Better Roads editors choose the year’s top products.

This year we’ve spent some great times clambering over and operating equipment. Tires were usually too big to kick but we fiddled with any dials and levers we could fiddle with. We went through endless online videos and spec sheets, iPad launches and press conferences, interviews with engineers and marketing gurus and we even made it to Paris’ huge Intermat show in spring.

What you see in our 2012 Top Rollouts is a collection of outstanding products now in our market. We looked for ingenuity, for engineering boldness and excellence, the wow factor, evidence of critical thinking and evidence that people had gone out of their way to address problems or advance techniques, and perhaps most of all we realized our limitations. This is a short list. Leave your company brand or favorite brand out of the equation and try it. It will lead to some very productive debates.

There is evidence throughout of how OEMs have learned to seek and respond to user input, to be more “interactive” with their customers when it comes to new or upgraded products.

So this is our list; it probably won’t match yours top to bottom. But it is a way for us to acknowledge some of the industry leaders, some of the companies, some of the engineers and designers who did something special to bring us outstanding products – to us and our ways of thinking the best of them – in 2012.

CATERPILLAR

We want small but we want power, and there is endless pressure on engineers to deliver more of both in the same package. The Cat people have delivered. While boosting its 272 skid steer and 299 compact track loader models to D Series versions, Caterpillar took the opportunity to push the boundaries of compact construction equipment. The company rolled out D-series version of its 272 skid steer and 299 compact track loaders at World of Concrete 2012 but it also rolled out a high-performance XHP version of each loader. The 106-horsepower 272D XHP and 299D XHP are the largest, most powerful skid steer and compact track loader Caterpillar has ever built. The 9,304-pound 272D XHP skid steer has an operating capacity of 3,600 pounds, rated at 35 percent of tipping load. The 11,647-pound 299D XHP compact track loader has an operating capacity of 4,550 pounds, rated at 50 percent of tipping load.

XL TRAILERS

Nothing like seeing a huge piece of construction equipment rolling down our highways. And this big trailer adds some power to the overall impression. XL 110 HDG customized trailer from XL Specialized Trailers, is effective for hauling oversized loads. The main deck is equipped with steel pullouts on 18-inch centers capable of handling up to 60,000 pounds. The low-profile, scraper-style upper deck and a 36-inch flip-neck design, the 54-foot XL 110 HDG customized trailer accommodates multiple truck sizes and handle loads up to 110,000 pounds distributed. XL 110 HDG customized trailer can be equipped with a pivot-style or a flip-style booster.

TEREX

Terex exhibited its Bid-Well concrete paving equipment – the 4800 bridge paver and 2418 work bridge – at World of Concrete 2012 in Las Vegas. With standard paving widths exceeding 170 feet, the 4800 paver can will be set to 36 feet wide. A new fogging system features all poly tubing to increase up-time and individually controlled spray nozzles. A new skewable power crown adjuster lets operators automatically make changes to the crown when paving bridge decks at the skew angle.

CASE

More fuel efficiency and more productivity. A marriage made in equipment heaven. Case Construction Equipment introduced its 621F wheel loader model at the World of Concrete, 2012 show. The new machine provides up to a 10-percent increase in fuel economy over the previous model, while delivering faster acceleration, quicker cycle times and higher travel speeds.

A new dual-mode shutdown feature maximizes fuel economy and monitors vital engine components. Using the fuel-saver mode, operators can limit idle time. Shutdown time can be set in five-minute increments.

TOPCON

The Cloud has become a very productive place in this industry and here is an example of what it can do. The Topcon Group’s Magnet cloud-based solution and cloud-enabled family of software applications makes it possible for real-time collaboration between project manager, field crews, office personnel, engineers, or consultants. The Magnet family includes four basic products: Field, Tools, Office and Enterprise.

SNOWEX

The SnowEx SL-80 and SL-80SS push sprayers for ice management on sidewalks and other small areas are completely electric-powered. Available with a powder-coated steel frame (SL-80) or stainless steel frame (SL-80SS), both sprayers have a 12-gallon, corrosion-resistant polyethylene tank. Each model includes an adjustable-height boomless nozzle, which sprays most salt brine and liquid ice melters up to 48 inches wide. The units also come with an adjustable spray wand for spot-spraying applications. A 12-volt electric pump and rechargeable battery powers the SL-80 and SL-80SS. The pump is rated at 2 gpm at 60 psi.

KOMATSU

Outstanding piece of work is this big, bad boy. Komatsu America’s PC390LC-10 hydraulic excavator (operating weight is 89,072 pounds)has a flywheel horsepower of 257 horsepower and is powered by a Komatsu SAA6D114E-5 engine and is EPA Tier 4 Interim and EU Stage 3B emissions certified. It features improved hydraulic efficiency and a large undercarriage design that significantly increases lift capacity.

KPI-JCI

This was a year when reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) use increased, again. For RAP afficionadoes or wannabees there is now the beFRAPready.com website from KPI-JCI. It helps users determine whether RAP is right for a project. And the website’s cost-savings calculator can help determine a ballpark figure on how much money using RAP and/or FRAP might save.

ROADTEC

Sometimes a redesign is really just an upgrade; good improvements but maybe a little bit pedestrian. But some redesigns rock. Both of Roadtec’s 10-foot class standard asphalt paver models, the RP-190e rubber-tired paver and the RP-195e track paver, have received a major redesign, including Tier 4i emission technology and other upgrades. These highway-class pavers feature a new adjustable delta plate design, redesigned hydraulic tunnel panels for improved accessibility, an increased fuel capacity from 120 gallons to 135 gallons. Conveyor chains have been beefed up and chromium carbide floor plates are dropped in without bolts.

WIRTGEN

Screeds continue to challenge engineers looking for more. Wirtgen America’s new screed for the Vögele Vision series of pavers, the front-mount Vögele VF 600 extending screed is equipped with vibration across the full paving width, up to 25 feet, 6 inches. Its basic width is 10 feet, extendable hydraulically up to 19 feet, 6 inches. With bolt-on extensions fitted, it builds up to the maximum width of 25 feet, 6 inches. Its ErgoPlus feature gives the screed operator fingertip control for asphalt placement. The VF 600 screed is capable of many profiles with crown, sloping extensions and berm, each independently operated.

