A Finning Publication Number One 2000

Field Report

Alliance
Pipeline
Project

Canadian Forest Products

POWER by
CANFOR: See page 4
the HOUR
A FINNING PUBLICATION Volume 39, Number 1

FEATURES
Alliance Pipeline

1 New 2,990 km line will carry gas from BC and

Alberta to the U.S.
16
14
PRODUCT NEWS

3 Finning begins delivery of new Cat compact

construction machines. New Wagner Log Stacker

14 A look at changes with the updated L4-130C at

Weldwood in Hinton.

Telehandler in Farming

16 A TH62 at Hummel Dairy and South Butte

Feeders near Lethbridge.

Cat Snap-On Bucket Plates

19 Alberta Aggregates looks to lower bucket repair

costs with a 966G.

Cat Mining Bit System

4 20 New grader edge system at North American

Construction, Fort McMurray.

PROFILE: MacMillan Construction

4
‘Power by the Hour’
Canfor initiates sweeping millyard change at BC
and Alberta plants.
22 A visit with Alberta’s largest seismic line
contractor, based in Peace River.

PRODUCT NEWS

7
PRODUCT NEWS
Cat D3C and D4C LGP dozers are now available
with 30” wide track.
24 New Cat asphalt compactors; new 924G in
Z-Bar linkage configuration.

Extending Landfill Life COVER

8 A visit to the Regional District of Nanaimo’s
Cedar Road operation. Cat 143H grader, owned by
County of Vermilion River No.
24, on road maintenance work
Huge Highway Fleet

10 Peace Country Maintenance revamps its fleet with

24 new Cat machines.
near Lloydminster.

Published by Finning (Canada),
16830 – 107 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5P 4C3
Contact: Jeff Howard (780) 930-4809
Operations are also located in Campbell River,
Chilliwack, Squamish, Cranbrook, Fort Nelson,
Fort St. John, Houston, Kamloops, Langley,
Mackenzie, Nanaimo, Nelson, Prince George,
Quesnel, Revelstoke, Sparwood, Squamish,Surrey,
Terrace, Vernon, Victoria, and Williams Lake,
Hat, Peace River, and Red Deer, Alberta; White-
horse,Yukon Territory; and Hay River, North-
west Territories. In addtion, there are service
depots in four locations and resident service
representation in 28 others.
R

Produced for Finning by Resource British Columbia; Calgary, Edmonton, Fort CATERPILLAR, CAT and
Communications Inc. (604) 944-6146. McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine are trademarks of Caterpillar Inc.
 PIPELINES

ALLIANCE NEAR STARTUP

The $4.5 billion, 2,990 to markets throughout North America.
The mammoth project includes
km Alliance pipeline construction of 2,990 km of mainline
(predominately 36" pipe) in Canada and
will carry natural gas the U.S., traversing three provinces
(BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan) and
from northern BC and four states (North Dakota, Minnesota,
Alberta to U.S. markets Iowa, and Illinois).
Alliance Pipeline is comprised of
three integrated components. In
Sable Liquid Products Inc. The plant
will initially process up to 1.6 billion
cubic feet of gas per day, producing
40,000 barrels of ethane, 19,000 barrels
of propane, 8,000 barrels of butane,
and 3,000 barrels of pentanes-plus.
Investors in the project include affili-
ates of Coastal Corporation; Duke
Energy; Enbridge Inc.; Fort Chicago
Energy Partners LP; The Williams

O
ne of the largest construction
projects ever undertaken in
Canada is on schedule and
nearing completion this summer. The
$4.5 billion (Cdn) Alliance pipeline will
carry natural gas from northern BC and
Alberta to the Chicago area for distribution
Cat equipment on Waschuk Pipeline Construction section
near Grande Prairie early this year.
Canada, Alliance Pipeline Ltd., based in
Calgary, is building 2,320 km of main-
line and lateral gathering lines, meter
stations and seven mainline compressor
stations. In the U.S., Alliance Pipeline,
headquartered in Minneapolis, is
building 1,429 km of mainline, delivery
lines and related facilities.
The gas will be processed at a new
$365 million (US) plant at Channahon,
Illinois, the line’s terminus, by Aux
Companies, Inc.; and Westcoast
Energy Inc.
The Canadian section of the mainline
stretches 1,640 km from Taylor, near
Fort St. John, to Alameda,
Saskatchewan, where it crosses the
U.S./Canada border. The line is com-
prised of 24" pipe immediately south of
Taylor (82 km), increases to 42" pipe
to page 2
1
 PIPELINES
from page 1
through to Windfall, near Edmonton,
and then 36" pipe from Windfall to
Chicago. Another 700 km of new lateral
gathering lines have been built in
northern BC and Alberta, joining the
mainline at 37 receipt points.
Initial delivery capacity of the
Alliance mainline is a staggering 1.325
billion cubic feet of gas per day.
In Canada, construction activity was
at its peak last summer and fall, with
some 3,000 workers employed. Contrac-
tors on the mainline in Canada were
Waschuk Pipeline Construction, of Red
Deer, and O.J. Pipelines and Marine
Pipeline Construction of Canada, both
based in Nisku.
Each of the three firms is contracting
approximately 550 km in three spreads
(or setups). Waschuk sections included
all of the 24" and 177 km of 42" line in
BC and Alberta as well as about 250
km of 36" pipe in Saskatchewan, the
latter scheduled in two phases over the
summer 1999 and 2000 seasons.
For Waschuk, the project easily
ranks as the largest ever undertaken by
the family-owned firm. The $200 mil-
lion-plus contract encompassed right-
of-way clearing through to ditching,
pipe installation and testing, and then
cleanup and reclamation.
“You might see a project like this
once or twice in your lifetime,” says
president Wes Waschuk. “The Alliance
project, including all of its elements,
was the largest capital project initiated
in North America all of last year. On
this side of the border, it is the longest
pipeline built in Canada in the last 25
or 30 years. Certainly it has to rank as
one of the biggest construction pro-
jects, period, in Canadian history.”
In late March, working from a field
operations center in Grande Prairie,
Waschuk was wrapping up its northern
BC and Alberta sections and preparing
to return to Saskatchewan to complete
108 km near Regina. The firm com-
pleted 140 km near Moose Jaw last
summer before moving crews and
equipment to Dawson Creek to meet
the scheduled end-July start date there.
“By mid-October we had completed
the 82 km of 24" pipe south of Taylor
in the Dawson Creek area. We then
moved to Grande Prairie and com-
pleted 76 km of 42" line in November
and started our final 42" spread —
2
about 100 km — in early January.”
At peak last summer and fall, the
firm had 650 people and some 215
pieces of heavy equipment working
simultaneously on spreads in the three
provinces. The firm initially augmented
its own 150-machine fleet (mainly Cat)
with another 50 machines — primarily
Cat 589 pipelayers, 345 excavators,
and D6M-D8R dozers — leased
through Finning in Red Deer.
“We fell behind almost immediately
in Saskatchewan due to very heavy rain
that cost us the better part of three
weeks until things dried out. At that
point we brought in another 15
machines from Finning — mainly 345
hoes — to get back on track. For all that
is involved in a project of this scope,
probably the biggest challenge for us
was catching up those three weeks
without impacting our other tied-in
schedules. Ray Letasy (Finning man-
ager, Red Deer) really pulled out the
stops to get us the additional machines
we needed as quickly as possible.”
Transporting heavy equipment alone
to and between Waschuk job sites
required 50 flatbed trucks and 250
moves. Some 70 highway tractors were
engaged at peak hauling pipe, supplies,
tools, and other equipment.
“On a large job like this you find out
pretty quickly how good your logistics
planning is. Actually, we were lucky in
that we were always near major centres
so we didn’t have to mount a full field
camp operation on any of our spreads.
All of our people stayed in local hotels
or rented rooms or apartments — ini-
tially in Moose Jaw and Dawson
Creek, then Grande Prairie, and this
summer in Regina.”
At our visit in February, the com-
pany had between 350-400 people in
Grande Prairie, with operations spread
over some 100 km north and south of
town. In Grande Prairie alone,
Waschuk estimates the firm spent
about $10 million on hotels, restau-
rants and locally purchased perish-
ables and supplies. “It would be closer
Wes Waschuk, president, Waschuk Pipeline Construction;
Cat 345 on company section near Grande Prairie.
to $12 million if you included fuel.”
Scheduled to begin service
deliveries in October, the impact of
the Alliance Pipeline project on gas
exploration and field development in
northern BC especially has been pro-
found, says Waschuk.
“This project has been anticipated for
some years now as it moved through the
planning and regulatory phases. During
the past 10 years there have been some
very significant gas fields discovered, in
BC especially but also throughout the
north. Just recently, Chevron announced
a major find near Fort Liard. Alliance, as
part of this project, is building laterals
almost to the BC/Yukon border, so it is
probably just a matter of time before
they begin bringing that gas down. This
pipeline significantly expands delivery
capacity to the huge mid-west U.S.
market. For producers it serves as a
needed alternative to the existing main-
line south.” ■
 First Cat Skid Steer Delivered in Alberta
Finning forms a new Compact Construction Products Division for
Cat’s innovative new small machine lines.

