Author: Kate Wade

BrandFX, a leader in lightweight composite work truck bodies, launched the all-new UltimateFX and UtilityFX at the NTEA Work Truck Show 2017. The UltimateFX is the industry’s first all-composite body and understructure for the work truck market. The UtilityFX is the all-composite body for cutaway work van applications.

A crash test video was screened at the event, revealing no permanent deformation or structural damage to the UltimateFX body/understructure after a simulation of a frontal crash in excess of 30 mph.

Like other advanced composite bodies from BrandFX, the UtilityFX was built to withstand up to 20 years of continual use. The engineered space in the UtilityFX allows for an increase in mobile operation efficiency by providing optimal access to all storage areas and organizational compartments.

Both products use advanced composite construction that is lighter than aluminum, designed to withstand the same rigors and working conditions of a steel body, and ultimately corrosion and oxidation free. The UltimateFX and UtilityFX are the first of their kind on the market. www.brandfxbody.com

Utility fleets have been seeking a reliable, fleet-ready plug-in hybrid electric pickup truck for years. XL Hybrids Inc. will begin production of its new XLP plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) upfit solution in the fourth quarter of 2017. XLP, rolling out on the Ford F-150, will be an industry-first, Fleet-Ready solution offered as a ship-thru upfit on half-ton pickup trucks. The system will provide a 50 percent improvement in miles driven per gallon for major fleets across the U.S., as well as significant reductions in CO2 emissions.

Benefits for utility fleets include a PHEV pickup truck with immediate applications across a wide range of drive cycles; based on proven technology with 40 million road miles; plug-in technology to meet EEI mandates for investment in fleet electrification; by adopting PHEV pickups, utility fleets set an example for rate-paying constituencies, encouraging them to use the increasing number of public, utility-installed vehicle charging stations; allows utility fleets to use the increasing amount of charging infrastructure being installed; and increases sustainability by offsetting fossil fuel use to reduce CO2 and NOx emissions.

NV Energy and DTE Energy are among the newest utility and municipal fleets who say they intend to purchase XL Hybrids’ XLP PHEV system. They join previously announced fleets San Diego Gas & Electric Co., Liberty Utilities and Hawaiian Electric Co. www.xlhybrids.com

Altec Industries recently announced that two of their biggest cranes – the AC40-152S and AC45-127S – are now available mounted on the PRINOTH PANTHER T22. This provides customers access to hard-to-reach areas and employ the unit in the aerial mode of operation with 222 feet of working height and 1,200 pounds of platform capacity.

PRINOTH and Altec worked closely together on developing the unit to ensure both systems, the carrier and the unit, would have best-in-class safety, reliability and off-road performance. The quick-attach platform can be used on the main boom, the 49-foot telescopic jib or the 6-foot composite reach extension. The unit was designed to optimize deck space and allow easy access to the cab from anywhere in rotation. The workhorse AC45 is also available on the T22. More specifications can be obtained by contacting Altec directly.

The PANTHER T22 is Tier 4 Final, offers 46,000 pounds of payload and is undoubtedly one of the largest tracked carriers on the market. Equipped with the innovative Rapid Attach Design chassis, a PRINOTH exclusivity first designed specifically for the power utility industry, this vehicle can receive large cranes or other sizable implements. With a ground pressure of only 4.39 psi at the maximum GVWR, the unit will easily travel through mud or other soft soils to allow power utility companies to reach even the hardest terrains. www.prinoth.com, www.altec.com

Havis Inc. has announced the launch of vehicle-specific and universal mobile office mounting solutions for a wide range of 2017 vehicles. Havis consoles, equipment mounting and computer device docking solutions are specifically designed with vehicles and mobile professionals in mind to create a comfortable mobile office built to the highest safety standards.

Havis’ broad portfolio of rugged products provides secure mounting solutions for 2017 vehicles across a variety of markets, including utility and energy services, public safety and material handling. Mounting solutions are available for Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Freightliner, GMC, International, Isuzu, Jeep, Honda, Nissan and more. Havis works directly with OEM partners to develop vehicle-specific equipment mounting and computing solutions that maximize productivity in mobile offices.

Havis equipment mounting solutions are tested to the industry’s highest safety standards, including vibration and environmental testing to ensure quality performance in the most rugged conditions. www.havis.com

Bigfoot Outrigger Pads is now offering their new Internal Handles, which are machined out of solid plastic. The company also is offering their all-new Plastic Handles that never get sopping wet. Founded in 1995 and incorporated in 1996, Bigfoot has grown from building wood outrigger pads for a few local concrete pumping and crane companies to being a leading wood and plastic outrigger pad manufacturer for OEMs, machine dealers and end users throughout the U.S. and Canada. www.outriggerpads.com

Terex Utilities now offers customers another option to meet their green fleet needs with the new HyPower IM, the latest innovation in the HyPower hybrid solutions offering.

