Inside the Ritchie/SmartEquip Deal: What Happens Next?

Inside the Ritchie/SmartEquip Deal: What Happens Next?

October 27, 2021

When Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers acquired SmartEquip for $175 million in September, Ritchie CEO Ann Fandozzi said it would give Ritchie “asset-specific full-lifecycle parts and service support” to dealers, OEM partners and equipment buyers.

Of equal importance as SmartEquip considered suitors was continuating its multi-brand approach in the construction industry, says Alex Schuessler, SmartEquip founder and president, international group, talking with Equipment World.

SchuesslerSmartEquip”There was a lot of interest from other industries and private equity firms, but what really drew us to this partnership with Ritchie was a continued commitment to our existing customer base,” Schuessler says. “It was important for us to preserve industry neutrality. It took us a long time for our customers to feel comfortable that we were truly neutral, so that was absolutely critical going forward.”

In turn, SmartEquip, which provides software to support equipment lifecycle management, gives Ritchie a play on the parts, service and maintenance side of things, says Jim Kessler, president and COO, Ritchie.

“We knew how long it would take us to do this on our own and replicate what SmartEquip has already built,” Kessler says. “So for us it was the perfect match. We had customers who need this service and we weren’t able to provide it; it was an open hole for us. We know what the equipment is. We know where it is in the life cycle, how many hours on it, but we weren’t helping in that part of the value chain.”

But Kessler also emphasizes that the SmartEquip deal doesn’t mean it is in the parts stocking business. Rather, Ritchie is looking to add customer ease and value, he says.

“The magic in all of this is the equipment life cycle, and Ritchie has done phenomenal work in focusing not just on the moments that equipment changes ownership, but also what you do to support the equipment owners, dealers and manufacturers,” Schuessler says.

Hidden owners

This especially comes into play with second and third owners of a machine where perhaps dealers and OEMs lose track of them. “We were looking at ways of ensuring that they have a longer view across the equipment life cycle and across the number of owners,” Schuessler says.

“We’ve long been aware that there are tremendous opportunities there with that second, third or fourth owner,” Schuessler says, “and it’s been frustrating because we’ve had no systematic way of supporting them. I think we’ll be able to help both equipment owners and dealers right off the bat.”

The trust built between SmartEquip and its dealer and OEM customers has been hard fought, Schuessler says. The firm began in 2000, right on the heels of the dot-com craze when everything was about reducing the number of intermediaries in a transaction.

“That’s not at all what we wanted to do,” Schuessler explains. “We wanted to bring efficiency to the relationships of dealers and OEMs on one hand and the fleet owners on the other.” In the process, SmartEquip gave OEMs and dealers a systematic way to tie in deeper into the life cycle and go into those second and third owners. “Now with Ritchie we can automatically do this together, and we can offer it straightaway,” he says.

For the foreseeable future, SmartEquip will continue to operate as a standalone business headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Both companies have a global footprint. SmartEquip has been operational in Europe for around 10 years, Schuessler says, and just announced a previous agreement with Tokyo-based Diamond Construction Equipment and that its network was fully operational in Japan. (Diamond Construction is co-owned by four large Japanese equipment rental companies and Mitsubishi.) Ritchie’s purchase of SmartEquip allows it to “be so much more responsive with our international business,” Schuessler says.

Supply chain perspectives

You can’t have a discussion with supply chain front row players such as Ritchie and SmartEquip without delving into the issues that are plaguing all industries these days. Schuessler sees two issues: components and whole goods.

“In Japan, rental fleets tend to hold on to their equipment two to three times longer than they would in North America or Europe,” Schuessler says. “Of course, as equipment gets older, parts consumption goes up, as do service needs. That means two things. For those fleets that tend to have a longer life, the value we can bring to them by making those parts efficient also goes up over time relative to other parts of the world. If you take a step back to look at the overall life cycle, the contribution that technology brings to the lifecycle costs in an aging fleet tends to be higher than it is when you only hang on to it for two to four years.

