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Case launches new dozer line
At a special media event at its Tomahawk, Wis., facility, Case Construction Equipment introduced a new M Series line of dozers. The new product line includes five models ranging from 92 to 214 net horsepower. The largest model, the 2050M, is sized for the aggregates/mining market, and begins shipping in December. Pit & Quarry was on hand for the unveiling, where editors from the industry trade press had an opportunity to operate the new offerings. The new M Series dozers were designed from the ground up and take into account extensive customer research, including testing and feedback related to durability, productivity, controls, comfort and serviceability. The company says the key features on M Series dozers include best-in-class drawbar pull, increased horsepower ratings, the first selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology built into a dozer, fuel savings up to 14 percent, improved visibility and a pressurized cab for optimal comfort. The new models include the 750M (92 hp), 850M (112 hp), 1150M (127 hp), 1650M (150 hp), and 2050M (214 hp). New… Keep Reading
Swimming hole
I’ve seen mined-out quarries used in a variety of ways—from office parks to shopping centers to golf courses. But, until now, not for use as an upscale backyard swimming pool. Perhaps you’ve seen it on TV or you’ve watched the CNN Money video that has been making it’s way around the Internet. The website Spaces reports that the pool is built into a Berkshires limestone quarry in Sheffield, Mass., on 50 acres owned by Joel Goldstein. Goldstein greatly improved and beautified the property, but the transformation of the quarry into a pool was the previous owner’s project. Aqua Pool & Patio, a Connecticut-based family business, built the pool. Michael Giannamore, vice president of Aqua Pool, says the property was buried in the woods and the previous owner bought it because she wanted a “swimming hole” at the site of the quarry. Spaces cites Giannamore as saying the owner “imposed no budget whatsoever,” and wanted to keep the quarry as intact as possible. That, Giannamore says, ruled out the easiest transformation… Keep Reading
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens hold dealer conference
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens hosted more than 60 authorized North American dealers at their annual National Dealer Conference (NDC), held Sept. 16-19 in Eugene, Ore. Each year, KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens launch new products and sales tools for their dealers during the National Dealer Conference. This year, the companies launched seven new pieces of equipment, including the new generation SuperStacker, GT125 jaw crusher, GT145S screen plant, GT165DF screen plant, Kodiak Plus K500+ cone crusher, Series 9000 dewatering screen and high frequency screen for the industrial sands market. In addition to its new product launches, KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens also unveiled a new dealer-only app called “IronCaddy,” which enables authorized dealers to access information about the five product lines. Each dealership received a new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 to use for sales support and education. Melinda Schweitzer, marketing manager for KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens, said this valuable new digital tool will allow dealers to have the latest information at their fingertips, while helping them maximize application and… Keep Reading
Own a drone?
Not just for the military anymore, now just about any business, including your aggregates operation, can own its own drone. Lehmann Aviation offers the LA300, a new automatic drone for aerial photos and video, and it's targeted to the mining and construction industries. The company says the fully automatic drone requires no piloting skills or training. Just program the flight path on any Windows 8 tablet by drawing the area of interest on the touchscreen, transmit the data to the drone via Wi-Fi and launch it by hand. After a flight of up to 30 minutes, the aerial robot will automatically land in a chosen location. Having messed around with model rockets as a kid, the LA300 intrigues me. And it's a far cry from the tiny propeller airplane engines of our youth that we tried to crank start without losing a finger. Lehmann Aviation says the LA300 flies at a range of up to nine miles, at speeds of 12 to 50 mph. It can be flown in temperature… Keep Reading
‘Pothole Robin Hood’
