Features
Avoid Trenching Troubles
May 09, 2012
An inexperienced trencher operator can cause costly mistakes, even when using a trencher attachment hooked up to a skid steer or track loader. more >>
Trencher Safety
May 09, 2012
Trencher equipment manufacturers are always striving to improve their machines and utilize advances in technology to improve safety. more >>
Back on Track
May 09, 2012
If you were asked to prepare a list of trade professions that use the most diverse range of equipment on the job, which ones would you choose? more >>
Vertical Drops
May 09, 2012
No two geothermal loop systems are the same. The loop system is a series of pipes buried beneath the ground vertically or horizontally, utilizing the constant temperature of the earth to capture thermal energy to heat and cool structures, everything from homes to businesses to public facilities. more >>
The Compact Loader Alternative
May 09, 2012
On the wide-ranging construction sites of North America, the skid steer has long ruled urban project sites. Its size, versatility, maneuverability and price have given the skid steer an affordable and adaptable edge in multiple markets (farming, construction, landscape, municipal work, rental, private use and onward). more >>
Feature Story Archives
2012 | 20112012
Building a Good Reputation
Apr 06, 2012
A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all. It’s a philosophy that guides family-owned and operated Done Plumbing and Heating in the Denver-metro area. more >>
Editor at Large
Apr 06, 2012
Caterpillar is the biggest manufacturer of earth moving equipment in the world. You can get a real feel for the scope and size of that statement when you visit its impressive Building Construction Products facilities (BCP) in Clayton, N.C. Compact Equipment spent two days in Clayton, touring manufacturing sites, operating machines and learning about the expansive Cat product line. more >>
Training Day
Apr 06, 2012
Skid steer loaders are indispensable on most jobsites today. They can do an incredible amount of work in the hands of a skilled and safe operator. more >>
Building a More Efficient Office
Apr 06, 2012
Construction companies are great at what they do: building things efficiently, on time and on budget. more >>
Land Rover
Apr 06, 2012
The sun’s hanging low in the sky, and its bright red blaze is like a big ticking clock. Time is running short. There are only so many hours in a day to work on your expansive estate, and there are only so many projects you can finish in a week’s worth of work time on a big property. more >>
Balancing Power, Price and Processes
Apr 06, 2012
Tier 4 Final emissions regulations (T4f) go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013, for machines used in the United States and Canada with engines in the 25- to 75-hp range, including engine-driven welder/generators. more >>
Attached to Utility Work
Mar 15, 2012
Public and private companies put excavators to good use when it comes to installing or repairing utilities. In fact, compact excavators can help increase productivity on any project requiring deep-digging capabilities and heavy-craning abilities, especially when paired with the appropriate attachment. more >>
Figure Out Your Digger
Mar 15, 2012
From contractors to do-it-yourselfers, earth auger attachments for mini excavators are commonly used by many operators. more >>
Catch and Release
Mar 15, 2012
Having a machine with a bulldog grip is an important advantage for construction-focused contractors, especially when moving products or spoils from Point A to Point B. Pair a thumb attachment to a compact excavator bucket and you have steel jaws that can capture, catch, clutch and collar objects as diverse as big landscape rocks and as awkward as rebar debris. more >>
Compact Excavator Attachment Showcase
Mar 15, 2012
TEI Rock Drills makes pretty cool attachments. The Montrose, Colo.-based company manufactures a fairly awesome MME260 rock drill attachment, which uses its newly patented hydraulic drifters and feed systems. more >>
The Evolution of Implements
Mar 15, 2012
The tractor has a rich history. It’s a machine that helped build the modern farm before taking its innovative design and hard work ethic into a variety of unique industries and applications. more >>
Keep It Clean
Mar 15, 2012
Efficiency is key when accomplishing chores. From dropping off a pile of gravel in the yard to spearheading bunk feeding in the barn, a compact tractor can be your ultimate chore-conquering piece of equipment. more >>
Out of the Snow, Not Out of Mind
Mar 15, 2012
Whether in a commercial or residential setting, full-time or part-time usage, a containment snow pusher is a common attachment found on small equipment such as skid steers and tractors. more >>
Bale Bonding
Mar 15, 2012
Bales of hay and straw are always on the move — whether it’s to the feed yard, the barn or to another farmer’s field. more >>
The Art of CTC Attachments
Mar 15, 2012
Over the years, compact tool carriers (CTCs) have caused quite a stir when it came to the name game. Are they mini track loaders or mini skid steers? more >>
Branching Out
Mar 15, 2012
For tree care service firms, good, reliable equipment — chain saws, brush chippers, stump cutters and chip trucks — are critical for success in an industry where there is plenty of competition. more >>
Maximizing Your Rental Investment
Mar 15, 2012
The economy is finally starting to show signs of improvement. Co nsumer confidence is up and contractors are beginning to see a more consistent flow of work. more >>
Emerging from the Perfect Storm
Feb 16, 2012
Over the past few years, the “perfect storm” of recession and market uncertainties has left many construction firm owners and executives a little seasick. more >>
Analog or Digital?
