. Workers should be supplied with all PPE other than the self-supplied minimum. Workers should check it, make sure it fits and not do any job they do not feel safe doing. Be well. Be safe. CRS
James Hong is an OH&S consultant, independent writer and journalist
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MEGATRENDS
Five global megatrends are reshaping the aerial industry.
Over the past few years, the global construction industry has navigated unprecedented times with high highs and low lows brought on by the unanticipated pandemic. As a result, the dynamic on today’s job site has changed and new megatrends have surfaced.
by JLG
RIGHT: Change has accelerated in the global construction industry and jobsite technology is adjusting rapidly. New behaviour, new sustainability expectations and new supply chain constraints are just some of the factors that will shape how our fleets look in the coming years.
In this article, we will outline five megatrends influencing the industry and how each has impacted equipment manufacturers, customers and end-users. We will also highlight some of the changes that businesses may need to be on the lookout for on job sites in the future. Let’s dive in...
When we look at what was impacting our industry pre- pandemic (2015-2020), we identified five key drivers:
• A global marketplace
• The productivity imperative
• The emerging sharing economy
• Our digital future
• An increasingly urban world
Baked within these top five trends was urbanization, the phenomenon of more and more population
moving to urban centers, which was driving demand for product electrification.
When we think about the megatrends for the five years following the pandemic (2021-2025), we see new key influences emerging:
• Shifts in growth and trade
• A stronger societal deal
• Accelerating disruption from multiple sources
• A more digitally powered customer
• New ways of working
Let’s take a closer look at each of these…
MEGATREND
#1: SHIFTS IN GROWTH AND TRADE
Over the last few years, the world has seen a tremendous shift in economic power. Before the
pandemic, the construction industry had become largely dependent on suppliers from a few key countries, which ultimately exposed several long-term risks.
Post-pandemic, it has begun moving towards region-for-region supply chains to create a more diversified supply base, including suppliers from mature, developing and emerging countries, a step toward the industry’s long-term evolution.
The influence of emerging and developing economies in the global society will mean big changes for individual businesses but also the industry as a whole. According to the Institute of Civil Engineers, the global construction market is expected to reach around $8 trillion by the end of 2030, driven by infrastructure development across the U.S., China and India. Combined with the dramatic changes in the industry over the last few years, including the new ANSI standards, supply chain disruptions and the push for electrification in access equipment (including mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers),
the construction industry has seen increased demand for equipment at an alarming rate. That means manufacturers will have to think differently.
“We’ve learned that we need to become more geographically adaptive and agile and, as such, are exploring nearshoring opportunities to regionalize our supply chains and push towards a sustained recovery,” says JLG’s president, Frank Nerenhausen. “Regionalization of our supply chain is a positive economic move, as it’s additive and will result in localized business and job growth.”
With electrification, the transition from internal combustion engines to electric motors, electromechanical actuators and advanced lithium-ion batteries poses its own challenge to aerial lift manufacturers. Because an electric vehicle powertrain has 79 percent fewer moving and wear parts, such a dramatic change means more time and costs spent in research and development. Other modern technology changes, like more sophisti-
TAILORED FOR RENTAL
cated software, telematics and advances in autonomous operation, have accelerated the unique pairing of manufacturing and technology. As a result, outside technology and electronic companies are now entering the industry value chain.
Throughout the changing climate of the construction industry, manufacturing leaders are looking to new technologies and emerging trends to remain competitive. Nerenhausen says, “Our ultimate goal is to stabilize our supply chain without a compromise to product quality.”
That shift in direction has opened the door to new partnerships, industries and economies, especially as tech continues to change the nature of global commerce. Nerenhausen echoes this, saying, “Maintaining a high degree of customer satisfaction amid inflation, supply chain and labour challenges is something that manufacturers have continued to focus on in 2022 as we emerge from what some may refer to as the most chaotic period in our industry’s history.”
