Genie Introduces Super-Straddle Accessory Redesign

Genie Industries recently introduced the Super-Straddle accessory redesign.

The Super-Straddle is an attachment that allows operators to mount a Genie AWP Super Series personnel lift above obstacles such as fixed seating in theaters, auditoriums and convention centers. It provides up and over access for the Genie AWP Super Series to be used in spaces that are otherwise inaccessible and hard to reach. The new Genie Super-Straddle was redesigned to meet the latest ANSI A92.3 standards and is CE compliant.

"The Super-Straddle is a versatile, efficient accessory for facilities such as schools and churches," said Kim Williams, senior market analyst, Genie Industries. "It allows easy overhead access for maintenance like changing light bulbs, replacing ceiling panels and even for touching up paint."

Source: Genie Industries

John Deere's 764 High-Speed Dozer Is The First New Machine Form Seen In Decades

John Deere unveiled the 764 High-Speed Dozer(HSD) at the 2008 CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas last March. The 764 High-Speed Dozer is (HSD) the first new machine form the construction industry has seen in decades.

According to John Deere, this is a unit that will give operators the ability to do more in less time.

This innovative rubber-tracked dozer combines the speed of a grader with the flotation of a crawler dozer. As a result, operators can perform grading and moderate dozing at about double the speed of a similarly sized crawler. They'll also have the ability to travel 18 mph across a job site without damaging pavement.

"The 764 HSD has the potential to revolutionize site preparation and road building with its speed alone," said Dan Drescher, Deere's product marketing manager for crawler dozers and crawler loaders.



"Combining the rubber tracks with the speed dramatically expands travel possibilities around the jobsite, meaning less trailer hauling and no need for contractors to lay out mats just to cross pavement," Drescher said. "Its mobility and also its maneuverability, thanks to articulated steering, are unprecedented for a dozer."

"The hydrostatic drive train is very efficient in delivering power to the ground on the 764," Drescher explained. "The machine's rubber track and drive system ensures there's much lower rolling resistance than with a conventional steel track system – so operators can work and travel at much higher speeds."

Source: John Deere

Alliance Scale Offers Portable Truck Scale

Alliance Scale Inc. recently introduced a high-capacity, portable truck scale that can be moved from site-to-site for a wide range of construction, processing, scrap, mining, and material handling projects.

The Alliance Portable Truck Scale features Rice Lake's Survivor ATV Series steel deck which is offered in 10' to 80' lengths; 10', 11', or 12' widths and provides up to 100 tons capacity. Featuring pre-assembled deck modules with self-seating hinge connectors for easy installation, expansion, and relocation, this rugged scale is designed to be moved from site-to-site.

Providing a 90,000 lb. concentrated load capacity, the Alliance Portable Truck Scale utilizes 75,000 lb. capacity load cells and has a span deflecttion ratio of 1:1100 for legal highway loads. Load cells and electronic components are accessible through the scale deck and are protected for transport. Optional steel approaches and ramps are available.

The Alliance Portable Truck Scale is priced from $45,000.00 up, depending upon configuration. Literature and pricing are available upon request.

Source: Alliance Scale Inc.

Haishan Deng's Futuristic Super Tipper Truck

The futuristic design of the Super Tipper Truck looks more like a giant pack animal than a conventional dump truck. That is no accident. Designer Haishan Deng used the movement of big creatures in nature to create a dump truck that is more maneuverable.

You can see more of Haishan Deng's amazing designs at www.haishandesign.com

According to the Super Tipper Truck press release...

Super Tipper Truck is a winning design of 2007/2008 Red Dot design award. This concept was designed to find new solutions and technology which can be used in future tipper truck design. It is also a future vision of F.X.Meiller’s tipper truck. F.X.Meiller is the leading tipper manufacturer in Europe. The company is based in Munich, and truck company including Mercedes Benz, MAN, Renault, Volvo, Iveco has their tipper truck assembled in Meiller Kipper.

Haishan Deng is the designer of this concept. The idea comes from structure and movement of four feet animal. Tipper trucks have served the construction industry for a hundred years. Over the century, though tip trucks have got bigger and stronger, they’re largely still based on a design we all first encountered in the sand pit as children. Super Tipper Truck has been designed with new solutions and technology. It also seeks new methods and solutions to problems inherent with the traditional one.

Traditional dump trucks are able to only unload materials backwards or sideways, and the driver requires an amount of time to adjust the truck to specific position. Super Tipper Truck solves this problem by using a tipper that is able to unload materials in all four directions.

It took me a long time to figure out a structure to do this function. Normally the tipper is fixed on base pan of trucks. If the tipper needs to unload to four directions the structure will be very complicate and the cockpit is always a problem. So I searched the nature to find some inspirations. Finally the body of quadruped animals helps me to find out the solution. In this concept, the base pan of trucks was removed instead with the tipper as a center main connection of every part of the truck.

