Heavy Equipment Guide May/June 2025, Volume 40, Number 4

THE RIGHT PARTNERSHIP MAKES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.

At SMS Equipment, we’re more than machines from trusted brands like Komatsu. No matter your project, we’re the people beside you— today and every day—bringing industry-leading technology and expertise to your job site.

Because the right partnership makes everything possible.

Joh n D ee re O pe rations Ce n te r ™

M a n a ge Construction Si t es – Anyti me And A n ywhe re

CLOSE TO OUR CUSTOMERS

THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION SITE MANAGEMENT. John Deere Operations Center™ provides tools to Including sites construction your on chain process entire the analyze and monitor data, collect plan, you help data-driven recommended courses of action and integrated maintenance schedules. The user-friendly dashboard can be accessed as a web-based tool or as an app on a mobile end device at any time For more transparency, efficiency, and productivity. ww w.wi rt g e n-g rou p.co m /op e rations-cente r

18

FEATURE STORY HOW CONTRACTORS ARE USING COLD IN-PLACE RECYCLING TO MINE THE URBAN QUARRY AND BUILD RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

26 42

HIGHLIGHTS FROM WORLD OF ASPHALT & AGG1

CRAWLER CARRIERS PRESERVE SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS

HOW TO OPTIMIZE FILTER MAINTENANCE

COVER PHOTO: KOMATSU’S WA475-11 WHEEL LOADER

Highlights from World of Asphalt & AGG1

Turn to page 26.

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU

Do you have a job site story, innovation, or industry concern that our readers should know about? We’d like to hear from you.

Contact: Editor in Chief Kaitlyn Till at ktill@baumpub.com or 604-291-9900 ext. 330

EDITOR IN CHIEF Kaitlyn Till ktill@baumpub.com 604-291-9900 ext. 330

SENIOR WRITER

Meghan Barton mbarton@baumpub.com 604-291-9900 ext. 305

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Sam Esmaili sam@baumpub.com 604-291-9900 ext. 110

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Tina Anderson tanderson@baumpub.com 604-291-9900 ext. 222

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Melvin Date Chong mdatechong@baumpub.com

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Engelbert J. Baum

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Heavy Equipment Guide serves the Canadian engineered construction industry including: roadbuilding and maintenance; highways, bridges, tunnels; grading and excavating; earthmoving; crushing; trucking and hauling; underground utilities; trenching; concrete paving; asphalt paving; demolition; aggregates production; fleet maintenance; and asset security and management. The magazine is distributed to key industry personnel involved in these sectors.

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FROM THE EDITOR

THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CONSTRUCTION

We spend a lot of time looking at battery-electric equipment as the key to reducing emissions and the environmental impact of construction activities. Those stories are important, but that equipment is available at a premium and is not yet practical for all applications. Fortunately there are many more ways to reduce the environmental impact of construction. These solutions can be found in streamlining processes, advanced technology on equipment, and repurposing materials rather than sending them to landfill.

Reducing waste by repurposing old items and materials has always been done in times of economic undercertainty. Saving money is usually the driving factor and that waste reduction is a positive side-effect. As we enter a new era of economic undercertainty, you’ll need to be strategic in how you use your business’s equipment, people, and resources.

The use of recycled asphalt (RAP) in asphalt paving is nothing new, but one method, cold in-place recycling, is having a moment. Cold recycling, which has been around since the 1970s, involves the recycling of old asphalt pavement at ambient temperatures, either in a stationary plant away from the project, or on the job site within the paving train as part of the road rehabilitation process.

In this issue I take a look at the compelling case for cold inplace recycling for road rehabilitation. If you could save money on trucking and material costs, complete projects faster, produce a higher-quality pavement, and reduce carbon emissions at the same time, why wouldn’t you?

Crawler carriers are very cool pieces of equipment. Able to traverse terrain that is inhospitable to almost any other machine, they also protect these ecologically sensitive environments with low ground pressure, and rotating models don’t need to make as many adjustments that disturb the ground. In this issue, read about how crawler carriers were successfully used to complete restoration work, conservation projects, and dam construction in Ontario.

Every innovation that saves time on the job site, eliminates idling, repurposes materials, or extends the life of infrastructure contributes to reducing the environmental impact of construction.

Also in this issue, Senior Writer Meghan Barton spoke with Lloyd and Erin Robinson of Robinson’s Filter Solutions, a Canadian business that cuts maintenance waste and costs for contractors through their filter refurbishing service in Ontario.

Every innovation that saves time on the job site, eliminates idling, repurposes materials, or extends the life of infrastructure contributes to reducing the environmental impact of construction — and you don’t have to sacrifice your bottom line.

Kaitlyn Till Editor In Chief

ktill@baumpub.com

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NOTHING BEATS THE TRIED AND TRUE

The Cat® D6 XE isn’t just innovative. It’s tested and trusted. After 15+ years of continuous progress, this high drive Electric Drive dozer delivers superior productivity and fuel e ciency in a wide range of customer applications. Built to be rebuilt, it’s a machine for the future, too.

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AEM TO STANDARDIZE HOW THE EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY TALKS ABOUT TECH

To help manufacturers, suppliers, and tech providers align on increasingly critical issues, The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), along with its members, has released new guidance documents designed to establish a common language for machine autonomy, cybersecurity, and data usage. The guidance documents were released in conjunction with AEM’s Celebration of Construction on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The documents serve as consensus resources for association staff, members, and industry peers to drive conversations and communications related to autonomy, cybersecurity, and data.

The three guidance documents were the direct result of months of collaboration between AEM member company representatives serving on the association’s Ag and CE Technology Leadership Groups. While they are not intended to be comprehensive or all-encompassing viewpoints on autonomy, cybersecurity, and data, the documents do contain both industry use cases and everyday examples. Ultimately, they help guide information sharing inside and outside of the industry, with lawmakers and regulators, with contractors and equipment end users, and with the general public regarding the implementation of autonomy in the non-road equipment industry, the levels of cybersecurity for machine data today, and how data moves among different layers.

Non-road equipment is designed to execute specific functions relative to its intended applications and tasks in non-road environments in agriculture and construction. Construction worksites, farm fields, dairies and feedlots, areas of animal husbandry, etc., are dynamic environments defined by fences or other boundaries with some level of restriction for access or entry. These do not apply to the on-road operation of non-road equipment.

“When it comes to aligning our members and our industry on ever-evolving issues and topics of importance, words matter,” said AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades. “It’s why we leveraged the collective knowledge and expertise of our membership to develop these guidance documents. Autonomy, cybersecurity, and data impact our industry and our world in so many ways, and AEM is committed to helping ensure conversations and communications surrounding these topics are conveyed clearly, consistently, and accurately.”

BAUMA 2025 WELCOMED 600,000 VISITORS FROM MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES

bauma 2025 was held from April 7 to 13 in Munich, Germany, and demonstrated what the industry is capable of by showing off the latest in pioneering technologies, innovative machines, and new partnerships.

Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München, said: “We hosted around 600,000 visitors from more than 200 countries and regions. bauma is the heartbeat of the industry and has once again shown how crucial exchange and personal encounters are for progress and global trade. The Munich exhibition centre sends out a strong signal of confidence for the entire industry.”

bauma recorded significant increases in visitor numbers, particularly those from Brazil, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Spain. The numbers from China also increased.

Steffen Günther, a member of the Board of Directors of Liebherr-International AG, added: “At bauma, we showcased a number of important future topics, such as drive technology and autonomy. For us, bauma is much more than just a trade fair — it is the platform where the future of the industry is made tangible. My personal highlight was our bauma motto ‘Hands on the future.’ For us, this is not just a phrase, but an attitude; one that was also well received by our customers.”

bauma is not only a meeting place, it is a driver of business.

Robert Hauser, CEO of Doka, said, “The joint trade fair appearance of Doka and other brands of our parent company was a complete success. The interest in our innovations and further developments was overwhelming. For us, bauma is the most important platform for advancing future topics. It brings the world of the construction industry together — from North America to Asia. Nowhere else do we have so many high-quality discussions with the most important customers worldwide in such a short time — we only get this at bauma! In short: it was the most successful bauma for us to date.”

Reflecting on the value of interacting with international attendees and exhibitors, Toshiaki Ujiie, president and CEO of the Tadano Group, said: “bauma offers the perfect stage to present our latest technologies and solutions to a global audience. It is an invaluable event that enables us to exchange ideas directly with our customers and industry experts.”

The next bauma will be held from April 3 to 9, 2028.

JCB RECEIVES FULL EU APPROVAL TO SELL HYDROGEN COMBUSTION ENGINES

JCB has passed full EU type approval of its hydrogen engine for use in non-road mobile machinery. This development means that JCB’s hydrogen engine has been approved for sale and for use in machines and third-party OEM equipment in each of the 27 EU member states and in all other territories recognizing EU type approvals. The EU type approval follows earlier rulings by licensing authorities in nine countries in mainland Europe, allowing the engine to be used commercially in machines in those countries under “new technology” provisions.

JCB is the first construction equipment company to develop a fully approved combustion engine fuelled by hydrogen, and a team of 150 engineers has been working on the £100 million development for nearly four years.

JCB has already produced more than 130 evaluation engines powering backhoe loaders, telehandlers, and generator sets. Real-world pre-launch testing of JCB’s hydrogen equipment is now at an advanced stage and progressing well, according to the company.

RECLAIM THE ROAD

Why cold in-place recycling is a revolutionary road rehabilitation solution.

Turn to page 18.

AED’S STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

WITH

CFIB PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS SUPPORT TO CANADIAN MEMBERS

Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) has created a strategic partnership with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to bring a comprehensive suite of business support services to AED’s Canadian members, beginning June 1, 2025.

This collaboration is the latest in a series of value-driven service provider solutions AED delivers to support members’ success, said the AED.

Through this new benefit, AED Canadian members will gain unlimited access to bilingual HR and compliance advisors, builtin legal assistance, and exclusive discounts on banking, payroll, and payment processing services, which could potentially save members over $5,000 each year. Members will also have access to a library of customizable HR and compliance tools, staff training through online courses and webinars, and exclusive discounts from national brands like Avis, Budget, and Park’N Fly.

“Our partnership with CFIB reflects AED’s ongoing investment in member-driven solutions,” said Brian P. McGuire, AED president and CEO. “CFIB’s expertise in business advocacy and support complements AED’s mission to provide the tools, knowledge, and connections that help our members succeed.”