“On the parts side, the shortage means that the search cost is higher, and so much of what SmartEquip does is reduce the search costs. When we began as a company, it was not unusual for a technician to spend as much time looking for the right part from a preferred supplier as they would holding a wrench in their hands. While we can’t change the scarcity aspect of it, we do have the ability to find the parts out there that pertain to a particular serial number.”

In this tight supply market, Ritchie is focused on how it can add value, Kessler says. “We’re also working on our technology to make sure that when you are ready to transact in the future it’s easy to do,” he says. For example, Ritchie’s Inventory Management System “makes it easy to transact with us,” he says. “There are other value-added things that our customers would appreciate.”

“We’re very happy to have them on board,” Kessler says. “We don’t have a rush to try to force something, so we want to make sure we build a technology that’s going to be easy for everyone to use. This isn’t about Ritchie trying to change it and make it something that it’s not. We want to make sure that when the marketplace is ready that it’s easy to use, and everyone’s going to have full transparency of how it’s going to work for them.”

Schuessler says the real benefit will come when today’s “spot technologies” telematics, fleet management, etc. are knitted together. “There’s no new technology required; it’s all about the workflow now,” he says. “If a machine throws out a code, we should be able to order a part and have it waiting at the service bay with a work order already filled out and technician instructions on what needs to happen. Raising the efficiency is right there to be had.”

Industry Roundup: Four Dealerships Rebrand Under National Equipment Dealers

October 27, 2021

Construction Business No Comments

National Equipment Dealers (NED), which has grown to 14 locations in four states since being established in 2018, has rebranded four dealerships it acquired in the past few years.

Now operating as NED are Four Seasons Equipment in Texas, MAY-RHI in the Carolinas, Richardson Services 1991 in South Carolina and Earthmovers Construction Equipment in Florida.

“With this change, we will have much cleaner messaging and improved brand recognition as we continue to grow,” says Corey Rogers, NED vice president of marketing.

In addition, NED announced that it has acquired Grove River Machinery in the Savannah, Georgia, area, which will also operate as NED. “Our merger with NED will provide us the means to grow our Hyundai market share way beyond our past capabilities,” says Dale Richbourg, former Grove Machinery sales manager, who is continuing on the NED team.

Established by Ken Richbourg 20 years ago, Grove River Machinery has represented the Hyundai product line for 14 years. The new NED Savannah branch will add Bell articulated trucks to its offering. “As fellow Hyundai dealers, we have known the Richbourg family and Grove River Machinery for many years,” says Mitch Nevins, NED CEO. “The timing is right and we are excited to bring them into the NED family.”

Brandt Tractor completes Cervus Equipment deal

Brandt Tractor, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Brandt Group of Companies, has completed its acquisition of Cervus Equipment, creating Canada’s largest equipment dealership and adding 64 agriculture, transportation and material handling equipment locations to Brandt’s John Deere dealership network. The deal makes it the largest Deere dealership in the world; the company now owns 120 full-service dealerships and more than 50 service locations and employs more than 5,100 people.

Northwest Equipment becomes Mack electric vehicle dealer

Mack Trucks dealer Northwest Equipment Sales, Boise, Idaho, has become a Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer, making it the first Mack dealer in the Northwest U.S. to do so. The company began the process for certification in February 2021; to reach certification, dealers must meet numerous safety, charging, infrastructure and training requirements.

Northwest will have four bays available for servicing battery electric vehicles.

LiuGong adds two dealers

LiuGong North America has named Alpha and Omega Nitrogen & Equipment Rental & Sales, Odessa, Texas, and AAA Forklift Material Handling, San Leandro, California, as new dealers.

Founded in 2016, Alpha and Omega offers construction equipment and material handling products in west Texas, southern New Mexico and the greater Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas.

AAA Forklift has served the Bay Area for more than 20 years, offering forklift and material handling needs across multiple industries.

LeeBoy signs three Virginia dealers

LeeBoy has signed Power Equipment, Louisville, Kentucky, Valley Supply & Equipment, Hagerstown, Maryland, and Richmond Machinery, Richmond, Virginia, to its dealer network

Power Equipment, a subsidiary of Bramco, will represent LeeBoy in 11 counties in western Virginia. Valley Supply will handle 16 counties in northern Virginia and Richmond Machinery will handle the rest of the state.

