1. business and industrial
2. construction

PRSRT STD
AUTO
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
STEVENS POINT, WI
PERMIT NO. 272
DKD1044 Litho in U.S.A. (12-05)
BreaKout
A HITACHI CONSTRUCTION AND MINING PRODUCTS PUBLICATION
Hitachi Construction and Mining Products • 1515 5th Avenue • Moline, IL 61265 • www.hitachiconstruction.com
Momma is a coal miner.
Why are Hitachi Zaxis Excavators so productive and durable?
Heredity. Heading the Hitachi family are massive excavators
that move tons of rocky overburden, even precious ore, 24
hours a day, day after day. Their reputation for productivity
and uptime has made them the leader in the toughest
excavation environment in the world. The same engineering
expertise behind these colossal machines is in every Zaxis
Excavator, from 1.7 to 90 metric tons.
Hitachi Zaxis Excavators. Extreme productivity runs in the
family. Learn more at www.hitachiconstruction.com.
the COLOR of QUALITY
How to figHt Moisture ContaMination — page 3
LaCroiX = aCtion — page 4
HitaCHi & LaMetti teaM uP — page 8
ats offers rentaL serViCes — page 12
King of ConstruCtion CLass — page 14
SECOND ISSUE 2012
Fresh
oranges.
ONtheINSIDE
Staying energized
Short battery life can put a drain on your productivity during those soon-to-be-here hot summer
months. Here are some helpful tips to keep your
equipment energized:
Manage your
fleet without
leaving your seat.
TIP 1: Keep batteries adequately charged
Never leave batteries in a low state of charge or you’ll run the
risk of sulfation. Recharging batteries frequently and reducing
the depth of discharge will prolong the life of your battery. Use
a digital voltmeter to determine when your battery needs recharging. When possible, use an automatic charger. Be advised
that overcharging your batteries during the summer months can
be just as damaging as leaving them in a low state of charge.
TIP 2: Don’t let batteries overheat
High temperatures can damage your battery, which is why you
should frequently check your battery’s electrolyte level during
the summer. Storing the vehicle in a cool environment when it’s
not in use will extend your battery’s life.
TIP 3: Water batteries the right way
If your battery must be watered, make sure to only use mineralfree water (distilled water is best). Using water from the tap can
cause contamination. In most instances, batteries should only
be watered after charging.
Your Hitachi dealer carries a full line of batteries
for almost every application. Call your local dealer
for details.
Kelly Granatier, Director, Sales, Hitachi Division
Powered by their reliable, fuel-efficient Interim
Tier 4-certified engines, the new Dash-5s are
more productive than ever. Operators will also like
them for their wider cabs with improved visibility.
See your Hitachi dealer today about the exciting
new crop of Dash-5 excavators.
Stay in control and in the know with the ZXLink™ Machine
Monitoring System. ZXLink lets you manage multiple jobsites
from the comfort of your computer workstation. It gives
you real-time info on machine location, utilization, and fuel
consumption with just a click of the mouse. This easy-to-use
system also transmits machine alerts and diagnostic trouble
codes, which can dramatically reduce downtime.
Call 866-973-0394 or see your local dealer to find out how
ZXLink lets you manage your fleet without leaving your seat.
www.hitachiconstruction.com
www.hitachi.com/zxlink
InBRIEF
Don’t kill your
IT4 machines
HITACHI TECH TIPS
How to fight moisture
contamination Part 1
Moisture contamination in lubricating oils and your hydraulic system can cause
damage to the system and components such as motors and pumps, becoming an
even bigger threat than its more obvious big brother — particle contamination.
There are several ways that contaminants can find their way into your equipment, including poor oil top-up and sampling methods, poor seals, and improper
handling methods.
Here’s what happens in moisture contamination. Individual water molecules
that get dispersed through oil are considered “dissolved.” All industrial fluids
contain a very small level of dissolved water which can typically be handled at
levels between 200 and 600 parts per million (ppm). The fluid’s temperature plays
a key role in its ability to maintain water in a dissolved state. Newer motor oils
can handle three times these amounts before contamination is noticeable.
But at some point, individual water molecules saturate the oil and the water begins to coalesce. Some signs of this would be a cloudy appearance or the creation
of microdroplets. Finally, after the emulsified water increases, it settles to the bottom of tanks and sumps as a layer of free water.