THE ALBERTA EQUIPMENT EXPO CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL FIRST SHOW

The inaugural Alberta Equipment Expo attracted 6,760 industry professionals to the EXPO Centre for a dynamic two-day event on April 24 and 25. Showcasing the latest in heavy equipment and innovation, the expo brought together key players from across Western Canada’s construction, forestry, aggregates, and transportation sectors.

The show featured nearly 180 OEM exhibitors, truck body and equipment manufacturers, equipment dealerships, and more. The show will return on April 22 and 23, 2027.

FLEETS HAVE SWITCHED TO VMAC’S G30

JUST ASK OUR CUSTOMERS:

“Before I got the G30, I had another air compressor that would start half the time and stall out constantly.”

Since its founding in 1975, Powerscreen of Canada has shared its expertise with the materials processing industry, advancing the aggregates, recycling, and mining sectors, and has built strong relationships with buyers and suppliers.

“Reaching 50 years in business is a tremendous achievement, and we are extremely proud of the entire team at Powerscreen of Canada,” said Sean Loughran, business line director for Powerscreen.

Powerscreen of Canada said, “We are honoured to be celebrating this milestone. Little did we realize — when we start-

ed out in the 1970s marketing the small but highly efficient MKI Screening Plant to an industry struggling with fine, wet, and sticky aggregate materials — that this would become our springboard into a business that would grow into the much larger Powerscreen portfolio today, encompassing crushing, screening, washing, and recycling equipment.”

NCSG CRANE AND HEAVY HAUL REBRANDS AS BARNHART AFTER RECENT ACQUISITION

Following its purchase by Barnhart last June, the Canadian company NCSG Crane and Heavy Haul will now operate under the name Barnhart.

Barnhart’s operations in Western Canada include eight branches across the country’s energy corridor employing approximately 400 professionals providing crane and heavy haul services to the refining, upgrading, upstream oil and gas, utilities, forestry, mining, and wind energy industries.

SPOTLIGHT

INTRODUCTIONS & UPDATES

CASE Construction Equipment

Compact electric wheel loader

The CASE CL36EV is a 3.6-metric-tonne compact electric wheel loader designed to meet emissions and noise regulations in sensitive environments. It features a 23 kW-h battery and delivers performance comparable to diesel-powered counterparts, making it suitable for green-credentialed projects, urban construction zones, and indoor applications. With an operating weight of 8,803 pounds and a hinge-pin height exceeding 10 feet, this compact wheel loader supports a wide range of material handling tasks. The loader is compatible with various attachments and offers reduced maintenance requirements and lower total cost of ownership over its lifespan. Its electric platform also allows for instant torque and quiet operation, improving comfort and efficiency on the job site.

Leica & Dynapac

Asphalt paver control system

Leica Geosystems and Dynapac are integrating Leica’s iCON pave machine control system with the new SD25 and XD25 series of Dynapac asphalt pavers. This collaboration introduces automated steering and screed edge control that follow 3D stringline design models with millimetre accuracy. The system improves material placement precision, reduces waste, and eliminates the need for physical stringlines and pins on the job site. Operators can automate screed width, height, and steering functions, increasing efficiency while adapting to variable site conditions. Leica’s MC1 software enables operators to switch seamlessly between different machine types using a shared interface to increase equipment utilization across fleets. Real-time data syncing through Leica ConX enhances project oversight and coordination.

Stellar Hooklift series

Stellar expands its NXT hooklift series with the NXT24 and NXT30, delivering 24,000-pound and 30,000-pound capacities. Both models are available in short (S), medium (M), and long (L) configurations to accommodate container lengths from 10 to 18 feet, with adjustable hook heights ranging from 36 to 62 inches. Each version features a telescopic jib with a multiplate design for strength and reduced weight, and a notable lost load height: 8 inches on S and M models, and 9 inches on the L model. A universal body latching system and roller-style saddles allow for easy repositioning using pre-drilled rails without the need to cut, weld, or repaint. Additional specs include integrated wear pads for ease of service and a modular hydraulic reservoir that can be mounted in multiple positions. Control options include cable, air, joystick, or radio remote, enabling proportional control and remote operation from inside or outside the cab. Soft-stop lift cylinder features and programmable logic streamline operation and cycle time.

Compact electric wheel loader

Hooklift

SENNEBOGEN

Demolition tool

The 51-tonne SENNEBOGEN 830E Demolition Vario Tool is a multifunctional machine designed for space-constrained, urban demolition sites. Operators can switch between three boom configurations: the two-part AB17 with a 17-metre reach, the three-part AB23 long-front boom with a 23-metre reach, and the EA12 digging boom with a 12-metre reach, allowing the machine to adapt to high-reach demolition, deep excavation, and general earthmoving tasks. A fully hydraulic quick-change system enables rapid swaps between booms and attachments, such as grabs, shears, and pulverizers, without exiting the cab. Features include a 4.5-metre-wide track base for stability, Stage V–compliant engine, and a Maxcab that elevates 2.8 metres and tilts 30 degrees for enhanced visibility and safety. Transport is simplified with a button-controlled counterweight system.

JLG Industries

Micro scissor lift

The JLG ES1930M is a micro-sized electric scissor lift engineered for confined and/ or indoor environments where manoeuvrability and low floor loading are essential. With a platform height of 18 feet 6 inches indoors (15 feet outdoors), the unit supports up to 500 pounds and two occupants. The machine measures 57.8 inches long and 30 inches wide. It weighs less than 3,000 pounds and has a stowed height of 78.1 inches and zero-degree inside turning radius for tight access. Stability is enhanced by an offset middle pin and redesigned arm stack. Variable tilt functionality extends the work envelope on uneven surfaces, while integrated leak containment protects sensitive flooring. Maintenance is simplified through a single lift cylinder and improved wiring harness. The unit features IoT-enabled ClearSky Smart Fleet diagnostics and 80 percent parts commonality with other JLG lifts.

Micro scissor lift

Demolition tool

RECLAIM THE

ROAD

HOW CONTRACTORS ARE USING COLD IN-PLACE

RECYCLING TO MINE THE URBAN QUARRY AND BUILD RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

BY KAITLYN TILL, EDITOR IN CHIEF

ROADBUILDING

When a road begins to fail, the road owner has a decision to make: cover over the deficiency or replace the road? These decisions often come down to budgets, not always what’s best for the travelling public and taxpayers in the long-term, and budgets today aren’t getting bigger.

Cold in-place recycling (CIR) is a repaving method that is both cost efficient and long lasting. By taking advantage of the wealth of material already on the ground in the form of the failing road, this paving technique cuts material costs, saves time, and reduces job site emissions. Utilizing the urban quarry reduces the amount of virgin aggregate that needs to be mined and processed and is a win across the board for road owners, taxpayers, contractors, and the environment.

Many roads in North America carry far more traffic than they were designed for, and milling and filling the top couple of inches to overlay deeper cracks and fatigued pavement doesn’t address the problems that will cause these roads to continuously fail. Cold in-place recycling is proven to produce long-wearing road infrastructure that can end the cycle of continuous repairs that only cover up deeper foundational issues.

HOW COLD RECYCLING WORKS

I spoke with Mark Stahl, VP of Wirtgen North America, about the incredible opportunity available to road owners and contractors who embrace cold in-place recycling as their method of choice for road rehabilitation.

According to Stahl, cold recycling, while not new, is gaining renewed attention in North America for its sustainability, cost, and efficiency advantages. First introduced in the 1970s, cold recycling involves recycling pavements at ambient temperature for road repaving and resurfacing projects. The construction crew mills the asphalt roadway, downsizing it into its original size of aggregates, then adds a binding agent. Once the material is re-laid, a wearing course is laid on top; the wearing course could be another lift of asphalt on high-volume roads, or a slurry seal or a chip seal on low-volume roads.

Depending on the condition of the road, cold recycling can be done as either a partial depth replacement or a full-depth reclamation (FDR). There are multiple cold recycling methods, including cold in-place recycling, where the RAP is processed within the paving train on the job site, and cold central plant recycling (CCPR), where stockpiled RAP is processed off-site.

Compared to CCPR, cold in-place recycling offers greater efficiency, cost savings, and emissions reduction as all material is extracted and reused on the job site.

The goal of cold recycling is to produce a perpetual pavement, described by the Asphalt Pavement Alliance as, “A deep-strength flexible pavement that can resist structural fatigue distress for a long time (at least 50 years), resulting in a long-life pavement. Because there are no bottom-up distresses, structural integrity remains intact indefinitely. These long-lasting asphalt structures can be economically maintained

USING COLD IN-PLACE RECYCLING TO COMPLETE ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECTS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND REMOTE AREAS, SUCH AS YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, REDUCES VEHICLE TRAFFIC NEEDED TO HAUL MATERIAL AND ITS ASSOCIATED COSTS AND EMISSIONS.

by preserving and renewing just the top layer to address near surface distresses, never needing significant rehabilitation or reconstruction.”

Cold in-place recycling has found success on Canadian job sites, including in B.C., Alberta, and Ontario. In the U.S., Stahl says, there are regional hot spots — places where local champions of cold recycling raise awareness of the method and its benefits — including in California, the Midwest, and eastern states.

THE COLD IN-PLACE RECYCLING PAVING PROCESS

While there are a few different methods to produce the cold recycled material, the paving processes are similar to a typical mill and fill.

In a traditional mill and fill, the paving train starts with a milling machine feeding the milled material into trucks. The waste material is hauled away, and a crew follows the mill to clean up remaining dust and debris. Then the paving crew follows in to lay down new asphalt. Potentially hundreds of truck loads are needed to haul material back and forth between the job site, the asphalt plant, and the landfill or RAP stockpile.

When using cold in-place recycling methods, almost all of the material stays in place on the job site. The recycler downsizes the asphalt, then injects the binding agent into the material which is conveyed to the paver. The paver runs right behind the recycler to lay the material back in place and two or three rollers follow to provide compaction. Once the recycled material is compacted, a wearing course — an inch and a half to two inches of hot-mix asphalt surface — is laid by a traditional paving train.

The binding agent, foamed bitumen, is the secret sauce that creates flexible and long-lasting base layers from the RAP material. It is produced from normal bitumen heated to 175 degrees Celsius and injected with small amounts of water and air while under high pressure, causing it to foam and expand. The foamed bitumen is injected into the RAP inside the cold recycler, and the end product is referred to as bitumen-stabilized material (BSM).

This process is substantially more efficient and eliminates the transportation and material costs associated with the traditional paving process. Stahl’s enthusiasm is clear, “When we do recycling, the beauty is that almost everything, 95 percent of all the material, stays in place.”