BOMAG

A very nice package this, a clever collection that fits into one efficient machine. BOMAG’s new milling machines, the BM500/15 and the BM600/15, feature rotor geometry to reduce vibration, increase service life and easy drum replacement. They are powered by 125-horsepower Deutz liquid-cooled diesel engines. The BM500/15 offers a standard cutting width of 19.7 inches, and the BM600/15 delivers a 23.6-inch cutting width. Both maximize cutting depth at 8.3 inches, and feature a milling radius of less than 10 inches. The new rotor geometry features optimally arranged teeth and a thick shell for uniform, low-vibration and precise cutting.

KOMATSU

Big. Fast. Komatsu America’s HM400-3 articulated truck is powered by a Komatsu SAA6D140E-6 engine with 469 net horsepower and is EPA Tier 4 Interim and EU Stage 3B emissions certified. The HM400-3 features a maximum gross vehicle weight of 162,569 pounds, hauling up to a 44.1-ton payload at its maximum ground speed of 34.7 mph. The truck’s Komtrax technology wirelessly sends information such as such as daily fuel consumption, machine usage, operating hours, location, cautions and maintenance alerts to a secure website.

LURA

Some concrete pours are flat and straightforward. Some aren’t. Some will leave you scratching your head. For some of those comes Lura Enterprises’ Trolley System for its Lightning Strike Concrete Roller Screed. The trolley system adapts to accommodate multiple projects. It can handle bridge decks, radius pours, parapet walls, and pours with obstruction such as rebar. It features three adjustment points — one at each end and a third at the center CV joint — as it extends to cover pours as wide as 38 feet. It runs across pipes as large as 2.5 inches in diameter to easily maneuver across the jobsite.

BERGKAMP

Pavement preservation continues to gather adherents, and advances in design and engineering are letting them do more than ever.

This one is Bergkamp’s M212 truck-mounted slurry seal and microsurfacing paver carry 12 cubic yards of aggregate in a level struck load, 691 gallons of asphalt emulsion and 691 gallons of water and features a 65-gallon stainless steel additive tank. The pugmill, conveyor and all-liquid material tanks are removable for easy cleaning. All tanks are bolted in rather than welded and the asphalt emulsion and water tanks are separate, eliminating rust-through and contamination risks.

TRIMBLE

It could easily be the year of the drone. But, news headlines aside, here’s something else spectacular a drone can do. Trimble has acquired privately held Gatewing of Gent, Belgium, a provider of lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for photogrammetry and rapid terrain mapping applications. UAVs provide users the ability to create orthophotos and Digital Surface Models (DSM) from aerial imagery for mid-sized areas previously only accessible at higher costs and with longer planning cycles. UAVs are used in a variety of applications including preliminary surveys for corridors and rights-of-way, volumetric surveys, high-level topographic surveys, and landfill inspection.

MUNCIE

Every so often you find yourself taking a second glance and saying, “Oh, that’s cool.” This one is cool. The Advantage + System from Muncie Power Products has a flow-sharing design for simultaneous equipment operation even at low pump flows. Its touch-screen display is high contrast, high resolution and multi-color. The system is useable with gear or piston pumps, has built-in pre-wet and anti-icing controls, built-in GPS, WiFi and interface and displays for road-air temperature sensors. It also features menu-adjusted pressure controls and digital pressure displays as well as operational data-logging and diagnostic data-logging. There are no wire harnesses between the cab controls and the valves.

HCSS

I can’t remember the last time we saw a construction site where iPads and iPhones (or some non-Apple smart phones and tablets) weren’t everywhere and constantly in use. They make a huge difference and keep offering us new ways to use them. The suite of new mobile applications from HCSS for collecting and reviewing data on construction field operations can be run anywhere using iPhones, iPads and Android-based phones and tablets. Contractors can record an entire time card including diaries, photographs and cost-coded employee and equipment hours, as well as production quantities. These apps integrate with HCSS’s back-end databases, which allow them to integrate with more than 40 accounting systems.

VOLVO

We think you’ll see more and more engineers finding ways to use energy that is otherwise lost in a machine’s operation. If Formula One cars can use it, why not a big truck. Volvo Construction Equipment’s I-See system harnesses the truck’s own kinetic energy to “push” the vehicle up hills, which cuts fuel consumption up to 5 percent, says the company. On downhill gradients the same energy is used for acceleration. I-See is linked to the transmission’s tilt sensor and obtains information about the topography digitally.

DEERE

You want a workhorse to work. Wheel loaders are perhaps the industry’s most basic workhorse, and this one has that “Built to work. Period.” feel that owners and operators love about their yellow iron. John Deere’s 7-yard class 844K Series II wheel loader introduced at the World of Concrete 2012 features new axles, improved stability and a 6-percent boost to full-turn tip-load capacity. Other improvements include ROPS certification and low-profile tires. The higher-capacity axles have standard temperature monitoring and automatic cooling and filtration. Hy-Gard oil allows change intervals to extend to 2,000 hours. The 844K II comes with four traction-boosting axle-differential configurations, including two with on-the-fly differential lock engagement. Front and rear axle hydraulically actuated differential lock with on-the-fly engagement provides maximum traction control for tough conditions, such as working on virgin aggregate banks. Auto differential lock applies when the wheels spin and the operator doesn’t apply the differential lock. Conventional differential lock is a good match for standard loadout applications.

DOOSAN

Maybe we’re just suckers for wheeled excavators, but Doosan’s DX140W fits very nicely into this year’s Top Rollouts. It is now powered by a 135-horsepower, turbocharged, 6-cylinder DL06KB water-cooled diesel. The 359-cubic-inch engine is Tier 4 Interim certified and features a high-pressure common rail design with direct fuel injection, electronic control and four valves per cylinder. The machine features an Electronic Power Optimizing System (EPOS) with four work modes — digging, breaker, shear and the new lifting mode. A new Power Plus mode provides improved performance and faster workgroup speeds for heavy-duty work. Outriggers can be controlled individually for stability on uneven surfaces. The front axle oscillates to aid maneuverability but can be locked for better digger and lifting performance.

VACUWORX

It’s always interesting to see (a) engineers taking on a job that’s always going to be awkward — such as handling concrete barriers, and (b) finding a way to use their own technology to do it. Vacuworx has now come up with a vacuum lifter specifically designed for working with these difficult-to-maneuver hunks of concrete. The company claims that safety and productivity are improved using their product and install time and ground personnel can be cut by more than half. The lifter is designed for use with a large variety of host equipment and is can to be used on-road or in confined spaces with mobility restrictions.

