The machine is made for land-clearing companies, construction companies, pipeline contractors and electric utility contractors.
Morbark LLC, Wooster, Ohio, announced the release of its Rayco T415 Forestry Machine. The Rayco T415 Forestry Machine allows customers to change between a Predator forestry mower/mulcher head and a Hydra Stumper stump cutter attachment for increased versatility. The machine is ideal for land-clearing companies, construction companies, pipeline contractors, electric utility contractors, and real estate developers, the company says. “The T415 Forestry Machine is designed for large-scale land-clearing contractors,” J.R. Bowling, mulcher specialist at Rayco Manufacturing, says. “It’s a lot of cutting power in a very nimble package.” Powered by a 415-horsepower CAT C9.3B Diesel Tier 4 Final engine, the T415 boasts a closed-loop hydrostatic system to power the mulcher or cutter head, sending 140 gallons per minute to the attachment’s drive motor. The hydraulic output is power-optimized to match the engine’s power curve, keeping the mulcher/stumper RPM constant even under load for a finer mulched product with fewer passes, the company says. As the engine RPM pulls down under load, pump displacement increases to maintain the 140 gpm flow. For mowing/mulching applications, the Predator mulcher head has a 91.25 inch cutting width and is powered by a pair of variable displacement drive motors. The Predator mulcher head is equipped with 49 single-bolt teeth, including end teeth with extra carbide. The mulching head also has a synchronous drive belt for low maintenance and long wear life, as well as slotted mounting lugs to follow terrain with minimal machine stress. A manually adjustable tree catcher and hydraulic debris flap is standard equipment. The Hydra Stumper head muscles through stumps with its 48-inch-diameter by 3-inch-thick cutter wheel equipped with 56 Monster Tooth cutter tools. The cutting range is 9 feet wide, approximately 9 feet high and 46 inches deep. “The T415 packs a great deal of power and versatility to efficiently clear vegetation,” Bowling says. “Our customers are going to be impressed by how efficiently this machine mulches even tough plant species in a one-pass mowing situation.” Rayco’s patented elevated cooling design places engine radiators in both the rear of the engine compartment and in the limb riser for maximum cooling, including in areas with high ambient temperatures and a considerable amount of airborne debris. Debris screens trap airborne chaff before it can plug radiator fins. These screens are easily removable without tools for cleaning. Reversing fans also clear debris screens on-command, extending service intervals. Other features include Rayco’s exclusive track tensioning system with monitor, which alerts the operator to over-tension situations and provides easier access to track tension grease fittings; hydraulic tilt cab to access pumps and other components easily; and the heavy-duty 35,000 lbs hydraulic rear winch.
Finding the right weighing scale for your waste management needs requires proper due diligence.
The waste and recycling industry is reliant on precise measurement for monitoring volume transported by trucks. Scales and weighing systems are essential for tracking these loads. However, with the number of these systems available, facility operators need to work to find the right scale or weighing system for their particular needs. Having the right equipment for waste management applications will allow professionals to better track collected waste, monitor the inputs and outputs during material recovery, extract energy and dispose of the waste properly.
Vehicle and axle scales are used to monitor the weight of refuse vehicles to ensure they are not overloaded. An overweight vehicle can shorten its life and damage the roads they travel on. These scales provide the axle and gross weight information for all types of waste vehicles, ranging from vans to heavy-duty trucks. The scales are portable, adaptable to any vehicle and have a low cost of installation.
Floor scales are used to weigh waste during sorting processes or as it moves in and out of a facility. These scales reduce the possibility of revenue loss that can occur due to incorrect weighing. Floor scales can be placed on top of a level flooring surface or in a pit where the top of the scale is level with the area surrounding it. Waste can then be loaded directly onto the scale to weigh, or operators can drive compacted pallets onto the scales to weigh them.
Bench scales are compact in size and frame and can be used to weigh waste up to 500 pounds. Due to their compact nature, bench scales are convenient to use, as they can be placed easily on a workbench or surface. Bench scales are ideal for placement on shipping and receiving docks to log weights of incoming and outgoing materials.
Truck scales are the most popular and versatile weighing solution used in the waste management and recycling industry. Truck scales help operators ensure their vehicles are filled to the right capacity while preventing unsafe overloading. These scales allow for accurate weighing and, due to the rugged nature of operations, are highly durable to withstand extreme weather and on-road conditions. These scales can be integrated with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to better track and monitor trucks in operation.
There are three main types of truck scales:
Rail scales are used to weigh heavy waste loads on trains and transport vehicles mounted on rails or carts without having to derail them. These scales can be used for both static and in-motion weighing. Often, rail scales are used in the form of modular decks, which are spaced to match the distance between the train’s wheels. Rail scales are often integrated with RFID tags for digital display systems and detailed data collection in order to make weighing, tracking and reading easier and more accurate. These systems provide the total van weight and can be optimized to provide readings for individual wheels and axles.
