Equipment ENR’s equipment section covers news, trends and applications in heavy equipment, construction equipment, trucks, tools and other gear that construction professionals use every day.//www.phoneitt.com/rss/498-equipment en-us Autonomous Equipment Startup Built Robotics Secures $64M Series C Round rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

With the shortage of equipment operators seen in construction today, automation of heavy equipment is gaining ground among large contractors.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53931 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 14:50:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53931-autonomous-equipment-startup-built-robotics-secures-64m-series-c-round
2022 1Q Cost Report: Construction Activity, Supply Chain Issues Keep Utilization High rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

The construction equipment sector is still working through supply chain issues that bedeviled it in 2021, while an active construction market ikeeps machines in use longer and constrains the flow of used iron into the normal secondary channels.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53832 Mon, 28 Mar 2022 11:20:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53832-2022-1q-cost-report-construction-activity-supply-chain-issues-keep-utilization-high 1QCR_Equipment.jpg
How the Jury Divided $112M in Seattle Crane Collapse Damages kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) The civil lawsuit damage awards don't line up neatly with the proposed state safety penalties. //www.phoneitt.com/articles/53813 Tue, 22 Mar 2022 14:24:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53813-how-the-jury-divided-112m-in-seattle-crane-collapse-damages EPA Proposes Stronger Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions Standards

Some of the most significant nitrogen oxide reductions under the proposed standards would be seen in vehicles that are moving at low speeds or idling, EPA says.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53729 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 16:25:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53729-epa-proposes-stronger-heavy-duty-vehicle-emissions-standards
Quantum Gravity Sensor Tests Point to Better Subsurface Mapping reina@btinternet.com (Peter Reina) By eliminating "noise" of unwanted readings, new sensor device developed at the University of Birmingham is more accurate and up to 10 times faster than current instruments, its developers claim. //www.phoneitt.com/articles/53728 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 15:19:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53728-quantum-gravity-sensor-tests-point-to-better-subsurface-mapping Bobcat Introduces All-Electric Compact Track Loader, Sees Future in EVs rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

The new T7X model eliminates the diesel engine and the entire hydraulics system, pointing the way toward a future of fully electrified heavy equipment.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53721 Fri, 04 Mar 2022 20:45:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53721-bobcat-introduces-all-electric-compact-track-loader-sees-future-in-evs
Contractors Seek Out Latest Machines at World of Concrete blairs@enr.com (Scott Blair)

After a few uncertain years and a truncated event in 2021, the World of Concrete trade show brought together tens of thousands of contractors and construction equipment gearheads in Las Vegas on Jan. 18 to 21.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53499 Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53499-contractors-seek-out-latest-machines-at-world-of-concrete Concrete World While down from past highs, World of Concrete drew 37,000 attendees to Las Vegas.Photo by Jeff Rubenstone / ENR
Hilti Standardizes Cordless Tools on Nuron, Its New 22V Battery Platform rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

The 22V Nuron battery platform will be compatible with 70 new Hilti tools, from the lightest to the most-demanding applications.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53413 Wed, 12 Jan 2022 17:36:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53413-hilti-standardizes-cordless-tools-on-nuron-its-new-22v-battery-platform HiltiNuronOpen.jpg Hilti's 22V Nuron battery is the new standard battery for the manufacturer's entire cordless lineup going forward. Photo by Jeff Rubenstone / ENR HiltiNuronLineup.jpg The refreshed, Nuron-compatible cordless tool lineup includes 70 tools, refreshing existing tool categories and even getting into some new building trades. Photo by Jeff Rubenstone / ENR HiltiNuronDrills.jpg Hilti Nuron batteries can be used in demanding applications, such as rotary hammers. The TE 6-22 SDS Plus rotary hammers and the SDS Max TE 30-22 and TE 60-22 combihammers will be available at launch. Some new Nuron-compatible tools, like the TE 4-22 rotary hammer seen here, will be available later this year. Photo by Jeff Rubenstone / ENR HiltiNuronHammer.jpg Nuron-powered tools can even tackle applications that normally required corded or pneumatic power, like the TE-2000-22 jackhammer seen here that can crack concrete on two Nuron batteries. Photo by Jeff Rubenstone / ENR HiltiNuronBattery.jpg The Nuron batteries use lithium-ion cells with a new design for heat management. They also feature electronic controls at the point of contact with the tool for power management, allowing the tools to draw up to 100 amps. Photo by Jeff Rubenstone / ENR
2021 4Q Cost Report: Strong Demand Drives Equipment Sales, With No End in Sight rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

