Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Recommended practice for Gen-Set seismic and wind certification released

The Electrical Generating Systems Association (EGSA) has released EGSA 200W-2009 Recommended Practice for Seismic and Wind Certification for compliance to the International Building Code (IBC).

The recommended practice was written to define a set of acceptable criteria in the power generation industry for suitable methods of analysis and testing of electrical and mechanical equipment when IBC certification is required.

Section 1708.5 of the IBC Code describes accepted methods for qualification, and EGSA 200W-2009 further defines those methods for the power generation industry.

Winter road restrictions now in effect

A reminder for truckers: Winter weights remain in effect for provincial roads until the last day of February, but may be restricted again from March 1 until March 14. As of March 15, the allowable weights will revert back down to normal summer weights or have a spring ban weight restriction, depending on current conditions.

Truckers can find the latest road restriction orders and related information online at www.highways.gov.sk.ca/restrictions/ or by calling the Highway Hotline as follows: Regina and area at 306-787-7623; Saskatoon and area at 306-933-8333; across Canada at 1-888-335-7623; and on the SaskTel Cellular Network at *ROAD.

Maintenance key to mine profitability

Your mine can’t make money if its machines aren’t working. The best way to keep equipment up and running—and to avoid unanticipated downtime—is to practice proper maintenance techniques. Another factor is what you put in your equipment, particularly in terms of oil and coolant.

Caterpillar offers a complete line of oil, coolant and filter options. We believe these products are the best matches for our machines—and those built by other manufacturers.

Oil
The first step is to use quality oil that meets manufacturers’ specifications. Next, follow change interval recommendations in your Operation and Maintenance Manual (OMM). Otherwise, contamination may develop. Oil life also is affected by operating conditions and numerous other factors.

Filters
Good maintenance begins with quality filters. Follow recommendations in your OMM for changing all filters.

What else do you need to know?
* Changing fuel filters at recommended intervals is critical to protecting engine components and fuel injectors from contamination.

* Handle filters carefully during removal so contaminants do not re-enter the system.

* Contaminants in fuel are controlled by installing new filters before plugging occurs, and by using high-efficiency secondary fuel filters.

* An air filter service indicator alerts you to the best time to change that filter.

Coolant
Select a quality coolant and perform checks periodically to ensure that your coolant:

* Has adequate coolant additives.

* Meets Caterpillar recommendations.

* Is kept topped off.

* Is not past its useful life.

Stretch your start-up financing dollars

Financing is often the biggest challenge a new business owner faces. There’s a good story on start-up financing basics on entrepreneur.com.

Seeking out information from a number of sources, including magazines such as Entrepreneur, is the smart thing for contractors to do. But don’t forget: We can help, too.

For example, you’ll have to make that cash last. At Kramer, we have rental, leasing and used programs that help contractors do exactly that. We also have Cat Financial, a great resource for existing and start-up contractors, standing behind us.

Raising cash is certainly a key step. But you also need to find affordable options that help you control cash flow—while putting you in quality equipment that enables you to succeed.

Governmental fleets may benefit from transfusion

If oil is the lifeblood of your governmental fleet’s engines, sluggish performance could mean it’s time for a transfusion. Switching to synthetic motor oil provides better engine performance and longer equipment life.

A lubricant that remains liquid and slippery under a wide range of temperatures, synthetic oil helps prevent wear, reduces friction, maintains viscosity and prevents rust.

Synthetic oil outperforms conventional oil in low temperatures, and also provides improved high-temperature oxidation stability. In extreme heat, synthetic oil doesn’t oxidize and break down, but retains high viscosity. That means your engine runs smoothly, no matter the temperature.

Cat DEO SYN is a full synthetic diesel engine oil developed, tested and approved by Caterpillar to exceed industry standards.

While Cat DEO SYN 5W-40 has the same high-temperature range as most SAE 15W-40 oils, its unique synthetic polyalpaolefin (PAO) molecular structure and higher viscosity provide a better protective film at high temperatures.

It also remains fluid at subzero temperatures, and provides rapid cold-engine start-ups at ambient temperatures as low as -30° C without loss of flow to critical engine parts.

Keep machines safe in the mines

Keep yourself and your site safe after hours by making sure your heavy machinery stays put in the mine. In addition to setting the proper brake(s), consider these steps:

* Use tire chocks to keep vehicles from rolling

* Park vehicles so the front tires are in a shallow trench

* Turn the wheels into the rib, the berm or in the direction of the highwall face

* Lower the bucket or blade to the ground if applicable

* Never try to jump back in the cab to regain control of a runaway vehicle

Hit asphalt paving compaction targets in cold weather

Cold weather is here and your asphalt paving crews are finding themselves in chilly conditions. Here are a few tips to help make sure they reach the targeted densities when the cold comes or when you get back to work in spring.

1. Reduce the width of paving passes. For example, one paving crew originally planned to place a 12 m wide mat in two passes—at a width of 6 m each. The crew previously has handled that width, using its Cat AP1055D Asphalt Paver, without a problem. But on this particular day, falling temperatures would cool the mix too fast for the rollers to achieve the proper compaction over the larger surface area. Instead, the crew made three, more narrow passes, allowing the compaction train to easily keep pace.

2. Watch the breakdown rollers. Make sure the water in your rollers is flowing before ordering the mix. If the mix starts arriving, and the water is frozen, you’ll have trucks full of asphalt idle—and cooling quickly.

3. Keep the pneumatic rollers warm. Make sure the front and rear skirts on pneumatic rollers are tight, which helps them retain warm air. And keep those pneumatics working at almost any cost. