World of Concrete - Solid foundations

Everything starts at World of Concrete’… so says the organiser’s marketing material, and World of Concrete (WoC) will, as usual, be the first major show in the construction industry’s 2016 calendar, predominantly for the concrete sector, but also for general construction professionals.

WoC will include elements such as large machines for material handling, concrete repair and demolition, masonry product showcases and a range of the latest advances in construction technology.

New for 2016, however, is a precast area, focusing exclusively on new precast concrete products, technologies and handling equipment. The new element will include products such as coring machines, pipe unloaders and above and below ground precast structures.

Exhibitors will be welcoming visitors to their stands between February 2nd to 5th, while an impressive and comprehensive seminar programme will run between February 1st and 5th.

The show will once again increase in size, from 55, 750 m2 in 2015, to 62,750 m2, with over 1,400 suppliers set to exhibit.

More than concrete

A number of the world’s largest construction companies will be in attendance, including the likes of Doosan, who will showcase a new wheel loader and wheel excavator.

The DL220-5 wheel loader promises a number of enhancements for increased operator comfort, productivity and serviceability, along with a Tier 4-compliant Doosan DL06 engine.

Also new from Doosan is the DX140W-5 wheel excavator – a 14.3 tonne machine that offers advantages for operations requiring driving on finished concrete or asphalt surfaces.

Among a number of promised enhancements are improved fuel efficiency from a new Smart Power Control selectable engine mode, a new camera monitor (allowing operators to monitor machine information while the camera is on), and floor pedal activation of two-way hydraulics.

Caterpillar will bring its new Cat 307E2 mini hydraulic excavator to the show, entering the 7 to 8 tonne class with a 37.7 kW, Cat C2.4 turbo engine machine.

Along with improved performance, Cat says it is placing operator comfort at the forefront in the new excavator, as the 307E2 includes an air suspension seat, retractable seat belt, and COMPASS monitor with colour display.

At WoC, Cat will demonstrate the system, which allows operators to enable and modify machine features; this includes a hydraulic quick coupler, allowing tool attachments to be changed at the touch of a button, an auto engine idle control for fuel efficiency, and some security features to protect the equipment on job sites.

Another large machine, more specific to the concrete construction industry, is the new paver being displayed at the show by Terex.

With the capacity to pave widths from 2.4 m to 26 m, the versatile Terex Bid-Well 3600 can be used for both slab-on-grade and bridge deck paving projects. It also features the Rota-Vibe system, generating up to 5,000 vibrations per minute, consolidating the top 60 mm of the slab and reducing chemical penetration.

Terex is keen to show the flexibility of the 3600, which includes an exclusive swing leg design for zero clearance and is capable of paving at cross slopes greater than 4%.

GOMACO will introduce its new GP3 slipform paver for widths up to 9.14 meters. The dual-telescoping GP3 is the first in a new range of GOMACO pavers, featuring next generation technology. Other innovations will include the latest in telematics and remote diagnostics, new applications for 3D guidance, and new G+ technology.

Along with the GP3, and GOMACO’s complete line of concrete slipform paving equipment, the GOMACO Smoothness Indicator will be showcased as a tool for meeting rideability with on-the-go smoothness monitoring. The company is also promising a revolutionary concept in bridge deck finishing with 3D guidance on a GOMACO C-450 cylinder finisher, as it will showcase a 3D-controlled hydraulic vertical adjusting undercarriage.

Versatile machines

Leading all-terrain material handling equipment company Manitou recently announced it is introducing updated
MRT Series Privilege Plus Rotating Telescopic Handlers to
the North American market.

The MRT 2150 version will be on display at WoC, possibly along with the all-new MRT 3255. With a range of attachments, including forks, winch, jib with winch and platform with winch, Manitou aims to use the show to demonstrate the versatility of these handlers, which also feature optional remote control.

With these new features, plus their impressive lift heights and 360o rotation, Manitou will be extolling the virtues of the MRT range as a useful option for moving materials to high building structures, elevating work platforms and carrying out service and maintenance work.