Trail King adds Wyoming, Illinois dealers

Trail King Industries has added Frost Machines, Cody, Wyoming and US Equipment Sales & Rentals, Plainfield, Illinois to its dealer network.

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Product Roundup: JLG expanding its aerial lift product line

October 26, 2021

JLG to add rotary telehandlers

JLG announced that it is partnering with Italian manufacturer Dieci to bring a new line of rotary telehandlers models to market. The JLG rotating telehandler line will initially consist of three models, the R1370, R1385 and R11100 with max lift heights from 67.3 to 97.1 feet and max lift capacities of 11,000 to 13,200 pounds.

Long popular in Europe, the rotating design works well on narrow city streets or anywhere space is constrained. This feature also enables you to get more work with less repositioning of the machine. The new line of JLG rotary telehandlers will be available with 13 attachments at launch for added versatility.

With more than 70% of a machine’s weight composed of steel, Volvo and SSAB intend to reduce the carbon used in its manufacture.Volvo Construction Equipment

Volvo CE‘s first fossil-free steel vehicle

Volvo has been pushing the envelope for a decade or more when it comes to environmental improvements to its equipment and operations. Its latest innovation is the first vehicle made with fossil-free steel in Volvo Construction Equipment’s factory in Braås, Sweden.

The concept vehicle, unveiled October 13 in Gothenburg, Sweden, is a load carrier for mining and quarry work. According to Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE, the company intends to have fossil-free steel used in all its products. Volvo says more vehicles with fossil-free steel are coming in 2022, including a series of concept vehicles and components.

The steel for the concept vehicle was provided by SSAB, headquartered in Stockholm, with facilities in Finland and the United States. You may recognize one of SSAB’s more well-known products here: Hardox wear plate and Strenx performance steels for dump trucks and other high-abrasion applications.

Crowded streets and confined jobsites are no problem for Liebherr’s new MK 73-3.1 crane.Liebherr

“You want that drywall where?” Liebherr’s new crane easily lifts over the gnarliest obstacles

The new MK 73-3.1 crane from Liebherr offers compact dimensions, making it a good choice for projects in densely built areas or where you need to perform multiple lifts to different points on a jobsite without having to reposition. According to the company, setup can be accomplished in as little as 10 minutes.

The smallest of Liebherr’s mobile construction cranes, the MK 73-3.1 measures 45 feet (13.8 meters) long, 8.8 feet (2.7 meters) wide and 13 feet (4 meters) in height, but it also includes all the features of its bigger brother the MK 88-4.1. The new crane can be operated electrically on site or powered by its integrated drive unit. The electric mode is quiet and emissions free, which is desirable in urban environments. A single Cummins six-cylinder diesel engine provides both drive and lifting power. Smart assistance systems and an adjustable elevating cabin support the lifting and positioning of heavy loads.

Max lifting capacity for the MK 73-3.1 is 13,225 pounds (6,000 kg), and 4,400 pounds (2,000 kg) at full radius. The top hook height is 87 feet (26.5 meters) high. Slewing radius is 11 feet (3.5 meters). The crane weighs 36 tons and can take on 2.9 tons of additional ballast for heavier lifts.

The Terramac RT7U can be customized to meet customers’ needs.Terramac

Customize your crawler carrier from Terramac

Shown at The Utility Expo, the Terramac RT7U is purpose-built for utility applications and capable of accommodating a wide array of support equipment.

The carrier’s rubber tracks and low ground pressure enable crews to access remote locations with difficult terrain.

Terex Washing Systems

Easily transport Terex’s new mobile washing screen

Terex Washing Systems launched the M1700X mobile washing screen at Ireland’s Construction & Quarry Machinery Show.

The screen can produce up to five products (three aggregates and two sands), the company says. The M1700X is easily transported, has a short 15-minute setup time and has optional hybrid power.

