Equipment Today July 2022

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JULY 2022

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Contents

July 2022 | Vol. 58 No. 5

Go to www.forconstructionpros.com/equipment

FEATURES

6

COVER STORY

10

SKID STEER SPEC GUIDE

18

TRUCKS & TRANSPORTATION

20

TRUCKS & TRANSPORTATION

24

INFRASTRUCTURE

28

INFRASTRUCTURE

30

INFRASTRUCTURE

33

SUSTAINABILITY

40

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

44

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

The Looming Battle for Construction Telematics Supremacy

Third-party construction telematics software presents data on mixed fleets on a single pane of glass. How will it compete when software from equipment OEMs can do that, too?

DEPARTMENTS 4 16 36

BREAKING GROUND

Building Together with Equipment Today’s New Editor-in-Chief Erica Floyd, the new Editor-in-Chief of Equipment Today, introduces herself and some magazine design changes.

EQUIPMENT INTRODUCTIONS

July New Product Launches

Compact wheel loaders, dozers, compact excavators, angle grinders and portable office space are among the new products in this month’s issue of Equipment Today.

PROFIT MATTERS

Florida Bridge Contractor Automates Rebar Tying to Shave Labor and Days off the Timeline TyBOT from Advanced Construction Robotics helps Shelby Erectors boost margins and improve the project owner experience—next, IronBOT to speed things up even more.

39

RUNNING THE BUSINESS

Shape of the Economic Recovery Should Guide Your Business Spending

BRIDGING THE GAP New infrastructure means there’s lots of work coming but there may not be enough construction workers to get that work done.

Here’s how some contractors are finding new sources of labor.

22

TRUCKS & TRANSPORTATION Tires and truck accessories for the construction jobsite.

32

INFRASTRUCTURE

35

SUSTAINABILITY

49

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

Using Fleet Management Software in Your Construction Business FMS can help maintain real-time visibility into the location, inventory and assignments of vehicles and other assets.

Start With Your Fleet to Cut Gas Prices

For construction managers, operating costs start well before crews hit the ground.

Five Things to Know About Davis-Bacon Compliance from the DOL How contractors can meet their DBA requirements for projects funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

4 Tips for Winning Government Infrastructure Contracts

The IIJA is already having a major impact on the industry. Here are four ways to start building relationships to win you work.

New Broadband Funds Need Competence, Oversight

The funds offered through the American Rescue Plan Act and IIJA promise to finally close the last gaps in connectivity.

What Goes Into Building an EV Charging Station?

As states begin to build a network of EV charging stations, one expert says steel conduit must be part of the conversation.

How AI, Machine Learning Tech Prevents Skid Steer Injuries, Deaths Eccentric, rapid movement makes skid steers dangerous, but emerging technologies can prevent most accidents.

5 Steps to Take After a Construction Company Vehicle Crash

46

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

47

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

Recruiting Strategies: It’s Time to ‘Fish in New Pools’

PRODUCT ROUNDUPS

Perhaps the most versatile of jobsite machines, here is a look at the latest skid steer models and their performance advances.

Take the stress out of accidents by defining steps employees should take following an incident.

Columnist Garry Bartecki discusses economic recovery and how construction-related business owners should manage their finances.

50

Equipment Today’s Annual Skid Steer Spec Guide

How to Disaster Proof Your Construction Company

Know the value of property, services, equipment in your operation to determine insurance needs and associated premiums.

Piecing Together a Strong Construction Safety Culture

Safety software enabled Sun Ridge Contracting to celebrate two years without a lost-time incident.

WEB EXCLUSIVES VIDEO NETWORK

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Everything from cranes to crushers needed for infrastructure.

DIGGING DEEPER PODCAST https://eqtoday.co/s7sfkm

Battery-powered, modern equipment for a greener jobsite.

PREMIUM CONTENT

Keep crews safe with these jobsite lighting solutions.

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Published and copyrighted 2022 by AC Business Media Equipment Today makes every effort to report manufacturers’ product news accurately, but is not responsible for validity of news claims.

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July 2022 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY

3

B RE AKI N G G R OU ND | By Erica Floyd, Editor-in-Chief Equipment Today

BUILDING TOGETHER with Equipment Today’s New Editor-in-Chief Erica Floyd, the new Editor-in-Chief of Equipment Today, introduces herself and some changes to the print design of the magazine.

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A

little over a year ago, I watched as a yellow John Deere 650G LGP dozer zoomed and pivoted, inches from my living room window, and demolished a decaying adjacent sunroom. Our talented excavator then dug a new foundation next to our home for what would become a walkout basement. My husband and I decided to remodel our modest ranch house, built into the hills of the northern Kettle Moraine

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area in Wisconsin, shortly before the pandemic shutdowns of March 2020. As you all know, the project that ensued inevitably provided us with comprehensive educations on the Murphy’s laws of construction supply chains and labor markets. Most fun, it bolstered my knowledge of construction equipment of all types—dozers, excavators and graders.

We paced the project out over the year, laying luxury vinyl plank flooring between managing our family’s organic mushroom farm. Aside from an outdoor composting wharf, the farm is an indoor operation. We own two skid steers, which possess a versatility and agility that most farm equipment cannot achieve, as well as heated cabs for those frigid outdoor composting days. Yale ERP forklift units, a state-of-the-art growing tray filler, and a specialized compost turner round out the farm’s equipment fleet.

Between work and housework, I jotted notes about our experience with remodeling and construction, fodder for what I thought would be a home design blog. In previous roles, I wrote blog posts about the possibility of automated forklifts changing the warehousing industry, protecting workers from the more dangerous parts of their jobs. A background in hard news, service journalism, marketing, creative writing and internal communications means I’m comfortable editing and writing

4 EQUIPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

longform features, short news, profiles of industry leaders, interviews, video, podcasts and even poetry.

In spring 2022, we moved back into our home after six months of the gut remodel process. AC Business Media began its search for a new Editor-in-Chief of Equipment Today around that time, and the post piqued my interest. Perhaps I had a use for the gray matter I accrued on dozers and graders after all.

Today, I am delighted to take on the role of Equipment Today Editor-in-Chief. Having written and edited everything from B2B magazines to personal essays to press releases in multiple markets, including media, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, agriculture and food processing and automotive parts, I’m honored to serve the construction contractor industry through this industry-leading media brand.

Along with a new editor, you’ll find some additional changes in this issue of Equipment Today.

A brilliant, subtle redesign standardizes the magazine’s format across the AC Business Media brands and emphasizes the content our readership wants.

Scannable QR codes at the bottom of the Table of Contents page will lead you to Web Exclusive content on the ForConstructionPros.com site.

The recent revamp of our Contractors’ Top New Products Award gives contractors a stronger voice to tout and shout out their preferred new equipment.

The AC Business Media team’s fresh approach to change but deep affinity for print publications instantly made me feel at home, and we hope you’ll feel at home among these pages, too.

I’m looking forward to crafting features on the best equipment for the job, from building malls to highways to public libraries. What are your most urgent concerns regarding safety, compliance, security, and sustainability? Which are the most exciting areas of growth in your business? Are you interested in reading more about telematics or gaining knowledge on workforce development? Most importantly, how can I help you find the best equipment and resources for your operation? I look forward to speaking with connections in the industry, maintaining and strengthening the groundwork laid before me.

Let’s build together. ET

Erica Floyd Editor-in-Chief Equipment Today efloyd@ACBusinessmedia.com

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Power and durability.

The foundation we build upon.

Construction Lineup

Durable Kubota engines

Upgraded tech & features

Get the groundwork right with the Kubota construction lineup. Reliable, comfortable track loaders. Productivity-boosting skid steers. Powerful wheel loaders. Heavy-duty utility vehicles. All built around dependable Kubota engines. It’s equipment built the right way. So you can build your reputation.

Kubota is the world’s #1 selling compact excavator for 18 years running.*

** KubotaUSA.com *According to 2021 data from Off-Highway Research including all Kubota Group brand sales. **Based on the 2021 Equipment Watch Awards for Highest Retained Value and 5-year residual value – Large Skid Steer Loaders. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2022. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer. For the complete disclaimer, go to KubotaUSA.com/disclaimers and see the posted disclaimer.

C O VE R S T ORY | By Charles Rathmann, Technology Editor

The Looming Battle for

CONSTRUCTION TELEMATICS SUPREMACY Third-party construction telematics software presents data on mixed fleets on a single pane of glass … how will it compete when software from equipment OEMs can do that, too?

©Petair – stock.adobe.com

6

EQUIPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

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COVER S TORY

E

ver since the Associated Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) published its telematics standard in 2016, the days when original equipment manufacturer (OEM) telematics operate as islands unto themselves have been numbered.

The standard has been updated a number of times, most recently in 2020, and sets forward application programming interfaces (APIs) and an OAuth2 protocol that uses authorization tokens to enable one application to identify another as trusted to access data.

This standard was initially a boon for providers of third-party software that would consume telematics data from multiple OEMs, catering to contractors with mixed fleets. As telematics from OEMs became more open, third party software, including offerings from companies like Tenna, Fleetio, Samsara, HCSS and others could more easily access more data from OEM telematics units.

In a recent interview with OEM Off Highway, Adam Livsay, co-founder and chief commercial officer of

Seattle-based industrial internet of things (IoT) vendor Elevāt, said equipment vendors are waking up, smelling the coffee and making their technology stacks more open to external systems.

“The biggest change I have seen in the last few years is companies being comfortable using software APIs,” Livsay said, referring to the application programming interfaces that enable various software and hardware solutions to communicate with each other across all industries.

“If an OEM designs a system that has a proprietary control software or algorithm, that sets up barriers. A tree-trimming company using a piece of equipment may define utilization of a piece of equipment using that algorithm or telematics product differently than their competitor, or the same technology is used in a different application like street sweeping and productivity must then be captured in a different way.”

It becomes easier, according to Livsay, whose company goes to market through 20 fluid power system integrators that drive its technologies into new product development (NPD) value streams for about 300 OEMs, when this information can be exposed to external

systems that can display it or use it in different ways.

have partnered with HCSS, and Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas has partnered with PowerFleet for telematics.

OPEN TELEMATICS GOES BOTH WAYS But while this increasing openness makes OEM telematics data more accessible to third-party software, the OEMs are evolving their own telematics and maintenance software to also support mixed fleets.

Caterpillar became the first OEM to make this move in 2016, extending its VisionLink software for mixed fleets. This included the ability to capture and analyze data that did not even comply with the thennew AEMP standard. Case has added mixed fleet capabilities to its SiteWatch telematics platform. Volvo has added AEMP 2.0 compliance with enhanced support for mixed fleets to its CareTrack telematics offering. Most recently, Komatsu announced increased interoperability for My Komatsu, its digital interactive hub for telematics data, parts, manuals and other support tools, which now offers increased capabilities to integrate and display fleet data from other equipment brands.

The trend is not universal.

Other OEMs, like John Deere,

THE PATH FOR CONSTRUCTION TELEMATICS SOFTWARE Since the ability to support a mixed fleet is no longer the exclusive domain of third-party software and technology companies, these independent organizations have to compete on other fronts. What capabilities the software offers when it comes to maintenance and operations and the extent to which the software integrates with other products used by a contractor become differentiators.

“HCSS has always been focused on giving heavy civil construction contractors the data and tools they need to run their businesses as efficiently as possible,” HCSS Telematics Product Manager Philip Robinson said. “HCSS forecasted the importance of aggregated machine data several years ago.

Over the last two years HCSS has utilized our position as an industry leader to establish critical partnerships with equipment OEMs. We aggregate machine data from over a dozen OEMs with future plans to significantly increase that number.

As equipment OEMs duke it out with third party software providers over what technology will serve mixed fleets, software companies will need to define strategy around their relative strengths.

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©Pituk – stock.adobe.com

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July 2022 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY

7

C O VE R S T ORY HCSS

HCSS software wraps telematics data in a number of functional tools, including geofencing (shown here), fleet maintenance, scheduling and more.

“In every industry, it takes focus and neutrality to solve complexity.”

— Russ Young

HCSS gives our customers a competitive edge by providing a complete platform that allows them to leverage their OEM machine data at all stages of the job, including managing preventative maintenance, monitoring utilization, and eliminating over-renting.”

“Mixed fleets add variables to the complex decisions that fleet organizations have to make,” Fleetio’s Head of Product Management Michael Harrison said. “Platforms like Fleetio must continue to excel at centralizing data from many sources and many vehicle types in order to guide customers through the high-impact decisions they make, especially in asset management, fleet maintenance, and daily operations.”

According to Tenna Chief Business Development Officer Russ Young, one thing that will help third-party telematics software vendors is that they are software vendors first, not manufacturers who, as one more priority, offer a software product to surface telematics data from equipment.

“We have seen OEMs in multiple industries create tech to manage equipment, but

8 EQUIPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

in complex situations, with very few exceptions, manufacturers continue to be good manufacturers and neutral tech platforms will be developed to answer the bigger problems for a specific industry,” Young said. “Maybe the closest and most obvious example is cars and GPS technology.

We started with manual maps and mechanic diagnostics, and then graduated to OEM-based technology for these functions.

For many years, the OEMs like Ford, BMW, GM, Toyota all created their own tech. You also had rental folks like Hertz and Avis have systems like Neverlost that were much better than driving with a map.

However, user frustration led to centralized neutral platforms like Apple and Google that now largely dominate the market.

The user now has all of their data with them, it works in any vehicle regardless of make or if they own or rent it, and it is simple to use. Construction is even more complicated, so even as the OEMs create functionality, these will continue to solve the ‘dime’ problems not the ‘dollar’ problems.”

One problem third-party

telematics software may be able to solve more elegantly than OEM software that supports multiple brands of equipment is the daunting degree of complexity faced by a contractor’s fleet and asset management team. This includes not only earthmoving equipment and equipment the contractor may own, but also rental equipment from multiple rental houses, which must be balanced intelligently against project demands and the capabilities of the contractor’s owned fleet.

“They have all the stuff on the road like F-150s, but also concrete trucks, lowboys and non-vehicle equipment items like trench boxes, Conex boxes, generators, lights, attachments, scissor lifts, trailers and more that might need to be tracked differently, often with different hardware,” Young said.

“Then there are the different use cases software can deliver … location, utilization, antitheft, safety or compliance, maintenance and preventive maintenance. OEM software may not support all of these.”

USED IN DIFFERENT WAYS Also problematic are the different

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types of construction users and integrations that in turn port data to various applications used by even more users. Tenna, HCSS, Fleetio and other fleet management software products that consume telematics data often extend the value of that data across a number of modules in their own product set. They also invest heavily in integrations to software from other companies.

Fleetio, like most telematics software vendors, offers RESTful APIs that enable users to create integrations with multiple applications ranging from accounting to project management. Fleetio recently launched an integration with key management software vendor KeyCafe. Tenna in early 2022 expanded their existing integration with Viewpoint Vista, now part of Trimble Construction One. HCSS has standard integrations with more than 60 accounting software products.

“With the many people and systems that use telematics data, you start to see a picture of why OEMs in construction are likely see the same trends we have seen repeat in other industries,” Young said. “In every industry, it takes focus and neutrality to solve complexity.” ET

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R O TAT I N G T E L E H A N D L E R S . C O M

Skid steers are perhaps the most versatile machines on a jobsite, with capabilities that enable them to tackle a wide range of tasks. Here’s a look at models from all the major suppliers, plus a look at system advances that help to maximize productivity and performance. To learn more, use the URL shown.

Also be sure to visit the interactive version of this spec guide at www.ForConstructionPros.com/specguide/skid-steer to sort and compare models and specs based on your specific requirements.

2022

JOHN DEERE

On John Deere skid steers, there are two features that come to mind that can enhance productivity and performance. Differential steering allows the operator to maintain speed and traction when pushing through a turn and the anti-stall feature monitors engine load to quickly prevent the engine from stalling out. Both features are standard on our full lineup of skid steers.

GEHL

Gehl's hydraulic systems boost productivity by using some of the top technology combined with innovation. Hydraulic component efficiencies have improved through the years, allowing the machines to do more with small engines without sacrificing power. They consume less fuel and operate quieter than machines of the past. For maximum power, the range goes up to what is reported to be the largest skid steer in the market, the V420, which offers 120 hp and a rated operating capacity of 4,200 lbs.

Model R105 R135 GEN:2 R165 R190 R220 R260 V270 GEN:2 V330 GEN:2

Net HP

34.7 46.6 69.3 69.3 72 72 72 72

Operating Weight (lbs.)

4,200 5,130 6,165 6,880 7,980 8,200 8,150 9,090

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,050 1,350 1,650 1,900 2,200 2,600 2,700 3,300

Breakout Force (lbf.)

2,975 3,500 4,591 4,050 5,600 5,600 5,795 5,968

107.5 110 118.8 120.5 123 123 130.3 131.2

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

14.5 16.8 20.4 18.5 23.5 23.5 23.5 23.5

Model 316GR 318G 320G 324G 330G 332G

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

61 6,180 61 6,542 66 7,150 70 7,700 89 9,900 97 10,000

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,750 1,945 2,190 2,690 3,000 3,600

Breakout Force (lbs.)