The logistical snarls in the global supply chain that have disrupted so many other aspects of construction have put pressure on the equipment supply, which combines with the high level of demand to keep sales and resales brisk.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53325 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53325-2021-4q-cost-report-strong-demand-drives-equipment-sales-with-no-end-in-sight Q4 Cost Report Equipment
Deere Workers Vote to Approve New Contract, Ending Monthlong Strike rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

Thousands of Deere workers with the UAW voted on Nov. 17 to end the monthlong strike that had disrupted the equipment manufacturer's operations at over a dozen facilities.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53040 Wed, 17 Nov 2021 22:45:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53040-deere-workers-vote-to-approve-new-contract-ending-monthlong-strike
远程操作来更多的卡特彼勒设备ent rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

The risks posed to heavy equipment operators in certain situations can often limit the type of work they can perform.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53035 Wed, 17 Nov 2021 16:00:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53035-remote-operation-coming-to-more-caterpillar-equipment remote control workers 照片由卡特彼勒
Hilti Acquires Startup Fieldwire in $300M Deal rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

The move broadly expands the tool manufacturer's presence in the construction software space.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53015 Tue, 16 Nov 2021 14:20:00 -0500//www.phoneitt.com/articles/53015-hilti-acquires-startup-fieldwire-in-300m-deal FieldwireApp.jpg Fieldwire's app is designed with building trades in mind, making sure that the latest documents and task lists are provided to field workers as needed. Image Courtesy of Fieldwire
Deere Workers Vote Down Proposed Deal, Will Continue to Strike rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

A strike by over 10,000 workers at John Deere manufacturing facilities has entered its fourth week as workers reject a proposed deal with management by a 55% to 45% margin in a Nov. 2 vote.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52892 Wed, 03 Nov 2021 23:27:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52892-deere-workers-vote-down-proposed-deal-will-continue-to-strike DeereAgLift.jpg A John Deere compact loader performs a lift.Photo Courtesy Deere & Co.
Useful Surprises Abound in the 2022 Toyota Tundra Pickup

When it comes to the life of a contractor, surprises are not always a good thing. But the 2022 Toyota Tundra is a notable exception.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52803 Wed, 27 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52803-useful-surprises-abound-in-the-2022-toyota-tundra-pickup Toyota Tundra The latest Toyota Tundra has some unexpected power under the hood for tough jobs.Photo courtesy of HaulHub
Brain-Protecting Construction Safety Helmet Now Available in US rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

PPE manufacturer Ergodyne now offers helmet with the MIPS system designed to isolate the brain from shocks associated with falls and collisions.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52767 Thu, 21 Oct 2021 18:23:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52767-brain-protecting-construction-safety-helmet-now-available-in-us MIPSErgodyne.jpg The MIPS-equipped Ergodyne helmet is designed to reduce the chance of traumatic brain injury from falls and collisions. Photo Courtesy of Ergodyne
More Than 10,000 UAW Workers Strike at 14 Deere Equipment Plants rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

With negotiations at impasse over raises and pension benefits in a new contract, employees at the construction equipment manufacturer's U.S. facilities went on strike at midnight on Oct. 14.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52726 Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:38:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52726-more-than-10000-uaw-workers-strike-at-14-deere-equipment-plants DeereAgLift.jpg A John Deere compact loader performs a lift.Photo Courtesy Deere & Co.
Drill Rig Collapses at Chicago Transit Authority Red/Purple Line Site, No Injuries Reported yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders)

