Although many minds out there are already set to weekend time, The Machine Works crew wanted to pass along two cool, new products from Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS).

Today, the company announced the release of its FC-25 series of pocket-sized, rugged field controllers. Both the FC-25 and the FC-25A utilize Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, which comes with 256MB RAM and 2GB of flash memory.

The main features of the new systems also include:
• Lightweight design (11.3 oz.)
• Fast 533MHz processor
• 640x480 VGA 3.5-in. TFT touch screen
• 5-key keyboard
• Integrated wireless LAN and Bluetooth connectivity
• SDHC card slot and USB port
• Replaceable Li-ion battery
• Dustproof / waterproof (IP65 rating)
• Drop-proof from 5 ft
• Built-in 20-channel L1 GPS receiver
• TopSURV software

Additionally, the FC-25A includes a built-in 3MP camera, compass and altimeter.

Mark Contino, vice president of TPS product marketing, said, “The FC-25 series is the perfect field controller; it’s small, fast, accurate and is rugged enough to be used on any jobsite.

“With built-in sensors for GIS applications (20-channel GPS receiver), the units provide positional information by point positioning or DGPS using SBAS corrections.”

Both new units “are designed for optimum efficiency and productive in various work sites, including GIS and construction projects,” Contino said. “The new controllers have Bluetooth connectivity, and with a battery life of almost eight hours, it is a true workhorse for any job on any applicable project.”

Contino said, “The FC-25A’s 3MP auto focus camera, electronic compass and altimeter is especially designed to collect data on any jobsite, but is extremely helpful on GIS projects.”

There’s always room for improvement when it comes to our infrastructure. From roads and water, to power and rails, there are plenty of opportunities to get crews out working. However, available funding may be key in whether these projects ever come to fruition. In a new report, “Infrastructure Construction and Equipment Finance Opportunities,” the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (Foundation) provides an outlook on infrastructure construction and offers a review of the current situation, as well as an analysis of future trends.

In addition, the study discusses current legislation or policies that may impact infrastructure construction, provides insight into the impact of infrastructure construction on equipment demand and examines the opportunities this landscape presents for equipment finance. The study was conducted at the request of the Foundation by IHS Global Insight, a global economic and financial forecasting company.

Critical repairs, maintenance and construction of the U.S. infrastructure system have been hindered by the battered economy and reduced budgets. The U.S. infrastructure system has been rated a D grade by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), due to years of neglect and delayed maintenance. It is estimated that $2.2 trillion is required over the next five years to repair and modernize the U.S. infrastructure, which includes highways and streets, power and communications, sewer and water and other heavy and civil engineering. 

The gap between the investment required and investment allocated creates upside potential in infrastructure construction for equipment suppliers, lessors of that equipment and financial institutions to help close the investment deficit that exists to restore the national infrastructure to good condition.

According to the report:

• Stimulus bills, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will give infrastructure construction a small, temporary boost. However, with funding stretched thinly across the nation, and state and local budgets in disarray, the stimulus bills will not provide a long-term solution.

• The future of infrastructure investment depends heavily on federal legislation. Currently, Congress is targeting the highways and streets, power and rail segments.

• The prospect of public-private partnerships and the development of a national infrastructure fund designed to attract private investors is becoming more enticing as government agencies struggle with fiscal troubles.

• Lack of work forced many companies to lay off workers and idle or sell their equipment. Utilization rates among construction equipment fell to around 60 percent compared to around 80 percent during normal economic times.

• Operating on a lower-risk model, financial institutions are requiring that borrowers have top credit quality. They are also giving preference to longstanding clients.

Opportunities are detailed by infrastructure sector and include the following, among many others:

• Highway and Street Construction — The most visible infrastructure segment, highway and street projects will continue to attract public and private attention.

• Rail — Quickly gaining momentum as a preferred mode of transport, high-speed rail studies are sprouting up across the nation.

• Power and Communications — Power sector investment will dominate infrastructure construction spending for this sector.

• Sewer and Water — Despite the urgent need for repair, federal support for water and sewer infrastructure is generally mixed.

• Transportation — Trends in transportation are generally slower moving and less volatile, which means that growth in the segment will not occur overnight.

• Conservation and Development — The nation's dams, levees, and locks all received poor to failing grades from the ASCE; of the 257 locks that are part of the inland waterway system, 47 percent were deemed functionally obsolete by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

To read the executive summary of “Infrastructure Construction and Equipment Finance Opportunities,” go to http://leasefoundation.org/IndRsrcs/MO/Infrastructure.htm.