5,250 6,000 6,000 8,750 10,300 13,904

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

115 120 122 126 132 132

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 33 33 39 42 47 50

Vertical or Radial Lift R V V V V V

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) R R R R R R V V

NEW HOLLAND

New Holland places a lot of emphasis on customer expectations. Our Electro-Hydraulic machines have Load Management to improve productivity and performance by monitoring engine load. When engine power is needed for more than it can create, it adjusts the ground drive to allow the engine rpm to stay at the correct level to produce max engine power.

Model L316 L318 L320 L321 L328 L334

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

57 5,370 57 6,230 64 6,470 68 6,970 68 7,895 84 9,100

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,600 1,800 2,000 2,100 2,800 3,400

10 EQU IPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

Breakout Force (lbs.)

5,270 5,550 7,300 7,270 8,620 9,323

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

112 120 121 123 129 131

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 18.4 20.6 20.6 24.2 24.2 24.2

Vertical or Radial Lift R V V R V V

CATERPILLAR INC.

Cat D3 series skid-steer loaders feature a hydraulic system that delivers optimal pushing power and breakout for everyday tasks. For more demanding tasks, the available High Flow XPS system supplies a high-flow, high-pressure auxiliary hydraulic system (32 gpm max/4,061 psi max). The additional pressure provided with the High Flow XPS system delivers enhanced productivity with demanding hydromechanical attachments such as cold planers (milling heads), wheel saws, stump grinders or industrial brush cutters.

Model 226D3 236D3 232D3 242D3 246D3 262D3 272D3 272D3 XE

Net HP 66 73 66 73 73 73 95 106

Operating Weight (lbs.)

5,849 6,567 6,514 7,138 7,478 8,296 9,133 9,573

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,550 1,800 1,900 2,200 2,200 2,700 3,450 3,700

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Breakout Force (lbs.)

3,927 5,003 3,928 4,963 7,355 7,355 7,443 7,362

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

110.9 122.9 118.1 121.1 124.2 124.9 127.1 128.6

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 18 20 18 20 23 23 23 23

BOBCAT COMPANY WACKER NEUSON

Skid steer and compact track loaders from Wacker Neuson are power by Kohler KDI diesel engines. These engines are equipped with a high pressure (2000 bar) common-rail fuel system, which together with the advanced multiple injection control of the solenoid-injectors, allows excellent fuel rate control during the injection process. This provides a more complete fuel burn, which increases efficiency and performance.

Model SW20 SW21 SW 28 SW32

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

56 6,437 74.3 6,512 74.3 8,175 100 8,629

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

2,000 2,100 2,800 3200

Breakout Force (lbs.)

5,300 5,300 6,941 9,005

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

124 124 134.8 134.8

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 20 20 22.1 25.1

Vertical or Radial Lift V V V V

Bobcat R-Series compact loaders offer enhanced comfort plus a variety of features and options to enhance productivity and performance. They include redesigned lift arms featuring cast steel segments; an improved cooling system; one-piece sealed and pressurized cab design; clear side enclosure option; inline engine design and durable direct drive system; 5-Link torsion suspension undercarriage option; cast steel Bob-Tach attachment mounting system; ergonomic controls; and innovative displays with device connectivity.

Model S70 S450 S590 S595 S740 A770 S770 S850 S510 S62 S64 S66 S76

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

23.5 2,892 49 5,370 68 6,765 70.5 6,793 74 8,794 88.2 9,623 92 9,314 100 10,237 55 6,208 68 6,884 68 6,974 74 7,154 74 8,615

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

760 1,370 2,000 2,200 3,100 3,325 3,350 3,950 1,790 2,100 2,300 2,400 2,900

Breakout Force (lbs.)

2028 3918 4691 5740 6676 6531 6831 9686 4519 5093 5378 5378 5851

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

92 109 117 118 129 131 129 144 113 113 120 120 128

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 9.8 16.7 17.1 17.1 23 23 23 23 na 17.6 17.6 23.3 na

Vertical or Radial Lift R R V V V V V V na V V V na

KUBOTA

The SSV Series is powered by a Kubota Tier 4-certified, four-cylinder diesel engine and features standard two-speed travel and optional high-flow hydraulics. Borrowed from the company's compact track loaders, the proven loader arm design with vertical geometry can push and dig as well as a radial machine. It is reinforced in all the right areas, including critical connections to the coupler and rear crossbar.

CASE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

New electro-hydraulic controls allow operators to set total machine responsiveness to low, moderate or aggressive; or independently set tilt, lift and drive speed, as well as loader arm and drive controls to best meet the demands of the job. Operators can also store and recall specific setting profiles to match either individual preferences or tasks. CASE B Series skid steers also feature engine shutdown, ignition timeout and engine protection features that extend the life and performance of the engine, battery and other critical systems.

Model SR160B SR175B SV185B SR210B SR240B SR270B SV280B SV340B

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

57 5,645 64 6,270 57 6,570 68 6,970 68 7,400 84 8,117 68 8,090 84 9,100

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,600 1,750 1,850 2,100 2,400 2,700 2,800 3,400

Breakout Force (lbs.)

5,270 7,270 5,550 7,270 8,680 8,677 8,776 9,531

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

112 122 120 123 125.1 125.1 130 130

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 18.4 20.6 20.6 24.2 24.2 24.2 24.2 24.2

Vertical or Radial Lift R R V R R R V V

Model SSV65 SSV75

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ET0622_10-15_SkidSteerSpecs_FIXED.indd 11

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

61.3 6,790 71.6 8,157

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,950 2,690

Breakout Force (lbs.)

4,839 5,884

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

121.5 128.3

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 18 20.9

Vertical or Radial Lift V V

July 2022 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY

11 6/30/22 2:12 PM

2022 MANITOU

Because it is the heart of the machine, reliability and performance of the engine is Manitou's No. 1 priority. By powering its machines with the top engine suppliers, it is able to offer complete skidsteer product lines with machines ranging from some of the biggest in the industry down to the nimble R1050, which has an overall envelope of only 89” x 48” x 70”.

Model 1050R 1350R NXT2 1650R 1900R 2200R 2600R 2700V NXT2 3300V NXT2

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

34.7 4,200 46.6 5,130 69.3 6,165 69.3 6,880 72 7,980 72 8,200 72 8,150 72 9,090

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,050 1,350 1,650 1,900 2,200 2,600 2,700 3,300

Breakout Force (lbs.)

2,975 3,500 4,591 4,050 5,600 5,600 5,795 5,968

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

107.5 110 118.8 120.5 123 123 130.3 131.2

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 14.5 16.8 20.4 18.5 23.5 23.5 23.5 23.5

Vertical or Radial Lift R R R R R R V V

JCB

Engine advancements in skid-steer models have resulted in engines that produce enhanced torque and horsepower while using less fuel, making them more efficient than previous models. In addition, electrohydraulic controls have improved machine efficiency, allowing the main control valve to be powered by electric signals instead of servo hydraulics.

Model 215 270 300 3TS-8W (Teleskid)

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

74 7,445 74 8,680 74 9,288 74 9,859

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

2,257 2,723 3,186 3,208

Breakout Force (lbs.)

4,899 6,543 6,543 6,473

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

118 126 126 159

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 18.5 24 24 24

Vertical or Radial Lift V V V V/R

SUNWARD

ASV HOLDINGS INC.

The SWL3230 skid-steer loader brings speed, reliability and the optimal amount of power to the table. With a 74-hp Kubota engine, this machine can easily load up to 8,000 lbs. It has a tipping load of 4,854 lbs. and can quickly maneuver around the jobsite with a max speed of 7.8 mph. The compact unit has a turning radius of just 4 ft. 5 in.

Model SWL2830 SWL3230

Net HP

Operating Weight (lbs.)

65.2 6,244 75.3 7,613

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,655 2,427

Breakout Height to Force (lbs.)

Hinge Pin (in.)

4,413 91.3 17.7 5,472 123 22.7

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) V V

MUSTANG

Mustang by Manitou designs a wide range of skid loaders to ensure that its customers are productive on the job. With models ranging from 1,050- to 4,200-lb. operating capacities, the product portfolio ensures that users can be confident that the company offers a machine suited for the task. A standard Level II FOPS provides operators safety assurance with regard to operating in environments with potential airborne objects.

Model 1050R 1350R NXT:2 1650R 1900R 2200R 2600R 2700V NXT:2 3300V NXT:2 4200V

Net HP 34.7 46.6 69.3 69.3 72 72 72 72 120.7

Operating Weight (lbs.)

4,200 5,255 6,165 6,880 7,980 8,200 8,150 9,090 11,665

12 EQU IPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

1,050 1,350 1,650 1,900 2,200 2,600 2,700 3,300 4,200

Breakout Force (lbs.)

2,975 3,500 4,591 4,050 5,600 5,600 5,795 5,968 9,040

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

107.5 110 118.8 120.5 123 123 130.3 131.2 143.8

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 14.5 16.8 20.4 18.5 23.5 23.5 23.5 23.5 30.1

The ASV MAX-Series RS-75 and VS-75 feature directdrive pumps, large line sizes and high-efficiency hydraulic systems to assure maximum power is transferred to the attachment for premium performance. Additionally, a highperformance cooling package keeps the machines operating at full load, even under high ambient temperatures.

The skid-steer loaders feature simple maintenance for improved productivity. The machines include swing-out doors and cooling systems that open quickly to expose the engine, filters and other daily checkpoints for fast and convenient maintenance.

Model MAX-Series RS-75 MAX-Series VS-75

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

70.4 2,600 70.4 3,500

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

5,845 5,920

Breakout Force (lbs.)

7,595 8,910

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

125 130

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 21.3 26.1

Vertical or Radial Lift R V

KATO

KATO’s AS12 delivers enhanced performance in a compact package that comes as narrow as 3 ft. 1 in. and has an overall length of 8 ft. 6 in. Combined with an operating weight of just over 3,000 lbs. and a 1,455lb. tipping load, it can easily maneuver loads into the narrowest of spaces. Operator comfort and minimizing fatigue is a key consideration on this machine. The interior offers clearance of up to 28 in., a comfortable adjustable seat and easy to operate controls.

Model AS12

Net Operating HP Weight (lbs.)

21 3,016

Rated Operating Capacity (lbs.)

728

www.forconstructionpros.com/equipment

Breakout Force (lbs.)

1,641

Height to Hinge Pin (in.)

100

Std. Hydraulic Flow (gpm) 9.25

Vertical or Radial Lift R

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TODAY?

When moving material is on your to-do list, Wacker Neuson is ready for action. From powerful skid steers, compact track loaders and wheel loaders to the innovative dual view dumpers, we have the equipment you need to keep your project moving forward.

Looking for material handling solutions? Check it off your list with Wacker Neuson.

Contact your local dealer today.

www.wackerneuson.com

2022

©Gennady Poddubny – stock.adobe.com

BASIC GUIDE TO SKID STEERS A skid-steer loader is truly a “jack-of-all-trades.”

With their numerous attachment options, these units can be found performing many tasks on different types of jobsites. From earthmoving on a building site to landscaping a park to cleaning stalls in a barn, skid-steers can be found helping operators get the job done.

While skid steers can be used in many different ways, size does matter. A smaller skid steer wouldn’t be the best choice for a roadbuilding crew that needs to mill a few inches of asphalt off a road and a full-size skid steer wouldn’t be the best option for a homeowner to use for his backyard garden.

Skid-steer loaders are typically rated by their rated operating capacity (ROC). Below are the size classes listed by AEM (Associated Equipment Manufacturers): • Zero to 1,251 lbs.

• 1,251 to 1,350 lbs.

• 1,351 to 1,600 lbs.

• 1,601 to 1,750 lbs.

• 1,751 to 2,200 lbs.

• 2,201 to 2,700 lbs.

• 2,701 lbs. and above The most popular size in the construction industry is the 1,751- to 2,200-lb. ROC machines. As the ROC increases between machines, so too does the horsepower of the engine, according to product

experts at Bobcat.

Size and horsepower of the skid steer usually falls into one of three categories: • Small frame = 1,750 lbs., under 50 hp • Medium frame = 1,750-2,200 lbs., 50-70 hp • Large frame = Over 2,200 lbs., over 70 hp • Each size and type has its own strengths and weaknesses. So, how do you know which size is best for the application?

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS What’s the best way to match a skid steer to your customer’s task? In order to find out exactly what it is the customer wants to do with the machine, you need to ask some questions. Jobsite dimensions are one of the greatest factors to know to fit the skid steer to the job, according to product experts at John Deere. Know the applications it will be used for, so you can calculate the size of machine you will need. Size constraints, as well as needs for lifting and dumping heights are essential. Hydraulic capacity needs to be determined to use any hydraulic attachments.

THE SIZE OF THINGS Skid-steer loaders share a variety of characteristics that make them suitable for a range of applications,.

For example, skid-steer loaders are agile and easy to

maneuver, due to their ability to turn in their own tracks. They are also compact, allowing them access to areas larger equipment can not go and versatile, with the ability to use dozens of attachments. This being said, each class of skid steer fills its own niche. Small-frame skid steers, for example, are ideal for landscaping, building and site development and underground construction, because of their compact size. This size machine also performs well with interior demolition. At this size, they can fit inside a building but also have the power to use breaker attachments to demolish concrete.

Medium-size machines comprise the bulk of the skid-steer market. Because of their engine power, balance and hydraulics, these machines are suited for a wide variety of attachments and applications. Some construction and jobsite applications

Better. It’s something we all strive for. But how do you get there? You have to be industrious. Be innovative. Be strong. Be smart. And you need ag equipment that will work with you, helping you go above and beyond expectations. Because good enough is never good enough.

Check out our full line of JCB products at your local dealer or visit JCB.com today. /JCBNA

@JCBNA

www.jcb.com

14 EQU IPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

require a little more power and bucket size, but are still in a confined enough space that contractors cannot bring in the big machines. At times, the operator doesn’t need the extra muscle of a larger skid-steer loader and finds it more economical to have a 50- to 70-hp machine.

Larger loaders have the power and ability to tackle larger construction site jobs, from grading and excavating to roadbuilding and heavy lifting applications.

This machine size’s ROC allows it to lift the heaviest loads, such as moving pallets of brick or dumping loads of dirt into the back of trucks.

Attachments that perform best with a high-flow machine, such as a wheel saw or planer for road construction or a forestry cutter for site preparation, work best with these machines.

Applications that require the extra horsepower, such as dozing work, are also a good fit for large skid-steer loaders. When contractors need a big machine to do the hard work on a big site, but they still need maximum maneuverability, a larger size skid steer is often the way to go.

When a skid-steer loader isn’t the best option Skid steers are incredibly versatile machines, especially when you take advantage of the host of attachments available for them. However, they might not be the best choice for some applications. In some instances, a mini track or compact track loader might be the better option.

For example, a homeowner or contractor working on an established lawn might be best served with a tracked machine that will cause less damage, and less rework, to the lawn, saving time and money. Or, much like the small skid-steer loaders, a mini track loader is an excellent way to access narrow or tight areas, such as through a backyard gate or in between buildings built closely together.

A contractor who needs to work in mud or softer soils may be better matched with a compact track loader to keep them working more efficiently and effectively. Or, if a contractor needs the extra pushing power of a compact track loader, such as for dozing work, it would be a better choice versus a skid-steer loader. ET

JCBNA

This article was previously published on FCP.com.

Research. Compare. Communicate.

All within an Interactive Showroom Built for the Construction Industry

To get the full experience, visit:

IRONPROS.COM

EQUIPMENT INTRODUCTIONS These pages feature some of the latest equipment available. For more information on these products, use the QR code shown.

CAT 906, 907, 908 Compact

Wheel Loaders

Next Generation Cat 906, 907, and 908 wheel loaders include a re-engineered operator’s station with technologies to improve operator experience and provide larger wheel loader model comfort on a smaller platform. Featuring the new Cat C2.8 engine, the upgraded drive and powertrain deliver faster roading speeds and drive train performance. The hydraulics and structures have gone through an overhaul, making these new models an optimal fit for many applications.

Specifically designed for Cat products, the new Cat C2.8 engine delivers the same 55.7 kW (74 hp) gross power as the previous engine with 13% more torque, resulting in roading performance and tractive effort improvements. The Cat C2.8 meets EU Stage V and U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards with alternative emissions packages available. Its shift-on-the-go transmission offers increased roading speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph), and larger fuel tank capacities of 30% for the 906 and 12% for the 907 and 908 deliver extended work cycles.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/qq4nuf

Bosch Cordless 12V Max

Brushless 3-in. Angle Grinder Offering pros more tool control, speed and power efficiency when working to cut through tough materials from threaded rods, tile and brick, the GWS12V-30 12V Max Brushless 3-inch Angle Grinder features an optimized gear structure, fast breaking time, and brushless motor to maximize battery runtime.