The infrastructure of the United States is deteriorating, and there are signs that the public is beginning to take notice. I see more and more stories in the mainstream media about the need for infrastructure improvements. My favorite was about a guy in Mississippi who has been called “Pothole Robin Hood.” Instead of stealing from the rich, this doer of good deeds steals asphalt from the city of Jackson, Miss., and uses it to fill potholes. So he’s basically providing volunteer road-repair labor. After filling each hole, he spray-paints a big note next to it on the street to announce it was “Citizen Fixed.” Perhaps it’s worth putting up with this graffiti in that it draws the public’s attention to the poor state of roadways and the need for a more permanent fix. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that $170 billion in capital investment would be needed on an annual basis to significantly improve the condition of the nation’s roadways. But Congress’s recent inability to compromise on a farm bill… Keep Reading
John Deere demos new offerings
John Deere hosted a Coal Valley Rally last week in the Quad Cities area of Illinois and Iowa. More than two dozen journalists attended the event, where we learned about the company's new E-Series skid steers and compact track loaders, and the 644K Hybrid wheel loader. Activities included a tour of the John Deere Davenport Works in Davenport, Iowa, a visit to John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Ill., and various equipment demonstrations at the company's Coal Valley, Ill., training facility. Journalists also had an opportunity to operate the equipment, where I was able to feel the power and efficiency of the 644K Hybrid. The 664K Hybrid has an operating weight of 40,000 lbs., and features a 4.75-cu.-yd. bucket. With its six-cylinder engine running at a constant rpm, the unit runs quieter than the conventional 644K model, and operates on 25 percent less fuel, the company says. Operating the loader at 1,500 rpm (or lower) instead of the default 1,800 rpm results in even more fuel savings. I tried it at… Keep Reading
Damage control
Just about every summer, my wife and I spend time at the Jersey Shore. She grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania, and my first job out of college was in Philadelphia, so the shore is a familiar, happy spot for us both. We watched the news with interest last fall when Hurricane Sandy swept through the area, causing devastation all along the East Coast. Damage estimates are reportedly about $50 billion, and much of that money is finding its way to the aggregates industry, as building materials have been needed for homes, businesses, infrastructure and even the repair and future prevention of beach erosion. This spring, 100 haul trucks rolled through Fort Lauderdale, Fla., each day in a $1.5-million beach-restoration project. The Sun Sentinel reports that the material was supplied by Eastman Aggregate Enterprises and hauled from a site west of Lake Okeechobee. More than 20,000 cu. yd. of sand was used. And even larger beach-restoration projects are being reported along the coast. More recently, tornadoes in Oklahoma devastated the town… Keep Reading
SKF holds Technical Press Day
SKF USA hosted more than 30 industry journalists at its 2013 Technical Press Day in Highland Heights, Ohio. It was the company's 10th such event, and included a variety of presentations and a tour of the SKF Cleveland-area factory. Poul Jeppesen, president and CEO, SKF USA, gave opening remarks, and Jon Stevens, vice president, moderated the event. Andy Hoy, the company's North American director of the SKF Machine Health Reporting Program (MHRP), spoke about the program, which uses a vibration data collector to allow plant personal to easily collect data on machine health. The program has a 98-percent renewal rate with clients, Hoy says. Other topics covered included SKF Insight self-reporting technology and machinery lubrication. Keep Reading
W.S. Tyler launches 4-ft.-wide double eccentric screen
W.S. Tyler introduced a 4-ft.-wide version of its F-Class vibrating screen. Owing to its consistent G-Force, the F-Class is designed to reduce blinding and pegging, even when screening sticky material. The innovative screening system is now available in widths ranging from 4 ft. to 10 ft., providing double eccentric screening solutions to any size operation requiring minimal vibration transmission. The F-Class features an advanced eccentric shaft design, supported by four high-performance, double spherical roller bearings. The double eccentric shaft creates a constant positive stroke that handles material volume spikes without losing momentum. As the eccentric shaft turns, the screen body is forced to follow the shaft movement. While it travels upward, the counterbalance weights move in the opposite direction and create an equal force. As a result, the forces cancel each other, and the result is a dynamically balanced system that transmits minimal to no vibrations into the structure. This allows operations to place multiple screens side by side while minimizing their investments into heavy structures. Furthermore, the design keeps… Keep Reading
