Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
If you have built a site-built home before, you are not likely familiar with what a set crew does or why a crane operator is important. These facets are unique to the modular home industry; and they are extremely important. The set crew is important in placing the modules onto the foundation and securing them into place accurately. And without an expert crane operator, there is no way to lift the modules off the tractor trailer truck and onto your building site.
Set crews can be provided by the equipment manufacturers like caterpillar equipments, john deere equipments, case equipments, komatsu equipments etc. or can be subcontracted by your builder. Either is fine as long as they have experience with modular homes. However, often there may be some cost savings by hiring them directly or through your builder. Most crane operators are independent contractors, although manufacturers often have a list of operators they use regularly in your area. Regardless who recommends them, on the building site they are under the supervision of your general contractor.
Upon arrival of the set crew, the set crew chief inspects the foundation for manufacturer’s compliance and for any defects. If there are any problems that cause further delays in the setting of your home, there are additional hours of time charged to you for the set crew and crane operator to wait or reschedule. If this is due to your builder’s error, it is reasonable for him to pay these extra charges. Once inspected, the set crew guides and secures each module into place and removes transportation material from each module.
Once the modules are in place, the floors are leveled and bolted to the floor centers. In addition, the set crew places the steel columns for support in the crawl space or basement as outlined by the manufacturer. The set crew also sprays insulation in the perimeter walls and “marriage” walls where two modules come together to ensure good protection from the elements. And lastly, the roof system is attached and made flush to the home making it weather-proof. By the end of the process, the modular assembly is completed and protected from the outside.
The crane operator should be experienced in placing modular homes so that proper attachments to the modules do not damage the sections inadvertently. Set crews of course assist with this, but it helps to have a knowledgeable crane operator. Ideally, the crane operator has already surveyed your site prior to the arrival of the modular units and knows exactly where he can set up the crane. The terrain and access should be cleared as part of your excavation to allow enough room for the crane to arrive and locate itself for your modular home placement.
Most “sets” take either one or two days to complete depending on the home’s size and complexity of design. Because the modular must be unwrapped from transport and connected together while exposed, weather can influence the assembly. It is the set crews’ responsibility along with your builder’s role to protect your home during assembly from the weather. But assuming a good forecast, the modular home set usually proceeds quickly and smoothly. By the time the set crew leaves, your home looks as if it was built on-site practically overnight.
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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
A backhoe is a type of excavating or earthmoving equipment that is also known as rear actor, extractor or back actor. It has a bucket-shaped scooping tool attached at the end of consisting of a digging bucket on the end of an artificial arm. They are mostly used in constructing roads or large buildings.
This system is attached to a vehicle which enables the machinery to shift from place to place as required. It almost mimics the human hand by digging, lifting and dumping material.
A backhoe consists of three parts that could be considered to be similar to a human arm: 1. The Boom. It is attached to the tractor and is like the upper arm. 2. The Stick. On one end it is attached to the vehicle and is like the forearm 3. The Bucket. The other end of the stick is attached to a hand shaped bucket.
There is also another attachment to the tractor that is called the loader. The backhoe for sale does the digging, lifting and dumping work and the loader shifts the dug material to a different place. So basically, the backhoe gets to things underground and the loader moves things around above groud.
The tractor helps in shifting the entire system as required. This forms the whole earthmoving equipment used for construction jobs.
The driver of the vehicle is actually the operator and has three responsibilities - to move the vehicle, to make the backhoe work and the loader to shift the material.
There is a control panel on the dashboard of the tractor with the help of which he is able to operate all the three things. The operator has to be smart enough to control the backhoe and tractor movements. The loader does not require much application.
As the operator parks the tractor at the required place two leg-like support comes out and gets fixed at the sides of the tractor for extra strength and stabilizing. Now the system is ready to work. The operator chooses buttons on the dashboard to use the arm to pull out to the required point of digging. Then the operator uses another lever attached to the hand-like bucket to touch the earth from where the material is to be lifted. There is again another lever which is for the digging action. This lever will force the bucket to dig into the earth. This will fill the bucket with the material. The material is then lifted with the same levers to a dumping truck or is dumped somewhere nearby.