˜ Produces 19,500 no-load rpm to

cut threaded rod, strut, conduit, tile, and more ˜ Engineered to fit the palm of a user’s hand ˜ Brushless motor maximizes battery runtime in extended applications ˜ Spindle-lock design provides fast wheel change, with a spindleclip release ˜ Wheel stops in less than a second after the grinder is turned off The GWS12V-30 12V grinder also comes in a set and includes: GWS12V-30 12V Max Brushless 3-inch Angle Grinder, a wheel guard, one grinding disc and one cutting disc.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/rxe5qe

16 EQU IPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

Doosan DD100 Dozer The new 122-hp DD100 dozer delivers pushing performance, fuel efficiency and all-day operator comfort. It features a dual/single flange-type roller with several track guard options. The DD100 includes an 8-in. Smart Touch display. It also offers visibility with minimized front pillars, maximum glass area and a standard rearview camera, plus LED lights and front, rear and side wiper blades.

Specs:

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜

Horsepower: 122 hp (91 kW) Operating weight: 25,309 lbs. (11,480 kg) Blade capacity: 3 cu. yd. (2.3 m3) Blade height: 3 ft. 7 in. (1.1 m) Blade width: 8 ft. 10 in. (2.7 m) Blade angle: 22.5 degrees Drawbar pull: 33,721 lbf. (15,296 kgf ) Track length: 7 ft., 7 in. (2.3 m) Travel speed, max: 5.7 mph (9.2 km/hr) Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/4gnxge

Hitachi ZX50U-5N Compact Excavator With its reduced tail-swing design, the compact, 10,560-lb. ZX50U-5N is designed for working in congested areas. An independent swing boom and 360-degree rotation allow set up almost anywhere. The power mode provides higher engine speeds for most general digging work, while the economy mode reduces engine speed for lighter digging jobs. This results in lower noise and decreased fuel consumption.

The excavator also uses the Hitachi Triple H (HHH) hydraulic system, which enables combined operations by adjusting the optimal flow rate for all actuators. A backfill blade allows the excavator to fill or grade while an optional all-hydraulic blade angles 25 degrees left or right, for even more efficient grading and backfilling.

Specs:

˜ Maximum reach of 19 ft., 7 in. (5.96 m) ˜ Maximum dig depth 11 ft., 7 in. (3.53 m) ˜ Tier 4 Final compliant, direct-inject˜ ˜

ed Yanmar engine produces 36.3 net hp (27.1 kW) 3.5-in. (88.9mm) LCD monitor Rubber tracks Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/wvktdr

Skypodz Skypodz are lightweight containers that have been modified and attached to an outrigger so they can be hoisted by a tower crane as construction progresses. Skypodz provide jobsites with office or warehouse space on the site.

Capable of Operating:

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜

Lights HVAC Mounted computer monitors Refrigerators Tool charging stations Includes: ˜ Shelves ˜ Desks ˜ Plan racks and tables ˜ Roll-up door for larger tool storage Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/hprxmc

www.ForConstructionPros.com

Fuel-efficient Cat® equipment pays you back every day on the job. Cash in even more during the Great Payback Event with $3.65/gallon account credit on your new machine purchase. Or choose 4.99% financing for 48 months. Both options come with a Customer Value Agreement (CVA) to ensure your new machine is easy to own and ready to work.

Go to cat.com/GreatPayback for all the details and a complete list of eligible models. *Average credit payback based on average run time fuel consumption level x 24 months/1500 machine SMU x fuel reimbursement rate per gallon. **Offer valid from July 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022 on select new Cat® machines sold by participating Cat dealers to customers in the USA or Canada. Purchase must occur during offer period. Offer subject to machine availability and credit approval by Cat Financial. Not all customers will qualify. The offered Cat® Customer Value Agreement (CVA) includes 6 maintenance parts kits; S∙O∙SSM; and 36 month Vision Link™ Daily. The maintenance parts cover the first 3,000 hours^ (estimated 3 years) of machine utilization. The kit contains one set of parts for regular planned maintenance under normal operating conditions. In some severe applications where maintenance parts need to be replaced more frequently, additional parts will be at customer’s expense. Offer excludes additional maintenance parts, dealer labor, wear parts, and fluids. Offer also includes a 36 month/5000 hour (whichever occurs first) Powertrain, Hydraulics and Technology Equipment Protection Plan (EPP). In some areas, EPP might be sold separately from the CVA. Offer may change without prior notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Contact your Cat dealer for details. © 2022 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET’S DO THE WORK, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Corporate Yellow,” the “Power Edge” and Cat “Modern Hex” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

TRU CKS & T R AN S P O R TAT I O N

Using FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE in Your Construction Business Fleetio

Fleet management software can help maintain real-time visibility into the location, inventory and assignments of vehicles and other assets.

W

ith OEM and thirdparty telematics offerings increasing in number and capabilities, fleet managers in the construction industry have more leeway to find a solution that’s right for their needs. And with the amount of small equipment and power tools on a jobsite, construction tool tracking systems are just as important. Fleet management software (FMS) allows you to track both heavy construction equipment, such as cranes and diggers, as well as small construction tools, like drills and jackhammers. Additionally, you

can integrate other fleet solutions into FMS to consolidate all fleet-related data onto a single platform with single sign-on (SSO) functionality for increased security and reduced login hassle.

Tracking and monitoring assets through a cloud-based FMS provides a real-time view of your tools and equipment, including assignments and location, to keep team members accountable and automate inventory counts and service workflows as needed.

ASSET ASSIGNMENTS INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY The ability to easily track fleet

18 EQUIPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

assets—especially regarding smaller tools and equipment and even PPE—depends a good deal on how and where you store these items. Do workers sign assets out as needed or do certain items stay assigned to specific vehicles? Tools and small equipment should have a designated home from which they’re taken when checked out and to which they are returned at the end of the day or job. Even if an item’s designated home is on a vehicle, individuals can still check out the item directly from the vehicle.

Assigning tools to individual

operators is one of the easiest ways to keep track of your tools, and FMS makes checking out and assigning assets via a mobile app quick and easy. Users can view tool availability, quickly assign tools to themselves and begin their workday. Choosing FMS that syncs with a mobile app eliminates the need for expensive, cumbersome barcode scanners. Instead, operators can scan equipment tags, barcodes, QR codes, Near Field Communication (NFC) tags or stickers with their mobile device.

Managers can also assign assets instead if that is preferred.

www.forconstructionpros.com/equipment

FMS allows managers to create and edit schedules for tool assignments and instantly alerts team members of the assignments via the mobile app.

Leveraging software to manage construction tool assignments keeps your team in sync and allows users to easily view which tools are in-use, available or out of service.

Tool assignments also empower your team to be accountable for their tools. When a tool is lost or damaged, you can easily view who used it last and act accordingly. With tool assignments, team members are more likely to keep track of their tools and ensure they stay in good condition. This also reduces tool misplacement and allows you to coach up or train individuals on proper tool handling, storage and care.

Implementing a tool checkout system ensures your team keeps tools and equipment organized and returns tools after each use. Not only does this help you maintain an accurate inventory count, but it also informs other users when certain tools are free to use, streamlining communication and increasing productivity.

LOSS PREVENTION THROUGH INVENTORY ACCURACY The number of tools and small equipment you manage can range widely, but one thing is

TRU CKS & TRANS PORTATION

certain: trying to manually track inventory often results in inaccuracies. FMS takes the guesswork out of the equation by automating inventory counts and storing tool details. You can track value, location, status and other information in FMS to ensure that even when you aren’t physically at the jobsite, you can stay informed of any tool status changes and access all asset information in an instant. You can also easily edit values and tool details to keep asset records up to date.

When you acquire new tools or replace old ones, you can quickly add or remove tools from your system.

FMS makes it easy to ensure no tools go missing. Managers can compare physical counts to the numbers in their FMS to ensure all tools are accounted for and quickly identify any missing tools down to the barcode.

˜ Improved PM schedules:

Just like with vehicles, it’s important to be proactive when it comes to tool and small equipment maintenance. As these items start to see more use on jobsites,

maintenance histories can show if PM schedules need to be increased or have services added.

While FMS allows you to remotely track and monitor tool assignments and location,

the insights it provides into the usage and performance are just as beneficial. Optimize inventory counts to boost productivity and extend asset life cycles while improving PM schedules, and ensure you’re

always getting the right tool for the job. ET Rachael Plant is a content marketing specialist for Fleetio.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/4mfr9q

A LONG WAY

TOGETHER

TRACK USAGE, PERFORMANCE AND MAINTENANCE HISTORIES While everything we’ve covered so far really focuses on accountability and physically keeping track of small equipment and tools, one of the greatest benefits of using FMS for asset tracking is the ability to gain insights into usage, performance and maintenance histories.

These are the details that inform you regarding: ˜ Optimal inventory count: Tools and equipment that are frequently checked out and which yield high usage hours during times they are assigned can indicate the need to acquire additional inventory.

Overusing tools and equipment can drastically increase wear and tear and preventive maintenance (PM) and repair expenses. Balancing out the usage across a larger inventory can reduce service expenses and improve asset lifespans. ˜ Top performing brands: A great thing about FMS is its ability to consolidate and aggregate data for easy reporting. This means if you want to determine information like top performing asset brands, you can simply pull a report. Procuring assets is always an investment, so knowing which brands are best suited to specific jobs can increase your ROI.

WHEREVER YOU ARE, BKT IS WITH YOU No matter how challenging your needs, BKT is with you offering a wide range of OTR tires specifically designed for the toughest operating conditions: from mining to construction sites.

Sturdy and resistant, reliable and safe, able to combine comfort and high performance.

BKT is with you, even when work gets tough.

BKT USA Inc. 202 Montrose West Ave. Suite 240 Copley, Ohio 44321 Toll free: (+1) 888-660-0662 - Office: (+1) 330-836-1090 Fax: (+1) 330-836-1091

TRU CKS & T R AN S P O R TAT I O N

©methaphum – stock.adobe.com

Start With Your Fleet to CUT GAS PRICES

For construction managers, operating costs start well before crews hit the ground. To afford the best equipment and technology available for workers to get the job done, something has to give.

F

or construction managers, operating costs start well before crews hit the ground. To afford the best equipment and technology available for workers to get the job done, something has to give. Doesn’t it make the most sense to save money in areas of the business that do not directly affect project roadmaps?

Many fleet managers in the construction industry have jumped through hoops the last couple of years as labor shortages continue to pinch a historically strained market.

Construction companies can bleed money quickly with high equipment costs and employee turnover rates, and to make matters worse–inflation continues to soar. Fuel is one of the top two operating costs for

construction fleet managers, representing a sizable chunk of the bottom line. With fuel prices out of whack and driving up costs across all industries, construction companies face the possibility that cost-conscious customers simply don’t have the funds to do business.

Along with the surging fuel costs that compromise fleet managers’ financial flexibility, material costs are also on the rise due to supply chain shortages, made worse by expensive fuel. Construction sites have seen reduced job completion rates and diminished access to materials due to supplier challenges associated with the price hikes.

While these price hikes continue rocking the market, it is critical to understand that there are quite a few actions

20 EQU IPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

fleet managers in the construction industry can implement across their business to improve efficiency, productivity, safety and customer service, all while making sure costs remain manageable. Without disrupting project roadmaps, GPS tracking and telematics will help fleet managers and drivers navigate the road to fuel efficiency.

REDUCE DOWNTIME WITH PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE Making sure vehicles are maintained and running at peak efficiency is one of the most basic ways fleets can reduce fuel costs. Vehicles with older or malfunctioning parts can lack in performance and reduce fuel efficiency.

Fleet managers should track several indicators as they pertain

to maintenance on vehicles, including, but not limited to: ˜ Smog checks ˜ Brake inspections ˜ The vehicle’s last oil change, based on miles driven, not date ˜ Transmission flushes Tires are another important element of maintenance for fleet vehicles, as more miles on the road tend to wear on tires at a quicker pace. Purchasing and maintaining quality tires strengthens reliability and is critical for healthy fleet operation. Some things that can easily be implemented into a regular maintenance schedule include: ˜ Checking the vehicle’s alignment at factory-recommended intervals ˜ Performing regular rotation and balance ˜ Checking tire pressure

www.forconstructionpros.com/equipment

˜ Monitoring tire tread depth

GPS tracking and telematics keep close tabs on these elements, alerting managers that it’s time for a maintenance check.

Keeping a consistent routine will help keep vehicles running at peak performance.

REDUCE TRAVEL TIME FOR FIELD WORKERS Since a significant amount of construction services occur out in the field, construction managers and contractors must find ways to manage a largely mobile workforce. A lack of coordination and collaboration between the back office and field workers can lead to increased travel time and fewer jobs completed per day.

Optimizing your scheduling and dispatch processes through

TRU CKS & TRANS PORTATION

with GPS tracking also prevents employees from abusing fuel cards. Fuel card integration empowers fleet managers to catch abuses at the pump by matching miles driven against fuel purchases to ensure accountability.

THERE’S MORE ONLINE 7 WAYS TO INCREASE FUEL EFFICIENCY

TRACK VEHICLE MILEAGE AND REDUCE IDLE TIME The most significant step in lowering fuel costs is knowing exactly how much fuel your fleet is burning, regardless of whether the vehicle is driving or idling.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that an idling truck will waste nearly a gallon of fuel each hour. One use case revealed that through GPS tracking and telematics, around 200 gallons of fuel were found to have been wasted due to extended idle time that equaled almost 400 hours in one month. Within three months of learning of the inefficiencies, fleet managers were able to decrease idle time by 30%.

©Ivan – stock.adobe.com

REMOVE ANY EXTRA WEIGHT

field service management software (FSM) empowers field managers to see where field workers are before dispatching them to the next job. By improving routes with FSM, managers will cut fuel expenses without compromising completion rates.

cards with your GPS tracking shows the overall cost breakdown of fuel spend, including cost per gallon, gallons purchased, total cost of fuel, miles per gallon and cost per mile. Integrating fuel cards

Every extra pound can contribute to a vehicle requiring more fuel. Every 100 pounds added to a truck reduces the fuel economy by about 1%. While a few extra pounds here and there might seem insignificant, they will lead to unnecessary expense over time.

Overloaded vehicles can also cause faster wear and tear on tires, requiring more frequent maintenance. Never load up more than what is necessary for any trip.

Steve Nendick, marketing communications director for global off-highway at Cummins, explores the best ways for operators to increase fuel efficiency.

Read More at

https://eqtoday.co/dieselefficiency

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE Unfortunately, change is likely not on the horizon as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the economy. By considering the steps above, fleet managers will save on fuel and can put that money toward initiatives that propel the business forward, including purchasing advanced equipment for construction projects, supporting professional development through paying for worker certifications, or deploying digital transformation efforts. GPS tracking and telematics will provide construction fleet managers with the means to improve efficiency, productivity, safety, and customer service as we continue navigating the gas price crisis. ET Brian Canlas is a product manager at GPS Insight.

MONITOR DRIVING PATTERNS AND REDUCE SPEEDING A U.S. Department of Transportation report shows that driving behavior is the most significant contributor to fuel efficiency. The report also found up to a 35% difference in fuel consumption between a good and bad driver, adding that telematics has shown to be successful in improving vehicle efficiency.

Braking, acceleration patterns, and speeding can all play a role in fuel consumption. If a driver has a lead foot, he or she will quickly burn through gas. In fact, for every 5 mph over 30 mph, an extra $0.20 per gallon of gas is burned.

Not to mention speeding can lead to more accidents, fines, increased wear and tear and cause damage to an organization’s reputation–none of which construction businesses can afford to leave to chance.

USE FUEL CARDS Fuel cards will help managers track vehiclerelated expenses, and many offer discounted gas prices from approved suppliers, a great way to cut fuel expenses. Integrating fuel cards with GPS tracking also helps prevent fraud, which can be a huge problem for fleet managers. Integrating fleet fuel

NEXT-LEVEL HOOKLIFT DESIGN PERFECT FOR CONSTRUCTION JOBSITES Make construction site setup and removal more productive with the new Stellar® NXT™ Series Hooklifts. The NXT18’s universal bolt-on body lock system, 18,000-lb capacity and best-in-class 7.5" lost load height help you get more done with a single truck. The powerful unit handles 12'–14' bodies for 108"–120" CA chassis.

NXT18 Hooklift

Learn more and find a distributor near you at stellarindustries.com

July 2022 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY

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TRUCKS AND TRANSPORTATION Products BKT FL 695 Tire The FL 695 radial tire has been specifically designed for trailers in construction and transport applications with a unique center block tread pattern. It can carry heavy loads with stability in all conditions and its deep tread ensures self-cleaning during on and off-road applications. Multiple steel cord layers reinforce this pattern against punctures.

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Nokian Hakkapeliitta Loader Tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta Loader tire has new compound and more rubber in the tread to create better grip and increased lifetime. Re-designed carcass structure also provides more lifetime and better stability. Nokian Hakkapeliitta Loader tire has open block design that creates excellent self-cleaning.

The tire also has siped nondirectional thread design with pre-marked stud positions.