It’s been well over a year since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was passed by Congress and signed into action — offering a direct response to the nationwide economic crisis. Today, Jim McCullough, CEO and president of CNH Construction, which offers Case, New Holland and Kobelco branded construction equipment, testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to report on progress thus far of the ARRA.

McCullough, who also serves as vice chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), noted that the association today launched “I Make America,” a national grassroots effort to broaden awareness about the vital impact of equipment manufacturing both on the U.S. economy and global competitiveness. “Our members don’t just make equipment,” he said. “They make prosperity.”

McCullough pointed out that the heavy construction equipment industry is a major contributor to the U.S. economy and substantially impacts the economy of every state and congressional district. He said, “In 2008, equipment manufacturers, distributors and independent maintenance providers had a $364.9-billion impact on the U.S. economy, supported more than 2 million American jobs and paid $111.3 billion in wages, salaries and benefits.” He added that a 2009 study by IHS Global Insight showed that during this recession, the sector lost approximately 50 percent of its pre-recession activity.

Although he thanked Chairman Jim Oberstar for his support of the ARRA, McCullough emphasized the need for long-term funding solutions, rather than short-term extensions. “Research shows that investment in the nation’s highways, bridges, water and transit infrastructure creates about 18,000 jobs for every $1 billion spent,” McCullough said.

Infrastructure Investment Critical to Global Competitiveness
“More than that, investing in infrastructure is critical to America’s ability to compete globally,” he said. “We are slipping compared to other nations that are investing heavily in their infrastructure. We need access to increased efficiency when we transport goods and people so that we compete on a level playing field with other developed and developing countries.”

McCullough noted that AEM’s second-quarter survey of its membership indicated that the construction industry is beginning to recover, with some upturn in hiring and capital spending, and some upward pressure on wages and salaries. However, “You have to ask the question, ‘Up from where?’” he said. “Our numbers are nowhere near where they were before the economy imploded.”

McCullough pointed out that, although AEM members have started to see some impact from the highway bill and other stimulus spending, funding is “as the committee is well aware, far below the required investment needs. We know that construction has lifted this country out of prior economic recessions. Now, we need to invest in what we know works to build both economic momentum and an infrastructure that will create long-term value for all of us.”

He said the emphasis on “shovel-ready” projects resulted in the majority of early investment going to road resurfacing, reconstruction and rehabilitation of existing bridges and roadways. “A long-term transportation bill will provide critical funding for ‘bulldozer-ready’ projects with the continuing benefit of easing congestion and more efficiently moving people and goods.”

McCullough said an investment in infrastructure will yield jobs faster and more surely than investment in almost any other sector. “That’s because improving America’s roads, rail and airways involves construction, and construction puts contractors and laborers to work at good-paying, high-value jobs. At the same time, it puts people to work in manufacturing—at plants across America like our CNH world-class facilities in Fargo, N.D., Wichita, Kan., Calhoun, Ga. and Burlington, Iowa,” he said. CNH employees are supporting AEM’s “I Make America” campaign by logging in to www.IMakeAmerica.com.

McCullough said CNH appreciates the current administration’s recognition of the importance of reauthorizing the multi-year highway bill. “We hope to see senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle join the president in supporting investment in our nation’s infrastructure — for jobs today and expanded opportunities tomorrow,” he said. He concluded by asking the chairman for his and the Committee’s support in helping end the continuing uncertainty in the North American construction market. He thanked the committee for its leadership in developing a long-range reauthorization proposal and encouraged timely enactment.

Discouraged by Congress’ lack of action toward helping America’s workforce, Dennis Slater, president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), issued the following statement about reports that Congress will leave town at the end of the week without taking significant steps to spur job growth through better manufacturing policies:

"Millions of unemployed workers face an urgent need for jobs in the United States, yet Congress plans to leave town at the end of the week without showing the vigorous leadership necessary to spur job growth.

"America needs a new manufacturing policy that creates jobs in the United States. Over the past 10 years, American manufacturing has shed 5.5 million jobs, and unemployment in the manufacturing sector remains notably higher than the national average.

"Congress has failed to listen to deep concerns of America’s workforce who believe national policies to keep manufacturing jobs in this country are not working well.

"Before Congressional members return home to ask the American people for their votes and continued support, they should first show progress in what the American people have hired them to do — spur job growth through better manufacturing policies.”