Settlement isn’t your only problem. Once
water mixes with oil, chemical reactions
occur. These reactions, called hydrolysis,
involve not only the water and base oil, but
also various additives, including extreme
pressure- and wear-resistance agents, rust and
oxidation inhibitors, and viscosity improvers.
The result? Oil’s aging can accelerate tenfold. And you’ll experience sludge, varnish,
various acids, surface deposits (rust), and
polymerization. What’s more, a mere onepercent contamination can reduce component life by up to 90 percent.
Warning! The new Interim Tier 4 (IT4)
diesel engines require ultra-low sulfur
diesel (ULSD) content of 15 ppm or less
— about the same as the newer overthe-road diesel fuel.
Some smaller refiners
of off-road diesel fuel
are not required to
supply ULSD until 2014.
They are continuing to
sell low-sulfur diesel
(LSD) — Great for older engines but
a killer for the new IT4 machines!
Emission
regulations
resources
Keeping up to date on the latest news
about emission regulations can be a
challenge, so check out these helpful
online resources:
n Environmental Protection Agency
(www.epa.gov):
Check for announcements from the EPA
regarding air-quality standards, like the
new nonattainment map, and get emission information specific to your region.
n California Air Resources Board
(www.arb.ca.gov):
View information on California’s current
regulations to reduce emissions. These
standards may be adopted by other nonattainment states in the future.
n Diesel Technology Forum
(www.dieselforum.org):
Browse the latest news and information
on emission issues on a forum dedicated
to a cleaner future for diesel technology.
n Association of Equipment
Management Professionals
(www.aemp.org):
Educate yourself on emission topics
that affect the industry and connect with
others who share these challenges.
So what can you do to stop moisture contamination? Be sure to read the next issue
of Breakout.
3
Lacroix =
4
A
2 a.m. emergency call is not
unusual for the owner of Lacroix
Construction. In fact, it became a way
of life 26 years ago.
That’s when the company won the
bid to clear the right-of-way, day or
night, for rail-repair work in the upper
Ontario district of Canada.
Northern Ontario has many riches.
In the shadow of Toronto’s huge
manufacturing base, the area north is
often perceived as a mysterious land
of unknown potential. In reality, the
northern province is bustling with new
mine efforts, new roads, growing communities, and busy railroad activity.
“My father, Charles Lacroix, started
the business, based on the mining boom
right in our town of Sudbury, Ontario,”
says Murray Lacroix. “We were dirtmoving contractors for the mine. I am
fortunate to be able to pass a good
company on to my son, now a thirdgeneration Lacroix owner, with a crew
of great men, a fleet of good equipment,
and an outstanding legacy.”
“I started up with my dad in 1967,”
says Lacroix. “He set me up to be a
laborer first, then an equipment operator. Even though Sudbury is the hub of
activity for most of Northern Ontario,
it’s a relatively small community. So,
many of our company’s ongoing duties
were whatever the town needed. That
meant clearing parking lots from snow
day and night, and digging basements
or drainage in the summer.
Father and son Murray and Barry Lacroix
continue to build the business first begun in
1959 serving Sudbury, Ontario.
“As I took over management of the
company, that concern about taking
care of needs, regardless of the hour,
stuck. And that attitude has served
us well. Today, the 2 a.m. call is not
unusual for us. And when it does, our
first response is on its way within the
hour anywhere in Ontario.”
A new discovery
For decades, Northern Ontario
has been a well-known, major
source of mineral deposits. Sudbury
became the hottest nickel-mining
property in the world for a while
during the 1960s, and underground
nickel mining, right inside the township of Sudbury, continues without
decline.
Gold as well as oil and gas,
uranium, and rare minerals are
also found in the northern areas
of the province.
But the new discovery that has
everyone buzzing is diamonds! Lots
and lots of diamonds.
All this natural-resource activity
easily translates into a huge need
for exploration companies as well
as the established mines to use.
And there’s the need for whatever
is mined to be shipped out.
Sudbury is an outstanding community full of processing plants,
equipment providers, schools, and
community stores. Here both new
and old housing communities easily
coexist.
