Equipment report

Benlee adds safety features

Benlee, a Romulus, Michigan-based manufacturer of roll-off trailers, has added safety features to its trailers and trucks as a result of recent industry safety issues or incidents involving power lines and bridges, it says.

The company has developed a new square 12-inch Danger plaque that is mounted behind the controls and reads, “Look Up!”

In addition, the company is now offering as a standard feature upward/rearward facing work lights on all tarp systems, including Benlee, Roll Rite and other tarp systems, which are designed to help the operator see overhead power lines in the dark. These tarp lights include two lights and a hoist up switch, the company says.

The company also reports seeing disabled hoist up alarms on many roll-off trucks brought to its service operation. In light of this safety concern, Benlee says it now requires every driver to sign a document stating he or she is aware the alarm is disabled and does not want it fixed or that he or she wants Benlee to repair it.

While hoist up alarms are already standard on all Benlee roll-off trucks, the company says it is increasing its hoist up safety standard by adding a blinking light that is visible in the driver’s rearview mirror.

More information on Benlee’s new safety offerings is available by calling Benlee at 734-722-8100.

GK, MetalTech install equipment at North Carolina C&D recycling facility

MetalTech Systems, Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and General Kinematics (GK), Crystal Lake, Illinois, have completed the installation of a construction and demolition (C&D) recycling system at Green Recycling Solutions in Maysville, North Carolina.

The company held a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony to commemorate the event on Nov. 6, 2014. Approximately 100 state and local officials attended a luncheon following the dedication ceremony.

Paul Hanna, MetalTech Systems president, and Thomas Musschoot, GK vice president, both attended the celebration. GK and MetalTech Systems supplied and installed the C&D recovery system, which includes pick stations and quality control stations.

Green Recycling Solutions began accepting waste Nov. 20, 2014, for processing. Green Recycling Solutions’ operation includes a C&D landfill, a recycling facility and a roll-off company. The C&D landfill was slated to open in December 2014.

Founded in 2010, Green Recycling Solutions says it is committed to becoming the premier destination for C&D debris.

Rotochopper completes factory expansion

Rotochopper Inc., based in St. Martin, Minnesota, recently completed a 8,400-square-foot factory expansion, which includes a new shipping and receiving area, paint preparation bay and parts warehouse.

“When our customers invest in Rotochopper grinding equipment, we have to continue to invest in them,” says John Babcock, Rotochopper president. “This new warehouse is just one small, practical way we are planning ahead to maintain our commitment to customer uptime.”

The company began using the warehouse expansion Dec. 1, 2014. As Rotochopper customers have continued to diversify into more raw materials and end products, the company says it has been adding new options and new tooth and screen designs to meet their needs. The company says the new warehouse will help it keep pace with the growing need for unique wear parts.

The enhanced efficiency of the new shipping and receiving area is intended in part to accommodate the diversified needs of a growing customer base.

“Compared [with] just five years ago, there is a noticeable increase in the variety of engines and electric motors we use, to name one example of the increasing diversification of our business,” Rotochopper Sales Manager Monte Hight observes. “We are always looking at new strategies to streamline our inventory control.”

In addition to the completed factory development, Rotochopper also acquired land to accommodate future expansion. Following completion of the expansion, Rotochopper has begun preparing the groundwork for additional inventory storage and future construction.

According to Babcock, the markets that depend on grinding equipment, such as landscape mulch, C&D recycling and green waste composting, are showing strong signs of enduring growth.

Wacker Neuson to build skid steers, compact track loaders in US

The Wacker Neuson Group, headquartered in Munich, Germany, has begun building a production line for skid steer and compact track loaders at its facility in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The facility is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2015. The company says it will initially manufacture four models of its skid steer.

“Our strategy is ‘in the region for the region,’ so it makes sense for us to build skid steer loaders in the region where demand is strongest — North America,” says Cem Peksaglam, CEO of Wacker Neuson SE. “Producing these products in North America will speed up time-to-market and enable us to adapt these high-quality, powerful machines more rapidly to the specific customer requirements of this core market,” Peksaglam adds.

“We took feedback from contractors and users in the region who regularly work with these machines, and channeled these insights into the development of our new skid steer loaders. Our dealers and customers were quickly won over by the high-quality components as well as the new, even more user-friendly cab and powerful performance capabilities of our skid steer loaders,” says Christopher Barnard, regional president of Wacker Neuson in North America. “The new skid steer loader series rounds off our portfolio of compact machines in North America, making us an even more attractive partner for dealers.”

Wacker Neuson’s facility in Menomonee Falls was built in 1986 and expanded in 2012. From 2015 on, Menomonee Falls will be producing the skid steer loaders SW24 and SW28 with payloads of 2,400 and 2,800 pounds, respectively, while the compact track loaders ST35 and ST45 will have payloads of 3,500 and 4,500 pounds, respectively. Concurrently, a local development team is working on further models to broaden the line. Previously, Wacker Neuson produced the skid steers at a Horsching, Austria, site.