Manufacturing Facts

There are two fundamental things Congress can do to create jobs around the country:

• Generate economic activity by rebuilding and modernizing America’s infrastructure — roads, bridges, sewer, clean water and flood control systems.

• Help our farmers and manufacturers create more jobs in the U.S. by exporting their products to new markets around the world. One very direct way to do this is by passing the pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia.

According to a recent nationwide poll conducted by the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group for AEM, most Americans are surprised to learn that only 3 percent of the stimulus funding passed by Congress in the 2009 Recovery Act was dedicated to transportation infrastructure such as roads, highways and bridges. Yet, a strong majority — 66 percent — believes "Given current economic conditions, it’s a good time to build and repair America’s roads and bridges."

There's finally some good news in regards to construction employment, as 56 out of 337 metropolitan areas added jobs between August 2009 and August 2010, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). More cities added construction jobs during the past year than at any point since September 2008, indicating that the worst of the industry’s job losses may be over, association officials noted.

“With construction employment on the mend in an increasing number of areas, it appears that the worst is finally over,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The fact remains, however, that this industry has a long way to go before we see construction employment back to pre-recession levels.”

Simonson noted that Kansas City, Kansas added more construction jobs (2,500 jobs, 13 percent) than any other metro area, while Hanford-Corcoran, Calif., added the highest percentage (22 percent, 200 jobs). Other areas adding jobs included Pittsburgh (2,000 jobs, 4 percent); Calvert-Charles-Prince Georges Counties, Md. (1,200 jobs, 3 percent); Chattanooga, Tenn. (700 jobs, 8 percent); and Eau Claire, Wis. (600 jobs, 19 percent).

Simonson added that 245 metro areas lost construction jobs, while construction employment was unchanged in another 36. The Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill., area lost more construction jobs (22,600 jobs, 16 percent) than any other metro area, even after a construction strike ended in July. Napa, Calif., lost the highest percentage(900 jobs, 30 percent). Other areas experiencing large declines in construction employment included Las Vegas (13,500 jobs, 22 percent); Houston (11,200 jobs, 6 percent); Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. (9,100 jobs, 12 percent); and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (8,500 jobs, 13 percent).

Association officials said that even as the employment outlook improves in a growing number of metropolitan areas, construction unemployment remains nearly double the national average. They added that Congress is now a year late in passing major highway and transit investment legislation, as well as other key infrastructure bills. Federal inaction, combined with ongoing weak private, state and local demand will continue to undermine chances of a broader construction industry recovery, officials noted.

“The fact that the best news the industry has had in years is that we’re not losing jobs as fast as we were is a reflection of how hard hit construction has been during the downturn,” said Stephen Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “Too many construction workers remain unemployed while Congress lets long–delayed infrastructure legislation idle.”

Need some more reading material (besides your favorite blogs here on The Machine Works)? Then be sure to check out JLG’s new quarterly e-newsletter, LiftPod@Work. Designed to highlight safe work practices and ways to enhance productivity on the job, the free online publication also includes information about the LiftPod portable work platform and offers insights for success in business.
 
"LiftPod@Work provides us with a communications vehicle to share key workplace safety trends with contractors and safety, facility and maintenance managers,” said Randy Marzicola, JLG Industries director channel development. “Subscribers will also find LiftPod success stories, new product introductions and have opportunities to see us at trade shows and participate in live demos of the LiftPod.”
 
A LiftPod Basics tab takes subscribers to information about the LiftPod and invites them to click on various sections of the aerial work platform to learn more about its parts, how it operates and what makes it so innovative. They also have the opportunity to sign up for a live demonstration of the LiftPod as it tours the country.
 
In addition, the e-newsletter helps subscribers locate a LiftPod dealer in their area and provides important subscription information. JLG distributed the first edition of LiftPod@Work in August and plans to issue a special edition of the publication in September.
 
To learn more or to subscribe to LiftPod@Work, visit www.liftpod.com/en-US/subscribe.html.

To offer its customers ultimate convenience while on the go, United Rentals Inc. has announced a new mobile website that provides one-touch access to the world's largest equipment rental fleet and customer service team. The mobile version of www.unitedrentals.com uses a state-of-the-art smart phone interface that makes it easy for customers to search for equipment, request rental quotes, and locate nearby branches via the GPS in their mobile phones.

“Mobile technology is the new frontier of customer service,” said Kenneth DeWitt, chief information officer. “By investing in a true, platform-specific interface, we have optimized the user's experience on all leading smart phone platforms, including Blackberry, iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile. This compatibility is the best way to harness the capabilities of today's smart phones. It ensures that our mobile services are consistently fast and reliable for customers each time they visit the site.”

