The Genie S-40 and S-45 telescopic booms are now available with our exclusive “four-point” Trax track drive system. Due to their unique track-style wheels, the new Genie S-40 Trax and S-45 Trax offer improved terrainability and reduced damage to sensitive ground surfaces giving them the ability to drive on almost any surface. The new S-45 Trax can be seen for the first time at APEX, Genie stand number 1250-1270, at Maastricht, The Netherlands, September 14-16.

The S-40 Trax has a lift height of 40 ft, a vertical reach of 31 ft and a gross weight of 14,440 lbs. The S-45 Trax has a lift height of 46 ft, a vertical reach of 36 ft and a gross weight of 17,440 lbs. The new Genie S-40 Trax and S-45 Trax telescopic booms use an innovative, patented track design which allows for an independent triangular track at each corner of the unit in comparison to the traditional “skid steer” design that has a full length track on each side. With patented active oscillating axles, the tracks maintain contact with the ground on uneven and undulating surfaces to retain maximum power and torque.

“The new Trax models provide increased useability and comfort,” said Frank Schneider, senior product manager, Terex Aerial Work Platforms (AWP). “The four-point track system allows the tracks to drive softer over sensitive surfaces while also reducing the platform movement. This is a superior product for specific geographies such as the Southern United States and Northern Europe where soil and site conditions require specialized pieces of equipment.”

Because the tracks are encased in rubber, they do less damage to sensitive ground surfaces such as turf while still remaining rigid. Reduced ground pressure provides a high level of “floatation” in terrains such as sand, mud and compact snow. The Genie Trax booms offer traditional front wheel steering with a 30 degree steer angle. By driving and steering like a wheeled machine, each triangular shaped tracks can swivel 22 degrees up and down to easily follow undulating terrain and sharp changes in slope such as the break-over angle found on many transport trailers.

With a maximum drive speed of 2.5 mph, units are able to get around jobsites quickly. The narrow width of the machine allows booms to be trailered without the need for over-width permits. The narrow chassis and front wheel steering allow the Trax booms to fit into narrow locations and tight jobsites with ease.

The Trax booms share a common chassis with the standard wheeled Genie S-40 and S-45 machines resulting in service parts commonality. Limited new service training and service parts are required. The Genie S-40/45 Trax will be available globally in the first quarter of 2012.

The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the construction, dredging and surface mining equipment industries, held its 26th annual International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition in early July, 2011. Below we offer a photo presentation of the event.

Hosted by the I&I Tractor Club at their Penfield, Ill., show grounds, the show featured products built by Cletrac and Oliver. Between construction equipment and related machines, over 140 exhibits from as far away as Alexandria, Va., joined hundreds of farm tractors shown by the I&I organization. Much of the construction equipment, which dated from throughout the early and mid 1900s, worked during the show in public demonstrations.

Several very rare machines were on hand, including: a Washington Scale Co. crawler tractor; 1951 Schield Bantam ABM51 truck backhoe that was built for military airborne service; 1951 Ford 8N wheel tractor with a Dearborn motor grader conversion and berm leveler; and all three varieties of Cletrac’s raised-sprocket model F crawler tractor from the early 1920s.

The HCEA’s 27th Annual International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition will be held September 14th through 16th at the National Construction Equipment Museum in Bowling Green, Ohio. This will be a very special event, as the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owner’s Club will also be holding its annual show in conjunction with the HCEA. Over seventy machines from the Museum’s collection will be on display, with many of them being demonstrated, and the public is welcome to attend and to bring additional equipment.

The HCEA was founded in 1985, and has over 4,300 members in 25 countries. In addition to its magazine and hosting an annual working exhibition of restored construction equipment, it operates the National Construction Equipment Museum and archives in Bowling Green. Individual memberships are $30.00 within the USA and Canada, and $40.00 US elsewhere. For information about HCEA and its events, visit at www.hcea.net.

NOTE: To read about each image below, wave your cursor over each photo and a caption will pop up.

When Dewey Winstead got word there was an antique air compressor on Craigslist, he was instantly intrigued. When he found out it was a historic Ingersoll Rand 1929 air compressor, he was sold.