Feb 16, 2012
“Generator control unit” is an ambiguous term that could mean a variety of things to an owner or operator of a mobile generator. It could be as narrowly defined as the operator interface panel — the switches, controls and connections — used to run the generator. It could be more broadly defined as a combination of every electrical part or computer system of the generator unit and its engine. more >>
Then There Was Light
Feb 16, 2012
Securing reliable light sources to illuminate nighttime construction projects is imperative for utility contractors whose work requires them to see in the dark. more >>
Achieving True Location Intelligence
Feb 16, 2012
When considering how location intelligence technologies are deployed — systems such as GPS-based fleet management, routing, navigation and work order management — most companies are only scratching the surface of the capabilities afforded by these services. more >>
Rise of the Loader?
Jan 09, 2012
Since their inception in a small town in Minnesota, skid steers have grown in stature — as compact, efficient and valuable machines for worksites of all shapes and sizes. more >>
Snow Loaders
Jan 09, 2012
Though construction slows in colder climates when the temperature dips, for contractors in the snowbelt winter is often when the loaders in their fleets get a different kind of workout. more >>
Over-the-Tire Tracks Vs. a Dedicated Track Undercarriage
Jan 09, 2012
Spec’ing a compact loader for maximum productivity means matching the machine’s capabilities to the jobsite conditions. more >>
Creature Comforts
Jan 09, 2012
When it comes to skid steers and compact track loaders, there’s little doubt that operator comfort has a positive impact on overall safety and productivity. more >>
Office Space
Jan 09, 2012
Ask anyone on the jobsite and you will hear a familiar refrain: Operator comfort is critical to maximizing productivity. more >>
Cold Remedies
Jan 09, 2012
When the temperature on a jobsite is bone chilling cold, getting compact equipment power sources to operate properly gets tough. more >>
Engine Hibernation
Jan 09, 2012
For many contractors, equipment is often used very little during the winter season – and in some areas of the country, not at all. more >>
Emission-Compliant Engines Update
Jan 09, 2012
Total fluid economy takes into account an engine’s total fluid consumption, including diesel fuel, engine oil and maybe a few unfamiliar fluids with today’s next generation of diesel engines (such as diesel exhaust fluid or DEF). more >>
Alternative Fuels Propane
Jan 09, 2012
Alternatively fueled commercial vehicles have been around for a long time. Did you know the first vehicles fueled by propane autogas were originally developed in 1913? more >>
Breaking Bad
Jan 09, 2012
Many contractors rely on compact excavators for powerful and precise demolition work. Whether you’re working on sidewalks, curb work, parking lots or demolishing larger concrete structures, projects near roadways or in urban areas often require the small footprint and maneuverability of compact equipment. more >>
Smooth Solutions
Jan 09, 2012
Power trowels are used for floating and finishing large concrete slabs that are too stiff to otherwise handle with manual tools. more >>
2011
Visionary Attachments
Nov 11, 2011
Sometimes even superheroes need a multifunctional utility belt, equipped with all the right tools to conquer villainous problems on big projects. more >>
Operational Adaptability
Nov 11, 2011
Over the past two years, many companies have had to change to remain competitive. Often the change was geographic or in type of work — for example, from private to federal projects. more >>
Tires vs. Tracks
Nov 11, 2011
Acquiring new equipment, like a compact tool carrier, can be filled with choices. When deciding on a new piece of equipment, be sure to consider the amount of initial investment, the variety of applications the machine will be required to complete and the typical working conditions in which the machine will be operating. more >>
Trenchers vs. Tool Carriers
Nov 11, 2011
There are compact tool carriers that are proud of their ability to perform a variety of functions, and conversely, there are those machines that focus primarily on one thing and one thing only — like trenching. more >>