Wirtgen offers CR Series and WR Series cold recycling machines. The CR Series machines require a traditional paver to follow, while the WR Series cold recycler and soil stabilizer machines don’t. According to Stahl, for a typical FDR application of 8 to 12 inches depth where the aggregate is recycled into the asphalt, the equipment train will use a rubber-tire WR Series machine along with a padfoot compactor and motor grader followed by two more compactors. The padfoot compactor is needed to achieve the appropriate compaction with that thickness of depth.

CR machines are ideal for partial depth replacement of three to five inches. Less overall compaction is needed and can be achieved with a standard vibratory screed on the paver which will be followed by rollers. There is no need for a padfoot roller or motor grader in this scenario.

CR machines can be used for FDR when paired with a high-density screed, but it is not common. Stahl calls this application “paver-laid FDR.”

Partial-depth replacement

Partial-depth replacement involves milling three to five inches off the road surface, then recycling the asphalt layer to re-pave. The best candidates for partial depth replacement are roads that don’t have structure problems or base failures and where the main concern is the age of the asphalt and cracking. These roads have top-down deficiencies, and they are typically roads that are old and have low traffic volume.

Full-depth reclamation

Full-depth reclamation, or FDR, mills deeper, typically 8 to 12 inches, through the asphalt into the aggregate structure and potentially the sub-grade soil. The aggregate and the asphalt is mixed together and stabilized before being relaid followed by the top lift of virgin asphalt.

Cold central plant recycling

Cold recycled material can also be produced off-site in a stationary cold recycling plant using stockpiled RAP. The material is stabilized, then hauled to the site and laid with typical paving equipment. The plant can be set up close to the construction site so the project owner can still realize the benefits of reduced trucking costs, reduced material costs, and reduced CO2 emissions.

WIRTGEN’S WR 240 X COLD RECYCLER AND SOIL STABILIZER.

COLD IN-PLACE RECYCLING CAN BE DONE IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL SETTINGS AND REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE ROAD NEEDS TO BE CLOSED, WHICH IS MORE CONVENIENT TO THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC AND SAFER FOR THE WORKERS ON THE GROUND.

THE ADVANTAGES OF COLD IN-PLACE RECYCLING

It’s rare that a construction process delivers so many wins to all of the stakeholders involved.

The re-use of the materials already on-site is the biggest cost, time, and emissions saving opportunity and has additional spillover advantages, including improved safety and reduced waste.

Stahl predicts a total cost savings of 40 to 60 percent on any given cold recycling project in North America, and the cost and emissions savings largely result from eliminating the incredible volume of trucks that are typically needed to transport materials to and from the job site.

Compared to a standard remove and replace project, trucking emissions are reduced by 90 percent when using cold in-place recycling, and the total job site CO2 emissions reduction is about 70 percent, estimates Stahl.

Reducing the number of trucks coming and going from the job site has safety benefits for both the travelling public and the workers on the ground. Less overall traffic and fewer large vehicles that need to manoeuvre on a potentially congested job site reduce the risk of accidents. The faster timeline also reduces the amount of time that workers are exposed to safety risks posed by moving traffic.

Shorter road closure times are an added convenience for the public. A cold recycling project doesn’t have to be finished for cars to drive over it right away, resulting in shorter lane closures as the road can reopen at the end of each shift.

All of these advantages are enticing, but the ultimate test of cold recycling’s viability is its longevity and whether this cheaper, more efficient, emissions reducing solution also provides what the travelling public and the road owners need — a reliable road that lasts.

COLD RECYCLED ROAD LONGEVITY

PROVEN THROUGH RESEARCH AND TESTING

The true value of cold recycling is found in the proven longevity of the roads.

Hot-mix asphalt and concrete are bound materials that don’t provide a lot of flexibility when under continuous stress. Cold recycled material is non-continuously bound material which prevents cracking. It provides a lot of flexibility which makes it difficult for cracks to propagate from continuous use.

There has been robust academic investigation into the viability of cold recycling, including research studies devoted to improving the design, construction, and maintenance of these roads. Researchers study samples from construction sites and roads that have been in service to analyze how they perform and test the longevity of the material. They build their own experiments at research labs as well.

Perpetual pavements are researched at several institutions across the U.S., including the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Pavement Test Track at Auburn University in Alabama. At the test track, researchers compare differently paved sections to determine the longevity of different repaving methods. Accelerated pavement testing at multiple research institutions involves running continuous high volumes of simulated traffic over test sections, rapidly loading the test tracks with years — or even decades — of typical traffic over a span of months. The researchers study the track samples to learn how quickly the road degrades, how it degrades, and what longevity can be expected.

According to Ben Bowers, assistant professor at Auburn University, NCAT researchers loaded an FDR section at the test track with nine years worth of traffic. The FDR held up so well that it showed no sign of change and could be considered a perpetual pavement that would only need a periodic overlay.

This longevity has been found at multiple research institutions.

“Our research testing, our knowledge, our modelling of the pavements, our understanding of the behaviour of the materials means we can confidently predict pavements that could last up to 80 years,” says David Jones, associate director, UC Pavement Research Center, Davis California.

To give road owners further confidence in the longevity of their specific project, Wirtgen makes a laboratory-scale foamed

WIRTGEN MAKES A LABORATORY-SCALE FOAMED BITUMEN PLANT AND LABORATORYSCALE TWIN-SHAFT COMPULSORY MIXER THAT CAN SIMULATE COLD RECYCLING IN THE LAB.

bitumen plant and laboratory-scale twin-shaft compulsory mixer that can simulate cold recycling in the lab, producing test specimens before the construction project starts, to ensure that the final result will perform as expected.

CALTRANS HAS MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH COLD RECYCLING

Reduced costs and increased longevity are an appealing pitch to taxpayers, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has been using cold recycling to revitalize roads across the state for more than two decades, including hundreds of lane miles around San Jose.

It started as a way to speed construction and save money on low-volume highways, but Caltrans now uses cold in-place recycling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve sustainability, according to Thomas Pyle, state pavement engineer, Caltrans.

And, according to the pavement design engineers, the cost of cold in-place recycling is roughly $250,000 to $300,000 USD per lane mile for FDR plus an asphalt overlay, compared to more than $500,000 per lane mile for reconstruction, which is essentially a thick overlay that doesn’t address the root causes of road failure.

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS BENEFIT ALL STAKEHOLDERS

Cold in-place recycling presents an incredible opportunity to mine the urban quarry for material that can be reused in the construction of more resilient infrastructure. Adoption,

Cold in-place recycling (CIR) is a repaving method that is both cost efficient and long lasting. By taking advantage of the wealth of material already on the ground in the form of the failing road, this paving technique cuts material costs, saves time, and reduces job site emissions.

however, requires long-term thinking and an openness to trying new methods. Cold in-place recycling’s proven longevity should make contractors and road owners take notice and consider that it saves money, reduces emissions, improves safety, and builds long-lasting roads that will serve generations to come.

“We can get bogged down in the details of the processes and the benefits, but at the end of the day we have processes that are proven for decades,” says Stahl. “The success of recycling pavements shows that it’s not really a risk at all. It’s just a different way of doing it.” HEG

HIGHLIGHTS FROM WORLD OF ASPHALT & AGG1

PAVING AND PROCESSING EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

VOLVO CE FOCUSES ON ITS COMPACTION LINEUP

NEW ELECTRIC DOUBLEDRUM ASPHALT ROLLER

The 1.5-ton DD15 Electric asphalt roller is a double-drum machine with features similar to Volvo’s first electric roller, the 2.5-ton DD25 Electric. It is ideal for small-scale jobs like parking lots, driveways, and municipal work.

The DD15 Electric can fully charge in three and a half hours with a 240V Level 2 charging set-up or in 12 hours with a 120V Level 1 outlet. Volvo says that operators will get a few days of work from the roller with typical light usage, especially considering that electric machines don’t accumulate idle hours like diesel machines do.

VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT UPDATED AND INTRODUCED SEVERAL MACHINES FOR SOIL AND ASPHALT COMPACTION.

UPDATED SOIL COMPACTORS AND PNEUMATIC TIRE ROLLER

Updates to the SD75 and SD45 soil compactors and the PT125 pneumatic tire roller include features that enhance safety, serviceability, and the user interface.

The SD45, SD75, and PT125 are now equipped for over-the-air software updates as they become available, and their wiring design has been optimized for commonality, cost-effectiveness, and ease of service, says Volvo.

To maximize uptime, Volvo doubled the diesel particulate filter replacement intervals on these machines from 3,000 to 6,000 hours.

LED work lights and beacons replace halogen lights, and telematics systems now include GSM/GPS and SATCOM antennas for optimized

machine connectivity.

Human-machine interface (HMI) upgrades include all-new software, advanced keypads, a USB charging port, and a 5-inch full-colour LCD display. Additional HMI improvements include auto idle and auto engine shutdown to reduce fuel consumption and an indicator for remaining hours of fuel.

The HMI on the updated SD75 now includes a fan reverse menu selection and an optional five-frequency selection feature that allows the operator to select by surface type rather than frequency number.

The upgraded PT125 also has a new drive motor with an integrated speed sensor for optimal performance.

VOLVO'S SD45 SOIL COMPACTOR.

VOLVO'S DD15 ELECTRIC ASPHALT ROLLER.

VOLVO'S COMPACTION LINEUP ON DISPLAY AT WORLD OF ASPHALT.

HAMM SMART COMPACT PRO DELIVERS REAL-TIME DENSITY DATA

Hamm’s Smart Compact Pro is a real-time asphalt density scanning solution for tandem rollers, giving operators and site managers instant compaction quality assessment on the job site. Smart Compaction Pro is available for HD+ series tandem rollers and builds upon Hamm’s Smart Compact digital compaction assistant, which has been available since 2022.

The Smart Compact digital assistant automatically and separately controls the compaction modes and forces for both drums based on the selected course type (base course, asphalt binder course, or surface course). Temperature and stiffness of the asphalt, as well as the complex cooling behaviour of the material, are continuously taken into account to achieve homogeneous compaction.

The Pro expansion to Smart Compact adds the real-time asphalt density sensor. According to Hamm, this scanning sensor determines the asphalt density in real-time by measuring the dielectric conductivity of the asphalt mix to be compacted, forming the basis for the correlation with the asphalt density or the void content. Both parameters are decisive for self-monitoring or control testing.

Hamm says that the real-time density scan can significantly reduce possible financial deductions due to insufficient

quality in the construction work and save costs for early refurbishment measures.

Hamm’s goal for Smart Compact Pro is to eventually eliminate coring for quality control of the paved surface. This will reduce costs and remove the safety concerns around having a worker doing the coring while exposed to traffic.