The mobile website is the latest addition to United Rentals' industry leading bricks-and-clicks customer service infrastructure, which includes more than 550 branches in North America, a feature-rich website and the company's 24/7 Customer Care Center at 1-800-UR-RENTS.

“In our business, customers are often en route between jobsites or in other situations where laptops are impractical,” said Joseph Dixon, vice president of sales. “A contractor may want to search for equipment based on the site conditions he's observing and request a quote on the spot. If he needs to find the closest branch, the mobile site pinpoints the location on Google Maps(TM and provides driving directions, telephone number and hours of operation.”

Access to the new United Rentals mobile website is available at www.unitedrentals.com via a mobile device.

The amount of future construction work under contract is at a standstill, according to Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) as it recently reported that its latest Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) remained virtually unchanged in mid-summer. Based on a national survey of ABC members, construction backlog stood at 7 months in June and 7.3 months in July — up 20.4 percent from July 2009, but down 1.2 percent from CBI's historic high of 7.4 months in April 2010. CBI is a forward-looking indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future.

“Construction backlog is no longer expanding despite the fact that backlog related to infrastructure continues to increase. This suggests that the recovery of privately financed activities remains slow,” said ABC chief economist Anirban Basu. “There are no indications, however, that overall construction business volume has begun to shrink; merely that backlog is no longer advancing.

“The U.S. economic recovery is now roughly 12 months old. Nonresidential construction activities typically lag the overall economy by 12 to 24 months, with the implication that privately financed activities should soon begin to show signs of a rebound,” said Basu. “However, there are reasons to believe that this moment in economic history will be a bit different from other economic recoveries due to a number of factors, including still rising office vacancy rates in many parts of the nation, extraordinarily slow job creation, tight credit and fears that the economic recovery will not persist. Therefore, the future path of the CBI is a mystery because construction's recovery remains far from guaranteed.”

Regional Highlights
Compared to a year ago, all regions except for the West experienced a rise in construction backlog. The increase in construction backlog has been particularly profound in the Northeast, rising from 5.5 months in July 2009 to 8.7 months in July 2010. The Middle States ended July 2010 with the shortest construction backlog at 6.2 months.

“The Northeastern United States has enjoyed a strong rebound in construction activity for a variety of reasons, including healthier investment banks, increased federal government spending on military bases and expansion in the technology sector,” sais Basu. “In contrast, the West continues to suffer disproportionately due to ongoing softness in economic activity in Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico.”

Industry Highlights
Construction backlog in the commercial and institutional category now stands at 7.1 months, down from 7.2 months the previous three months. In the heavy industrial category, construction backlog slipped from 6.8 months in April to 6.7 months in July. Infrastructure backlog has been above 10 months for three consecutive months –the longest stretch for this category in CBI history.

“Construction backlog is roughly flat in sectors of the economy that heavily depend on private financing and remains elevated for segments that depend on public financing,” said Basu. “This is cause for concern because publicly financed construction spending is set to decline sometime in 2011 and beyond.” 

Highlights by Company Size
Firms with annual revenue greater than $100 million continue to experience the longest construction backlog at 8 months. Construction backlog for firms in the $50 million to $100 million category now stands at 7.7 months. However, backlog for this group is below the March 2010 level of 8 months. Firms with annual revenue below $30 million have an average construction backlog of 6.5 months – the highest reading for this group in CBI history.

"The construction backlog data has shed considerable insight into the workings of the U.S. nonresidential construction sector. Backlog initially began rising among the largest firms, those with revenues in excess of $100 million per year," said Basu. "In contrast, smaller firms with annual revenue below $30 million did not begin to experience upticks in construction backlog until early this year — a sign that business improvement tends to become apparent among the largest firms first, and then flows down to smaller construction contractors and subcontractors."

In a milestone that will benefit both the environment and its customers, John Deere Power Systems (JDPS) has announced that its PowerTech PVX 6.8L above 130 kW (174 hp) and their PowerTech PSX 6.8L engine have been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and European Union (EU) as compliant with the Interim Tier 4 and Stage III B regulations. The PowerTech PSX and PVX 6.8L engines join the certified 9.0L engine models. John Deere’s PowerTech PVX and PSX 9.0L engine models were the first engines to receive EPA and EU Interim Tier 4/Stage III B certification early this year.

