JCB Unveils 60 MPH “World’s Fastest Backhoe Loader” to Assist U.S. Army

Help is on the way for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but not in its usual form. This time “help” is the “JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE),” a.k.a. the “world’s fastest backhoe loader.” I like to think of it as the “Batmobile of Heavy Equipment.” Its speed, mobility, and design will improve the capabilities of field commanders in front patrols. See batmobile of heavy equipment for the original article. See website directly below for video and other multi-media HMEE resources.

A few highlights of the article:

Specs

• The HMEE travels up to 60 mph on paved roads and cross country surfaces
• Full suspension and ABS brakes
• Computer diagnostics
• Run-flat tires and roll-over protection
• 17.55 tons with armor and 15.75 tons without armor
• 6.7-liter diesel
• Lifts 2.2 tons, digs 13 ft deep

Purpose

• Provide battlefield commanders more capabilities in front patrols
• Increase Mobility and counter-mobility
• Provide water and supplies, build burms, lay electrical lines, etc.

JCB Construction Equipment is the creator of the HMEE. It was 4 years in the making and built specifically for the U.S. Military. JCB is the world’s largest privately owned construction business.

Here is a brief video about some other JCB military equipment.

Sources

http://www.acppubs.com/article/CA6518489.html?rssid=112

http://www.jcb.com/hmee/

Beavers v. Backhoes

Over the last few weeks, Bessemer City, NC has been the battlegrounds for beavers and backhoes. The two have been fighting over the water supply for the city.

The first strike came from the beavers during the week of April 5-11, who dammed up Mills Creek, which helps feed the city’s water supply. Shortly after a city backhoe came and destroyed the dam. The beavers rebuilt it again, and the backhoe destroyed it again…

Although this would seem like a lopsided confrontation, the beavers put up a fight unexpected by all. Instead of retreating, the beavers marched, or swam, to the main water supply at Long Creek. There they built a dam once again. When they were discovered, the backhoe came again and wreaked havoc on the dam, but once again the beavers rebuilt.

Spectators may be amused by the continued perseverance of the beavers, but city officials express that the matter is having a significant impact on the city. Because of a water shortage, people are already on water restrictions, and now the beavers are compounding the problem. In 2002, Long Creek almost dried up, and the city had to purchase water from its neighbors at Kings Mountain. The city may have to do this again if they cannot stop the beaver dilemma. Bessemer City is not allowed to hire trappers to solve the beaver problem, because beavers can only be trapped on city grounds. Also, relocation is expected to not solve the problem, but only move it elsewhere.

Despite the potential water supply problems the city faces, city and industry leaders give credit to the beavers for their persistence and dam-building skills. Bessemer City interim manager, Allan Ferris, has said about the matter: “They’ve done an excellent job…The Army Corps of Engineers couldn’t have built a better dam.” Also, Matt Klabacka, president of the National Association of Heavy Equipment Schools (NAHETS), was amazed with the beavers’ backhoe rivalry. In response to the article he said “maybe we should hire some beavers at our member schools.”

So, for the time being, the game of cat and mouse (oops, beaver and backhoe), continues. The beavers are relentless so far, and the backhoe as well. Who will prevail-nature’s machine, or man’s machine?

…And for those of you who think a beaver dam is an easy take down…

…Wikipedia reports that the largest beaver dam built was 2,140 feet long, 14 feet high, and 23 feet thick. In other words, this dam would tower over the one above.

For news coverage see:

Beaver v. Bulldozer 1

Beaver v. Bulldozer 2

Flying the Flag For NAHETS

As of June 2005, Wade Vakulick was an Instructor for the Oklahoma College of Construction (OCC) . In August of the same year, he was appointed Chief Instructor. A year later…he was in Iraq.

In July of 2006, Wade was contacted by his Air National Guard unit. They notified him that he was to be involuntarily activated to assist in Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom. He was in Iraq for 6 months.

Wade’s duty in Iraq was construction equipment operator, as well as project superintendent of the U.S. Army Iraqi Theater of Operations construction projects on COB Speicher. Before his deployment in Iraq Wade was activated in October of 2006, spent four weeks at Ft. McCoy in Wisconsin to do combat training, and then was deployed to Kuwait.

It was difficult for Wade to be away from his home and family for those 6 months, as it is for all who serve overseas. He also was concerned about what would happen with this job while he was gone. When he learned that he would be able to have his job at the OCC when he returned, he wanted to do something special for NAHETS to show appreciation for its support of him being in Iraq. In all sincerity he said:

“I wanted to bring something back for NAHETS from Iraq that would truly be an honor to hang on the wall, not just the normal little trinkets that one can purchase at the Base Exchange. I am truly grateful for Matt and the others at NAHETS for understanding my situation and as a result, NAHETS helped to contribute to the freedom and security of the United States of America and the Iraqi people.”

While Wade was serving on Coalition Operating Base (COB) near Tikrit, Iraq, he was able to purchase an American Flag. He gave this flag to the Apache Attack Helicopter Squadron “Blue Wolves”, 25 Infantry Division Aviation Brigade. The Blue Wolves had the highest kill ratio of any attack helicopter squadron in Iraq. The Blue Wolves were able to fly the flag in an AH-64D Apache helicopter on an actual combat mission over the skies of Iraq especially for NAHETS. Regarding the event Wade said that “This flag is a one of a kind tribute to a one of a kind company. The flag is a thank you for the support that was shown to my family and me by NAHETS during my 8 months away from work.

Now Wade is back from Iraq and serving as the Business Relations Director for the Oklahoma College of Construction. The OCC is a member college of NAHETS-The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools.

NAHETS Internet Manager’s “Blast!” Off To Tokyo

Three…two…one “Blast!” off!

