A Perkins diagram of a diesel particulate filter in action. The company says a new filter for smaller particles, possibly required in upcoming “Tier 5” regulations, may replace the DPF now used on many larger machines.

British engine manufacturer Perkins, is meeting with customers and media although not exhibiting at Intermat this year. At least not in the conventional sense.

Perkins has created a “virtual” stand or booth for the show that demonstrates all their products and technology. So even if you don’t make the jump over the pond to Paris this week, you can check out the company’s diesel lineup here.

We did get a chance however to talk with Oliver Lythgoe, product concept marketing for the company, about the world-wide engine market, and what some are calling Tier 5 (in the United States) or Stage 5 in Europe.

The Tier 5/Stage 5 emissions regulations, won’t be a huge change from the current level of technology, Tier 4 Final, and none of it has been written into law, either in Europe or the United States, says Lythgoe. But it only makes sense for engine manufacturers to begin preparing for what will probably become written into the laws in 2016, and required by law by 2019, he says.

What is being proposed is a reduction in the numbers of fine particles in diesel exhaust. Current Tier 4 Final regulations only restrict the mass of particles, which can be large or small. But it is the small particles that health authorities think pose the greatest threat to one’s lungs. The bottom line is that some sort of additional particle filter will probably be added to machines.

Don’t miss our complete coverage of Intermat 2015. Click here for the headlines.

This may replace or supplement the diesel particulate filters now used on many larger engines (above 75 horsepower), or the diesel oxidation catalysts in use on many lower horsepower engines. Most manufacturers will have a solution on the shelf, ready to go, once the regulations and timelines are announced, says Lythgoe. So the changes won’t be as disruptive as the addition of DPFs, DOCs and selective catalytic reduction that happened with the change from Tier 3 to Tier 4 Final.

In other news Perkins announced that the manufacturing of it’s popular 2.2 liter, 400 series engine will move to the company’s Griffin, Georgia factory. The 404F-E22TA engine, which was announced at Bauma, China last year is the first to offer common rain direct injection and full authority electronics in its size class. The technology will offer OEMs greater flexibility in tailoring the engine to specific applications and use an engine with a smaller footprint in applications where traditional engines up to 2.9 liters have been common.

The new model retains many of the popular of the 400 Series and has gained addition of a common rail fuel system and full authority electronics. This will boost performance and allow OEMs greater flexibility in tailoring the engine to specific applications according to the company. It also allows OEMs to use a smaller displacement engine in machines where traditionally engines up to 2.9 liters may have been the norm.

Performance from the 404F-E22TA has been boosted to 67 hp. There is also a turbocharged, non-aftercooled model, offering up to 36 kW (48 hp).

Running from 2.8 to 3.6 liters, the new “Syncro” line of four-cylinder diesel engines unveiled at Bauma by Perkins offer outputs from 60 to 134 horsepower and an increase in power density of 22 percent over previous models.

One of the goals of the Syncro engines, unveiled at Bauma last week, was to create an engine family with the ability to work anywhere in the world with minimal changes in regards to emissions technology and fuel quality. The engines are designed as a modular product with flexible aftertreatment options and a variety of mounting positions.

The aftertreament systems have been reduced in size by 40 percent and use a compact, two-stage design. The engines are compliant with Tier 4 Final emissions standards in the United States and Stage V emissions regulations coming due in 2019.

The 3.6L engine shows an eight percent improvement in fuel economy and power up to 134 horsepower with 369 lbs.-ft. of torque. The 2.8L turbo aftercooled version cranks up to 74 horsepower and 240 lbs.-ft. of torque.

Perkins says the Syncro engines have 90 percent commonality with current customer interfaces for off-highway machines such as wheel loaders, skid steers, excavators and telehandlers. Production on the new mills will start in the company’s Peterborough, England, factory, but plans are also underway to manufacture them in the Americas and Asia to better support customer’s supply chains.

LiuGong incorporated black accents into its H-series wheel loaders to distinguish them from the previous generation of Tier 3 models.

If “low spec” is the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear about a Chinese machine, LiuGong would like you to take a second look.

A backup camera comes standard and engages anytime the loader is put in reverse.