F inning has begun

deliveries in BC
and Alberta of Cater-
pillar’s new Compact
Construction Equip-
ment (CCE) machines.
The first of the new
machines, a Cat 246
skid steer, went to
Art’s Excavating, of
Medicine Hat.
The new lines con-
sist of skid steer
loaders, wheel loaders, and mini-
excavators.
The skid steer family spans six
models, ranging from the 216 (49
hp) to the 248 (74 hp).
Two of three mini-excavators
have been announced to date, the
301.5 (17.4 hp), and the 302.5 ( 22.9
hp). (See page 13 for a report on
mini-excavators.) Three wheel
loader models are the 902 (45 hp),
the 906 (60 hp) and the 908 (82 hp).
(See page 13.)
All CCE machines feature integral
quick couplers to enable easy use of
a broad array of dedicated Cat attach- ically seen in machines
ments and work tools. These include this size. This includes
buckets in varying configurations, state-of-the-art elec-
forks, grapples, sweepers, barrel han- tronic hand controls,
dlers, hammers, mowers, augers, precise hydraulics, and
asphalt planers, asphalt tampers, the latest ergonomic
cement mixers ... and more. innovations for oper-
“Versatility is the name of the game ator comfort.
with all of these new machines,’’ “Caterpillar has
reports Gary Brown, Finning manager introduced a number of
of small machine sales. design innovations with
“Caterpillar has already introduced these machines that really take the supported by Finning and Cat (war-
more than 50 specialized work tools technology to the next step — 25 ranty) in the way our large-machine
for CCE machines, with more to patents with the skid steers alone. At customers have long since come to
come. There are 30 tools available for the same time, they have incorporated expect.”
the skid steers alone. The job range some of the latest technology from
this provides is exceptional — their larger machines.”
unmatched in the market.’’ Brown says that after trying one of Skid Steer Loaders
Switching tools takes seconds. On the new skid steers for the first time, The 246 skid steer in use at Art’s
the mini loaders, the operator flips a customers invariably comment on its Excavating utilizes a Cat 3034T diesel
switch in the cab, backs away from the ease of operation. “All of these rated at 74 hp. It is the second largest
tool he is detaching, lines up with the machines feature one of the most in the six-model family. The six
new tool and flips the switch to attach advanced operator control systems models are the 216, 226, 228, 236,
it. With the skid-steers and mini exca- available on the market, including 246 and 248. Rated operating capaci-
vators, the process is just as simple, pilot and hydraulic assist systems to ties range from 1,350 lb to 2,000 lb;
but with two hand controls utilized to reduce fatigue.” operating weights from 5,587 lb to
effect the switch. He adds: “Even with the advanced 7,338 lb; and power ratings (flywheel)
Brown notes that all CCE models technology, all of these machines are
boast ‘large machine’ features not typ- very competitively priced and fully to page 12
3
 FORESTRY

POWER
by the HOUR
In hand with a unique
‘Strategic Alliance’ with
Finning, Canfor initiates
sweeping changes with
millyard machines and
systems at nine BC and
Alberta mills — with
more to come.

C
anadian Forest Products Ltd. has
initiated a radically new approach to
owning and operating mobile
equipment used in lumber and log yards
in northern BC and Alberta mills.
Referred to as ‘Power by the Hour’,
the sweeping program has to date seen
37 aging yard machines retired at nine
mills: Polar, Chetwynd, Taylor, Fort St.
John, Fort St. James, Isle Pierre and
Clear Lake in BC; and Grande Prairie
and Hines Creek in Alberta.
Potentially another 120 machines are
targeted for turnout at these and other
Canfor operations. “All told, in the
foreseeable future we are looking at
replacing about 160 machines at these
mills and at the five Northwood plants
we acquired as part of the purchase of
the company early this year,” reports
Mik Ball, Canfor manager of fleet ser-
vices. “That done, we ultimately plan to
expand the program company wide.”
All 37 machines retired to date were
replaced with Cat wheel loaders (928G
through 980G), track log loaders (330B,
4
Lorne Scully, log yard supervisor at Canfor’s Polar Division; above, Cat 938G.
350), Wagner log stackers (L4-130C),
and Cat and Taylor lift trucks in varying
sizes. Most were acquired via Finning
operating leases and all are enrolled in a
customized Finning maintenance plan,
tailored to individual mill requirements.
Operating costs and operating avail-
ability are guaranteed by Finning — a
key requirement with Power by the
Hour, says Ball. All of the machines will
be turned out at the end of the leases,
with the residual buyback guaranteed by
Finning in advance.
“In essence, Power by the Hour is
the first stage of a ‘strategic alliance’
between Canfor and Finning, in which
we co-manage the operation of the
machines. Our goal with the program
is to incorporate Finning’s expertise
with our own to lower operating costs,
increase uptime, and add efficiencies
wherever possible — not only in the
yard operations but also in the mills.
With this program we hope we are
leaving behind, for good, the oper-
ating grief and high cost involved in
running high-hour machines in key
production roles.”
For Canfor, one of Canada’s top
lumber producers, Power by the Hour is
at once a major initiative and a radical
departure from past operating modes.
Ball observes that while similar strategic
alliances have become increasingly
common in the mining sector, that hasn’t
been the case in forestry. “To my knowl-
edge, this is a first for a forestry com-
pany in Canada.”
 In the planning stages for several
years, Power by the Hour was initiated
on a trial basis at the company’s Isle
Pierre mill complex west of Prince
George in early 1998. The mill, at the
time running six yard machines ranging
up to 17 years old, was dogged by
soaring repair and maintenance costs,
excessive log breakage, and costly inef-
ficiencies that were impacting severely
on the rest of the operation.
“Isle Pierre was in a particularly diffi-
cult position at the time. In fact the mill
faced possible closure unless something
drastic could be done to make the entire
operation more efficient. And quickly.”
Ball notes that while key operating
factors including log volumes and fibre
diet had changed considerably at Isle
Pierre over the years, change with the
yard fleet hadn’t kept pace. “That ulti-
mately produced a situation where,
among other things, the wrong machines
were doing the wrong jobs. Wheel
loaders initially acquired to feed the mill
were unloading trucks and building
inventory decks — jobs that properly a
log stacker should have been doing.
“Fibre damage alone was costing the
mill $2 million a year. We were sending
round wood from the cutoff saw straight
to the burner because of excessive
damage during handling in the yard. We
were also seeing severe fall-down in mill
production because the yard simply
couldn’t give it the lengths it needed.”
While the solution at Isle Pierre was
evident to all involved, finding the nec-
essary capital to replace the old
machines was another problem. Ball
notes that scenarios similar to this are
common throughout the forest industry.
“In this industry, decisions on capital
equipment are driven by the cyclical
markets. When the market is down,
expenditures for new mobile machines
aren’t a priority. When things turn
around, the mills, who might need those
machines badly, face built-up and com-
peting demands from within the com-
pany for the capital that is available. If
you are flush with cash, you might see
new mobile machines. If you aren’t, you
usually don’t. This is pretty typical in the
industry. Of course, if you don’t spend
the money on new equipment, there is a
big hole waiting because you will spend
it later anyway repairing and maintaining
the old ones — but potentially with the
entire mill operation suffering.”
Appraising the situation at Isle Pierre,
a Canfor review team invited equipment
suppliers, including Finning, to make
recommendations on new equipment and
a streamlined log handling system.
“Ron Clark (Finning general manager,
forestry) made the observation at the
time that the cost of fibre damage alone
would easily pay for the new log stacker
that would solve much of the problem.
He was right. He also suggested that the
supplier/customer strategic alliances we
From top, Cat 330B LL at Fort St. John; Taylor
THD360 lift truck at Grande Prairie; and
Wagner L4-130C log stacker at Polar.
were seeing in the mining sector could
be adopted to the forest industry. We had
looked at something similar with the
work we had done conceptually with
Power by the Hour. Going from there,
we shortly decided Isle Pierre would be
perfect as the trial mill for the program.”
By the spring of 1998, Isle Pierre’s six
yard machines had been replaced with
three Finning-supplied machines,
including a Wagner L4-130 log stacker.
The new-look yard included a rational-
ized log handling system that quickly
reduced fibre loss.
All three machines were acquired via a
tailored ‘supply and support’ agreement
that included all of the elements of the
now formalized Power by the Hour pro-
gram: lease as opposed to purchase in
order to reduce the initial capital outlay;
a Finning-mounted maintenance pro-
gram designed to increase uptime,
including (optionally) planned compo-
nent replacement schedules (PCR) for
major components; guaranteed machine
operating costs through the lease term,
stabilizing the budgeting process; and
guaranteed buyback at the end of the
lease term, ensuring a ‘no-surprise’ pas-
sage to new units.
Closely monitored over the following
months, Isle Pierre’s performance
quickly exceeded expectations, Ball
says. “It was and continues to be more
successful than we had hoped. We have
to page 6
5
 FORESTRY
from page 5 tions. These recommendations were felt were necessary to run the machines
reviewed by the team and ultimately at the high level of availability required.
virtually eliminated log breakage and Finning’s proposal was chosen. Because the mills run different opera-
availability with the three machines has “With a supplier in place, we entered tions and have different needs, it was left
consistently been at 97% — which was the first phase of the program by asking to them to decide how much of the main-
what Finning guaranteed going in. That the mills to target the machines that were tenance schedule they would do them-
is excellent, particularly against what approaching death’s doorstep and to selves, and how much Finning would do,
we have historically realized at our work with Finning to determine what with each machine. Matilda worked
interior mills.”
Based on the Isle Pierre results, by the
end of 1998 the company decided to
expand the program to the eight other
mills in the northern BC/Alberta oper-
ating group. Ball reports that the decision
to do so came right from the top at the
company, with David Emerson (Presi-
dent and CEO) and Barb Hislop (Vice-
President, wood products) in particular
“strongly supportive of what we were
doing and the overall goals for the pro-
gram. They have been behind this from
day one.”
Swinging quickly into high gear, a
Canfor supply/management team under
Ball and Matilda Thien (manager,
supply agreements and taxes) issued a
Request for Proposal to three major

Cat 966G (left) and 980G, both at Hines Creek.