Better Roads editors step up and choose their “best of the best”

Buoyed by CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, this year brought with it a wide, innovative range of new equipment and products for the road construction and maintenance sectors. Many of these keen new introductions marched across the pages of Better Roads and www.betterroads.com . . . and rolled right into the marketplace where they will undoubtedly serve both serve contractors and agencies exceptionally well as they embrace the opportunities to come.

Upon reflection of the year that was, of the hundreds of product introductions editors reviewed and processed for our monthly New Road Products section, these are the 20 that most caught our collective eye for their industry significance, their ingenuity, their filling of a market need and/or their just plain ol’ coolness. Keeping the list to 20 is difficult. It means, for instance, not choosing some tremendous new products that are exciting and important to the construction industry.

We, the editors of Better Roads, set ourselves the goal of determining our Top 20 only; and to reach it we had to do a lot of talking, negotiating and decision-making. We had to examine and then re-examine our reasoning and our selections. Believe me, this was one intense job.

Today we proudly toast these products and the deserving companies that create, design, manufacture and market them. Moving forward, we’d like to know how you have been, are or will be able to use any of these “best of the best”. Any and all comments are not only welcome, but encouraged. Please drop us an e-mail over the coming year at mike.anderson@randallreilly.com or give us a shout at (205) 248-1310.

Arctic Snow and Ice

HD Sectional Sno-Pushers

Bergkamp

Mobile Stockpile Trailer

Case

DV207, DV210, DV213 Double-Drum Compactors

Caterpillar

CT660 On-Highway Truck

Caterpillar

AP1000E, AP1055E Asphalt Pavers

Doosan

Portable HP750e Electric Air Compressor

Dow

FASTRACK HE-2706 Resin

Ford

F-150 Eco-Boost Pickup Truck

GOMACO

4400 Barrier Machine

Gradall

XL 4100 IV Highway Excavator with AutoDrive

John Deere

460E Articulated Dump Truck

Maxwell Products

Novu Gap Meltable Crack Sealer

Power Pavers

SF-1700 Slipform Paver

Takeuchi

TB117e Electric Excavator

Terex

RS950B Reclaimer/Stabilizer

Terex

Hydra Platforms HPT 11/38

Vaisala

RoadDSS Value Calculator

Vogele

VR 600-2 Extending Screed

Volvo

G900B-Series Motor Graders

Volvo Trucks

VNM Daycab Natural Gas Option

BERGKAMP Less time hauling, more time paving

A single piece of equipment that will cut out the need to locate, access, secure and manage off-site material stockpiles? It may seem like a dream to some roadbuilding contractors, but it’s a reality thanks to asphalt pavement preservation equipment manufacturer Bergkamp. Debuted at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, the Bergkamp Mobile Stockpile is a material-transfer and storage trailer that is pulled directly to the jobsite. There, trucks bring aggregate and emulsion from the supplier directly to the trailer, to which truck-mounted slurry seal or microsurfacing pavers can in turn connect and be fully replenished in less than 10 minutes. The main 21.5-cubic-yard hopper can either store or simultaneously transfer material via the unit’s 24-inch discharge conveyor. The use of multiple pavers on surface treatment jobs as essentially haul trucks between off-site stockpiles and the application site is eliminated, thus allowing fewer pavers to do more actual work in less time, says Bergkamp. This, too, will avoid the risk of overweight citations. The mobile stockpile trailer is compatible with most slurry seal and microsurfacing pavers on the market, the company says. For more information, visit www.bergkampinc.com

CASE

Renowned brand goes big on compaction

One of the construction equipment industry’s signature brands, Case isn’t just compact on compaction any longer. The company’s first large double-drum vibratory compactors, the DV207, DV210 and DV213 unveiled at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 have drum widths of 57, 66 and 83 inches respectively. This product introduction moves the Case DV family beyond the utility class – the previous largest model had a drum width of 51.2 inches – and into product asphalt paving applications. With machine weights ranging from 16,226 to 28,726 pounds, the three new Case double-drum compactors have rear-mounted power trains that lower noise, vibration and heat for operators relishing “superior comfort for long workdays,” says Woody Ferrell, Case global product marketing manager. Dual, multi-function, directional controls on both sides of the swivel seat allow for machine operation from the left or right position in the rotating operator’s station. The Case vibratory system automatically starts when the drive lever is moved from neutral; it automatically stops when the lever is returned to neutral. For more information, visit www.casece.com/wps/portal/casece/product?product=CompactionEquipment&brandsite_brand=CaseCE&brandsite_language=en&brandsite_geo=NA

CATERPILLAR

On-highway vocational truck

The “yellow iron” customer is the Caterpillar customer, the company firmly believes. So with upwards to 30 percent of all Class 8 trucks sold being put into vocational applications, there’s no secret at where the new Caterpillar foray into the manufacturing, selling and servicing of on-highway trucks is taking dead aim. “It’s really about a company for the first time that focuses not just on a truck, but on the application of that truck in the construction business,” says George Taylor, director, Caterpillar Global On-Highway Truck Group. “How does it work with load-and-haul? How does it work with the fill operations? How does it interact with the construction machines? That’s really the direction we’re going, because we know our customers don’t use that truck by itself. Even if the construction company doesn’t own the dump trucks it uses, as often the case in paving operations, the continuity of technology may still influence the spec’ing of the trucks that will ultimately land the sub work from the project contractor, says Taylor. “It’s about trying to leverage that interaction between the two.” Beyond the Navistar-made Cat CT11 and CT13 engines available on the sleek CT660 set-back-axle model built for mixer, dump and heavy hauler uses, a 15-liter CT15 will be available in 2012, boosting engine output to the 550-horsepower range from the current maximum 475. The same engine options will be available on the set-forward-axle CT680 truck model, due out in first-quarter 2013 with the same choice of 116- and 122-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab configurations. For more information, visit www.cat.com/truck