Specs: • 24 mm tread depth • 624 mm static loaded radius • 1363 mm tire diameter • 380 mm tyre width • 8.00TG, 10.00VA, 10.00WA, 10.00W rims • 4159 mm rolling circumference

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Braden UBL Utility Bumper System The UBL Bumper features a lightweight aluminum shell with a heavy-duty steel superstructure to accommodate both TR12 and TR15 Planetary Recovery Winches. The system was specifically developed for direct bolt-on installation on 2017-2022 Ford F350, F450 and F550 trucks to offer self-recovery capabilities. The modular design of the UBL Utility Bumper System allows for fast and easy installation without the need for custom mounting brackets or welding. Depending on the TR Series Recovery Winch selected, the system can deliver 12,000 lbs. (5,443 kg) or 15,000 lbs. (6,804 kg) rated line pull to ensure fleet vehicles can get out of any situation they might accidentally get into.

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Lawson Products Wear-Flex High Strength Rapid Repair Compound Wear-Flex is a self-mixing urethane repair compound that forms a flexible bond on a variety of materials. It’s designed for applications that involve vibration or expansion/contraction movement. Wear-Flex adheres to rubber, ABS, concrete, urethane, steel, wood, ceramics, glass, nylon, composites and masonry. It’s available in self-leveling and non-sag formulas for horizontal and vertical applications.

Wear-Flex is designed for repairing forklift and off-road tires and repairing cracks and joints in concrete.

• Applications include conveyor repair, urethane bushings, bellows, bumpers and tire chocks, concrete seam repair, crack repair in high vibration areas • Superior adhesion to multiple surfaces • Short cure time for fast repairs • Forms a flexible bond that withstands chemicals, grease, oil, and water • Remains flexible at low temperatures

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EQU IPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

Titan HK 458 Hybrid Wheel Loader Tire Titan International has introduced the new Titan HK 458, a crossover wheel loader tire designed for extreme loader applications that require aggressive traction and excellent self-cleaning. The E-4/L-4 dual-rated bias tire combines the tread design of a forestry tire, a wheel loader tire and an ATV tire all in one, making it suited for both muddy, challenging construction sites and agriculture applications, where the sludge and muck are endless.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/gdazkj

Double Coin FT125+ The Double Coin FT125+ is a super wide and low rolling resistance trailer-position tire.

Engineered with advanced tread compounds, it provides durability and optimal weight savings. Unique construction promotes durability and consistent footprint for strength and even wear. Advanced tread compounds and wider, low profile design provide for low rolling resistance, weight savings and longer mileage. Manufactured in ISO14001 certified environmentally-friendly plants.

Specs: • 20-ply rating • 161 load index • 40.1 in. overall diameter • 16.9 in. section width • 16 tread depth (32nds) • 14.00 rim • 18.4 static load radius • 166 lbs.

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DECKED CargoGlide DECKED CargoGlide is a heavy-duty sliding bed platform that makes loading, unloading, organizing and accessing gear for work and play more efficient. CargoGlide allows owners to store and easily retrieve heavy and bulky items like welders, compressors, heavyduty tools, refrigerators, spare tires, rescue gear, boxes and more without crawling into the back of the truck. With the pull of a lever, CargoGlide rolls forward out of the truck bed from its locked position.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/3cdev2

Trelleborg EMR1031 Tire Trelleborg’s newest tire for earthmoving applications, the EMR1031, is designed to perform on sand, rock and other extra hard surfaces. Manufactured using a cut-resistant compound, the tire has sidewall protector for damage protection and longer tire life, with a multi-surface tread design for improved traction. Its cut-resistant compound is 20% more resistant to cuts and wear, reducing machine downtime and resulting in lower operating costs. The deep tread pattern offers longer tire life, enhanced grip and selfcleaning action during use, even on sandy or muddy terrain.

To reduce environmental impact, the EMR1031 tire comes with a retreadable casing.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/sqfntg

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INFR A ST R U CT U R E | By Jessica Lombardo, Editor-in-Chief, Asphalt Contractor and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction

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Five Things to Know About DAVIS-BACON COMPLIANCE from the DOL How contractors can meet their DBA requirements for projects funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

N

inety years ago, Congress enacted the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) to set wage and benefit rates for construction workers supported through federal contracts at existing market levels and ensure that low-road contractors could not undercut the market by paying poverty wages.

24 EQU IPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

The Acts govern wage requirements for contractors and subcontractors performing federally funded or assisted contracts in excess of $2,000. The federal government has long held that jobs created through government spending must pay decent wages and benefits, and the funds are administered through a survey

process by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

According to the DOL, the DBA covers nearly 148 million workers across 10 million workplaces across the country.

Currently, the DBA sits at $217 billion in federally assisted construction spending each year and provides minimum wage

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protections for about 1.2 million workers.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) makes historic investments in improving and building our nation’s infrastructure and the “overwhelming majority” of BIL funds will be covered by the worker protections of the DBA. This includes

INFRA S TRU CTU RE

billions of dollars to support investments in advanced energy technologies that will help raise standards for workers in these fast-growing industries while also taking steps to combat climate change through programs to build new charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, support clean water infrastructure, and reduce truck emissions at port facilities.

The dollars and workers falling under this act will only increase under the BIL and construction workers on these projects will need to be paid at least the local prevailing wage and fringe benefits required for the work they perform.

Recently, the DOL held a webinar to help contractors ensure they will be in compliance on the DBA on these projects.

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5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT DAVIS-BACON FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Understand the wages owed to construction workers. Contractors and subcontractors on Davis-Bacon projects must pay their construction workers not less than the wages and fringe benefits listed on the wage determination for the work performed. To help ensure workers are paid the proper rates, workers, contractors and subcontractors should familiarize themselves with: ˜ where the work is, ˜ the type of construction (building, residential, highway, or heavy), and ˜ the applicable labor classifications for the work.

Any person who wants to determine if a project is covered by the Davis-Bacon Act or a Related Act or who has questions about their wages should contact the Wage and Hour Division or the federal agency funding the project.

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4

Davis-Bacon is a federal law that requires local prevailing wages be paid on most federal and federally funded construction contracts.

The Davis-Bacon Act ensures that federal government funds elevate labor standards for construction workers across the country, and that taxpayer dollars are used to ensure local wage and benefit standards, allowing responsible contractors to compete for federally funded or assisted construction contracts.

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If it’s a Davis-Bacon project, it requires Davis-Bacon wages. Construction workers working on Davis-Bacon covered construction contracts must be paid no less than the locally prevailing wages for all hours worked in each labor classification.

If a construction worker on a Davis-Bacon project works in more than one labor classification, the contractor or subcontractor must pay the highest applicable wage rate for all hours worked or different wage rates based on the actual hours worked in each labor classification. Local wage determinations that list labor classification and wage rates are issued by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department and can be found at sam.gov.

Certified payroll reports help ensure workers are paid the correct wages for the work they perform.

Certified payroll reports play a crucial role in ensuring that construction workers on DavisBacon projects are paid proper wages for work performed.

Contractors and subcontractors must pay covered workers and submit a certified payroll report on a weekly basis. Contracting agencies may withhold contract funds if certified payroll records are not submitted or are submitted unsigned, and falsification of certified payroll reports can even lead to criminal penalties.

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The Wage and Hour Division offers compliance and educational materials on their website at https://www.dol.gov/ agencies/whd and at their toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).

For more information about the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts visit Government Contracts Toolkit at https://www.dol.gov/ agencies/whd/compliance-assistance/toolkits/ government-contracts.

©Vitalii Vodolazsky – stock.adobe.com

“800,000 good-paying jobs that will expand the middle class, revitalize our nation’s transportation, communications and utilities systems and build a more resilient, reliable and environmentally sound future.”

The overwhelming majority of the funds in the BIL will be subject to Davis-Bacon requirements, which will ensure contractors pay workers on construction projects a fair, prevailing wage so that local wages, labor markets and workers won’t be undercut.

The White House says these requirements will “protect wages for millions of workers, grow the economy, and support good-paying, union jobs.”

PROJECTS THAT FALL UNDER DBA INCLUDE: Road, Bridge & Transport Projects ˜ Includes Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act and

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜

Surface Transportation Investment Act funding Provides funding to replace and repair bridges Includes major project competitive grant programs Funds nation’s transit system repair backlog Expands transit systems and supports clean transit

Airports, Ports & Waterway Projects ˜ Increases funds for airport improvement grants for runways, gates, and taxiways ˜ Provides funding for airport terminal improvement ˜ Improves air traffic control infrastructure ˜ Supplies funding for waterway and coastal infrastructure, inland waterway improvements, port infrastructure and land ports of entry

“The DavisBacon Act ensures that federal government funds elevate labor standards for construction workers across the country.”

— Jess Lombardo

Water Infrastructure, Power & Grid Projects ˜ Increases funding for Drinking Water and

WHAT PROJECTS WILL FALL UNDER DAVIS-BACON ACT According to the White House, investments in the BIL will add,

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July 2022 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY

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INFR A ST R U CT U R E

˜ By adding new programs under the

©Charnchai saeheng – stock.adobe.com

Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 and lead service line replacement ˜ Provides funding for grid reliability and resiliency ˜ Supports critical minerals and other supply chains for clean energy ˜ Includes funding for technologies like carbon capture, hydrogen, direct air capture, and energy efficiency.

Federal agencies and funding recipients must ensure that the Davis-Bacon labor standards clauses and applicable wage determinations are included in covered construction contracts. The contracting agency/officer is required

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EQUIPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

to include DBA requirements in any solicitation and in the contract for construction. In this sense, the contracting agency/officer identifies a project as subject to DBA requirements and is required to do so. The BIL applies Davis-Bacon labor standards to federally-funded or assisted projects in three different ways: ˜ By adding funding to programs previously authorized by an existing Davis-Bacon Related Act (such as the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program and the Drinking Water/ Clean Water state revolving loan funds);

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umbrella of an existing Davis-Bacon Related Act (such as the new Bridge Investment and Airport Terminal Improvement programs); or ˜ By including provisions which expressly provide that Davis-Bacon labor standards apply to all construction projects receiving funding under programs created by or funded through the BIL. For example, construction projects assisted by funding made available under Division D or an amendment made by Division D of the BIL (Energy) are subject to DBA requirements.

Funding for construction projects authorized by the BIL requires certain actions on the part of federal funding agencies, funding recipients (such as state or local agencies), and construction contractors in order to ensure compliance with DavisBacon Related Acts.

CONTRACTORS & SUBCONTRACTORS: ˜ All contractors must ensure workers

˜

˜

are paid applicable prevailing wages, including fringe benefits, for all hours worked on a weekly basis.

All contractors must also maintain an accurate record of hours worked and wages paid, including fringe benefit contributions, and submit certified payrolls on a weekly basis to the funding agency or recipient.

Prime contractors must ensure that the Davis-Bacon labor standards clauses and applicable wage determination(s) are also included in all subcontracts.

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˜ Contractors performing construction

˜ ˜

˜

covered by Davis-Bacon labor standards must post an “Employee Rights under the Davis-Bacon Act” poster and the applicable wage determination at the site of the work in a prominent place where it may be easily seen by workers; maintain an accurate record of hours worked and wages paid, including fringe benefit contributions; submit certified payrolls to the contracting agency/funding recipient each week, within seven days of the payroll date for that workweek; and ensure that the required contract clauses and applicable wage determinations are incorporated into any lower-tier subcontracts.

WORKERS: ˜ Workers may review the “Employee

˜

Rights under the Davis-Bacon Act” poster and wage determination posted at their site of work to ensure they are being paid at least the applicable wage rate and fringe benefits for the work they perform.

Workers may contact the Contracting Officer listed on the poster or the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division with questions about applicable wage rates or proper pay.

WAGE DETERMINATIONS UNDER DAVISBACON ACT The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recognizes that the BIL’s historic commitment to funding infrastructure construction means that many funding recipients and contractors may be subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements for the first time. WHD says they are ready to assist workers, contractors and contracting agencies, and ensure that they understand their rights and responsibilities under the DBA labor standards. The WHD offers annual seminars, online and virtual outreach and education to employers, employees, unions and other stakeholders. WHD can answer questions or take complaints in over 200 languages and is committed to vigorous enforcement of the requirements of all laws.

You can learn more about the prevailing wage determinations applicable to covered construction projects at https://sam.gov/content/ wage-determinations.

The overwhelming majority of BIL funds are protected by the Davis-Bacon Act and contractors need to be aware of their participation in these projects. The government will also conduct enhanced oversight of federal contractors to prevent workplace discrimination, and recent actions by the Biden administration include creating a Good Jobs Initiative to provide information and resources to improve job quality across the private sector; raising the contractor minimum wage to $15 per hour; and enhancing cooperation between the government agencies to protect workers that exercise their labor rights from illegal retaliation. ET

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INFR A ST R U CT U R E

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4 Tips for Winning Government INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRACTS W

hen the U.S. Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, it committed to a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure.

Departments of Transportation (DOTs), municipalities, public works departments, and other government agencies will increase the number of tenders put out to contractors, and contractors are trying to be selected for as many of them as they can.

However, the key to increasing the number of government contracts your company wins may not be what you think; it isn’t the product your company delivers or even your company’s performance, but it’s the

relationships your people have with key decision-makers.

According to the Federal Government, this bipartisan infrastructure act, combined with the Build Back Framework, will add on average 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years.

Departments of Transportation (DOTs), municipalities, public works departments, and other government agencies will increase the number of tenders put out to contractors, and contractors are trying to be selected for as many of them as they can.

However, the key to increasing the number of government contracts your company wins may not be what you think; it isn’t the product your company

28 EQUIPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

delivers or even your company’s performance, but it’s the relationships your people have with key decision-makers.

“There are a couple of different plates to spin here, but what it really comes down to is developing sophisticated relationships with the decision-makers,” says Richard Krolewski, Founder, Regulatory Resources, LLC. His company works with construction businesses and suppliers to build relationships with government agencies, such as departments of transportation.

Krolewski also facilitates the DOT Advisory Board through his Regulatory Resources company. Additionally, he serves as the CEO of the FRP Institute for

Civil Infrastructure, a trade group formed last year to promote the use of non-corrosive reinforcement in transportation projects.

“Generally, inside the materials office of a DOT is its tactical arm in the sense that all specifications that revolve around projects come specifically from that office. Getting ahead of the curve by having positive relationships with people working in those offices is very valuable because it helps you stand out from being just another contractor,” Krolewski says.

And, when DOTs put out their memorandums for upcoming new projects, having a positive relationship with people in the DOT will increase your chances of learning about them

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sooner than the competition.

You won’t be informed ahead of it going public, but they may reach out to you, specifically, after it has been made public.

“Bidding isn’t always about cost; it’s not about being the cheapest,” Krolewski says. “For contractors, it almost always comes down to price, but the quality is a more important factor in establishing relationships with project owners. You want to be known in the industry as a quality producer or supplier who works with quality vendors. And then you need to be able to back that up with first-class service.

We work as a liaison between the industry and the DOT, which enhances the opportunities for our clients.”

INFRA S TRU CTU RE

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THERE’S MORE ONLINE FIVE GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW It might seem like there is no end in sight to the struggles we are facing in the construction industry, but there are still many things worth celebrating and the future for the industry looks bright.

Read More at

https://eqtoday.co/5goodthings

SIX MONTHS IN: HOW HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PROGRESSED? According to the White House, $110 billion in infrastructure funds have been released from the $1 trillion promised in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act Read More at https://eqtoday.co/IIJA

All government agencies have approved lists of suppliers/vendors they use for various projects, so it’s incumbent on the contractor to know who those people are as well. Then it would be beneficial to take a step further and learn about how these products work and how they can benefit the project that the contractor is trying to obtain.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH DECISION MAKERS “The whole idea is to take yourself out of the realm of just being another contractor,” says Krolewski. “Why scour around looking for projects? It makes more sense to go right to the source.”

According to Krolewski, contractors who want to increase the number of government contracts they win must do work that demonstrates their company is a quality organization that understands the use of the desired materials and technologies. If the decision-makers are confident in your company, that goes a long way to choosing your company.

Besides cold calling and cyberstalking, there are four ways of building relationships with these decision makers: 1. Speak at conferences. People at DOTs and other agencies attend conferences and trade shows to gain a greater understanding of topics that affect infrastructure. By presenting at a conference, you demonstrate your company employs experts and that you want to share that knowledge.

“It’s all about the correct exposure to your customer and putting yourself out there as an expert in what you are doing will instill confidence in your services as they recognize how your organization stands above the average,” says Krolewski.

2. Get involved, particularly with organizations and trade associations that support specification development, product approval, and product demonstration.

“It’s critical to be in the know in terms of what are the upcoming technologies and what is the latest and greatest,” says Krolewski. “For example, DOTs are moving in the direction of replacing traditional materials like steel reinforcement with non-corrosive materials, such as fiber-reinforced polymers. Getting ahead of that curve will help you stand out.”

3. A sophisticated website. Your website should communicate with words, pictures, and video your company’s experience, expertise, values, and commitments to safety and quality.

“The days of doing business driving around your truck, shaking hands, and going for drinks is over,” says Krolewski.

“You don’t have the opportunity to develop interpersonal relationships the way you could have 5-10 years ago, so having a sophisticated web site with a clear message is critical because more business is being done electronically than ever before.”

4. Active social media. While a website gives decision makers a snapshot of your company while examining your bid, social media is the modern “drop in and say ‘hello’”.