There are a number of manufacturers of backhoes. The major players in backhoe manufacturing are JCB, John Deere, Case, KPX, Massey Ferguson, Caterpillar equipments, etc.
Like the skid-steer loaders, compact wheel loaders and trenchers, there is also a type of backhoe called the compact backhoes. Such backhoes use light attachments and are efficient in digging and faster loading. They can dig 6-8 feet depths easily and weigh lesser than 5000 pounds. These backhoes are very user-friendly requiring minimal time to be detached from the tractor.
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Thursday, October 23rd, 2008
Life is hard for a construction worker, so much so that it is now recognized as one of the most dangerous professions in the country; giving them a greater risk of serious injury than any other occupation. These places are so dangerous that New York State created a whole new set of laws governing construction sites; resulting in the number of specialist accident lawyers rising.
Accidents where workers fall are not only the most prevalent but the most feared; a person can easily lose their limbs from faulty construction equipment might be a bulldozer, excavator, forklift, crane, or even branded equipments like Caterpillar equipment, Case equipment, Komatsu equipment, Volvo equipment etc. It is important that when an injury or accident happens, information about the incident is documented; the sooner this is done the better.
The better the documentation of events and how they occurred, the greater the chance of obtaining a successful compensation claim for an injury; never underestimate the importance of this. It should read a little like a police report with the what, when, where and how sections completed; for instance:
* Location, date and time of the incident
* What type of machinery was being used?
* Any problems with the equipment
* Recent inspection report of the machinery
* Contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident
* Could the weather have had an effect?
This report should be as complete as you can possibly make it; your accident lawyer will decide just what information is needed to pursue the case successfully.
Compensation Claims :
Your next move will be to locate a firm of lawyers that specialize with accident compensation claims and if possible ensure that it is the only work they do; this is a sure way to improve your chances of a win. As this is a complicated area of law and more than one person could be held responsible, you do not want to leave anything to chance; not seeking an experienced accident lawyer is a serious mistake. Many people never file a compensation claim or lawsuit against their employer because the law prevents this from happening; most people do not realize that other people can be held to account for accidents on a construction site.
This category includes suppliers, heavy machinery manufacturers and third-party contractors; the law does allow claims to be made against other companies involved in the construction industry New York State is very protective towards construction workers, so in this case, the law is completely on their side; they have stated that the responsibility for safety on the site is down to the owner and general contractor. The responsibility even extends to the subcontractors who cannot escape justice.
Labour Law in The U.K. :
It is also possible to pursue negligent heavy machinery equipment suppliers if it is found that injuries and accidents are the result of unsafe equipment they supplied; your accident lawyer will tell you if you have any case to pursue. This area of law requires the services of a specialist, preferably not just an accident attorney but one with construction site injury experience; ideally you will need someone who is familiar with the laws in place dealing with construction site injuries. Life is full of accidents, many of which are the fault of a third party; thoughts of litigation often quickly follow. In this situation grievances may be well founded; an individual may be left claiming whatever compensation the government will allow. If any harm has come to you owing to an auto accident caused by the negligence of a third party, then this can be reason for a claim; if a situation like this is affecting you then a personal injury claims lawyer will help but remember to keep every piece of information.
This means your attorney will want to see details of any trips to the doctors, medical expenses and prescription medication; this will strengthen your case especially if you can no longer work. Exact details surrounding the auto accident must be compiled prior to the case; photographic images are very powerful so they should be taken to provide unequivocal proof. It is important to have the accident recorded in as much detail as possible; some important facts may be forgotten if this is not done soon after the event.
Update on U.K. Labour Laws :
Make sure you know who the witnesses are and obtain their accounts for your personal injury claims lawyer; their testimonies are usually given serious consideration in court. A full medical examination will be requested by the insurance company; this is where those photos you took will be useful in court as evidence. Everything spent relating to the case, including any reports, medical or otherwise, will need to be documented; these will be submitted by your attorney to strengthen the case.