Ford

F-150 EcoBoost: Our Light-Duty Pickup of the Year

Combine the new Ford EcoBoost engine’s prowess with the interior fit and finish, refined ride and overall handling of the venerable F-150 Crew Cab, and you have a pickup that rightly deserves to be named Better Roads’ Light-Duty Pickup of the Year. So proclaims Bruce W. Smith, editor of ProPickup, a sister Randall-Reilly publication. “I used to think there’s no substitute for cubic inches when it came to a stellar work pickup. I have been proven wrong – twin-turbo technology is a substitute,” explains industry veteran Smith. “After spending a week behind the wheel of the 2011 F-150 EcoBoost, dressed up in the Lariat trim, it’s hard to imagine any other half-ton in a contractor’s work fleet. Ford’s twin-turbo, direct-injected, 365-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 is more powerful than most 5-liter V8s, pulls like a diesel, and delivers class-leading fuel economy.” With a fuel capacity of 26 gallons, the six-speed-automatic F-150 EcoBoost is EPA-rated at 16 miles per gallon in the city/21 highway; Smith’s similar observations were 15.4 city/19.4 highway. Towing capacity of the truck is 5,000 pounds on the ball; 11,300 pounds with a weight-distributing hitch. For more information, visit http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/2011/experiencef150/

JOHN DEERE

New artic truck will run like a Deere

The first all-Deere articulated dump truck (ADT) will also be the largest Deere-branded “artic” ever. “Customers who now have 40-ton artics can use the 460E to get one more full excavator bucket into the truck,” says Mark Oliver, ADT product marketing manager for John Deere Construction and Forestry. Announced at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, the 46-ton-capacity truck will be the first ADT completely designed by John Deere, incorporating a Deere 13.5-liter engine, Deere wet-clutch axles and a ZF drive line. Prior John Deere articulated trucks have a Bell Equipment heritage, an alliance that will continue with some of Deere’s smaller models. The first of Deere’s E-Series models, the 460E will have automated traction controls, taking the guesswork out of when to use differential locks and allowing newer operators to get up to speed more quickly. In difficult ground conditions, the system will automatically control the axle differential locks and inter-axle differential lock. An on-board scale will let operators know when the truck is loaded to capacity, and the JDLink telematics system will allow monitoring of material moved each day. For more information, visit www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/products/equipment/articulated_dump_trucks/articulated_dump_trucks.page

GOMACO

Barrier to the right, barrier to the left

As road contractors know all too well, equipment design hasn’t always been entirely conducive to placing material where it is precisely required. Well, GOMACO typically has yet another complete solution for crews working with concrete. Shown for the first time at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, the GOMACO 4400 ultimate barrier paver has a new frame design for right- and left-side slipforming. To accommodate operator control and visibility to the working areas, the new Glide control console slides from side to side. When not in operation, the operator’s console locks safely away in the center position. Also new, GOMACO’s Barrier Hook-and-Go system allows barrier molds up to 39.4 inches in height to be quickly mounted on either side of the machine. The barrier molds themselves are designed for proper vibration and consolidation of material, topped off by GOMACO’s exclusive trailing stainless steel for superior finishing, the company says. A side mount is available to accommodate larger barrier. The 4400 unit has symmetric steering and proprietary G+ controls operated in multiple languages. For more information, visit http://www.gomaco.com/Resources/4400barrierpaver.html

DOOSAN PORTABLE

An electrifying compressor

Talk about clean air! At CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, Doosan Portable Power rolled out a portable, highway-towable compressor that can deliver 750 cubic feet per minute of free-air . . . and no emissions. As compared to the diesel engine of the established HP750 model, a three-phase electric motor powers the new HP750e, controlled by a liquid-cooled, variable-frequency drive system. Features include an intuitive full-color digital display and easy-to-use interface that can be wirelessly monitored. An optional full gauge package is customizable and has an LED backlighting system for enhanced visibility. Other options include the IQ System aftercooler for drip-free moisture control, dual-pressure regulation and up to one 2-inch and three 1.25-inch air valve additions. For more information, visit http://www.doosanportable.com/americas/products/compressors/Pages/default.aspx

TEREX

Largest reclaimer yet is ready to roll

Faster, bigger, stronger: A new Olympics motto, perhaps? Terex Roadbuilding’s newest top-of-the-line reclaimer/stabilizer, indeed! Boasting 30-percent-plus more horsepower than the next most powerful competitor, the RS950B is capable of cutting deep asphalt at unparalleled speeds. Why a 950-horsepower reclaimer/stabilizer? “It’s strictly for production,” it was explained to visitors to the massive Terex outdoor booth at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011. The four-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steer unit can, with its choice of high- and low-range working speeds, operate at up to 210 feet per minute. During a heavy reclamation application requiring six or even eight inches of asphalt to be cut, the RS950B is claimed to produce at twice the rate of the 600-horsepower RS600 size model, the previous largest in the active Terex reclaimer/stabilizer family. Powered by a Caterpillar C27 diesel engine, the RS950B offers a choice of four cutter speeds – 102, 131, 163 and 200 rpm – and bi-directional cutting thanks to the unique housing’s front and rear doors. Compared to hydrostatic systems, Terex’s V-belt power-band cutter drive provides up to 25-percent more efficient operation. The RS950B’s standard 8-foot-wide cutter has 218 tungsten carbide teeth capable of cutting 16 inches deep. Available rotors allow for the option of a 10-foot-wide cutter, or a 58-inch-diameter mandrel for 20-inch-deep cuts. For more information, visit http://www.terexrb.com/Content.aspx?pgID=437

DOW

A Fast response to traffic paint shortage

When a paint supply crisis hit across the nation for Departments of Transportation and highway contractors alike, Dow Coating Material’s research and development team stepped up. “As we learned again last year, shortages of traffic paint can have a direct effect on public safety, and that’s not acceptable,” explains Stan Cook, Dow traffic paint marker manager. “When the supply crisis struck, we accelerated our high-efficiency development schedule in order to help customers and DOTs meet a challenge that had become a crisis.” The result, displayed at the American Traffic Safety Services Association convention and expo in February, is the new FASTRACK HE-2706 resin with higher pigment binding efficiency, higher pigment loadings and a reduction of titanium dioxide. The product does not sacrifice drying time or properties such as “sprayability,” visibility, durability or stability. It provides a reduction of up to 30 percent in the amount of latex necessary in waterborne traffic marking paint. For more information, visit www.dow.com/products/product_detail.page?display-mode=tds&product=1120397

MAXWELL PRODUCTS

Melt away patch pack

So, you’ve got a small patch job or a depression around a drain or curb, where hot mix is impractical and crack seal is ineffective. What can you do about it, right? Well, Nuvo Gap from asphalt and concrete sealant manufacturer Maxwell Products offers a permanent, rubberized, hot-pour solution that, best of all, is packaged in a meltable container designed to absorb completely into the product upon application. With Poly-Skin, there’s no need for opening or even cutting the product packaging on site. Nuvo Gap’s combination of high-performance sealant and engineered aggregates forms a self-leveling, load-bearing, weather-resistant bond, ideal for wide cracks and other large gaps in pavement. For more information, visit http://www.nuvosealants.com/product_gap.php