 

The Internet Manager for the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools, Mike Wille, flew in to Tokyo, Japan on July 21, 2007. However, he is not there to develop websites or work on flash programming; he is there to play the trombone and percussion.

Since its opening in London of 1999, Mike is currently on his third tour with the Tony-Award Winning show, Blast!

There is no other show like Blast!. Nor are there any other performers like those who perform in the show. Blast! has its beginning roots in the Star of Indiana, the world famous and world champion drum corps. Blast! is a compilation of various musical, athletic, and theatrical styles molded into one ultimate show. It takes instrumental music and outdoor pageantry into a theatrical setting. Blast! portrays dancing, choreography, marching, drumming, acting, and instrument playing all into one performance. There are various props, colors, stage settings, and costumes that are used as well. The performers are the epitome of athletes and musicians, who are specifically trained masters of this new genre of stage performance. Wille said Blast! is like watching a ballet or play, where the dancers and performers are not just dancing and acting, but also playing the musical instruments simultaneously.

Mike received a scholarship for trombone performance in college, but decided that his best career interest would be a degree in computers, not music. So he graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Computer Information Systems in 2003. After graduating, he specialized in flash development and website development. He started working for NAHETS in January of 2007.

Despite his expertise and skill in internet management, Mike said couldn’t resist the opportunity to go to Japan for the second time and begin his third tour with Blast! He says that deep down he feels like a musician. Mike is the bass trombone player and percussionist for the show.

In between performances Mike will continue to be involved with NAHETS’ web development.

Monster Machine Picks up Bulldozer

What do you think of when you hear the words “heavy equipment” mentioned? What images enter your mind when you come across the words “heavy machinery?” Or perhaps you have never thought much about those things. Typically, large pieces of equipment such as cranes, bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, loaders, and others are associated with those terms. And although these are considered “heavy equipment” and “heavy machines”, one could wonder if larger machines exist. They do. If you think cranes and bulldozers are big, take a look at the biggest moving man-made machines.

First is the giant bucket wheel excavator , a.k.a. ” the bagger 288.” It was built by Krupp in Germany of 1978.

This machine is 984 feet long, the equivalent of about six Olympic-sized swimming pools in length. It weighs about 91 million pounds, the size of about 380 Blue Whales, which is the largest animal on the planet. It moves on treads to different open-air mine sites. In 2001, last time it went on one of these expeditions, it traveled 22 kilometers in a straight line.

Although the average person would consider a bulldozer a large machine, for the bagger 288 it was nothing but a snack. And don’t think that the bagger is the only one of its kind. At Krupp’s site (http://www.tk-mining.com/hme.html) you can see more, such as these:

Despite how huge and impressive the bagger 288 is, it just would not be fair unless it had a competitor in size. In Lichterfeld, Germany there appears to be another “biggest” moving man-made machine. This colossus of a machine is called the Overburden Conveyor Bridge F60.

Although it weighs less than the bagger 288 (only 11,000 tons instead of 45,500), its length is untouchable-502 meters, or 1,647 feet, (compare 300 meters, or 948 feet for the bagger.) It is also 202 meters, or 663 feet wide. It was built in 1991 by VEB TAKRAF Lauchhammer. After only 13 months in operation, it was shut down for “energy-political” reasons.

To get an idea of how long this machine is in relative terms, if the Empire State Building fell over its length would fall about 200 feet shorter than that of the F60. If the Sears Tower fell over it would be less than 100 feet longer than the F60. Note this comparison includes the lightning rods and antennas of the Empire State Building and the Sears Tower, which if it did not, the F60 would be longer in length than the height of both buildings. Also note that the Sears tower is said to be the tallest building in the world measured from ground to pinnacle point. Below is a picture comparison between the F60 and the Eiffel Tower.

 

 

 

 

After seeing how enormous these machines are, we have not seen exactly what they can do. A last look at the heaviest of heavy machinery will give us a glimpse of what these massive human-built machines are capable of.

Before the last two machines were built, in 1969 “The Big Muskie” owned the show and was considered the largest moving man-made piece of machinery. The Big Muskie could move 39 million pounds of earth every hour. It could uncover coals seams up to 150 feet into the earth’s crust. It could “swing its boom” 600 feet across the landscape. It remained in full-production until 1991, when it was shut down. It was later scrapped and only its enormous metal bucket still remains as a roadside attraction in Reinersville, Ohio.

An even more impressive illustration of what these man-made machines can do is depicted in looking at the largest man-made holes in the world. The diamond mine in Siberia is 525 meters (1,722 feet) deep, and is 1.25 kilometers in diameter, 0r about 8/10 of a mile.

The red arrow in the picture directly above is pointing to a huge mining truck. It takes the truck over two hours to get from the bottom of the mine to the top.

Although the uses of these pieces of heavy equipment are not as common as the backhoe you see on the side of the road, or the crane next to your work building, they are nonetheless intriguing spectacles for the human eye and mind-with a significant purpose. What makes them even more impressive is the fact that they are built and operated by humans. Without the training of heavy equipment operators, the construction of these machines is useless. And whether it is a backhoe, crane, or the Big Muskie being operated, the credentials to operate must be the same: professional training and education, in-class and on-site instruction, certification and licensing, safety, and standards. This is the NAHETS (www.nahets.com) vision; and although you will not find the bagger 288 at NAHETS training schools, you will find the above credentials. This is our mission-to provide society with the “heaviest” of the heavy equipment operators.

Sources:

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2006/11/biggest-and-hungriest-machines.html

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2006/11/even-bigger-machines-dig-bigger-holes.html

http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Workshop/Trencher.htm

http://www.f60.de/index_e.htm

http://www.hfinster.de/StahlArt2/archive-Lausitz-BW-72-5-22.11.2000-en.html