On your marks

Needing little introduction, CONEXPO-CON/AGG is set to take over much of Las Vegas next month. North America’s largest construction trade show, representing every facet of the industry, including asphalt, aggregates, concrete, earthmoving, lifting, mining and utilities, is set for March 10 to 14.

The 2020 iteration of the massive triennial event will set a new space record, attract tens of thousands of attendees and feature a range of events and education programs.

Attendees will have up-close access to the leading manufacturers and suppliers, latest product innovations, and knowledge resources to help their businesses thrive. A couple highlights for 2020 include the return of the “Tech Experience” with two locations and the expansion of the show campus to the new Festival Grounds. This year’s event has 10 different areas to explore, as well as more than 180 education sessions packed with timely and actionable information from industry experts.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020 is taking place March 10 to 14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

GETTING SET FOR CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020

SESSION SNAPSHOTS

• Driving new innovation at complacent companies • Drones on construction sites for all contractors • Gain a competitive advantage through construction technology • How to win the war for talent • Safety training ninja • Technology trends: Lessons Learned • Top 10 reasons why construction businesses fail

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Equipment makers and tech providers won’t be pulling their punches. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect from some of the biggest names in the industry

BROKK Armed with a new intelligent power management system that delivers twice the power of its predecessor, Brokk is bringing its new Brokk 70 remote-controlled demolition robot to this year’s show. The compact electric robot can work in confined spaces and is small enough to fit through interior doorways. With a base weight of 1,235 pounds (560 kilograms), it can also be taken into regular passenger elevators, making it ideal for top-down demolition projects in urban areas.

AQUAJET SYSTEMS Hydro demolition machine maker Aquajet Systems is showcasing its new Aqua Cutter 710V, among other new innovations, at CONEXPO-CON/AGG this March. The robot is the largest of its kind, offering overhead reach up to 23 feet for concrete removal tasks on projects such as bridges and renovations. The 5,070-pound (2,300-kilogram) 710V uses 14,500- to 40,000-psi water jets to remove as much as 35 cubic feet (1 cubic meter) of concrete per hour.

B2W SOFTWARE At CONEXPO, construction management software firm B2W Software will demonstrate its unified One Platform and the various elements for estimating, operations and business insight at a dozen demo stations. The company plans to highlight new platform developments, such as its new mobile app capable of working in online or offline modes. It will also showcase the addition of trucking management capabilities to its scheduling tool and other enhanced features designed to boost performance on complex, data-intensive jobs.

BOBCAT The new Bobcat R-Series loaders are a revolution in both form and function. Designed to tackle everyday work and the toughest challenges, these next generation loaders include several machine and feature changes focused on quality, reliability and durability. R-Series loaders bring more comfort to challenging jobs with their leading all-around visibility, comfortable controls, numerous options and roomy environment. Features include an optional clear-side enclosure, mesh-free windows, a new cab design and much more.

CATERPILLAR Through a mix of static displays and equipment and tech demo areas, Caterpillar will be showing off a wide range of new technologies at CONEXPO 2020. The 150 AWD motor grader, which features all-wheel drive assist and the new mastless 3D Cat Grade control system, will be among the many new machines to hit the dirt. The manufacturer is also hosting the finals of the Global Operator Challenge, where nine operators will compete in a tough string of scenarios.

DOOSAN INFRACORE New, innovative machines as well as a number of currently available excavators, wheel loaders and articulated trucks will be on display at Doosan Infracore’s booth at the trade show this March. Alongside popular machines such as the DX35-5 mini excavator and the DX170LC-5 crawler excavator, the company will showcase Concept-X, a new autonomous work site designed to meet the future needs of the increasingly tech-focused construction industry.

DEERE At 225 horsepower, the 850L dozer has more horsepower than any dozer in its size class. Standard auto-idle and idle shutdown help to minimize fuel costs. Equipped with the popular Eco mode feature, fuel consumption is reduced without sacrificing performance. All configurations utilize an eight-roller design with 130-inches of track on ground. The roomier, quieter cab includes comfort-driven features and is equipped with ergonomic control joysticks for the transmission and hydraulic functions.