When Winstead first saw the 1929 Type 20 100 cfm air compressor, it was coated in rust and missing more than a few parts. But after working in the compressor industry for over 30 years, Winstead, vice president of Pinnacle Central Co. in Polk City, Fla., knew the significance and the history behind the machine. So when his brother called to fill him in on the antique, he knew he had to have it at his dealer location.

The antique Type 20 air compressor was originally built with vertical single-acting duplex water-cooled compressor cylinders directly connected or geared to four-cylinder, four-cycle tractor-type gasoline engines. These models were incredibly popular through the 1920s and several units are still operating today. The antique air compressor Winstead restored isn’t currently in operating condition.

With the help of a few of Pinnacle Central employees and Frank Seligman, the father of an employee, one would never guess the compressor had spent the majority of its late life hiding in the back of a barn in Sanford, N.C. The newly restored 1929 air compressor is now on display at Pinnacle Central, a Doosan Portable Power dealer, right outside of Winstead’s office -- with a decal to show it’s now part of the Doosan Portable Power family.

The Ingersoll Rand brand has been in the forefront of compressor technology, design and manufacturing since the early 1900s, when the company built the first portable air compressor by mounting a water-cooled stationary air compressor on wheels. By the 1920s, the manufacturer had streamlined the portability of the air compressor, developing four models -- Type 12, Type 14, a special Tie Tamper compressor, and the Type 20 — to run power tools not only in day-to-day applications, but also to run tools throughout World War I.

AL-VAC is one of the market leaders in vacuum lifting equipment for the construction industry, producing a wide range of vacuum lifters with lifting capacities from 20 to 17,000 lbs. Its coolest line of tools is its vacuum lifters designed to lift semi-porous materials, concrete slabs, barriers, pipe or panels, reducing labor and stopping the balancing act while increasing safety.

The company’s lifts can be powered with hydraulics, battery and gas engines, lifting between 350 to 16,000 lbs in a flat or tubular configuration. The vacuum lifter can be easily attached to your existing equipment such as an excavator, forklift, backhoe or boom truck.

It can be supplied with a wide range of quickly interchangeable vacuum heads for curb stones, slabs (such as hollow core) different concrete and stone products, as well as steel plates and other items which are difficult with slings or chain lifting. Whether you’re using our lifts inside or out, you will enjoy increased production and profits while keeping valued employees safer.

Eager minds from all over the country are traveling to Cleveland, Ohio, seeking to master the art of mechanics. Over 40 years, Ohio Technical College (OTC) has served as one of the premier destinations in the United States to find a great get-your-hands-dirty automotive, engine and machine education. I got the opportunity to tour the campus last week, meeting enthusiastic students like Matt Martin, studying generator maintenance.

“I came here because I wanted a career that was hands on and challenging,” says Martin, a 20-year-old from Wisconsin with a strong ag background. “I thought I knew a lot growing up, but coming here, asking questions and listening and learning from my instructors, my abilities have certainly grown -- mechanically and electrically.” 

The school has grown too. OTC started in 1969 on the second floor of a building in Cleveland’s Warehouse district, known back then as the Ohio Diesel Mechanics School. The small trade educator originally offered a six-week course with phases in Cummins four-stroke engines, Detroit two-stroke engines and basic diesel fundamentals. Today, OTC has an 800,000-sq ft campus, the largest of its kind in the United States, offering automotive, diesel, auto-diesel, collision repair, motorcycle training, generator courses and programs on compact equipment.

Students can take twelve and 18-week courses, Monday through Thursday, day and night classes, immersing themselves in the craft of mechanics (from renovating and repairing Class 8 trucks to learning everything you need to know about welding). The campus is two square blocks on the east side of Cleveland, filled with classrooms, repair shops, computer labs, garages, bookstores and cars, trucks and construction equipment in various states of study. The structure is big, yet OTC limits its enrollment, striving to keep the class sizes under 25. This allows the technical school to be selective, looking for high testing students who are committed to success.

“We’re here to teach them not only the basics of mechanics, but how to be a professional,” says Ben Maddox, director of OTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology Program. “We teach them how to look professional, act professional, interview properly and be on time.”

