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The future of utilities
equipment includes machines with smoother hydraulics, quieter engines,
and cabs with increased visibility. The bottom line for manufacturers
is to design efficient machines that increase operator productivity.
Manufacturers say that operator comfort is the key to operator productivity,
which ultimately leads to more dollars for contractors.
But sometimes manufacturers'
designs don't always match up with the needs or desires of contractors.
Some contractors want equipment that eliminates fatigue and injury.
Others want machines that can get the job done so quickly and efficiently
that operators won't be in their vehicles long enough to miss the
added comfort.
Ergonomics Anyone?
The issue of operator
comfort has caught the attention of manufacturers and started a
trend. One of the most rapidly growing areas of design is ergonomics.
Manufacturers have begun touting the benefits of ergonomic features
with just as much emphasis as they place on a machine's power, precision,
and versatility. Spacious legroom and reclining seats are spotlighted
alongside a machine's operating weight and bucket capacity.
Although the features
are considered "nice" by some contractors, not all contractors
need or want more ergonomic improvements. Ben Bracker of Bracker
Pump and Well in Racine, WI, explains that manufacturers are reaching
the limits of improvements in operator comfort. "Operator comfort
[is] nice, but when you get down to it, the ability of the machine
to get the job done is more important. You can have a cab built
up like a Cadillac El Dorado, but are you really going to listen
to the radio or watch TV in there?" But like it or not, comfort
is what's hot in terms of machine design these days.
Al Yang, public affairs
director for Komatsu Utility Corporation in Vernon Hills, IL, states
that Komatsu designs its equipment to take the drudge out of drudge
work. "We're trying to put in all the creature features that
make operators comfortable," Yang maintains.
"Ten years ago,
operators sat on rusty seats. In Komatsu machines, operators are
in ergonomic seats that are very comfortable," he adds.
Similar to many manufacturers,
Komatsu touts cabs that offer a comfortable seating position with
well-placed, low-effort controls, laid out much like in a car. In
addition, windows surrounding the cab increase visibility, and exhaust
stacks are in line with the cab post, lending to a quieter engine.
Rusty Schaefer, marketing
manager at Case Corporation in Racine, WI, agrees that increased
operator comfort is the direction in which manufacturers are headed.
He says most contractors look for minimal initial cost and often
forgo the comfort features when they should actually consider them
as a benefit to the machine's resale value and as a potential return
on their investment. "If we're talking about a backhoe, a utilities
contractor may only need a two-wheel drive for most jobs, but when
it comes time to sell in the secondary market, that contractor may
need a four-wheel drive only. So the contractor may get more money
back by purchasing the four-wheel drive in the first place."
The same goes for investing in a machine with air conditioning or
other comfort features, Schaefer adds.
And manufacturers are
getting enough demand for these features that they see no reason
to change their design direction. In fact, when designing equipment
to meet operator comfort, many manufacturers take their cue from
contractors themselves, states Tim Carroll, vice president of sales
at Waldon in Fairview, OK. "We have an element of design that's
based on what an operator recommends to his boss about what will
make him more effective and efficient," Carroll explains. Of
course, some equipment, depending on the average length of use,
doesn't require ergonomically placed seats and levers.
Harry Lao of Pine Brook
Construction Equipment in Toronto, ON, a company that sells miniexcavators,
points out that ergonomics is more of a design factor in heavy excavators–3.5
tons or more–rather than the minis. "On bigger machines,
an operator can stay for three hours doing work. With the smaller
range, ergonomics is not too important. An operator may dig for
an hour and that's it," Lao notes.
Although he admits that
he enjoys some of the convenience and luxury of current machines
on the market, Bracker says he'd rather see more useful designs.
What About More Precision
and Efficiency?
Along with ergonomics,
precision and efficiency have become important issues as well. Bracker,
for instance, says he'd like to see underground boring become more
exact. He explains that it would be helpful if manufacturers of
locating equipment could design and implement a triangulation method
of locating sondes. These sondes at the bore tip could broadcast
to a few receivers, which would pick up the signal and transmit
the information to a base unit; then this unit could break down
and translate the data for the operators.