With the introduction of its new Tier 4 Final wheel loaders, the Chinese equipment manufacturer is bringing North American and European customers six of its most technologically sophisticated machines yet.

Designated as the H-Series, the Z-bar configured wheel loaders range in size from 3 to 9 tons and include standard features such as:

•  Cummins or Perkins engines
•  Rexroth piston pump
•  Load-sensing, variable flow steering hydraulics
•  ZF drivetrains
•  Quick-coupler, third valve hydraulics (for the four smaller models)
•  Auto-lube
•  Ride control
•  Rear-view camera
•  High back, air ride seat from Grammer
•  Topcon Tierra telematics
•  Emergency steering
•  Hydraulically actuated, on-demand cooling fan

The larger wheel loaders run on Cummins engines. The smaller models use Perkins.

Emissions driven

The decision to use Cummins or Perkins engines was driven by the emissions regulations on engines in this horsepower class. These powerplants are well proven in the marketplace and familiar to American contractors, which will make service and repair easier says Hugo Chang, wheel loader product manager.

All these engines use diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems that require diesel exhaust fluid. The largest model, the 890, also includes a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

The 835H and 840H models receive the Perkins 1204F engine. The 848H and 856H loaders get the Cummins QSB 6.7. The 877H is powered by the Cummins QSL 9, and the 890H gets the Cummins QSG 12.

Cooling fans pull a lot of horsepower away from an engine. By using hydraulically driven, on-demand fans, LiuGong was able to conserve fuel and apply more power to the work at hand.

Load sensing hydraulics

Perhaps the biggest change in terms of performance is the switch to closed-center, load-sensing hydraulics. “We are matching what the industry is doing,” says Chang. “This is a much more sophisticated, intelligent and modern system.”

In closed-center, load-sensing systems the hydraulics ramp up only on demand and proportional to demand. Heavy loads get high pressures and maximum flow. Lighter loads get less of both. This conserves fuel and pump life and helps the machine operate smoother. The sophisticated electronics which govern the load-sensing system also enable an on-demand cooling fan, thus further reducing fuel burn. In older, open-center hydraulic designs, the entire system is fully pressurized whether the machine is working hard or not.

Autolube systems come standard on all the H-Series and enable the operator to spend more time working and less time greasing.

Proven drivetrain

LiuGong chose to continue using the ZF mechanical drivetrain it had on the older Tier 3 loaders. A hydrostatic transmission was considered, and prototypes built, but the final decision was to stick with the ZF mechanical system.

“Because we were changing so many things on this machine, we decided the one thing we wouldn’t change was the drivetrain,” Chang says. “We knew the ZF was a proven product and when it came down to a choice between improving the hydraulics or the drivetrain, we chose the hydraulics.”

Quick-coupler ready

The third-valve hydraulics on the new loaders was designed to activate a quick-coupler system. “Even if the loader is shipped with a pin-on bucket, we will ship it with the third valve deadheaded at the end of the boom,” says Chang. “The idea is to give our customers maximum versatility so later on, if they want to convert to a quick-coupler system, the hydraulic hosing and valve are already there for them.”

Since the 7- and 9-ton loaders are used primarily for production work and rarely change buckets, they did not get the third valve hydraulics.

Sound levels inside the H-Series cabs were also reduced due to European regulations, but benefit American customers as well. The 856 size machine, for example, went from 76 decibels to 73.

Morbark 30/36 whole tree chipper

Morbark has added Correlli Incorporated as a dealer carrying its tree care products with responsibility for central Maryland and the District of Columbia.

“We’re proud to join the Morbark family,” says Patrick Correlli, president of Correlli. “To us, our family, employees, and customers are one in the same. We want to serve them by offering our resources to help them become successful. Morbark shares this commitment to its customers’ success.”

Correlli Incorporated began in 1999 as an independent repair shop. It supports repairs on “all makes and models of construction equipment” as well as serves as a dealer for ASV, Perkins, Terex, Genie, FRD, VEI, Airman and Kent.

“We are excited to add Correlli to our dealer network,” said Casey Gross, Morbark Director of Tree Care Products. “Their dedication to their Customers, as well as their long professional history and expertise in the field, will greatly benefit our Customers in the central Maryland and DC area.”