OTC offers a variety of opportunities for future professionals who want to work with equipment, trucks and diesel engines. First off, the school’s specialized ASE/NATEF-certified Diesel Equipment Technician Training Program is one of the best in the nation, educating students in: diesel engine performance and repair; electrical and electronic systems; drive train systems; transmissions; suspension and steering systems; brake and hydraulic systems; industrial and heavy equipment; and light- and medium-duty diesels. You can complement that diesel course with a 12-week, 300-hour Generator Power Systems Program, designed for the technician who has an eye on working with generators. Graduates of the Generator Power Systems program have secured careers with companies like Cummins, Detroit Diesel and Caterpillar, as well as with hospitals, cruise ships, oil drillers and the government.

“Generators are exploding for a lot of reasons right now – cell phones and data centers for starters,” says Mox Eggert, director of the generator program. “We’re here to teach them the basics, so once they get their foot in the door, they will succeed.” 

The aim is to take generations of students and mold them to fill those highly sought-after trade positions – gen set specialist, diesel technician, heavy equipment mechanic, automotive expert and future entrepreneur -- all with Associate of Applied Science degrees that dealers, manufacturers and trade specialist are constantly looking for. For instance, master welders can be hard to find, so check out the college’s School of Welding, outfitted with latest welding equipment supplied by Lincoln Electric (a Cleveland-based company). It features extensive hands-on training on all forms of welding, blueprint reading, equipment operation and the advanced principles, theories, practices and applications of the craft. The American Welding Society (AWS) predicts the demand for skilled welders in the United States alone may outpace supply by 200,000 individuals. “My goal for students is a certification and a job to go with it,” says welding teacher Mike Ostrowski.

That’s a big part of the program -- job placement. Upon graduation, OTC offers career placement services and ongoing placement opportunities for life. In addition, the college offers a great deal of part-time jobs while students study in Cleveland (a city with a great automotive job bank). The college even offers dorms and scholarships, allowing underprivileged and out-of-state-students prospects to attend. And while OTC has a heavy focus an automotive (it is one of only three BMW automotive training programs in the country), it still has plenty of opportunities for gear heads who love construction and landscape machines. Its 12-week hydraulics program allows students to tear apart and put together skid steers, tractors, utility vehicles and all types of versatile compact equipment.

“The industry is screaming for hydraulic technicians -- there’s not enough out there,” says David Applegate, hydraulics teacher specializing in the school’s small ag and construction equipment. “That’s what we specialize in here at Ohio Technical College -- filling those great trade jobs with workers who have the skills and work ethic to prosper.”  -- Keith Gribbins, managing editor, Compact Equipment

It's a hunter's dream come true: a three-day hunting trip for you and a buddy at the famed Y.O. Ranch in Mountain Home, Texas, with Ted Nugent as your hunting host. Stop by Leica Geosystems' booth no. 557, get a demo of Leica Geosystems' latest machine control or construction positioning technology and enter a sweepstakes to win a hunting trip for two with American hunting and music icon.

Leica Geosystems, a premier manufacturer and distributor of machine control technology, announces its "Go Hunting with Ted Nugent" Sweepstakes - a promotion specially designed for CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 attendees. The one Grand Prize will consist of a hunting package for two people at Ted Nugent's private birthday celebration at Y.O. Ranch in Mountain Home, Texas. The hunting package includes three days of hunting, meals, accommodations and a guide. Animals in the package are either a management white tail or management sika buck. You have your choice of either bow or gun hunting with this package.

In addition to hunting at the nation's premier game preserve, hunters will get to share meals and spend personal time with Ted Nugent during this private birthday celebration.

With 40,000 acres of rugged hill country terrain, the Y.O. Ranch has been described as "a trophy hunter's paradise." It is home to trophy native game as well as 60 species of exotic game from around the world.

The hunting trip will take place in December 2011 (date to be announced) in conjunction with Ted Nugent's private birthday celebration. Mr. Nugent, an avid hunter and lifelong outdoorsman, has been inducted into the National Bowhunters Hall of Fame and named Favorite Hunting Personality by the readers of Outdoors Magazine. Entering the "Go Hunting with Ted Nugent" Sweepstakes is easy and simple:

1. To enter your name once for a chance to win, visit the Leica Geosystems booth  no. 557 and watch a product demonstration. Booth no. 557 is located in front of the convention center's main entrance.