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GOMACO Arriving at CONEXPO with the majority of its lineup in tow, Gomaco will be featuring its Xtreme line of concrete curb and gutter machines. The new pavers include advanced steering capabilities with rotary-sensored slew drives on each track, smart hydraulic cylinders combined with G+ control to ensure smooth travel and “Xtreme” radius capabilities when paving with 3D guidance or stringline.

HYUNDAI At CONEXPO/ConAgg 2020, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas will display new and enhanced models, including those in its Performance Series (Stage 5 emissions compliant). It will also showcase new services under the Hyundai Intelligence Care brand and working prototypes of two electric-powered compact excavators. The company’s indoor exhibit will include a working prototype of a Hyundai-electric-powered compact excavator, while its outdoor exhibit will feature a working prototype of the Cummins-electric-powered Hyundai R35E compact excavator.

EPIROC Among a number of innovative new offerings, Epiroc is showing its automation-ready SmartROC D60 surface drill rig for first time in North America. The rig, used in quarrying, mining and construction has both the power and intelligence to drill high-quality blast holes with accuracy and precision. The automation-ready platform includes a new Auto Feed Fold feature, enabling the operator to fold the feed for tramming or position it for drilling.

HAVER & BOECKER The latest efficiency-boosting products from Haver & Boecker, including the company’s new Tyler F-Class Portable Plant, will be on display this March at CONEXPO. Showcased for the first time ever, the F-Class portable plant features mobile four-bearing technology to maximize production for aggregates and mining operations. It’s equipped with the company’s signature engineered screen media designed to improve customer productivity and profits.

HITACHI Hitachi will have a range of models on display at CONEXPO/CON-AGG, including the new ZX345USLC-6. The machine is the largest in Hitachi’s reduced-tail-swing excavator line. Whether it’s roadbuilding or working in congested quarters, the ZX345USLC-6 packs all the power into its reduced-tail-swing design, helping this model maximize efficiency, reliability and durability. At the forefront is Hitachi’s exclusive TRIAS II three-pump hydraulic system that provides multifunctioning performance and some of the fastest cycle times in the industry.

JLG JLG says it’s “Elevating Access” at CONEXPO-CON/ AGG 2020. At the company’s booth in the Festival Grounds, JLG will unveil the next generation of the access industry with best-in-class equipment designed to maximize productivity like never before, thanks to industry-leading equipment and technical innovations. From connected solutions to the latest in telehandler, scissor, boom and low-level access technology, visitors will experience the future of productivity, technology and safety.

KOMATSU Komatsu says it’s focusing on creating connections at CONEXPO 2020. The equipment manufacturer’s 40,000 sq. ft. booth will demonstrate how Komatsu’s distributors and customers are increasingly connected through solutions that leverage digitalization to control costs and timelines. Along with debuting new patent-pending technology and displaying nearly 25 machines, the company will showcase its proactive dozing control system that makes its own calculated decisions on the D51i-24 and D61i-24 dozers.

KPI-JCI Kolberg-Pioneer (KPI) will be rolling out its first hybrid FT4250CC horizontal shaft impactor plant at CONEXPO 2020. The new plant, capable of running off diesel or line power, is among several new products the Astec Industries group will be displaying at its joint booth. Johnson Crushers International (JCI) will showcase the latest addition to its Kodiak Plus cone crusher line, while Astec Mobile Screen will introduce its new Ranger line of compact, track-mounted units.

METSO Aggregates industry mainstay Metso is bringing a number of its latest innovations to CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020. The company will feature its new MX3 Crusher and a new “game-changing” lightweight truck body designed to haul more with less. For general contractors, Metso is also introducing a new mobile crushing and screening range, known as Nordtrack, which includes track-mounted crushers and screens, as well as track-mounted and wheel-mounted stacker conveyors designed for recycling, demolition and small quarries.

MINNICH MANUFACTURING An upgraded version of Minnich Manufacturing’s A4SCW with a new remote control will be on display at CONEXPO this March. The new remote communication system for the on-slab self-propelled wireless drill unit has joystick controls to direct the unit as well as a dust collection on/off switch to enhance safety and productivity. A new magnetic sensor boosts safety by not allowing the drill to travel if it’s not fully retracted.