Junttan’s introduction of the world’s first electric pile driving rig will support Aarsleff’s mission to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that originate from fossil fuels.Junttan

Junttan launches world’s first electric pile-driving rig>

Junttan Oy and Per Aarsleff A/S have formed an alliance to bring the world’s first battery-powered electric pile-driving rig to market.
The PMx2e is modeled after the diesel-powered PMx22. The electric pile-driving rig will offer the same “robust structure and usability as the PMx22 but consumes less energy per pile, reduces noise and delivers more power and instant torque,” Junttan says.
The rig features two detachable 396 kWh battery packs to allow for 8 to 13 hours of continuous pile driving. The battery packs replace the counterweight on the machine and can be charged with a normal 63A mains outlet.
Aarsleff Ground Engineering AB is a Swedish subsidiary of the Danish construction company Per Aarsleff A/S and is one of Sweden’s leading companies in ground engineering. The goal between the manufacturer and end user is to create more environmentally friendly construction sites through the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions that originate from fossil fuels.
Junttan Also Signs Dealer Agreement with XCMG for Foundation Drilling Rigs
Junttan USA Inc., a subsidiary of Junttan Oy, will represent XCMG foundation drilling rigs in the United States.
The rigs, custom-built by XCMG for Junttan, will be backed by a full line of drilling tools, temporary casings, shoes, drive adapters and teeth. The XCMG line of drilling rigs has a range of operating weights from 45 to 200 tons and torque values between 130 and 800 kNm. >
The partnership will expand Junttan’s product line from primarily pile-driving equipment into foundation drilling equipment.>

2021 Contractor of the Year: Pruss Excavation Refashions Fleet After Meeting Dual Flood Challenges

October 26, 2021

Contractor Services No Comments

The construction lineage is deep in the Pruss family. Matt’s grandfather, Jim Sr., started Pruss Excavation in 1968. His father, also named Jim, joined him four years later, and Matt came on board in 2001.

But Matt’s start in construction goes much further back than 2001.

“I got on an excavator when I was 10 years old. When my dad told me to dig, I just kept on digging,” he says with a laugh. “Mom freaked out, but I enjoyed it.” And as he was growing up, both he and brother Scott, who now serves as superintendent with Pruss Excavation, pitched in when his father found himself shorthanded.

Matt went on to get a construction management degree, something he didn’t know was available until Freshman Day at the University of Nebraska. He had planned to go into business, but after the dean of the university’s construction management college learned his dad was a contractor, he convinced Matt to switch majors.

“We had some amazing professors who gave us real-world scenarios,” Matt says.

One example: it’s bid day and the students are estimating a project. The professor would go through the students with a handful of papers with vendor and sub quotes. “He would literally just throw them your way,” Matt recalls. “Some quotes didn’t have bonding and some didn’t include taxes, and you had figure out the good ones to develop the bid.”

Matt thought the exercise was exaggerated until he got back into the family business right after college. “It was not,” he says.

“A lot of contractors would just chase the flood work,” he adds, “but Matt stuck around, and he kept the job moving. It was a big deal. Matt knows he can’t just be an owner and pick up a paycheck. He’s very involved and he drives the ship on their modeling.”

This flood remediation experience came into play when the company bid on an emergency $1.05 million contract with a 144-hour turnaround. The job required over 33,500 tons of materials to be imported to close a breach that was 350 feet long and over 25 fee deep with flood water still flowing through it. “We had a pre-bid meeting at 1 p.m., they wanted bids at 4 p.m. and would sign the contract at 4:05 p.m.,” Matt says. “We were low by $11,800 and got it done early.” The project required a dozen operators and 30 trucks.

“A week later we were low bid on another fast-track levee repair,” Matt says. “We were low by $55,000 on a $2.8 million contract with a 168- hour completion. We successfully completed that repair on-time as well.”

Matching fleet to job demand

The company’s fleet of pull-behind scrapers — now at 32 — has helped them tackle wet conditions.

“We have had more machines than people throughout the years, and we’re still that way,” Matt says. This also allows Pruss Excavation to stage an upcoming jobsite while finishing another and thus lessen time spent on mobilization.

