April 2021 Vol. 76 No. 4
New Products
New Products
Portacool Hazardous Location Evaporative Coolers Aid Heat-Stress Prevention
Portacool Hazardous Location evaporative coolers provide cooling to aid heat stress prevention, ensuring workers in high-heat environments, where combustibles are a concern, don’t have to sacrifice comfort and safety because of where they work.
The coolers are ETL Certified for use in Class I, Division 2, Groups C & D and come equipped with innovative Kuul Comfort with FirePro technology – a flame retardant media designed to UL900 standards.
Additionally, all switches, cords, motors and pumps are sealed in UL-listed products, making them intrinsically safe. Available in two sizes, the coolers are also spark-resistant; blow cool air, versus the hot, stagnant air of standard fans; work in areas with open doors; and roll where they are needed.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Portacool, LLC, (800) 695-2942, portacool.com
Volvo CE Expands Wheeled Excavator Lineup
Volvo Construction Equipment launched its ninth wheeled excavator. EWR130E has the shortest swing radius in the mid-size (12- to 13-ton) range – rear swing of 5 feet 1 inch and front swing of 5 feet 11 inches.
When coupled with new four-wheel steering and in-line outrigger options, the result is a machine that is easy to control and stable, without compromising on lifting performance or digging force.
The new EWR130 is ideal for urban jobs where frequent roading is required, and in confined job sites or on roads where traffic safety is paramount. It’s also light enough to use on landscaping projects.
The excavator has a considerably lower center of gravity compared to equivalent machines, which adds to its stability. A new divided blade option provides additional levelling on uneven ground or around curbs.
The standard two-piece boom enables lifting up to 9,480 pounds (4.3t tons) at a 19.7-foot (6-meter) reach. Its smart design, combined with the 121-horsepower (90 kW) D4J Volvo engine, delivers best-in-class breakout force and superior tear-out force.
One of the EWR130’s most convenient features is its ability to drive from one job site area to another at speeds of up to 22 miles per hour. Furthermore, a Boom Suspension System engages at speeds above 3 miles per hour to absorb shocks and reduce bouncing when hauling material over rough terrain.
The EWR130E with tow hitch can pull a trailer weighing 6,600 pounds – or 17,600 pounds – when fitted with additional overrun brakes. In situations when driving is not practical, the machine’s low height and optimized tie-down points on the lower frame make transportation fast and easy.
Additionally, the EWR130 includes the optional Volvo Dig Assist machine control system, offering In-Field Design, 3D excavation software and new On-Board Weighing apps, all displayed on the 10-inch Volvo Co-Pilot tablet.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Volvo Construction Equipment North America, (855) 235-6014, volvoce.com
Vermeer Adds Roller Cone Hole Openers to HDD Tooling Line
Vermeer roller cone hole openers are available in diameters of 8 inches to 24 inches (20–61 centimeters) in 2-inch (5-centimeter) increments and with a range of customizable options.
Built for quality and performance, Vermeer roller cone hole openers feature cutters that are built specifically for this application.
“The cutters are not rebuilt or recycled from Tricone pilot bits,” explained Jason Zylstra, Vermeer lifecycle product manager, “The cutters also feature metal-faced seals similar in style to what you’d find on a dozer or excavator, rather than conventional rubber seals. These seals add durability to the cutters as they maximize the wear life in gritty conditions.”
They are also built with a precision machining manufacturing process that allows the tool to have equal loading on each cutter.
“Combining two machined surfaces — the cutter and the body — gives the tool concentricity, which maximizes the life of the tool by evenly distributing the wear,” said Zylstra.
With a wide range of sizes and centralizer options, as well as two different cutter options for hard and medium hard rock and a multitude of customizable options, these roller cone hole openers are equipped to meet the specific needs of any job site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Vermeer Corporation, (641) 628-3141, vermeer.com
Put the Squeeze on PE
with REED Bear Hug
REED Manufacturing’s Bear Hug polyethylene (PE) squeeze tool system, with hydraulic cylinders, is lighter and offers an industry-leading 83,400 pounds of squeeze force.