TECH TIPS
MEGATREND #2: STRONGER SOCIETAL DEAL
“Connected and sustainable technologies are two of the trends we have really seen take off in the last couple of years,” Nerenhausen continues. “People are being asked to do more with less, in tighter spaces, under stringent time and budget demands in a manner that is minimally disruptive to the environment.” To meet the demands of these geopolitical issues, the construction equipment industry has shifted its intentions and goals, focusing heavily on sustainability, with the aerial market expanding its own narrative.
Sustainability is often described as “saving the planet” or “climate change,” and it recognizes that the environment is an exhaustible resource. But it’s also made up of three other pillars.
Sustainability has been at the forefront of product development for quite some time, with the world moving toward electric vehicles, clean energy and reducing gas and noise emissions. While being more environmentally friendly could be considered the focal point of the movement, other initiatives such as increasing efficiencies and improving productivity are equally as important.
“An interest in alternative energy solutions is a growing focus area across many industries, including the construction industry. JLG sees a varying
degree of shift towards clean energy solutions with a focus on decarbonization,” Nerenhausen says.
According to Barrie Lindsay, JLG director of engineering, utilizing sustainable resources as much as possible in the design, manufacture and marketing of eco-friendly products will help customers who need more “green” solutions to meet new legislation and regulations on emission reductions. “How
than two decades. In fact, JLG’s first hybrid model was introduced more than 25 years ago. And in recent years, demand for both hybrid and electric machines has grown steadily as the industry has looked for ways to respond to existing and future legislation on emissions and noise and to drive down the total cost of equipment ownership. These drivers have changed the aerial market, sparking more interest than ever in owning and operating aerial equipment equipped with the latest electrification technologies, direct drive and/or lithium-ion batteries.
As we move forward, the construction industry will continue to innovate new products and technologies that will inspire change in sustainability practices. Things like batteries, energy recovery, common machine components (such as the motor and control system) and charging systems will all dictate the machines of tomorrow.
can we as a manufacturer respond to the growing pressure our customers are getting from local, regional and country governments for more sustainable job sites? By saying ‘yes’ to electrification,” he adds.
Aerial equipment manufacturers have been offering electric vehicles for more
MEGATREND #3: ACCELERATING DISRUPTION
Technology acceleration, creation and utilization have all been at the forefront of the digital boom. However, while both technology and digitalization advance at an astounding pace, the heavy equipment industry has continued to lag, adopting trends in some instances 10 or
more years after they have been adopted in other industries. While the construction industry has been traditionally slower to adopt than adjacent industries, as we move into the post-pandemic era, companies and manufacturers are thinking about “what’s next” and have begun focusing more on automating processes and technologies
One of the advancements changing construction today is augmented reality, a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. While AR can be used with tablets, helmets or glasses, construction professionals can utilize this technology right from their phones. A variety of mobile applications are now available to harness the power of AR empowering construction crews looking to better interpret machine data, improve productivity and increase equipment utilization.
The hunt for autonomous machines and technologies is not new, however, users have been slow to adopt them, showing a preference for partial “moments of autonomy” instead. Due to consumer hesitation, even the automobile industries have been slow to fully introduce their self-driving cars, instead opting to release autonomous features like adaptive cruise control. In the construction industry, autonomy can aid in repetitive construction tasks that may result in an overuse injury. Now more than ever, manufacturers are searching for ways to boost safety and efficiency using automated solutions. In the construction industry, autonomy can aid in repetitive construction tasks that may result in an overuse injury. Now more than ever, manufacturers are searching for ways to boost safety and efficiency using automated solutions.
In early 2022, JLG announced a developmental partnership with RE2 Robotics to advance the integration of robotics with access equipment to deliver improved operator safety and enhanced productivity on job sites. The initial project the companies are working on together is to produce a remote-controlled aerial lift, with no platform, to
install solar panels. According to Rob Messina, JLG’s senior vice-president of product development and product management, the project with RE2 Robotics represents the first real step toward autonomous aerial lifts. “It is a bridge to autonomy,” he says, “which is currently aspirational. But we’ve seen over the last five years, a tremendous number of companies try to mature technology in the autonomy space.”