HyPower IM is an idle mitigation and cab comfort solution. It provides benefits similar to those of the HyPower Hybrid System, including reduced fuel usage and reduced exhaust emissions, but at a lower price point. The system automatically switches from plug-in battery-stored power when the truck is idling to engine-supplied power when hydraulic controls are engaged.

In addition, HyPower IM enables the truck cab to be heated or cooled without the engine running, utilizing the truck’s heating and cooling vents.

HyPower IM is currently available for Class 5 chassis – such as Ford, Dodge and GM trucks – used with Terex Hi-Ranger telescopic aerial devices, such as the LT, LTM and TL series aerial devices. http://info.terex.com/hypoweriminfo

Milwaukee Tool has introduced the TICK, a professional-grade Bluetooth tool and equipment tracker. Designed to withstand the harshest job site environments, the TICK can be easily attached and hidden from sight on any product, regardless of brand, providing users an invaluable way to track anything in their inventory through the ONE-KEY app.

With its low-profile design, the TICK can securely attach to anything through glue, screw, rivet or strap. Its flat back enables a snug fit to a variety of surface types, and its circular shape fits into a range of places hidden from view (e.g., the underside of a ladder or miter saw stand). Each TICK also is laser engraved with a serial number so users can easily identify and assign multiple TICKs. Once attached and hidden from view, the TICK makes tracking tools and equipment as simple as pulling out your phone.

Products with a TICK attached are paired via the ONE-KEY app. Tool records and locations are updated when any device with the ONE-KEY app comes within 100 feet of the TICK. These location updates are transmitted through any ONE-KEY app that’s in range, regardless of whether the app is open or not, allowing users to pinpoint missing tools more quickly. In addition, users can easily manage all of their tools through the app’s Simplified Tool and Equipment Management features. These features allow users to assign and store detailed information for all of their tools and equipment, whether it’s a tool equipped with a TICK, a ONE-KEY enabled tool or any other tool or piece of equipment. www.milwaukeetool.com

The ALL Family of Companies recently announced the acquisition of an equipment package consisting of large-capacity crawlers and aerial lift equipment, including boom lifts and telescopic forklifts. The two separate deals with leading-brand manufacturers Manitowoc and JLG will include 30 new machines.

The Manitowoc purchase includes two 275-USt Manitowoc 999 crawler cranes, which are a combination of capacity, reliability and versatility. Also joining the crawler fleet is a new 220-USt Manitowoc 14000. With its long reach – up to 462 feet with the luffing jib attached – this is an extremely versatile crane.

ALL Aerials, the company’s nationwide aerial equipment division, continues to experience strong demand for their varied inventory of equipment. The company’s new JLG package includes 17 telescopic boom lifts, with horizontal outreach ranging from 33 to 80 feet, as well as 10 JLG telescopic forklifts (telehandlers). These range from the JLG 642, with a maximum capacity of 6,600 pounds, to the heavy-duty JLG G15-44A, the largest of JLG’s telehandlers, with a maximum capacity of 15,000 pounds. Telehandlers and boom lifts are maneuverable, efficient machines that offer real advantages on crowded job sites. Their power, versatility and ability to work at awkward angles can directly and positively affect productivity. www.allcrane.com

To provide horizontal directional drilling operators with the power and performance to conquer any job, Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works Company, has introduced Tier 4 emission standard upgrades to the JT60 and JT60 All Terrain directional drills.

With new Tier 4 engine upgrades, these drills offer contractors 60,000 pounds of thrust and 9,000 foot-pounds of rotational torque – the right combination for superior productivity on large installations in rural or urban environments. Drilling with 200-gross-hp Tier 4 Cummins engines, the JT60 and JT60 All Terrain deliver the power to bore through the most challenging underground obstacles, including rock and other hard, fractured soils.

The two-pipe drilling system featured on the JT60 All Terrain drill delivers more raw power to the drill bit than any other rock-drilling system in its class. The combination of simultaneous drilling and steering through rock allows horizontal directional drilling contractors to get jobs done faster and more efficiently.

Both drill models feature an automated, easy-to-use pipeloading system, designed to save contractors time and money, as well as an optional new wireline platform. Heavy-duty anchor systems provide the stability necessary during drilling and backreaming to use the machines’ full thrust capabilities when navigating challenging underground conditions, keeping the drill operating efficiently and the bore path stable. With the smallest footprint in its class, the machines drill through the toughest conditions even in hard-to-reach, tight job sites. www.ditchwitch.com

Mohawk Lifts has announced a new lift accessory for 10,000-pound through 30,000-pound two-post lifts. The swing arm head guard prevents technicians from hurting or cutting their heads on hard, steel swing arms while they are working under a vehicle. Easily applied to the lift’s swing arm with a peel-and-stick application, the head guard decreases workplace injuries and increases worker safety. www.mohawklifts.com