For squeeze control, choose from an air-over hydraulic pump (PESAPA) or manual hand pump (PESMPA) to work with the PES8BT base tool.
Compact and lightweight, at 175 pounds – almost 100 pounds less than comparable models – PES8BT can be lifted into position with its oversized U-bolt. A double-acting system both squeezes and releases with a hydraulic pump – no more reliance on internal springs for retraction is needed. This makes is safer, as it lessens any chance of pipe damage. A bottom swing-out bar with latch allows for simple pipe enclosure.
Bear Hug also provides more secure flow stoppage. Two sets of color-coded pipe stops are included to increase visibility and help the operator quickly confirm stops are set properly. Pipe centering arrows aid in alignment. The PES8BT base tool includes stops for 3- to 8-inch PE pipe in common DR sizes for North America pipe sizes. For safety, there are grounding device installation spots.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Reed Manufacturing, (800) 666-3691,
reedmfgco.com
New Ditch Witch JT28 Drill Increases Power, Productivity
To help horizontal directional drill (HDD) contractors improve performance on fiber utility installation projects and other projects within compact job sites, Ditch Witch launched the JT28 directional drill. An upgraded replacement for the JT25 drill, JT28 maintains its mid-size footprint while providing more power, improving performance and requiring fewer maintenance checks.
The JT28 features an exclusive rotational drive system with 4,200 ft-lb of torque and 28,000 pounds of thrust and pullback. This provides the strength and reliability necessary for installation projects up to 12 inches in diameter and at lengths of up to 550 feet.
With a 130-horsepower, Tier 4 Cummins diesel engine – the most powerful in its class – the drill is effective across a variety of jobsites, from pipe and cable installation to larger utilities like water, gas and sewer.
The JT28 is designed to increase operator efficiency with daily maintenance points in one easy-to-access location and no daily grease zerks. With simplified maintenance and system controls, operators can minimize upkeep and downtime, and spend their time where it really matters – on the job site.
The machine’s modern design enhances operator comfort and ease-of-use, following the same evolution seen in the latest Ditch Witch directional drills.
“We are always innovating our equipment to meet the needs of today’s HDD contractors,” said Cory Maker, Ditch Witch HDD product manager. “The JT28 was designed based on direct customer feedback, created to take everything our customers loved about the JT25 and up the ante with unbeatable power and exceptional productivity.
“The result is a durable and low-maintenance machine that will help keep operators productive and improve job-site performance.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Ditch Witch, (580) 336-4402, ditchwitch.com
Caterpillar
cat.com
Caterpillar introduced new “Next Gen” excavators offering dependable performance and efficiency.
Two compact-radius excavators are ideal for space-restricted rental, municipal and general all-around excavating applications.
The 315 GC15-ton model boasts up to 25-percent lower maintenance costs and up to 15-percent less fuel consumption, compared to the 315F model.
Delivering high ambient-temperature operation capability, reaching 125 degrees Fahrenheit, its new fuel-efficient Cat C3.6 engine meets stringent U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage V emission standards.
Two operating modes optimize 315 GC’s performance: Smart automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to digging conditions and
ECO saves fuel in less-demanding applications.
A new main hydraulic control valve eliminates the need for pilot lines, and the excavator’s advanced hydraulic system balances the need for power and efficiency to deliver precise digging.
In the 35-ton class, the 335 hydraulic, compact-radius excavator delivers the tightest tail swing radius in the industry for enhanced maneuverability in limited spaces, such as road projects with lane closures, and next to buildings.
Field-proven worldwide for reliable operation, the Cat C7.1 engine meets the most-stringent emissions standards with a no-maintenance after-treatment system.
Three selectable operating modes – Power, which constantly provides maximum power and productivity for the most-demanding projects, in addition to Smart and Eco – with one-touch low idle, help reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 percent.
