Author: lbutkovic

Doosan Portable Power has included Central Diesel Inc. of Richmond, Va., as an authorized retail dealer of its Ingersoll Rand-branded line of mobile generators and light towers for the central and Tidewater regions of Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

Central Diesel is a full-service company specializing in fuel injection and diesel engine systems. The company was founded in 1972 by Martin Wittersheim and services the marine, construction, mining, rental and industrial markets, as well as the military and government agencies. Central Diesel provides sales and support of diesel engines from five to 5,000 horsepower. The addition of mobile generators complements the company’s portfolio and positions Central Diesel as a solutions provider for its current customer base.

“We wanted a proven product for our customers,” said Bill Oehlschlager, president of Central Diesel Inc. “We looked for a brand of generators with an excellent reputation and long history for quality products, leading us to Doosan Portable Power. We believe in long lasting relationships with our customers and will only sell and service quality products that enhance our business relationships.”

Central Diesel will offer the 10 models of mobile generators from Doosan Portable Power ranging from 25 kVA to 570 kVA. All models are suited for use in construction, rental and specialty applications, with features that include a rugged enclosure ensuring noise levels as low as 66 dB(A), and an innovative environmental containment system that can contain and prevent spillage of 110 percent of all fuel, oil and coolant volume.

“We are pleased that Central Diesel recognizes Doosan Portable Power as a leader in the generator market, and we will provide full support in their efforts to expand into power generation,” said Rita Moore, director of sales, North America, Doosan Portable Power.

Please visit Doosan Portable Power's website for more information. You can also follow the company on Twitter and become their Facebook fan.

The Robert A. Young building in St. Louis, Mo. has been standing for nearly 80 years, but it is the first construction site in the U.S. that has been designated 100 percent AWPT-trained. AWPT (American Work Platform Training) is the North American subsidiary of IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) that manages the training program in the North American market.

AWPT-trained employees from access specialists Goedecke planned the 20-story building project. AWPT-trained installers erected the mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs). AWPT-certified instructor, Bobby Reese from Mastclimbers LLC, trained 56 employees of contractor Superior Waterproofing as the first MCWP operators to hold the PAL Card (Powered Access Licensed-Registration).

The building was originally built in 1931 as a railroad warehouse and is being restored and repaired. Acquired by the federal government in 1941, the building is now eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. It houses many government departments, including the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

MCWP operator training is new for the industry and is composed of modules that cover regulations, safe use, daily and weekly inspections, practical use, and understanding of operating instructions and load charts. After being trained, an operator needs to be familiarized on the site-specific MCWP that he or she is going to use.

“The new operator card will make the MCWP industry in the U.S. a lot safer in all aspects,” said Kevin O’Shea of Mastclimbers LLC, who is also chairman of IPAF’s International Mast Climbing Work Platform Committee. O’Shea was instrumental in starting up the new MCWP operator course.

MCWP training covers the categories: Operator, Demonstrator, Installer, Advanced Installer and Instructor. Successful completion of training leads to the award of the PAL Card as proof of training. The PAL Card is recognized by the Scaffold Industry Association (SIA), which also offers the MCWP training program through SIA accredited training institutes.

For more information, visit the IPAF website.

Darr Equipment Co. hops on to JCB’s North American dealer network to offer equipment and services to Texas and Oklahoma. A fourth generation, family-owned and operated company with locations in Texas and Oklahoma, Darr Equipment Co. provides new and used equipment sales and rentals to the materials handling industry along with 24-hour parts and service. According to Robert Engstrom, general sales manager for Darr Equipment Co., aligning with JCB was the right fit for his organization.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to grow,” Engstrom explained. “Since our company was established, we’ve associated with top-quality manufacturers who produce top-quality products, and we believe JCB fits this mold. There’s tremendous opportunity for JCB in our market.”

Founded by the late Hal Darr in 1954, Darr Equipment Co. started with 76 employees and three stores in Gladewater, Texas, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Irving, Texas. Throughout its history, the company has supported the construction of dams and reservoirs, major sports facilities, bridges, airports, highways and coal mines throughout northeast Texas and Oklahoma. Currently, Darr Equipment Co. employs over 200 people across its eight branch locations in the northeast Texas and Oklahoma area, a region touted as one of the top five markets for construction and industrial equipment in the United States. Darr Equipment Co.’s Texas locations are now up and running as JCB dealers, with the company’s Oklahoma dealerships to follow suit during the third quarter of 2010.

“JCB is very pleased to bring a quality dealer like Darr Equipment Co. on board,” said John Patterson, chairman for JCB North America. “Over the years, its staff has built an outstanding reputation for providing quality sales and service, and I have no doubt that they will be excellent ambassadors for JCB.”