“Building that kind of infrastructure into your contracting organization is absolutely critical,” says Krolewski. “Social media allows you to put your company in front of decision makers regularly; it really has become the greatest means for connecting people.”

No matter the size of business, winning government contracts is a big deal and can be essential for long-term success. While these are not easy to secure, particularly in the beginning, building relationships is the best way to get a foot in the door. ET John Somers is vice president, construction and utility sector, Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

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INFR A ST R U CT U R E

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The funds offered through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act promise to finally close the last remaining gaps in digital connectivity across the country.

NEW BROADBAND FUNDS Need Competence, Oversight T

he funds offered through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act promise to finally close the last remaining gaps in digital connectivity across the country, but this can only be accomplished with proper use of the money. Intelligent allocation geared toward maximizing the impact of each dollar spent and ensuring the success of chosen projects will go a long way in helping all states take full advantage of this one-time opportunity.

In a new report, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation has developed a framework around which policymakers should shape their decisions in order to maximize the efficiency of their funds. The report details numerous strategies that can be employed to stretch the money to its full potential. Among

them: Funding should be allocated initially through reverse auctions to encourage competition for the lowest-cost way to serve, requirements should be technology-neutral and predicated on realistic speed benchmarks based on requirements for commonly used applications and costly regulatory barriers to deployment should be reduced where possible. Minimizing regulatory waste and maximizing market advantages such as flexibility and innovation, within the constraints of necessary minimum standards, is key to creating an allocation process that makes best use of available funding.

However, of equal importance is ensuring the successful completion of those projects eventually chosen for funding. This can be accomplished by taking three crucial steps.

First, states should not write a check to broadband providers

30 EQUIPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

chosen for funding until after completion of the project, with payment guaranteed if the project lives up to its promises. This approach has several advantages: One, of course, is the decreased likelihood of paying out for projects that never come to fruition. Reserving payment until after the fact puts the burden of risk onto the provider, where it belongs, rather than taxpayers. After the fact payments will often force applicants to seek initial funding through banks or other credit agencies, whose risk-assessment expertise will complement state governments’ attempts to judge the viability of applications.

Additional layers of scrutiny will both encourage intelligent planning on the providers’ side and help weed out problematic applications.

Second, states should prioritize experienced providers with economies of scale. The scale

and prominence of the available funding will likely tempt all manner of fly-by-night companies to offer carelessly designed plans in the hopes of profiting from government funding.

But broadband is an expensive business, made trickier still by current deficiencies in both labor and supply chains, and even good-intentioned applicants might find themselves unable to keep their promises. To avoid being taken in by bad actors and inexperienced hopefuls alike, states should vet bidders by requiring some basic demonstration that the provider has the resources and expertise to offer sustainable service to consumers. Even a cursory initial check that filters out those providers without adequate capital or realistic plans will save endless time and grief down the road if it helps bring the most viable plans to the fore.

Experienced private providers

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should also be prioritized above government-owned networks (GONs) that, despite their altruistic origins, have too often shown themselves to be financially and logistically ill-equipped to build a functioning, sustainable network. The goal of the broadband funding is to accomplish universal connectivity, not to indulge ideological preferences for government-run networks.

In most cases, GONs are a far riskier bet than is the proven competence of experienced providers that already serve large swathes of the country. However well-intentioned, a fledgling municipal broadband provider will often make mistakes where a more experienced applicant would have known what to do.

Stories of failed GONs are myriad, and empirical evidence that the networks have a discernible positive impact on either broadband subscriptions or economic growth is lacking.

INFRA S TRU CTU RE

©Dave Haglund

the selected providers willingly sharing as much information as possible about their plans as they progress, will allow all states to benefit from the simultaneous dispensing of funds across the country. Even with funding withheld until after network completion, citizens will still be left without broadband should a project fail. Every possible attempt should be made to encourage the success of the selected applicants.

Broadband deployment is a highly complex, expensive business, and the worst-case scenario could see massive amounts of resources wasted on providers that fail to produce an effective network through mistakes or sheer ineptitude. Wisely distributing the funds means putting the money into competent hands and keeping a sharp eye on how it is used. Following these steps will help states provide their citizens with the best broadband possible and avoid unnecessary delay. ET

“To avoid being taken in by bad actors and inexperienced hopefuls alike, states should vet bidders.”

— Jessica Dine,

Appealing to a municipal a non-controversial point that projects as they develop will be network should be a last resort, would likely only be disputed better prepared both financially not a first one. Instead, if adopby states with a deficiency in and logistically than those who tion rates are low in an area with commitment or resources, but finally see the need for overserviceable broadband, policycutting corners on the cusp of sight after putting their faith Jessica Dine is the coauthor of makers should put excess funds a lasting solution to the digiin projects that ultimately fail.

Ten (Suggested) Commandments where the problem is by giving tal divide is a surefire way to On a broader scale, inter-state for Closing the Digital Divide citizens vouchers to reduce the unnecessarily extend the time transparency and collaboration, and a research assistant at the cost of subscriptions and comuntil we close it. States that plan facilitated by the NTIA’s webiInformation Technology and puter equipment rather than at the outset to keep an eye on nars and enabled by states and Innovation Foundation wasting those funds on a duplicative network that may not be successful.

BATTLE AX Preferencing appliLOW AND HIGH FLOW SKID STEERS cants with a proven & EXCAVATORS 10,000 LBS - 88,000 LBS track record and looking to GONs as a last resort only where they are genuinely necessary will mitigate many of the risks that go along with broadband deployment.

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INFRASTRUCTURE Products Milwaukee Tool’s MX FUEL Concrete Vibrator

BOMAG BM 2200/65 Half Lane Milling Machine

The MX FUEL Concrete Vibrator was designed to consolidate up to 45 yds3 on a single charge with a 2-in. head and 14-ft. shaft while eliminating cords and tripping hazards for a safer and more productive placement.

The MX FUEL Concrete Vibrator increases productivity and safety on the jobsite by eliminating trip hazards and the need for cords and gas generators with its cordless innovation. The MX FUEL technology with built-in POWERSTATE Brushless Motor delivers the power to push a 2 1/2-in. head at over 10,000 vpm for optimal concrete consolidation.

• Track, manage and secure the vibrator from their mobile device through ONE-KEY. • Accepts heads up to 2-1/2 in. and shafts up to 21 ft. long • Compatible with Oztec accessories • Wireless remote gives users the ability to run the machine from up to 30 ft. away

With its lighter, more compact and highly maneuverable design, the BOMAG 60,296-lb. BM 2200/65 half-lane mill offers performance, operating ease and comfort for mills in its class.

• 58 in. milling radius improves machine productivity in the field, increasing efficiency in tight-radius applications like small roundabouts and cul-de-sacs • 16-ft. conveyor discharge height plus larger, 130˚ conveyor slewing angle – 65˚ to the left/ right of center – allowing material to be efficiently discharged into trucks on both sides of the mill • 630 hp engine effectively matches power with milling speed for greater operating efficiency • To facilitate transport, the conveyor retracts to a length 23.6 in. shorter than previous designs

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Mazio Skid Paver Epiroc V Cutter With its V-shaped design, the latest drum cutter from Epiroc sets a new standard in trenching and quarrying. A seemingly simple solution with an high effectiveness, enabling energy savings of up to 40%.

Thanks to the V-shaped design, that enables a cut with a flat base, no material is left untouched between the drums. Where a regular drum cutter must move side to side to create an even trench, an approach that causes extra wear on the carrier arm, the VC 2000 can reach the same result by just going straight. The distinguishing features of the classic Epiroc drum cutters, like the spur gears, adoptable high torque gear motor and the QuickSnap retaining system for fast and easy pick changing, are all to be found in the new VC 2000.

The Mazio skid-steer-mounted SKID Paver is ideal for asphalt patching and paving of roads, pathways, bicycle tracks, parking lots, driveways and utility trenches. With a 1.5 yd3 (1.4 m3) hopper capacity, a paving width of up to 6.2 ft. (1.9 m) and a paving speed of 82 ft. (25 m) per minute, the SKID Paver can be installed on any type of ISO 24410 skid steer loader. The unit works with hot or cold mix asphalt, paving asphalt thicknesses of 2 in. (5 cm) up to 10 in. (25 cm). Liquid propane gas (LPG) heaters keep material heated to 284° F (140° C). The wide 108.25 in (2,750 mm) hopper receives asphalt material directly from the haul truck, allowing for front or side loading, and automatically feeds to a 7.9 in. (200 mm) auger.

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Road Widener Spray Bar System The Road Widner spray bar system that increases the versatility of their patented Offset Vibratory Roller attachment.

This accessory fits on all Offset Vibratory Roller attachments and aids in suppressing dust particles, compacting aggregates and preventing clumping when rolling hot mix asphalt.

• Easily attaches to the Offset Vibratory Roller, a compaction attachment that allows the host machine to drive safely on flat ground while compacting shoulders, ditches, trenches and other hard-to-reach areas alongside the road • The spray bar system will allow contractors to increase efficiency and versatility when compacting a variety of materials including asphalt, stone, gravel and topsoil

WIKA Mobile Control Wireless System Solution for QMC Cranes WIKA Mobile Control’s PRS90 wireless multi-sensor indicator is an option on 40-series and 50-series boom trucks. The system is an option for production units and is installed on older cranes requiring a wireless system upgrade. Most 4033R and 5034R boom trucks equipped with the PRS90 are used in the precast concrete industry. The PRS90 system features a 4.3-in. color graphic display and various wireless sensor options including angle, load and anti-two block. This system allows the operator to pre-set limits with audible and visual warning and modify sensor settings.

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Honey Badger RAP Crusher for Recycled Asphalt Grove TTS9000-2 Truck Crane Manitowoc has expanded its Grove truck crane offering with the new four-axle TTS9000-2, with allwheel steering and long boom on a lightweight carrier. The 115 USt capacity truck crane features an automated steering system that helps operators navigate challenging driving conditions, whether on congested urban jobsites or small backcountry roads. Each of the all-wheel steering modes can be activated by the operator on the right-hand console. The TTS9000-2’s drivability is improved due to the crane’s compact dimensions and light roading weight afforded by its removable counterweight feature. Even without a jib extension, reach is far, thanks to the TTS9000-2’s MEGAFORM, six-section boom shape that also increases capacity over conventional designs.

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32 EQUIPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

From replaceable abrasion-resistant steel wear liners to a 1/2-inch steel pulverizing hopper, this machine is ready for wear and tear. Included is a two-way valve hydraulic power pack that performs a controlled close of the pulverizing hopper top so that safety is never compromised.

It also reduces costs, with an average return on investment reflecting 1/8 the cost of other crushing operations. Here are some of the ways the Honey Badger benefits: • Typical six-month ROI (for a 300,000 ton/season plant) • Reduced or eliminated crushing costs • Lower fuel consumption due to reduced RAP moisture • Minimal material handling

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S U S TAINABIL IT Y

What Goes Into Building an

EV CHARGING STATION?

©DaveHaglund

C

ongress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) that primarily addresses the need to reinforce America’s roads, bridges, and rails. This includes investments in passenger rails, upgraded power infrastructure, investments in public transit, and an initiative to establish a network of electric vehicle chargers.

Many of these initiatives have been carried over from previous administrations for several decades, but the network of electric vehicle chargers is a new one. Current events have spotlighted this administration’s resolve in speeding up the country’s EV adoption rate for both consumer and commercial use.

According to experts, electric vehicles (EV) made up 7.2%

of global car sales in the first two quarters of 2021, up 4.3% from the previous year. In North America, EVs made up 3% of sales in the first half, but industry observers say 5% is possible as second-half sales pick up.

More than $200 billion in electric transportation investments contained in President Joe Biden’s jobs and infrastructure

plans, including purchase incentives, aim to accelerate the country’s electrification plans.

This level of investment in EVs and charging infrastructure could create a tipping point for EV adoption. This would not only create a significant leap forward in reducing emissions from the transportation sector but will call on the steel conduit sector to

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build the needed infrastructure to support, and help push, the adoption of EVs. The proliferation of consumer EV adoption and infrastructure planning are symbiotic, with much of the allocated budget going into materials needed for this large-scale, national project. For example, the measures create an EV charging equity program to direct $1 billion to increase EV charging in underserved communities and provide $7.5 billion in state grants for charging in low- and moderate-income communities. And $5 billion in grants and rebates would help replace heavy-duty trucks with electric versions while also supporting charging infrastructure. Those charging structures will need steel conduit raceways.

STEEL RACEWAYS FOR EV PROLIFERATION Steel conduit has been used as a “raceway system” for electrical conductors since the early 1900s.

Steel conduit and tubing are the most resilient, protective, and durable electrical raceways.

There are many different types of steel raceways.

From steel rigid metal conduit (RMC) to electrical metallic tubing (EMT), steel conduit can be used in various construction projects. The strength of steel used for electrical conduit has been recognized for decades as providing superior protection and efficiency. From skyscrapers to small business outlets, steel conduit and tubing can provide value for years after installation.

The benefits of steel conduit

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33

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outweigh other options for its versatility, resilience, sustainability, and affordability – all considerations needed for an expansive project such as a national EV charge station infrastructure. As codes get more complex (National Electric Code, NFPA 70), many wiring methods are restricted; however, there is a steel conduit or tubing solution allowed everywhere.

Additionally, steel conduit has been proven to be long-lasting and highly recyclable, which provides the greatest resiliency and sustainability in raceway options. The most significant benefits are flexibility and affordability. Other wiring solutions must be removed and reinstalled as projects evolve; however, steel conduit can remain in use as conductors are replaced or circuits added.

Many of today’s commercial structures are designed to last lifetimes, and steel conduit is an essential component of modern electrical system longevity.

Steel conduit resists all common forms of wear, ensuring long-lasting performance, which is necessary, as stations are exposed to elements.

With a reputation for resiliency, steel conduit has been an industry staple for its superior protection against various elements. But as we face greater natural and artificial disasters, establishing a more robust infrastructure is essential. When considering the magnitude of building EV charging station infrastructure, steel conduit shines as the perfect electrical raceway because it allows for wiring to be removed, changed, updated, and reused, something that’s generally not feasible with other cabling methods.

In cases of flooding, the conduit raceway can even be flushed out, cleaned, and prepared for new wiring. Lastly,

the longevity and reusability of steel conduit supports sustainable building and environmentally responsible practices for their ability to be endlessly recycled and re-purposed.

Unlike other types of metal conduit, galvanized steel conduit can be used in concrete, direct burial, and areas with severe corrosive influences, providing a lifelong ability to protect against electromagnetic interference (EMI). Given the nature of EV charging infrastructure buildouts, this benefit is vital.

STEEL CONDUIT’S COST SAVINGS AND ROI In this industry, it is commonly known that steel conduit can reduce costs. From installation throughout the life of a project, steel conduit does not require a ground wire to enhance the structure’s safety, meaning budgeting for additional conductors is unnecessary. Steel conduit’s flexibility and reusability, even as structures change over time, enables preservation, saving the recurring expense of replacing cabling as the structure evolves.

Most commercial structures undergo renovations and upgrades every few years to accommodate new business needs, and it is safe to assume that EV charging stations will require similar updates. It’s essential to consider this aspect when selecting a wiring method for a new structure because long-term costs can far outweigh savings on initial installation.

This will be vitally important for EV charging stations, which will likely undergo transformations over the next several decades. What might start as a simple charging station may turn into charging depots and even expand into

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full-service locations complete with shopping and restaurants.

The cost breakdown and ROI of using steel conduit for wiring must be observed in the initial installation and through reasonably common upgrades and maintenance over the lifetime within today’s practical, conservative construction and business climate. This will be particularly important for EV proliferation considering initial installation, light R&D conversions, and long-term retrofits for continued proofing.

Considering the expansive project needed for EV proliferation in the United States, a significant cost saving can be applied to other, muchneeded infrastructure upgrades. In a hypothetical cost-benefit analysis comparing EMT or steel conduit to MC cable, the 10-year cost comparison demonstrated a cost savings of nearly 30% for a hypothetical building consisting of three floors and a mix of retail and office space.

The growing demand for EVs has fueled the requirement for charging stations nationwide. Steel as raw material and steel conduit are likely material sources to fulfill the need, making the adoption of EVs and the rollout of charging station infrastructures more affordable, sustainable and reliable. Infrastructure changes are large investments and can be slow moving. That’s why as we inevitably implement EV charging, smart choices now help secure the long-term value of these stations. The materials required will naturally propel building the required infrastructure. ET Dale L. Crawford is executive director and director of conduit of the Steel Tube Institute.

SUSTAINABILITY Products Makita LED Flashlight The DML816 is designed for use in tight areas or when a more focused light source is needed. The flashlight operates in three modes offering 500 lumens on high, 250 lumens on medium and 100 lumens on low. It can offer up to 75 hours of continuous light when powered by an 18V LXT 6.0Ah battery. The flashlight features a compact and ergonomic design that measures only 15 3/4 in. when fully extended and can be used as either a handheld light or a stationary light that is set on a work surface. The rubberized soft grip handle provides increased user comfort. For flashlight head folds up and down with seven positive stops and rotates left to right for multiple lighting angles.