And, in the not-too-distant future, that time will come for the construction sector. Messina adds, “These technologies will get closer and closer to being within reach for the construction industry. “We’re at an early stage, although there’s a tremendous amount of interest because if we can be successful here, there’s a clear case for a robot in this application.” While the construction industry hasn’t moved to fully autonomous equipment yet, there have been plenty of flashes of innovation with equipment offering steps toward autonomy.
As we move into the future of construction, manufacturers, companies and consumers alike must work to embrace new technologies despite the learning curve. Technologies like connected solutions and telematics, provide valuable data to facilitate business growth and advance job sites; remote control systems and mobile apps; and sensors, cameras and alert systems. Even newer technologies like exoskeletons and 3D printing will drive change.
“There is substantial observation happening at the job site level to identify the “jobs-to-be-done” that semi- autonomous and eventually fully autonomous equipment will be the solution for,” Messina says. “There’s still a lot of work to be done in this area before we see mainstream use of fully autonomous solutions.” Regardless, he finishes, advancements will continue to make their mark in the industry — one that is always looking for new ways to innovate and improve processes.
Performance From Billy Goat
TECH TIPS
MEGATREND#4: THE DIGITALLY POWERED CUSTOMER
These days, everything is connected to the internet including equipment and other construction-related devices. Because of this, all the associated data is moving to the cloud, making real-time data and information accessible anytime and anywhere. For the construction industry, that means equipment is becoming smarter with more integrated control systems to capture this information. But, how are construction companies receiving and interacting with this data? What are the downfalls? And what’s the best way to use it moving forward?
It’s a common mission amongst construction fleet managers to find ways to make their businesses more productive. Whether that means getting work done faster, reducing equipment downtime, promoting job site safety or eliminating tedious or repetitive tasks, the concerns of wasting time or money are real. Today,
a lot of these challenges can be solved by various technological advancements. However, according to the McKinsey Global Institute’s Digitization Index, construction is among the least digitized sectors in the world. And according to a 2017 report by the MGI, infusing new technology into construction workflows and equipment is one of the key factors that can reverse poor productivity trends.
Unfortunately, some fleet managers still don’t see the potential of the connected job site. For example, some estimates have shown that only 20 to 30 percent of equipment fleet companies leverage telematics on their fleet. Whether it’s fear, cost or unfamiliarity, contractors and businesses throughout the industry have shown signs of hesitancy when it comes to digitally connected technologies and tools.
But technology isn’t stopping, and these tools are only continuing to grow in popularity. So, while some managers will remain stagnant, a large number have recognized that tools such as telematics or access control systems are a wise investment to enhance safety on the job
site and ensure their machines are being operated properly. Moving toward the future, that willingness to connect digitally will progress the construction industry in new and exciting ways.
As we mentioned, access and heavy construction equipment have become increasingly more intelligent through integrated control systems and technologies that enable advanced analytics, active safety and autonomous or assistive operation. What do these systems have in common? Well, many consider the job site of the future to be about two-way, interactive communication. Two-way communication links equipment to operators, remote third parties and other machines on the construction site to automate certain functionalities, speed documentation, deliver information for crews to make faster, more accurate decisions and enable technicians to access information that increases machine uptime. However, the volume of data that can be transmitted through some equipment’s control systems is limited by communications bandwidth and the capabilities of today’s telematics
Auger Drives & Accessories
Automonous equipment would seem to address a lot of today’s issues, but industry hesitancy has slowed its adoption.
hardware. But as they evolve and improve, they’ll enable more enhancements. For example, equipment users will begin to see more real-time data on machine performance and diagnostics during operation. Based on the data, suggestions will be made for improving performance or conducting maintenance. In general, machines will become increasingly effective to operate and maintain.
As connectivity increases, the faster we anticipate the rate of adoption of digital will be in the construction industry. For example, where customers may have resisted new technologies in the past due to concerns around added cost and complexity, we anticipate seeing fewer of those barriers moving forward. Digitally powered users are more willing than ever before to embrace technologies that eliminate pain points and drive efficiencies that provide tangible benefits to their business. As the industry continues to take steps toward connected job sites and data-driven businesses, new opportunities to interact and connect will offer exciting insights into the world of construction.