"This would provide
a precision and accuracy that would relate to survey standards,
while also providing checks and balances for the operators to ensure
the equipment is providing data that's reliable," Bracker asserts.
In addition, the system should allow the machine operator to work
alone instead of relying on a locator operator's expertise, thereby
minimizing the possibility of human error.
Manufacturers have begun
offering similar features using a global positioning system (GPS).
For example, Case is marketing a GPS feature called Fleetlink, which
allows contractors to locate equipment and measure how much it's
utilized.
In another design innovation,
manufacturers offer a coupler feature on some machines, which allows
operators to change attachments, often without leaving the cab.
Forward/reverse foot-pedal controls free up the operator's hands.
Some machines even have removable doors, which contractors prefer
when working in the heat of summer.
Sometimes Less Is
More
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| The
future of utilities equipment includes machines with smoother
hydraulics, quieter engines, and increased visibility. |
Some manufacturers, however,
remain loyal to their design and choose to focus on smaller improvements.
Waldon doesn't focus
on radical design changes, Carroll says. "We're more interested
in updating operating components and ergonomics. We're looking at
incremental improvements."
With a large research
and development budget, Komatsu prides itself on trying to anticipate
as well as meet customer needs. "Every time a customer has
made a suggestion for a different use, we try to accommodate them,"
points out Chris Giorgianni, product marketing manager for Komatsu
backhoe loaders. He says that machine features need to prove not
only convenient but also valuable to contractors. "If we're
talking machine features, everything goes back to ‘How am I
going to be most productive? How can I make money with this machine?'"
he observes.
As testimony to Giorgianni's
comments, Eric Adams of Adams Landscaping in Rochester, MI, claims
he's not concerned with how a manufacturer designs a machine as
long as the design is practical. "I would say they're trying
to make things look more modern with decals and color. I want machines
with easy access so I can get at parts that need fixing. New Holland
came out with miniexcavators with access doors to the engine that
are extremely large. That impresses me."
What's the Bottom
Line?
For some contractors,
value is where it's at. For Bracker, the bottom line is price. He
weighs the price against the machine's ability to do the job. Equipment
longevity also comes into play. "For instance, if I buy a miniexcavator
for $28,000 in the 3-ton-plus class and another company sells the
same class machine for $35,000, I have to wonder what I'm buying,"
Bracker concludes. "What I look at is how well this machine
digs. How quickly and easily does it move the needed material for
my usual work? How much maintenance does it require?" Also,
if contractors don't use the comforts and added features much, the
true worth of the machine is diminished, Bracker remarks.
But for contractors who
do find the features beneficial, the "extras" are appearing
as options in almost every new machine. The use of electronics and
sensors and expandable tracks are more commonplace. Increased ride
control allows the operator to flip a switch and transfer shock
absorption so that the machine doesn't lose any load. Switch control
also allows an operator to change the operating system from Deere
to International Organization for Standardization pattern by swapping
mechanical linkage. The switch ability–an option on most equipment–is
more convenient for rental companies that might have to change control
for various renters.
Adaptability Is Key
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| Maneuvering
within a tight space requires skill on the part of the operator,
as well as precise equipment. |
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| Today's
equipment is designed to be so precise, it's as if the operator's
arm is out there doing the work. |
Although the switch option
is important in adapting the machine to a variety of operators and
their preferences, the ability to adapt a machine to a variety of
jobs is just as important. Adding attachments to most utility equipment
increases a machine's ability to meet the demands of a range of
jobs. By changing attachments, contractors can better utilize a
single piece of equipment to do the job of several machines. A small
investment in an attachment or two in the short term can also save
the contractor money in the long run.
Adams uses his mini-ex
for most of his jobs: landscaping, waterproofing in the winter,
and knocking down partition walls. "We use the skid-steers
for landscape installation and demolition, so we're using the same
machine for a lot of jobs. We use the auger to drill holes, the
sweeper to sweep the parking lot, the hammer to bust concrete. The
skid-steer and mini-ex are the most valuable to me," he explains.
