Lauren Heartsill DowdleSafetyProduct FocusTrowels and Screeds Flip, switch, sensor shut-off Walk-behind power trowels are basically simple machines consisting of a handle, engine, ring guard, gearbox and lower-blade unit. However, it’s important to never overlook proper operation of critical safety features, especially the emergency engine shut-off function. Most manufacturers use a centrifugal flip switch or hold-to-run switch to […]May 24, 2012Construction EquipmentProduct FocusVacuum Systems By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle COMBINATION UNIT Use both air and water systems in McLaughlin Group’s Xtreme line vacuum excavators, marketed by Vermeer. • Features a 1,200-cfm positive displacement blower • Powered by a 99-horsepower Kubota diesel engine and a 5.6-gpm water system • Produces up to 15 inches of mercury and […]May 24, 2012BusinessSurvivor StoriesChanging schedule pays off With the recession forcing professionals to re-evaluate their business practices, one New Jersey landscaper went back to his law-enforcement roots and watched as his profits grew. By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle “It’s the best year we’ve ever had,” says Patrick Donovan of Classic Landscaping in Edison, New Jersey, with 28 years of […]May 24, 2012BusinessSurvivor StoriesAdding business in tough times By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle While many contractors were struggling to keep their businesses in the black during the recession, Harrod, Ohio, native Randy Jones started a second company. Jones’s company, RD Jones Excavating, handles utility, road and public construction projects, with a client list including Procter and Gamble, Ford, Walmart […]May 24, 2012TechnologyProduct FocusLight Towers and Gen Sets By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle ADDITIONAL OUTLETS Wacker Neuson’s LTN 6K light tower is a narrow-body model with a 6-kilowatt alternator. It has additional outlets with standard 1 x 120V 20A GFCI duplex receptacles and 1 x 120V/240V 30A twist lock. The model is available with a factory-installed, customized options […]May 24, 2012Construction EquipmentReporterPayment Due? Expiring bonus depreciation could pose tax risks By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Contractors may receive an unpleasant surprise when they review their taxable income for 2012. With bonus depreciation dropping this year by half and completely expiring in 2013, many will face higher tax gains on sold equipment and lower depreciation deductions. Passed in […]May 24, 2012TechnologyReplace, repair or retireIf you’re looking to buy a used HDD system this year, don’t be surprised if you see prices on the rise. “Units built today have a longer life, which has pushed out the replacement cycle some,” says Richard Levings, Ditch Witch. Contractors are also performing significant repairs on their older drills, instead of replacing them: […]May 23, 2012Construction EquipmentArticleMay 17, 2012HomeTranscraft to expand operations, add jobs in KentuckyTranscraft, a platform trailer manufacturer, will expand its Trigg County operations in Cadiz, Kentucky. A subsidiary of Wabash National Corporation, Transcraft plans to build a 12,000-square-foot facility and add 80 jobs to accommodate the rising demand for flatbed and drop-deck trailers. According to Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company (ACT Research), sustained high demand for platform […]April 25, 2012HomeIrrigation and green industry professionals intereIrrigation and green industry professionals interested in enhancing their knowledge and skill sets have a variety of irrigation training courses to choose from in the Sunshine State this summer. Rain Bird Services set the dates and locations of Rain Bird Academy’s 2012 summer irrigation training camps in Florida. Rain Bird Academy will offer its irrigation […]April 16, 2012Previous PagePage 6 of 43Next PageTop StoriesWheel LoadersCase CE Expands Wheel Loader Range with New 651GThe 31,000-pound model is loaded with new features for better visibility, easier operation and increased operator comfort.Market PulseQuick Data: Top-Selling Skid Steers and Sales Trends 2024Graders/ScrapersMotor Graders Getting Easier to Operate, More VersatileExcavatorsVideo: Watch Komatsu’s First High-Reach Demolition Excavator for U.S.Featured SponsorSelecting the Correct Construction Tire Solution