VOLVO

New motor graders built to bear down

It’s difficult to argue when Volvo Construction Equipment says “what really matters” for grader productivity is blade down pressure and blade pull force. Well, with an emphasis on overall machine balance and distribution of the main grader components, the company’s new G900B-Series motor graders have the highest blade down pressure in each weight class. Using larger-displacement engines with cooled exhaust gas recirculation technology to meet Tier 4 Interim emissions requirements, each of the G930B, G940B, G960B and all-wheel-drive G946B motor grader models can be driven by either the standard HTE840 transmission with eight forward and four reverse gears or the optional HTE1160 transmission with 11 forward and six reverse gears. These Volvo transmissions boast three and eight power curves respectively, matching power output to the traction available. Each also uses the “shuttle shift” system to move between forward and reverse without the operator needing to stop the machine or use the inching pedal. The four models in the new Volvo motor grader series range 34,520 to 38,709 pounds in operating weight. For more information, visit http://www.volvoce.com/constructionequipment/na/en-us/products/motorgraders/Pages/introduction.aspx

GRADALL

Park the lowboy for this excavator

An excavator capable of reaching speeds even greater than those permitted on many local roads: If that isn’t the best definition of a highway excavator, then what is? The Gradall XL 4100 IV comes equipped with the new AutoDrive system, featuring a six-speed automatic Allison transmission. Powered by a 245-horsepower Mercedes Tier 4 Interim engine, the new XL 4100 IV telescoping excavator reaches speeds of 60 miles per hour on the highway. Once arrived at the jobsite, the AutoDrive’s new transfer case allows the wheeled excavator to be repositioned – at a maximum 5 miles per hour – from the excavation operator’s seat located in the upperstructure cab. Along with the new XL 4100 IV, available with either a 6×4 or 6×6 drivetrain, Gradall is introducing a yellow paint scheme designed to increase machine visibility. Maximum boom reach at grade is 30 feet 3 inches, maximum dig depth is 20 feet 3 inches and maximum loading height is 17 feet 2 inches. The boom crowd force is rated at 21,940 pounds and, opposite to conventional excavators, it remains constant throughout the dig cycle. For more information, visit www.gradall.com/excavator-models/en/highway_wheeled.html

POWER PAVERS

Less than full-size slipform paver

Why fire up a large piece of equipment when, frankly, the available load just doesn’t merit so? With its new compact slipform concrete paver model, Power Pavers offers an economical solution to a market issue based interestingly enough on material supply. “With the ability to pave up to 7.5 meters (24 feet 7 inches) wide, the SF-1700 was developed to react to the contractor demand for two-pass paving in many highway applications,” says Fred Hite, general manager of the Power Pavers Inc. subsidiary of Power Curbers. “In many developing countries, concrete supply is an issue, so paving in two passes is more practical than one pass.” By reducing the engine size and mainframe width of the company’s mainstream SF-2700 model, Power Pavers was able to develop the SF-1700, which comes standard with a 160-horsepower Cummins engine, 12 Wyco vibrators, and a spread auger and tamper bar. Within a month of introduction, Power Pavers had placed units in three countries, says Hite, and “we are getting great reports from our customers who have put them to work.” For more information, visit http://www.powerpavers.com/products/slipformpavers/

TAKEUCHI

Electric excavator takes center stage

One of the operational advantages to the most compact of hydraulic excavators is the ability, size wise, to be put to work indoors as well as the traditional outdoors. With Takeuchi’s introduction of a “world’s first” at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, the use of a hydraulic excavator in an environmentally-sensitive enclosed space just got much less tricky. The first fully electric-powered excavator, the TB117e boasts zero exhaust emissions and reduced vibration and sound levels that will suit it for demolition, foundation and clean-up jobs in hospitals, schools and other sensitive, highly-congested areas. The undercarriage retracts from the stable full-width 51 inches to a minimum of 39 inches for passage through doorways. The TB117e has a lithium-ion battery that, when fully charged, can power up to six hours of uninterrupted performance that, says Takeuchi, is on par with its established 1.6-metric-ton TB106 excavator model. Capable of traveling at 2.9 miles per hour, the TB117e boasts bucket breakout force of 4,079 pounds, arm crowd force of 1,704 pounds and traction force of 3,801 pounds. For more information, visit http://www.takeuchi-us.com/www/blog/viewpost/43

VöGELE

Screed stretches but retains paving integrity

Going wide doesn’t have to mean losing shape for asphalt paving contractors, thanks to a new rear-mount Vögele screed introduced at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011. For use on Vision Series pavers from Wirtgen’s Vögele brand, the VR 600-2 extending screed offers vibration across the full paving width, up to 28 feet. The screed’s basic width is 10 feet, extending hydraulically up to 19 feet 8 inches and then, with bolt-on extensions fitted, an additional 8 feet 4 inches. The three-section telescoping tube, allowing infinitely-variable screed width control, remains rigid and robust even at maximum extension. Each individual section never extends by more than half. When sloping the extensions on jobs, only the frame of the screed extension is slanted, leaving the guide system horizontal at all times and providing maximum rigidity. A three-point suspension prevents the extensions from jamming or pinching. With ErgoPlus, the screed operator has the placement of asphalt literally at his fingertips with waterproof push bottoms enclosed in a raised ring for touch identification even when wearing gloves. Crown and extension height adjustment are set independently. For more information, visit http://www.wirtgenamerica.com/us/products/voegele/screeds/Screeds.php

ARCTIC SNOW & ICE CONTROL

A solution to the ups and downs of plowing

The fewer the number of passes a snow removal contractor requires to clear a lot or street, the quicker he’s off to his next job . . . and next paycheck. Such is the bottom-line appeal to HD Pushers, a boxed snow-removal attachment product line created by the Sectional Sno-Pusher division of Arctic Snow and Ice Control Products. The patented moldboard design features individual 32-inch-wide sections equipped with spring-loaded trip edges. Each section responds to changes in the pavement, moving up and down on its own, allowing the loader attachment to contour to uneven surfaces and reduce the amount of re-plowing required. As compared to competitive plows or pushers that have rubber or polyurethane cutting edges, AR-400 hardened-steel edges are used on each individual moldboard section. These are designed to scrape down to the pavement to remove snow and ice in a single pass. Each section of moldboard is individually mounted to the attachment’s mainframe with engineered polyurethane blocks, requiring a section only to be unbolted, removed and replaced if damaged. For more information, visit www.sectionalplow.com