Purchase vs. Rental
Nov 11, 2011
Compact tool carriers are usually 36 in. wide at their smallest and are the perfect tools for contractors and landscapers who work in tight spaces and need to fit through backyard gates and small openings. more >>
The Customer & Equipment Distributor
Nov 11, 2011
The majority of equipment acquisitions can be classified into one of four categories: Rent, Lease, Rent-to-Own or Buy. more >>
Building a Business Network
Oct 17, 2011
In tough economic times, it’s not only equipment that is being expected to perform just one task — to do everything it is capable of doing — but landscaping contractors themselves are looking for ways to set themselves apart from the competition. more >>
Ultimate Snow Loader
Oct 17, 2011
Wheel loaders are extremely versatile machines because they can go from dirt work to snow removal as quickly as the snow can fall. more >>
Spartans vs. Snow
Oct 17, 2011
When it snows, the 104 miles of sidewalk throughout the Michigan State University campus can turn into 104 miles of trouble. more >>
Snow Patrol
Oct 17, 2011
With winter right around the corner, it is time to dust off your skid steer snow attachments and take inventory to confirm you have the necessary equipment to meet the season’s demands. more >>
Mini Vehicle, Big Plow Jobs
Oct 17, 2011
Winter work in your utility vehicle is fun (like most things in your UTV), but you still need to be well prepared to operate your all-terrain UTV in the snow — safely and effectively. more >>
Pipe Preservation
Oct 17, 2011
The leaves are falling, and so is the temperature. Before the winter season takes hold, a professional landscape company can protect lawn care irrigation systems from any damage those freezing temperatures can cause by taking a few quick steps to winterize the pipes and components. more >>
Choose Wisely
Sep 07, 2011
What type of equipment is a landscaper or small contractor most likely to use? If that question had been asked on the old television game show “Family Feud” back in the ‘70s or ‘80s, the excited guests would probably have offered up answers like “lawn mowers,” “hammers,” “shovels” and “saws.” more >>
Sit Back … It’s Time to Trench
Sep 07, 2011
There is no single method or machine suitable for every type of utility installation project. But there are certain jobs when the compact ride-on trencher is definitely the better choice, especially when the task involves digging a hundred feet of utility trench or more in a single workday. more >>
Next Gen Control Kits
Sep 07, 2011
A technology already in use on all cars and light trucks sold in the United States is revolutionizing the way that compact loaders and attachments communicate with each other. more >>
Trencher Implements
Sep 07, 2011
When trenching holes through tough terra firma, it’s important to find a balanced trenching tool for your application. When it comes to landscaping, farming, light construction and even homeowner repairs and installations, the proper trencher can be a powerful tool. more >>
Map Quest
Sep 07, 2011
Buried beneath your feet is a complex system of subsurface utilities, silently supplying power and connectivity to your home, neighborhood, office, farm and every city in between. more >>
Hands-On at ICUEE
Sep 07, 2011
ICUEE is dubbed the Demo Expo. Why? Because the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky., is maybe the best convention center in the United States that allows exhibitors and visitors to dig and operate machines. more >>
Hole Diggers for Dummies
Sep 07, 2011
Jobsites don’t see too many machines simpler than an earth auger. However, manufacturers build them this way because there’s just no reason to make them complex. more >>
Dig This
Aug 25, 2011
Whether you are a landscaping professional, a weekend “do-it-yourselfer” or just someone who likes to dig holes, utility backhoes are well-suited for all of your tough digging needs. more >>
Spread the News
Aug 25, 2011
Maintaining large areas of turf requires a large spreader. So if that push spreader in the back of the tool shed takes most of a day to finish one job, it’s time to look for something better. more >>
A Cut Above
Aug 25, 2011
How about we go back about 60 years or so to the farm? Some readers out there might remember it like it was yesterday. more >>
Bucket List
