Year: 2021

Drum Rotates Up to 180 Degrees on Merlo DBM 3500 Mini Mixer

Corrine Branch

Merlo has introduced its new DBM 3500 Mini Cement Mixer to the U.S. market.

Along with its compact stature, the mixer is maneuverable on tight jobsites, able to discharge concrete up to 330 degrees around the machine. The drum can rotate laterally 180 degrees, and the chute provides additional reach.

The mixer also has a tight turning radius, and the drum has a reduced incline angle for further agility.

It can produce 37.7 square feet of concrete in less than 15 minutes, the company says. The 1,321-gallon drum can deliver 4.6 cubic yards of concrete. A self-loading bucket can handle up to 25 cubic feet of aggregate at each load cycle. Hydraulics lift and rotate the bucket as needed, while the  door automatically opens to unload aggregate into the drum. The pump moves 66 gallons of water per minute into the mixing drum.

Merlo duplicated the in-cab controls outside the mixer at ground level. “From the ground, an operator can control engine acceleration, water pump activation, drum rotation, barrel lift, chute lift and emergency stop,” the company says.

Merlo DBM 3500 Mini cement mixer
The Merlo DBM 3500 Mini Cement Mixer can produce 37.7 square feet of concrete in less than 15 minutes, the company says.MerloThe ROP-certified, enclosed cab has double controls split between the front and rear. The front controls are for driving. The seat rotates 180 degrees to access the rear controls, which manage the mixing drum and self-loading bucket and also drive the vehicle. A lever reverses travel direction. Travel speed is up to 25 mph.

The mixer runs on a 100-horsepower Deutz diesel engine mounted on the side for increased ventilation and access.

Other features include four wheel drive with three steering modes, hydrostatic transmission, and portal axles for increased ground clearance of 16 inches. It is designed for any terrain, the company says.

Merlo DBM 3500 Mini Cement Mixer Ground Control
The Merlo DBM 3500 Mini Cement Mixer can also be operated at ground level.MerloThe water tank has a 246-gallon capacity. Max unloading height is 7 feet.

The DBM 3500 is 12.7 feet high, 7.7 feet wide and 17.9 feet long.

It is sold in the U.S. through importer Applied Machinery Sales.

Merlo DBM 3500 Mini Cement Mixer Aggregate
The hydraulic self-loading bucket on the Merlo DBM 3500 Mini Cement Mixer can hold up to 25 cubic feet of aggregate to load into the mixing drum.Merlo

Did you miss our previous article…
https://creativeconstructionma.com/?p=64

World of Asphalt Plans 2022 Comeback; Registration Starts Soon

Corrine Branch

After being canceled this year because of the pandemic, the World of Asphalt will be back in 2022.

The show and conference, which will be held in conjunction with the annual AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo, is set for March 29-31, 2022, at the Nashville Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Registration opens October 14.

Held every year, except during years when ConExpo is held, the last show was in 2019. The 2021 show was originally scheduled for Atlanta, but last November, organizers canceled due to the pandemic.

The owners of the show – the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the National Stone Sand & Gravel Association – held debut virtual educational events in 2021. Both the People, Plants and Paving Conference and AGG1 Academy will be presented in-person at the 2022 event.

The World of Asphalt typically attracts 10,000 attendees. The 2019 show, held in Indianapolis, was named one of the Fastest 50 growing trade shows by Trade Show Executive magazine.

“We’re proud to bring asphalt pavement professionals and manufacturers together for the 20th edition of World of Asphalt, the leading asphalt trade show and conference, in Nashville next year,” said Show Manager Brittany Weltcheff. “We’re also looking forward to presenting better education sessions than ever and more time on the show floor for attendees, making this a can’t-miss event for asphalt and paving businesses.”

The 2024 show will also be held at the Nashville Music City Center. For more details on the 2022 events, go to www.WorldOfAsphalt.com and www.AGG1.com.