CATERPILLAR

E-missions covered by asphalt pavers

Wherever the paving job is, the new Caterpillar E-Series highway-class asphalt pavers are out in front on emissions requirements. The first asphalt pavers to meet Tier 4 Interim standards, courtesy the Cat C7.1 ACERT engine, the 10-foot-class AP1055E tracked paver and the sister AP1000E wheeled model are also available with the C6.6 ACERT engine for markets where only Tier 3 is required. Both engine models deliver 225 horsepower. To meet Tier 4 Interim emissions requirements, the C7.1 engine combines the Cat NOx Reduction System and Cat Clean Emissions Module. Each paver model has a dual operating station, equipped on the left side with the Advisor Monitoring System, an interactive, text-based, multi-language interface packed with fuel-saving features. These include an engine speed control that automatically adjusts engine rpm when the propel lever moves to and from neutral, and an eco-mode that lowers engine speed to 1,650 rpm when less demanding operating conditions exist. The display provides project-planning calculators, a start-up checklist, engine operating conditions and service code information. On the tracked AP1055E paver, the Mobil-Trac undercarriage uses large oscillating bogies and hydraulic accumulators to overcome surface irregularities. For more information, visit

http://www..cat.com/equipment/paving-equipment

TEREX

Platform-mounted truck does not require CDL

Moving a formidable under-bridge access platform from jobsite to jobsite just got considerably easier, thanks to Terex Roadbuilding’s first truck-mounted cross model – matching the trailer platform with a truck chassis. Being within the 26,000-pound maximum gross vehicle weight limit, the HPT 11/38 does not require a driver/operator with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). The telescopic platform is 38 feet long and a maximum 42 inches wide and, upon arrival at the jobsite, is self-propelled into position by hydrostatic drive. Single-lane deployment takes a mere five minutes. Platform weight capacities of 1,000 pounds total and 500 pounds at the end are enough to securely accommodate multiple workers with tooling. Offering a maximum 16 feet of lowering depth and 180-degree rotation, the under-bridge access platform is ideal for applications ranging from bridge inspection and restoration to stripping operations and utility work. For more information, visit

http://www.terexrb.com/Content.aspx?pgID=430

VOLVO TRUCKS

Daycab tractor can run on natural gas

The United States has plenty of natural gas . . . and truck fleets have an option to put it to good use. The Volvo VNM Daycab tractor model now comes with a factory-installed natural gas option, ideal for “localized or closed-loop operations,” says Ron Huibers, Volvo Trucks’ senior vice president, sales and marketing. Such applications “present a great opportunity for companies to utilize our nation’s abundant domestic supply of natural gas,” says Huibers. “Volvo is already delivering the cleanest trucks in the world in terms of regulated emissions, and now we’re offering an alternative fuel option to move our nation’s goods while emitting less carbon dioxide.” The tractor is powered by a 9-liter, 320-horsepower Cummins Westport ISL G engine that uses clean-burning compressed or liquefied natural gas. The heavy-duty engine, generating 1,000 foot-pounds of torque, requires only a three-way catalyst to meet EPA 2010 on-road emissions standards. For more information, visit http://www.volvotrucks.com/trucks/na/en-us/products/vn/vnm/Pages/overview.aspx

VAISALA

Weather moves

Wondering what the true benefits of a Road Weather Information System (RWIS) would be for your agency? Intelligent transportation systems manufacturer Vaisala has a free, quick way for you to find out. The RoadDSS Value Calculator in an online tool that evaluates potential cost and community savings to using various RWIS or road decision support systems. The calculator asks 12 questions about road maintenance operations. Once the user has input infrastructure and cost information, the calculator uses embedded algorithms to produce calculated savings based on referenced study findings. The report provides a breakdown of all direct and indirect savings, including such safety factors as accident reductions and environmental factors such as reductions in carbon and other pollutants. A user can adjust any of the information input to tailor the end report to reflect the agency’s needs. For more information, visit www.vaisala.com/roaddsscalc

Best of the Best

The year 2010 will be remembered, fondly we anticipate, as a year of transition for the road building industry. This is represented in the range of new equipment that rolled into the marketplace and across the pages of Better Roads and www.betterroads.com over the past year – gear that will both serve contractors and agencies well in the immediate future and position them for an onslaught of expanded product introductions and job opportunities to come in the next few years.

Upon reflection of the year that was, of the hundreds of product introductions reviewed and processed by executive editor Tina Grady Barbaccia and others on the Better Roads editorial staff, 15 caught our eye for their industry significance, their ingenuity, their filling of a market need and/or their just plain ol’ coolness. Keeping the list to 15 – and a unique 15 – is admittedly difficult. It means, for instance, removing tremendous new products that, while key to the construction industry overall, may not necessarily be germane to the road sector.

While today we proudly toast these products and the deserving companies that create, design, manufacture and market them, moving forward we’d like to know how you have been, are or will be, able to use this equipment to complete jobs safer, quicker and more cost-efficiently. Any and all feedback is not only welcome, but encouraged. Please drop us an e-mail at mike.anderson@rrpub.com or give us a shout at (205) 248-1310.

We likewise are trying to look ahead to an exciting time to come (see American Iron, page 38). In the meantime, let’s celebrate some of the great product developments that are leading us there.

In the pages to follow, we respectfully present our 2010 Top Rollouts.

Taking on the big boys

In the words of Steve Moore, there’s “a sweet spot” for production-class motor graders. And, by increasing engine output and weight, Komatsu is hitting that spot with the newest edition of the GD655 model, says the Komatsu America product manager. “In short, we have made it a much more competitive motor grader in the most popular motor grader class in North America.” Compared to the predecessor Dash-3 model, the new GD655-5 offers 18 additional net maximum horsepower to a total of 218 and, when in standard configuration, about 3,000 more pounds to an operating weight of 35,351. The result of those 9- and 8-percent increases, respectively, is the GD655-5 has “improved its class position” against machines up to 230 horsepower, from previously having to compete from a position at the lower end of the “production class,” the starting line for which Moore defines as being 200 horsepower. “You can blade a lot of roads with 160 horsepower and 32,000 pounds,” he says, “but if you want to go more into production, you’ve got to get to this level. What we’re saying is that this motor grader is now capable of producing at the higher end of the class.” For more information, visit www.komatsuamerica.com/graders-GD655-5.