Perkins 9.3 liter 1706J-E93TA. Photo: Perkins

Perkins engines ranges from tiny to huge industrial behemoths, and at ConExpo the company added four new product platforms ranging in size from nine to 18 liters.

At the show Perkins unveiled the new 9.3-liter, 1700 series. It’s a six-cylinder, turbocharged and aftercooled Tier 4 Final engine with direct injection and a fully electronic control system. Power ratings for the 9.3L ranges from 335 to 456 horsepower. Also new in the series are a 13L, 2200 series; a 15L, 2500 series; and an 18L, 2800 series. The new engines are being manufactured in the company’s Seguin, Texas factory.

The landing page for Perkins My Engine App. Photo: Perkins

Perkins Synchro 1.7- and 2.8L engines were also on display at the shows. The three-cylinder 1.7L generates 39 horsepower and 89 lbs.-ft. of torque. The four cylinder, 2.8L model cranks out 74 hp and 239 lbs.-ft. of torque and is available as a turbocharged or turbocharged aftercooled variant. Both are Tier 4 Final, common rail with electronic controls.

Perkins also announced a new aftermarket business initiative. Initially aimed at customers in the United States, a new online platform called perkins.com/shop will allow customers to buy genuine Perkins parts over the internet. The online shop will be supported by a regional parts distribution center in Kentucky, which can provide one day ground or air delivery service to the major population centers in the country.

And if you’ve ever been frustrated by a missing service manual, that won’t be a problem with Perkins engines. The company’s “My Engine App” will be available later this year for downloading from Apple and Google stores. The free smart phone app will enable you to register your Perkins engine and access the complete maintenance manual and parts book, including exploded parts diagrams. You can also keep a service record of your efforts on that engine, record engine hours and get information about consumables such as filters and fluids.

Perkins Syncro 2.8 liter. Photo: Perkins

Perkin’s SmartCap oil filler cap will call you when it’s time to change your oil.

Imagine a diesel engine oil filler cap that reminds you when it’s time to change the oil.

That’s what Perkins showed us in June at its new factory in Seguin, Texas. Just north of San Antonio, Seguin is where the British-based Perkins put its headquarters for the Americas and has co-located an engine manufacturing operation with Caterpillar.

Perkins billed its SmartCap as the world’s first low-cost engine telematics device. Unlike a typical equipment telematics system that might cost $200 and require a monthly subscription fee, the SmartCap costs just $50 (the introductory price) and the data is free. More than just a telematics device, however, the Smart Cap serves as a gateway into a new Perkins web-based service for parts ordering and engine management.

The SmartCap looks like an ordinary oil filler cap, but contains a battery and sensor. When the sensor detects the engine running, it sends a signal to the operator’s smart phone via a Bluetooth connection. The Perkins app on the operator’s phone then sends the information to a cloud-based website, that keeps track of the hours accumulated. When 500 hours and other scheduled service intervals are reached, the app sends the operator a reminder to change the oil or do other required service.

By scanning a QR code on the top of the cap the operator initializes that specific cap and engine, giving them a unique ID on the website. The SmartCap and My Engine App combined will give you engine running hours, engine location, service reminders and service logs, start/stop data, and parts books and consumables information.

The SmartCap comes in three sizes that fit most Perkins engines ranging from 25 to 270 horsepower, mechanical or electronic, and it works just as well on Perkins engines that are 20 years old as it does on engines coming off the assembly line today. The battery is expected to last two to three years and be replaced after that.  It will be sold through dealers initially, but company also plans to make the SmartCap standard equipment on future engines, says Ian Bradford, parts product manager.

The SmartCap will be available starting in September and while the introductory price may go up in future, Perkins is not looking to profit on the on system, says Bradford. The larger strategy is to use the SmartCap as a way to introduce customers into Perkins’ new service and support system, which the company also announced in Seguin.

Targeted at machine owners, rental shops, and repair services, http://perkins.com/shop will allow customers in the United States to buy parts for their Perkins engines over the Internet. The look and feel of online parts store will be familiar to anybody who uses Amazon or other online stores and functions in much the same manner, says Glynn Dickinson, aftermarket business systems manager. The website is multi-platform friendly, with the same functionality whether you’re on a desktop computer, a tablet or phone. Customers pay with a credit card, and Dickinson says the claims and return processes will be “friction-free.”

