Masonry Magazine August 2009 Page. 22
TELEHANDLERS
Mason contractors can expect even more innovations over the next few years. Cat Lift Trucks in Houston is looking toward green technology for its forklifts. Within the next two years, the company is planning to offer a diesel/lithium-ion hybrid engine, says Chris Anderson, product manager. "This will give you a 30-percent savings in fuel, compared to a truck with the same capacity."
Cat Lift currently offers a totally enclosed disc brake system that keeps out debris and keeps the brakes clean, Anderson says. "The potential for damaging the brakes with debris is diminished, because everything is encapsulated and gives you a longer service life for your brakes."
Buying the Right Telehandler
When buying a telehandler, mason contractors should follow the 80-percent rule, advises Jim Siedleck, VP of equipment sales for Stevenson Sales & Service LLC in Bolingbrook, III. "What is 80 percent of the everyday business you're doing? Buy the machine that will do that work, then if you need a specialty machine, rent it." Siedleck says. "You don't buy a 10,000-pound machine because you occasionally need it. Buy what you need everyday."
Brian Boeckman, product parent for North American telehandlers for JLG Industries Inc. in McConnellsburg, Pa., agrees. He says mason contractors should determine how and where the machine will be used when choosing one. "This will drive decisions such as the capacity and reach needed, what attachments are required, and what options are necessary," Boeckman says.
Compact units for tight spaces
JIM SIEDLECK, VP OF EQUIPMENT SALES for Stevenson Sales & Service LLC, says that small, compact telehandlers continue to gain in popularity. The Bolingbrook, III-based company sells and rents telehandlers.
"Compact units have their value because people are limited in space. What's nice is they can get into spaces where you're limited," Siedleck says. "You can move products right in the door. We've done extremely well renting compact units, because a masonry guy sees the value of these machines and sees it's another way to get the job done quickly."
Several new compact telehandlers are now available. Manitou's 523 series is a step up from skid steer loaders, Ryan says. The 71-inch width, 79-inch height, and 122-inch turning radius let the MT 523 and the MLT 523 Turbo telehandlers fit in confined spaces, including urban jobsites or through double doors on schools or commercial buildings.
"The compacts are probably the fastest growing segment of the industry. People have seen the capabilities of them. They bring a little more to the table," he says. "Compacts handle 85 percent of the work masonry contractors do every day, maybe even more. They do everything you expect, and you can put it on a gooseneck trailer and hook it to a 1-ton truck. It'll go where other handlers can't go"
In April, JLG Industries Inc. in McConnellsburg, Pa, added two compact telehandlers to its line. The 619A offers nearly 6,000 pounds of lift capacity with a reach of 19 feet, while the 723A has a 7,000-pound capacity with a 23-foot lift.
"The compact dimensions of these machines provide the maneuverability necessary for loading or unloading mulch, transporting bales of hay, or moving pallets on a crowded jobsite," says Brian Boeckman, JLG product parent for North American telehandlers.