Its fleet of pull-behind scrapers now numbers 32. “Pull-types are awesome in the wet and the sand,” Matt says, noting that the company also uses Cat 627 self-propelled scrapers in drier conditions.

Although the bulk of his fleet is in the large machine category – including dozers, excavators, articulated trucks, scrapers and scraper tractors – Matt also uses skid steers as support machines. “We’re also heavy into Topcon GPS,” he says, “and in addition to dozers, scrapers, and motor graders, we also put the excavators on grade control. We’ve found it very user friendly.”

While operators are responsible for daily greasing, Pruss uses NMC to handle PM tasks. “They’ll service my entire fleet, no matter the brand,” he says. Engine, transmission and other major repairs go to dealers.

Today’s machine telematics also help with service, he says. “When we get a warning, dealers can diagnose and know where the machine is and what they need to fix it.”

But he’s also learned these convenient diagnostics can eat up tech time if an easy fix is not readily apparent. “I always press my dealers for warranties that cover diagnostics,” Matt says. “I don’t want to be billed for the time it takes them to figure out a problem.”

Legacy

Father Jim Pruss (left) and brother Scott Pruss (right) flank Matt Pruss at the Contractor of the Year event.

Being named the 2021 Contractor of the Year has special resonance for Matt: His father, Jim Pruss Jr., was named a Contractor of the Year finalist in 2004. Both his father and brother attended the Contractor of the Year event last month and witnessed his win.

Neither is surprised he came away with the award. Matt’s clients and vendors also notice his attention to detail in how he approaches his jobs.

“He’s a heck of a businessman,” says his dealer representative Kevin Peterson with NMC. “And you can see it in the way he’s grown.”

“They know the type of leadership it takes to run a great small business,” says Ridder. “They just get it done.”

“We let our work to speak for us,” Matt says. “We want to under-promise and over perform instead of the other way around.”

Watch Matt Pruss receive the Contractor of the Year award below:

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Chancellor to detail £7bn spending pledge for local transport

October 25, 2021

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is planning to detail plans in the Autumn spending review on Wednesday to pump £7bn in local transport improvements in Midlands and Northern cities.

The pledge will amount to around £1.5bn or 20% of actual extra new cash to supplement previous spending commitments on infrastructure in the regions over the next five years.

It will be directed at areas outside of London to level up transport with new train and station upgrades and the expansion of trams, with £1.2bn also allocated to improve bus services.

Its forms part of a £26bn raft of spending commitments trialed over the weekend ahead of the Autumn spending review.

Local transport infrastructure commitments will see West Yorkshire given £830m while South Yorkshire receives £570m.

Around £1.05bn will be freshly committed in the West Midlands, £710m for the Liverpool City Region, £310m in Tees Valley and £540m to the West of England.

Rishi Sunak confirmed previously the Government had announced £4.2bn in allocation for regional transport, adding the Government would now top that up with £1.5bn while giving out the allocation for where the cash will go within the oveall local transport infrastructure cash envelope

“Greate cities need great transport and that is why we’re investing billions to improve connections in our city regions as we level up opportunities across the country.

“This transport revolution will help redress that imbalance as we modernise our local transport networks so they are fit for our great cities and those people who live and work in them,” he said in briefing mover the weekend.

Electric Pickup Trucks to Watch in the Next 3 Years

October 21, 2021

Competition in the electric pickup truck market is getting fierce. With several new models recently announced and others slated for delivery in early 2022, drivers will soon be able to put them to the test.

There’s no doubt that electric vehicles have the necessary speed and torque. But battery life, towing capacity and charging infrastructure…that’s a different story.

While electric cars have caught on quickly, the average truck buyer is going to require more arm twisting. If you’re thinking of greening up your fleet in the coming years, here are all the electric pickup truck models to keep an eye on.

Atlis Motor Vehicles

Atlis XT

Atlis Motor Vehicles says its XT electric work truck can be recharged in just 15 minutes and offers 500 miles of range.

The XT pickup has a 10,000-pound tow rating and can be fitted with a 6.5-foot bed, 8-foot bed, flatbed or service body.