Perkins chose Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to locate its parts warehouse. The city is near enough to most of the country’s population centers to enable one-day ground shipments, which will be free for Perkin’s customers. Customers at a greater distance can also choose shipping by air for a fee.

Perkins intros the SmartCap, an engine oil filler cap that sends service alerts to your phone

Imagine a diesel engine oil filler cap that reminds you when it’s time to change the oil.

That’s what Perkins showed us in June at its new factory in Seguin, Texas. Just north of San Antonio, Seguin is where the British-based Perkins put its headquarters for the Americas and has co-located an engine manufacturing operation with Caterpillar.

Perkins billed its SmartCap as the world’s first low-cost engine telematics device. Unlike a typical equipment telematics system that might cost $200 and require a monthly subscription fee, the SmartCap costs just $50 (the introductory price) and the data is free. More than just a telematics device, however, the Smart Cap serves as a gateway into a new Perkins web-based service for parts ordering and engine management.

Read the full story here.

Pipeline contractors request short-haul exemption from ELD mandate

An association representing the pipeline construction industry – including truck drivers who contract to haul equipment for pipeline construction projects – and a specialized equipment fleet are seeking exemptions from the electronic logging device mandate set to take effect on Dec. 18.

The Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) is requesting the exemption for all pipeline contractor vehicle drivers, stating the drivers typically utilize the short-haul exemption to logging regulations, but they sometimes exceed the short-haul exemption of more than eight days in a 30-day period, requiring them to use ELDs. The group says the drivers would still be required to keep paper logs if the exemption is granted.

PLCA says the drivers primarily operate flatbed trucks off of public roads in a pipeline right-of-way. The group adds that ELDs do not offer a safety benefit for pipeline drivers because they are rarely on public roads. The exemption request states the drivers “almost always” operate within a 100-mile radius and meet the requirements for the short-haul exemption, but may not return to the work-reporting site within 12 hours, as the short-haul exemption requires.

Read the full story here.

Volvo sells its 25% stake in Deutz engines

Volvo has sold off all of its shares in German engine maker Deutz, according to brief announcements released by the companies.

Volvo says it sold more than 30 million shares to institutional investors for 1.9 billion Swedish Crowns ($225 million).

In June 2012, Volvo increased its shareholding from 6.7 percent to more than 25 percent with the purchase of 22 million shares at a value of approximately $163 million from Same Deutz-Fahr Group (SDF), at just more than $7 per share.

Read the full story here.

PHOTOS: Classic American machines on display at John Deere World HQ

It’s not often that you visit a place to take in the history within its walls only to find that the walls themselves have historical significance as well.

But that’s exactly what you get at John Deere’s stunning World Headquarters building in Moline, Illinois. Apart from housing corporate offices, the complex sits on 1,400 acres of—as you’d expect—extremely well-manicured land, and features a fascinating collection of historical Deere machines.

The building is the winner of multiple architectural awards. William Hewitt, Deere & Company President at the time, thought the look of the building should “reflect the character of the company of its employees,” according to the Deere website. Designed by Eero Saarinen, the man who dreamed up the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the building is built with COR-TEN weathering steel. Since its opening in 1964, this steel has aged with a patina that gives the building a very “earthy” look.

Read the full story here.

Fecon intros FMX36, FMX50 Excavator Bull Hog mulching attachments

Fecon has introduced two new Excavator Bull Hog mulching attachments for midi-size excavators from 5-10 tons.

The FMX36 Bull Hog features a 36-inch cutting width and weighs in at 850 pounds, while the FMX50 has a 50-inch cutting width and weighs 1,050 pounds.

Both heads can be mounted on backhoes and side arm booms in addition to excavators, and feature a variable motor that can be adjusted for 12-40 gpm.

Read the full story here.

2017’s Top Newsmaker: Deere buys Wirtgen

Released during the sale announcement, this graphic shows how the Deere and Wirtgen brands will be integrated on the jobsite to provide a full line of construction and roadbuilding equipment. (Note: Wirtgen crushers and screeners are also part of quarry operations.)