Standard engine configuration offers high ambient temperature operating capacity of 126 degrees Fahrenheit, cold start capability of 0 degrees Fahrenheit and 15,090-foot altitude capability.
The 17-ton class 317 and 317 GC excavators deliver up to 45-percent greater efficiencies and up to 20-percent less maintenance costs.
With the same three engine operating modes as 335 – Smart, ECO and Power – available, these models match performance to the job.
They are also similar to the 315, sharing its responsive hydraulic system, and having a main valve control that eliminates the need for pilot lines.
Both these models come standard with new Cat Advansys bucket tips, which offer increased life, excellent retention and fast changes to maximize uptime on the job.
The M316 wheeled excavator gets the job done faster, with up to 14-percent more swing torque, while auxiliary hydraulic options deliver the power and versatility to efficiently use a wide range of Cat attachments. A high travel speed, of up to 21.7 miles per hour, allows it to quickly travel between job sites, so it spends more time working.
It’s also versatile in terms of the projects it tackles – ranging from utility work, to general excavating, to trenching – whether in the dirt or on asphalt surfaces. A dedicated swing pump provides consistent power to the machine for improved multitasking capabilities.
The Cat C4.4 engine enables the M316 to complete tasks in multiple markets with its standard high-ambient temperature capability of 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius) and low cold-start capability of 0 degrees Fahrenheit ( -18 degrees Celsius). The fuel-efficient 148-horsepower engine meets stringent EU Stage V, U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final and Korea Tier 4 Final emission standards.
Red Tail LIDAR Systems
redtaillidar.com
RedTail LiDAR Systems’ 3D representations are increasingly being deployed on unmanned aerial vehicles for mapping purposes, including energy sector corridor monitoring (oil and gas, powerlines), construction planning and environmental restoration.
The company’s detailed LiDAR imagery, for example, was used to generate “as built” conditions of a steep ravine to aid in long-term monitoring of the slopes under which a natural gas pipeline was buried.
Particularly concerning was a narrow road traversing the top of the ravine, through which the pipeline was installed. Road instability could potentially result in a long and deadly tumble of a vehicle to the bottom of the ravine. In addition, loss of vegetation along the buried pipeline’s path makes the area especially susceptible to slides after heavy rainfall.
RTL-400’s high-resolution point cloud data of the 13-acre ravine area was captured in 10 minutes – a task that would have taken surveyors several days to complete with far fewer reference points provided for analysis. The resulting “as built” digital elevation model (DEM) can be compared to future DEMs to determine if any changes have occurred in the slope’s topology, helping to identify hazards and provide input for slip mitigation.
Doosan Infracore
doosanequipment.com
Doosan Infracore North America has expanded its excavator lineup with its largest model yet. DX800LC-7 is well-suited for heavy construction and infrastructure work, excavating, stockpiling or loading large amounts of material, as well as for pit and quarry customers. The powerful machine makes these tasks go much faster.
Emphasizing power, durability and reliability, DX800LC-7’s unique double-boom foot design improves stress distribution to reduce single-side wear and maintain machine uptime. It also allows customers to more easily assemble or disassemble the boom for transportation.
Three excavator arm options – standard, long and mass-excavation – match the machine to the job, so it doesn’t waste power. All three configurations include a heavy-duty front design with additional reinforcement on key stress points.
The exclusive D-ECOPOWER system helps to improve productivity and save fuel. The hydraulic system precisely controls oil flow and optimizes the engine’s available horsepower.
Farwest Corrosion Control
farwestcorrosion.com
Farwest Corrosion Control Company’s new Ref-Check VPR (voltage potential restoration) test instrument takes accurate voltage potential or structure-to-soil readings, despite conditions that would otherwise produce inaccurate readings and require the costly replacement of aging cathodic protection reference electrodes (CPREs).
“While corrosion has been around as long as we have been using steel to transfer water, gas and like substances, the methods to measure and mitigate corrosion levels have improved,” said Troy Rankin, president of Farwest. “The Ref-Check VPR takes
this to a new level."
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