5
Although answering the immediate needs of
the railway are demanding, Lacroix’s day-today cash flow comes from carefully tending
the utility- and excavator-focused needs of
their local customers.
The company continues to provide multiple maintenance and
damage-control services to both railroads over a large area of Ontario.
“There are two sides to the effort. We have crews and equipment
designated to provide daily maintenance, ditching, and culverts as
well as snow removal to the track. Then, there’s the more dramatic
— the call for assistance for washouts and derailments.”
And that can be demanding as well as a logistics challenge. Lacroix
is called to help clear and repair the area. They initially rally the team
and assemble the equipment, and then get to the site as soon as possible. The project manager usually flies or drives to the nearest point
and works his way in, while the equipment is railed to the site with the
company’s Hytracker — a self-powered lowboy truck/trailer package
that allows a vehicle to be driven onto the trailer bed and run down
the track.
A loyal, well-organized local workforce keeps the company going, through good
times and bad. Mark Joudrey, now Project Superintendent, has been with the
company 15 years.
6
Lacroix Construction also owns various
high-rail equipment including:
n Hytracker Low-bed Equipment Mover.
n C500 Kenworth high-rail equipped.
n 8500 Serco Loader complete with knuckle
and train line.
n High-rail backhoes complete with various
types of attachments.
DEMOLITION EXPLOSION
The planning and experience required
for the railroads’ remote maintenance
and demolition efforts has led to additional opportunities within Sudbury and
other northern Ontario townships.
“We have the expertise and the equipment,” says Lacroix, “and Northern
Ontario is changing. Tearing down what
is now obsolete gives an opportunity for
something new to go up in a very good
location.”
When Breakout visited, the company
was involved in tearing down an obsolete school building, clearing the final
trace of toxins, and then paving the area
for a school-bus-loading area, complementing an earlier effort to help in the
construction of a new school building.
The company has a fleet of excavators
with thumbs to do most of the heavy
demolition work after they’ve sublet the
first-removal efforts. They provide the
trucking and disposal of all materials.
SITE PrEP aND uTILITy wOrk
“We started as dirt contractors, and
that means that we’re simply equipment guys,” continues Lacroix. “If we
can create something or clean a problem
up with an excavator, a dozer, a wheel
loader, or a dump truck, we can make
you happy.”
The company pursues utility-work
projects and aggressively uses their
lightning-fast response to make quick
work of each project.
why hITachI?
“I’ve got to say, for years I was pretty
solid with another brand,” Lacroix says.
“But Moe, the Wajax Equipment salesman here in Sudbury, kept talking to me
about Hitachi. So finally I tried one, and
I’ve never gone back to the other colors.
“Hitachi is a good machine that has
never let us down. We go into some
pretty rough country for the railroads, so
you’ve got to have a very good machine
— and Hitachi has served us well. Plus
Wajax has been a great dealer. So, we’ve
had good success with Wajax and the
Hitachi machines.”
Lacroix Construction Ltd. is serviced by
Wajax Equipment, Sudbury, Ontario.
Hytracker Low-bed
Equipment Mover
The self-propelled Hytracker Low-bed
Rail Equipment Mover will handle 50 to
60 tons and can run at speeds up to
40 kph (25 mph). This equipment is
designed to reduce the use of work
trains or car movers in moving equipment and materials to remote work sites.
Features include:
n Moved on highway with conventional
fifth-wheel attachment.
n On-track setup and removal can be
performed in minutes.
n Can be used as a working platform for
mobile equipment such as excavators
and cranes, as it is equipped with four
hydraulic outrigger legs that provide
added stability.
n Can haul other loaded mobile
supply vehicles to work sites, such
as concrete-mixer trucks, fuel trucks,
propane trucks, and dump trucks.
n Capable of transporting numerous
track panels and bundles of ties.
n Equipped with a knuckle and train line,
it facilitates the ability for pulling cars.
The company bids on the dirt-work portion of multiple new construction projects around Northern
Ontario. Above, they provide the primary developmental work for a new forensic identification
facility in North Bay, Ontario.
Applying the use of this equipment is
remarkably more efficient and cost
effective to operate than a work train.
By reducing loading and unloading
time, as well as manpower required, the
Hytracker can increase your company’s
capitalization on profits.