MEGATREND #5: NEW WAYS TO WORK
The consequences of the pandemic have forced dramatic changes throughout the construction industry in the last few years, including job sites across the world shutting down and then reopening with new safety protocols in place; a workforce shortage; and demand outpacing supply. As a result, businesses have had to reinvent themselves to be prepared for the future. That reinvention has led to a new influx of remote and hybrid work, with many workers desiring to remain remote post-pandemic. In fact, according to professional services firm PwC’s recent remote work survey, almost 55 percent of respondents said they’d like to work remotely at least three days a week. The biggest question moving forward is whether the continuation of remote work is sustainable for the construction industry, or if its evolution will accelerate the adoption of autonomous machinery.
The last few years have seen both employers and employees finding new and creative ways to work outside of the traditional office and job site environments.
“Construction workers are no different from those in adjacent industries in their desire for long-term work flexibility,” says Nerenhausen. “With so many work-from-home jobs now available, companies are quickly adjusting to retain and attract key talent.”
With the ever-present labour shortage and skills gap affect ing the industry, the rise in working remotely has caused an increase in the pool of qualified candidates, as well as shrunk it considerably as workers want more flexibility to look outside the industry. Based on historical U.S. Census Bureau job-to-job flow data, an estimated 1.2 million construction workers left their jobs to work in other industries in 2022. This has inspired many businesses to invest in technologies that inspire close con nection and virtual meetings, as collaboration has proved to be key in remote work. Employees, regardless of age, need digital capabilities to help them thrive. But in an industry that needs to attract nearly hundreds of thousands of additional workers to meet the demand for labour, says a report by the Associated
Builders and Contractors, construction companies have had to look at continuing to craft hybrid work policies.
While remote work has changed the face of the work environment as we know it, it has also opened the door for innovative new tools and technologies. “To stabilize the workforce and facilitate this type of work, look for an increase in autonomous and semi-autonomous robotic features that allow machines to be operated or monitored by a skilled tradesperson at a distance from the work area, perhaps even off-site,” adds Nerenhausen. “Remote project managers and service technicians may also become more commonplace as new digital technologies and applications facilitate the sharing of real-time job site data and machine diagnostics.” The quest to develop more digital tools for customers has become an absolute necessity as well. With the onset of the pandemic, the construction industry had to accelerate nearly five years overnight as it relates to the adoption of virtual.
Moving forward, flexibility and innovation will be the new norms for companies looking to succeed. Cultivating new skills around the tools and technologies aiding business growth, employee retention and hiring will be the next challenge for the industry. But, an open mind around remote work and everything it has to offer will go a long way. CRS
This whitepaper was issued by JLG in January and is reprinted with permission.
MYTHBUSTING TELEMATICS
Telematics can help rental stores stay ahead of the fast pace of change.
The pace of change is quick. Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” But we don’t want you to miss it.
by PETER GIBBONS AND LUIS BRANCO, FINNING CANADA
RIGHT: It’s not just for the big operations any more. Advances in telematics are making the technology more accessible and useful even to small customers.
Telematics can help with equipment troubleshooting, data collection, security and even administative paperwork. Integrating it needn’t be a costly or time-consuming chore, and the result can be a more profitable business. But some persistent myths prevent rental stores from taking full advantage of this technology. Let’s mythbust and find the impacts and barriers.
MYTH
#1 NO ONE EXPECTS TELEMATICS ON RENTED EQUIPMENT
Today, most telematics technology is standard issue on new equipment and the majority of equipment that has been manufactured within the past six to
10 years has telematics already built-in. So, in many instances it’s not a decision about whether or not to install it, it’s a matter of whether or not to turn it on.