was needed to closely with mill management to assist

equipment suppliers for a support/man-
agement program in line with the Power
by the Hour concept.
Suppliers were encouraged to review
operations at several Canfor mills and to
offer prescriptive proposals for efficien-
cies that could be obtained by a joint
management process. The suppliers
began meeting with the mills to review
process procedures, to target machines
for turnout and to develop recommenda-
6
replace them.
The list
totalled 37
machines,
mainly the
oldest or most
trouble-prone.
Orders were
placed quickly
so that the
replacements could be delivered before
costly repairs were required.”
Next came the process of negotiating
the details of the maintenance plan for
each machine, with mill staff, Ball and
Thien on the points at Canfor and Clark
and Brian Mulvihill (forest products
marketing manager) at Finning.
“Finning at this point met with the
mills and presented their recommenda-
tions for the maintenance schedules they
them in comparing apples to apples in
assessing their costs with either
approach.”
Support plans ultimately developed
for the machines vary widely depending
on the mill, and the machine. “At a min-
imum, Finning does 500 hour mainte-
nance checks on all 30 units. That is an
essential part of the operating guarantees
that we have with them. Otherwise, some
of the mills opted for planned turnout
schedules for major components such as
engines or transmissions, as at Isle
Pierre, while some did not. Or, some
chose to include some components in the
schedule, and exclude others. The pro-
gram is quite flexible in this aspect.”
He describes this part of the process as
one of risk assessment both by Finning
and the mill yard and maintenance man-
agers involved.
 New Wide-Pad D3C And D4C LGP Dozers
Fdozers.
inning now offers a choice of standard or larger
‘Petroleum Special’ pads on two of its LGP
Available on D3C and D4C LGP dozers,
the Petroleum Special configuration comes with
30-inch pads instead of the standard 25-inch pads.
The result is a 20 percent reduction in ground pres-
sure, in the range of 3.3 to 3.6 psi.
Pat Boeker, Finning sales, Fort McMurray,
reports that the Petroleum Special was devel-
oped following requests by oil field contractors
in the area for 30" track D3s and D4s. The small
machines are used by contractors to open up
lease roads in soft terrain including muskeg.
Added flotation allows an earlier start to the
working season.
“Building roads in muskeg is a real challenge.
Early in the season you need a small, light machine
with superior flotation. With 30" track these dozers
fit that prescription perfectly. Oilfield contractors in this area are
happy to see this new machine — many prefer running Cat equip-
ment for its reliability, particularly in the remote sites.’’
Modifications to accommodate the 30-inch pads are done by
Weldco in Edmonton. The dozers are covered by a full Cat war-
ranty, including full machine coverage for one year (unlimited
hours), and three years or 5000 hours on the power train and
hydraulics. The machine is also eligible for the undercarriage
assurance program.
“We support these dozers with a complete service at 1000 hours
at no charge,” says Boeker. “During the warranty period there is
also a 48 hour availability guarantee.” ■

In example, he notes that at Isle Pierre
the log stacker transmission may be
scheduled for turnout at 15,000 hours as
part of the support program negotiated.
“Management at a different mill might
feel they can run the transmission longer,
based on their operation and their experi-
ence. In that case, it can be excluded
from the support program. This holds for
any of the 15 or 20 major components or
operating systems in the machine.
“The bottom line is that operating
costs with components in a PCR
schedule are guaranteed by Finning. If
the stacker transmission at Isle Pierre
fails at 10,000 hours, the risk is
Finning’s. With components that are not
in the schedule, the risk is ours. This part
of the process in essence is risk assess-
ment. The challenge for the mills is that
we have now set the bar very high. We
have imposed high performance expec-
tations with these machines, whether
Finning is performing the maintenance
schedule, or whether the mills are doing
it.”
Regardless of the maintenance
schedule devised, at the end of the pro-
cess each machine is operated through
the lease term at a guaranteed fixed cost
based on operating hours. “All of the ele-
ments in the Power by the Hour program
— leasing or owning, operating, and risk
management — are reduced to a single
fixed cost, based on operating hours.
Hence the name of the program.”
Observes Mulvihill: “From
Finning’s view, the two most impor-
CANADIAN FOREST
PRODUCTS LTD.
tant elements in Power by the Hour are
that it incorporates discipline to a
planned machine maintenance strategy
— and discipline to a machine replace-
ment strategy that is based on optimal
turnout. We see both as essential to an
efficient overall operation.”
Ball couldn’t agree more, stressing
that for Canfor the benefit of Power by
the Hour goes beyond running new
equipment. This includes the enhanced
ability to gain related efficiencies in
other operating areas at the mills.
“The big economies involved don’t
strictly involve the machines. What we
have done with Power by the Hour is to
use it as a vehicle to effect not just tech-
nological change, but also process
change. At Isle Pierre the new log
stacker enabled us to improve the way
we receive, inventory and deliver the
logs to the mill. A new 325 log loader is
part of a redesigned sorting system that
makes the mill more efficient. That same
re-evaluation process has been part of
this process at the other mills. Polar, for
example, has significantly expanded its
yard inventory capacity in hand with
going to new equipment.”
He adds: “As part of this program, we
have also asked our people to rethink the
way they do their jobs — to assume new
or different responsibilities. We want our
maintenance people to move past being
machine mechanics to being machine
managers. In large part the success of
this program depends on the ability of
our people to buy into it, and then take
ownership of it. Change can be very dif-
ficult and the change with Power by the
Hour is significant. So far, we couldn’t
be happier with the way it has gone.” ■
7
 GOVERNMENT

O
pened in 1946, the Regional Dis-

The
trict of Nanaimo’s Cedar Road
Landfill is still servicing area resi-
dents more than a half century later —
but with the end in sight. The facility
receives an average 50,000 tonnes of

COMPACTION
waste a year.
“This landfill has served the region
admirably, but certainly its days now are
numbered,” reports Ron McCaw,
regional supervisor of solid waste facili-
ties. “That has been recognized for sev-
eral years. The problem has been where

Factor
to put the new one.”
McCaw notes that while several alter-
native sites have been considered, all
have been rejected for one reason or
another over the past several years.
Other jurisdictions, he notes, have faced
similar difficulties in bringing new
landfills onstream. “The issues are
complex and the process can be very
involved. What it meant here was that it
was becoming critical to find a way to
extend the operating life of the Cedar
Road facility.”
On joining the operation in late 1997,
McCaw’s first mandate was to find a
way to do exactly that. “We needed to
get at least four more service years out of
this site. It was quickly apparent that we
weren’t going to be able to do that with

With a pressing need to extend the life of its

Cedar Road Landfill, the Regional District of
Nanaimo did just that — in part through added From left, Ron McCaw, supervisor of solid waste facilities;
Bill Hill, mechanic; and Bryan Peterman, Cedar Road
efficiency with a Cat 826G compactor. site coordinator.

8
the equipment we had in here.”
A review team assembled in early
1998 to study alternative handling and
storage procedures — including
McCaw, Bill Hill (mechanic) and Bryan
Peterman (site coordinator) — shortly
concluded that improving waste
compaction density levels offered
the quickest and most cost-
effective approach to extend
its service life.
The team then began
reviewing the wide range of
machines and configurations
available for the application,
assessing each against their
needs at Cedar Road. The pro-
cess included visits to other land-
fills throughout the province to
review their operations.
“We decided early in the process that
we wanted a purpose-designed steel
wheel landfill compactor, sized to com-
fortably handle 50,000 tonnes-plus of
waste a year. We wanted a dependable,
field-proven machine and a good dealer
support plan. With the steel wheels, we
wanted a configuration that would knead
rather than shred the waste during com-
pacting, to reduce the amount of wind-
blown material. We also wanted wheels
that wouldn’t easily clog with wet mate-
rial, including the soil cover. A fire sup-
pression system was mandatory and defi-
nitely it had to have an excellent
guarding setup. Landfill work is very
hard on equipment.”
The machine ultimately decided on
was a Cat 826G compactor (315
hp/73,370 lbs) equipped with 42"
Caron steel wheels. The machine went
into the site in the summer of 1998,
with its performance in terms of the
compaction densities being achieved
then closely monitored.
“So far, we couldn’t be happier with
the results. In fact, the compaction den-
sity we are consistently achieving with
the compactor is well beyond the
industry standard. We have gone from
550 kilograms per cubic meter with our
old compactor (a similar size, non-Cat
steel wheel machine) to 890 kilograms
per cubic meter. That’s about a 40 per
cent increase.” He attributes this to a
combination of the 826G, staff training,
and new operating techniques.
The working method with the machine
is straightforward. Once a load is
dumped at the tipping face, the 826G
runs back and forth over the material,
breaking it down and compacting it into
the fill. After compaction, the area (or
cell) is covered with a mix of soil, clay,
gravel and wood chips (30%). The chips
are produced at the site by a tub grinder,
utilizing incoming wood waste from
neighbouring sawmills.
“We developed the cover mix
specifically for this site. With the rain
we get, we take every possible precau-
tion to prevent leachate seepage. The
wood chips are important for creating air
voids, which aid in the decomposition
process. The clay is added to help repel
rain water.”
Each cell lift is built up to a height of
six to eight feet. All care is taken to mini-
mize the amount of exposed waste
(including the use of tarps) to reduce
spreading by wind or birds. Unusually,
the site contracts a hawk handler to chase
off scavengers such as crows or gulls.
Once a cell is completed the layer is
topped with a final soil covering and
seeded to grass.
Another interesting approach at Cedar
Road is the utilization of the methane gas
that is a byproduct of the waste decom-
position process. The gas is collected and
burned to supply hot water and heat the
shop area. Bill Hill says other potential
uses for methane currently being studied
include generating electricity, or as fuel
for the small ATVs and pickups
employed by the crews in moving
around the site.
The site last year added a 963B track
loader, used primarily for carrying and
spreading cover soil, but also for moving
scrap metal or other miscellaneous
Contractor Chad Frostad with one of two hawks used to
chase off scavengers such as gulls or crows.
chores around the site.
“When the 826G is being serviced, we
can also use the 963B to compact the
incoming waste,” says McCaw. “We
were using a 973 before so we have
downsized a bit. We’ve found the 963B
is well suited for the work, in terms of
what it does in concert with the 826G.
We saved some money going to a
smaller machine, and we are looking at
possibly using some of that to acquire a
small excavator to handle other types of
waste, such as contaminated soil.”
Both machines were acquired via
tailored Finning leases and both are on
extended warranties at the District’s
option. “Leasing reduced the initial
capital required, which enabled us to
get the 826G into service as quickly as
possible. With the support arrangement
we have, we look after minor repairs
— hoses and so on — and maintenance
and Finning looks after everything
else. If there is a major problem,
Finning will provide a replacement
machine to keep us in business.”
He adds: “The move to the 826G was
a major decision for the Regional Dis-
trict. A lot of work and thought went into
it. Once we had made the decision we
were pretty confident we had the right
machine and its performance since then
backs that up. In fact it is paying off
handsomely.”
With the changes at Cedar Road, the
site is now routinely visited by other
jurisdictions looking to add efficien-
cies in their operations, reports
McCaw. “We are seen now as running
one of the most effective landfill oper-
ations in the province — we take a lot
of pride in that. ■
9

