Author: Kate Wade

Terex Utilities recently announced a new auger tool for digger derricks: the Terex Stand Alone Core Barrel. It fits directly onto a standard Kelly bar and can be stowed like a standard auger on the boom. When a flighted auger will no longer do the job, the new Terex Stand Alone Core Barrel can increase productivity when drilling hard rock, such as limestone material.

For applications that require drilling to begin at ground level, a removable pilot bit can be used to stabilize the Stand Alone Core Barrel in order to start a hole. Once initial penetration is achieved, the pilot bit can be removed. The optional pilot bit is important for achieving a straight starter track.

In addition, the Stand Alone Core Barrel is designed for easy plug removal, increasing drilling productivity. A unique tooth pattern allows the rock plug to easily fall out of the barrel when the operator ratchets the rotation of the tool. Other core barrels require workers to physically hammer the core out of the barrel.

The Stand Alone Core Barrel is available in various diameters ranging from 18 to 30 inches and features a barrel wall of 5/8 of an inch. The heavy-duty hex hub is either 2-1/2 inches or 2-5/8 inches, and it comes with a Dom ST5 2-3/4-inch shaft. The overall length of the tool is 104 inches. Access to the C-10 bullet teeth provides for easy removal and replacement. www.terex.com/utilities

Prestolite Electric’s Leece-Neville Heavy Duty Systems brand now offers a powerful and highly robust new in-line gear-reduction starter motor – the M110608 – for PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines and Peterbilt and Kenworth 2010 and newer applications up to 16 liters.

The new starter brings superior performance and reliability – along with quick, bolt-in replacement – to engines today served by PACCAR, Mitsubishi and Delco Remy 39MT units. The in-line gear-reduction design helps ensure greater power from a lighter unit that can easily fit within tighter spaces.

Leece-Neville starters and alternators are manufactured by Prestolite Electric, a leading original equipment and aftermarket manufacturer serving customers in the trucking, construction, agriculture, mining and other markets.

The new Leece-Neville 12-volt (7-kilowatt) M110608 starter motor features Prestolite’s Integral Magnetic Switch/Soft Start Relay technology, which helps eliminate voltage drop issues by minimizing wiring between the relay and solenoid. Other key enhancements include a next-generation commutator with oversize copper cross-section, enlarged armature to minimize air gap losses, heavy-duty brush plate for best-in-class conductivity and an advanced e-coating on the housing for exceptional resistance to corrosion. www.prestolite.com

MAT Holdings Inc. has announced the relaunch of the Bendix Brakes brand Fleet MetLok product line, a line of automotive disc brake pads and rotors designed specifically for use in severe-duty applications, as well as service and pursuit vehicles.

A trusted industry name for over two decades, the Fleet MetLok product line has been enhanced to provide even better friction performance and coverage, and expanded to include rotors and pads.

Bendix Fleet MetLok semi- and low-metallic brake pads feature friction formulations proven to provide noise-free performance, fade and heat tolerance, outstanding durability and excellent stopping in demanding applications. They also feature a three-layer shim, burnishing compound to reduce break-in time and a hardware kit when applicable.

The Fleet MetLok rotors are built with alloyed carbon performance castings, which provide superior thermal stability and strength, and ensure safe operation in all driving conditions. Additionally, they are coated with the Bendix proprietary heat-resistant SurfaceLok coating, which extends rotor life by reducing corrosion.

The Fleet MetLok product line is ideal for use in heavy hauling, towing, frequent stopping and pursuit applications, such as in work vans, construction pickup trucks and more. www.bendix-brakes.com/bendix_fleet_metlok.php

Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works Company, has introduced the Air Saber lance, a new excavation accessory for the company’s FXT air-excavator equipment line.

As one of the highest-rated air lances on the market, the Air Saber is rated for operation at 250 psi, empowering operators to dig faster and more efficiently. The lance’s innovative design increases airflow for users while maintaining safe operation. A spring-lock, quick-connection system prevents the air hose from inadvertent separation, giving operators direct command of the lance while supporting overall project safety.

The lance’s fiberglass body is rated for higher air pressures and is constructed from nonconductive material. This helps increase operators’ safety for a variety of utility installation projects. The lance’s ergonomic, full-hand squeeze trigger is located in a natural position, resulting in improved comfort and ease of use compared with other air lances on the market.