Telematics gives companies the ability to track equipment online. With a telematics dashboard, you can track your machine, your hours, fuel level, and you keep the rental fleet healthy with timely servicing and troubleshooting. One of the main considerations when deciding on technology is the level of detail you’d like and frequency. The level of reporting you can choose is flexible and available via monthly subscriptions and ranges from very basic daily reporting to highly detailed reporting, as frequent as every 10 minutes.
Keep in mind, too, that reporting may be mandatory when bidding on projects that are part of civic infrastructure like landfills or airports. Many of these projects depend on precise grading specifications. In those cases, any rented equipment to support those jobs must have telematics. Rented equipment can be seamlessly integrated with the rest of the fleet on the customer’s telematics account, and then removed once the machine is returned.
MYTH #2 I DON’T HAVE TIME TO LEARN IT
In our experience, using telematics with a dealership partner is easier than you might have
expected. Those that do are glad they started down this pathway. In its most basic form, if you have an email address, you can get started generating reports from the machine that are sent to your inbox. In its most sophisticated form, the technology can be as detailed and intricate as you’d like – it can be an ongoing development that goes only as far as you wish. When gaps in operator expertise are uncovered, there are platform specialists that can train and educate your team to increase competence and develop new skills. With telematics, a less experienced or younger operator can operate equipment at a higher, more advanced level. High turnover is a challenge for everyone, but we are finding that telematics is allowing for younger operators to enter the job site and be effective right away.
Any extra time you spend training can be made up because you can troubleshoot equipment in real time. As you become more experienced with the reports and codes you have better knowledge of the fleet and the specifications of the equipment. When codes are being generated it can trigger a real-time alert to an operator. With some codes, you’ll know to send a technician before a breakdown even occurs. When you receive a check engine report and you can send a technician with the right parts to the job site because you have been able to predict a problem before it occurs and you mitigate downtime.
MYTH #3 TELEMATICS ARE FOR BIG COMPANIES
Telematics is for everyone. Really, the best part about it is that it is customizable to the size and scope of your operation. A basic daily subscription is included at zero dollars with some dealerships—and a real win for a smaller operation is the crossover administration benefits from using advanced technology. At a very basic level, telematics is a great theft deterrent and a connected fleet may see some insurance savings. It’s always great to be able to track and locate your equipment. In addition, if you are running a smaller scale company, you may have a smaller administration team, telematics can help with reports. It simplifies invoicing and billing. It allows
you to track fuel, idling, productivity, run time and efficiencies. Your accountant will love the added fleet information. In our experience, once a customer— big or small—starts to explore the different report options, they want more.
MYTH #4: TELEMATICS ARE COMPLICATED
It’s not as complicated as you might think. More and more, telematics are vastly improving operations, reducing downtime, and translating into measurable benefits. Industry is changing and with that comes the need for advanced technology. With our labour market shrinking and more seasoned operators retiring from the field, rental equipment that features telematics is giving companies a great advantage. It’s allowing for more precise work to be performed in the hands of a less experienced operator. Many projects today are requiring tight specifications and the competitive bid process also requires tolerances that can only be achieved with technology—so, it
makes sense with heavy equipment rental. Bottom line, having the option to use advanced technology is important.
Since most advanced technology is standard on much of today’s equipment, engage with your dealership, especially in your rental equipment situations and ask questions. Work in partnership to learn how to customize the reporting because the reporting is simple. It’s delivered to your inbox in an email format with powerful information for your operators and equipment. Make the most of dealer training opportunities and access to additional expertise. Whether your operation is big or small the benefits of using the latest technology are significant—more efficiencies, better profitability and more time to focus on your operation. CRS
About the authors
Peter Gibbons is a technology solutions architect for Finning Canada and Luis Branco is a regional rental manager at Finning Canada.
Booms, scissors, mast climbers, telehandlers...they are the core of your fleet. Here’s the latest technology.