Aug 25, 2011
When making any large investment, it is important to carefully assess your needs before making the purchase. more >>
Ground Forces
Aug 25, 2011
For a contractor or landscaper, soil conditioner attachments and implements can increase your importance on a new construction or installation site. more >>
Unload Used Equipment Online
Aug 25, 2011
In order to be successful in any industry you have to have the right tools, and no industry knows that better than the construction industry. more >>
Tractor Tires
Aug 25, 2011
Compact tractors are versatile machines. Whether doing light tillage work in loose soils, landscaping on sensitive turf or moving construction materials on concrete, compact tractors have the ability to get the job done in almost any setting. more >>
Excavator Tracks: Live Long and Prosper
Aug 25, 2011
With good maintenance, smart operating techniques and proper transporting, you can extend the life of your track and undercarriage on a mini excavator. more >>
Rubber Match
Aug 25, 2011
In an on-demand industry where downtime costs money, it can pay to switch from bias tires to puncture-resistant radials. more >>
Track Report
Aug 25, 2011
The U.S. Department of Commerce reported in June that total construction spending is down 7.1 percent vs. 2010. From the Department of Labor: “After heavy losses from April 2006 to mid-2010, construction employment has been essentially unchanged on net over the past year.” more >>
Base of Support
Aug 25, 2011
There are many types of compaction equipment and each is designed for different applications. Before the selection process begins, it may help to understand the basics of soil compaction. more >>
More than Meets the Eye
Jul 18, 2011
To construct a summer blockbuster analogy, skid steers are the Transformers of the construction and landscape industry. more >>
Military Moments
Jul 15, 2011
Military missions are often top secret. The same goes for military machines. How and where the military uses its construction equipment and building brigades is not always for public print. But sometimes we get some photos of units in military action, without the story behind it. more >>
Basic Training
Jul 15, 2011
While the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) I Make America campaign is invaluable to the efforts to return American equipment manufacturers to a position of strength by creating jobs for skilled labor, there are other operations — especially for laborers that are also veterans. more >>
Extreme Environments, Extreme Equipment
Jul 15, 2011
The men and women of the United States armed forces travel from combat zone beaches to frozen arctic tundra to defend freedom and fight in the interest of democracy. Just as these individuals go above and beyond every day, so must their equipment. more >>
All-Terrain Personnel Carriers
Jul 15, 2011
Polaris off-road vehicles can conquer almost any terrain — construction jobsites, hunting expeditions, forest adventures, desert destinations and even battle zones. It’s probably why the United States military is so interested in the company’s go-anywhere utility vehicles (UTVs). more >>
Build It and They Will Come
Jul 15, 2011
John Whalley’s dream of turning a 70-acre parcel of land into a park is about to come true. When it does, it will be a testimonial to his dedication in helping his community and his determination to take charge to get things accomplished. more >>
Have Tractor, Will Travel
Jul 15, 2011
Dr. John Varty is setting out to chronicle how and why agriculture production has changed in Canada as farmers work to meet the demands of an increasing global population. more >>
Dig’n’Roll
Jul 15, 2011
When Joe Contractor needs a dedicated digging machine, he turns to an excavator. It’s a tool devoted to putting precise holes in the ground. But what if Joe needs a digging machine that can also quickly travel from jobsite to jobsite? more >>
The Power of Hand Tools - Minding Your MIGs
Jul 15, 2011
Selecting the right MIG gun for your welding application and maintaining it properly is just as important to your overall productivity as any other part of the welding operation. Unfortunately, MIG guns are very often an overlooked part of the welding system. more >>
Lighting the Path to Recovery
Jun 17, 2011