2. Go to www.conexpo2011.com, clink on the "Exclusive Show Promotions" tab and find out how to TRIPLE YOUR CHANCES TO WIN this exclusive hunting trip with Ted Nugent.

We first reported on the A.R.E. Twistex Probe back in September -- an awesomely outfitted work truck, made to travel through 100-mph winds and softball-size hail, built for tornado chaser Tim Samaras, star of the hit television show “Storm Chasers” on Discovery Channel. Well, now we just found out that the A.R.E. 2010 GMC SIERRA Twistex Probe Vehicle has enabled Samaras to record historic tornado measurements.

Tim needed to deploy a 400-lb “probe” instrument, his own invention, in the path of a highly-destructive tornado while at the peak of its powers (sound like the plot of Twister to you?). Well, on the 22 of May, in South Dakota, Tim did precisely that.

“The measurements we collected that day were historic, as we measured the wind speed of the passing tornado at two different heights. This confirmed that the boundary layer [the highest rate of change wind speed] is less than 2 ft high,” Samaras later said. “This measurement would not have been possible without a way of quickly getting the instrument off the truck -- and the lift gate most certainly has risen to the challenge!”

Samaras has been chasing tornadoes and recording valuable data for over ten years. Earlier this year, when he was hoping to build a new chase truck, Mastercraft Truck Equipment in Englewood, Colo., put together what Tim refers to as the “ultimate tornado chase vehicle.” The truck is outfitted with a custom A.R.E. Deluxe Commercial Truck Cap and Tommy Gate G2-Series 1,500-lb capacity hydraulic lift gate. Other additions include: an Eclipse navigation system with back-up camera, Jotto Desk mobile office laptop holders, Luverne hitch steps, mega steps and grill insert, a Warn XD 9000I Winch system, as well as numerous square sensors covering the hood and cab.

The data collected is another step in further understanding tornadoes and will help engineers in how they design and build structures in the future.

“This information -- along with future deployments will be very useful for engineers to construct buildings in the Midwest to help resist these types of winds. If we can build better buildings -- then we’d eventually save lives,” says Samaras.

Each year used equipment sales generate $17 to $20 billion worldwide, says Jim Johnson, president of Caterpillar Used Equipment Services (a corporate Cat division that helps dealers distribute used machinery). Johnson invited journalists down to the Charlotte Motor Speedway in October (during the Bank of America 500 NASCAR race) to discuss the used market and to visit an important CatUsed.com event, where about 40 pieces of pre-owned Cat equipment were for sale, ranging from skid steers to mining trucks. Jeff Burton, who drives the No. 31 Caterpillar car, even repainted his Chevrolet Impala SS with the CatUsed.com logo during the race, to help sponsor the event. 

“We are here looking to find new customers,” explained Johnson, noting that NASCAR and Cat have the same base of hardworking blue-collar fans. “We’re also here to promote the Cat brand as the gold standard for used equipment.”

At Turn 2, on the backside of the speedway, Caterpillar set up a huge lot full of yellow and black construction equipment for race fans, dealers and customers to visit. Among many cool attractions, Caterpillar Used Equipment Services had retrofitted a 1985 140G motor grader for sale, rebuilt with new parts, systems, comforts and even a Tier III electronic engine, promoting its long lasting machinery to race fans and a hospitality tent full of buyers. Cat also emphasized its growing website, www.catused.com, which receives 24,000 to 30,000 visits a month. I was there to cover the sale and website, and I was lucky enough to enjoy the event and race. Here are a set of photos from both, most of which were taken by all around nice guy Mark Sprouls, from Caterpillar Trade Press Relations. Wave your cursor over photos for explanations (works best with Windows Explorer).

We love both quilting and tractors at the Machine Works blog, so the Case IH quilt contest is always a big deal around our web offices. The Case IH "Red Tractor" quilting contest was held in conjunction with the 21st annual national Red Power Roundup on June 24-26 in LaPorte, Ind., capturing the eye of many attendees and becoming a source of pride for one quilting team especially. A wide variety of beautifully crafted quilt entries were entered -- each celebrating the Case IH and International Harvester legacy.