For his business, Bracker
enjoys versatility, but he also appreciates the small creature comforts
that are now commonplace in utilities equipment. "Joysticks
have been an innovation in eliminating fatigue. Initially you pushed
or pulled a lever, moving your whole body like you were swimming,
but now joysticks make it just like playing a game," Bracker
contends.
Even with all the features
and upgrades manufacturers have introduced, there's one true test
of a good machine.
Getting the Job Done
"Contractors look
for what gets the job done," Carroll observes. Often what gets
the job done is equipment that exhibits precise movements. Working
within an established infrastructure presents special challenges
that heavy equipment contractors don't face. Maneuvering within
a tight space requires skill on the part of the operator, as well
as precise equipment.
Yang says Komatsu equipment
is designed to be so precise, it's as if the operator's arm is out
there doing the work. "I can probably make your bed with one
of our machines and tuck in the sheets as well. You want that precision
so that you're not wrecking into things."
Along those lines, Komatsu
has also just introduced an all-wheel-steer machine, according to
Giorgianni. "The front and rear axles have a tight turning
radius, so it turns like a crab."
Manufacturers seeking
increased precision in miniexcavators are using piston pumps rather
than gear pumps, notes Lao. The advantage to piston pumps is that
they offer variable displacement, allowing operators to control
the machine with more ease and precision. Gear pumps, on the other
hand, deliver hydraulic pressure, making the machine more difficult
for the operator to control. "Because it's more precise, it's
also more efficient in terms of cycle times and utilization of pressure.
It can do finer work," Lao points out.
Variable displacement
piston pumps are just icing on the cake of an already flourishing
miniexcavator market. The machines are popular in high-density regions.
"The market is driven by growth and density. Its highest users
are in big, old cities," Lao notes.
In a Tailspin?
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| Reliable
and long-lasting hydraulics is just one concern for utilities
contractors. |
To offer contractors
better precision in tight spaces, Pine Brook produces miniexcavators
with zero tail swing. Lao explains that many manufacturers have
designed zero-tail-swing machines over the last two years to address
safety concerns about the tail crashing into something when the
operator turns the machine. Lao says the machines are rounder so
that the machine and tail always spin within the machine's track
system. But track systems themselves have room for improvement.
Bill Dinwiddie, public
relations director for BLS Enterprises Inc. in Elk Grove Village,
IL, a manufacturer of various tracks and track systems, says the
company provides solutions for contractors whose equipment might
wreak havoc on delicate landscape or pavement. The company's primary
product, Tufpads, is made of a polyurethane plastic bonded to a
steel shoe that fits permanently on steel-track machines, such as
excavators and loaders. "With our product it's kind of like
gym shoes for steel track vehicles," Dinwiddie describes.
BLS Enterprises also
offers Artliner-BLS, a temporary polyurethane track system that
a single operator can clamp and bolt to a machine's steel track.
Some equipment, such
as the skid-steer loaders often used by landscapers, have problems
traversing various types of terrain. BLS provides the Protrac system,
which combines the advantage of a track loader with the added benefit
of a rubber-track loader. Dinwiddie says that the polyurethane tracks
replace the once-popular, quick-wearing rubber tracks.
For nontrack equipment,
BLS produces the Endura-Mat, a polyurethane pad that's placed under
a stabilizer pad to displace a truck's weight over a larger surface.
The pad causes minimal damage to its surroundings and saves contractors
big money by preventing unnecessary repair.
Efficiency + Versatility
= Savings
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| This
compact skid-steer has low-effort, ergonomically designed, excavator-style
controls. |
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| The
HydraulMind system on Komastu backhoe loaders allows the machine
to react almost instantly to a specific operator control. |
For contractors, efficiency
and versatility, even more than precision, also mean savings. Buying
an attachment to do a second job is less expensive than buying a
second machine.
"As far as minis
go I'd like to possibly see something in the future where they get
better at doing grading work. I'd like to be able to move just one
machine instead of two," Bracker stresses. Along those lines,
Komatsu uses the HydrauMind system to bring the utility and construction
markets greater performance and precision. The HydrauMind system
consists of a single variable-flow hydraulic pump and an "intelligent"
hydraulic circuit that allows the machine to react almost instantly
to a specific operator control. The system allows Komatsu backhoes
to perform like the larger Avance Komatsu excavators.