After identifying Wirtgen as an attractive strategic fit several years ago, John Deere pulled the trigger in a surprise move this June, buying German equipment manufacturer Wirtgen Group. The all-cash $5.2 billion deal gave Deere access to Wirtgen’s deep roots in roadbuilding and quarry equipment markets. The deal also made Deere the first manufacturer to offer crushing and screening as well as mobile equipment. In the acquisition announcement, Deere said it would maintain Wirtgen’s brands – Hamm, Vogele, Wirtgen, Kleeman and Benninghoven – along with its manufacturing footprint, employees and distribution network.

Cat shocks Peoria

What will never be: The Cat Peoria headquarters building announced in 2015.

The 107-year intertwining of Caterpillar and Peoria, Illinois, suffered a break in January when the company announced it would relocate its headquarters to the Chicago area. The move – involving about 300 executives and support personnel – put a definite end to the announced downtown three-tower headquarters riverfront complex, announced in 2015.

Atlas Copco’s busy January

Dynapac sports a new look after Fayat purchase.

January was a busy month for Atlas Copco last year. It announced it was selling its Dynapac line of pavers, planers and rollers to Fayat Group, parent of Bomag. Then the board proposed separating out its Mining and Rock Excavation Technique Business Area and its Construction Tools Division to create a new company dedicated to mining and civil engineering customers. The new company, eventually called Epiroc, is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm stock exchange in mid-2018. Atlas Copco will retain its air compressor and vacuum businesses.

Rental continues to soar

HercRentals, H&E Equipment Services and United Rentals all reported strong third quarters, serving to underscore the American Rental Association’s forecast that construction/industrial equipment rental revenue would grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 4.1 percent between 2017 and 2021, to $40.4 billion.

United Rentals buying spree 

United Rentals upped the ante in August for Neff Corporation, offering almost $4 per share more than suitor H&E Equipment Service and snagged the deal. It was the second big acquisition for United Rentals, which spent $965 million for NES Rental Holdings in April. Also, in August, United bought Cummins’ mobile rental generator fleet.

The 2017 Timeline (continues throughout)

Our feet are still hurting

Project AME, the world’s first 3D-printed excavator and the first large-scale use of steel in 3D printing, was unveiled Tuesday morning at ConExpo 2017. Photos and video: Wayne Grayson

ConExpo, the industry’s every-third-year extravaganza, featured an all new Tech Experience with a showstopper 3D-printed compact excavator. Show stats reflected sunny skies and moods: 128,000 attendees, plus a record-breaking 2,800 exhibitors and 2.8 million net square feet of exhibits.

Data and more data

The big story in the heavy equipment industry continues to be all about data. Specifically, the data coming off your machine’s telematics and how that data can become a key part of your overall jobsite management picture, not to mention a manufacturer’s profit statement. Cat, for one, has been direct about its intentions on this front. “Instead of Cat being a brand on the jobsite, we’re pushing to make it the jobsite brand,” said Cat’s Paolo Fellin at ConExpo.

Parts, parts and more parts

John Deere, JLG and Volvo used ConExpo to announce new parts initiatives. Deere’s Big Part Promise guarantees critical parts by the end of the business day, or they’re free. JLG’s MaxQuip parts line supplies users with competitive model parts, and Volvo’s 24-Hour Parts Guarantee ensures delivery of parts within 24 hours of the order. In November, Cat launched its Yellowmark aftermarket brand, aimed at customers looking for lower-cost parts, particularly for older equipment.

Silica dust rules arrive

DD 250, Diamond coring tool

After years of discussions, appeals and delays, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration began enforcing its new rules designed to reduce the amount of crystalline silica dust on construction worksites by 80 percent, on average, per 8-hour work shift. The rules were scheduled to take effect in June but were delayed until September 23rd for OSHA to fine-tune compliance guidelines. The goal is to reduce and prevent lung cancer, silicosis and other respiratory ailments caused by overexposure to crystalline silica, a common chemical compound found in rock, concrete and brick.