LIFT AND ACCESS SHOWCASE
INDOORS AND OUTDOORS
8 genielift.com
Responding to increasing jobsite regulations and environmental needs, Genie is expanding the availability of its electric S-60 DC and
hybrid S-60 FE boom lifts — lightweight, four-wheel drive electrified telescopic boom lifts in the 60-foot height class. With a working height of 65.1 feet and a 61-foot, two-inch platform height, the S-60 FE and S-60 DC rough-terrain electric boom lifts build on the success of Genie’s FE hybrid and DC electric technology to deliver clean, quiet jobsite performance in two versatile models that require less maintenance and have a lower total cost of ownership. With Genie’s hybrid technology,
the S-60 FE offers all the performance benefits of a four-wheel-drive diesel machine but also delivers the benefits of a clean, quiet electric boom. The S-60 FE can be used indoors and outdoors and work more than one week on a single tank of fuel. Both the S-60 DC and the S-60 FE – when run in full electric mode – deliver a full day’s performance on a single battery charge. Additionally, the FE model’s intelligent control system keeps the batteries charged and the machine ready to work by using both regenerative braking technology and automatic engine start and stop. By charging the batteries while the boom works, jobsites can almost entirely eliminate downtime usually caused by plug-in charging. The S-60 DC model offers a low weight of 17,600 pounds and quiet operation for end users looking for a powerful, all-electric boom. The FE version weighs 17,750 pounds, just slightly more than the DC version, making either boom ideal for applications where floor loading must be managed. High-
efficiency AC drive motors on all four wheels provide similar torque as hydraulic drive motors while using 30-40 percent less energy. Four-wheel drive plus electronic traction management and active oscillating axles enable outstanding performance on uneven terrain with 45 percent gradeability in rough terrain. A 24.8-horsepower DPF-free Stage V engine eliminates the need for after-treatment or low-sulphur fuel, reducing the time and expense of maintenance and repairs while offering instant performance — it takes just seconds to start the engine, delivering instant power and torque when needed. Additionally, maintenance needs are further reduced by a design that has 70 percent fewer hydraulic components and moving parts. Key specifications of the S-60 FE/DC include maximum platform height of 61 feet, two inches and a maximum outreach of 40 feet, six inches, as well as an unrestricted platform capacity of 660 pounds on a six-foot jib that delivers a 130-degree working range.
NOW WITH AC DRIVES 8 skyjack.com
Skyjack has announced the launch of a new range of DC electric scissors featuring AC brushless electric drive motors and other significant design changes. The simply electric range has been launched globally replacing the current hydraulic drive models. The innovative drive system provides exceptional duty cycles and fully proportional controls, which offer a superior drive experience. The new range boasts improved efficiency, controllability, and torque. This means that
productivity is boosted with an improvement of up to 20 percent in runtime per charge. E-Drive provides consistent power, traction and torque, with over 25 percent gradeability, so that climbing loading ramps is easy and all-round job site performance is achieved. All major service points are easily accessible, enabling straightforward troubleshooting and repair. The sealed drive motor is maintenance-free. The motors’ improved efficiency reduces charge time and power consumption, which saves costs and in turn reduces battery maintenance. The drive motors have no oil leakage potential and an optimized hydraulic lift and steer manifold reduces hydraulic connections by 70 percent, further reducing the potential for ground con-
tamination and associated clean-up costs. An optional leak containment system (Ecotray) provides further peace of mind. The new models will feature a new designation carrying “E” to signify E-Drive, for example “SJ3219 E.” In addition, the new range will carry Skyjack’s Eco mark as rental companies and major contractors face increasing demands for sustainability information. With E-Drive, Skyjack has also introduced a new CAN bus-based operating system. While Skyjack’s standard colour-coded and numbered wiring remains, it now combines with an externally visible diagnostic system display. This means that no plug-in tools are necessary for day-today troubleshooting. With the diagnostic display outboard facing, the system can be accessed
without the need to open service trays. It provides real-time data and easy-to-understand machine faults, written in plain and simple language. In addition, the new models see a revised emergency lowering location. A single location, single step, valve actuated emergency lowering toggle switch is integrated on the outside rear of the machine with the other base controls.