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Volvo CE Electric Loader, Excavators Volvo Construction Equipment is taking reservations for its three newest electric vehicles, with deliveries expected in 2023. Its newest electric vehicles are the L20 Electric compact wheel loader and the EC18 and ECR18 electric compact excavators. Volvo CE is also bringing its 22-ton EC230 electric excavator to North America for demos.

The L20 Electric compact wheel loader features a 1.8-ton payload and a parallel-type linkage (Z-bar linkage optional), lifting height and 100% parallel movements. Expected to deliver up to six hours of active work per charge, the machine comes with a choice of battery pack (33 kWh or 40 kWh) and is designed to reduce maintenance by 30%.

The three machines come with an integrated on-board charger, allowing them to charge from zero to 100% in less than six hours using the J1772 AC charging cable on a 240-volt outlet, the same plug and charging system on a typical electric vehicle. With an optional off-board fast charger, the L20 Electric will fully charge in under two hours, while the ECR18 Electric and EC18 Electric will charge up to 80% in under one hour.

New Holland New D Series Backhoe Loader D Series backhoe loaders deliver a fuel-efficient performance with powertrain technology developed by FPT Industrial. The new F36 3.6-litre, 4-cylinder engine delivers power and torque up to 82 kW and 460 Nm. The Hi-eSCR2 after treatment system uses a low-rate EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) to achieve Stage V emissions standards. The SCR integrates a filtering device, which has maintains the after-treatment’s compact size, so that it has no impact on visibility of the machine. The D Series also introduces Eco Mode, which regulates engine speed and hydraulic pressure in operations that do not require sustained speed and power, delivering up to 10% fuel savings. Further fuel economy is achieved with the auto Idle feature and Auto Engine Shutdown, which switches off the engine after three minutes of inactivity.

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CASE Battery Electric Mini-excavator The CX15 EV is a 2,900-lb.mini-excavator powered by a 16-kW electric motor. Its 21.5-kWh lithium-ion battery is charged either by the 110V/220V onboard charger or via an external rapid charger that can quickly charge the machine, typically within 90 minutes. Depending on the type of work, the CX15 EV will provide enough power to work through a full eight-hour work day.

The CX15 EV can work very close to structures and obstacles with a minimum swing radius design. It also features retractable tracks that get machine width down to about 31 in. for going through doors and working in confined spaces. A load-sensing hydraulic system delivers smooth and powerful performance that allows the operator to dial the machine in to each task.

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Larson Electronics WAL-TP-2X50E-1224 LED Light The WAL-TP-2X50E-1224 tripod-mounted LED light for work areas comes with two LEDP10W-50E LED spotlights that each produce 4,300 lumens of light while drawing 4.17 amps from a 12V electrical system. This portable LED work light features five 10-watt LEDs that each produce 860 lumens that are paired with high purity optics to produce a 20˚ spot beam that is 525 feet long by 75 feet wide.

The light features LED light bars that are waterproof up to 3 meters and sealed to prevent dust and dirt from getting inside. The LEDs on this unit can operate on voltages ranging from 9V to 46V DC without the need for modifications. This LED light can withstand rapid temperature changes of -40˚C to 85˚C and features LEDs that offer 50,000 hours of lamp life.

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Husqvarna Construction will launch its new range of HEPA dust extractors throughout 2022. Created to compliment projects with grinders, power cutters, drill motors and other light construction equipment, the five dust extractors in the range, including two battery-powered models, are designed to contribute to a healthier working environment. The dust extractors feature e-flow technology that enables continuous high performance. A redesigned filter cleaning mechanism also ensures the cleaning process can be done by closing the inlet and pressing a button. The LONGOPAC dust bag attachment system in combination with long filter lifetime delivers low cost of ownership.

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LineLazer ES 1000 Battery-Powered Airless Line Striper The LineLazer ES 1000 is powered by a lithium battery and provides quiet, fume-free striping that is safe to use indoors while having the power and performance for outdoor jobs.

• New lithium battery that provides 10 times more charges, 36-lbs. light and 50% more runtime than previous battery • Onboard 120V inverter/charger, simple plug-in charging • SmartControl 2.5 which eliminates pressure fluctuation • The FastFlush system cleans the pump 4X faster with only half the water • MaxPower DC motor and advantage drive

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Husqvarna Construction HEPA Dust Extractors

DENIOS Lithium-Ion Battery Charging and Storage Cabinets DENIOS Lithium-Ion Battery Charging and Storage Units are designed for contractors using lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries in their work. There are many safety risks associated with Li-ion batteries, including fire and burning. The cabinets are equipped with a transport base to quickly remove Li-ion batteries from a building.

Each unit features solidly-welded construction and a triple hinge door, safety elements assembled outside the storage compartment for increased protection against corrosion, scratch- and impact-resistance and easy-to-clean surface.

Lockable doors with a permanent self-closing function keep the contents safe from unauthorized personnel. Sockets for connecting chargers are included, as are perforated shelves, to dissipate heat build-up during charging.

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35

PRO FI T M AT T E R S | By Charles Rathmann, Technology Editor

Advanced Construction Robotics

Florida Bridge Contractor AUTOMATES REBAR TYING to Shave Labor and Days off the Timeline

D TyBot can be deployed anywhere in the U.S. to work on horizontal reinforcing steel installation projects.

Advanced Construction Robotics

36 EQUIPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

avie, Fla.-based Shelby Erectors is a bridge rebar contractor, competing and winning in Florida’s market for government highway and transportation projects.

Founded in 1997, the company now employs about 100 and has a backlog of $25 million.

The company works extensively on bridge projects, including the $2.3-billion, 21-mile-long Orlando I-4 Ultimate project.

They have also completed rebar work on the Starship Launch Mount 2 for Space-X. In projects over the last two years, they have leveraged new technology from Advanced

Construction Robotics that automates the tying of rebar, freeing up crews for other tasks.

This has delivered a measurable return in terms of cost and timeline savings, and has helped Shelby Erectors win business, including rebar work on the Wekiva Parkway project on Florida’s beltway. The Advanced Construction Robotics TyBOT robot self-locates, self-positions and ties up to 1,100 intersections per hour.

Shelby Erectors also plans later in 2022 to implement IronBOT, a rebar placing robot that carries and places rebar bundles weighing up to 5,000 pounds, enabling rebar

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contractors to increase productivity by up to 250%.

ROBOT FOR REBAR Bridge ironwork, constructing the rebar framework that reinforces a concrete bridge, is not easy. Even before rodbusters can put iron rebar in place according to the structural plan, it must be hauled over to the deployment site manually. This requires a crew of several rodbusters to grab up lengths of rebar, sharing the load. Then comes the arduous process of tying the rebar together for rigidity, which means hours spent bent over the steel framework, inviting back problems.

PROFIT MAT TERS

Advanced Construction Robotics

LEFT: The TyBot rebar tying robot can be deployed to work on any horizontal reinforcing steel installation project that has screed rails in place.

BELOW: The TyBot rebar tying robot can tie up to 1,000 intersections an hour using autonomous navigation of its working area.

IronBOT is expected to market in 2022.

Advanced Construction Robotics

That is why Shelby Erectors was featured on Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, and also why the company is an early adopter of new technology that automates the most arduous and unpleasant parts of the rodbusters charged with erecting structural steel to reinforce concrete.

Given its Florida location, Shelby Erectors sees pretty steady business all year long, and COO Jack Nix says that in the winter, they see northern rodbusters traveling south to complement their native workforce. But there is still room for automation to help the tech-forward company get more out of its rodbuster crews.

“Our company is 100%

paperless—we don’t shy away from technology,” Nix said.

“Two years ago, we saw an article about this rebar-tying robot, and were curious. I had a big job I was going to bid— and I thought that might be a good fit for that job. And then the people from Advanced Construction Robotics showed up and did a demo. They literally drove to my home in the Florida Keys and demoed the product in my driveway. It was clearly a viable product that might work for us.”

Nix was intrigued in large part because tying rebar is difficult and dangerous. That motivated Nix to make the investment

and advocate for adoption by the teams of rodbusters.

“Anybody who has ever tied a rebar deck will tell you it is a backbreaking process, and hard manual labor,” Nix said. “If that machine can take some of the backbreaking work away from the workforce, that is valuable.

We implemented TyBOT two years ago in December, and we found that any technology comes with some resistance. You have to get your old timers to buy in and want to use it.”

While Nix said the early days of adoption presented some challenges, the speed and productivity of TyBOT have paid dividends.

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“The TyBOT can tie productively 800 to 1,000 ties an hour versus 150 and 200 ties for a worker,” Nix said. “What would take four to five people to do can now be done with one robot supervisor and the robot. This saves you the labor, and allows you to take that same workforce and use them to do the work of placing steel. It also has given us 25% to 30% savings on schedule, so we can turn projects faster which is attractive to project owners.”

At any one time, Shelby Erectors has had one and sometimes two TyBOTs deployed at a given time.

“We see that this is the way of the future of the construction market,” Nix said. “We need to lay and place the steel, but then the robots handle bulk tying.

Then, we send our crew on to place more steel and one person drops back to manage the bulk tying work.

TyBOT may save the company between 200 and 300 manhours per job, which is significant in Florida where wages are relatively low, but an even better value according to Nix in northern states where wages are higher.

“Now, we can go from needing a five- or six-man crew to a two- or three-man crew,” Nix said. “It will change the way contractors can work together on these projects. Now, we can go faster than the prime can get ready for.”

HURDLES TO OVERCOME Advanced Construction Robotics had to solve a few problems to make TyBOT work well in

Florida. According to Nix, the cameras on the robot uses to sense rebar intersections tended to fog up given the high humidity. Solutions to other challenges had to do more with people than technology, though.

“One challenge is getting the general willing to use this,” Nix said, adding that TyBOT requires certain steps in the project to be re-ordered. “Tie bot runs on the screed rail. The general has to have that up prior to doing rebar installation—and this changes the schedule and how the work flows. It does not change the project cost, just the sequencing.”

The robot will still tie rebar that is not straight—just so long as it sees the joint. So Nix said it was important to ensure rebar is level and plumb before tying commences.

“Another problem we had was that the chairs the rebar sits on, if they are not spaced correctly, it might mistake the chair as an intersection and tie that,” Nix said. “So we have to make sure we are setting up and framing the work correctly, and make sure it is all straight before we start tying.”

Nix stressed that because the technology is new, rebar subcontractors may have to sell the value to generals—which is essential since generals need to adjust other elements of the project to accommodate TyBOT. “We have been telling generals this technology will help us improve or maintain the schedule,” Nix said.

“This is what we need from you with regard to the screed rail, which has to be in place earlier.”

Nix said his company also had to come to an understanding of where the robots do and do not make financial sense, and how to fill the role of the robot supervisor, who wears a waistmounted controller.

“For us, we originally thought we could use a full-time robot supervisor, but what happened then is our robot would catch up with our placement crews and then that operator would be idle,” Nix said. “What we are doing now is training our actual rodbusters to run the robot.

Then that robot operator just jumps back to the placing crew when the robot catches up.”

Projects, Nix found, must

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37

PRO FI T M AT T E R S Advanced Construction Robotics

TyBot, LLC performed the bulk tie portion of the Koppel Bridge deck, reinforcing steel installation for two out of four spans of the bridge.

meet certain criteria for scale before the robots drive a return.

“We have tried using TyBOT on just about anything, including smaller projects,” Nix said.

“But when you account for the cost and hassle of mobilizing the robot to the site, you find that on single span bridges, it is not a good fit. We found it takes a minimum of two or three spans or more and a 40-foot width or wider—there is not enough production otherwise to justify it.”

TYBOT SPECS AND TECH STACK TyBOT is a gantry-mounted robot that can operate on a rail between 9.5 feet and 100 feet wide. It is powered by a Cummins Onan generator that can run continuously for 12 hours without refueling, using a 16.5 AWG poly coated single snap wire to complete up to 1,100 ties per hour.

TyBOT requires a minimum bar chair height of one inch and can tie bars with intersections as small as 3-by-3 inches. It can accommodate up to #8 or #9 rebar, and while it has not been used on fiber reinforced rebar in the field, tests on this material have been successful according to the company.

A truly autonomous robot, TyBOT does not need a building information modeling (BIM) design file, or other digital information about the project. Nor has it been trained to perform its job through machine learning. Its dual camera system can see the intersections of rebar, and the robot can then execute ties either a 100% or 50% pattern on bottom and top mats.

The cameras are equipped with a light ring, enabling TyBOT to work in the dark. Snow and other obstructions on top of the rebar can stop the robot from working, however.

While TyBOT does not require Internet access to operate, a 4G cellular connection enables Advanced Construction Robotics to support and upgrade the robots.

case of TyBOT, through piecework. According to Advanced Construction Robotics CEO Danielle Proctor, pricing ranges anywhere from 20 to 25 cents per tie, including the tie wire.

Contractors do get help adopting the technology, including training and support. With training, an employee should be competent with the technology after three to four days of use. During that initial phase, Advanced Construction Robotics has a technician on site with the customer.

“Currently, we are teaching our customers how to self-supervise the robot,” Proctor said. “In the event we have customers that do not want to self-supervise, we do have a fleet of robot supervisors.”

ROBOTS-AS-A-SERVICES (RAAS)

While TyBOT has proven reliable on projects, enabling smaller crews and faster completion, productivity gains could increase even more with the addition of IronBOT, which automates the arduous task of lifting and then placing up to a 5,000-pound load of transverse and longitudinal rebar.

Like Dusty Robotics, Advanced Construction Robotics is among the emerging construction technology companies operating on what amounts to a robots-as-aservice business model. Robotic capacity is sold on an annualized subscription basis or in the

38 EQUIPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

IRONBOT SPEEDS UP PROCESS

“IronBOT is going to be a game changer,” Nix said. “We have been up there to see the prototype of IronBOT and gave them feedback and suggestions.

We are in discussions with them and will probably be one of the first users of IronBOT. This is what we do—all we do is rebar placement.”

According to Proctor, the

way the robot supervisor for IronBOT interacts with the robot will change over time.

“But at first,” she said, “the supervisor will tell the robot what spacing to use. The machine can hoist up the entire bundle, up to 5,000 pounds, go to where you want to place, and the robot will begin placing that rebar at that spacing.

In some applications, the spacing stays consistent or if it changes, the supervisor will tell IronBOT to change and to what spacing.”

This means IronBOT is not reliant on access to geopositioning data or a cellular signal to operate, nor does it require access to BIM. As a former rodbuster himself, Nix says he hopes this helps those currently in the field have longer, better careers.

“Iron work, rodbusting, is one of the hardest trades in construction,” Nix said. “It is very physically demanding.

The use of this technology and the placement of the decks on the hardest portion of building a bridge—that does not just reduce labor demand, but it eliminates back-breaking, carrying,-bent-over time.

This will allow people to have better, longer careers where they are not getting physically beat up. We need to keep our infrastructure going, build and rehabilitate what we have.

Robots take some of the physicality out of this, which can help us entice some of the next generation into this industry even as we improve construction schedules and lower cost.” ET

THERE’S MORE ONLINE REBAR-TYING ROBOT CUTS LABOR HOURS AND WORK DURATION ON PA BRIDGE REPLACEMENT TyBot autonomous rebar tying robot that can tie up to 1,000 intersections an hour by autonomously navigating its working area saved 34% in both personnel hours and duration of work on the Koppel Bridge replacement.

Read More at

https://eqtoday.co/pabridge

TYBOT AUTONOMOUS REBAR-TYING ROBOT No pre-mapping, programming or calibration required. TyBot self-locates, self-positions and self-ties the rebar intersections.

Read More at

https://eqtoday.co/tybot

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RU NNING THE BU S INES S

SHAPE OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY Should Guide Your Business Spending T

requirement, along with minority contractor status. Can things get any more complicated for you as we move through 2022?

So which option do you choose? ˜ U-shaped recovery: Poor economic conditions linger for up to a year or more.

ity for construction equipment is slowing up, as well. This does not necessarily mean that equipment values are falling, but there may be less used equipment available.

The other interesting news hitting the market is the development of electric vehicles (EV).

Electrification is here to stay, with all the pros and cons that go with it. Don’t be surprised to find more municipal bids come with an EV equipment

˜ V-shaped recovery: A quick

©zenzen – stock.adobe.com

here’s a lot to talk about this month.

Needless to say, our wonderful economy, the inflation factor, the supply chain issues and then fuel prices are all impacting the construction industry.

Add to that, auction activ-

economic bounce back. ˜ K-shaped recovery: Certain sectors recover, while others do not.

Next, for planning purposes you also have to decide if we are going to have a: ˜ Soft landing ˜ Hard landing Obviously, each of these options have an economic impact on your business and your customers’ businesses. But

39 E Q U IPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

guess wrong, and you may find yourself in a crisis.

After listening to commentators and economists, along with all the reading I do, I have to suggest that the most prudent approach is to assume a K recovery is in order, where certain areas improve, while other do not. Following this line of thinking, it’s prudent to take a more conservative approach with business finances.

You’ll want wellmanaged buying decisions and cash flow in place when this craziness is over, whenever that will be.

