Author: Kate Wade

Barko’s 80XL and 80XLE back-of-cab knuckleboom loaders offer low installation weight with high payload capacity for a variety of material-handling needs. Built with reliability in mind, the loaders are ideal for a wide array of industrial applications, including logging, tree service and maintenance, storm cleanup, scrap pickup and construction.

Powered by the carrying vehicle’s power takeoff, the loaders feature a robust hydraulic system that provides exceptional functionality. A triple gear pump produces up to 62 gallons per minute, with one section dedicated to the planetary swing drive that allows simultaneous operation of the boom and swing system without losing flow. A rotary manifold allows for 360-degree continuous rotation and provides electrical and hydraulic power to the lower frame. Sectional control-type valves come with folding mechanical joysticks.

The 80XL offers a standard 22-foot straight boom and delivers a maximum lift capacity of 9,880 pounds; a 26-foot straight boom is optional. The 80XLE is equipped with a telescoping boom that extends from 22 to 25 feet and provides lift capacity up to 10,450 pounds. www.barko.com

E3 Spark Plugs now offers a natural gas spark plug that provides greater durability and ignition capacity for CNG- and LNG-powered vehicles. The E3 Natural Gas Spark Plug is a modification of plugs developed for race applications where heat and extreme use can affect durability and ignition capacity.

Low-emission natural gas vehicles require a much higher ignition point. The ignition point for CNG and LNG is almost double that of traditional gas-powered vehicles. To achieve low NOx and carbon emissions, the plug must be able to achieve robust ignition while also withstanding extreme heat. E3’s experience and years of research and development for race applications led to the development of the E3 natural gas spark plug that delivers higher spark voltage, and protects and insulates with a superior ceramic insulator and iridium metal for long-lasting durability.

E3 natural gas spark plugs are recommended for use in all CNG- and LNG-powered vehicles where repeated use and idling is standard. The spark plugs are supported by E3 with a line of natural gas ignition products, including plug-on coils, coil packs and oxygen sensors. www.e3sparkplugs.com

The Triple Seal Protection product line by Prestone Products Corp. is a breakthrough stop-leak treatment that allows users to avoid paying thousands for engine repairs. With just one bottle of Triple Seal Protection, leaks are sealed from the inside of the affected area without blocking or corroding the cooling system.

The Triple Seal Protection line includes three products: Prestone Triple Seal Protection Engine Block Stop Leak, Prestone Triple Seal Protection Head Gasket Stop Leak and Prestone Triple Seal Protection Radiator Stop Leak.

Each product is designed for the unique heat and pressure of the specific leak location (engine block, head gasket or radiator). The product is delivered through three proprietary technologies that work together to repair the source of the leak. Effervescent beads flow straight to the source of the leak while a DuPont Kevlar resin forms a web that binds to the surrounding metal. Finally, the seal is secured by an acrylic polymer in the Radiator Stop Leak and an acrylic polymer and sodium silicate (liquid glass) in the Engine Block Stop Leak and Head Gasket Stop Leak that harden the seals.

Both the Engine Block Stop Leak and Radiator Stop Leak products do not require a cooling system flush, while the Head Gasket Stop Leak requires a flush and fill one to two weeks after adding to the system. All three Triple Seal Protection products are safe to use with all colors of antifreeze. They also are competitively priced and offer a high-quality solution to protect today’s sophisticated engines. www.prestone.com

Sherman + Reilly, a Textron Inc. company and a leading manufacturer of power-line stringing and installation equipment, recently introduced the PLW-200X four drum turret pilot line winder. The all new PLW-200X offers customers an ergonomic operator’s station, 360-degree turret rotation, braking system with electric over hydraulic activation and a galvanized finish option. The design team at Sherman + Reilly turned customer feedback into action with the added safety and efficiency in the new PLW-200X. 

The Sherman + Reilly PLW-200X features an optimized operator’s station with a new ergonomic layout. Equipped with real-time self-diagnostics and CANbus technology, the operator can access all major controls from the seated operator station. The four-drum turret is capable of rotating 360 degrees for optimal structure approach to drive efficiency on the job site. The braking system, with electric over hydraulic activation, allows for controlled articulation of braking pressure distributed to each of the pilot line drums. The PLW-200X also offers a new galvanized finish for a more durable and weather-resistant finish, the first of its kind for Sherman + Reilly equipment. The equipment also features newly positioned tie-off points to allow for quicker line/phase changeover and securing of drum-specific pilot lines.

All Sherman + Reilly equipment is backed by a one-year warranty and a dedicated Sherman + Reilly service team. www.sherman-reilly.com

DICA’s new ProStack Cribbing products have been expanded to include smaller Medium Duty interlocking blocks and pad sizes. The reduced size is specifically designed for aerial bucket trucks and digger derricks where additional cribbing height is needed to support and stabilize the equipment in unlevel environments.

Like the original Heavy Duty ProStack Cribbing, the smaller Medium Duty size has an engineered interlocking design that safely provides additional height under outrigger floats for increased cribbing height.