The data from Smart Compact Pro will be integrated into Wirtgen’s Track Assist app and will further connect to the overall picture of the job site and analysis that project managers can view within the John Deere Operations Center.

BOMAG MAXIMIZES HOPPER CAPACITY ON ITS NEW 8-FOOT PAVER

BOMAG says its new 8-foot (2.4-metre) paver is nimble enough for commercial paving projects yet powerful enough to deliver highway-class performance. The CR 820 T-2 rubber track paver features a large 10-ton (9.1-tonne) hopper capacity for more time paving between truck exchanges, a 173-hp (129 kW) diesel engine that delivers ample power in reserve to push fully loaded trucks up steep grades, and a design to help improve visibility.

A new operating system for each console provides easy viewing of critical operating functions, gauges, parameters, and fault messages for quick troubleshooting to improve serviceability and paver uptime. Equipped with the Stretch 16 hydraulically extendable screed, the BOMAG CR 820 T-2 paver offers infinitely variable paving widths from 8 to 16 feet (2.4 to 4.9 metres).

BOMAG'S CR 820 T-2 RUBBER TRACK PAVER.

HAMM SMART COMPACT PRO IS AVAILABLE FOR HD+ SERIES TANDEM ROLLERS.

CATERPILLAR COLD PLANER UPDATE FOCUSES ON OPERATOR COMFORT AND

EFFICIENCY

Caterpillar has updated its PM600 and PM800 cold planer series to give operators greater comfort while providing precise milling efficiency. With milling widths from 79.1 to 98.6 inches (2,010 to 2,505 mm), the 600 and 800 series planers, which include the PM620, PM622, PM820, PM822, and PM825 models, are the result of direct feedback from customers, according to Caterpillar.

WORKSTATION UPDATES

Adjustable consoles; large, cushioned arm rests; hip rests; and optional anti-fatigue floor mats all help operators stay comfortable and productive on the job. The centre console displays now telescope to bring the touchscreens within easy reach, and they fold for storage. Available as an option, an adjustable operator control console slides sideways and rotates to further help boost efficiency and reduce fatigue.

A new pedestal seat option allows operators to rest their legs

and feet while running the machine. It is designed to quickly and easily retract out of the way.

Flush-mounted front ground control panels improve the operator’s sightlines to the front tracks.

EFFICIENT MILLING OPERATION

Engineered to maximize torque transfer, the PM600 and PM800 series rotor drive system features a heavy-duty dry clutch, automatic belt tensioning system, and two high-tensile belts to drive the rotor. A redesigned anti-slab plow delivers improved operation and reduced wear compared to the previous design. Additionally, design upgrades to the anti-slab-to-conveyor sealing help to contain more material to improve milling efficiency and reduce cleanup.

The cold planers’ ground displays now feature a robust mounting system that also enables the ground crew to change mounting locations and store the displays without removing

any clamps or electrical connectors.

Available as part of the optional enhanced lighting package, the addition of high-visibility colour LED lightbars replace traditional water level tubes and floats, helping crews easily identify water tank levels day or night and from much farther distances. The touchscreen displays automatically change to night mode when working lights are activated.

TECHNOLOGY STREAMLINES MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVES UTILIZATION

The PM600 and PM800 series cold planers now come standard with Cat Remote Services to help improve machine diagnostics and operating efficiency when within cell range coverage. Remote Troubleshoot allows the Cat dealer to perform diagnostic testing on the connected machine while the mill is operating, and Remote Flash enables contractors to update on-board software without a technician.

Caterpillar now offers VisionLink for its cold planers, helping contractors to manage their fleet and improve utilization, and says that optional productivity features of VisionLink, now available with a VisionLink PerformancePro subscription, help contractors measure, monitor, and manage the cold planers to maximize productivity on or off the job site.

Operating data, such as wait time for trucks, time spent cutting and manoeuvring around the job site, as well as distances cut, fuel burned, and detailed cycle location mapping, is

The Cat Inspect mobile application tool enables operators and technicians to quickly perform digital preventive maintenance checks, inspections, and daily walk arounds.

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transmitted from the job site to the VisionLink web platform for users to access.

CAT'S PM622 COLD PLANER.

DYNAPAC’S NEW PNEUMATIC TIRE ROLLER FEATURES FLEXIBLE BALLAST SYSTEM

The new CP28 is the heaviest ballastable pneumatic tire roller on the market, according to Dynapac. It is ideal for finishing asphalt layers and compacting different soil types, from granular to semi-cohesive materials.

Flexible rubber tires and an adjustable air pressure system allow operators to achieve consistent density while minimizing surface damage. The CP28’s Air on the Run system inflates all tires from 0 to 120 psi KPa in just 12 minutes. Front and rear suspension systems are designed to optimize

both directions. This ensures constant ground contact.

Symmetric and asymmetric cab configurations are available. Dynapac says that the newly designed rightfoot brake pedal enhances responsiveness for improved manoeuvrability.

The CP28 is equipped with a

ECHELON MODE ALLOWS GUARDMAN-EQUIPPED ROLLERS TO OPERATE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITHOUT GENERATING FALSE ALARMS.

watertight frame, allowing for a flexible ballast system. Operators can adjust the weight by adding or removing steel plates in the front and rear ballast compartments using a forklift. It can also be ballasted with wet sand, water, steel shot, or scrap metal.

SAKAI ADDS ECHELON MODE TO GUARDMAN SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

Echelon Mode for SAKAI’s Guardman Automatic Brake Assist System adds a new level of capability to the company’s innovative safety technology for tandem asphalt rollers.

Guardman uses millimetre-wave radar or 3D LiDAR (depending on the model) to detect potential collisions with personnel or equipment, warn the operator progressively, and automatically brake to prevent accidents if needed. SAKAI says that the new Echelon Mode addresses the unique challenges of echelon rolling, typically used in highway-class paving.

The Echelon Mode update allows two SAKAI SW884 (79 inches) or SW994 (84 inches) asphalt rollers, equipped with Guardman, to operate in close proximity without generating false alarms but still protecting against collisions. The system intelligently monitors distance to the lead roller, ensuring that both operator warning and braking is only initiated when an imminent collision risk is detected. Operators receive real-time feedback on the distance between rollers, allowing for proactive adjustments and preventing unwanted braking.

DYNAPAC'S CP28 PNEUMATIC TIRE ROLLER.

EXCAVATORS | LOADERS | DUMPERS

Whether you’re digging, loading, moving, placing – or all of the above – you need reliable, performance-driven equipment to get the job done right. Wacker Neuson o ers a powerful line of material handling models designed for jobsite e ciency and operator comfort. From excavators and dumpers to compact track loaders, and wheel loaders, Wacker Neuson has all it takes for the challenges you face. www.wackerneuson.com

KOMATSU’S NEWEST WHEEL LOADERS ARE BUILT FOR PRODUCTIVITY IN AGGREGATES APPLICATIONS

Komatsu introduced the WA485-11 and WA475-11 wheel loaders this spring and displayed the WA485-11 at AGG1. Komatsu says that these new machines are built for increased productivity, operator comfort, and maintenance ease with the ultimate goal of reducing customers’ total cost of ownership. Both models are available in a yard loader configu ration with a larger bucket; wide, low-profile tires; and addi tional counterweight.

A new Komatsu engine and the Komatsu Hydrostatic-Me chanical Transmission (KHMT) reduce fuel consumption while boosting power. The WA485-11 offers up to 12 percent lower fuel consumption, 21 percent more engine power, and 13 percent faster climbing speed compared to its predecessor, the WA480-8. The WA475-11 provides up to 7 percent lower fuel consumption, 18 percent higher engine power, and 40 percent greater climbing speed compared to the WA475-10.

A redesigned cab gives operators excellent visibility. The elimination of two posts expands the view to the rear of the ma chine, and operators will also appreciate the rear-object detec tion system that comes standard. The new cab offers low-effort drive-by-wire angle feedback joystick steering, independent work control, and a heated and ventilated adjustable seat to

Komatsu has extended the service intervals for the engine oil and filter. New anchor point tie-offs make maintaining and cleaning the machines safer for operators.

METSO ADDS LARGER MODELS TO NORDBERG HPE CONE CRUSHING LINE

The HP600e, HP800e, and HP900e cone crushers expand Metso’s Nordberg HPe series with larger crushing capacities for both aggregates production and high-demand mining applications.

Nordberg HP600e, HP800e, and HP900e cone crushers feature:

High performance with up to 15 percent more capacity and 35 percent greater crushing force due to enhanced kinematics and higher power installation compared to equivalent crushers in the same class, according to Metso.

Two modern automation platform options: IC70C and MCP. Metso says its modern automation systems provide better visibility, monitoring, and control of the crushing process and enable connection to remote monitoring and further digital services.

New optimized crushing chambers, head spinning reduction, and ring bouncing detection help these crushers reach optimum capacity and maximize their wear life.

Complete drive and sub-frame for safe and faster installation while reducing dynamic load by up to 70 percent.

KOMATSU DISPLAYED THE NEW WA485-11 WHEEL LOADER AT AGG1.

VOLVO WHEEL LOADER FOR LARGE-SCALE REHANDLING

Volvo Construction Equipment displayed the new L260 wheel loader, currently the largest model in its new generation of wheel loaders. The relaunch of the wheel loader line has started with five models ranging from the L150 to the L260. Highlights of the new L260 include:

AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL

Now standard on the front axle and optional on the rear of the L260, the intelligent clutch engages automatically at up to speeds of 12km/h, when needed, optimizing traction, reducing wheel spin, and minimizing tire wear. When the automatic solution is engaged, the operator does not need to control traction with their foot. Traction control can be controlled manually up to speeds of 25km/h.

AUTO BUCKET FILL

Auto bucket fill takes over the filling function of the bucket, which aids novice operators and keeps all operators consistent through a shift — even later in the day after fatigue has set in. Ideal for rehandling applications, it enables operators to fill, curl, and lift the bucket with the push of a button delivering consistent bucket fills. The machine will operate at optimum engine rpm with maximum torque and the best fuel efficiency.

SIMPLIFIED SERVICING AND REDUCED FUEL CONSUMPTION

Every minute that a wheel loader is down is production lost, and that includes refuelling time. The fast fuel fill option fills the tank five times faster — a time savings that adds up over the

course of multiple shifts and maximizes the loader’s production. New engine oil and fuel filters are more environmentally friendly and a new electric priming pump is more efficient. When active, Volvo’s Smart Control engine mode controls rimpull and throttle application to optimize fuel consumption. New steps, orange handrails, and anchor points make getting up on the front of the machine easier and safer.