The startup company plans to begin production in late 2022 with prices starting at $45,000.

Bollinger

Bollinger B2

Watch your wallet! The boxy and industrial Bollinger B2 comes with a hefty price tag of $125,000. The Michigan-based startup, which has pushed back production dates multiple times, says delivery will start in 2022.

With an estimated range of 200 miles, the B2 falls short compared to some of its competitors. Bollinger says the Class 3 truck is built for off-roading and will feature a 7,500-pound towing capacity and a 5,000-pound payload capacity.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet Silverado Electric Pickup

GM will debut the all-electric Chevrolet Silverado on January 5 at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The truck will feature a segment-leading fixed glass roof for increased visibility and headroom. This is the first application of a fixed glass roof on a GM pickup.

Four-wheel steering will allow for improved turning radius, handling and stability.

On a full charge, GM estimates the electric Silverado has a range of more than 400 miles. No word yet on the price.

Ford

Ford F-150 Lightning

With more than 120,000 customer reservations, interest is high for the all-electric version of America’s best-selling truck. One factor may be the F-150 Lightning’s modest price tag. The truck starts at $39,974.

The F-150 Lightning delivers 563 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. It supports a 2,000-pound payload on the standard model and 10,000 pounds of towing capacity on XLT and Lariat models with the extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package.

Ford says the truck’s battery can also serve as a backup power system for your home or charge tools and devices on the jobsite.

GMC

GMC Hummer EV SUT

GMC’s Hummer is coming back from the dead, but this time as an all-electric pickup truck. (The more familiar SUV model will be available at a later date.)

The pickup will feature a three-motor, four-wheel-drive system with 11,500 pound-feet of torque. Drivers can expect a range of 350 miles when fully charged. It will make use of the same Ultium battery platform as the electric Chevrolet Silverado.

Starting at $112,595, the Hummer EV Edition 1 is pricey. Cheaper models will be available by early 2024.

Lordstown Motors

Lordstown Motors Endurance

The Endurance is the first commercial vehicle to feature four in-wheel hub motors. Lordstown Motors says this design reduces the number of moving parts and improves vehicle control.

Priced at $52,500, the Endurance will have an estimated range of 250 miles and a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.

Deliveries are slated for the first quarter of 2022, but recent turnover in company leadership has left some skeptical.

Ram

Ram 1500 EV

Ram fans, sit tight. The company won’t be releasing its all-electric half-ton pickup until 2024.

With a driving range of 500 miles and towing capacity of more than 10,000 pounds, Ram says the truck will outperform its competitors.

The starting price has not been released but will likely be competitive with other major manufacturers in the same size class.

RJ Scaringe @RJScaringe Twitter

Rivian R1T

Rivian staked its claim as the first manufacturer in the U.S. to bring a mass-produced, all-electric pickup to market. The Class 2b truck with a dinky 4.5-foot bed will likely be a better fit for families and outdoor enthusiasts than construction business owners though.

The base battery offers a 300-mile-plus estimated range, but a 400-mile-plus battery can be purchased for an additional $10,000.

The R1T uses a four-motor, all-wheel-drive system and has a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds.

The truck starts at $67,000. The first customer vehicle rolled off the production line in September.

Tesla Cybertruck

Slated for production in late 2022, the Tesla Cybertruck has totally reimagined the look of the pickup truck.

The stainless-steel truck will feature all-wheel drive, 14,000 pounds of towing capacity (in the three-motor model), and an estimated range of 500-plus miles. An air suspension system can raise and lower the truck on the fly offering 16 inches of ground clearance.

The Cybertruck starts at $39,900, and buyers can add on Tesla’s full self-driving option for an additional $7,000.

Toyota also plans on electrifying its pickups, but no word yet on a model or launch date.

Which major manufacturer or startup will be the leader of the pack? Only time will tell.

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The Future of Paving? Volvo Unveils Its CX01 Concept Compactor

October 19, 2021

Asphalt compactors aren’t known as the most difficult machine to operate on the job. Although compactors perform a critical function especially when smoothness specs are at stake, many contractors put their less-seasoned operators on them.