Both Medium and Heavy Duty ProStack Cribbing setups are made up of three basic parts: a base SafetyTech Outrigger Pad, ProStack Interlocking Cribbing Blocks and a ProStack, high-friction top Grip Pad. The base SafetyTech Outrigger Pad is manufactured with an interlocking pyramid surface. Operators then stack layers of ProStack Cribbing Blocks to the desired height. Lastly, a ProStack Grip Pad is placed on top of the stack to provide a high-friction surface for the outrigger foot, and to protect the pyramid surface on the cribbing blocks.

The new Medium Duty ProStack Cribbing is 6” thick 12”x12” – that’s half the size and weight of the Heavy Duty 6” thick 12”x24” cribbing blocks. The Medium Duty blocks weigh just 27 pounds each and are intended to be used with 24” SafetyTech Outrigger Pads. www.dicausa.com

XL Hybrids Inc. has announced that the company will begin production on the XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System for Model Year 2018 Ford Super Duty F-250 pickups in the first quarter of 2018.

XL Hybrids has adapted its XL3 technology for Ford F-250 trucks based on demand from fleet customers who are seeking even better fuel efficiency from Ford’s popular three-quarter-ton work trucks. This will be the first time that Ford F-250 trucks can be ordered by fleet customers with hybrid-electric drive technology. Now fleets can enjoy up to a 25 percent increase in miles per gallon – and accompanying reductions in CO₂ emissions – on trucks used for rugged towing, hauling capacity and utility applications.

The XL3 system will be the first offered as a ship-thru upfit on Model Year 2018 F-250 pickups. XL3 will be upfit on the Ford Super Duty 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine compatible with a range of wheelbases, cab and bed configurations in both 4×2 and 4×4 options. As with each XL3 installation, all components are installed under the vehicle, allowing the pickup bed’s full capacity. www.xlhybrids.com

To supplement its offering of A/C, fluid, diagnostics and nitrogen service equipment, MAHLE Service Solutions has partnered with Gray Manufacturing to offer ShopPRO, a full line of the highest-quality hydraulic and pneumatic equipment for the commercial vehicle market.

The ShopPRO product line includes 12 product categories: air lifts, axle jacks, component lifts, engine stands, fluid handling, forklift jacks, service jacks, shop cranes, shop presses, support stands, vehicle lifts and wheel service equipment.

Gray Manufacturing has been designing, manufacturing and selling lifting equipment since 1952. Each product is built to meet or exceed the ASME PASE 2014 standard. After manufacturing, each part is put through complete testing for rated load and range of motion, providing the customer with assurance that each jack or lifting device meets the standards of excellence. www.servicesolutions.mahle.com

Allison Transmission has announced availability of its latest fuel economy technology for its 1000 Series and 2000 Series. Referred to as xFE, designating extra fuel economy, the fully automatic bus and truck transmissions have demonstrated improvements up to 7 percent when compared to baseline models.

The 1000 Series and 2000 Series xFE transmissions have the same space claim and ratings as current models, but incorporate a redesigned torque converter damper coupled with the FuelSense 2.0 Max package. The damper enables first range lockup, delivering significantly more lockup operation and operating at lower engine speeds in higher ranges to further improve fuel economy. All xFE transmissions are compatible with alternative fuel engines.

First announced in 2015, xFE transmissions were exclusively available in the 3000 Series for bus applications. The new models represent the first expansion of the xFE portfolio and come standard with FuelSense 2.0.

Announced in March, FuelSense 2.0 with DynActive Shifting delivers additional fuel savings beyond original FuelSense software. Through a set of proprietary software enhancements, the new FuelSense 2.0 uses DynActive Shifting to provide an infinitely variable combination of shift points and uses a learning algorithm to continuously find the ideal balance of fuel economy and performance. Available in three packages, FuelSense 2.0 allows fleets to optimize fuel economy and performance to their specific needs. www.allisontransmission.com

Collapse to tow. Wrap to stow. Offering quick and easy deployment, the patented MDI Compact Collapse & Wrap Sign System consists of an MDI Compact sign and a WindMaster sign stand (each sold separately). Once the sign is mounted to the stand, it becomes one unit; if desired, the sign can stay in place in the stand. In addition to the renowned WindMaster technology, the sign’s flexible cross-brace enhances wind performance. To store, the sign quickly collapses using the single-trigger release button and wraps around the upright on the stand. The sign and sign stand set up in under 20 seconds. Rapid deployment significantly improves safety and efficiency in the work zone. www.mditrafficcontrol.com

The portable Spill Station can be hung on a wall in any location where spills happen, including repair shops, substations and warehouses. Work from where it hangs or carry it to the spill. Available with Oil-Selective or Chemical/Hazmat sorbent, the Spill Station can be customized with items you need most, such as safety goggles, rubber gloves, additional sorbent pads, Tuff Wipes, Epoxy Putty, mini booms, disposal bags and even a non-sparking, square-point shovel. Contents will clean or contain up to a 12-gallon spill. To order, visit www.andax.com or call 800-999-1358. www.andax.com