A COMFORTABLE CAB KEEPS OPERATORS PRODUCTIVE

The spacious cab features a seat suspension that automatically adjusts to the operator’s weight and also has plenty of height adjustment options to ensure that operators of all sizes can be productive and comfortable throughout the work day. This will especially benefit operations with multiple operators who use the same machine. Machine information, including servicing info and tire pressure monitoring as well as cycle tons and fuel consumption data, is convenient to access via the Volvo Co-Pilot display.

COLLISION MITIGATION

The collision mitigation system automatically brakes when the operator reverses toward an obstacle, and the 360-degree bird’s eye camera maximizes awareness of the surrounding environment.

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RUBBLE MASTER’S NEW DIGITALIZATION TOOLS GET NOVICE OPERATORS UP TO SPEED

RUBBLE MASTER has designed its RM NEXT assistance systems to maximize the equipment’s potential, saying that these digitalization tools reduce complexity in the operating and management of material processing equipment for high-performing crushing operations.

The new digital features will first be available with the new RM 90X and RM 100X mobile impact crusher models, which are updated versions of the RM 90GO! and RM 100GO!

RM NEXT crusher models provide operators with visual feedback and real-time insights through a 12-inch ultra-bright touchscreen display and the RM XSMART app that connects directly to the machine on the job site. Setup Advisor helps operators find

operators be more independent and avoid costly lessons.

An optional camera system paired with a heavy-duty tablet to monitor the feeder and crusher inlet, screen deck, and rear of the machine will help improve the operator’s situational awareness, and the performance indicator provides operators with direct visual feedback on the machine’s utilization, enabling them to intuitively adjust the feed rate and feeder speed.

The new display makes troubleshooting common errors more efficient, providing clear next steps and directions. Advanced diagnostics and accessible schematics and manuals in the field will reduce the number of phone calls needed to overcome a problem and help operators get back to crushing faster.

ANACONDA’S NEW MOBILE CONE CRUSHER IS FLEXIBLE FOR A VARIETY OF PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Anaconda Equipment’s new C12R tracked cone crusher combines Anaconda’s tracked design with the performance of the FLSmidth Raptor cone chamber, offering a robust solution for a wide variety of crushing applications. Users have options for both short and standard heads, along with a selection of liners that can be tailored to suit specific crushing needs. Anaconda says that this flexibility allows operators to efficiently handle various materials while achieving

desired product specifications.

The integrated afterscreen system includes a high-energy 12- by 5-foot double-deck screen box. This ensures that the crusher produces the required product size and any oversize material is recirculated back into the crusher or stockpiled for further use. Direct-drive technology maximizes efficiency while powering the Raptor cone chamber.

The C12R offers easy ground access, quick set up times, and the inclusion of timed pre-heat as standard, reducing downtime.

BORING BEYOND BOUNDARIES

BORING MACHINES

• TBMs can be used in pipe jacking or two-pass tunneling operation mode.

• Accurate and Reliable. Tunnel laser guidance with three-point sealed articulation.

• Easy to operate. On-board manual control operation.

• Increase kits are available for all TBM models. Akkerman will adjust diameters to match product pipe.

SOLUTIONS IN MALAGA

BY KAITLYN TILL, EDITOR IN CHIEF

he sunny hills near Malaga in southern Spain are home to Caterpillar’s picturesque European Demonstration and Learning Center where I had the opportunity to preview the latest in Caterpillar safety technology, electrification, and more ahead of bauma 2025. Caterpillar also celebrated its 100-year history by featuring an early track type tractor alongside Centennial edition machines in its demonstrations and at the facility.

CATERPILLAR’S OPENING NIGHT DEMO WAS A LOVE LETTER TO ITS PAST WHILE CELEBRATING PRESENT CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING CAT COMMAND REMOTE CONTROL, AUTONOMOUS EQUIPMENT, MACHINES IN ITS ELECTRIC LINEUP, AND MORE.

A FOCUS ON JOB SITE SAFETY

Caterpillar focused on its latest safety innovations throughout demos and equipment walk arounds. Project managers in the field tell Cat’s experts that keeping productivity up, costs down, and people safe is a challenge. A contractor’s biggest asset is their people, but those people are also vulnerable to job site hazards and all people are fallible. These safety technology solutions are designed to mitigate mistakes and protect workers from high-energy hazards by either reducing the velocity of vehicles operating around people or removing people from areas where vehicles are operating. Safety solutions demonstrated in Malaga included:

DRIVER SAFETY SYSTEM

Infrared cameras in the cab are trained on the driver’s eyes to track eye movements and look for incidences of micro sleep and attention lapses. When the driver loses focus, the system intervenes providing audible and active feedback to bring them to attention. Reports can be generated for training purposes and review. These systems have been used in mining for years and are now available to construction contractors. They can be installed in light vehicles, such as pickup trucks, all the way up to large haulers, and can see through sunglasses.

CAT DETECT

Caterpillar’s people and object detection technology was developed by utilizing machine learning trained on hundreds of thousands of images of people in construction applications. In the cab, a bounding box is drawn around the person in the field and an audible alarm increases in urgency as the collision risk increases. Alarm modes are customizable, and this situational awareness system is OEM-agnostic. Replacing a spotter on the ground with smart cameras keeps the worker out of harm’s way, and these technologies can recognize hazards that field workers may miss. This technology provides the power to see, mitigate, and manage those previously undetected hazards, supplementing the situational awareness of the operator and other workers on the ground.

REAR OBJECT DETECTION FOR WHEEL LOADERS

Most incidents involving wheel loaders happen while the machine is in reverse. This detection system will give operators enhanced awareness of what is happening behind their machine. It combines radar and cameras to give operators different levels of warning depending on speed and closeness of the object.

SAFETY DATA CENTRALIZED WITHIN VISIONLINK

Preventing individual incidents is crucial, but learning from near misses and poor habits is also vital for improving safety culture on the job site. Caterpillar has incorporated a safety dashboard into VisionLink, giving supervisors the tools they need to address poor habits, job site hazards, and unsafe behaviours in constructive ways with their work crews. Imported data includes operators’ seatbelt compliance and Cat Detect performance. HEG

CAT DETECT GIVES OPERATORS A VIEW OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

THE X-TIER IS HERE

JOHN DEERE’S 850 X-TIER DOZER, FIRST PREVIEWED AT CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023, IS READY TO HIT THE JOB SITE

BY KAITLYN TILL, EDITOR IN CHIEF

John Deere has introduced the all-new 850 X-Tier dozer alongside significant upgrades to its 700, 750, and 850 P-Tier dozers.

Cory Brant, crawler dozer product consultant for John Deere, is excited to highlight the E-Drive at the heart of the 850 X-Tier. “We’ve removed the high stack components out of this tractor and replaced it with a generator and a dual path electric-drive

system,” he says. “There’s an electric-drive motor at each final drive to control each track independently.”

But why would John Deere want to do that?

“That’s a question we hear a lot,” Brant continues, “and it’s answered best by saying we want to have total control over the entire machine in every application.”

When side cutting into slopes, carrying materials around corners, and doing full power turns, the independence of each track on the 850 X-Tier ensures that all the power goes to the ground to move the material efficiently and quickly.

“This dual-path electric-drive system is the next level of efficiency. So we’re able to take every ounce of fuel that goes into this engine and put it to the ground as efficiently as possible,” says Brant.

What operators will notice in the cab is incredible controllability that is superior to a hydrostatic machine.

Operators can tailor the controls to their preferences, and movement is consistent and predictable with smooth direction changes from forward to reverse on the 850 X-Tier. This will be easier on the operator’s body — and ideal for contractors who want to keep their older skilled operators comfortable in the cab.

Operators will also appreciate the view from their workstation. With 14 percent more glass area, ergonomic controls, and an Advanced Vision System, John Deere has prioritized job site awareness.

Next-gen grade control is easy to manage via the 12.8-inch touchscreen. EZGrade, SmartGrade ready with 2D grade control, and 3D SmartGrade will up the performance of operators of all skill levels.

JOHN DEERE’S SMARTGRADE IS EASY TO USE ON THE LARGE TOUCHSCREEN IN THE CAB.

Movement is consistent and predictable with smooth direction changes from forward to reverse on the 850 X-Tier.

Designed to minimize downtime, the dozer also features a tilting cab, providing quick access to E-Drive components for easy diagnostics and maintenance.

JOHN DEERE P-TIER DOZER UPDATES

John Deere’s updated 700, 750, and 850 P-Tier dozers are also ready to wow operators with technology and comfort features.

These updated dozers are built with next-generation tech nology like EZGrade, SmartGrade ready with 2D grade con trol, and 3D SmartGrade. The SmartGrade platform provides plug-and-play capabilities for laser and total station control. Larger touchscreen displays simplify navigation and set-up for machine operation.

Features updated for operator comfort include heated and ventilated seat options, expanded storage, and enhanced cli mate control. Auto-load and carry automatically adjust blade settings based on ground conditions.

THE 850 X-TIER DOZER WAS INTRODUCED AT JOHN DEERE’S CONSTRUCTION FIELD DAYS 2025.

THE UPDATED JOHN DEERE 700 P-TIER DOZER HAS NEXT-GENERATION TECHNOLOGY BUILT IN.

TREAD LIGHTLY AND CARRY A BIG LOAD

ROTATING CRAWLER CARRIERS ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY IN SOME OF ONTARIO’S TOUGHEST AND MOST FRAGILE ENVIRONMENTS

BY SEAN BRUDER

For eight years now, my organization, CG Equipment, has been bringing tracked carriers to contractors across Ontario. In that time, we’ve witnessed how these machines have transformed how work gets done in the most challenging environments — places where conventional wheeled vehicles simply can’t operate efficiently or safely. Since its introduction in 2021, the Panther T14r rotating dumper, in particular, has established itself as a game-changer for customers engaged in operations ranging from shoreline restoration to dam construction.

SHORE POWER

One of our most notable success stories involves a construction contractor specializing in shoreline restoration work along Lake Erie. The combination of steep banks and sandy beaches creates an environment where traditional wheeled dump trucks would routinely get bogged down, leading to costly delays and additional site damage requiring remediation.

Our customer was really impressed by the immense amount of time saved and the little amount of restoration work needed to establish and then restore the haul routes at the end of the job. In muddy conditions, a regular haul truck creates ruts that need to be periodically smoothed in order to continue and must be remediated at completion. With a Panther, this issue is avoided due to its track system.

The T14r’s combination of features met this challenging shoreline environment. With ground pressure of only about 3 psi — compared to the approximately 10 psi of a human footprint — the T14r can traverse sensitive terrain with minimal impact. This not only kept the project moving but significantly reduced site remediation costs at the end.