 

Did you miss our previous article…
https://creativeconstructionma.com/?p=59

New Cat D4 Boosts Visibility 30% to Front-of-Blade Area

Corrine Branch

When Cat first announced the switch from the D6K2 to the D4, the name change did not indicate a new machine. “We literally just pulled off the old sticker and put on the new,” Sam Meeker, Cat product application specialist, told Equipment World last year. 

That is no longer true. 

Now it’s the D4’s moment to shine in Cat’s new dozer lineup, and the improvements over the former D6K2/D4 are notable. These include an up to 30% increase in visibility to the area in front of the blade. Cat says these shorter sight lines mean the visual distance between the blade and the material pile is shortened by about 40% so operators spend less time backing up.
new cat d4 with better visibility
Visual distance between the blade and the material pile on the Cat D4 is shortened by about 40%.Caterpillar

The 130-net-horsepower D4 now also shares the 10-inch touchscreen main display that’s common in much of Cat’s dozer lineup. In-cab features include a standard high-definition rearview camera.

[Related: Check out our video on why Cat renamed the Cat D6K2 the D4.]

If you opt for Cat Grade with 3D, the 10-inch Grade operator interface is designed to work like a smartphone. And you can install custom Android OS platform apps.

Standard technology features include:

Slope Indicate shows machine mainfall and cross-slope on the main display. Stable Blade works with operator blade inputs for smoother surfaces.Traction Control automatically reduces track slip to save time, fuel and track wear.

Optional technology on the D4 includes:

Cat Grade with Slope Assist provides basic blade positioning assistance without added hardware or a GPS signal. Factory Attachment Ready Option (ARO) provides mounting locations, brackets, and hardware, designed to simplify installation of any brand of grade control system and allow easy assimilation to your preferred grading technology. All Cat Grade systems are compatible with Trimble, Topcon and Leica Geosystems radios and base stations.Cat Grade with 3D uses a GPS signal to automatically adjust lift and tilt blade movements as an operator follows a design plan. The low-profile roof-mounted spoiler houses the system’s antennas and receivers. The system also includes Cat’s AutoCarry, which automates blade lift, designed to get more consistent blade loads on each pass and reduce track slip.
man maintenancing cat equipment
The Cat D4’s longer service intervals contribute to reduced maintenance costs of up to 7% compared with its predecessor.Caterpillar

Longer service intervals 1,000 hours on engine oil and filter changes with Cat’s Scheduled Oil Sampling program contribute to a 7% decrease in maintenance costs. Service intervals have also been extended on the air cleaner and the diesel exhaust fluid pump filter. And LED lights offer up to six times the life of halogen. 

You can opt for either a low ground pressure or standard track configuration. The standard Variable Pitch Angle Tilt blade also comes with a foldable option to reduce transport width. 

Forestry and landclearing contractors can choose specialized guarding that protects against impacts and airborne debris. An impact-resistant cab with polycarbonate windows is also available. 

cat d4 specs

Did you miss our previous article…
https://creativeconstructionma.com/?p=54

Gearflow wins Mid-Continent Startup Challenge

Corrine Branch

Gearflow.com, aimed at providing a transparent construction equipment parts marketplace, has won the Mid-Continent Startup Challenge at the BuildWorlds 2021 Construction Tech Conference.

The competition awards the top early-stage construction tech startup based in a U.S. metropolitan area other than the East and West coasts. Three finalists presented during the event. 

Luke Powers, Gearflow founder and CEO, presented Gearflow’s marketplace platform during the challenge, which is designed to reduce equipment downtime by allowing fleet owners to quickly buy the parts they need from known suppliers.

“There is a distinct opportunity for digital technology to expedite the work in the field — particularly when it comes to equipment and tools — in order to positively influence contractor profit margins, and the solutions that Gearflow is building to elevate the supply chain and its service relationships will do just that,” says Powers.