"The quilts were truly beautiful and an impressive representation of Case IH heritage," explains Sarah Pickett, Case IH licensing and merchandising manager. "We were thrilled to get many great entries from passionate Case IH fans."

The dynamic sister duo of Evie Schlief from Glenwood, Minn., and Ceci Loch from Gordon, Wis., won the quilting contest and received the $1,000 prize with their entry. The winner was called "A Man on his Tractor," a 78- by 92-in. quilt featuring fussy-cut patterned panels of vintage International Harvester tractors in farmyard settings with the historic "Red Driver I" inlaid in the sashing throughout the quilt.

Encouraged to join the contest by her son and husband, both members of the No. 26 Minn-Dak Red Power chapter, Schlief didn't have to search too hard for inspiration.

“We’ve used Case IH equipment on our farm for more than 36 years,” she explains. “After hearing about the contest, I called my sister in Wisconsin and suggested we submit an entry. I agreed to do the piecing and she did the long arm quilting.”

Throughout the process, Schlief’s grandsons, ages three and six, were completely engrossed in the quilt making. "After we won, I took the quilt to show in the county fair, and it is now in my spare bedroom. When my grandson gets older, I'm going to give him the quilt,” she said. Prior to the "Red Tractor" contest, the two sisters had never entered a quilting contest, but they now hope to participate in future contests as well.

Other entries that received official judge's recommendations include Chris Holmes and Lynn Weiler of Westchester, Ill., Donna Matuszak of Wanatah, Ind., Lynn Jacobs of LaPorte, Ind., and Martha Campolattava of Lake Station, Ind.

"The event was certainly a success and we know that it wouldn't have been possible without the outstanding support of the No. 33 Northern Indiana Chapter of the IH Collectors Club and Kelli Smoker. The IH enthusiasm was contagious and I hope that many others were inspired to make their very own red tractor quilts," Pickett added.

A 3,000-mile road trip across American has earned JCB a spot in The Guinness Book of World Records. JCB’s 3CX backhoe loader has earned a world record by completing a 26-day, 3,185-mile road trip across the United States. The epic Backhoe Across America fundraising trek beat the existing record for “The Longest Journey in an Excavator” by 600 miles and has secured the company a place in The Guinness Book of World Records.

With JCB veteran Neil Smith at the controls and support from a Backhoe Across America crew, the newly-updated JCB 3CX set off from Tybee Island, Ga., on March 26, carrying a bucket of East Coast sand.

After spending 119.5 hours in the cab at speeds averaging 27 mph, Smith drove the machine onto the beach at the Santa Monica, Calif., pier on April 20 and dropped off the Tybee Island sand.

“It's been an amazing journey," Smith said. "The JCB backhoe performed brilliantly, and it has been an incredible way to see the country.”
 
The JCB backhoe that completed the epic journey features a striking new design that exudes ruggedness and strength. The 3CX model now includes a re-styled counterweight and new vertical grille design offering an even more aggressive feel. The sharper lines on the excavator and loader profiles contribute to the robust look, while the sloping hood retains excellent forward visibility.
 
In addition to the new styling on the machine, the new 3CX comes with an EcoRoad feature that resulted in 30 percent fuel savings throughout the Backhoe Across America journey. To further increase fuel efficiency, the new generation backhoes feature an EcoDig system resulting in an average of 15 percent fuel savings while working in ground-engaging applications.

 
Along the way, the crew made “pit stops” at JCB dealerships in eight cities to help raise awareness and funds for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The fundraising pit stops were the only stops Smith and his crew had to make. The JCB backhoe stood up to the ultimate test of endurance, durability and reliability with no unscheduled service checks.
 
“I am proud of the team for completing the rigorous journey and for earning a world record," said JCB Inc. chairman and chief executive John Patterson. “It has been wonderful to see the support we have received not only from this community, but from our dealers and their communities across the country.”

Follow the incredible 3CX journey, watch the daily video logs and see what Neil and his crew encountered on the road by visiting www.JCBforHaiti.