New concrete plants

Astec Inc.’s new line of concrete products and facilities includes individual components and full plants, as well as a roller-compacted concrete plant. These plants offer continuous blending, belt scales with weigh idlers and fully variable speed drives, in-house designed twin-shaft mixer, and self-erecting cement silo. The stationary concrete facilities combine modular structures with built-in stairs, decks and ladders, and interchangeable deck mixers with the company’s proprietary surge hoppers. Seismic designs are available. Equipment will be sold through the company’s newly formed Concrete Products Group.

Online safety training

Caterpillar’s Web site, Safety.Cat.com, partnered with PureSafety to expand its services to include online safety training. The new safety training Web site, Safety.Cat.com/training, offers classes related to general safety awareness issues common at most job sites. Available courses include Environmental Awareness, Fall Protection, OSHA 10-Hour Training Program for Construction and General Industry, Trenching Safety, Scaffolding, Electrical Safety, and more.

Anti-slab jaws

Columbia Steel Casting Co., Inc. specifically designed its new anti-slab jaws to handle troublesome slab materials. The jaws are based on traditional and high-tooth jaw designs, but with additional raised slab breakers in pitch with conventionally located teeth. Jaws are available in standard manganese steel alloy and in Xtralloy premium manganese.

Self-lifter for equipment

Vacuworx International released its new patent-pending, fully self-contained self-lifter, which attaches easily to excavators, forklifts, wheel loaders, cranes, and boom trucks. It lifts materials such as steel plates, concrete slabs, or landscape rocks, as well as tubular products such as steel, concrete, plastic, or coated pipe, according to the company.

Attachment locking mechanism

Caterpillar’s new center-lock pin-grabber coupler for hydraulic excavator models 311 through 385 uses a patented over-center locking mechanism and two hydraulic locking features to assure work-tool attachment. An in-cab switch engages the coupler with a work tool; the coupler’s cylinder extends to close the primary hook around the tool’s rear pin; the cylinder housing adjusts its position and forces a combination of three attached parts – center-lock rocker, connector link, and secondary lock – to snap into an over-center position (similar to closing the handles of locking pliers). This action forces the secondary lock to grip the forward pin. Constant hydraulic force exerted by the cylinder and the action of a counterbalance valve provide additional locking forces.

Innovative wheel wash system

Vehicle & Equipment Washers, Inc. (VEWI) says it uses its patented flushing system to make its wheel wash system the only self-cleaning system in the marketplace. VEWI’s patented solid steel or concrete self-flushing wash deck alleviates the risk of structural failure and debris build up of elevated grating designs. The TW1000 and TW1000 Plus are permanent systems. The TW2000 (shown) is a completely portable system that arrives on the job site as a complete unit including wash unit, filtration tank, pumps, and all hoses and fittings. Assembly takes approximately 2 to 4 hours depending on the desired optional equipment.

Extend life cycle of tools/equipment

La-Man Corp.’s patented series of extractor/dryers is a two-stage filter that removes moisture and contaminants to improve and extend the life cycle of tools and equipment. According to the company, the air filtration system operates most effectively within 25 feet of the point of use. Each model offers a standard 5-micron rating, with lower micron ratings available. Flow ranges vary from 15 to 2,000 scfm and pressure ratings of up to 250 psi. Additional features include a built-in differential pressure gauge and weep drain, and in-line dryer.