Georgia opens interstate bridge in 45 days

Facing catastrophic traffic snarls after an I-85 bridge in Atlanta was destroyed by fire, Georgia and federal transportation officials smoothed the engineering and regulatory path for contractor C. W. Matthews to complete a replacement overpass more than a month ahead of time. In addition to being a showcase for Accelerated Bridge Construction methods, the incident prompted state DOTs across the nation to assess their current under-bridge material storage practices.

Cat changes nomenclature

Further details on Cat’s nomenclature changes emerged in 2017. The letter modifiers on most Cat models will be dropped and replaced with a Build Number – which will only appear on product information, not on the machine itself – as generational changes occur. The first machine to use this new approach was the 745 articulated truck, which Cat debuted at ConExpo. One exception: Cat’s dozers, which will continue with their current E, K, N and T letter designations.

AWPs become MEWPs

Genie is preparing for future ANSI standards with its XC lineup of aerial work platforms. Photo by Don McLoud

Can’t say we’re fond of the new acronym, but as part of proposed aerial work platform standards, the name of the entire equipment category will be changed to “mobile elevating work platforms.” More important, these standards are leading to major changes to the machines, how rental shops deal with their customers and how contractors plan projects.

Texas takes a bullet train 

A company called Texas Central announced plans to move forward on a bullet train that would link Houston and Dallas, a span of about 240 miles. According to the company, the train will be privately funded and return $2.5 billion in tax revenue back to the state. Fluor, Lane Construction and WSP (formerly Parsons Brinckerhoff) have been selected for design engineering. The train is anticipated to be operational in 2023.

Milestones:

Anniversaries celebrated this past year included:

175th:

In 1842, Jerome Increase “J.I.” Case starts the Racine Threshing Machine Works in Racine Wisconsin, forerunner of Case Construction Equipment.

150th:

Deutz unveils its atmospheric gas-powered engine in 1867.

100th:

St. Louis dealer Fabick Cat celebrates its centennial mark by giving $600,000 to six area charities.

100th:

The Texas Department of Transportation celebrates with a traveling exhibit featuring a 1928 Liberty Truck.

100th:

C. C. Hobart begins Hobart Brothers, parent company of Hobart Welders.

75th:

Freightliner Trucks debuts the Model 600 “Shovelnose” in 1942.

75th:

Austin Talbert designs Talbert Manufacturing’s first removable gooseneck trailer.

60th:

In 1957, the German company now known as Wacker Neuson begins making construction equipment in the United States.

60th:

Bomag GmbH begins production of the BW 60 double vibratory roller in 1957.

50th:

John Deere makes its first JD570 motor grader in 1967.

50th:

Western Star Trucks launches in 1967, addressing the needs of Canadian mining and logging operations.

Tech that’s here now…

• Perkins’ SmartCap oil filter tells you when it’s time to change the oil on your Perkins diesel engine. The device looks identical to a normal oil fill cap, but sensors inside it detect when the engine is running and send you an email alert when the engine reaches 500 hours of run time.
• Tool companies took on connectivity in a big way this year. In November, DeWalt announced its Jobsite Wi-Fi device that gives internet access throughout a work area, instead of just in the jobsite trailer. Hilti power tools are now equipped with Bluetooth and Near Field Communication sensors, allowing users to quickly identify and find resources for each tool on smartphones and tablets. And Milwaukee’s One-Key app allows you to track and manage all Milwaukee tools on a computer or phone; an additional Tick device can be attached to any jobsite asset to track location.

…and tech that’s still to come

Some of these are far off, others are just around the corner.