Guardrail striping made EZ

Once again, as road agencies and contractors balance project safety touch-up needs with the ability to squeeze the most out of available funds, catching attention is an ancillary product positioned for quick, thorough job completion. The new “Jersey” barrier and guardrail paint striping system from EZ-Liner Industries, Ultra Guard, provides a continuous reflective stripe applied directly to existing barriers or guard rails for increased safety on dangerous curves, at entrance and exit ramps, in low-light areas and at work zones. Used in conjunction with Diamond Vogel’s formulated horizontally applied paint and beads, the system is designed to dramatically reduce nighttime accidents, says EZ-Liner. Features include adjustable line widths, a smooth roller system, and parts common to other traffic paint stripers. The system is reversible for bi-directional painting. The paint and bead guns are fed by any of the high-volume, walk-behind, self-propelled, pallet-mounted or truck-mounted striper systems offered by EZ-Liner. For more information, visit www.ezliner.com/ultraguard/ultragurad-main.html.

Pavers boast big-machine features

With the World of Asphalt 2010 introduction of the 8-foot-class AP500E wheeled and AP555E tracked asphalt pavers, Caterpillar has brought larger-paver technology and features to the commercial paving market. The material-handling system on the new Caterpillar pavers uses four individual pumps that enable each conveyor and auger to deliver the exact amount of mix to the screed. The left and right conveyors and left and right augers are controlled independently, ensuring mix demand is met when shifting paving widths. The ability to control these four components separately eliminates the need for feeder gates. The Advisor Monitoring System display provides access to a start-up checklist, operator preferences, and engine and machine operating parameters, as well as the Paving Calculator and the Paving by the Numbers programs. When equipped with the AS2252C screed, the Caterpillar AP500E and AP555E asphalt pavers operate at 33,715 and 35,290 pounds, respectively. For more information, visit www.cat.com/equipment/paving-equipment.

Grinding out a market niche

Capable of grinding shoulder and centerline rumble strips, Thomas Grinding’s towable TR-2000-SC can be a versatile, cost-effective addition to the equipment fleet of any road building contractor aiming to keep a lid on project finish tasks, according to the manufacturer. The TR-2000-SC “high-production” rumble strip machine allows road-builders to complete increasingly popular rumble strip requirements, instead of contracting out the work. The ability to churn at up to 130 feet per minute or 1.5 miles per hour (production rate is affected by the hardness of the surface) suits the new Thomas Grinding rumble strip machine for larger projects. A skip option is available, and the machine easily detaches from the tow vehicle. For more information, visit www.thomasgrinding.com/tr2000/.

Concrete on the fly

As part of the growing Cemen Tech offering of mobile and stationary concrete dispensers, the new MCD10-150 mobile model produces 60 cubic yards of high-strength concrete per hour. The volumetric mixer carries the materials necessary for concrete production in separate bins, and those materials are measured out at the jobsite where the concrete is produced in the machine’s exclusive pump master mix auger. Mix designs can also be changed per specifications with a simple, fast resetting of the aggregate bin gates. A polycarbonate window allows on-site staff to monitor the level of cement, and a resettable counter shows the exact amount of concrete produced, providing an accurate tracking of sales. For more information, visit www.cementech.com/dev/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=22&Itemid=29.

Winter workability

With its ability to self-heal via expansion and contraction through freeze-thaw cycles, the duraPATCH liquid asphalt cold patch material from Tri-Products has been formulated for workability during winter months. Available in bulk quantities or shipped in 50-pound bags, the specially-designed asphalt formula’s coating and adhesion properties allow for application in wet or dry conditions. The asphalt formulation has been tested to meet ASTM Standards, in order to maintain the qualities needed for optimal performance including withstanding the stress and strain of traffic abuse. For more information on the manufacturer, visit www.hudsoncompanies.com/hag/triproducts.asp.

Smoothing bridge design

As the designed-in safety of bridges across the United States elicits public scrutiny, software programs increasingly provide the answers. The newest version of the plane-frame (2D) Bridge Designer II program from Interactive Design Systems was conceived specifically to provide a time simulation of construction stages for concrete pre/post-tensioned structures, using basic matrix structural analysis formulation combined with time-dependent material properties. The advanced design and analysis provided by the BD2 v4 software enables engineers to design a complete bridge model for concrete segmental bridges built in cantilever or span by span, as well as for concrete cable-stayed bridges and composite structures. During the process, all stress conditions are checked at every construction step, as well as in service. The BD2 Assistant Wizard enables the user to take advantage of the program’s high level of embedded intelligence to quickly populate the project database with a parametric bridge model. The user can subsequently modify the model if needed to meet design-specific requirements. For more information, visit www.ids-soft.com/solutions/products/2danalysis.html.

North-American-only pavers

For this country’s asphalt paving sector, the year opened with a newly-focused mainline paver to consider. With an official unveiling a few months later at World of Asphalt 2010, Dynapac kicked off the year by introducing its new line of highway-class asphalt pavers designed specifically for the North American market. Production of the 10-foot-class F1000T paver began the first of January, followed in the spring by the sister F1000W wheeled unit. New product features include a high-performance outboard auger drive and a conveyor design that eliminates center-line segregation. Operator jobsite vision is improved with dual swing-out operation stations, a flat operator’s area, and a clear view of both the auger and asphalt, as reported by Kerry Clines, senior editor of sister publication Aggregates Manager, who attended a sneak peak at Dynapac’s Garland, Texas, facility. Simple to operate and grouped for convenience, machine controls including a single lever for forward and reverse are supported by a multi-function display. According to Dynapac, no daily maintenance or lubrication is required for the new asphalt pavers. For more information, visit www.dynapac.com/en/products/?cat=18.