Giorgianni states that
Komatsu recognizes the importance of versatility. "You're selling
a machine that in some instances can be the operator's only tool."
A contractor can perform
several different jobs with just a backhoe loader and perhaps several
attachments. Shovel attachments, for example, are useful in demolition
and building construction. In all, the backhoe loader has about
30 different attachments, ranging from pallets to buckets (popular
for demolition, trenching, grading, and backfilling) and hammers
to telescopic arms, which can provide about 4 ft. of additional
dig depth. Giorgianni adds that Komatsu's backhoe loaders can also
use a tool carrier.
But just because the
attachments are available doesn't necessarily mean a contractor
will purchase one. "If I don't have a use for it, I'm not going
to buy it," Georgiani says. "They may have more buying
power upfront if they buy attachments, but a contractor needs to
consider what job they're going to be doing."
Speaking about miniexcavators,
Lao cautions against using too many upgrades. "If a machine
digs 7.5 feet and you want to extend the arm to dig 8 feet, it will
[dig to that depth], but the performance gets affected. Now for
certain applications, like ditch digging, you can probably do that
because you don't need a lot of breakout force, but for general
purposes, no."
Lao acknowledges that
some contractors who might want a bigger engine in the machine also
need to be concerned with wear and tear on the hydraulics. Usually,
however, the most common miniexcavator attachments are buckets of
varying sizes, breakers, and augers.
A thriving business on
its own, the attachment industry has had no shortage of customers
thanks to the interchangeability of parts. One attachment can fit
any manufacturer's machine.
Decisions, Decisions
So what should a contractor
look for when filling equipment needs? Lao suggests that contractors
take a good look at their basic job parameters, then specify a machine
that best fits those parameters most of the time. A contractor can
always rent a machine or buy an attachment for the occasional odd
job. In addition, Lao warns that other features, such as zero tail
swing, expandable tracks, or Extendahoe, can run up a contractor's
budget.
Although some equipment
is built to do a certain job, such as digging, other machines can
perform the same function with attachments, although not always
quite as well. Wheel loaders offer the best bet for contractors
who need to excavate rock, minerals, and soil or to load and carry
materials. Loader/backhoes can also load but have dozing and backfill
capabilities and can dig trenches and foundations to boot. They
aren't built to work in confined spaces, however. For overall digging,
lifting, loading, hammering, and cutting materials, though, excavators
make the most sense. Minis are much more nimble and versatile than
backhoes because of the 360º turntable, the low ground-pressure
rubber tracks, and the backfill dozer blade. With attachments, skid
loaders and excavators are increasingly taking over traditional
loader-backhoe work.
When researching a manufacturer,
however, "Contractors need to look at the customer support,
the service, the whole enchilada, if you will," Giorgianni
insists. As a machine gets older and needs repair or replacement
parts, or if a contractor needs a different attachment, it's sometimes
necessary to go back to the manufacturer.
Finally, whether to rent,
lease, or buy depends largely on the period of time a contractor
uses the equipment, manufacturers say. "Contractors have to
look at their records and their utilization rates and work out the
numbers. If you're an electrical contractor and you're renting [equipment]
constantly, that's the nature of your job. It's part of your work,"
Lao says.
"In today's environment,
when interest rates are low, it makes sense to lease-to-own or,
if they have the cash, to invest in the equipment," he maintains.
Often a contractor can lease-to-own for a lot less than it costs
to rent equipment–even for just a few days.
But when making the decision
to rent or buy, most contractors see the initial cost as prohibitive.
On the other hand, some manufacturers argue that the decision to
buy versus rent–occasionally long term–is a prudent one,
especially when you consider the machine's versatility with attachments.
Schaefer states that
he has observed an increase in rentals even though Case machines
include a coupler that makes a wide variety of attachments available
and increases the variety of jobs a machine can perform.
Bracker says that, ultimately,
purchasing equipment comes down to common sense. In the end, he
adds, it is important to consider the cost-benefit ratio to ensure
sound decision-making when buying equipment.
Guest author Shelly
Escalante-Cone is a freelance journalist and public relations specialist.
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