The worst tornado outbreak in recent U.S. history tore through the Midwestern and Southern United States in April, devastating and displacing entire communities. Many survivors now face the challenge of recovering without access to basic necessities such as electricity, clean water and shelter. more >>
The Pump Primer
Jun 17, 2011
Pump applications can be far reaching … from the general construction dewatering job to flood control to unique applications in the fishing and recreational industry. These varying applications suggest that contractors and landscapers need to have basic pump knowledge regarding the type of pump needed for their particular job. more >>
Bypass Surgery
Jun 17, 2011
When a vital artery bursts, swift action is needed to stabilize the situation. Water and sewer lines that flow beneath our cities are not unlike the body’s life veins, and when they rupture experts like Griffin Dewatering Corp. swoop in to perform instant triage. more >>
Implements of Construction
Jun 17, 2011
Sometimes attachments make the machine. Nowhere does that ring truer than with a compact tool carrier (often called a compact utility loader or mini skid steer). As one of the smallest motorized machines on the equipment market, compact tool carriers are specifically designed to run 60 to 70 different implements — hydraulic and non-hydraulic attachments like buckets, breakers, brooms, blades, backhoes and box scrapers (and that’s just the Bs). more >>
Man’s Best Friend
Jun 17, 2011
Australia is known for its wild creatures. Fascinating beasts like the platypus, the kangaroo and the Tasmanian devil have been found crawling along the shores of the giant island continent. So, it should be no wonder that Australia’s contributions to the machine market are just as curious. more >>
The Specialist
Jun 17, 2011
Sometimes when you reach into your toolbox, you need a very specific tool. If you only have a hammer, then you tend to treat every problem like a nail, so it’s best to be diversified. In the world of construction equipment, when it comes to ferrying construction materials or spoils around a project, an articulated dedicated dumper is the niche tool of choice when it comes to big loads, exact placement and increased cycle times. more >>
Green Machines
Jun 17, 2011
Landscaping can require the use of multiple specialty tools at any given time — and the tools can vary from job to job and from season to season. more >>
The Brush Guards
May 11, 2011
Covington’s Devou Park is a haven of 750 acres nestled atop a hillside overlooking the Cincinnati skyline. more >>
Changing the Landscape
May 11, 2011
Skid steers have served as the backbone of Tracy Bertog’s landscaping business for more than 20 years. Soon after Bertog started his landscaping business at the age of 16 with the purchase of a dump truck, he learned that owning good equipment was the key to working quickly and delivering fast results for his customers. more >>
Mud on the Tracks
May 11, 2011
The Alameda Corridor is a 20-mile freight rail expressway owned by the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, connecting the national rail system near downtown Los Angeles to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, running parallel to Alameda Street. more >>
Ground Forces
May 11, 2011
Vertical geothermal drilling is a developing and maturing market. With government incentives, a weak heating and air conditioning industry and an uneven economic recession, contractors are looking for ways to diversify their services portfolio, so perhaps vertical geothermal loops are an option for crews. more >>
The Drill Team
May 11, 2011
While serving as a de facto national government during the American Revolution, the Second Continental Congress fled to York, Pa. (known then as York Town), after British troops seized their original meeting spot on their wayward march through the streets of Philadelphia. more >>
Roll Program
May 11, 2011
Imagine for a moment that a NASCAR driver has a healthy lead going into the second half of a race. He pulls into the pit for a quick tire change, and his team switches his racing tires out for off-road tires. more >>
Wheels of Fortune
May 11, 2011
Last month, we talked with Takao Oishi, president and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corp., about the economics of the construction tire market. “2011 will be slightly stronger than 2010,” mused Oishi. more >>