Different types of rail scales include static rail scales, in-motion rail scales, combined truck and track scales and coil car scales.
Forklift scales are used to lift and weigh the bundled materials on a forklift truck. Forklift scales allow drivers to transport and weigh goods at the same time. Apart from tracking the weight, these scales can be used to track the storage location and origin of the waste products during transport. They are also compact, which makes them ideal to use in busy waste and recycling environments. Integrating forklift scales with in-cab instruments, such as barcode scanners, allows forklift operators to capture important data and transmit it wirelessly to computer systems for real-time monitoring.
With the number of scales available, waste and recycling facility owners should spend time becoming acquainted with the functionality of different pieces of equipment to best suit individual needs. The right kind of weighing scale will be dependent on the type and scope of operation, as well as the processes and materials particular to each facility.
The following are some considerations to account for before investing in weighing scales:
Scales should be conveniently placed based on need and layout of a facility. Before purchasing, operators should think about where a scale will be placed and how it will fit into the company’s operations. It is critical to understand that not every type of scale is right for different companies. For example, while a portable scale might offer the versatility one company needs, a stationary scale might be perfect for a different business with little variation in processes. The configurations of a facility will also play into this decision. For instance, operators should check if there is an outlet or a source of electricity where the scale will be placed prior to purchase. If there isn’t, it is probably better to search for a scale that can operate via a generator or battery.
Different businesses deal with different volumes. Before buying a scale, companies should determine the largest total gross weight that the scale will be required to weigh. Once this is determined, it is important to find a scale capable of exceeding these weight requirements to account for exceptionally large loads and the tare weight that a pallet or container could add.
Some scales are better suited than others to handle different types of material. Service requirements and upkeep should be considered prior to purchase to help a facility find a scale that can be easily maintained. For example, an operation that is weighing mainly liquids would require a liquid-resistant scale to account for accidents and spills. Foresight when considering a scale purchase can make adoption and implementation more seamless.
What good is a scale if it isn’t accurate? Scale accuracy can be assured by performing regular calibrations; however, it is also important to make sure to buy a scale that is suited to the environment and setting that it will be used in. Since industrial scales are regularly exposed to different environmental elements, variations in pressure or temperature and potential location changes, they can become less accurate over time. It is also common for scales to lose calibration accuracy with regular use, so it makes sense for operators to think about buying the right scale that can maintain its precision for its intended use.
The readability of a scale determines how many decimal places it has to read. A large capacity industrial scale with a 500-pound capacity might have a readability of 0.1 pounds, which may be less precise than a 50-pound capacity bench scale with a readability of 0.01 pounds. Companies should choose a scale based on both the volume that will be processed and the readability that is needed for its operations.
As has been outlined, not every scale serves the same purpose or has the same applications or features.
Industrial weighing scales are crucial in the operation of waste and recycling facilities. These instruments offer custom software applications that can be interfaced with the scales themselves to help in streamlining operations and increasing productivity and efficiency. By pairing scales with the right software, operators can enjoy more seamless data processing, faster transactions, reduced errors and higher ROI.
There is no one-size-fits-all scale for waste businesses. However, operators who do their homework prior to adoption can help themselves find a solution that allows them to enjoy more seamless waste processing, greater accuracy, more improved data tracking, reduced workloads and greater efficiency.
Kevin Hill is the digital marketing manager for Byron, California-based Quality Scales Unlimited. He can be reached at kevin@scalesu.com.
California company’s plant can handle some 15,000 tons of carpet or plastic scrap per year.
Lincoln, California-based Circular Polymers says it is ready to supply the chemical recycling industry with consistent, high-quality feedstock made from postconsumer carpet and other forms of plastic scrap. Circular Polymers’ new facility in Lincoln, near Sacramento, can process some 15,000 tons of carpet per year, with the capability to expand further, says the company.
Circular Polymers is using carpet recycling technology developed by Elyria, Ohio-based Broadview Group International (BGI). Says BGI President Joe Bork, “Our technology disassembles the carpet [and] then cleans the fibers, thus maximizing yield while providing superior quality. The technology processes all carpet types: nylon 6, nylon 66, PET [polyethylene terephthalate] and polypropylene.”
Comments David Bender, CEO of Circular Polymers, “Chemical recycling is the solution to global demand for recycled feedstocks in a circular economy. Major brand companies working with chemical recyclers need clean, sustainable supplies of feedstock. We understand that chemical recycling operations require the conversion of waste into a raw material with strictly defined specifications. Circular Polymers is uniquely positioned to supply this growing industry.”
Adds Bender, “With more than 25 percent of all recycled bottles getting downcycled into carpet and fiber, Circular Polymers has created a figure eight in the circular economy, enabling upcycling of carpet into bottles.”