A 100-ton hydraulic drill rig tipped over onto the street at the site of the Chicago Transit Authority's $2.1-billion Red/Purple line project. No injuries were reported and the cause of the incident is being investigated.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52604 Thu, 07 Oct 2021 13:00:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52604-drill-rig-collapses-at-chicago-transit-authority-redpurple-line-site-no-injuries-reported Collapsed Drill Rig Walsh-Fluor personnel investigate a collapsed drill rig on the CTA Red/Purple line modernization site near the Bryn Mawr elevated train stop on Oct. 6, 2021. Image courtesy of the Chicago Fire Dept.
2021 3Q Cost Report: Aging Iron, Delivery Delays Seen in Heavy Equipment Fleets rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in early 2020, many fleet managers took a wait-and-see approach, hoping that the year’s construction season would not be lost entirely.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52545 Thu, 30 Sep 2021 11:53:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52545-2021-3q-cost-report-aging-iron-delivery-delays-seen-in-heavy-equipment-fleets 3QCR_EQUIPMENT_web_900x550.jpg
Construction Tech Startup Versatile Secures $80M in Series B Funding Round rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

Crane-mounted sensor and jobsite intelligence startup Versatile announced on Sept. 14 that it has secured $80 million in Series B funding. This comes on the heels of a $20 million Series A funding round secured in December 2020.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52430 Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:33:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52430-construction-tech-startup-versatile-secures-80m-in-series-b-funding-round ENR0421Gilbane2.jpg The CraneView sensor hangs below the hook and features a load cell and camera. It wirelessly reports crane pick data back to the cloud, where data analytics provide regular updates on crane utilization. Photo Courtesy of Gilbane Building Co.
Online Equipment Marketplace eqhq Takes a Deep Dive Into Data rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

When looking to buy or sell a piece of construction equipment, options are often limited. There are a few big auction houses, a handful of websites and a local network of dealers, contractors and rental houses that might be interested.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52425 Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:03:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52425-online-equipment-marketplace-eqhq-takes-a-deep-dive-into-data ITa_eqhq-open-screen_ENRready.jpg
Tech Startup TOGAL.AI Deploys Algorithms to Automate 2D Takeoffs rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

Automating some of the more tedious tasks in construction has been a target of machine learning for years, but the startup TOGAL.AI has zeroed in on one annoying task that has been overlooked.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52424 Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:02:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52424-tech-startup-togalai-deploys-algorithms-to-automate-2d-takeoffs Togal.AI Image courtesy Togal.AI
Deere Ends 33-Year US Equipment JV With Hitachi in $275M Deal rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

U.S. firm will acquire factories and intellectual property from Japan-based company in dissolving a joint venture to manufacture and sell its construction equipment in the Americas under the Deere brand.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52283 Fri, 20 Aug 2021 15:26:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52283-deere-ends-33-year-us-equipment-jv-with-hitachi-in-275m-deal DeereHitachiJV.jpg Photo Courtesy Deere
Ford F-150 Hybrid Offers Onboard Power for Remote Sites

Rare is the contractor that hasn’t had to deal with the issues that come with deploying a decent portable generator on a remote jobsite.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52264 Wed, 18 Aug 2021 16:22:19 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52264-ford-f-150-hybrid-offers-onboard-power-for-remote-sites pickup truck The new F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid includes a 7.2 kW AC power source that can provide 120V/240V drive to a wide range of corded tools and devices.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
'Right to Repair' and Fixing Equipment in a Digital Age rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone) < p >正确修复的问题触动任何设备with embedded systems, with implications for the construction equipment sector

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52259 Wed, 18 Aug 2021 14:07:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52259-right-to-repair-and-fixing-equipment-in-a-digital-age John Deere equipment Late model agricultural and construction equipment often includes embedded firmware that prevents unauthorized alterations to the code governing a machine’s control systems.Photo courtesy Deere
MTA Aims to Bring Subway Tunnel Robotic Drill Rig to Bid rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

After a successful trial of a railcar-mounted robot to drill holes for tunnel cable racks, the MTA is putting together an open bidding process for vendors to further develop a robot drill rig for use in New York City’s subway tunnels.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52123 Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:54:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/52123-mta-aims-to-bring-subway-tunnel-robotic-drill-rig-to-bid MTASubwayRobot.png The prototype robot drills holes for cable trays in the rehabilitation of an NYC subway tunnel. Photo Courtesy of MTA MTARobotcab.png Crews can monitor the robotic drill rig at work from an adjacent subway car. Photo Courtesy of MTA
ENR FutureTech 2021 Opens With a Look at Construction Robotics and Startup Partnerships rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

New advances in automation, data collection and the perils of too many pilot projects were the top line ideas at the first day of the 2021 ENR FutureTech conference. 