PETTIBONE With production now underway, Pettibone will be showing off its new Traverse T1246X telehandler at the show the March. The third machine in the company’s X-Series lineup will be the only telehandler on the market with an extendable, traversing boom that moves loads by traveling horizontally, the company says. The new T1246X offers a maximum lift height of 46 feet, 6 inches and up to 12,000 pounds of lift capacity.

ROADTEC The RP-250 is a heavy-duty 10-foot (3-metre) paver that combines the advantages of tracks with the ease of a rubbertired paver. This large footprint, 250 hp machine has increased traction and flotation for a smooth ride. The large tires and adjustable frame provide ideal weight distribution and tractive effort. Steering is driven by the rear wheels, giving operators precise control. The frame raise ability allows operators to control and adjust the frame position as needed.

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STELLAR INDUSTRIES American Eagle, a Stellar Industries brand, is releasing a pair of new products at CONEXPO. The company is adding the new 40P air compressor. The hybrid reciprocating compressor pairs aluminum and cast steel to control weight, while producing a maximum CFM output of 40CFM and up to 150PSI air pressure. American Eagle is also expanding its line of Lubemate lube skids with a new aluminum skid that offers a 30 per cent weight reduction over its steel counterpart.

WACKER NEUSON Equipment manufacturer Wacker Neuson will be bringing its full line of construction equipment to North America’s biggest construction trade show this March. At its booth in the Festival lot, the company will be showcasing its traditional line, as well as new additions in the excavator, skid steer, wheel loader and dumpers categories. The latest in battery-operated, zero-emissions equipment will also be taking centre stage.

TAKEUCHI The TB235-2 compact hydraulic excavator provides Takeuchi with a 3.5 ton offering in this competitive market classification. With an operating weight of 7,474 pounds, a dig depth of 10 feet 7.7 inches, maximum reach of 17 feet 3 inches and breakout force of 9,127 pounds, the TB235 provides excellent working range and performance.

VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT The new 99-ton (198,400-pound) EC950F crawler excavator offers the perfect combination of power and efficiency to handle high production at a low cost per ton, Volvo Construction Equipment says. Equipped with a 603 hp engine, it delivers high torque at low rpm and can handle bucket capacity of up to 9.16 cubic yards. The EC950F comes with a lifetime frame and structure warranty and one year free of ActiveCare Direct in the U.S. and Canada.

WIRTGEN GROUP Nearly three dozen new machines, including 10 all-new pieces of equipment will be on display for the first time at the Wirtgen Group’s booth in Las Vegas this March. The company, which offers the Hamm, Kleemann, Vögele and Wirtgen brands, is keeping the details largely under wraps, adding just that its 30,000 sq. ft. booth in the Silver Lot will show off a range of groundbreaking solutions for road construction.

A CANADIAN CONNECTION

AMONG THE LONG LIST OF SPECIAL EVENTS AT CONEXPO 2020, CATERPILLAR IS HOSTING THE FINALS OF ITS GLOBAL OPERATOR CHALLENGE. NINE COMPETITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE FACING OFF TO SEE WHO HAS THE TALENT, FINESSE AND BIG-STAGE COMPSURE TO BE NAMED THE WORLD’S BEST. CANADA’S JAUS NEIGUM FROM MEDICINE HAT, ALTA., IS AMONG THE FINALISTS.

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SUCKING IT UP

Traditionalists coming around to opportunity in vacuum excavators

BY NATE HENDLEY

There are new machines, new technologies and, equally importantly, a new level of acceptance in construction circles when it comes to vacuum excavators. Truck- or trailer-mounted vacuum excavators blast high-pressure water or air through pipes into the ground to break up soil. When high-pressure water is used, the process is sometimes referred to as hydro excavation. Once soil has been loosened, a vacuum system suctions it into a debris tank.

Traditionally, vacuum excavators were used by construction firms for potholing purposes – that is, removing soil in a non-destructive fashion from underground utilities, such as buried cables and pipes. Increasingly, contractors are using vacuum excavators for applications beyond potholing, such as slot-trenching and foundation excavation. Regardless of the task they are used for, vacuum excavators offer versatility, as well as enhanced productivity and safety – all key factors driving the growing acceptance of such machines.