The T14r’s rotating dump body also optimized the workflow by eliminating the need to turn the entire vehicle around between loading and dumping cycles. The rotating upper body increased cycle times by reducing the time it would take to track the machine around in opposite directions. This feature is particularly valuable in confined work areas or on narrow paths where conventional turning would be difficult or impossible.

THE PRINOTH T14R’S CAT C7.1 ENGINE PROVIDES 275 HP AT 2,200 RPM — MORE THAN ENOUGH POWER TO HANDLE FULL PAYLOAD CAPACITIES OF 29,100 POUNDS (13,200 KG), EVEN OVER DIFFICULT TERRAIN.

EARTHMOVING

The contractor’s operators also appreciated the T14r’s user-friendly controls. Unlike many tracked vehicles that require specialized training, the Panther’s automotive-style control scheme — featuring a steering wheel, single pedal, automatic brake, and forward-neutral-reverse lever — allowed my customer to train operators in a matter of minutes instead of days.

Operators also remark that Panther’s cab is also quite spacious and quiet, and the combination of the unique undercarriage design, as well as air-ride seats, make the ride very smooth. This comfort factor not only reduces operator fatigue but also contributes to greater productivity during long shifts.

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY MEETS HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY

Environmental organizations face a particular challenge when working in sensitive habitats: They need sufficient equipment capacity to complete projects efficiently while minimizing ecological impact. This is where the T14r has found another customer niche.

We’ve supplied Panthers to wetland conservation projects where ground disturbance needed to be absolutely minimized. One national conservation organization we work with has repeatedly chosen the T14r for their habitat management work across various sensitive sites in Ontario.

The T14r’s environmental footprint benefits these projects through low impact to the hauling areas, eliminating the extra cost for repairing these spots when the job is finished. It also reduces the time it takes for the ground to get back to its natural state.

In these environmental applications, the T14r’s automatic track tensioning system proves particularly valuable. Auto track tension is a must in muddy conditions due to the material causing the tracks to tighten and/or loosen continually. Prinoth has engineered each tensioner to run independently of the other to ensure the tracks stay at the proper tension and don’t fall off the

machine. While it might seem like a small detail, in the challenging, muddy conditions where these machines typically operate, it translates to significantly less downtime and higher productivity.

The T14r’s CAT C7.1 engine provides 275 hp at 2,200 rpm — more than enough power to handle full loads in difficult terrain. With a payload capacity of 29,100 pounds (13,200 kg) and a maximum travel speed of 8.4 mph (13.5 km/h), the T14r delivers the productivity these organizations need without compromising their environmental priorities.

DAM NEAR IMPOSSIBLE

Perhaps the most technically challenging application we’ve seen involved a construction contractor working on a dam project in northern Ontario. The job site presented a uniquely difficult access scenario that would have been nearly impossible with conventional equipment.

They needed a machine that could drive along the crest of the dyke and dump its load. The crest was very narrow, so it didn’t allow for the machine to be able to turn around. In this situation, the T14r’s 360-degree rotating upper carriage proved invaluable. The T14r’s rotating upper carriage fit the bill by rotating 180 degrees while the undercarriage stayed put. Once unloaded, being able to invert to drive back along the same route made the complete cycle efficient and safe for the operator.

This ability to reverse the operator orientation after rotation — what Prinoth calls the single-touch direction reset — is a significant safety feature that also enhances productivity. Without it, operators can become disoriented after rotating the upper structure, potentially leading to control errors and accidents. The T14r eliminates this risk entirely.

The project also highlighted the T14r’s muscular climbing capability. With a maximum gradeability of 33 percent (15 degrees) both uphill/downhill and on side slopes, the Panther can safely operate in conditions that would be hazardous or impossible for conventional vehicles.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

Beyond physical capabilities, Prinoth has incorporated advanced telematics that enhance the way fleets manage these specialized assets. The telematics system gives vehicle owners the ability to track preventive maintenance, see where their vehicles are working, or are being overworked, and allows them to diagnose problems remotely. All this helps maximize the uptime of the machine, making my customers happy in the process.

These connected features are becoming increasingly important as vehicle renters and owners alike, seek to optimize equipment utilization and reduce downtime. The ability to remotely monitor vehicle health and predict maintenance needs represents a significant advantage in managing these high-value assets.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Prinoth continues to innovate and at the time of my writing, the company is preparing to launch the Panther T9r, which brings many of the T14r’s advanced features to a smaller platform.

The T9r gives customers options for their jobs if they need the rotate feature but not the capacity of a T14r. With a payload of 17,637 pounds (8,000 kg) and a heaped dump box capacity of 6.5 cubic yards (5.0 cubic metres), the T9r will complement the larger T14r in many fleets.

The new model incorporates all the cab enhancements that have made the latest generation T14r so operator-friendly, including an air-ride seat as standard equipment, 7-inch touchscreen display with dial job control and cruise control for reduced operator fatigue on long hauls. The rotate and dump controller is also

more intuitive and allows for the second trainer seat in the cab, highlighting improvements that will further enhance operator training and versatility.

The undercarriage of the entire Panther line also deserves special mention. Unlike adapted excavator or dozer undercarriages, Prinoth’s purpose-built, self-cleaning undercarriage features large steel wheels and high-travel suspension. This allows the vehicle to manoeuvre over extremely uneven terrain with remarkable stability and operator comfort — all while remaining debris free.

Additionally, the Panther’s C-channel frame rails — similar to what you’d find on a conventional truck — make the Panthers extremely adaptable for various specialized bodies and equipment. This truck-like architecture means that virtually any body that can be mounted on a truck can be mounted on a Panther.

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS

With emerging applications in right-of-way maintenance, shoreline, and wetland restoration, park trail networks, pipeline construction, utility maintenance, and mining exploration, the versatility of these machines continues to expand. The Panther T14r — and soon the T9r — are proving that with the right equipment, what once seemed impossible can now become just another productive day on the job.

SEAN BRUDER is vice president of CG Equipment, which provides sales, rentals, service, and parts to the construction, waste, recycling, demolition, material handling, and agricultural markets in Ontario.

THE PANTHER T14R CAN TRAVERSE STEEP BANKS AND SANDY BEACHES TO COMPLETE SHORELINE RESTORATION WORK.

CRAWLER CARRIERS

CUSTOMIZABLE FOR REMOTE & ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE APPLICATIONS

1Morooka straight frame and rotating crawler carriers are highly customizable for a range of applications and can be outfitted with dump beds, digger derricks, field service equipment, trimmers, buckets, cranes, welding equipment, flatbeds, drilling equipment, and more. Morooka offers both canopy and enclosed cabin models in its straight frame series. Morooka’s 360-degree rotating crawler carriers reduce the need to pivot, turn, and spin turn and are efficient for unloading. Wear-resistent Hardox steel in the dump bed ensures longevity and lowered running costs. A surround-view monitor on the rotating models gives operators a clear view of the entire job site. Maximum payload for Morooka crawler carriers ranges from 3,000 to 20,000 kg.

2Prinoth crawler carriers are designed to access hard-toreach and environmentally sensitive areas without damaging the terrain. They are adaptable to construction, environmental work, firefighting and rescue, oil and gas applications, and the utility industry. Prinoth offers both straight frame and rotating crawler carriers with maximum payloads ranging from 5,715 to 15,195 kg. Prinoth rotating crawler carriers have Hardox dump body construction, drive direction reset, and auto centreing. The straight frame models can be outfitted with pipewelders, cranes, hydroseeders, digger derricks, log forwarders, concrete mixers, hydro excavators, and more.

3

3

Terramac rotating and straight frame crawler carriers have maximum payloads ranging from 5,433 to 12,701 kg. Offering low ground pressure and excellent traction to traverse rugged, wet, loose, and steep terrain, these crawler carriers are designed to be efficient while keeping environmental disturbance to a minimum. Terramac carriers are adaptable to specialized applications and can be outfitted for hydroseeding, personnel carriers, water or fuel tanks, and more. A variety of bed options, including a conversion dump bed, flat bed, and heavy-duty rock bed, are available to tailor the machine to the task. Terramac carriers are built to allow customization and flexibility for unique job site needs.

TERRAMAC RT7R

IQ & A A NEW PARTNERSHIP IS READY TO TRANSFORM TECH ACCESS FOR CANADIAN CONTRACTORS

TRIMBLE’S RON BISIO AND SMS EQUIPMENT’S MIKE BROWN DISCUSS THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST-EVER TRIMBLE TECHNOLOGY OUTLET

BY MEGHAN BARTON, SENIOR WRITER

n a noteworthy step forward for Canadian contractors seeking improved access to construction technology, SMS Equipment has been named the world’s first Trimble Technology Outlet. This partnership marks a significant milestone for both organizations.

With construction businesses across Canada facing increasing pressure to integrate technology while managing mixed fleets and tight timelines, access to streamlined, reliable solutions has become a growing challenge. SMS Equipment’s national footprint and hands-on experience with equipment and technology positions the company to help bridge that gap.

For many contractors, sourcing and integrating technology, which can be disconnected from equipment purchasing, may lead to delays, compatibility issues, and

What

led to SMS Equipment being selected as the first Trimble Technology Outlet worldwide and what significance does this have for Canadian construction businesses?

SMS Equipment fits the profile of the kind of company Trimble wants to partner with. They are the largest independently owned Komatsu dealer in the world, with a first-class repu-

limited support. Historically, Trimble was distributed directly through SITECH’s established dealer network. Leveraging this new partnership, SMS Equipment is now positioned to deliver Trimble’s field solutions directly to Canadian contractors.

To better understand the implications of this partnership, and how it benefits Canadian contractors, I reached out to Ron Bisio, senior vice president of field systems at Trimble, and Mike Brown, executive vice president of technology and innovation at SMS Equipment. With decades of combined experience in equipment innovation and industry solutions, both leaders offer insights into what this partnership means for construction businesses in Canada, the impact on technology adoption, and how contractors can maximize their investment in new solutions.

tation for supplying grade control solutions to their customers, and, as such, they were a high-priority relationship for Trimble.

SMS Equipment’s partnership with Trimble is rooted in our expertise in equipment technology and commitment to customer-driven solutions. We’re not only a leading Komatsu dealer, we’re also in a unique position to provide equipment and technology beyond what OEMs offer, like Trimble’s aftermarket solutions. Formalizing our relationship with Trimble bridges a gap in technology sales and support. It gives our construction customers greater access to the technology they require and ensures mixed fleet contractors benefit from best-in-class technology support.