MADE WITH THE END-USER IN MIND
8 stellarindustries.com Stellar has introduced the
NXT52 Hooklift. This 52,000pound capacity hoist is the latest telescopic hooklift in the NXT series. The NXT52 is a strong yet lightweight unit capable of loading, unloading and dumping various truck bodies. The hooklift features a Z-channel base design and industry-leading universal body latching system. This system emphasizes flexibility with outside locks that can be moved by loosening the clamp bolts, repositioning and bolting back down. This feature allows the operator to position the body locks in specific locations to accommodate body locks that may not be in the correct spot. The versatility of this system eliminates the need to cut locks off, re-weld or repaint. In addition to the universal latching system, the NXT52 features a universal hydraulic reservoir. The reservoir can be mounted in various positions on the unit to avoid any workaround needs in the instance that there are chassis items that may interfere with normal reservoir mounting. Similar to all Stellar hooklifts, the NXT52 is completely manufactured in the U.S. This unit has a 54/61.75-inch hook height and rectangular style secondary jib. With approximately a 10.5-inch lost load height, Stellar offers a low profile, providing a lower vertical centre of gravity and the ability to accommodate down to six-inch subframe heights. This hooklift was made with the end-user in mind, with many features built for timesaving convenience. In addition to the hydraulic reservoir, integrated speed enhancements and soft-stop features on the lift cylinder reduce the time needed for a full extend cycle by 75 percent and allows the body to be brought to a
resting position gently on the body saddles. Additionally, the NXT52 comes equipped with either air controls or electronic radio remote controls for efficient operation of the hooklift. These control systems offer proportional control operation to allow for precise control in various situations. A feature of the NXT Series, the radio remote control, allows for unit operation in either the chassis cab or standing outside of the cab.
LIFT INTELLIGENCE
8 jlg.com
JLG now offers standard ClearSky Smart Fleet connectively on most new JLG equipment. This Internet of Things technology launches with 25 unique features, including analyzers, telematics and productivity applications into a single connectivity beacon on JLG machines for seamless backand-forth interaction through a comprehensive ClearSky mobile app, a user-friendly web portal or an advanced API. Equipment owners and operators can send a prompt to the beacon to identify a machine’s status or perform diagnostics wirelessly through the mobile app. The ClearSky Smart Fleet app provides a modern mobile experience to manage data and machine interaction, even when cellular data and Wi-Fi are not available. The “find my machine” feature activates audible and visual cues from
the machine to make equipment identification and location effortless. Machine status indication produces visual cues from the machine to allow equipment owners and operators to wirelessly identify a machine’s status, such as active diagnostic trouble codes, battery or fuel level, ignition and more simply by looking at the colour of the beacon. The digital analyzer performs diagnostics wirelessly with built-in analyzer functionality that replaces the JLG wired handheld analyzer. Digitized information gives access to targeted information, such as parts and technical manuals, to help solve service issues without moving a step. The ClearSky Smart Fleet web portal delivers clear, efficient navigation and
powerful features for immediate visibility into a fleet’s health and performance data.
STRONGER THAN EVER
8 gopettibone.com
Pettibone brings its X-Series telehandler lineup to the 15,000-pound lifting class for the first time with the introduction of the Extendo 1544X telehandler. The added load capacity is ideal for material handling tasks in highway
LITERATURE REVIEW
construction, pipe yard applications and for extended load requirements on traditional building sites. The 1544X is powered by a 117-horsepower Cummins QSF 3.8 Tier IV Final turbo diesel engine. Mounted onto a side pod, the engine offers easy accessibility to components and daily service checks, while still allowing for exceptional curbside visibility and a ground clearance of 19 inches. The 30-gallon fuel tank provides ample volume for a full day’s work at 100-percent load. The telehandler comes standard with foam-filled tires. Built on Pettibone’s X-Series platform and featuring an advanced boom design, the 1544X offers a maximum lift height of 44 feet, a maximum forward
AD INDEX
reach of 29 feet, and a maximum load capacity of 15,000 pounds. Formed boom plates provide the boom structure with greater strength while reducing weight. The design also minimizes boom deflection for better control and accuracy when placing loads. Significant boom overlap provides smoother operation and reduces the contact forces on wear pads, thereby extending service life. An external, bottom-mounted extend cylinder further reduces the load on wear pads by up to 50 percent. The cylinder location provides improved service access to internal boom components. Fastener-less wear pads also simplify service, and extension chains help to ensure stable boom functions. CRS
CAMERA
new Gen-Eye X-POD Plus® sewer camera from General Pipe Cleaners includes Gen-Pack™ battery adapter, Wi-Fi transmitter, and on-screen distance counter. The Gen-Pack lets you operate the camera system remotely for up to 12 hours. The on-screen distance counter shows how far the camera has travelled down the line.