“For many contractors, previously their fleet was made up of dump trucks, hoes, excavators and dozers,” says Patrick McGee, director of sales for New York and Ontario with Joe Johnson Equipment, which sells Truvac vacuum excavators, among other products. “Now they are adding vacuum excavators in their fleet. It’s become a necessity for them [to be] able to safely locate underground utilities.”

The Truvac brand was founded by Vactor Manufacturing, which lays claim to having launched the first dedicated vacuum excavator in 1969. The brand has come a long way since then. Current Truvac vacuum excavator models include the Paradigm sub-compact, mid-sized Prodigy and the full-sized HXX line.

Other manufacturers are developing PHOTO: DITCH WITCH

new products for the category as well. Ditch Witch launched a new trailer-mounted vacuum excavator in late 2019 while Vermeer Corp. will be releasing the cuttingedge XR2 this year.

A replacement for the FX25, the Ditch Witch HX30G is a 31 horsepower gas model, with a 542 cubic feet per minute (CFM) blower and a water system that produces 4.2 gallons-per-minute (GPM) at 3,000 psi, says Chapman Hancock, Vacuum Excavation product manager at Ditch Witch. A jib boom is optional and the HX30G

can be fitted with a 500 or 800-gallon tank. “Many of the new features included on the HX30G follow our HX family of vacuum excavators that was introduced in 2018,” Hancock adds.

The Ditch Witch HX family includes the HX30, HX50 and HX75, which come with, respectively, 512 CFM, 1,005 CFM and 1,300 CFM blowers. The HX family are also equipped with new purpose-built VT trailers that offer a lower profile, greater clearance and narrower width than previous models.

The slimmed-down trailer design “allows

users to get in and out of height-restricted areas like right of ways with low hanging trees and navigate the rough terrain commonly encountered in right of ways,” Hancock says.

For its part, Vermeer unveiled the XR2 hydro vacuum excavator at the Industrial Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) held in Louisville, Ky. last fall. This machine features first-of-its-kind liquids/solids separation technology.

“The Vermeer XR2 vacuum excavator addresses a lot of the concerns and

on-sitemag.com / 45 limitations that utility contractors have with traditional vacuum excavators,” says Adam Bates, product manager at Vermeer. “For example, in Canada specifically, road weight restrictions have become a huge concern in recent years. Separating liquids and solids allows crews to maintain approximately the same weight leaving the job as when they showed up. The solid material can be stacked and then hauled away separately. It helps keep crews on the job longer digging holes.”

Vermeer’s industry-first separator is

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Come See Us in the Central Hall!

We invite you to stop by our GOMACO booth in the Central Hall at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020 to see what it means when we say, “Dedicated to Concrete – Dedicated to You”. GOMACO offers the full range of concrete slipform pavers, curb and gutter machines, placer/spreaders, texture/cure machines and bridge/canal finishing equipment. GOMACO equipment features our exclusive and proprietary G+ ® control system, created in-house by our software engineers from the wants and needs of contractors paving in the field. We’ll show you the new Navigator controller with a 10-inch touchscreen that allows ground personnel to simply control and view all attachments from one location. We are also introducing our new high-production system for the C-450 cylinder finisher for bridge decks and flat slabs. At the heart of GOMACO equipment is our passion for concrete and our commitment to our customers. We look forward to visiting with you about your upcoming paving projects and your concrete paving equipment needs.

a particularly significant development as high-pressure water (hydro) excavation tends to be more popular in Canada.

“In a more northerly climate, it is still primarily water excavation,” McGee says. “The reason for that is, water works quite well in frozen ground conditions and rocky ground conditions whereas air is very much limited. Air does have certain applications, particularly where there’s a need not to remove the soil from site.”

Vermeer’s XR2 also has a “unique” power takeoff (PTO) feature that lets it to easily draw power from the truck with the touch of a button, Bates says. “Crews no longer need to manually disengage and reengage the gearbox every time the vacuum excavator is repositioned.”

Such features, plus the XR2’s 1,500- gallon (5,678.1-liter) freshwater volume are designed to help contractors operate more efficiently in potholing, stitch boring, slot trenching and general construction applications, Bates adds.