Judges for the startup challenge included Weston Tanner, director of construction technology and innovation at Graycor; Chris Wright, director of operations support at Nabholz; and Tomislav Zigo, CTO at Clayco. Finalist pitches were scored on value proposition, market opportunity and strategy, leadership, technology, and competition.

“Gearflow addresses an underserved market with untapped potential,” says Wright, on why he selected Gearflow as the winner. “All that is left is to execute their strategy.”

Last month, Gearflow gained $3 million in seed funding from Watchfire Ventures and CNH Industrial announced it will use Gearflow’s platform in its existing dealer ecosystem.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://creativeconstructionma.com/?p=53

Komatsu, AgJunction Team Up to Automate Trucks on Jobsites

Corrine Branch

Komatsu and AgJunction have are partnering in a project designed to automate the operation of multiple off-highway trucks on construction sites.

The two companies will use what Komatsu is calling “Digital Transformation Smartconstruction” or DX Smartconstruction to examine how multiple automated trucks can flexibly respond to different work conditions. First fruits of the joint project are expected to be unveiled in Japan within the next two years.

The challenges to effectively using automation in the ever-changing construction environment are many, Komatsu notes. Loading, dumping and haul routes frequently change and the trucks must find their way around workers, other equipment and materials.

The partnership will combine AgJunction’s general-purpose automation kit, which enables real-time obstacle detection and avoidance, with Komatsu’s planned automation-compatible dump trucks. The two companies say they will take advantage of Komatsu’s DX Smartconstruction platform, which provides truck operating instructions that respond to position information and downloaded construction plans.  This joint effort is also designed to cut both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by using optimal truck deployment and haul routes.

[Related: Komatsu, Honda Team Up to Build Micro Electric Excavators.]

AgJunction, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, previously integrated customized autosteering systems for Komatsu’s construction equipment used in agricultural markets. AgJunction currently provides automation modules that support mapping, path planning and autosteering for these machines.

The two companies will work together to provide automated operations for construction sites that build on AgJunction’s Novariant division’s proprietary autosteering, connectivity and sensor fusion technology. During the first phase, the partnership will develop a proof-of-concept system to showcase safe operations using Noviariant’s advanced obstacle detection and avoidance  algorithms. 

“After the successful integration of the customized autosteering, we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Novariant in developing an automated system capable of being integrated on multiple vehicle platforms for construction workplaces,” says Yuichi Iwamoto, Komatsu chief technology officer. “Automated operation of multiple dump trucks is required to achieve safe, highly-productive, smart and clean workplaces of the future.”

Case Adds Leica’s OEM-Fit 2D, 3D Machine Control to D Series Excavators

Corrine Branch

Case Construction Equipment has added the option of Leica Geosystem’s OEM-Fit 2D and 3D machine control systems to its Case D Series excavators.

Case SiteControl Certified dealers will install the systems, ensuring that it is properly installed and tested. The systems can also be part of the acquisition process, with financing or lease approval grouped with the purchase of the machine into a single package.

“It takes the guesswork out of what solution works best with each machine, and ensures that it is installed and tested by certified professionals before it’s delivered to the contractor,” says Nathaniel Waldschmidt, product manager, Case. “The excavator and the machine control system are optimally matched and calibrated — helping the owners and operators of each machine get up and running immediately upon delivery of the machine.”  

In addition, Case says OEM-Fit  machine control solutions increase the residual/resale value of equipped excavators, and let used buyers know that the system is designed and proven to work with the machine.

“Machine control has the ability to transform the productivity, efficiency and long-term profitability of excavators,” Waldschmidt says. “We’re now making the addition of machine control with excavators completely turnkey.”

Case says the Leica system offers several features that increase the productivity, safety and accuracy of excavators while providing an easy-to-use hardware and software platform.

Case’s D series excavators range from the 30,140-pound DX130D to the 158,300-pound CKL750D.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://creativeconstructionma.com/?p=51