Circular Polymers and BGI completed the Lincoln plant expansion in December 2018. “Circular Polymers expects to grow significantly to support our customer requirements,” says Nick Fiore, president of Circular Polymers. “The chemical recycling industry is in its infancy. Four billion pounds (2 million tons) of carpet landfilled annually provides the feedstock for growth.”
Chicago-based PureCycle Technologies, described as an offtake partner of Circular Polymers, is commercializing a process designed to convert plastic scrap into virgin-quality resin. David Brenner, PureCycle’s chief integration officer, comments, “What we need to make the circular economy a reality is innovators at all levels of the supply chain. What Circular Polymers has done with processing post-consumer carpet back into raw materials for chemical recyclers is not only revolutionary, but an incredible model for us all, considering the large volumes of feedstock that are being landfilled today.”
“In addition to providing feedstock for chemical recycling, Circular Polymers’ fiber can also be further mechanically processed as a feedstock pellet for automotive, injection molding and other upcycled applications,” says Mark Babich, a relationship partner for Circular Polymers.
Circular Polymers received a grant from the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) in December 2018 to add new BGI equipment to remove and separate the polypropylene backing from carpet face fibers. Bob Peoples, executive director of CARE, says, “Circular Polymers is now the leading innovator of carpet recycling technology and our fastest growing recycler. I am very proud of what this talented team has been able to accomplish. They are proving a circular economy is achievable.”
The newly formed holding company now has three companies under its umbrella.
Brown & Settle Inc., a provider of large parcel site development services in the Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Greater Washington D.C. area, has announced that GHK Capital Partners of Greenwich, Connecticut, completed a recapitalization of the company in partnership with the founders Michael Brown, Jr. and Gregory "Tommy" Settle. Breakwater Management LP of Los Angeles and funds advised by Headway Capital Partners LLP of London provided preferred equity financing. Breakwater Management LP was the exclusive provider of debt financing to support the recapitalization.
Brown & Settle Inc. is the newly formed holding company for B&S Site Development and Commonwealth Recycled Aggregates & Materials, both of Bristow, Virginia, and Valley Rock Services, Manassas, Virginia. The company is a full-service large parcel site development provider of services including excavation, clearing, rock blasting, demolition, recycling, paving, and utility installation. The company says it will continue to provide its services while expanding its market position among its regional and national customer base. Brown and Settle, both civil engineers, will continue to own together approximately a third of the business following the recapitalization and will remain in their current roles leading operations.
"We are extremely pleased to partner with Mike and Tommy to build upon what is already an exceptional service provider to the region, and to further expand the capabilities and geographic reach of Brown & Settle, Inc.," said Gil Klemann, the managing partner of GHK, in a press release. "Having spent significant time evaluating the market and competitive landscape, it is clear to us that Brown & Settle represents a best-in-class provider, differentiated by its vertically integrated service offering and its commitment to reliably deliver solutions to its customers. Furthermore, in addition to facilitating the development of distribution centers and other commercial and government properties, the company has established itself as a major provider of site development services for data centers in Northern Virginia, the largest data center market in the United States."
"GHK Capital Partners represents a strong strategic partner for Brown & Settle," said Mike Brown, the president of the company. "I was impressed by how Gil and his team engaged themselves in our business to understand our market, operations, culture, and future growth potential. I am looking forward to a period of continued growth and success with the help of GHK's resources and strategic guidance."
As part of the transaction, Christopher Kete and Diane Waters, both experienced industry executives, will join the company's management team.
The sellers were advised by Prime Investments LLC of Rockville, Maryland, and were represented by Tomlinson Advisory Group LLC of Vienna, Virginia. The buyers were represented by Day Pitney LLP of Hartford, Connecticut.
Nonresidential spending totaled $750.5 billion in December, ABC says.
National nonresidential construction spending remained virtually unchanged in December, according to Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of recently released U.S. Census Bureau data. Nonresidential spending totaled $750.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis in December, up 4 percent year over year.
Public sector nonresidential spending declined 0.6 percent for the month, while private sector spending increased 0.4 percent. On a year-over-year basis, public spending is up 4.8 percent, while private spending is up 3.4 percent.
“History will view 2018 as a solid year for nonresidential construction spending in America,” says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu in a news release. “While a 4 percent increase may not sound spectacular, this figure must be considered in the context of supply constraints. Contractors have continued to suffer through growing shortages of skilled workers. While demand for construction services has been strong, the capacity of the nonresidential construction industry to put more construction in place has been suppressed by a dearth of available carpenters, glaziers, iron workers, roofers, superintendents, electricians, etc.
“It is conceivable that the sharp increase in construction materials prices that characterized the early months of 2018 resulted in the postponement of certain projects,” Basu continues. “Nonetheless, both private and public segments experienced growth in construction spending last year, with public spending up nearly 5 percent on a December-over-December basis. Moreover, the pace of growth in construction materials prices moderated sharply during the second half of last year.