Pit & Quarry, February 2015

EQUIPMENT FOCUS EXCAVATING DREDGING Thats the first advantage Rather than having a machine down while a major component is rebuilt or having to rent a replacement machine in its place customers can purchase a remanufactured part and have it installed immediately upon receipt Remanufactured parts come ready to install and can significantly lower downtime and repair costs Another advantage of a remanufactured part is purchase price Depending on the part and the machine a remanufactured part can cost up to 40 percent less than a comparable new part all without sacrificing quality There is no drop off in quality between remanufactured parts and new or rebuilt parts and they can provide an apples to apples cost savings in many cases Remanufactured parts can also feature warranties that are better than what a rebuilt part can offer and may meet or exceed other OEM warranties This provides fleet managers with peace of mind and protection against additional costs during the life of a warranty 7 Operator practices Theres a reason its called owning and operating costs How a machine is operated can have a significant effect on its bottom line Operators can be coached in a number of ways to help reduce equipment costs including methods to reduce idle time operating the machine in a manner that puts the least amount of wear and stress on an undercarriage and proper use of machine controls and functions to optimize fuel efficiency Identifying and curtailing rowdy or unsafe operating practices is also important to reduce possible damage to the machine and the surrounding work area 8 Outfit machines to handle all applications they may encounter Whether its an attachment you commonly use or a machine feature that gives you a little extra lift or digging power dont leave your machine shorthanded for the work ahead Fully Depending on the part and the machine a remanufactured part can cost up to 40 percent less than a comparable new part understand the scale of your work and anticipated work so youre not renting or purchasing additional equipment to compensate 9 Understand benefits of lease renting and owning The financial realities of each company are different and as such the pros and cons of the different equipment acquisition methods vary There are however some general truths Leasing provides owners with new equipment every two to three years It bonds services together in a single payment and allows contractors to bid jobs more accurately because owning and operating costs dont change Owners must simply factor in fuel and operator costs Leasing also makes disposal easier as leaseholders have no concerns over trying to sell machines Rental places owning and operating costs are squarely in the hands of the dealer Also leasing ultimately reduces transportation storage and carrying costs but it also may limit access to equipment based on availability Owning equipment offers a variety of tax advantages too and depending on the type of equipment and how well it holds its value owners may be in to make a profit when they turn around and sell it 10 Understanding Tier 4 processes Many cooled exhaust gas recirculation CEGR systems require regeneration Its important for operators to know how regeneration works and how those systems indicate to the operator that regeneration is needed If the operator bypasses regeneration which is never recommended then that machine may require a manual regeneration This may require downtime and the attention of a dealer service technician Similarly selective catalytic reduction SCR systems require the operator to know when its time to refill the diesel exhaust fluid DEF reservoir If operators remember to do this every time they refill diesel then it has minimal impact on operating costs or downtime P Q Brad Stemper is brand marketing manager Case Construction Equipment A telematics program can be very important in keeping ahead of preventive maintenance 18 PIT QUARRY February 2015 www pitandquarry com