No Worry WARRANTY
A
fter ten years in highway maintenance on some of
northern BC’s most remote highways, Ed Pardell
knows exactly what it takes to keep things humming
along smoothly. “You just make sure you have all of the
snowplowing done early in the morning — very early, before
the phone gets a chance to ring,” smiles Pardell, assistant
operations manager for Peace Country Maintenance Ltd.
Headquartered in Pouce Coupe, PCM’s sprawling territory
includes more than 2,600 kilometers of highways and gravel
roads in an area roughly bordered by Honeymoon Creek to
the west, Tumbler Ridge to the south, and the Alberta/BC
border to the east. In addition to its provincial contract, the
company has a separate federal contract to maintain a 300
km stretch of the Alaska Highway, roughly from Fort Nelson
north to Muncho Lake.
“We were pretty fortunate with snow this past winter —
even in the Pine Pass it was a lot lighter than usual,” says
Pardell. “That typically isn’t the case. Maintaining this terri-
tory in the winter especially is a big job, mainly because it is
so spread out. Normally when we get a big snowfall by
necessity we have to marshall literally every piece of equip-
10
Peace Country Maintenance
replaces its old fleet with 24 new
Cat machines — with ‘bumper-to-
bumper’ warranty coverage
throughout a five-year lease term.
ment at our disposal. Even in some of the remoter areas
people look to have their road plowed first thing in the
morning. We work continuously around the clock if we have
to after a heavy snow until all of the roads are clear.”
With the two contracts, PCM employs 120 people year-
round; the company was formed by employee shareholders
in 1988 when highway maintenance was privatized in the
province. Under general manager Pat Rorison, the firm
works from two major operating and maintenance centers,
Pouce Coupe and Chetwynd. Smaller operations are at Hon-
eymoon Creek and Mt. Lemoray in the Pine Pass, Tumbler
Ridge, Progress, and Mile 22 on the Alaska Highway. Oper-
ations for the federal contract are centered in Steamboat
Mountain, Muncho Lake, and Toad River.
While winter holds its own set of pressing demands,
Pardell notes that summer can actually be the busier time of
From left, PCM’s Dave Drake, Gordon Nicholson, Don Delaney, Joe Hebert, Jim Green,
and Ed Pardell.

year. “Our provincial contract lists
over 400 activities that have to be per-
formed during the summer. Because
the summers are so short up here, that
is usually when we are the busiest.
How well our summer program goes
can be the key to the rest of the year.
You want all of the repair work done
before the first snow hits.”
Summer operations include shoulder
brush removal and mowing, ditching,
grading and graveling, reshaping, stabi-
lizing, patching, crack sealing, bridge
maintenance and repair, sign mainte-
nance, and — critically — stockpiling
gravel for winter use.
Securing ready sources of gravel in
the region in the quantities required for
winter operations is increasingly a
problem, notes Pardell.
“In years past, gravel was usually
available in streams and rivers, but now
we have to rely on gravel deposits,
which in this part of the country are
scarce. We do have several good gravel
sources at a number of locations
including the Pine Pass, Chetwynd,
Tumbler Ridge, Pouce Coupe, Mile 22
on the Alaska Highway, and small
deposits at Steamboat Mountain and
Muncho Lake, but to meet our needs in
much of the territory we have to haul it
in from fairly long distances.”
To meet the two contracts, PCM runs
a large fleet of gravel trucks and heavy
equipment including graders, loaders
and backhoes. The fleet includes 24
new Cat machines acquired just prior to
the past winter season: fourteen 160H
graders (200 hp/34,360 lb); a single
14H grader (215 hp/41,410 lb) assigned
to the Pine Pass area; seven 416C
backhoe loaders; and two 416C ITs
(Integrated Toolcarrier).
All 15 graders are equipped with
side-mounted snow wings and run
three different blade configurations on
the moldboard. A standard straight
blade is used for general dozing and
grading, a ‘nipple’ blade for gravel
scarifying, and a serrated blade for
winter ice. “All of the graders are
equipped with ‘tall’ cabs, which our
operators prefer,” says Pardell.
In putting the multi-unit machine
supply package together, Rorison and
Dave Drake, equipment and materials
manager, opted for five-year Finning
leases, rather than purchasing the
machines as in the past. Drake notes
this was due in large part to the provin-
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
cial government’s move from three through the five-year lease. “If some-
year to five year contract periods for thing needs attention, we can get a
highways maintenance. mechanic in here virtually immedi-
“Five years better reflects a typical ately. As part of the package, we also
work cycle for graders in this use,” says had Finning provide operator and
Drake. “The longer contract let us maintenance training, primarily for
explore some different approaches in safety, which is a very big considera-
tion in this company.”
Drake says projected service life and
PEACE COUNTRY residual value were two other major
considerations in the move to the larger
MAINTENANCE 160H. “We feel the 160H offers a
POUCE COUPE longer effective service life against the
140H, which would come into play if
we decided to purchase some or all of
terms of acquisition and support plans. the machines at the end of the lease.
We purchased our 140H grader fleet in “That would depend on a number of
1996, but with this package we decided factors, but given that money keeps
on five year leases with an extended getting tighter we may well find that
Cat and Finning warranty plan. Going will be an attractive option down the
into this, we basically wanted bumper- road. Alternately, if we decide to turn
to-bumper coverage on these machines them around we feel the resale value
throughout the lease term, given that it will be higher with the 160H. The key
would be cost-effective. We have that is that we do have several options
with this plan.” available to us after five years, and we
Drake notes that the move from the wanted that flexibility with the lease
140H to the 160H
as the fleet-stan-
dard grader gives
the company
added weight and
power for job effi-
ciency, yet with
newer generation
engines the larger
machines will
actually be cheaper
to run than the
five-year-old units
turned out.
“We specifically
wanted a slightly
heavier grader
with more power
for heavy snow
work, so realizing
some fuel savings
along with that is a
bonus. Fuel Cat 14H, the largest of 15 graders in the County fleet, is assigned to the Pine Pass area.
accounts for a
significant part of
our operating
budget — particu-
larly lately the way prices have gone plan. In the meantime, with the
up. It was a big consideration.” arrangement we have, Finning can
PCM does all of the routine mainte- worry about keeping the machines in
nance on the machines, which are service while we worry about doing our
enrolled in Finning’s S.O.S. fluid job, which is highway maintenance.
testing as part of a comprehensive p.m. We definitely see this as a mutually
plan. Under the extended warranty, beneficial arrangement, which is
Finning does all necessary repairs exactly the way it should be.” ■
11
 from page 3 incorporated in the
hydrostatic drive-
train delivers max-
from 49 hp to 74 hp. imum power to the
All six models fea- wheels and work
ture a pilot-operated tools without
joystick control system stalling the engine.
that is both easy to The loader
operate and easy to linkage has been
learn. The left joystick designed for excel-
controls hydrostatic lent visibility to the
transmission speed and work tool; twin tilt
direction, while the cylinders allow easy
right joystick controls entrance and exit.
hydraulic loader lift, The machine is
lower and tilt. Switches designed for easy ating capacity of 1,500 lb. Hydraulic
in the right joystick serviceability. The rear engine door pump capacity is 30 gpm (114
activate auxiliary opens ninety degrees and the liters/min) at 3,300 psi.
hydraulic oil flow to radiator/hydraulic oil cooler is The 248, built on the same platform
operate work tools. mounted overhead and tilts up out of as the 246, has a rated operating
A hand throttle allows the operator the way for easy access to components. capacity of 2,000 lb. Hydraulic pump
to set the engine rpm at any desired Sight gauges aid fluid checks, and all capacity is 33 gpm (125 liters/min) at
speed. In addition, a foot accelerator filters are vertically mounted for quick, 4,200 psi.
pedal allows the operator to run at par- clean, spill-free routine maintenance. With both machines, the hydraulic
tial throttle and easily provide more The two newest skid steer models power available to run hydromechan-
power while digging or for top engine are the 228 and the 248, announced by ical tools is the best in their size class.
speed. High engine horsepower and Cat in February. Both utilize a high- Both loaders are powered by a Cat
torque allow the operator to run a Cat flow hydraulic system that can send 3034 direct-injection, four cylinder
machine at part throttle in many appli- 100% of engine power to hydrome- diesel. Power rating in the 228 is 54
cations. Hydraulic power available for chanical work tools for optimum pro- hp; the turbocharged engine in the 248
hydromechanical tools is exceptional ductivity. is rated at 74 hp. Both deliver high
in all six models. The 228, sharing the same work horsepower and torque for ease of
A Cat exclusive anti-stall system platform as the 226, has a rated oper- operation at part throttle. ■