• ConExpo attendees donning virtual-reality goggles in the John Deere booth could get a glimpse of the company’s backhoe of the future, called “Fixstern.” To provide more cab space, Deere eliminated the large rear tire wheel well and used an exoskeleton design, pushing structural frame components outside.
• Fastbrick Robotics signed an agreement with Caterpillar to further develop Fastbrick’s robotic bricklayer, which can be attached to the boom of an excavator.
• AME, the world’s first 3D-printed excavator stole the spotlight at ConExpo’s new Tech Experience area. The machine’s cab, boom, hydraulic oil reservoir, heat exchanger and cooling system were 3D printed.
• Two electric heavy trucks grabbed headlines. Late last year, the 1,000-horsepower Nikola One debuted, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and regenerative braking. It is expected to roll off assembly lines in 2020. Tesla took off the wraps on its lithium-battery-powered electric truck in November, promising a range of up to 500 miles at maximum weight and highway speed. Production is expected to start in 2019.
• The Workhorse W-15 plug-in electric pickup will be in production this year, with an anticipated sticker price of $52,500.
• Declaring that “autonomy is no longer an experiment,” Cat says it is planning to offer a brand agnostic autonomous system for mining trucks by the first quarter of 2019. Also on tap: offering scaled-down semi- and fully autonomous machine control systems for quarries.
• Volvo Construction Equipment announced its electric hybrid LX1 prototype loader achieved up to 50-percent fuel efficiency improvement over a conventional Volvo L150 loader.
• Built Robotics unveiled its autonomous compact track loader, which uses LIDAR to navigate the jobsite along with GPS sensors and machine control technology to follow site plans without an operator.

ELDs become mandatory

Although there have been numerous attempts to postpone or rescind the electronic logging device mandate for on-highway trucks, as of press time, the Dec. 18, 2017, deadline was still in place. As detailed in a special report in our June issue, contractors can’t automatically assume they are exempt from these rules. In fact, using Randall-Reilly’s proprietary RigDig Business Intelligence database, we found more than 230,000 construction operations (contractors, material producers and equipment dealer/rental companies) are running more than 1 million trucks that could fall under the mandate.

Trending: How to get disaster work

With several states and one territory dealing with the aftermath of three massive hurricanes this year, our take on how to get disaster cleanup work received more than 36,000 page views. The aftermath of these disastrous storms gave construction contractors, subcontractors and workers plenty of debris cleanup and rebuilding work and was a contributing factor in construction unemployment reaching 4.5 percent in October, the lowest rate on record for that month, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors.

New market entries

Cat UTV

• JCB entered the aerial lift market with 27 new machines, including scissor lifts, articulating booms and telescopic booms.
• Cat partnered with Textron Specialized Vehicles to offer three UTV models.

The story that wasn’t

For many, 2017 was going to be a year focused on America’s crumbling roads and bridges, with a new president in the White House who had pledged on the campaign trail a $3 trillion infrastructure plan. The Trump administration did not present a plan to Congress, and is still struggling to come up with ways to pay for it. Congress didn’t seem to mind the lack of a plan, as it spent the year mired in other issues, such as Obamacare, immigration, tax reform, the Russia investigation and claims of sexual harassment.

And in the meantime…

The American Society of Civil Engineers released its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, and as a nation, we continued to get a solid overall D.

Cat’s legal woes

In March, Caterpillar’s Peoria, Illinois, corporate headquarters were raided by federal law enforcement officials as part of an investigation into the company’s tax strategy. The suit alleges the company avoided paying more than $2 billion in taxes by moving select profits to offshore shell companies located in Switzerland and Bermuda.

If that weren’t enough, the company is also under investigation by the International Trade Commission after German equipment maker Wirtgen (newly acquired by John Deere) filed a patent infringement complaint against Cat in August. Wirtgen alleges that Cat’s road milling machines violate its patents. In November, Cat fired back with a patent infringement complaint against Wirtgen concerning the same equipment.

Machine blends create show buzz

JCB Teleskid

Billed as a “half telescopic handler/half skid steer,” JCB’s Teleskid turned eyes at ConExpo and has created orders ever since, according to JCB. The machine – which also comes in a compact track loader version – can reach up to 13 feet, 3 inches and is the only skid steer that can dig below its chassis to a depth of 3 feet, says the company. Case Construction Equipment showed off its concept DL450 (aka the Minotaur) at the show, billed as a “compact dozer loader,” combining a compact track loader (CTL) with a dozer. The core feature of the DL450 is a C-frame dozer interface that pins directly into the machine chassis; it can be unpinned and disconnected like an attachment, turning the machine back into a standard CTL.

Chevy returns to medium-duty market

GM’s latest generation 6.6L Duramax V8 will power the coming Silverado 4500 and 5500 work trucks.