The Air Saber is compatible with the Ditch Witch FXT Air series (FXT30 Air, FXT50 Air and FXT65 Air) along with other air-excavator models on the market. The Air Saber also features a 36-inch extension for improved digging depths. The extension is quickly connected with union couplings to save operators time and increase job uptime. www.ditchwitch.com/vacuum-accessories

In the past, onboard scales for commercial work trucks have not been available. That just changed with the new LoadMaxx Work Truck Scale released by Air-Weigh.

Available now, it is the industry’s first onboard axle scale that will improve your safety record while making you more efficient. For example, overloading remains one of the top three causes of crane and hoist accidents on work trucks. At least one vehicle overturns for every 10,000 hours of crane use, and 80 percent of these incidents stem from excess weight.

The new LoadMaxx Work Truck Scale warns the driver when a vehicle’s weight approaches its safety threshold, allowing operators to load every truck safely, every time. www.air-weigh.com

The JackJaw model JJ0400 is a new favorite tool for a number of utilities across the country. It enables operators to pull ground rods and gas probes effortlessly and quickly with no back strain. The tool’s folding lever arm design allows it to be stored in drawers and cabinets on service trucks for easy, quick access when needed. Check out the JackJaw model JJ0400 in person at the iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo November 2-3 in Glendale, Ariz. (www.utilitysafetyconference.com). For more information about the tool, contact Bob Anderson at bob@jackjaw.com or (937) 609-8937. www.jackjaw.com 

Havis Inc. has released a new white paper to guide fleet managers through the process of upfitting and installing in-vehicle equipment to maximize driver comfort and safety, and increase productivity for a positive return on investment.

“Professional Installation and Upfit Guide for Fleet Mobility” details steps for planning and executing an in-vehicle upfit, including selecting equipment to build a custom mobile office solution that fits a fleet’s needs and budget; choosing a professional installation partner to provide expertise through the process; and best practices for project management so that equipment is installed both correctly and efficiently.

The guide – available for free download at www.havis.com – provides the framework needed to create customized fleet strategies. The new white paper is designed to help professionals better understand and communicate their needs, and develop a strategic plan for new vehicles, fleet refresh or equipment upgrades. www.havis.com

Elliott Equipment Co. has introduced the D105, a new ANSI 10.31 digger derrick specifically designed for transmission and heavy-duty construction projects. Mounted on a tandem axle chassis, the D105 boasts a 107-foot sheave height, 20,000 foot-pounds of torque and a 41-foot digging radius. The unit is equipped with Elliott’s high-boom pin-point geometry, allowing for maximum power out of the hole, a variable displacement piston pump and a new ergonomic seated control console.

Other key features of the D105 include auger spin speeds of 35 rpm (low) and 80 rpm (high); digging depth of up to 16 feet; heavy-duty tilting pole claw attachment and pole guide designed for gripping large poles; new front-entry seated pedestal control station; ability to handle augers up to 48 inches in diameter; 12,000-pound single line pull main winch with synthetic rope and 30,000-pound maximum lift capacity at a 10-foot radius; mounts on tandem axle chassis; radio remote control boom and digger operation; and optional out and down EZ-CRIB high-penetration two-stage vertical outriggers with full- or mid-span operation. www.elliottequip.com

The Defender Series from WEATHER GUARD offers the latest in affordable truck box solutions designed specifically for professional-level protection. Ideal for keeping tools safe and secure, the truck box offers heavy-duty security, including push-button locks, a reinforced front panel and two dual-stage rotary latches with looped strikers. It is available with more than 20 products across five categories, including Saddle and Cross Boxes, All-Purpose Chests, and Lo-Side and Hi-Side boxes. www.weatherguard.com

Utility trucks need stiff suspensions for stability on the job. Lineworkers pay for stiff suspensions with back pain and fatigue, and companies pay with lost productivity. The Bose Ride system solves these problems by actively counteracting unwanted road vibration to improve ride quality.

In a recent evaluation conducted at a major utility company, lineworkers unanimously rated the Bose Ride system as providing a smoother ride in bucket trucks previously rated as rough-riding. Objective engineering measurements from that evaluation demonstrated that the Bose Ride system greatly reduced road shock and vibration felt by drivers in utility trucks. www.boseride.com/utility