7
Hitachi &
Lametti
team up
L
ametti & Sons found an
outstanding niche years ago —
maintaining navigation depth on the
Mississippi and local waterways for
a variety of users that include grain
elevators, scrap, fertilizer and commodity operations that are able to move
efficiently on the water.
In the broad Mississippi itself, the
Corp of Engineers operates multiple
pieces of siphoning type equipment to
keep the navigation channel open for
8
the heavy barge traffic. However the
government relies on a number of private contractors to mechanically dredge
the forever-creeping topsoil, sand, and
silt that ultimately makes it way to the
riverbed. It’s a never-ending effort.
“We have a couple of service barges
that have Hitachi excavators with a
long boom that we use to dig out the
bottoms, based on GPS direction,” says
Jerry Regnier, Equipment Manager
with Lametti & Sons.
The stabilized barges provide a
platform for the Hitachi excavators
plus a place for maintenance items and
employee facilities. “The Hitachi package works well for us. Maintenance
is critical, but in reality, it’s obviously
critical in every application.
“We really like the older Hitachi
machines. I understand that every
manufacturer would like to sell new
machines every year as if the older ones
fell off a cliff and disappeared. But our
The company owns a fleet of barges and tugs
for serving their river works.
Lametti’s EX1100 fleet takes out high spots
along the river, with the silt ultimately trucked
away from the river and sold as fill.
The EX750 has proven to be an excellent-sized
machine for multiple applications.
9
“We love the Hitachi EX750. It is
still one of the strongest, most
dependable large construction
machines around.”
Victor Lametti, President
Jerry Regnier, Equipment Manager; Victor Lametti, President
reality is that we found an excellent machine for
our purposes in the EX750. We’ve gone all-out
to buy the best used 750s we can find. Today,
we have a nice collection including an EX1100,
800C John Deere, ZX600, 450CLC John Deere
and ten EX750s.”
The company uses their EX750 fleet as the
excavating backbone of their operation. Five are
usually involved in their multiple river-dredging
contracts. As many as eight are used in a variety
of utility-trenching application — sometimes as
the bulk excavator for benching down in deep
projects, and other times as the almost-oversized
excavator for executing a smaller project quickly.
Hitachi parts
Successful use of older machines is based
on the easy access of replacement parts,
simple repairs, and strong, local dealers.
The Lametti story is a great success partly
due to their local Hitachi dealer, RDO, and the
parts distribution system provided for the
current and older Hitachi models by Deere
Distribution Systems.
The company is in the middle of providing an
underwater tunnel of 36-inch polypropylenefused pipe, as well as a multitude of other
improvements, to the St. Paul sanitary
sewer system.
10
The power and dependability of the
EX750, for this company, simply make
the numbers work. The fact that the
EX750 model is out-of-date and has
been replaced with a newer, sleeker
Zaxis Series Interim Tier 4 version
is immaterial. RDO Midwest, the
local Hitachi dealer has done an
excellent job in providing parts and
service for the 750 fleet.
Regnier also likes the current ZX
Series. “We bought a used ZX600
recently. It has all of the winning
attributes of the older 750s — good
operator controls, great reliability,
and great visibility.”
Lametti & Sons, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
is serviced by RDO Equipment Co.
Lametti & Sons is a regional leader in providing pile driving, riprap, and erosion control.
11
ATS offers
rental services
H
eadquartered in South Gate, California, Art’s Transportation Service, Inc. (ATS) started out in 1982 as a
trucking company specializing primarily in the transportation of recycling
and demolition material. Then they
acquired machinery and attachments
to process scrap metal and other materials, followed by a demolition license
in order to bid directly to owners and
general contractors. Today the company is a full-service demolition contractor that primarily serves Southern
California, but provides operators and
equipment anywhere they are needed.
12
Art Gersjes is owner and president
of ATS. “I worked for my father’s finegrading company back in high school,
operating skip loaders, backhoes, and
small crawler loaders. Being in and
around equipment most of my adult
life made the transition into the demolition equipment rental business much
easier. Our close ties to the scrap-metal
and demolition industries have also
benefited the construction and equipment side of the business, particularly
in the use and rental of excavators
equipped with shear attachments.”
The company offers equipment on an
operated and bare rental basis, and has
a nice variety of late-model machines
and attachments from which to choose.