Fresh look for stabilizer/reclaimer

When is a new product not exactly a new product? Well, when a leading equipment manufacturer rolls up its proverbial sleeves and significantly transforms a product it had only recently launched, that product is certainly worthy of consideration as a new market player. Roadtec has done exactly that with its 700-horsepower soil stabilizer/reclaimer, the SX-7, resulting in a very different-looking machine compared to the initial 2007 prototype. The changes in the body of the machine, with a redesigned front and rear, are mostly related to maximizing visibility. The optional cab can slide right or left, past the frame of the machine. With the SX-7, water and emulsion are handled by one system. Any single nozzle or set of nozzles in the spray bar can be turned off individually to precisely control how much liquid material is put down. The new Roadnet central control and diagnostic system provides operator feedback on virtually every function of the machine, supported by troubleshooting screens for all systems accessed with the touch of a button. Capable of a cut 102 inches wide, the Roadtec SX-7 is sized ideally for three-pass processing of a 24-foot roadway. Roadtec’s zero-turn-radius steering mode maximizes machine maneuverability. For more information, visit http://www.roadtec.com/www/docs/103/soil-stabilizer-reclaimer/.

Compact planers work BIG

Working compact milling machines doesn’t have to mean giving up performance and operating efficiencies. So says Dynapac, which introduced a new generation of 20-inch (500-millimeter) cold planers at the World of Asphalt 2010 Show and Conference. At 110 and 130 horsepower, the three- and four-wheeled PL500T and PL500TD cold planers leverage increased output from their Cummins QSB 4.5-diesel engines for improved performance with maximum cutting depths of 6.3 and 7.9 inches, respectively. Dynapac’s hydraulically-operated front moldboard on the cutter housing cuts down on the accumulation of milled material and, thus, the amount of labor time required at the end of a cut. Special drums for demarcation work and fine-spaced cutting drums are easy to change. Smaller drums with an adapted scraper blade, a side cutting wheel, a loading conveyor and the Dynapac-designed parallelogram front axle are additionally available as options on the new compact cold planers, which feature a vibration-reduced operator’s platform with repositioned controls. For more information, visit www.dynapac.com/en/products/?product=110&cat=50.

Laser-guided borer

In response to what Vermeer describes as the “tedious, labor-intensive and expensive” task of installing or replacing water and sewer lines precisely on-grade, the company has introduced the AXIS GB812 guided boring system. Introduced to a worldwide market at BAUMA 2010 in Germany, the pit-launched trenchless installation method comes with a laser-guided system for accuracy in the trenchless installation of 10- to 14-inch pipe for on-grade water and sewer projects. Suited for manhole-to-manhole installations, AXIS can install up to 350 feet of rigid constructed, as well as fusible and restrained joint product pipe. Spoil is removed from the cutter head via a vacuum excavation system, eliminating the need to manually handle it within the pit. Furthermore, says Vermeer, the guided boring system requires a relatively low amount of thrust/pullback force to efficiently bore compared to other pit-launched trenchless systems. Construction of a structural backstop or shaft within the launch pit is not required. For more information, visit www2.vermeer.com/vermeer/equipment/axis_guided_boring_systems.

Mini ice control systems

Once again, holding to the modern mantra of doing more with less, a new line of ESI Spray Mini Systems from EnviroTech Services is noteworthy for its ability to provide advanced anti-icing and de-icing road treatment for bridges, parking decks, garages and roadways, but in smaller, self-contained units. The systems are similar to the existing systems offered by EnviroTech’s ESI Spray division, offering spray coverage of 500 feet in each direction, push-button activation, an automatic low tank level shut-off feature, compatibility with most anti-icing and de-icing products, and spread spectrum radio remote control with line-of-sight of 1,500 feet. As an option, the mini systems can be controlled and monitored through remote Internet access via the secure server, providing notifications for lack of pressure, automatic shutdown and containment area flooding. For more information, visit envirotech.squarespace.com/storage/Mini System brochure.pdf.

Old brand, new tricks

Any day one of the road building industry’s grand old equipment brands is given a new platform, it’s a good day for the industry. Such was the case at the 2010 American Public Works Association (APWA) trade show in Boston, where VT LeeBoy showcased its new RW-80A road widener. The first in the new product line, the RW-80A will be part of a family of five road widener and commercial paver products from a new VT LeeBoy division carrying the historic Blaw-Knox brand. Through collaboration with Volvo Construction Equipment, whose product line incorporates the former full-size Blaw-Knox pavers, each of the five compact products in VT LeeBoy’s new Blaw-Knox Commercial Paving Products Division will carry the Blaw-Knox logo. The new RW-80A will be produced at the LeeBoy manufacturing facility in Lincolnton, N.C., and will be distributed via Volvo dealerships during the first quarter of 2011. The road widener boasts an 80-horsepower diesel engine with a machine weight in excess of 18,000 pounds. Each unit is provided with an 8-foot strike-off group enabling 6-foot strike-off capability at a 45-degree angle for proper material flow. For more information, visit www.lbperformancepaving.com.

Keeping your eyes on the road

Now here’s a gadget that really speeds up roadwork preparation . . . and safely, too. FastMeasure Quad, the newest distance measuring device by KTP Enterprises, allows the user to measure four lines at once while driving at highway speeds. Each meter is independently controlled by a key-fob-sized remote control, which holds the count in areas where measuring is to be skipped, allowing the user to watch the road while driving. Tailored for road construction, telecommunications, utility and cable distance measurement, FastMeasure Quad offers a quick solution for estimating or figuring quantities for accounting or billing. Meters, a sensor, remote control unit, instructions and all electrical components are included in the installation kit. For more information, visit www.fast-measure.com/quad.html.

Doing more with less

Offering road builders the ability to do more with less is the approach taken by Terex Roadbuilding designers with the company’s newest RS reclaimer/stabilizer model. The RS446C’s maximum cutting depth has been increased 25 percent to 20 inches, and a two-stage engine drive and three-speed cutter transmission maximizes breakout forces for production rates of up 155 feet per minute, but the 96-inch-wide cutting performance is delivered via a 415-horsepower engine. The fuel savings, compared to 500-horsepower-class machines, is up to 30 percent, says Terex Roadbuilding. Furthermore, there are reductions in the number of mainframe parts by 52 percent and in the number of raw material types by 81 percent. As part of a new “true rear axle design,” kingpins replace spindles at the wheels to allow the tires to pivot closer to the frame, reducing turning radius to 14 feet, or nearly 50-percent less than that of previous models. Four-wheel steering with four steering modes – crab, coordinated, front only and rear only – further make the RS446C less constrictive on the jobsite. A two-speed transmission offers a top travel speed of 8.4 miles per hour. For more information, visit www.terexrb.com/Content.aspx?pgID=413.v