General Motors announced that the Chevy-branded medium-duty work trucks it has been developing in partnership with Navistar will be called the Silverado 4500 and Silverado 5500. The Silverados represent GM’s versions of the Class 4 and 5 vehicles.

Here are some quick takes on what our editors see ahead:

Don McLoud:

The Trump administration’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan will face a protracted funding battle in Congress, where members will have little interest in a fuel tax increase after just passing tax reform. Gridlock will prevent passage in 2018.

Tom Jackson:

Use of GPS/GNSS and telematics technology will see strong growth in 2018 as OEMs and software companies make their products more intuitive and easy to use. 2D and 3D automated digging with excavators will be the big winner.

Marcia Doyle:

The Internet of Things has exploded this year with tool makers Hilti and Milwaukee adding Wi-Fi capabilities to track tools and manage use. And now DeWalt is offering Wi-Fi boosters to create Wi-Fi ability beyond the jobsite trailer. As the information demands of jobsites increase, and as 5G comes on board, look for more companies to piggyback their jobsite presence – be it a toolbox, hand tool or machine – with more interconnectivity features.

Wayne Grayson: 

Volvo, Komatsu and Caterpillar have all unveiled autonomous haul trucks, with Cat planning a major expansion of its global fleet. But the real sign of momentum behind autonomous construction machines came with the unveiling of an autonomous compact track loader from Built Robotics.  This robotic CTL uses LiDAR to navigate the jobsite along with GPS sensors and machine control technology for following site plans without an operator.

Look for 2018 to bring more big moves toward autonomous equipment. As Denise Johnson, Caterpillar Resource Industries group president, put it in September, “Autonomy is no longer an experiment.” 

Caterpillar is continuing to develop its Perkins-brand SmartCap engine oil filler cap, named a 2018 Edison Award gold winner earlier this year.

Now in three sizes that fit most Perkins engines ranging from 25 to 270 horsepower, the coming “SmartCap 2” will likely expand to Cat engines and offer additional technology when it’s introduced at a later date.

“We’ve gotten requests for expanding it to other brands, but we haven’t developed that strategy right now,” says David Nicoll, marketing and dealer operations director, for Cat’s Industrial Power Systems Division. Complications include the fact there is no standard size for an oil filler cap, and that the SmartCap connects to Cat servers, Nicoll told Equipment World in a recent visit to Cat’s Seguin, Texas engine plant.

Perkins’ My Engine app.

The Perkins SmartCap got a lot of attention when it was introduced in 2017, with Perkins billing it as the world’s first low-cost engine telematics device. The $50 cap also connects to Perkins’ My Engine mobile app for parts ordering and engine management.

“What makes this innovative is that is inexpensive,” Nicoll says. “There’s no monthly fee, and it’s a great way for customers and dealers to track engine hours.”

Although it looks like an ordinary oil filler cap, SmartCap is anything but, containing a battery and a sensor. The sensor detects the vibration of  the engine when it is running, sending a message to the user’s Perkins mobile app via a Bluetooth connection. This information is sent to a cloud-based website, which tracks engine hours. When a scheduled service interval is reached, the app sends the user a reminder.

In addition service reminders, the My Engine app also gives users data on engine location, running hours, service logs, start/stop data, parts books and consumables information.

The SmartCap fits on both mechanical or electronic engines and can be retrofitted on older engines. Its replaceable battery has an expected life of two to three years. Initially sold through dealers, Perkins has indicated it plans to make SmartCap standard equipment on future engines.

Check out the Perkins video below for more info on the SmartCap:

Changing an oil filter can be a messy business, but not with Perkins’ new Ecoplus range of filters.

The filters are designed with a replaceable cartridge that fits inside the metal filter housing on the machine. The housing remains on the machine thus reducing waste and cost, and the filter cartridge sits at an upright angle.

As soon as you open the cap the oil in the filter drains back into the block and you can remove the cartridge with very little mess or spillage.

An improved bypass valve on the filter housing is less likely to open inappropriately and helps the engine prime more quickly by keeping the filter filled with oil. This fast oil circulation on start-up can protect sensitive components like turbochargers.

Perkins upgraded the filter as part of the design work undertaken on the new Perkins Syncro 3.6 and 2.8 liter engines.