But what if these machines didn’t even require an on-board operator?

Enter Volvo Construction Equipment’s CX01 asphalt compaction concept, a planned ConExpo reveal that had to wait until the recent Utility Expo to get in front of contractors.

“We just wanted to examine what the future of compaction would look like,” Justin Zupanc, head of Volvo CE’s asphalt compaction development team, told Equipment World at the show. “We wanted to create a better operator’s environment, reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions and boost productivity.”

“Better operator environment” translates to no cab. Instead, a connected fleet of CX01 single-drum units directed by a downloaded compaction plan would be either be remotely controlled by an operator or controlled autonomously.

Volvo already has an autonomous system on its TA15 haulers, now in customer testing, and the plan is to test a similar system on the CX01, Zupanc says.

The CX01 does not have an articulation joint “so there’s no balance point, there’s nothing that we can steer away from,” Zupanc says. Volvo solved this by using a split-drum which has two halves that can be operated independently kept upright by using a self-balancing control system. (The split drum comes off of its current 9-ton class machine sold in Europe.) To turn, operators can vary the rate of speed of each half of the drum. “You can make a fairly tight turn,” he says.

And while it wouldn’t be used while the unit is on asphalt, users also would have the ability to pivot steer the machine.

Rethink the paving process

The Volvo CX01 prototype compactor features guarding and emergency stops on each corner.Equipment World

Volvo says the CX01 which stands for compaction experimental unit No. 1 provides the means to “fundamentally rethink the paving process.” By removing the operator, you’re also removing their exposure to vibration, noise and dust.

As envisioned, a fleet of CX01s could be deployed on larger jobs and communicate not only with each other but with other machines on site. The machines could survey the job, report on mat conditions such as density, temperature and passes (which intelligent compactors are already doing) and determine when and where to compact. “They can shift over if an area is already compacted,” Zupanc says. “All information is available to the crew and to other machines. You could even send it to the asphalt plant.”

The machine’s compact design and maneuverability could also lead to streamlined compaction cycles, reduced costs and more agile work patterns, Volvo says. The rolling pattern, weight and number of rollers could be adjusted to match the width, thickness and speed of the paving operation. Using Volvo’s existing Co-Pilot system, operators can use a touchscreen to remotely control the compactors.

Flexible power

The CX01 has a flexible power system. It has both a 1.7-liter diesel engine and an energy storage system that can be operated indiesel-only, hybrid or fully electric modes. “The diesel is only there to spin the 20-kilowatt generator,” Zupanc says. The generator in turn powers two 48-volt ultracapacitors placed on each side of the drum, which in turn are powering three 14-kilowatt electric motors, one for each side of the drum, and another to power the vibration system eccentrics.

“You can run it with the diesel engine on, and it’s always charging the ultracapacitors,” Zupanc says. When the ultracapacitors are charged, the engine can be turned off, and the machine becomes fully electric. The engine will cycle back on when the ultracapacitor charges get low. “They charge very quickly, within a couple of minutes,” he says. The downside: the capacitors don’t have the capacity of a lithium-ion battery; runtime is around 20 minutes, depending on your speed.

“We had never used them before, and we wanted to see how they worked,” Zupanc says, explaining why Volvo was using ultracapacitors on the CX01. “While they don’t have the capacity of lithium-ion batteries, they are good for vibration and they have a long lifecycle. They may not be the right solution because they don’t have that longevity, and who knows, we may couple them with a lithium-ion battery pack down the road.”

Because the ultracapacitors need a constant charge, it’s unlikely that the diesel engine will go away as long as they are used.

Volvo is also exploring using a low-friction water-reduction polymer-based coating on the drum surface now theoretical — which could also be used on its other compactors. This would combat the common problem of asphalt sticking to the drum, now solved by using water. The CX01, however, has limited water storage.