Keeping Tracks in Top Shape
May 11, 2011
Broken rubber track on the jobsite is a problematic situation for contractors. It leads to machine downtime and increased overhead. more >>
Knowledge Equals Power
May 11, 2011
Power is a general requirement on most jobsites. From drills and saws to support equipment such as compressors and heaters, there is rarely a jobsite that doesn’t need a little help from a portable generator. more >>
Drain Cleaning Dynamos
Apr 19, 2011
Drain cleaning has always been a bit of an art, and it remains so, even in the age of line inspection cameras and auto-feed drum machines. more >>
On Right Track
Apr 15, 2011
With a background on the engineering side of the railway business, Bill Hahl is uniquely qualified to run his Philadelphia-based company, Diversified Mechanical Services. more >>
Electrodes, Equipment and Technique
Apr 15, 2011
The construction industry is extremely diverse, and some of the trades don’t feature welding as a core competency in their day-to-day work. more >>
Sparking an Education
Apr 15, 2011
In today’s fast-paced industries, the skills of technicians and welders are constantly changing and the need for continuing education is becoming even more prevalent. more >>
Understanding, Storing and Handling Filler Metals
Apr 15, 2011
Whether you are in the shop or the field, or if you weld a little or a lot, taking proper care of your filler metals is crucial to achieving good weld quality and avoiding additional downtime for equipment maintenance and repairs. more >>
The Tradition of Tractors
Apr 15, 2011
When Kubota tractors were introduced to the United States in 1969, few could have predicted that the little orange tractors would change the American equipment landscape forever. more >>
Ground Support
Mar 02, 2011
Matt Shanley is committed to bringing stability to your home or business. With his company, Alpha Foundation Specialists, based in Tallahassee, Fla., his crews bring new strength and support to buildings that are falling into foundation settlement problems. more >>
Easy Doze It
Mar 02, 2011
Moving and leveling the earth at a construction or landscaping site is a task that can require a machine with some serious power and agility. more >>
Dirty Jobs
Mar 02, 2011
You get a lot of milk out of 3,400 Holstein dairy cows. You also get a lot of mess. In a nutshell, this is the problem confronting Rob Schmidt every day. more >>
Buying a Mini Ex Online
Mar 02, 2011
The worldwide equipment marketplace is expansive, and the internet is an important tool when looking to purchase equipment. more >>
The Power of Hand Tools: Cut and Conquer
Mar 01, 2011
When it comes to quick and precise slices, hand-held concrete saws are ideal weapons of choice for concrete, masonry and steel projects. more >>
Cummins Q&A
Feb 01, 2011
The next stage of emissions legislation is looming and its imminent arrival is driving considerable change in the diesel engine industry. more >>
Master Grip
Feb 01, 2011
When an operation calls for a long arm and a steely grip, a compact excavator and a grapple attachment create an excellent iron appendage. more >>
Good Works
Feb 01, 2011
Heroes take journeys, and Tad Agoglia took plenty of journeys last year. As the chairman and CEO of the First Response Team of America, a non-profit disaster relief organization, his job is to travel to hurricane, flood, oil spill or earthquake emergencies to help rebuild communities after a major calamity. more >>
Charge of the Light Brigade
Feb 01, 2011
Deadlines don’t conform to normal business hours. When a project needs done, you do work whenever you can be most productive. more >>
Hammer Time
Jan 01, 2011
Compact tool carriers (CTCs) — also known as mini skid steers or compact utility loaders, depending on the brand — make big jobs in small places easy. more >>
All We Are Saying Is Give Lease a Chance
Jan 01, 2011
As recent as three years ago, contractors may have been hesitant to lease construction equipment. Dealers heard things such as “I’m not interested in a lease” or “I want to own my equipment and use it for years.” While this still holds true for some contractors, many are entertaining leasing as a finance option. more >>