New High Flow Work Tools For Cat 228,

248 Skid Steer Loaders
C at has announced ting wheel speed. A durable, direct- 32 bolt-on carbide teeth. Standard fea-
five new high flow, drive system generates approximately tures include an electro-hydraulically
performance matched 370 lb-ft of torque at a maximum adjustable cutting head, and boom
work tools for the 228 operating pressure of 4500 psi. A swing (70 degrees) and extension.
and 248 skid steer variable speed unidirectional high The T15 cuts trenches to a depth of
loaders. torque motor matches the high flow 60" and a width of 12". The direct-
The new tools are the auxiliary hydraulic output of the 228 drive system generates approximately
PC6 and PC9 cold and 248 skid steer loaders. Stump cut- 2269 lb-ft of torque at a maximum
planers, SG18 stump ting is accomplished with a heavy pressure of 4500 psi. Options include
grinder, T15 trencher, duty 22" diameter cutting wheel with various cutting widths, a 48" boom
and A26 auger. (standard is 60"), and
The PC6 and PC9 crumber bar shoes and
planers incorporate an rock teeth.
axial piston/double The A26 auger utilizes
reduction planetary a gear motor/double
system that provides reduction planetary drive
optimal drum speed, torque and fly- system that generates
wheel momentum for high production 5238 lb-ft of torque at a
planing in asphalt or concrete. Milling maximum operating pres-
drum width is 24" with the PC6 and sure of 4500 psi. A full
32" with the PC9. range of auger bits is
The SG18 stump grinder is available for drilling 6" to
designed for excellent torque and cut- 36" diameter holes. ■

12
 New 302.5 Joins Cat
Mini-Excavator Lineup
C at has introduced
the 302.5, the
second machine in its
rates an automatic swing
brake which is applied
and hydraulically
line of mini hydraulic released. The boom
excavators. The 301.5 swing angle to the left is
was announced ear- 90 degrees without stop,
lier. Typical applica- and 55 degrees with the
tions for the machines removable stop in place.
include digging foot- Boom swing to the right
ings, trenching for is 50 degrees. The
utility connections design enables trenching
and drainage, and parallel to walls and next
backfilling. to obstructions. working on finished surfaces.
The 302.5 machine The two-speed travel system pro- An ergonomically designed cab fea-
is powered by a three- vides a top speed of 4.5 km/h and a tures an optimum field of view, low-
cylinder Cat 3013 low speed of 2.5 km/h. Each track is effort hydraulic pilot hydraulic con-
diesel rated at 24.1 hp (gross). The driven by an independent two-speed trols, and excellent operator comfort.
machine has an operating weight of motor; the system incorporates a The machine is designed for ease of
5,762 lb and offers a bucket digging straightline travel feature that keeps servicing. A tilt-up hood gives quick
force of 4,928 lb. the machine tracks moving straight access to all major engine components
Both standard and long sticks are when tracking and using the front and service points.
available; maximum digging depth is linkage or swing circuit. With a quick coupler, the two
104" and 116" respectively. A curved dozer/backfilling blade machines can utilize work tools that
The machine features a pilot-con- acts as a stabilizer while digging. A include a variety of buckets and
trol design three pump hydraulic blade float function enhances perfor- hydraulic attachments such as shears,
system. The swing system incorpo- mance when back-dragging or hammers, augers, and rock crushers. ■

Compact Loaders Provide ‘Big Machine’ Performance

TConstruction
he three models in smooth acceleration. imizes arm and wrist movement. Low-
Cat’s new Compact Cat’s VersaLink loader linkage effort steering, which operates even at
Equip- design, field proven in larger machines, low engine speeds, also helps reduce
ment (CCE) loader coupled with powerful hydraulics, pro- operator fatigue. A well-modulated
lineup are the 902, 906, vides exceptional breakout force, inching pedal offers superior control.
and 908. Operating ranging from 8,200 lb in the 902 to The machines are designed with large,
weights range from 13,050 lb in the 908. comfortable cabs and floor-length win-
9,600 lb to 13,288 lb; The linkage geometry also provides dows offer an unmatched view all the
and bucket capacities excellent parallel lift capability and way to the ground.
from 0.8 cubic yards to long reach for pallet handling. A limited slip differential aids
1.3 cubic yards. Low-effort joystick controls and an traction in a variety of ground condi-
The 902 is powered adjustable wrist rest — with a molded- tions. The loader’s rear axle oscil-
by a Cat 3024 diesel in forward/neutral/reverse switch, min- lates 11-degrees for control, stability
rated at 45 hp; the and traction.
906 by a 3034 The service and parking brake are
rated at 60 hp; and combined in a single, dry-disc drive-
the 908 by a Cat line brake.
3054T rated at 82 hp. Innovative design features include
All three models feature a remote mounting of the radiator and
Hystat powertrain for aggres- oil cooler under the engine hood
sive performance, quick behind the cab. The cooling fan is
maneuverability and easy oper- driven by a hydraulic motor to keep
ation. A two-speed, closed- noise levels to a minimum.
loop Hydrostatic transmission All three models utilize a Quick-
provides smooth transition Lock hydraulic coupler for quick
from full rimpull to runout, switches between a wide range of
precise inching control, and available work tools. ■

13
 MILLYARDS

POWER
A new Wagner L4-130C log stacker at
Weldwood in Hinton is uniquely
equipped with a dual joystick/steering
wheel control system.

at your controlled diesel, a beefed up chassis,

FINGERTIPS
improved braking and hydraulic sys-
tems, a larger cab on a rotating plat-
form, and — on the Weldwood machine
— a dual joystick/steering wheel con-
trol system. The Dan Foss joystick con-
trol setup was custom adapted to the
machine by Finning and Allied engi-
neers at Weldwood’s request.
The machine, which replaces a

R
un a giant, 130,000 lb lift capacity
log stacker with the ease of a
passenger car?
That was the goal with a cus-
tomized Wagner L4-130C log stacker
delivered recently to Weldwood of
Canada at Hinton. One of the first of
the updated Wagner C-series
machines seen in Western Canada, the
stacker quickly drew raves from
Weldwood operators for its cab com-
14
forts — and effortless operation.
“We’ve run Wagner stackers for
more than ten years here so we are
pretty familiar with them,” reports
Wayne Kilbreath, wood yard supervisor
at the Hinton complex. “As far as oper-
ator comfort and ease of operation, this
machine is a real step forward. All of
the operators are really happy with it.”
Changes with the C-series stacker
include the use of a Cat electronically
high-hour L4-130C, is one of two used
to unload trucks, build inventory decks,
and retrieve and deliver wood to both a
sawmill and pulp mill for processing.
The busy yard processes about two mil-
lion cubic metres of wood (softwood
and hardwoods) a year.
“These stackers are critical to our
operation,” says Kilbreath. “In an
emergency we can keep both plants
working with just a single machine, but
we really need both working for an
efficient operation. Typically we assign
one to each plant.”
Kilbreath says the company
requested the unique auxiliary joystick
control system with the new stacker in
response to operator requests.
“With the old stacker (built in the
late 1980s), working in reverse is awk-
ward for the operator. You have to
twist your head around to look over
your shoulder at the same time you are
turning the steering wheel. Over time
you really start to feel it in your shoul-
ders, neck, and arms.
“ The joystick, along with a swivel-
ling seat, addresses this. Now the oper-
ator can turn the entire seat and control
console sideways when he is going in
Facing page, Wayne Kilbreath, wood yard supervisor at the Hinton complex,
and new stacker. Above, operator Dan Pankiewich and new joystick control.
reverse, and the joystick (just 2-1/2" the storage decks. The operator can
long) is right at your fingertips. There operate the hydraulics while maneu-
is no twist-strain involved at all. You vering without worrying about pow-
can switch back and forth between the ering out, especially when the yard is
joystick and steering wheel control at muddy.” Dual tires on the front axle
the flip of a switch. The operators also also provide improved flotation and
traction, he adds.
With the C-series, Allied has gone to
hydraulic pilot controls instead of air
controls, improving operator ‘feel’ and
WELDWOOD OF CANADA response and reducing maintenance.
HINTON The new braking system employs three
calipers rather than two, and a
hydraulic-over-hydraulic system, as
opposed to air-over-hydraulic, again
for improved performance and less
like the larger cab — big enough now maintenance.
for a trainee seat — and the windows Operating in four-wheel-drive in 1st
are bigger so the overall visibility is and 2nd gears, the L4-130C automati-
much better.” cally switches to two-wheel drive
The L4-130C is pow- between 2nd and 3rd gear. Kilbreath
ered by a 3406E elec- says this should have a positive effect
tronic engine with dual on both fuel consumption and general
torque capability.The power train wear and tear over the
new engine operates at long term.
two horsepower levels, “We haven’t had the machine long
delivering 525 hp for enough to quantify it, but definitely we
peak hydraulic perfor- are looking for a big improvement in our
mance when desired fuel costs with it against the old stacker.”
(truck unloading, Weldwood is now considering a
decking bundles, etc.) second L4-130C to replace the other
and 450 hp otherwise. old stacker. The machine would require
Against the old 3408 a custom-designed grapple capable of
DITA it replaces, the handling both shortwood and log-
new engine provides length timber. “We’re working with the
improved performance, Finning engineers on that now, so it is
considerably better fuel still a work in progress. Like a lot of
economy and lower mills we are processing an increasing
operating costs over the volume of shortwood, so an attachment
long term. like this is really needed.”
“The added power Another change for Weldwood is a
makes the hydraulics a move to include Finning in planning
lot quicker and scheduled maintenance for both of the
smoother. It allows the new log stackers.
operator to lift the load “Once a year during our scheduled
as the stacker is moving, plant shutdowns Finning technicians
even when you are on will sit in with us in planning the main-
soft ground. We have a tenance schedule for the machines for
sloped ramp leading to the coming work cycle. Our people are
the deck at our pulp mill. very knowledgable with these stackers,
As the operator is but it makes sense to have Finning, as
driving up the ramp, he the supplier, involved in the process.
can maintain speed while The goal is to eliminate unscheduled
he is lifting the load to downtime and streamline scheduled
place it on the deck. The maintenance. To that end, Finning is
old 130 can’t do that — stocking major components such as
when you lift while trav- engines and transmissions locally, in
elling the machine slows Edmonton. We’ve had a good relation-
right down. ship with Finning service people going
“The same is true when back some years now and we like the
retrieving bundles from way they support their machines.” ■
15
 AGRICULTURE

C
aterpillar telescoping material
handlers continue to gain accep-
tance in the agriculture sector in
Alberta, replacing loaders or tractors in
a wide variety of applications. The tele-
handler was initially designed by Cat
for moving and lifting material on con-
struction sites.
Two Lethbridge area companies
recently acquiring a TH62, the smallest
in the five-machine line, are South
Butte Feeders and Hummel Dairy Ltd.
Both farms replaced aging, bi-direc-
tional tractors; neither initially consid-
ered a telehandler but decided on the
TH62 almost immediately after trying
it out.
“When I first looked at the TH62, I
didn’t think it was the machine for us at
all — it certainly doesn’t look anything
like your standard farm tractor,” says
South Butte’s Rob Vander Heyden. “If
Finning hadn’t brought one out and left
it here for a few days on demo, I am
certain I wouldn’t have bought it. It
really surprises you what it can do.”