The VXT8 Mega Vac is another Vermeer release. The VXT8 has an eight-yard spoil

“I’ve had the comment from the general manager and fleet manager of construction companies that [a vacuum excavator] has become the busiest piece of equipment in their fleet.” – Patrick McGee, Joe Johnson Equipment

tank capacity, can carry a maximum of 800 gallons of freshwater and is also equipped with PTO capability.

One of the reasons for the increasingly mainstream appeal of vacuum excavators is safety. Vacuum excavation is far less hazardous than traditional excavation methods when it comes to applications such as potholing.

“With more and more utilities being buried, utility strikes are a major concern for construction companies... Crews can expose utilities using other digging methods, but there is a greater risk of striking the line they are trying to expose when using shovels, excavators or backhoes,” Bates says.

If contractors initially purchase vacuum excavators for safety reasons, they soon appreciate the machine for its productivity, McGee says. “I’ve had the comment from the general manager and fleet manager of construction companies that this has become the busiest piece of equipment in their fleet.”

This is because vacs allow contractors to do some jobs that they couldn’t accomplish with hand-digging.

“An example of that would be repairing a water service to a home,” McGee says. “With vacuum excavation you can do it with a hole that’s 20 inches across as opposed to, if you had it done by a hand-dig, it would be six feet across and remediation costs would have been much, much higher.” Vacuum excavators can also handle smaller excavations in confined areas, which

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are very problematic with traditional means. “If you can imagine a tight spot where you get three feet between two buildings, you’re certainly not walking a tracked excavator in there. You can easily excavate with a vac excavator in that sort of application,” McGee adds.

The multi-functionality of vacuum excavators also underlines their growing popularity, Hancock notes.

“If I had to describe vacuum excavation in one word, it would be versatile,” he says. “Our customers are always finding new ways to put these machines to work everyday. We’re seeing some usage growth in the landscape and arborist industries.”

“Every time we think we’ve seen it all, a customer develops a new application based on a specific job they have,” McGee echoes. “They tend to be niche applications… say, general contractors doing foundation excavation. Things like that. It’s really only limited by the imagination of the managers of the company.”

Still, the most popular use for Ditch Witch vacs remains potholing, Hancock says.

“This can be for utility mapping or exposing utilities prior to the installation of a new utility,” he says. “The second most

48 / FEBRUARY 2020 popular use would be for HDD (horizontal directional drilling) support. Hauling off HDD drilling mud and job clean up is very important to our HDD customers.”

While the technology is still relatively new, vacuum excavators have made enormous technical strides in a short period of time.

“Just in the last 10 years, we have seen blower technology increase and become more efficient,” Hancock says. “Digging nozzle technology has come a long way, as well. Early nozzles focused on shooting water out at the highest rate possible, but those days are over. Nozzles can now spray in various patterns, in constant motion and in differing psi. Vacuum excavators are more efficient than ever, both in digging effectiveness and water conservation efforts, allowing vacuum excavators to be more productive on the job.”

The high-tech trend continues as customers clamour for features such as GPS, telematics, booms and remote controls for operators.

“Booms are becoming very popular,” Hancock says, pointing out that Ditch Witch has two boom offerings. “One is our six-way hydraulic boom and the other is our articulating jib boom. The articulat

ing jib boom was a way for us to provide our customers a less expensive way to reduce the strain of carrying the vac hose. Customers are also taking advantage of heaters for hydro excavation. Similar to using a hot water-power washer to clean clay and sticky soils off equipment, hydro excavators equipped with heaters are capable of increasing production by breaking down the soil and being more effective in harder soil conditions.”

For his part, McGee praises Vactor’s patented DigRight water system, which gives hydro vav operators the ability to select water pressure at the push of a button.

As featured on Truvac machines, the DigRight system allows for “precise control over the waterflow so as not to damage any utilities,” McGee says.

Given such strides, McGee predicts that vacuum excavators will soon become a construction site staple.

“It’s not going to replace the tracked excavator. It’s not going to replace the bulldozer. It’s a surgical tool that allows for maximum productivity for jobs that require precision… It will be interesting to watch over the next five years as it becomes part of virtually every construction operation,” he says.