CASE Construction Equipment dealer Robert Childs Inc. donated the use of five CASE machines to Team Rubicon to be used for land-clearing and grasslands restoration in the Coonamessett Reservation fields in Hatchville, Mass. The donated equipment—two excavators; a CX80C and CX130C, and three skid steers; an SV185, SR270 and SV300—were used to help clear the land of overgrown invasive brush that had overtaken the native sandplain grassland.

Restoring the Native Habitat
Located within the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, the land is managed as part of the refuge and in alignment with refuge goals by the nonprofit Falmouth Conservation Commission. The Coonamessett Inn operated on the land in the 1950s. Eventually, it was demolished, and the land has been managed for conservation. The native sandplain grasslands—home to a variety of birds, butterflies and other wildlife, as well as several endangered species—are critical to the Cape Cod ecosystem. But habitat has dwindled as the area has continued to develop.

CASE Construction Equipment celebrated the CASE brand’s 175^th birthday with a rally and luncheon attended by 800+ employees in Racine, Wis., as well as local dignitaries, elected officials and a descendant of the Case family.

The company was founded in 1842 in nearby Rochester, Wis. as the Racine Threshing Machine Works Company. It evolved into one of the world’s most iconic manufacturers of construction and agricultural equipment. Speakers included U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, the congressman representing Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district; Richard Tobin, Chief Executive Officer – CNH Industrial; and Kaleb Jerome Case, the great grandson of company founder and Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ Hall of Fame member Jerome Increase (J.I.) Case.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the March 2017 issue of Construction Business Owner magazine. Visit constructionbusinessowner.com to read more.

There are a variety of options when it comes to equipment acquisition, but there is no one right answer—no silver bullet—that will work for every contractor. The decision to purchase, lease or rent equipment is a challenge that businesses of all sizes must face, and there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration in order to make the best choice for your business.

CASE Construction Equipment introduces the new DV23CC and DV26CC combination vibratory rollers. The new vibratory rollers compact with the front drum and deliver a smooth finish with rear pneumatic tires. An inline drum with tapered edge and high curb clearance offers precision compaction capabilities in tight spaces, and adjustable scrapers, an automatic vibration control system and a pressurized water system ensure a smooth, clean finish in a variety of asphalt applications.

With operating weights of 4,740 pounds and 4,916 pounds, and drum width of 39.4 inches and 47.2 inches, the DV23CC and DV26CC are ideal for walkways, residential driveways, bike paths, tennis courts, small parking lots and other small- to mid-size applications.

CASE Construction Equipment dealer Titan Machinery donated the use of two excavators to Team Rubicon for a service project and training event at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa and Nebraska. The excavators—a CX210C and CX250D—were used to remove several levees and water culverts as part of a wetland habitat development project.

Managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the 8,362-acre refuge is located along the Missouri River floodplain and provides essential habitat for resident, migratory and endangered species. Team Rubicon has a partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to create training opportunities for their volunteers, and the organization has worked on several habitat management and mitigation projects in refuges all over the United States.

New DV209CD and DV210CD combination vibratory rollers (front drum with rear pneumatic tires) deliver smooth surface finish and reliable compaction performance.

CASE Construction Equipment introduces two new combination vibratory rollers—the DV209CD and DV210CD. The new vibratory rollers compact with the front drum and deliver a smooth finish with rear pneumatic tires. The DV209CD and DV210CD come standard with automatic vibration control, crab steering, an oscillating articulated roller joint and a pressurized triple-filtration water system. High-frequency is offered as a standard feature allowing for frequencies up to 4,020 vpm (67 Hz) for greater control of compaction performance based on the thickness and density requirements of each lift.

CASE Construction Equipment dealer Miller-Bradford & Risberg donated the use of an excavator and a skid steer to Team Rubicon for a service project and training session May 6-7, 2017 at the Boy Scouts of America’s Camp Long Lake in St. Cloud, Wisconsin.

The site is operated by the Potowatomi Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. The project featured Team Rubicon heavy equipment operators and sawyer teams training with equipment and chainsaws to sharpen their skills for use on future disaster relief deployments. The group forested and cleared a new 40,000-square-foot pad at the camp that will serve as the base area for a future all-terrain vehicle program.

Working for private homeowners requires a different level of one-on-one attention than working for other contractors or on larger commercial/industrial projects.

The homeowner (or prospective homeowner for residential contractors) has an intense personal connection to the project, the property, and how their money is being spent to complete the work. There’s also a level of communication and detail that needs to be maintained throughout the entire process – some of the things that a contractor may take for granted when working for another contractor or industrial developer are not always given or understood by a homeowner.

CASE Construction Equipment announces the availability of an all-new, custom-fit waste handling guarding/protection package for its 1021G (320 horsepower) and 1121G (347 horsepower) wheel loaders. This size class of loaders is commonly used in waste handling applications, and these CASE models are regularly specified based on the power and performance of the machine, as well as the lower engine exhaust temperatures made possible by the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) emissions technology.

The package was designed in coordination with Craig Manufacturing (New Brunswick, Canada) and the CASE manufacturing plant in Fargo, North Dakota. It is available to order through CASE dealers in the U.S. and Canada, or directly from Craig Manufacturing.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued new rules related to exposure to silica dust on construction sites – those rules went into effect on June 23, 2016, and compliance for construction sites is required by June 23, 2017. These rules apply to any site that will “drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone” .

Other cities, sites and developers have their own rules about airborne particulate on the jobsite – rules that may disqualify contractors from participating if they don’t engage in approved dust mitigation practices.