A fleet of EV units is an area where Cap Ex spending, value and utilization could cause cash flow issues. Sure, EVs are wonderful, cost less to operate and are quieter (except for the reverse alarm).

But they will cost more, need power available to recharge and at times, batteries will need to be changed or replaced on the jobsite. What do you do if there are several EVs on the jobsite and they all need to be plugged in at the same time? What if charging several EVs overnight blows a fuse, and you show up to work the next morning to find a fleet of vehicles with dead batteries?

Here’s the larger issue: You will wind up with two types of owned equipment with, both

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with a cost to own and a cost to operate. Being that new EV units will cost more, you will have larger notes on your balance sheet, along with the debt service to cover each month. To keep you fleet properly managed, you will have to move out units that are being replaced by EV units. If many contractors do this, the value of the used units will deteriorate, making any with a note balance due even more of a problem. We haven’t even broached the potential tax issues, and already there are a number of problems to address.

Now, if you believe the economy will have a K-shaped recovery with a recession and a hard landing, you may want to review what you own and get rid of it now under, with the current above-average pricing. Then rent EV units to try them out and wait a bit for pricing to come down before investing in them. Following this example, you reduce assets and debt, conserve cash flow and transition into more of an EV fleet over a number of years. In other words, use a conservative approach to avoid a monetary crisis while upgrading your fleet.

The best minds are calling for a K recovery with a hard landing. You do not want to wind up with excessive debt service if this is true.

Another area to consider is your insurance costs. I am told the markets are “hard” (meaning expensive) and will stay that way.

So, button up your safety procedures and ensure they are being followed. The new ANSI standard for aerial equipment will bite you in the butt if you fail to

comply. Another suggestion is to contact your insurance broker and ask if the insurance company can “audit” your operations and suggest safety improvements . I have used these inspectors recently and they present many reasonable ideas to avoid a major claim that could push insurance premiums out of reach.

Let us review my previous columns to see what you are doing to tighten up finances: ˜ Do you have our daily cash sheet in front of you daily? ˜ Are you aware of changes in material cost compared to what you are paying or have paid for? ˜ Are you recruiting new talent? Providing a better than average health insurance program keeps folks around. ˜ Companies are paying daily to keep the workforce intact. ˜ Do you have a good relationship with a few rental companies that will take care of you when you need them? ˜ Did you revise your budget to match the economic environment? ˜ Do you know what is happening in the field every day? ˜ Is working with your owned equipment profitable? ˜ Are you reviewing the technology available to your industry?

Time to button it up for the long haul. With a stagflation economy, a K-shaped recovery is likely. Run your companies as if this is the case. ET Garry Bartecki is the managing member of GB Financial Services LLP and a consultant to the Independent Equipment Dealers Association.

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S A F E T Y & COM P LI A N C E | By Charles Rathmann, Technology Editor

How Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technology CAN PREVENT SKID STEER INJURIES, DEATHS Eccentric, rapid movement makes skid steers dangerous, but emerging technologies can prevent most accidents while paving the way to autonomous operation.

A

s versatile, commonly used pieces of equipment, skid steers by default will be involved in accidents, colliding with objects, other pieces of equipment and even pedestrians. Regulators do not break down accidents to identify

specifically those involving skid steers, but the equipment is common enough that accounts make the news--including the death of a two-year-old child in April of 2022. But does it have to be this way?

There are common sense

40 EQUIPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

steps contractors can take to prevent injuries and deaths among both operators and those working near skid steers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cautions against mistakes that can lead to rollovers

and crush injuries. OSHA also requires skid steer operators receive training under CFR 1926.21(b)(s) and CFR 1926.20(b)(4). But collisions with objects and pedestrians, including backover accidents, still occur.

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ACCIDENT PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have long included safety features in skid steers, including backup cameras and indicator tech for cross-slopes to prevent rolling and slope to

S AFET Y & COMPL IANCE

Built Robotics

system to detect objects and pedestrians in the skid steer’s large blind spot. This technology features a fully adjustable detection zone up to 98 feet, identifies velocity of up to 16 people and objects simultaneously and built-in failsafes. It can also be integrated with a skid steer’s braking system if it detects an object.

But emerging technologies are making skid steer pedestrian detection even smarter and more reliable while providing more effective interventions to avoid collisions.

Paris-based Arcure Blaxtair is offering its AI-driven pedestrian recognition technology through an aftermarket stereo camera installation that pairs with a cloud application. The technology is already proven on major infrastructure job sites around the world, most notably in France, Hong Kong and Turkey.

The company claims the technology can reduce vehicle/pedestrian accidents by two-thirds.

Arcure Blaxtair has been active in the United States with the Blaxtair pedestrian proximity detection product since 2019, and has fitted its system on machines used on the Ohio River Bridge—its first U.S. use case in construction, with most of their installations here having been on forklifts.

While the products are installed as an option by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Europe, sales of the Blaxtair will for the time being be focused on selling units directly to equipment fleet owners as they work to build relationships with OEMs serving North America.

“This is new technology, so the first thing we want to do is convince the market it is valuable, and we are starting by demonstrating the product and selling to end users,” Arcure Blaxtair Founder/CEO Franck Gayraud said.

a piece of equipment on which it is installed if a pedestrian is detected. The on-equipment components are paired with a cloud application that provides monitoring, analytics and can update the firmware on the Blaxtair unit.

“We consider Blaxtair as an emergency sensor,” Gayraud said. “We don’t have increasing frequency of beep as a warning to a pedestrian. Because we are dealing with safety, we don’t want to add any distraction to the driver. First, there is a visual and sound alarm. Then, the Blaxtair will stop the movement of the vehicle—we cannot put on the brake. The Blaxtair sends an electrical signal to do a smart slowdown to avoid unbalancing the vehicle.”

In Europe, Blaxtair units have been factory-fitted on Leibherr equipment, which uses the intelligence from the system to slow down based on the current speed and load in the bucket. Manufaturers have used the Blaxtair in two different settings—to slow down when a pedestrian is close but not imminently in danger and then gradually slow to a stop as the pedestrian gets closer. The system has been installed widely on skid steers in Europe and Canada.

For aftermarket installations, the Blaxtair will generally send just one signal to slow or stop the vehicle, and will be less configurable than when the interface is designed with the hardware installed by an OEM. With OEM integration, it can

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

prevent tips. But aftermarket technology is also available that enables a contractor to automate safety over and above what their OEM delivers. Taylor Sudden Service, for instance, offers its Vision Plus Integrated pedestrian detection system specifically on its Taylor X-Series forklifts and material handling equipment, but sells its Vision Plus Pro and Vision Plus Standard products aftermarket for most

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cautions against mistakes that can lead to rollovers and crush injuries. also control the bucket or other moving parts.

BLAXTAIR TECH STACK The Blaxtair uses a pure vision system rather than radar, laser or infrared sensors, functioning much like human eyes including the depth of field provided by stereo vision. Because of the system’s reliance on reflected light, some use cases add an artificial light to the vehicle to ensure the camera can see. The Blaxtair inputs using 3D imaging, and then applies a classification algorithm to identify pedestrians by shape and other criteria.

There are free pedestrian identification algorithms on the internet, which have been trained on a very small database but delivered pretty good performance until you change the

A Caterpillar 259D track loader with the Blaxtair pedestrian detection system installed.

The stereo camera, combined with advanced machine learning algorithms, can sense people in the machine’s path and either alert the operator or slow and stop the machine.

SLOW TO A STOP The Blaxtair system, which is comprised of a stereo camera that compares images in its field of vision to a sophisticated machine learning-generated algorithm to identify pedestrians, is now integrated with the Xwatch Safety Systems automated system to slow and even bring to a stop

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Arcure Blaxtair

off-highway equipment, including skid steers. This technology provides a visual and audio alarm to alert a skid steer operator of pedestrians entering the machine path.

Sensata Technologies offers its PreView Sentry active radar

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Built Robotics

S A F E T Y & COM P LI A N C E

San Francisco-based Built Robotics has outfitted multiple equipment classes with its technology.

a square to identify persons, recording whether it was day or night and what they are wearing. At this point in time, we have millions of images collected and labeled so the algorithm can learn from them.”

But the human population is incredibly diverse, which means a neural network for pedestrian detection must keep expanding.

“We fitted the Blaxtair on an excavator in New Guinea,” Gayraud said. “The people are very small, and for the algorithm, this was very new. They

are not the same shape as children, or the size of an adult. We had to change the algorithm to also detect this type of person.”

Currently, the technology senses a pedestrian from zero feet to just over 26 feet away, and the company aims to double that range in future iterations.

As an option, a Blaxtair user can subscribe to the cloud application, which relies on an additional module on the hardware unit that relays image data and aggregated data on detections for analysis and to facilitate safety

management processes. Data and images collected can influence things like separation of different disciplines or processes on a site or safety training. A Blaxtair cloud application user can also track reduction of accidents or close encounters with pedestrians for their own purposes or to share with stakeholders. In Europe, this data and installation of Blaxtair units has helped contractors reduce their insurance premiums, but this is not something that has happened yet in North America.

The Blaxtair currently

communicates only over a cellular network, but a relay of information via satellite for use in areas with no cell service or wifi for when a piece of equipment returns to a depot may be available at some point, according to Gayraud.

The Blaxtair technology is designed for a broad spectrum of equipment, but according to Blaxtair Technical Expert Maxime Thenevin, delivers tremendous value on skid steers.

Thenevin said skid steers should be equipped with pedestrian Blaxtair

shape, background or clothing.

Then, detection drops dramatically, according to Gayraud. So the company developed a broad neural network that was trained for a period of 12 years using cameras installed on equipment at a recycling plant.

“After 12 years of exposure, we had a pretty good-sized database and good diversity,” Gayraud said. “Every machine had a Blaxtair, collecting data that was transferred to an internal server. A team of people then labelled the data, drawing

The Blaxtair uses a pure vision system rather than radar, laser or infrared sensors, functioning much like human eyes including the depth of field provided by stereo vision.

42 EQU IPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

www.forconstructionpros.com/equipment

S AFET Y & COMPL IANCE

detection “every time” because they move quickly and are blind to the rear at close range.

“It can be a bit tricky to install as there’s no space inside, but we never had issues to install it,” he said. “It is important to be careful with the passthrough of the cable between the processing unit and sensor head, as the cabin can be lifted completely to access the engine. But besides that, there is nothing very specific–everything is compact so an installer should not hesitate to remove more panels.”

of footage from job sites and things we trained the machine learning model on to ensure low false positive and zero false negatives … We also have external data sources to maximize the diversity in our sample. The short answer is we have trained our models on diverse environments and

circumstances. We want our machine learning to detect at such a far range that personal details should be irrelevant.”

Like Blaxtair Built Robotics’ pedestrian detection has been thrown for a loop by geographic differences, as well.

“We have encountered a challenge in Australia where

their personal protective equipment is different, that represents a different profile,” Kikani said. “We try to train the robot on the local environments. We encounter a lot more livestock in Australia—all of these are things our customer success teams are equipped to deal with.”

TRAINING A MACHINE TO SEE PEOPLE Effective pedestrian detection requires a deep approach to machine learning, not only so technology can identify a person from other objects, but to gauge the direction a person is moving and the speed they are moving at. Accuracy is also important to avoid false positives— sending up proximity alarms or slowing or stopping a machine needlessly.

Between the trajectories pedestrians take and their different appearances, this means pedestrian detection must rest on a deep neural network informed by millions of images and situations.

“We started with free algorithm on the internet, which would have been trained on a very small database and it means you would have good performance on various shapes,” Gayraud said. “But if you change the shape, background or clothing, accuracy, it drops dramatically … But after 12 years of experience, we have good size and good diversity.”

TOWARDS AN AUTONOMOUS SKID STEER Applications like the Blaxtair that go beyond proximity alerts to actually slow or stop the skid steer are one step towards full autonomy. Remote control, as pioneered by companies like Torc Robotics in partnership with Caterpillar, has been added to skid steers—which has since yielded to the Cat Command product. Other OEMs ranging from Kanga to John Deere to Bobcat have followed suit. In May of 2022, Caterpillar then launched the 299D3 compact track loader with semiautonomous load and haul capacity. A roof rack unit contains the cameras and LIDAR sensors required for the loader to collect data and take action based on its surroundings.

Meanwhile, San Francisco-based Built Robotics has outfitted multiple equipment classes with its automation exoskeleton, which includes pedestrian detection.

“If the robot sees a person, it will stop with plenty of range,” Built Robotics Vice President Gaurav Kikani said. “We have massive data repositories

Motion is a leader in delivering the services and supplies that keep essential industries up and running.

“Autonomy is the future,” Gayraud said. “We started with personnel detection because it was needed and it is an existing market. But we are already working on autonomy, and we see it now mostly in mining sites. The constraint is there cannot be a lot of people around.” ET

S A F E T Y & COM P LI A N C E

5 STEPS TO TAKE

After a Construction Company Vehicle Crash Construction company owners can take some of the stress out of auto accidents by defining a set of steps that employees should take following an incident and ensuring that everyone understands those actions.

C

ar accidents are stressful events. Even minor fender benders can rattle seasoned drivers.

Suddenly, you’re the center of attention, and bystanders, responding police officers and others are looking at you— even if you weren’t at fault.

And when you are involved in an accident in a company vehicle, the pressure can feel even more intense.

However, it’s important that you respond correctly to a crisis—large or small—since how you react can affect the post-incident repercussions.

Construction company owners can take some of the stress out of auto accidents by defining a set of steps that employees

©ungvar – stock.adobe.com

44 EQU IPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

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should take following an incident and ensuring that everyone understands those actions.

VICARIOUS LIABILITY: AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT The laws regarding company vehicle accidents vary from state to state. But certain core principles tend to be common to most or all locations. One of the most important is the concept of vicarious liability. It means that the construction company that owns or leases and insures a vehicle is typically responsible for the results of an accident rather than the employee who is driving the vehicle.

Businesses should explain this concept to any employee who they authorize to operate a

S AFET Y & COMPL IANCE

company vehicle. They should make it very clear that the employee’s actions can create liability, lawsuits and legal expenses for the company.

Certain conditions apply, of course. For example, the driver must not be operating the vehicle intentionally recklessly or using it while committing a crime. But generally speaking, construction businesses are responsible for the actions of employees who are driving company vehicles.

So, employees must understand vicarious liability.

Employers are placing a great deal of trust in employees when they authorize them to drive a company vehicle. Consequently, it’s vital that they operate those vehicles safely and know how

to respond appropriately in the event of an accident.

ACTIONS TO TAKE AFTER COMPANY CAR ACCIDENTS If an employee is involved in an accident in a company vehicle, they should take these five steps: ˜ Ensure their safety. Your employee should take steps to ensure they aren’t at risk of injury, such as moving a safe distance from the vehicle(s) involved in the accident if appropriate. ˜ Call the police or 911. If a minor accident occurs, drivers should call a nonemergency police line to report the incident. If the accident involves injuries, significant vehicle damage, or a

location that poses a danger to those involved or others on the road, the driver should call 911 and request emergency assistance. ˜ Record basic facts about the accident. Your employee should take down information about the accident, including the date, time and location. They shouldn’t assume that they’ll remember these facts since the stress of an accident can impair a person’s ability to recall even basic information. The employee should also note the license plate numbers of all vehicles involved and the driver’s license numbers and insurance information of the other driver(s). ˜ Document the accident scene. The specifics of an accident are important to authorities, insurance companies and others as they make determinations about liability.

The responding police officers will document the scene.

However, if your employee can do so safely and without violating any local traffic laws, it can be helpful to take photos of the damage to vehicles, skid marks on the road, property damage (signposts, landscaping, etc.), traffic control measures like traffic lights or stop signs and anything else about the scene that might be relevant. ˜ Contact the designated person at your company. At a small construction company, an employee who is involved in an accident will likely contact the business owner. Larger companies may have someone else designated as the contact—a person in the HR department, for example.

Either way, that person should know what steps to take following an accident. These actions may include having someone pick the employee up, ensuring the person gets medical care if needed, arranging to have the vehicle towed if necessary, calling your insurance company to initiate a commercial auto insurance claim, etc.

You should also instruct your employees to be cooperative with authorities and provide any requested information. Then, they should let the investigation take its course. There is no need

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for them to express an opinion about the cause of the accident or who was at fault.

EDUCATING EMPLOYEES TO MINIMIZE LIABILITY Construction companies that educate their employees about vehicle accidents minimize the risk of an incident and their associated liability. You should provide mandatory training for employees on safe driving practices and the accident response steps above.

You should also document your safety tips and expectations of employees who drive company vehicles. That way, they can refer back to that information as needed, and you can demonstrate your commitment to safe driving.

Other actions you can take to minimize the risk of vehicle accidents and liability include: ˜ Purchasing vehicles with good safety features, such as lane assist, blind spot monitoring and automatic braking. ˜ Supplying safety equipment like hazard triangles, safety vests and safety hammers for escaping vehicles submerged in water. ˜ Staying current on preventative maintenance and repairs. ˜ Providing hands-on driver training for employees if needed—like if you ask them to operate a type of vehicle they haven’t driven before. ˜ Making a rule that forbids texting while driving.