In an area flooded with quality competition, Darr Equipment Co. sets itself apart by taking its after-market support to the next level. The company believes it provides the best parts, service, sales and rental support in its market thanks to a hardworking staff of tenured industry experts. Darr Equipment Co.’s focus on quality people, equipment and service is also at the root of its number one business objective in the months and years ahead.

“We plan to grow the Darr/JCB brand into the leading supplier of construction products and related services in the northeast Texas and Oklahoma markets,” Engstrom said. “JCB’s pioneering track record combined with its global market share offers instant credibility. Even more importantly, JCB views its dealer partners as integral and necessary components to its overall success, and we at Darr Equipment Co. feel that same level of mutual respect.”
 
To learn more about Darr Equipment Co., visit www.darrequipment.com or call its headquarters office in Southlake, Tex. at 800-964-5438. For more information about JCB’s industry-leading equipment for the construction, agriculture, industrial and waste/recycling markets, or to find a dealer near you, call JCB’s North American headquarters in Savannah at (912) 447-2000 or visit www.jcbna.com.

Ahearn Equipment Inc. joins forces with Terex to distribute the full line of Terex compact equipment, including compact track loaders, compact excavators, compact wheel loaders, site dumpers, tractor loader backhoes, light towers, telehandlers, compaction rollers and tracked utility vehicles. Founded in 1977 as a local agricultural equipment dealership, Ahearn has since focused on landscaping and consumer markets with compact construction equipment. Ahearn offers new and used equipment, parts and services, and houses a NAPA Auto Parts store.

“Ahearn Equipment has a longstanding customer-focused reputation,” said Del Carver, area director of North America Compact Equipment. “We are excited to welcome Ahearn Equipment to our expanding distribution network of Terex compact equipment distributors in North America.”

With more than 45 unique product models, the Terex compact equipment line offers one of the widest ranges of compact equipment available from a single manufacturer, giving contractors numerous options for their equipment investment.

“We’re excited to team up with a brand that has the funding and ability to be a major player as a compact construction company,” said Josh Ahearn, director of sales and marketing at Ahearn Equipment. “This is a great step for our company to provide a solid foundation for additional future growth as we provide our customers the equipment choices they need.”

Ahearn Equipment, Inc., also offers financing options for its Terex® compact equipment line through Terex Financial Services. Terex Financial Services offers a wide range of effective finance and leasing solutions, structured to complement customers’ cash flow and budgets. The Terex Financial Services team assists in all areas of asset management, from the analysis of future equipment values through the disposal of used equipment.

For more information about Ahearn Equipment Inc. go to www.ahearnequipement.com

... A challange has been issued... for the world's best welders.

At the Miller Electrig Mfg. Co's 5th annual Welding Project Challenge, the industry's most accomplished welders will be honored with a test of competition. Contestants will submit a project in one of the three categories -- easy, moderate or difficult. Judges will select two finalists from each category based on the project’s creativity, quality of presentation and craftsmanship. Each finalist wins an ArcStation 30SX welding workbench, an Arc Armor Welding Protection Package and an all-expense-paid trip to Miller’s headquarters in Appleton, Wis.   

Finalists will receive a tour of Miller’s headquarters and compete head-to-head to build a project, selected by Miller, within a set time period. Miller will supply all materials and tools for the Welding Showdown. 

The grand prize winner in each category wins their choice of a Millermatic 211 Auto-Set with MVP MIG welder with a Spoolmate 100 spool gun, a Diversion 180 TIG welding package or a Spectrum 375 X-TREME plasma cutter. Entries are due by August 10, 2010. For information on contest rules and how to enter, visit the Miller Showdown website.

We're all trying to be more sustainable these days -- particularly when it comes to emissions. There are a few options to consider when it comes to retrofitting your equipment to lower a diesel engine’s particulate matter (PM) emissions to help comply with regulations, bid specifications or other emissions requirements, and it can pay to do a little research. One popular retrofit option: installing a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

First, retrofitting with DPFs isn’t an option for all non-road diesel engines. Generally, Tier 0 and Tier 1 engines have PM levels that are too high for a DPF to be effective; however, DPFs can reduce PM on Tier 2 and Tier 3 engines.

Second, it’s important to understand the role a DPF will play on Tier 2 and above-powered equipment. A DPF will not make a Tier 2 engine into a higher tier-certified product like Tier 3 or Tier 4. Rather, the filter may qualify as a “best available control technology” or meet other emissions requirements asked of a contractor.

Further, the DPF may help a contractor reduce the PM levels of his or her entire equipment fleet. Understanding the impact of retrofit on the entire fleet is important because California has adopted a regulation intended to reduce PM and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions on construction equipment on the basis of a “fleet average.” The fleet average is an overall emissions profile for a fleet.

