Concrete Ideas

Just as the entertainment industry has its awards season, the construction industry has its tradeshow season where manufacturers roll out new products and equipment aimed to make contractors more productive. Utility Contractor Editors Keith Gribbins and Kelly Pickerel ventured out West to this year’s World of Concrete, where more than 1,300 exhibitors showcased new machines, software and tools. Here’s just a sampling of the innovative products (all from NUCA National Partners) they took in at the show.

John Deere

E-Series Skid Steers and Track Loaders

The new E-Series line of skid steer loaders and compact track loaders (CTLs) from John Deere features enhancements and improvements that were developed after extensive input from customers. The new line includes five skid steer models and four new compact track loaders, each with Tier 4 Interim (Tier 4i) or Tier 4 Final (Tier 4f) engines and several improvements designed to enhance operator and machine productivity. The improvements made to the E-Series skid steers and CTLs are the result of extensive market research and John Deere’s Customer Advisory Group (CAG) process, which solicits input and ideas from customers. For the E-Series, customer input largely dealt with areas of the machines that improve on uptime, productivity and lower daily operating costs.

Cat

450F Backhoe Loader

The new four-wheel-drive Cat 450F backhoe loader center pivot complements the durability, reliability and lifting performance of its 450E predecessor with a more efficient overall design, including more horsepower, electronic control of the hydraulic system, serviceability improvements and added operator comfort and convenience. Powered by a Cat C4.4 ACERT engine meeting Tier 4i emission standards, the 450F also retains the 450E’s unrivaled versatility, available with a hydraulic thumb, pin-puller-type coupler and a range of compatible work tools, including buckets with integral forks, hammers and plate compactors. The machine will be available during the second quarter of 2013.

Wacker Neuson

803 Mini Excavator

Wacker Neuson’s new mini excavator is the smallest in the company’s growing line of compact equipment. The 803 is a 0.8-ton mini excavator designed for digging and demolition applications in tight spaces. At just 27.5-in. wide, this compact machine fits through standard doorways — making it perfect for interior applications. The 803 comes standard with rubber tracks ideal for driving on interior floors and the foldable ROPS reduces the machine height for even more accessibility. The unique ROPS design takes user comfort to the next level by adding an optional debris guard between the work-group and operator station, making demolition applications an easier task.

Dexter + Chaney

Spectrum Project Management Software

Dexter + Chaney’s Spectrum Project Management is available as part of the suite of applications that comprise its Spectrum Construction Software product line. Spectrum Project Management is cloud-based, requiring no software downloads and is accessible from any device with a web browser. “Users simply launch a web browser from anywhere they’re working to access all of the features and functionality of the software,” explained John Chaney, Dexter + Chaney Co-founder and President. The Spectrum Project Management application covers numerous project management functions, including job cost and progress reporting, project logging, submittal and RFI tracking, and project document storage and sharing.

Doosan

G25 Mobile Generator

The Doosan G25 is the smallest mobile generator in the Doosan lineup and meets the EPA’s current standards for mobile, off-highway, diesel-powered equipment with a Mitsubishi Tier 4i engine. The robust, fuel efficient and emissions compliant engine ensures maximum uptime and low cost of ownership. A Leroy Somer alternator features AREP excitation which provides for enhanced motor starting capability and voltage stability. The innovative airflow design of the G25 maximizes the operating temperature and minimizes water ingression. In addition, the G25 generator has a low sound level of 66 dBA to ensure quiet operation. The 40-gallon fuel tank assures a run-time of 19 hours at 100 percent load for maximum production.