SNOOK’S LOOK
A rock solid idea
by Andrew Snook
In the world of infrastructure budgets, city planners and project managers need to start thinking more about an often-forgotten but vital resource for new construction and maintaining current infrastructure: close to market aggregate. Of course, that option is becoming a luxury that many projects taking place in major urban centres may no longer have in the near future. Between the value of land close to city limits, the current housing shortages, and constant political pressures from NIMBY groups, quarries and sand and gravel pits are being pushed further out to remote areas. While many residents love this concept, the reality is that it comes at a significant cost to everyone including you, the equipment rental operator who has to deliver and service fleets in these far-flung locations.
The reality is that infrastructure requires aggregate – a lot of it! That includes roads, bridges, sidewalks, residential and commercial developments, schools, hospitals, and much more. And how much aggregate do you need for major infrastructure projects? Well, according to the gravelfacts.ca website, the average brick home requires 250 tonnes of aggregate (12 truckloads). The average school needs 13,000 tonnes of aggregate (650 truckloads). One kilometre of a sixlane road uses 51,800 tonnes of aggregate (2,590 truckloads). One kilometre of a subway needs 91,200 tonnes of aggregate (4,560 truckloads). The Greater Toronto Area alone consumes more than 50 million tonnes of aggregate annually. And that number is only increasing.
How does this affect the equipment rental sector? If you are delivering and servicing equipment at a distant quarry, the time and fuel costs for your drivers and mechanics go right to your bottom line (unless you can pass the costs along... good luck with that). Here’s a more subtle effect: the more expensive infrastructure projects become, the less projects municipalities can allocate to their budgets. Construction associations are well aware of this issue and have commissioned some great reports highlighting this problem over the years. Let me take you back to a comparable example
from an old story I wrote back in 2012. This particular report was highlighting the need to have a solution for the excess soils being generated during the construction of the Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit Project. The city of Toronto didn’t have a place to store this soil, and it couldn’t just bring the soil to a neighbouring municipality (there are a lot of rules related to soil management), so one solution was to truck that soil to municipal landfills that were willing to take it. Some of these landfills were as far as hundreds of kilometres outside the city. The estimated costs for trucking the soils was between $65 million and $100 million, and this was when diesel was averaging $1.25 per litre at pumps across Ontario. Now add in current prices for diesel and other transport costs, and what you get is a pretty scary number for transporting a single item off a jobsite. These kind of transport costs would be comparable to bringing in aggregate from quarries and pits that are significant distances away from jobsites.
With quarry licenses becoming harder and more expensive to obtain close to market, the costs for aggregate transport will only continue to increase, and this can generate huge costs to municipalities. The reality is they only have so much money they can allocate towards infrastructure each year, and these added costs end up meaning less projects being built and less roads and bridges being maintained each year.
Better long-term solutions need to be found to keep aggregate resources close to urban markets. That way, municipalities can get the most out of their infrastructure budgets, their residents can get more of the infrastructure they need, and general contractors can keep their employees and subcontractors busy, which means more equipment on the ground and tools in their hands. It’s a winning solution for all parties. CRS
Andrew Snook is a long-time construction writer and former editor for Rock to Road: Canada’s Aggregates & Roadbuilding Magazine and OnSite: Canada’s Construction Magazine.