This includes six Hitachi excavators,
four LaBounty shears, 3630–5445 kg
(8,000–12,000 lb.) Stanley and UB
breakers, as well as hydraulic concretepulverizing attachments.
“Due to our experience and large
inventory of shears, we tend to go after
projects that involve the processing of
steel. Many of our Hitachi excavators
are equipped with shears, and opera-
tors go out regularly to scrap-processing facilities on a long-term rental
basis. We also use our machinery on
our own demolition sites, and for other
demolition and recycling contractors.”
On a recent job in Arizona, they dismantled and processed an entire cement
clinker plant with just six men and
three Hitachi excavators. ATS will also
take on smaller jobs, like house demos,
which they can handle in a day or two
with just their Hitachi 210 Excavator
and one operator.
When ATS dismantled the old Higgins Brick Company in Chino Hills, it
took about a month to demolish the
approximately 10 500-m2 (113,000
sq. ft.) building. Between the brick
kilns and the building itself, the company processed around 907.2 metric
tons (1,000 U.S. tons) of steel and 14
515 metric tons (16,000 U.S. tons) of
concrete and brick. The concrete and
brick were crushed and left onsite for
use as base and fill material for future
development.
Changing markets
The demolition and recycling business continues to evolve along with
building cycles and the economy in
general. “Steel remains a valuable com-
modity, although the price can vary
depending on current market conditions,” says Gersjes. “When we bid on
a project, we take a look at the current
market condition and hope it remains
stable through project completion.
On the brick-factory job, the recycled
material was a major consideration
during the bidding process, offsetting
the overall cost of the scope of work to
obtain the winning bid.
“There are times when we actually
pay for a job. When the recycled steel
and nonferrous metals exceed the cost
of doing the job plus the profit margin,
it can result in a pay job. This is and
has been a common practice for some
time now, and in recent years there
have been numerous jobs awarded on a
negative number (buy job) for between
$250,000 and $1M. For us it all comes
down to making a fair profit at the end
of the project.
“I think our business will continue
to prosper and grow hand-in-hand with
new development, and can even do
okay in a down cycle like we are experiencing today. Because unfortunately,
manufacturing companies are going
out of business and industrial plants
are closing, which brings new business
and new development.”
The six Hitachi excavators ATS
owns and operates are the ZX210LC,
ZX330LC, ZX350LC, ZX370, and a
pair of Hitachi EX450LCs. The ZX350
was purchased from Coastline Equipment as a low-hour rental machine.
“We have a good relationship with
Coastline Equipment and our sales
person Lisa Ramey. We will most likely
be updating some of our fleet soon with
Tier 3 and Interim Tier 4 new or lowhour Hitachi excavators. We plan to
replace one or both of the 450s in the
next six to 18 months.
“We rely on our Hitachi excavators
in conditions that are less then desirable at times. Many of our operators
have come over from other companies
that are mostly running other brands.
But they become convinced their first
day here on how quick and powerful
the same-class Hitachi machines are.
“We can really take a beating in this
business, and we need machinery and a
dealer that can keep us up and running.
We look to Coastline to continue to
serve our needs in the future.”
Arts Transportation Service, Inc. is
serviced by Coastline Equipment, Long
Beach, California.
Story materials courtesy of CalContractor Magazine.
Art Gerfjes, Owner and President of Arts Transportation
Service, Inc., located in South Gate, California
13
King of construction class
t
he largest of the new Hitachi
Construction-Class Dash-5
Hydraulic Excavators, the ZX350LC-5
incorporates customer-driven features
sure to provide superior durability and
productivity while keeping operating
costs low. It also continues the longstanding Hitachi tradition of being reliable, smooth, fuel-efficient, and quiet.
In the cab
The roomier cab has more side-toside foot room and a larger door with
more glass for better visibility to the
side. The more comfortable high-back
seat is new and is optionally available
in a heated, air-suspension version.
And the new multi-function monitor
provides enhanced diagnostic features
and integrates the radio and HVAC
controls in one place. The ZX350LC-5
can even be equipped with a rearview
camera, with its image displayed on the
new monitor.
14
Structural changeS
The rear hood is low for better visibility to the rear, and there is a new
mirror on the counterweight. Also
available is an updated light package
with two cab lights and one additional
boom light.