The suspension arms are connected to main tipper on rails, to allow parts to slide past each other. The wheels are attached to independent engines, which allow them to move in different directions. The hydraulic system attached to the each arm moves the arms to enable the main tipper to rotate and be positioned in different angles. The cockpit is also independent which can be lifted up or down just like head of animals, so the truck can unload at the front. The ability to unload at front makes it easier for drivers to navigate and position the truck more accurately, and thus, it also makes the process safer.

The flexibility of unloading makes the whole process fast and simple; and makes the management of trucks at construction sites - especially when a number of them are in use- more efficient.

As ground conditions on constructions sites are often unstable and uneven, the independent suspension arms with engines allow it to navigate and unload over tough terrains effortlessly. It can also be driven down and unload on incline surface which is very useful but impossible to do by traditional trucks. Another benefit from the moving cockpit is the truck can load some kind of materials such as sand, mud by itself while it open the tipper to the front and be driven towards the materials.

Safety is also in consideration of this concept. The cockpit is surrounded with glass of wide range vision. Driver can see what is down there through the glass on the cockpit floor like helicopter. To protect driver in extreme conditions, the cockpit has an enhanced strength roof and hard side protection.

Source: Haishan Deng

The Caldwell Group's Winch Boom Adds Crane Capablities To Forklifts

The Caldwell Group recently introduced a new winch boom that fits standard fork lift trucks.

According to The Caldwell Group...

Quickly turn your fork lift into a "portable crane". Caldwell's new Winch Boom combines the reach of a fork lift boom with the precise lifting of a winch, adding value and functionality to your lift truck. The Winch Boom fits standard fork lift trucks and is an economical alternative to an overhead or gantry crane.

Available in fixed, telescopic and pivoting telescopic models with winch hook capacities of 2,000 or 2,400 pounds. Standard operation is 110 volt electrical and with optional DC or hydraulic winch operation available on any model.

Source: The Caldwell Group

Travelers Inland and Celevoke offer initiative to protect heavy equipment

For Construction Pros.com reports that Travelers Inland recently announced an initiative with Celevoke, Inc. to protect heavy equipment.

Travelers customers will be able to purchase Celevoke's LunarEYE Wireless Asset Tracking and Control systems at a discount price.

Celevoke has a secure website in the works, allowing Travelers customers to track equipment outfitted with GPS transmitters, speeding the recovery of stolen heavy equipment.

Source: ForConstructionPros.com

Volvo CE's Gryphin concept wheel loader

Here are some images of Volvo CE’s Gryphin, an extreme concept wheel loader. While the Gryphin is only a concept, it offers a glimpse of the future of heavy equipment.


According to Volvo CE…

Gryphin has the twin themes of ‘the Environment’ and ‘the Operator’ at its heart. Using an electric hybrid power source, Gryphin emits almost no emissions. Instead of heavy transmissions, drivelines and axles, Gryphin uses electrical motors inside each wheel, allowing much higher underbody ground clearance and a super quiet machine.

Having separate motors for each wheel has other advantages.

The lack of a traditional driveline and axles allows the adoption of intelligent independent suspension. This not only offers a more comfortable ride for the operator, with fewer vibrations entering the cab, but also allows for variable ride height. The frame can be lowered for high speed haul cycles, reducing the centre of gravity and making much higher speeds than is currently possible with no lost of comfort or stability. The frame can also be raised; increasing ground clearance over rough ground and offering greater dump heights while maintaining stability.

The cab features new technology to keep the interior temperature comfortable. The windows darken in bright light, like a pair of sunglasses.


Volvo says much of the technology from the Gryphin concept is already under development or even being tested, and is very close to the real machines that will be on the job twenty years from now.

The only problem is that the Gryphin looks so sleek and stylish, it would almost be a shame to get it dirty

Innovative dump truck conversion wins award

Suujournal.com features a story on Chris Culp, inventor of the Dump-A-Matic, a device that turns any pick-up truck into a dump truck.

Culp was awarded $100,000 by a panel of investors at the Utah Economic Summit.

The Dump-A-Matic is a large box that sits in the back of a pickup. After the Dump-A-Matic is filled with dirt, the driver backs up and stops suddenly. The device dumps the dirt using gravity, then rolled back by hand.

Are you having problems with ultra low sulfur diesel?

Ultra low sulfur diesel (or ULSD) fuel was introduced last year as part of an EPA mandate to reduce diesel pollution. While ULSD might reduce emissions, For Construction Pros reports that some engines are having trouble with the new fuel.

Complications with ULSD seem to happen when equipment is subjected to extremes in temperature and fuel reaches a "cloud point", causing waxy crystals to form.

While the problem appears to be preventable when steps are taken to clean and protect equipment fuel, contractors and other equipment users are frustrated to have another problem to worry about.

Have you had problems with ULSD in you heavy equipment? Did you find a cause...and a solution? Leave a comment and share your story.