Slick At neighbouring Hummel Dairy,

owners Luke, William and Tim
Hummel felt much the same after a
TH62 trial. “As soon as we tried this

Utility
Farm Machine
Two Lethbridge area
farms replace small
bi-directional utility
tractors with Cat
TH62 telehandlers

William Hummel and TH62 at Hummel Dairy, near Noble-

ford. The machine is primarily used with a bucket for
sileage loading chores.
16
 steering modes: circle steer, crab steer, and
standard two-wheel steer. Turning circle
radius with the TH62 is just 12 feet. A low
centre of gravity provides excellent traction in
soft-ground.
Other notable features include a side-mount
engine design and low boom pivot, opening up
fore-and-aft visibility, and car-like cab com-
fort and ease of operation.
South Butte Feeders
Located at Picture Butte, Vander Heyden’s busy
operation includes a 675 acre farm and a 4,500
head capacity feedlot. He owns all of the stock
and feeds another 900 head housed at a neigh-
bouring lot.
Acquired early this year, the TH62 is mainly
used for handling straw bales, general pen clean
up and landscaping chores, and as a backup for
a Cat 916 wheel loader, which does all of the
sileage loadout.
Vander Heyden made his own seven-foot-
wide bale forks for the machine, adding a top
clamp previously used on the 916 sileage
bucket. With the attachment, he can handle two
large square bales (eight feet wide, four feet
high) at a time, pushing the tines into the bottom
of one and then using the clamp to hold the top
bale while travelling.
He buys all of the hay and straw consumed
from neighbouring farms, unloading incoming
trucks with the TH62. “The bales are loaded
three-wide across the truck so the machine’s
reach comes in very handy. I can take them all
off working from one side of the truck, which
makes it a little quicker.” The bales are inven-
toried in four-high decks.
One TH62 feature Vander Heyden
to page 18

machine we were sold,” says William. “It is so versatile

it can do almost anything. In fact we keep finding new
uses for it.”
Powered by a Cat 3054 diesel, the 81 hp TH62 utilizes
a 4F-3R powershift transmission that provides a quick 32
km/h top speed forward and 22 km/h in reverse. The
machine weighs in at just over 15,000 lbs. The tele-
scoping boom offers a vertical lift height of 25 feet.
Maximum lift capacity at that height is 3,000 lbs, and
6,000 lbs otherwise. Forward reach is 13'-9".
In addition to its versatility, the machine has drawn
solid reviews from owners for its speed and impressive
maneuverability. All five models offer three different

Rob Vander Heyden and TH62 at South Butte Feeders, Picture Butte. The machine
is equipped with custom-built forks to handle large straw bales.
17
 AGRICULTURE
from page 17
particularly likes is the tight-
turning radius, which comes
into play when working in and
around the lot’s smaller pens.
In the pens, he keeps the
machine in four-wheel steer
mode (or circle steer), in which
the front axle moves in the
opposite direction to the rear.
“I thought the small tractor
I was running before was
about the best you could get
for speed and maneuver-
ability, but this machine is
better by far. The maneuver- TH62 at South Butte Feeders; the machine features three steering modes, including circle steer for added maneuverability in tight
ability is just exceptional — working areas in and around the pens.
in four-wheel-steer it can
almost move sideways. You
don’t have to jockey around
to get in and out of a tight pen — you
just literally turn the machine around
in a circle and head out the way you
came in.”
He adds: “Our first impression of
this machine was that it was surpris-
ingly quick. The first day we had it we
got the work done as fast as with the
tractor we had run for five years. Now,
we get everything done faster.”
He adds: “The only way I can think
of that Cat could make this machine
any better for farming use would be to
add a PTO (power take off) so that you
can use a mower or other tools with it.
That’s a quibble really because these
are impressive little machines.”
Hummel Dairy
A few minutes down the road near
Nobleford, brothers Luke, William and
Tim Hummel farm 1,100 acres (hay,
barley and corn sileage) and run a 180-
head dairy operation. The farm was
started by their parents in 1949.
Looking to replace a small bi-direc-
tional tractor, the brothers initially
considered three different machines: a
Cat IT14G toolcarrier, a Cat 924G
wheel loader, and a similar size com-
petitive loader. “We were seriously
considering a loader because we
wanted a dependable, productive
machine to handle all of the sileage
and pen cleaning” says William.
The TH62 pushed the loaders out of
the picture almost immediately after a
short on-site demo, he reports.
“Equipped with a bucket, we can use
18
the TH62 for all of the jobs you would
put a loader on and it does them faster.
And it is more versatile.”
The farm acquired the machine with
a two-yard bucket and pallet forks; for
handling hay bales, they modified the
nine-foot-wide bale forks and clamp
attachment they were using previously
“I thought the small tractor For
I was running was the best back it out and then carry the manure to
you could get for speed and over the fence and drop the load.”
maneuverability. But this
machine is better by far.’’
— Rob Vander Heyden
to fit the quick-coupler on the TH62.
“What we immediately liked about
the machine is its compact size and
maneuverability — a loader can’t touch
it. It can turn on a dime so it is great in
tight areas in or around the pens or the
barns. We have a lot of 10-foot barn
doors and at eight feet high we can zip
the telehandler in and out of them
without worrying about hitting the
transom.” All three of the loaders ini-
tially considered were about ten feet
high, so that was a concern, he notes.
“Because the telehandler cab is so
low it is also very easy to get in and out
of — much like a car. That’s a real plus
when you are in and out of it constantly — it opens up a lot of opportunities.
through the day, which we usually are.
There are no foot pedals (all controls
are hand operated) to get in the way so
two quick steps and you are into it.”
All three steering modes are con-
stantly in use: two-wheel steer for load
and carry jobs or travelling around the
site; circle steer in the barns and pens;
and crab steer when working in tight
areas along walls or fences.
“We’ve found the machine to be a
real time-saver in a lot of little ways.
example, when we used the tractor
to clean the pens, we used to have to
the spreader. Now, we can just reach
He adds: “We will mainly use the
machine with a bucket as a loader —
we expect to put about 1,500 hours a
year on it. What really sold us on it
though was that we can also use it for a
lot of other jobs that a loader or tractor
SOUTH BUTTE FEEDERS
HUMMEL DAIRY LTD.
can’t do. We just used it to unload
block salt, which we used to do by hand
— one pass with the pallet forks and it
is was done. We used it for tearing
down an old shed and it is handy for
little jobs like changing light bulbs in
the barns, or just getting someone up on
a roof quickly. A 25-foot reach makes
it a very handy machine to have around
Almost every week we seem to find a
new job for it.” ■
 GROUND ENGAGING TOOLS

A custom-
protected bucket
on a Cat 966G
loader, including
the use of new
Cat snap-on wear
plates, proves
out quickly for an
Alberta aggregate
plant.

W
ith wheel loaders or excavators handling gravel and
other highly abrasive materials, bucket repair and
replacement can be a costly proposition, particularly
in high-volume operations.
Looking to reduce those costs, family-owned Alberta
Aggregates Ltd., based in Medicine Hat, began experi-
menting last year with a specially-protected bucket for its
Cat 966G wheel loader, which includes the use of newly
developed Caterpillar mechanically-attached wear plates.
In addition to a crushing and washing plant in Medicine
Hat, Alberta Aggregates runs two mobile crushing plants,
operating throughout southern Alberta. “We also run two
gravel pits but 90 per cent of our work involves custom
crushing with some washing,” says plant supervisor Joseph
Denis, part-owner of the company along with his brother,
Allan; his father, Armand; and Armand’s wife, Karen.
Denis says that like most ag plants, the company was
spending “considerable time and money” doing welding
repairs on its loader buckets, replacing liners, edges, and teeth
etc. after normal wear. “In high abrasive conditions you can
tear a loader bucket apart in no time.”
Looking for an alternative to constant repairs, the firm at
Joseph Denis, plant supervisor, shows new Cat snap-on bottom wear plates on the
966G bucket.
Bucking
Bucket
COSTS
one point tried an inexpensive, bottom-of-the-line bucket
(non-Cat) on a 966. Denis says the company anticipated a
shorter service life with it, but wanted to see whether it might
be cheaper to use the bucket and then turn it out, as opposed
to mounting a welding program. The experiment was quickly
scrapped, however, when the bucket life proved far short of
even low-end projections.
In the process of acquiring a new 966G loader (253 gross
hp) last spring, Denis asked Finning to build a customized
bucket for the machine, including the use of snap-on wear
plates on the bottom trailing edge of the bucket. “I thought it
was a good idea when I heard that Cat had come out with
snap-on wear plates. We decided to try them because the cost
was quite low, even if they didn’t work. As it has turned out,
they have worked very well for us.”
In addition to the bottom wear plates, the 5.25 yard bucket
also employs bolt-on shanks between bolt-on teeth, and half-
arrow plates welded onto the inside of the leading edges of the
to page 21
19
GROUND ENGAGING TOOLS