Volvo produced =the following explainer video of how it envisions the CX01 being used:

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Next phase of £650m Nottingham Island Quarter revised

October 18, 2021

Construction Business No Comments

Developer Conygar has submitted redrawn plans for phase 1B of Nottingham’s biggest regeneration scheme for decades, The Island Quarter scheme.

The proposals – which were initially submitted in January – include a 223-room hotel, 247 flats and an extensive food and beverage area in a 100m long forum.

As well as improving ventilation and access routes to the building, the changes build in extra flexibility during the construction process to face industry challenges, such as material shortages and labour availability.

Phase 1B hotel building for operator IHG’s Hotel Indigo and Staybridge Suites brands

Tom Huffsmith, of Conygar, said: “Throughout the last year, we have worked closely with our design team to ensure that the plans for The Island Quarter have constantly been updated to meet the changing needs of a post-pandemic world.

“These alterations to 1B reflect those made to the overall masterplan for the site, which has been reimagined to include more green space, better routes for pedestrians and cyclists, and a focus on intergenerational living.

“1B is going to be a truly iconic building for the city, and we’re working closely with Nottingham City Council to ensure the plans will be approved and progress can continue to be made on this important site.”

David Jones, director at planning consultant AXIS, said: “While these changes will bring a positive impact to both the useability and buildability of 1B, the design intent is very much the same. The functions of the building itself remain as they were in the original planning submission – 1B will be a real flagship for The Island Quarter.

“The design changes are indicative of the impact of the pandemic, which is reflected more widely in Leonard Design and Studio Egret West’s emerging masterplan for the site as a whole.”

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.cityheartsaberdeen.com/?p=272

London councils set out £98bn plan to retrofit 3.8m homes

October 18, 2021

Construction Business No Comments

All 33 of the London’s local authorities have signed up to a net zero carbon route map to retrofit 3.8m homes across all tenures in the capital to achieve an average EPC B rating by 2030.

The plan, which will be revealed in detail at the end of this month ahead of the Government spending review, could bring about a £98bn investment in the green economy in London, say councils.

The Retrofit London Housing Action Plan has been developed by the London Housing Directors’ Group with support from the London Environment Directors’ Network, the GLA, and Enfield and Waltham Forest as lead boroughs.

London boroughs are urging ministers to increase local government’s resources for this work.

They want the government to use the upcoming Spending Review to release £30m of funding for the next phase of the UK Cities Climate Investment Commission work.

Councils argue this is necessary to unlock over £200bn of private investment for delivering net zero across the UK’s 12 biggest cities.

The group also wants to see fresh financial incentives to encourage private retrofitting, such as green mortgages offering lower rates and a variable Stamp Duty Land Tax for more energy-efficient homes.

Key principles going forward

• Boroughs need to retrofit their own stock of 390,000 council homes and facilitate retrofit on the whole housing stock across London’s 3.8m homes.

• Planning decisions and guidance should support low-carbon retrofit activity, particularly in finding innovative ways to address the retrofit challenge in conservation areas.

• London needs to move away rapidly from gas heating.

• Boroughs will work collectively to develop skills and procurement models that can build capacity within the sector

The cross-party group London Councils warns the country’s retrofit market is highly unstable after serial failures of past green initiatives to tackle housing carbon emissions.

The National Audit Office slammed delivery standards in the government’s £1.5bn Green Homes Grant scheme as “rushed” and noted the scheme’s design failed to “sufficiently understand the challenges”.

Launched in September 2020 and scrapped in March 2021, the scheme was set up to help homeowners retrofit and insulate their homes.

It warns the industry cannot see a rerun of u-turns on the delivery of the £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and £2.5bn Home Upgrade Grant.

London Councils says that boroughs’ ambitions for retrofitting the capital rely on targeted government investment, facilitating new private financing opportunities, and encouraging funding by landlords and individual households.

Joanne Drew, Co-Chair of the London Housing Directors’ Group, said: “Boroughs are fully committed to the home retrofit agenda and are proud to pioneer a new collaborative approach.

“Our plan identifies the steps needed to turn ambition into reality, setting out the costs involved and measures we will take to work with residents and landlords.”

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.cityheartsaberdeen.com/?p=259