When it comes to durability, there are
improvements, too. The ZX350LC-5
has an extended frame to house the updated cooling components and Interim
Tier 4 (IT4) engine. The proven undercarriage has been updated with roller
improvements.
It4 ISuZu engIne
The IT4 Isuzu cooled EGR engine
platform is less complex to maintain
while delivering the productivity, fuel
efficiency, and reliability customers
have enjoyed with Tier 3 models. A
new exhaust filter consists of a diesel
oxidation catalyst/diesel particulate
filter. It requires no daily attention
due to its 4,500-hour service life.
FamIlIar FavorIteS
Features that have been retained
from the Dash-3 Series include the
boom, arm, and track options, and the
hydraulics and electrical components.
The short-throw low-effort pilot controls are still a dream to operate. And
operators can be assured of the same
smooth operating control and responsive multitasking capabilities.
For more information about the
ZX350LC-5, visit your local dealer or
go to www.hitachiconstruction.com.
Fresh
oranges.
ONtheINSIDE
Staying energized
Short battery life can put a drain on your productivity during those soon-to-be-here hot summer
months. Here are some helpful tips to keep your
equipment energized:
Manage your
fleet without
leaving your seat.
TIP 1: Keep batteries adequately charged
Never leave batteries in a low state of charge or you’ll run the
risk of sulfation. Recharging batteries frequently and reducing
the depth of discharge will prolong the life of your battery. Use
a digital voltmeter to determine when your battery needs recharging. When possible, use an automatic charger. Be advised
that overcharging your batteries during the summer months can
be just as damaging as leaving them in a low state of charge.
TIP 2: Don’t let batteries overheat
High temperatures can damage your battery, which is why you
should frequently check your battery’s electrolyte level during
the summer. Storing the vehicle in a cool environment when it’s
not in use will extend your battery’s life.
TIP 3: Water batteries the right way
If your battery must be watered, make sure to only use mineralfree water (distilled water is best). Using water from the tap can
cause contamination. In most instances, batteries should only
be watered after charging.
Your Hitachi dealer carries a full line of batteries
for almost every application. Call your local dealer
for details.
Kelly Granatier, Director, Sales, Hitachi Division
Powered by their reliable, fuel-efficient Interim
Tier 4-certified engines, the new Dash-5s are
more productive than ever. Operators will also like
them for their wider cabs with improved visibility.
See your Hitachi dealer today about the exciting
new crop of Dash-5 excavators.
Stay in control and in the know with the ZXLink™ Machine
Monitoring System. ZXLink lets you manage multiple jobsites
from the comfort of your computer workstation. It gives
you real-time info on machine location, utilization, and fuel
consumption with just a click of the mouse. This easy-to-use
system also transmits machine alerts and diagnostic trouble
codes, which can dramatically reduce downtime.
Call 866-973-0394 or see your local dealer to find out how
ZXLink lets you manage your fleet without leaving your seat.
www.hitachiconstruction.com
www.hitachi.com/zxlink
PRSRT STD
AUTO
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
STEVENS POINT, WI
PERMIT NO. 272
DKD1044 Litho in U.S.A. (12-05)
BreaKout
A HITACHI CONSTRUCTION AND MINING PRODUCTS PUBLICATION
Hitachi Construction and Mining Products • 1515 5th Avenue • Moline, IL 61265 • www.hitachiconstruction.com
Momma is a coal miner.
Why are Hitachi Zaxis Excavators so productive and durable?
Heredity. Heading the Hitachi family are massive excavators
that move tons of rocky overburden, even precious ore, 24
hours a day, day after day. Their reputation for productivity
and uptime has made them the leader in the toughest
excavation environment in the world. The same engineering
expertise behind these colossal machines is in every Zaxis
Excavator, from 1.7 to 90 metric tons.
Hitachi Zaxis Excavators. Extreme productivity runs in the
family. Learn more at www.hitachiconstruction.com.
the COLOR of QUALITY
How to figHt Moisture ContaMination — page 3
LaCroiX = aCtion — page 4
HitaCHi & LaMetti teaM uP — page 8
ats offers rentaL serViCes — page 12
King of ConstruCtion CLass — page 14
SECOND ISSUE 2012