S
eeking a more efficient and
less costly approach to
maintaining mine haul
roads in winter, North Amer-
ican Construction was one of
the first companies in western
Canada to employ Caterpillar’s
unique Mining Bit System for
motor graders.
Based in Spruce Grove, the
North American Construc-
tion group is involved in a
wide range of activities
including road construction,
earth moving, overburden
removal, water and sewer
installation, pile driving, and
pipeline construction.
The firm has been actively
involved in mine site develop- nance at these sites, we initially
ment in the Fort McMurray area; road used two 16Gs, both with standard
maintenance at the job sites is done by (non-serrated) DH-2 blade edges.
a fleet of 14G, 16G and 24H graders We immediately encountered pre-
(the latter the largest in the world at mature cutting edge wear during
500 hp) and in the winter especially the winter — way beyond anything
poses some unique challenges. else that we had ever experienced.
“The ice conditions combined with Virtually with every shift change
the high sand content at these sites you would see both graders
probably gives you about as severe a heading to the shop for new edges.
grader application as you could find It was that bad.”
anywhere,” observes North American’s Approached by Caterpillar and
Mel Murowchuk, equipment mainte- Finning two years ago to partici-
nance supervisor in Fort McMurray. pate in trials on the newly devel-
“The ice is routinely as hard as concrete oped Mining Bit System,
and very quickly you can go from good Murowchuk says the company was
haul conditions to roads that are as slip- more than happy to give it a try,

Gaining an
Edge on Grader Costs
pery as a skating rink.”
Murowchuk adds that this isn’t the
operating surface you want for huge off-
highway trucks, including Cat 797s
(1,230,000 lb gvw), one of the largest
haulers in the world. Prior to going to the
new Mining Bit system, Murowchuk
says grader operators often had to make
two or three passes to cut through road
ice to produce a good running surface,
with the work punishingly hard on both
operators and graders.
“When we started doing road mainte-
20
initially on one of the two 16Gs.
Designed for improved penetration Cat’s new Mining Bit
and a longer wear life, MBS employs
tungsten carbide tile on the surface and
System for grader edges
inside the replaceable bits. Depending on proves a winner in
the application, the MBS edges can last
up to 20 times longer than a standard severe-duty service
DH-2 edge, says Caterpillar.
Murowchuk says the new edges at Fort McMurray
immediately provided an improved
result — a better road surface and less Mel Murowchuk, equipment maintenance supervisor for
strain on the grader in tough ice. “A DH- North American Construction in Fort McMurray. Top, Cat
2 edge doesn’t cut through tough ice — 24H grader with new Cat grader blade edge system.

it basically just polishes the surface,
which you then have to sand constantly.
In comparison, the MBS bits cut right
through the surface ice — with minimal
blade down pressure. The grader can
recycle the existing sand and gravel,
bringing it back up to the surface.
Because of that, we no longer have to
continually sand these roads. These bits
not only cut easily through ice, but they
will actually shear the top right off
frozen rocks, rather than being impeded
by them.” Murowchuk says North
American closely monitored edge costs
during the initial trials with the system,
over 1,000 hours. Edge costs averaged
$19 per hour with the MBS-equipped
grader, against $45 per hour with the
DH-2 edges on the second 16G used in
the same application.
The company has now switched to
MBS systems on all of its graders.
“Tungsten carbide edges are more
expensive initially, but your cost-per-
hour through their service life is far less.
from page 19
bucket sides, complete
with one-inch plates
on the outside edges
— around and pro-
tecting the leading
edge. The eight wear
plates are attached in
groups of four on the
bottom back surface of
the bucket, with the
trailing plates typically
taking more wear than
the leading plates.
The company is
using standard-wear plates; Caterpillar
also offers thicker heavy duty plates.
The standard plates are made from
Caterpillar-formulated DH-2 steel,
hardened for strength. The base plates,
made from slightly softer but weldable
steel to withstand high load forces, are
welded in place; the snap-on DH-2
plates slide over them, attaching with a
spring clip. The plates incorporate small
recessed holes (called blind holes) cast
into each corner to serve as a wear indi-
cator, making inspections quick and
easy. When the holes become exposed
in one or more corners, it’s time to
change the plate.
The 966G works both ends of the
We have used them on the first 16G over
6,000 hours now, and our edge costs on
average are about 50% lower.”
He notes there are other savings as
well — operators now typically com-
plete a road in just one pass in either
direction, rather than two or three passes
as in the past. “That means that one
NORTH AMERICAN
CONSTRUCTION GROUP
FORT MCMURRAY
grader can now do what it took two
machines to do before in roughly the
same time. We are also seeing less
overall wear and tear on the machines.”
Adapters for MBS are available in
three and four-foot lengths, with either
5/8ths or 3/4 inch bolt holes. The bits are
held in place by snap and retaining rings;
they can be switched out easily with a
punch and a hammer in a few minutes.
smaller of the two
mobile plants, generally
assigned to jobs of
between 25,000 to
50,000 tonnes. At our
visit, the plant was pro-
ducing 250 to 300
tonnes per hour of
20mm minus road
gravel. The larger plant,
paired with a Cat 980G,
is usually used on
50,000 tonne-plus jobs
ALBERTA AGGREGATES
MEDICINE HAT
given the longer setup time involved.
Service life with the specially-pro-
tected 966G bucket to date has been all
the company hoped for and more, says
Denis. “We have been rotating the wear
plates from front to back after about
1,000 hours to even out the wear. So far
we have replaced four of the eight wear
plates, with two of them wearing out at
2,200 hours and the other two at 2,600
hours. The other four plates are still
going strong at 2,900 hours. We are
GROUND ENGAGING TOOLS
The company rotates the bits from the
outside in, as with typical road crowning
the inside bits wear more quickly.
Murowchuk says the best grading result
is achieved if the MBS bits sit flat on the
road surface. They have devised a
marker system on the moldboard that
operators use to ensure the bits are in
proper position.
He stresses that while lowerering
edge costs and adding grader efficiency
were both key goals with the new bit
system, the deciding factor was the end
grading result.
“The single most important considera-
tion here is the quality of the road sur-
face. For safety and the overall effi-
ciency of the haul operation, that is crit-
ical. When we went to the MBS system,
the difference was immediately
apparent. Our goal with the maintenance
program is to keep these roads in pristine
condition at all times.
“If you wanted, you could drive on
them safely in a two-wheel-drive car.” ■
happy with that, and of course because
they are snap-ons they are easy to
either rotate or turn out, so we don’t
have the welding costs we had before.
“What I am planning to try now is
rotating the back plates to the front
when the front ones wear out, and put
the new plates on the back. That way
we’ll always have the thicker metal at
the back, where you get most of the
wear. We have also encountered some
uneven wear from side to side because
of the material we are in, so I may try
rotating the plates side-to-side at about
500 hours to even the wear.”
Denis says the only problem encoun-
tered with the setup thus far is dirt
compacting around the spring snaps,
then hardening. “It can be time-con-
suming digging it out so that you can
replace the plates. What we have tried
now is using silicone caulking to keep
the dirt out. Actually, we use silicone
in the wash plants on high-wear edges.
We call it soft-surfacing — the
caulking just adheres in place and then
stays there, protecting the edge. It
works surprisingly well. At 100 hours,
the caulking on the bucket still looks
perfect — ideally it will wear along
with the steel and when I want to
replace the plates I can simply take a
screw driver and peel it out.” ■
21
 PROFILE
Seismic
Changes
For seismic line contractors
like MacMillan
Construction,
change has been the
order of the day in a
dramatically altered
industry.
O
ne of the largest oil field
seismic line contractors
in Alberta is MacMillan
Construction Peace River
(1987) Ltd., based in Peace
River, Alberta.
Specializing almost exclusively
in the seismic sector, the firm
employs 150 people during the peak winter season and runs
some 65 pieces of heavy equipment — including 20 contractor-
owned machines — primarily Cat D5M and D6Ms, the largest
fleet of the mid-size dozers in western Canada.
During the season, normally from early November until
breakup in mid-to-late March, crews and machines work seven
days a week around the clock. Owner Archie MacMillan
reports that while work was steady through the past season,
overall activity in the sector was down somewhat in the region
from previous years. “We would normally see 75 to 80 field
crews out, but this year it was more like 50 to 60. That’s a con-
cern but we are hoping to see that rebound next winter.”
A typical seismic crew is comprised of about 40 people plus
equipment. “It isn’t generally known outside of the industry,
but seismic work employs more people than any other single
phase in the oil patch.”
Well known in the Peace country, the MacMillan family
boasts a proud history in the area that dates back to the early
1900s. The family got started in the oil patch when Archie’s
father, John, formed Red Earth Construction with a single Cat
dozer in the mid-1950s. The firm changed its name to
MacMillan Construction about ten years later and then to
MacMillan Construction (Peace River) Ltd. in the mid-80s. All
five of John’s children — Archie, Bill, Linda, Ron and Brenda
22
From left, Archie MacMillan; Rusty
Lawson, machine operator; and
Alan Skip, Finning manager in
Peace River.
— have been involved with the firm in varying capacities —
partners or employees — at one time or another through the
years. Archie is now sole owner following a major restruc-
turing in 1993. Recounting some of the changes he has seen in
the industry, MacMillan says little today compares to the tech-
niques and equipment employed just a few years ago.
“The changes in this sector over the past few years have been
pretty dramatic. When we started in the business, seismic lines
were mostly cut with D6 and D7-size dozers. The lines were at
least eight meters wide and could be anywhere from two miles
to 100 miles long, usually cut straight through the bush. With
the technology of the day, that was the best way to get the con-
tinuity of the data that you want when the seismic charges are
set off. It is those old seismic lines that you still see today
across much of Alberta.”
Change in the industry began in the mid-1980s when the
Alberta government initiated new operating standards directed
at reducing environmental impact. “Seismic lines now are a
good three meters narrower — or five meters or less in width
— and you won’t see contractors cutting the long, straight clear
cuts of the old days. We use strictly D5 or D6 low ground pres-
sure machines and employ a low impact, avoidance style of
seismic line cutting. In most cases, when we leave a site you
wouldn’t even know there is even a seismic line there.”
 MacMillan’s current line-cutting
method involves two dozers working
together along with two hand-cutters,
equipped with chainsaws.
“We utilize existing openings and
leave merchantable timber. Special care
is taken along streams including using
snow fills and log bridges for stream
crossings, while avoiding any damage to
stream banks. The line itself meanders
through the bush while still maintaining
the straight line of sight which enables
the geophysical people to traverse the
terrain and collect their data. Once that is
done we start the reclaimation process,
MACMILLAN
CONSTRUCTION
PEACE RIVER
which includes rolling back the brush
pile, reseeding, and blocking access to
the cutline.”
Along with other environmental ben-
efits, the new strategy has reduced
hunting pressures on moose and deer,
he notes. “Hunters don’t have the same
long sight lines through the bush that
they had with the old lines. There are
also fewer lines put in — commonly
now the oil companies are exploring in
more specific areas of interest, rather
than mounting the broader programs of
the past.”
Active in the industry, MacMillan
says that while environmental achieve-
ments with the new approach have been
impressive, for contractors the downside
has been the higher costs involved and
“trying to keep the bottom line in sync
with the industry, which has led the way
in changing the way companies like ours
carry out their operations.’’
The biggest changes for contractors
have included revamping equipment
fleets, to smaller, low-ground pressure
machines; retraining crews for new oper-
ating approaches; and an increased
administrative burden.
“From a contractor’s point of view one
of the biggest challenges we have faced
centers on the fact that there are several
regulatory bodies involved, each with
their own operating requirements
depending what their mandate is — fish-
eries, wildlife, forestry, and so on. Some-
times these requirements conflict, or they
can change without notice. These kinds
of things still have to be satisfactorily
addressed, along with costs.” that have to be met.”
MacMillan says a mandatory bottom In support of its equipment fleet, pre-
line strategy for seismic contractors these dominately Caterpillar, the company
days is flexibility. “Most seismic con- runs its own service trucks and related
tractors take a lot of pride in managing a support vehicles, and a 13,000 square
flexible operation — most can react foot service centre in Peace River. “We
pretty quickly to changing field condi- rely closely on Finning for all of the
needs associated with
running a fleet this
size, from parts ser-
vice through to
training programs, or
assisting us with set-
ting up new software.
It has been a good
relationship through
the years, and con-
tinues to be so.
“We take a lot of
pride in our machines,
in the way we operate
and maintain them.
Our goal has always
been to run the best
equipment fleet in the
business and I think
we do just that. All of
our machines are
matched to the job,
Restored 1934 Chev was used by
John MacMillan in firm’s early years.
tions such as weather or ground condi- we keep them in excellent condition, and
tions or an altered work plan. At the we have done a lot of work over the past
same time, that doesn’t mean we can few years refining our techniques with
respond without notice to virtually any them and training our operators to work
on-site job change, which often seems to more efficiently. The seismic industry
be the perception. That just isn’t the case. has changed a lot and it will continue to
We can plan for contingencies, but change. Any company that wants to
beyond that we are no different than any operate successfully in the business now
other contracting firm in that we have has to be willing and able to change
commitments in staffing and equipment along with it.” ■
23
 All three machines are very
New D-Series Cat Compactors easy to operate, important in rental
operations. Instrument panels are
designed for quick verification of
the status of all operating systems.
On North American models, a
sliding seat arrangement provides
excellent visibility to the drum or
tire edges. The seat can be locked
to the left, center, or right. Rear
visibility is exceptional; the oper-
ator can see objects flush to the
surface just 1’-1’’ behind the
machine. A sloped engine cover
allows the operator to see objects
that are 1’-9’’ high 3’-3’’ in front
of the compactor.
The three rollers are designed
for easy daily fluid (and filter)
inspections and serviceability.