“The EPA and EU certification of our 9.0L engines was a tremendous milestone for JDPS, and now with the 6.8L engines certified we believe it clearly demonstrates our commitment to offer the right technology at the right time,” said Doug Laudick, product planning manager for JDPS. “We also remain committed to ensuring that our Interim Tier 4/Stage III B engines deliver performance, reliability, durability and low operating costs that OEMs and customers have come to depend upon. Our certified Interim Tier 4 engine lineup provides OEMs with emission reduction technologies that are paying off for the environment and their customers.”

Interim Tier 4/Stage III B emissions regulations begin Jan. 1, 2011, for 174 hp (130 kW) and above engines and require a 90 percent reduction in diesel particulate matter (PM) and a 50 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) from previous Tier 3/Stage III A requirements.

John Deere met the challenge of Interim Tier 4/Stage III B regulations by starting with its proven PowerTech Plus Tier 3/Stage III A engine platform — which includes cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) for NOx control — and adding an exhaust filter for reducing PM. These engines will feature full-authority electronic controls, a four-valve cylinder head, a high-pressure fuel system, single variable geometry or series turbocharging and an air-to-air aftercooling system.
 
“The Interim Tier 4/Stage III B certification of our 6.8L models confirms our validation processes. Our field and lab testing continues to ensure the final product will meet the unique requirements expected from off-highway diesel engines,” Laudick said. “We have received very positive feedback from customers testing our Interim Tier 4/Stage III B powered machines in the field. And, we remain committed to ensuring our engines withstand the extreme vibration, temperatures and duty cycles found in those applications.”

In choosing a solution for Interim Tier 4/Stage III B, John Deere elected not to use selective catalytic reduction (SCR). John Deere’s cooled EGR and exhaust filter approach provides OEMs and end users a proven solution with the best total fluid economy. The single-fluid approach of cooled EGR means owners and operators won’t have to incur the cost of diesel fuel plus the additional cost for diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) required by SCR systems.

“For Interim Tier 4/Stage III B, we’re not only looking at fuel economy, we’re taking into consideration total fluid consumption,” said Brian Brown, manager of worldwide marketing support for JDPS.

The certified PowerTech PVX 6.8L offers a power range of 185-250 hp, (138-187 kW) while the PowerTech PSX 6.8L offers 225-300 hp (168 – 224 kW). PowerTech 6.8L engines will go into production in this month.

Terex is strengthening its presence in the Yukon Territory, thanks to the addition of Norfolk Power Equipment as a compact equipment distributor. With locations in Wrentham, Mass. and Burrillville, R.I., Norfolk Power Equipment now distributes the full line of Terex compact construction equipment to customers in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The Terex compact equipment line offers Norfolk Power Equipment customers with one of the widest ranges of compact equipment available from a single manufacturer, offering numerous options for their equipment investment.

In business since 1975, Norfolk Power Equipment’s customers are homeowners and landscapers with lawn and garden projects, as well as site prep and snow removal contractors, commercial construction contractors, municipalities, and nurseries — making the Terex line of compact equipment an ideal solution for all their customers’ equipment needs. The Terex line includes compact track loaders, compact excavators, compact wheel loaders, site dumpers, tractor loader backhoes, light towers, telehandlers, compaction rollers and a tracked utility vehicle. 

Norfolk Power Equipment is locally owned family business, operated by Glen and Carolyn Coulter, their son Brian Coulter and daughter Stacey Root. “Taking on more than 45 unique product models, the Terex line fills a niche in our current equipment inventory,” says Carolyn Coulter. “We believe this is a great time to expand our equipment offerings. With the addition of Terex line, we are able to provide our customers with all the top brand names in power and construction equipment, at the most competitive prices. This allows us to continue to serve our current customers’ needs and to attract new customers.”

“With 35 years of equipment sales, rental and service experience, Norfolk Power Equipment has a longstanding customer-focused reputation, and because of this solid foundation we see great opportunity for them to build the Terex compact equipment product line in the New England territory,” said Del Carver, area director, North America Compact Equipment. “We are excited to welcome Norfolk Power Equipment to our expanding network of Terex® compact equipment distributors in North America.”

In addition to its full sales and rental equipment inventory, Norfolk Power Equipment offers customers a fully equipped service with factory-certified mechanics and on-the-road service technicians to cover customers’ immediate service issues. Norfolk Power Equipment also has a full parts department able to quickly ship parts to customers anywhere in the world.

Norfolk Power Equipment 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.