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51893 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 12:35:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51893-enr-futuretech-2021-opens-with-a-look-at-construction-robotics-and-startup-partnerships FutureTechSpotAcciona.jpg FutureTech 2021 opened with a lively keynote from Acciona roboticist Carlos Crespo on how technologists need to get out of the office and lab and be willing to get dirty on the jobsite with their innovations. Seen here is the Boston Dynamics Spot quadruped robot, deployed by Crespo's team to autonomously perform lidar scans of recently excavated tunnels. Photos Courtesy of Acciona
Police Recover $6,000 Welder Brazenly Stolen From I-74 Work Site in Iowa yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders)

$6,000 welder stolen from Bettendorf, Iowa, work site by couple looking for scrap.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51868 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 16:56:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51868-police-recover-6000-welder-brazenly-stolen-from-i-74-work-site-in-iowa
Triax Adds Features to Proximity Tracing Wearables, Looks Beyond Social Distancing rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone) Safety tracking tag also has geofencing and hazard warning features, as well as those that can be used for access control at gates and tracking worker equipment certifications //www.phoneitt.com/articles/51808 Wed, 26 May 2021 17:20:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51808-triax-adds-features-to-proximity-tracing-wearables-looks-beyond-social-distancing Triax Proximity Trace A firmware update is bringing new features to the Proximity Trace worker tags, including setting up warning beacons for a geofenced "digital caution tape." Photo Courtesy of Triax Technologies Senators Probe Caterpillar Alleged Tax Avoidance and Former AG Bill Barr Possible Role yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders)

Two U.S. senators seek details on what they call a "stalled" investigation into equipment maker's tax practices and what role, if any, Trump's attorney general played.

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51673 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 17:24:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51673-senators-probe-caterpillar-taxes-and-possible-former-ag-bill-barr-role
Roadwork Robot Autonomously Digs Out, Repairs Buried Utility Lines rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone)

Looking to speed their ongoing overhaul of the U.K.’s second largest gas distribution network, gas utility SGN has been investing in the development of the autonomous RRES roadworks robot from ULC Technologies. 

//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51656 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 08:29:00 -0400//www.phoneitt.com/articles/51656-roadwork-robot-autonomously-digs-out-repairs-buried-utility-lines ENR0427rres1.jpg The RRES robot from ULC Technologies uses interchangeable tools on robotic arm to perform all of the tasks necessary to excavate gas lines from beneath roadways, perform work on the line, and then rebury it. It is seen here with the ground-penetrating radar attachment its uses during its initial site assessment. Photo Courtesy of ULC Technologies ENR0427rres2.jpg In order to cut a keyhole in the roadbed, the RRES uses a custom electric chainsaw. Water to reduce dust is supplied via an external house. The chainsaw is powered by the robot's onboard lithium-ion batteries. Photo Courtesy of ULC Technologies ENR0427rres3.jpg rr原型在路面测试工作a demonstration for the industry press. Operators are mostly hands off during the process, but are needed to change out the attachments on robot's tool cart. While the demonstration was performed in a tent, ULC Technologies representatives say the robot is capable of working in all weather, a requirement that U.K. gas utility SGN had set during development. Video Still Courtesy of ULC Technologies ENR0427rres4.jpg The RRES removes the pavement core using a pneumatic vacuum system. The robot can lift the core up to 3 meters (approx. 9.8 ft) above the its base, provided the core weighs less than 225 kg (approx. 496 lb). ENR0427rres5.jpg Once work on the underground utility is complete, the RRES can compact the soil back down layer-by-layer, as human operators shovel it in the hole. Video Still Courtesy of ULC Technologies