BEING PROACTIVE PAYS OFF The time and effort you put into training your employees and assisting them if they’re involved in an accident pays off. It can prevent a minor incident from becoming a major headache.

The same is true of having adequate insurance protection for your owned or leased vehicles. It’s typically mandatory to have a commercial auto policy.

If you don’t have coverage, you may face fines or other punishments and high out-of-pocket costs for repairs, legal defense, judgments, etc.

Well-protected construction companies with well-trained employees tend to recover from vehicle accidents quickly and can return their focus to the business. ET

“Businesses should explain vicarious liability to any employee they authorize to operate a company vehicle.

They should make it clear that the employee’s actions can create liability, lawsuits and legal expenses for the company.”

— Rakesh Gupta

Rakesh Gupta is chief operating officer biBERK.

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S A F E T Y & COM P LI A N C E

How to DISASTER PROOF Your Construction Company C

onstruction projects run on a strict timetable.

When there are disruptions, such as staffing issues, resource allocation, supply chain delays or downtime from damaged equipment, economic havoc can erupt. Being prepared for any type of interruption can ensure contractors, laborers and owners recover quickly with minimal impact to the financial well-being of the business. Nimbly identifying the loss, correcting the issue and returning to full capacity are key to damage mitigation.

Insurance policies are custom-designed to fit the individual needs of each operation. Working with your agent to secure a mutual agreement on the best coverage for your group is an evolving partnership and should be reviewed annually at minimum. Equipment and building depreciation, fuel price fluctuations and potential shifts in the timing and transportation of goods to market are all variables impacting the type and amount of insurance coverage you may wish to secure.

Look up your agent’s contact information. Pull up your insurance policy and review your coverage. Talk to others in the industry and compare notes. Put yourself in a position to be proactive rather than reactive. It is not if a loss occurs, but when.

Being informed on the coverage you have will help navigate the road of recovery.

Some are fully insured. Some are self-insured. Some have a blended coverage where they cover the “small stuff ” to avoid a high premium, or if the loss is less than the deductible. It is not a “one-stop shop” of information, but rest assured we all need to follow the same steps, no

matter if it’s handled in-house or with our insurance company.

When electing to report damages to an insurance carrier, the carrier will determine if the damage is “covered property” and if the loss was caused by a “cov-

˜ Give the insurance carrier

prompt notice of the loss or damage, and provide descriptions of how, when and where the loss occurred so they can provide immediate guidance throughout the claim process.

a responsible third party, also known as subrogation of damages. Retaining the damaged property in its current state and maintaining the chain of custody to explore potential liability and recovery of ©vinnstock – stock.adobe.com

ered cause of loss.” As a part of their determination, they may have you speak with an adjuster, assign your case to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) or send out an independent appraiser.

Either way, a determination of the who, what, when, why, and where of the loss will be made.

As the insured, you may be contractually required to take certain steps in the event of loss or damage to “covered property.” Be prepared to: ˜ Notify the police if a law has been broken. If theft, vandalism, trespassing or any intentionally lawful act occurs, contact local law enforcement, and report it.

46 EQUIPMEN T TODAY | July 2022

˜ Take all reasonable steps to

mitigate loss by protecting property from further loss.

When possible, secure images to document damage and/or secure the property for future examination. ˜ Retain all records for consideration in the settlement of your loss when expenses are incurred for emergency or temporary repairs.

Determining the cause and origin of the loss validates if the damage is a covered cause of loss as described in the policy. Additionally, the cause-and-origin determination dictates whether there is a right to recover damages from

damages, including applicable deductibles, are vital to the determination process. If a third party is found liable for damages, the insurance company will seek recovery of the damages paid, including any deductible incurred.

The question of “who is at fault” is not always the first thing to figure out. Whether the damage is to your equipment, or your organization caused damage to somebody’s property or equipment, what is most important is the accurate determination of the value of the loss and the amount of time it will take to recover that loss.

Being informed on the value

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of property, goods, services, and equipment utilized in your operation can aid when determining your insurance needs and the premium associated. Policies may include specific limits of insurance for covered property, offer a variety of covered causes of loss, allow specified dollar amounts for named property and provide a tailored menu of options to secure desired coverage and a budget-conscious premium.

Self-insuring property through higher deductibles, coinsuring with the carrier or excluding certain property from your policy are all viable options to help manage insurance costs.

Reviewing those options with your insurance agent to gain an understanding of the financial impact to your bottom-line premium investment and your out-of-pocket expenses when a loss occurs will result in an optimal financial decision for your daily operation.

Contractors will continue to face challenges: variable fuel costs, availability of approved and qualified labor, shifts in local and national buyers, tariffs, pandemics, weather and catastrophic events. All these factors impact the overall profitability of the business. Being proactive in mitigating losses may save thousands of dollars in loss avoidance.

Reviewing your insurance coverage annually with your agent to determine a plan specific to your operation will guide you in how to proceed should your operation experience a loss. A blend of well-planned insurance coverage, self-insurance through higher deductibles and coinsurance may offer lower costs while still providing peace of mind. ET Chris Layman is vice president of sales and marketing at Property Damage Appraisers, Inc.

S AFET Y & COMPL IANCE

All images courtesy of HCSS

Piecing Together a Strong Construction SAFETY CULTURE Safety software enabled Sun Ridge Contracting to celebrate two years without a lost-time incident.

S

ince its founding in 1991, Sun Ridge Contracting has been laser-focused on safety. Based in Kamloops, BC, Canada, and a major employer for indigenous people – specifically the membership of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and surrounding indigenous communities – the whole team feels a deep sense of responsibility to its small, close community, where an incident can affect everyone.

Sun Ridge specializes in civil, earthworks, forestry and mining operations. Its 40 employees enjoy a family atmosphere that is created from a “special mix” of local workers, including many who have family connections.

“It’s one thing to know the person next to you is a coworker, it’s a whole other thing when the person is your family,” says Mark Jastrzebski, Sun Ridge’s health and safety manager.

In 2018, Sun Ridge reached a major milestone: two and a half years without a lost-time incident. But then it had to reset the clock.

“A crew member had a slip and fall, and the communication was not great. The crew member had a minor injury, but due to poor communication, this caused a one-day lost-time incident.

We went right back to zero,” Jastrzebski explains.

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OPEN TO POSSIBILITIES Prior to the incident, there had been no injury reports for eight months, so crews were out of practice on reporting injuries.

Jastrzebski had to find a way to help his crews work on injury reporting without the pressure of an actual worksite injury. “We had a scare because of the slip and fall and we lost time because of the communication breakdown,” he points out.

Then, the safety team rolled out HCSS Safety. “In my previous company, I saw HCSS open all kinds of efficiencies and communication. [It] gives you time, and everyone at Sun Ridge saw the advantage of saving time. It opens up all kinds of possibilities,” Jastrzebski states.

As part of its safety program, Sun Ridge has its foremen practice reporting incidents in HCSS Safety. That way, he can coach

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S AFET Y & CO MPLIANCE

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his teams on filling out quality incident reports without the stress of an actual incident.

Jastrzebski took this situation as a learning lesson. “Hindsight is 20:20. If we didn’t have the slip and fall, we could have five years without a lost-time injury. But would we be in as good of a place as we are now? This was a critical learning experience, and we prepared to get better.”

MORE TIME FOR SAFETY When Sun Ridge made the decision to move forward with HCSS, everyone was immediately on board.

“The entire office said that moving to a paperless safety solution was long overdue. They saw the value of the environmental benefit and time savings right away,” Jastrzebski says. “Once the crews in the field got rolling, they were able to complete their forms much faster. In particular, they really like using the dictation on the iPad. Our crews quickly saw the advantage of saving time.”

So, what can you accomplish with more time? According to Jastrzebski, “At Sun Ridge, our No. 1 priority is safety and our No. 1 asset is our people. Now, we are free to spend more quality time with our employees and focus on our safety program. There’s no more paper taking up time.”

BREAKING DOWN SILOS Sun Ridge currently uses HeavyJob and HCSS Safety, which integrate closely with each other. All the data collected from both programs can be viewed in HCSS by all teams.

Jastrzebski encourages everyone to learn HCSS. “Since this information is so available in one place, let’s work to remove compartmentalization and break down silos between teams.”

In Canada, fines for repeat safety violations by the same company are multiplied, even if the violations are on different jobsites.

Communication is key.

With EHS software from HCSS Safety, everyone has quick access to real-time safety data and reporting.

This allows for increased communication and fast modification of safety processes based on something that happened at another jobsite, even if the other site is on the other side of the country.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED EXPANSION For implementation, Sun Ridge worked on process optimization and software setup with Ian O’Byrne, one of HCSS’ Canadian construction safety experts based in BC. With a solid foundation, Jastrzebski is now ready to expand Sun Ridge’s use of HCSS Safety. “As we immerse ourselves, we found what HCSS can do for us,” he comments.

“Now, we are starting to streamline

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and expand. What can we do to help HCSS help us?”

One source of inspiration is the HCSS Academy, which has educational materials for all software and is available to all HCSS users. “It takes the anxiety out because we can see the product in action and it gives us all sorts of ideas,” says Jastrzebski. “The Academy feeds us knowledge and helps us see how we can keep expanding.”

The results of the software implementation came quickly. By August 2020, Sun Ridge hit a critical milestone again, celebrating two years without a lost-time incident. ET Gen Simmons is a technical product manager for HCSS.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE Products National Signal Sunray LTS This tower is designed to meet the rigors of heavy-use areas such as construction, mining, utility and security. Its silent nature provides quiet operation. The LTS mast is built extra heavy to provide a solid foundation for almost any use.

On top of the mast are four heavy-duty LED light fixtures with ultra-high intensity LED with brightness levels of 40W, 85W and 160W. These light fixtures are designed to maximize light utility with very little lost light. The control system is equipped with several selections including automatic on/off at dusk and dawn and settable run times from three to 12 hours.

To maximize charge time the tower is equipped with large tilting angles.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/vthg67

J.W. Speaker LED Compact Work Light Series These work lights are designed for harsh working conditions, providing illumination that improves the safety, productivity and comfort of workers. The lighting family includes three new models: the 792, 892 and 893. They can be used together, or individually, to create customizable illumination for any work site. The 792 LED Compact Work Light is engineered for bright brightness in tight spaces with a 3-in.-x-4-in., low-profile design and 2,000 lumens. The 892 LED Compact Work Light is a pedestal-style, 4-in.-x4-in. LED light with 3,800 lumens. The 893 LED Compact Rectangular Work Light uses a low-profile 3-in.-x-8-in. design to project a wide beam of 3,700 lumens.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/f8rtpt

Progress Solar Light Towers With 50,000 lumens of high-intensity LED floodlighting, two independent off-grid solar power arrays, and long-life, deep-cycle no maintenance AGM batteries, the jobsite can be lit up quietly without touching this light tower every night. The light tower is fully adjustable from 8-23 ft. in height. Lights can be tilted up/down and rotated individually, and the mast can rotate, providing 360º degrees of coverage.

With shatter-resistant, solid-state components that are rated IP66 or greater, lights can be run via photocell (light sensor), timer-controlled, or operated manually.

Systems are housed in an industrial-quality mobile steel trailer that can be easily towed to the destination.

Optronics’ LED Combination ID Light Bar and Utility Light Optronics’ MCL80RCB LED Combination ID Light Bar and Utility Light enables a vehicle’s light bar to serve double duty as a utility and scene light, whether it’s mounted high or low. With a mounting position high on the back of a vehicle, the lamp is able to illuminate a wide area below and behind it with white LED light. Using the ID light already required for vehicles measuring 80 in. or more in width as a platform, the MCL80RCB LED Combination ID Light Bar & Utility Light incorporates two sevendiode white LED utility lights. The body of the lamp measures 15.5 in. in length, 1.313 in. in width and 0.75 in. in thickness, including its attached, closed-cell foam gasket.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/8v4c5t

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/sgmk82

Thermal Intelligence Basecamp

ECCO EB8160 Series Heavy Duty Beacon

The Basecamp green-certified heater, light tower and generator delivers efficiency as a flameless heater plus provides a 360° LED lighting package and 27 kW of available power.

• SmartTalk IoT technology monitors and controls heater 24/7 and alerts via SMS or email before there’s a problem • Light package produces 192,000 lumens 5K color • Minimum run time of 48 hours with 27 kW of continuous power • Kubota 2.4-liter, electronic Tier 4 Final engine • 119-gal. fuel tank capacity

This LED beacon measures light levels and auto-dimming LEDs adjust to deliver warning intensity, day or night. The EB8160 exceeds certification for low radio interference and is waterproof even under high pressure.

Specs: • 10-30 VDC, 4.4 amps • 20 flash patterns • 24 high-performance amber LEDs • Permanent 3-bolt or vacuum mount option • Die-cast aluminum base and shatterresistant polycarbonate lens

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/vu2qdm

Read more at: https://myfc.pro/xbnfru

Streamlight Beartrap Multi-function Work Light

Caterpillar CT3550 Job-site Work Light

Streamlight has introduced the BearTrap, a high-power work light that delivers up to 2,000 lumens and can rotate 270 degrees in its frame. The BearTrap’s flood mode ranges from 2,000 lumens on high with a 2.5-hour run time to 575 lumens on low, with an 8.75-hour run time. In spot mode, the light provides a white concentrated beam for specific task lighting, ranging from 1,000 lumens on high for 4.5 hours to 325 lumens on low for 12.5 hours. The BearTrap battery life indicator changes from green to yellow to red and then flashing red when the battery is in need of recharging.

The light uses a 7.26V, 5200 mAh lithium-ion battery that can be recharged in 5.5 hours, including when the light is in use. Weighing 2 lbs., 3 oz., the light measures 7.62 in. in length, 6.50 in. in width, and is 3.12 in. thick.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/dc3ywj

The stationary work light has a heavy-duty aluminum body with bumper protection, to withstand the toughest jobsites. The COB LED produces 3000 lumens.

The ratcheting handle provides easy portability and doubles as an adjustable stand to easily position the light wherever it is needed.

Specifications: • 3000 lumen light output • 70 m beam distance • Water and impact resistant • 9 in. height x 6.6 in. width, 2.75 in. diameter • 2.9 lbs.

Read more at: https://eqtoday.co/rugby8

www.ForConstructionPros.com

July 2022 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY

49

B RID G I N G T HE G A P

Recruiting Strategies: It’s Time to ‘FISH IN NEW POOLS’

©romul014 – stock.adobe.com

New infrastructure means there’s lots of work coming but there may not be enough construction workers to get that work done. Here’s how some contractors are finding new sources of labor.

T

he new infrastructure bill means there’s lots of potential work in the pipeline for the foreseeable future.

The ongoing labor shortage means there may not be enough equipment operators, service technicians and laborers to get that work done. Talk about a catch-22.

What’s a contractor to do?

Many of those we talk to are getting creative in their hunt for new employees — “fishing in new pools,” as one of them put it. Here are some of the steps they’re taking: ˜ Offering part-time hours to retirees: You probably

˜

50 EQU IPMEN T TOD AY | July 2022

know someone who retired early and six months later was itching to get out of the house and back to work.

Construction retirees may not want to return to work full time, but some companies are taking advantage of their experience and skills for a limited number of hours each week or month.

Going old-school with job postings: LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter — online job boards are great tools, and you should definitely be using them. But contractors are also seeing success with

˜

offline recruiting, particularly in smaller communities.

They’re printing and posting job openings on bulletin boards at churches, apartment complexes, grocery stores, laundromats, restaurants and bars. (Just make sure to ask the manager first.)

Scheduling open houses and tours: There’s still a misconception that construction is dirty, low-tech work. Some construction firms are finding the best way to change that perception is to get people onto their jobsites and into their shops. It’s a chance

˜

to show them the level of technology at work and the professionalism of today’s workforce — not to mention how clean, safe and comfortable modern equipment is.

Connecting with local military: Is there a military base near you? Many people who retire from the military after 20 years of service are still quite young — in their 40s.

Others decide to leave early and put down roots locally.

Military HR teams often are interested in helping those retiring or leaving the service find employment with

www.forconstructionpros.com/equipment

area companies. And a lot of contractors report that workers with military experience bring many of the “soft skills” in demand on construction sites: discipline, teamwork and respect for leadership. ˜ Reaching into high schools and even grade schools: The construction industry has always been good about connecting with faculty and students at community colleges and trade schools. But now many contractors are realizing that they need to start reaching kids at even younger ages. They’re looking for opportunities to participate in career days and offering up their sites for field trips. Again, it’s all about changing the perception of construction work. ˜ Asking current employees for help: Your employees are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok. They’re texting, Zooming and FaceTimeing.

They can post a job opening and reach people you won’t.

They can hear about a friend looking for work and connect that person with you. Follow the lead of other companies and incentivize your team to help with recruiting — a bonus for bringing in a candidate or a new hire goes a long way.

In today’s environment, recruiting the way you’ve always done it just won’t cut it anymore. Try putting some of these ideas to work and brainstorming other “new pools” in your area. ET Lonnie Fritz is a senior market professional at Caterpillar Inc.

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