Meghan Barton

Ron Bisio, Trimble

Mike Brown, SMS Equipment:

RON BISIO

MIKE BROWN

change the purchasing, implementation timelines, and support experience for Canadian contractors?

This new model gives Canadian contractors more control over their technology choices. Now they can select the machines they need along with the technology solutions that best support their operations early in the purchasing process and as an integrated machine-technology offering. By formalizing our partnership with Trimble, we ensure a faster, more streamlined purchasing process and seamless technology support, helping contractors maximize uptime and efficiency.

What type of training and support will SMS Equipment provide to help contractors adopt and optimize Trimble’s solutions?

Trimble is known for providing the highest level of training and support in the industry, and we are providing all the capabilities at our disposal to help SMS deliver this same level of training and support.

SMS Equipment will also be working close-

incorporated back into the product development cycle, which is a key part of optimizing the technology for all users.

SMS Equipment provides tailored training and support to help contractors adopt and optimize technology solutions. From on-machine learning for operators to classroom sessions for engineers and project managers, we want to make sure customers are getting the maximum value from their technology investment.

The SMS Equipment team is recognized as an industry leader in technology support, offering remote diagnostics and troubleshooting to minimize machine downtime. As a Trimble Technology Outlet, we look forward to working with our technology partner to make sure customer feedback is incorporated back into the product development cycle.

Does this new distribution model include only certain products or will customers have access to the full lineup of Trimble software solutions?

SMS Equipment has access to the Trimble civil portfolio for the brands they represent and can therefore provide solutions for any and all of their customers’ technology needs.

Barton

Brown Barton Bisio

Brown

Barton Bisio

SMS EQUIPMENT NOW SELLS TRIMBLE TECH FOR THE EQUIPMENT BRANDS IT REPRESENTS, INCLUDING KOMATSU.

We are currently focusing on Trimble field system technologies, and specifically Trimble Earthworks products. These solutions align with our expertise and allow us to deliver the most value to our customers. As we continue to collaborate with Trimble, we will explore expanding our offerings based on customer needs and our ability to provide strong support.

What’s

your vision for how this partnership will evolve to serve Canada’s growing construction industry over the next five years?

This partnership between SMS Equipment and Trimble is a significant step toward expanding technology choices for Canadian contractors. Over the next five years, we expect it to drive greater adoption of machine control solutions overall by giving customers

more flexibility in selecting and supporting their preferred technology and technology provider. For example, our Komatsu and BOMAG customers can now purchase Trimble technology from SMS Equipment and know it will be supported as part of their machine purchase.

For

contractors who may be or who have been hesitant to adopt new technology, what would you say to convince them that now is the right time to integrate Trimble solutions into their operations?

With the introduction of Trimble Technology Outlets, we’re making it easier than ever for

Brown

Bisio

Barton

Barton

Brown

THE TRIMBLE EARTHWORKS INTERFACE ALLOWS OPERATORS TO CONFIGURE BLADE CONTROL SETTINGS DIRECTLY FROM THE CAB, STREAMLINING SET-UP AND REDUCING DELAYS DURING MACHINE INITIALIZATION.

NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH SMS EQUIPMENT, OPERATORS CAN VIEW CUT/FILL TARGETS IN REAL TIME WITH TRIMBLE EARTHWORKS.

customers to purchase technology for all types of machines, and then to maximize the use of technology once they have it. The key to successful technology adoption in a contractor’s business is having a partner who can provide the right level of training and support. With this latest partnership, SMS Equipment’s customers can be confident that the benefits of Trimble’s technology will be realized in their work.

Staying competitive as a contractor comes down to your ability to get the job done accurately, efficiently, and on budget. Trimble’s machine control solutions give operators greater precision and control — regardless of machine type or operator experience — resulting in improved productivity and reduced rework. This is a flexible, scalable solution that delivers immediate results, and with our industry-leading support, contractors can confidently adopt technology that maximizes their return on investment. HEG

Trimble’s machine control solutions give operators greater precision and control — regardless of machine type or operator experience — resulting in improved productivity and reduced rework.

Mike Brown Executive Vice President of Technology and Innovation, SMS Equipment

Brown

HOW TO OPTIMIZE FILTER MAINTENANCE

ROBINSON’S FILTER SOLUTIONS CUTS COSTS AND WASTE ONE FILTER AT A TIME

BY MEGHAN BARTON, SENIOR WRITER

In the world of heavy equipment, where operational downtime and maintenance costs can erode project margins, air filtration may not be the first place contractors look to optimize performance. According to Robinson’s Filter Solutions (RFS), that’s precisely where the opportunity exists. This Ontario-based, family-run business is transforming how filters are maintained and reused in heavy equipment and industrial settings — saving customers money, minimizing downtime, and diverting thousands of filters from landfills each year.

Founded in 1994 as Air Filter Exchange, the company was purchased by Lloyd and Erin Robinson in 2004. “Lloyd was working as a millwright at a local lumber mill,” Erin explains, “and had a business relationship with the original owner. One day, the previous owner came to Lloyd and said, ‘You want to buy a business?’”

“He was overwhelmed, and we were young and naïve enough to give it a shot,” adds Lloyd.

Erin, who was driving a school bus and raising their three young children at the time, put together the business plan with help from a friend at the bank. With minimal experience but a strong entrepreneurial drive rooted in family tradition, the Robinsons took over and began growing the business from their rural base.

GROWING A NICHE BUSINESS

“Customers don’t call us for pickup,” Lloyd explains. “They’re on a schedule — monthly, quarterly, annually — and we manage that cycle.”

HOW DOES THE REFURBISHING PROCESS WORK?

After renaming the company Robinson’s Air Filter Exchange (RAFE) Inc., the Robinsons expanded by acquiring and incorporating four regional competitors between 2006 and 2017. According to Erin, some of these acquisitions were driven less by market share and more by quality control. “What we do is very niche,” she says. “If someone’s doing it poorly, it affects the whole industry. We bought one of our early competitors just to get them to stop doing it badly.”

In 2017, after a decade of growth and strategic refinement, the company rebranded for the final time as Robinson’s Filter Solutions to reflect its evolving services.

Today, RFS operates a centralized cleaning facility in Combermere, Ontario, supported by a route-based pickup and delivery system that spans Eastern Ontario and parts of Quebec. Filters are collected on a scheduled basis according to each company’s needs, then are cleaned, inspected, tracked, and returned within a two-week turnaround in many cases.

At the heart of Robinson’s business is its proprietary refurbishing process for air filters used in everything from loaders and haul trucks to crushers and plant ventilation systems. Filters are tagged with a barcode on arrival, tracking how many times they’ve been cleaned and which customer they belong to. They are then cleaned using a combination of mechanical agitation, centrifugal force, and compressed air in a specialized McWinn cleaning machine — a Canadian-made system out of Edmonton.

“All inspections are done by hand,” says Lloyd. The process uses high-powered lights to detect even pinhole imperfections in the filter media. Some filters are manually cleaned in special bays if they’re non-cylindrical or too delicate for the machine.

Rejected filters are removed from circulation, and a record is kept for the customer. In some cases, replacements are automatically ordered and shipped out to avoid disruptions.

While many filters can be cleaned up to eight times, Lloyd notes that filter longevity depends heavily on the application.

“We’ve cleaned some filters over 25 times. Others can’t even go through once — it depends on the environment, the kind of dust, whether it’s been wet, and how it’s handled. Many times, when a filter is rejected, it is due to human error, like being dropped or mishandled.”

Tim Greene, a sales consultant at RFS, added that the company references a third-party white paper that benchmarks the performance of new filters against those that have been cleaned up to eight times. “The airflow performance is identical,” says Greene. “And in some cases, cleaned filters perform slightly better because they’ve been seasoned. The structure is more efficient after use. And in terms of air flow, it has the same performance value that meets the standard that the OEM has.”

MEETING THE NEEDS OF HEAVY INDUSTRY

RFS serves both the industrial and heavy equipment markets. In 2004, nearly 95 percent of their business was heavy-equipment-based. Since then, they’ve expanded into industrial manufacturing, which now accounts for roughly half of their filter cleaning volume. The company also offers new filter sales and onsite service, including preventive maintenance and filter changes.

“Our ideal customers are those with high turnover,” Lloyd explains. “Sand and gravel operations, for example, may change filters daily on a crusher. The savings really add up.”

Even small operators benefit. “Because our trucks are already on the road servicing major clients, we can pick up two or three filters from a small outfit and provide the same service,” Greene says. “Everyone pays about 50 percent of what they’d pay for a new filter based on their own buying power.”

RFS works with all makes and models of air filters used in commercial and industrial equipment. They do not service oil-soaked or hazardous filters and do not work with residential HVAC filters.

WHAT DOES FILTER REFURBISHING MEAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Robinson’s environmental commitment is embedded in both their mission and daily operations. Every refurbished filter represents one less disposable item in a landfill, and RFS also reuses original packaging when possible.

“If you’re changing a filter every month, that’s 12 filters a year,” says Lloyd. “But if we can clean and reuse that same filter eight times, you’re only disposing of one or two instead of 12. Plus, you’re saving all the packaging that would have gone with them.”

Only about 10 percent of rejected filters are sent to the landfill. About 90 percent of rejected filters are recycled for scrap metal. Rubber-ended or composite filters, which are harder to process, cannot be recycled at this time.

RFS is currently exploring the feasibility of calculating its total carbon footprint — a process that could cost $50,000 to $70,000. “We’d like to have data to back up the environmental value we’re offering,” says Lloyd. “Right now, it’s just common sense, but we want science behind it too.”

TECHNOLOGY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Beyond the equipment itself, RFS has invested heavily in technology to monitor internal productivity and ensure consistent service quality. The company’s custom software was originally developed to track filters as they moved through each stage of the cleaning process, including barcode scanning, cleaning duration, and inspection outcomes.

BEFORE AND AFTER FILTER CLEANING.

ROBINSON’S

AGITATION,

AND

built for our process,” says Erin. “Now, we also use it to track technician efficiency and product quality, which helps us stay accountable and support our team’s growth.”

A UNIQUE MODEL FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Growing a business in rural Ontario has shaped Robinson’s Filter Solutions into a company that prioritizes relationships as much as results. In a region where word-of-mouth still drives business and trust is earned through action, RFS has built its reputation by delivering a level of customer service that often extends beyond filtration.

“We work in places where business is still built on relationships,” says Erin. “Customers expect to know who they’re dealing with.” That connection often translates into going the extra mile.

When one customer faced a staffing shortage, RFS assigned two of their employees to help with basic labour — sweeping floors and shovelling sawdust — just to keep the client’s operation running smoothly. “It’s not what we do day-to-day, but they needed help, and we had the people,” Lloyd says.