While California has temporarily postponed this regulation for economic and other reasons, the state may reinstate its fleet average approach in the future. Additionally, other states may follow California’s example and enact similar fleet rules to reduce PM and NOx emissions from fleets with older, higher-emitting engines.

Where can you get a DPF and quality installation?
A number of companies offer aftermarket DPFs, including equipment manufacturers. John Deere is currently working with a company called NETT to manufacture retrofit devices specifically for Deere equipment. These devices install under the hood to preserve visibility from the operator station. John Deere hopes to make them available later this year from its dealers for a select range of machines and expand the line over time.

United Rentals extends its consecutive three-year partnership to a fourth with ABC's Emmy award-winning TV show 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,' which renovates homes for families direly needing a fix-up in seven days. Crews will begin reconstructing homes this month for its eighth season, which will air in September.

'Extreme Makeover' relies on local contractors and community volunteers to build a house in a such a short period of time. United Rentals' mobilizes the resources of more than 550 branches, a key benefit to Extreme Makeover as the show travels across the country.

"We are very pleased to once again support Extreme Makeover in raising the profile of volunteerism in America," said Michael Kneeland, CEO of United Rentals. "Our employees take this partnership to heart - they find ways to solve equipment needs at even the most rural sites or when a call comes in at midnight. The race against time is intense, but the quality of service we provide is very similar to the 'extreme' commitment we show our customers every day."

The latest build benefits the Lutz family of East Setauket, N.Y., who were astounded to find out that 'Extreme Makeover' had chosen them to receive a brand new home. The United Rentals branch in Flushing, N.Y., has organized the delivery of more than 70 pieces of equipment to the site, said branch manager Harry Scardigno.

"Over four years and more than 4,500 pieces of equipment, United Rentals has come through for us every time, despite the challenges of weather, timing and logistics," said Diane Korman, 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' senior producer. "Their professionalism in serving these job sites shows that we made the right choice in relying on United Rentals for our equipment needs."

The episode featuring the Lutz family will air on ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' on a date to be announced. A gallery of previous 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' projects featuring United Rentals equipment can be found on the community support page of the company's website.

The pervasive John Deere brand is becoming more expansive with the opening of a tourist attraction in Waterloo, Iowa, focused on the history of tractor and engine design and manufacturing.

Construction on the John Deere Waterloo Tractor and Engine History Museum will begin in late 2010 with opening of the facility scheduled for late 2011. The museum will be an addition to John Deere attractions in Iowa, Illinois and Germany as well as visitor centers at John Deere factories around the world. 

"The public is interested in learning more about the company's past, present and future," said Bill Becker, director, global brand management. "This new museum will complement other John Deere-branded properties by amplifying the tractor and engine history of the company and enabling visitors to explore the development and capabilities of these products more in-depth."

The tractor and engine museum will include artifacts and interactive exhibits to celebrate the rich history and dynamic growth of the tractor business at John Deere, which today is the world's leading provider of agricultural equipment. 

Deere currently operates a historic site in Grand Detour, Illinois, where John Deere started his business in 1837. In addition, Deere offers the John Deere Pavilion and John Deere Store in Moline; the John Deere Harvester Works visitors' center in East Moline, Illinois; the John Deere Forum in Mannheim, Germany; and visitor centers in other John Deere's facilities.

"The John Deere Waterloo Works is already a popular place for visitors to travel for plant tours,” Becker said. "We believe this new museum will be a welcome addition for all John Deere enthusiasts."

Dave Rodger, general manager, John Deere Waterloo Works, said, "The museum will celebrate not only the history of John Deere's tractor and engine business but also the invaluable contribution of employees, customers, and the Cedar Valley. Tractors and engines are an important part of John Deere's 173-year history and Deere is looking forward to sharing our story of quality and innovation."

The John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum will be located on Westfield Avenue on the original site of the Waterloo Tractor Works. Financial details of the development were not disclosed.

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Waterloo Boy photos courtesy of the John Deere Archive

Wishing you had this unique Cat iPod to show videos to all of your team members on how to be job site safe?

Now you can. Cat is giving away two of these black and yellow custom 80 GB iPod Classics to the two people who complete the most online safety training courses at safety.cat.com registered between May 31 and August 31. 

 Cat offers an extensive list of 128 safety training videos in the categories: construction, mining and heavy equipment training; driver safety training; environmental training; general safety training; OSHA essentials; and supervisory safety training. Over half are offered in Spanish as well.

 The two iPods come pre-loaded with all of the safety basics videos featured on the Cat safety website for future referencing.

 The winners will be announced September 1. Now, start watching!