quency vibratory
system that gen-
erates 60 Hz. The
Cat expands its two double drum
machines have
vibratory asphalt two vibratory
compactor line with modes: front
the utility-size drum only or
both drums. With
CB-214D, CB 224D, their high cen-
and CB-225D. trifugal force,
frequency and

Jsizeoining the Cat vibratory asphalt com-

pactor family are three new utility-
machines, the CB-214D, CB-224D
and CB-225D. The three new models
incorporate features introduced in the
intermediate-size CB-334D and DB-
335D introduced last year.
The CB-214D is a double drum roller
with a 1000 mm (39") compaction
width. It has an operating weight of
2430 kg (5,355 lb). The CB-224D, also
a double drum, has a compaction width
of 1200 mm (47") and an operating
weight of 2610 kg (5,750 lb). The CB-
225D has a 1200 mm front drum and
four smooth tires on the rear; operating
weight is 2390 kg (5,265 lb).
All three machines are powered by
three cylinder Cat 3013 diesel engines
rated at 31.5 hp (gross). The engine is
liquid cooled and operates at 2,800 rpm.
A hydrostatic propel system pro-
vides smooth starts and stops and helps
assure a flawless mat; it also provides
service braking.
The three rollers utilize a high-fre-
24
amplitude, the
machines are
designed to reach
density require-
ments in only a
few passes. The
drums have a
pod-style
housing that encloses the fixed
eccentric weight.
A pressurized water spray system
(constant or intermittent) allows water
to be sprayed over the drums. The
system is fed by a 160L polyethylene
water tank located under the oper-
ator’s platform.
Positioned at the front and rear of
each drum (and tires on the CB-225D)
are two adjustable, spring-applied
retractable scrapers that remove mate-
rial on the drum surface.
The 225D has a pressurized tire
wetting system that allows solvent to
be sprayed on the tire surfaces to help
prevent asphalt from adhering to the
tires. The system is fed by a 28L tank.
Routine maintenance points are grouped
and designed for easy access.
Cat CB-534C
Cat has also announced a new high fre-
quency vibratory arrangement for the
CB-534C asphalt compactor. The CB-
534C is a high-production, double drum
machine completing in the 8.0 to 11.3
tonne class.
When equipped with the high fre-
quency vibratory arrangement, the
machine develops 26,400 lb of cen-
trifugal force per drum in high ampli-
tude, 19,620 lb in medium amplitude,
and 8,560 lb in low amplitude.
The new high frequency arrangement
changes the frequency from 42Hz to
 Cat 924Gz system and the steering system receive
needed power on demand, making
Provides more power available for rimpull,
breakout, and lifting.
Z-bar Linkage Refinements to the implement con-
trols result in a significant productivity
Option gain over the 924F. These include
velocity modulation — the farther the
fied gear ratio for improved fourth
gear runout speed. Maximum runout
speed (fourth gear) approaches nearly
40 km/h.
An optional remote forward/neu-
tral/reverse switch gives the operator
control of these functions from the lift
control center. This provides greater

C at has announced the operator moves the implement lever,

924Gz, featuring a
conventional Z-Bar
the faster the function. This results in
greater control of implement functions
control of the transmission since the
operator’s hand does not need to move
from the steering wheel to the trans-
linkage configuration as without cylinder voiding. Simulta- mission lever. The result is quicker,
an option to the Ver- neous lift and tilt functions enables the smoother operation with reduced oper-
saLink configuration in operator to lift and rack-back at the ator fatigue. ■
the 924G. same time, or
The 924Gz is pow- return to dig as
ered by a turbocharged the lift arms are
Cat 3056T diesel, rated lowered.
at 114 hp. Operating The 3056T is
weight is 24,125 lb; matched with
bucket capacities range from 2.2 to 2.7 an improved
cubic yards. Breakout force with the 4F/3R counter-
924Gz is 19,584 lb. Dump clearance in shaft transmis-
this configuration (at full lift and 45- sion with
degree discharge) is 8'-10". Autoshift. The
A new and improved pilot-con- new transmis-
trolled loader hydraulic system fea- sion provides
tures a low-effort, joystick control. A optimal perfor-
hydraulic pump, separate from the mance con-
steering pump, drives the load-sensing verter match
system. Both the implement hydraulic and has a modi-

53Hz. At the higher frequency, the amplitude is

held to a lower value, but the centrifugal force is
kept the same as the standard machine.
The lower amplitude makes the machine
gentler on thin lifts (less than 50 mm), sandy
mixes and soft aggregates. Keeping the cen-
trifugal force high allows the CB-534C to
deliver substantial compaction energy without
causing damage.
The high frequency arrangement provides
an effective alternative for Superpave mix
designs, open graded designs, and porous
asphalt designs.
In some instances, high travel speed achieves
the same density in the same number of passes
as low travel speed. If specifications call for a
certain number of impacts per foot, then the
CB-534Cs high frequency arrangement might
allow a greater production rate. This is more
likely with thin surface lifts than with a thicker
base or intermediate layers.
Another characteristic of thin lifts, particu-
larly those with a high percentage of aggregate,
is the tendency to become still with very little
rolling. Machines with low amplitude and high
frequency tend to stay in contact with the mat,
while high-amplitude systems tend to bounce,
accomplishing very little compaction and pos-
sibly damaging the mat. ■

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FINNING (Canada)
16830 - 107 Ave
Edmonton, Alberta T5P 4C3
(Return postage guaranteed)

Cat equipment on Waschuk Pipeline Construction section of Alliance Pipeline project near Grande Prairie.
See article on page 1.