Winning a compensation claim without a personal injury claims lawyer to act on your behalf is unlikely; insurance companies fight all the more if you attempt to represent yourself. A quick trouble free result is something the insurance companies will be looking for; poor press will not be good for their image or income, which is known to drop during this type of case. There are now many ways to find an attorney but online is probably to speediest method; a true professional will be able to supply references enabling you to contact previous clients.
A personal injury claims lawyer will be the most important step in the process; resolution of a case in your favor without their help, will be almost impossible. Specialist attorneys have a wealth of experience in this area; experience that can help with an insight of how these cases are won and just what you, as the victim, will need to do. Just because you have experienced an auto accident injury, it doesn’t mean that you will be scarred for life; hire a lawyer, and keep mind if you have followed the advice here you will be more than prepared.
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Thursday, October 16th, 2008
CASE Construction Equipment launched new 400 series 3 line of skid steer loaders featuring more powerful engines, a redesigned cab and improved serviceability.
The eight-model series is powered by clean burning, Tier III certified turbocharged engines that provide increased horsepower, improved torque and enhanced performance across the line.
The 410 model is powered by a 2.2 litre engine rated at 37kW (49Hp), the 420, 430, 435 and 445 models are powered by a 3.2 litre engine and are rated at 42kW (56Hp), 55.2kW (74Hp), 54kW (72Hp) and 55.2kW (74Hp) respectively and the 440, 450 and 465 models are powered by a 4.5 litre engine and are rated at 61.2kW (82Hp).
Comfort, ease of use and visibility :
“Operator comfort is a big factor in productivity and is a key design imperative that underpins all of our new product development activity,” said Ian Johnston, CASE Construction Equipment Product Marketing Manager.
The new cabs available on all models feature a 7% increase in headroom and a 6% increase in lap-bar width, along with improved forward, side, rear and overhead visibility.
The 435, 445, 450 and 465 series 3 models offer a 20% increase in front glass area, while the 410, 420, 430 and 440 series 3 units feature an 81% increase.
On the interior, a suspension seat comes standard, while a new cushioned lap bar with arm rest and new ergonomically designed control handles provides more comfort and space when operating the machines.
The parking brake has also been relocated to the handle, and text labels for switches add to further ease of use. The foot throttle is also now standard on all models, allowing operators to easily control RPMs.
The hand throttle was relocated on the series 3 410, 420, 430 and 440 to be the same as the larger models. Also standard on the machines are the headliner, backup alarm and horn, footrest, 12V power plug, storage tray and cup holder.
On the exterior, ideal side lighting provides full visibility to the sides during night time operation. A standard overhead window with more punch-outs than previous models provides good visibility to the loader arms when the bucket is in the raised position.
The loader tower profile has also been redesigned to provide better visibility while operating. Meanwhile, ergonomically designed grab handles provide easier entry and exit from machines.
Pilot controls for all models :
Pilot controls are now available on all eight models in either H or ISO patterns. Factory-supplied accessory kits are also available through CASE Construction Equipment dealers to permanently change the pattern from H to ISO or vice versa.
With the H pattern, familiar to experienced Case operators, the operator uses the left-hand control to operate the left drive motor as well as to raise and lower the loader arms.
The right-hand controller is used to operate the right drive motor and the bucket curl and dump. The fact that the H pattern gives the operator independent control of the ground drives allows the operator to position the heavy equipment with greater precision. This is especially helpful when performing tasks such as fine grading.
With the ISO pattern, the drive functions are in the left controller, and the loader arm/bucket functions are in the right controller. This allows for one-handed operation.
Optional extras :
A variety of options are available for all models, including an optional pressurised cab with air conditioning on all models, ride control, two speed ground drive, hydraulic self levelling and high flow hydraulics.
The 450 and 465 are also available with a 310 bar (4,500psi) high flow kit that provides all the hydraulic horsepower required to run a one metre wide cold planer or any other attachment requiring high hydraulic horsepower.
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