Case Construction Equipment will take its brand new SR270 to WoC, proudly claiming it is the industry’s largest radial lift skid steer with a rated operating capacity of 2,700 pounds at 90 horsepower.

Case became the first manufacturer to offer skid steer loaders with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology with the introduction of the SR270 radial-lift skid steer and the SV300 vertical-lift skid steer.

Warren Anderson, brand marketing manager at Case, said of the new technology, “Owners will notice a more efficient use of the machine’s engine,” adding, “There are no daily or intensive maintenance efforts required by the new technology, no diesel particulate filter to maintain or replace.”

The new Tier 4 Final models will demonstrate to WoC visitors their best-in-class torque, breakout force and standard auxiliary hydraulic flow, as well as the industry’s widest cab with 360-degree visibility.

Cemen Tech will have a range of mixers on display in Vegas, including two C60 mobile mixers, one of which will be used to demonstrate how technology is being used to increase efficiency in pouring fast-setting concrete.

The C60’s new electronic panel allows operators in the field to view in real time the amount of concrete being poured.

Other innovations on the new model include a GPS tracking system, alerting managers when and where a mixer has stopped and efficiently it is being used.

Coming down in scale and entering the demolition arena, Hilti will be using WoC to showcase its new TE800-AVR hand-held breaker, which features Hi Drive technology. The company says the product is capable of delivering more than 20 Nm of impact energy.

Hilti promises best in class performance in both power and comfort from the TE800-AVR, along with an increased lifetime due to its triple chamber sealing and an active cooling system, which provides air flow over the electronics, motor, gear and hammering mechanism.

An isolated hammering system also prevents dust and other materials entering the gearing, reducing the need for maintenance and repair.

Perhaps most impressively, Hilti reports that the active vibration reduction (AVR) sub-chassis system can cut vibrations by up to two thirds, when compared to conventional tools.

Technology on show

Minnich Manufacturing will showcase its special application capabilities, dowel-pin drills and concrete paving vibrators at
the show.

Now an integral part of the road construction process, dowel-pin drilling needs to be fast and efficient, and Minnich boasts a dowel-pin drill for virtually any application, ranging in capacity from a single drill up to a five-gang drill unit.

At WoC, Minnich will be exhibiting its A-1 Series machines, which can be configured to drill horizontally, vertically, into a wall or six inches from a corner – eliminating the need for additional equipment or conversion kits.

It will also show its concrete barrier special application drill, and the self-propelled wireless drill, which allows operators to drill faster and more accurately, while standing away from the machine, therefore avoiding dust, debris and obstacles.

Beyond construction machinery itself, technology-based products for the industry will feature heavily at WoC. Included in this will be the growing use of telematics for monitoring the use, positioning and efficiency of construction assets.

DPL Telematics will use WoC to demonstrate the use of its range of telemetry technologies. It will also be showcasing its new Titan Equipment Monitoring System, which will use the recently-unveiled global satellite communications system for wireless monitoring and remote tracking of off road equipment.

Via Iridium’s low latency satellite network, Titan users will now communicate with their assets anywhere on the globe, regardless of cellular availability.

Using the information relayed to Titan, operators can curb excessive idle time and assess machine health conditions, including temperatures and pressures.

DPL Telematics’ director of operations and business development, Tony Nicoletti, said the system represented, “…a complete, rugged telemetry solution for applications with no cellular coverage. With five different reporting packages to choose from, customers will remotely access the correct data for their operational needs from anywhere on the planet, at a price point that fits their budget”.

As usual, WoC has a comprehensive schedule of seminars, certifications and training workshops, along with a variety of association courses, special events and other show activities.

For 2016, the show will offer more than 100 expert-led sessions, including interactive workshops such as Train-the-Trainer, Boot Camps for Leaders, Hands-On Training, and Live Decorative Demonstration.

A 2016 innovation includes special discounts on 90-minute and three-hour seminars for colleges and universities registering their qualified construction management and engineering students online.

In terms of the equipment on show at World of Concrete, we can only give a glimpse in these pages.

Whether or not your business is strictly concrete, with 1,400-plus construction-related exhibitors showcasing new and market-leading products, it would seem a personal visit to Las Vegas may be required this February. iC