That same flexibility is evident in how Lloyd, a trained millwright, approaches site visits. If he sees a mechanical issue, such as an airflow problem that’s not related to filtration, he steps in to offer solutions. “Customers rely on him not just for air filters, but for his expertise and ability to troubleshoot,” says Erin. “It’s part of why our retention rate is so high.”

In rural areas where service providers are fewer and farther between, RFS’s hands-on, relationship-driven model has become a differentiator. “We’re not corporate and cold,” Erin says. “We show up, we get dirty, and we do what needs to be done.”

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Asher Robinson, the Robinsons’ son, has joined the company as a sales rep and is helping to refine the sales process with an

In some cases, cleaned filters perform slightly better because they’ve been seasoned. The structure is more efficient after use.

Tim Greene Sales Consultant, Robinson’s Filter Solutions

eye toward future expansion. “We’re working on documenting everything we do so that we can eventually replicate it in other locations,” says Asher.

Lloyd and Erin envision RFS growing into a network of company-owned satellite facilities that are not franchised, but centrally managed. “We’ve spent the last few years really locking down our people, processes, and systems,” Lloyd says. “We’re now at the point where we could scale it.”

The company is exploring additional service areas in southwestern Ontario and beyond. They’re also open to expanding their range of services based on customer needs, including odd jobs that fall outside filtration. “If a customer needs help changing a bearing or sweeping a floor, and we can help, we do it,” says Lloyd.

With over two decades of experience, a deeply ingrained commitment to sustainability, and a willingness to evolve with the needs of their clients, Robinson’s Filter Solutions has carved out a unique niche in the heavy equipment and industrial sectors. Their promise is simple but has impact: Save time, save money, and reduce environmental waste — one filter at a time. HEG

ROBINSON’S FILTER SOLUTIONS CLEANS FILTERS USING A COMBINATION OF MECHANICAL

CENTRIFUGAL FORCE,

COMPRESSED AIR IN A SPECIALIZED MCWINN CLEANING MACHINE.

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THE BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC AIR COMPRESSORS

HITACHI GLOBAL AIR POWER’S NEW SULLAIR PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR IS DESIGNED FOR LONGTERM COST SAVINGS AND A LOWER ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

BY MEGHAN BARTON, SENIOR WRITER

The demand for cleaner, more sustainable alternatives to diesel-powered air compressors is rising as industries seek to reduce emissions, decrease fuel dependency, and adhere to evolving environmental regulations. The Sullair E425H, a fully electric rotary screw portable air compressor introduced by Hitachi Global Air Power, is designed to address these industry needs. The E425H is an option for field operators aiming to transition away from diesel without sacrificing performance.

The E425H builds upon the advancements introduced with the E1035H, an earlier Sullair model that intended to redefine what an electric portable air compressor could be. The E1035H, which launched with a 250-hp motor and the capability of producing 1,035 cubic feet per minute (CFM), provided a high-output solution for demanding applications.

Recognizing the need for a more compact, versatile option, Hitachi Global Air Power introduced the E425H. Designed for applications that require less CFM or lower flow rates, the E425H delivers 425 CFM with an adjustable pressure range of 100 to 150 pounds per square inch (PSI), making it well-suited for jobs where 125 PSI is the standard requirement. Unlike past electric portable compressors, which were often stationary units mounted on trailers, the E1035H represented a complete rethinking of electric portability. The E425H follows a similar path, incorporating the same innovative approach but in a smaller, more accessible package that enhances flexibility across various environments.

According to Jerel Cole, senior product manager with Hitachi Global Air Power US, the E425H is poised to meet the growing demand for emissions-free, low-maintenance air compression. “With this design, we worked closely with our

distributors, some end users, and our customers to truly understand their needs and requirements. Their main concerns were mobility and also the ability to function and operate in rough and dirty environments. For them, it was a reduction in total cost of ownership, it was having the ability to quickly get the machine up and running, it was a product that was extremely reliable for the rental market.”

THE SHIFT FROM DIESEL TO ELECTRIC

A move toward electric air compression is one way contractors can shift thinking on efficiency and long-term cost savings. The emission-free E425H makes this air compressor a practical solution for operations looking to reduce their environmental footprint. Unlike traditional diesel-powered compressors, this machine produces no exhaust fumes, allowing it to be used in indoor environments where air quality is a concern.

In addition to benefitting from reduced environmental impacts, businesses can cut operating costs with the E425H. With diesel-powered units, owners must factor in regular refuelling, oil changes, and extensive maintenance. This electric model eliminates fuel costs entirely and significantly reduces the need for servicing. “Customers are looking for lower total cost of ownership, quick set-up, and reliability, and the E425H delivers on all these fronts,” says Cole.

Another significant advantage is noise reduction on job sites that struggle with excessive noise pollution. The E425H runs more quietly than a diesel compressor, making it more suitable for locations where noise restrictions or worker safety concerns are paramount.

INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE

Hitachi Global Air Power’s latest Sullair compressor offers an alternative for operators focused on sustainability but not at the cost of functionality and efficacy. The E425H is loaded with features designed to enhance performance and ease of use. One of its most significant advancements is the patent-pending condensate management system. Instead, it uses an internal heating element to evaporate excess moisture, reducing environmental impact and simplifying maintenance. “This system eliminates time-consuming and costly third-party disposal, which is a huge advantage for job sites with strict environmental controls,” explains Cole. “It’s an age-old concern within the industry, and so we’ve developed this solution based on the voice of [our] customers.”

Another innovation is the swing-out cooler design, which allows for easy access during maintenance. Unlike traditional compressors that require cumbersome disassembly for cleaning, the E425H’s redesigned cooling system improves airflow and prevents overheating. “The swing-out coolers mean technicians can clean the unit faster and more effectively, reducing downtime,” says Jennifer Ohlinger, senior communications manager with Hitachi Global Air Power US.

The E425H also features AirLinx remote monitoring. This system allows users to track operational data, temperature levels, and maintenance needs in real time.

HOW TO INTEGRATE AN ELECTRIC COMPRESSOR ON THE JOB SITE

Switching from diesel to electric requires some adapting, but the transition is easier than expected. The key to seamless integration is ensuring the job site has the necessary infrastructure.

On job sites requiring high-capacity electric equipment,

such as the Sullair E425H, an electric drop refers to the dedicated infrastructure necessary to supply consistent, 480V power directly to the unit. This configuration typically consists of a fused disconnect switch, with a minimum rating of 200 amps, to ensure safe isolation and control of the power feed. Power is delivered via four 4/0 gauge cables — three phase lines and one ground — capable of handling the electrical load necessary for continuous compressor operation. Termination is achieved through Camlock connectors, which allow for a rapid, secure connection to the electrical source. Electric drops can be configured to draw from shore power, temporary distribution panels, or industrial-grade generators, with the primary objective being to maintain a stable and reliable power supply that meets the operational requirements of field-deployed electric air compressors.

While generators provide a workaround for remote sites without a power grid, their use may reduce some of the emissions benefits associated with an electric model. “For customers already using electric equipment, integrating the E425H is seamless,” notes Cole. “However, for job sites that are primarily diesel-driven, it may require additional electrical set-up.”

POWER STABILITY AND STARTUP CHALLENGES

Power stability is one of the primary concerns when integrating electric compressors into industrial and construction settings where voltage fluctuations and power surges are common. To address this challenge, the E425H utilizes a solid-state starter, which reduces inrush current and ensures a gradual and controlled start-up. This boosts the reliability of power connections to prevent unnecessary wear on electrical components, distin-

THE E425H ELECTRIC PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR IS DESIGNED FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT WITH SET-UP TIMES AS SHORT AS 15 TO 30 MINUTES.

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

guishing it from traditional variable speed drives, which can be vulnerable to unstable power conditions in field applications.

Unlike traditional stationary compressors, which often take five to ten hours to install and configure, the E425H is designed for rapid deployment. With set-up times as short as 15 to 30 minutes, this efficiency is made possible through camlock connections, which offer a secure and standardized method for quickly linking the compressor to the site’s electrical system.

Another key design consideration is the two-inch air supply connection, which has been positioned away from the operator to enhance safety during installation. This adjustment reduces exposure to potential hazards and improves accessibility for maintenance and adjustments in the field.

THE RENTAL ADVANTAGE

The rental industry is a key sector that can benefit from the E425H’s electric advantage. Lower maintenance costs and increased machine uptime translate directly into higher profitability. Unlike diesel compressors that require frequent refuelling and oil changes, the E425H’s electric motor significantly reduces servicing needs, keeping machines available for rent more often.

The standard Sullair AirLinx feature is particularly beneficial for rental companies. This tool enables better fleet management, prevents unexpected failures, and ensures optimal machine utilization. “Rental houses can track machine location, monitor air pressure, and schedule maintenance remotely,” says Cole.

Perhaps the most compelling advantage for rental business-

es is the E425H’s broad application range. The versatility of this machine ensures high utilization rates, making it a sound investment for rental fleets across many industries. “Rental businesses will see a strong return on investment with the E425H due to lower fuel costs, longer run cycles, and reduced maintenance,” says Ohlinger.

PLANS FOR MORE ELECTRIC MODELS

With increasing regulatory pressure on emissions and the global push for more sustainable solutions, the market is shifting toward electric-powered equipment. Hitachi Global Air Power is embracing this transformation, laying the groundwork for an expanded portfolio of electric compressors with the launch of the E425H. Plans for larger models like the E1600 and oil-free electric compressors are already in the pipeline.

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“We have certain sustainability goals, including being carbon neutral throughout our value chain by 2050. Everything we’re designing and building is for maximum efficiency and also for second and third lives where possible. So it’s part of our engineering and innovation centre to build highly efficient, next-generation products to meet those goals and, more importantly, to help our customers meet those goals. We called it the new era of innovation with E1035, and it’s just a new way of thinking and a new way of being customer forward and uber-focused on those sustainability goals that we all have.”

“Diesel compressors will still play a role, but the shift toward electric is inevitable,” says Cole. “The E425H is just the beginning of a broader move toward cleaner, quieter, and more efficient air compression solutions.”

A SMART INVESTMENT

Combining sustainability, advanced technology, and reduced operating costs, the Sullair E425H offers a compelling alternative to diesel-powered units without sacrificing performance. A smart investment for contractors, rental companies, and industrial operators, the E425H represents one of the latest developments in portable air compression technology as many industries shift toward increased electrification. HEG

THE SWING-OUT COOLER DESIGN OF THE E425H GIVES TECHNICIANS EASY ACCESS DURING MAINTENANCE.

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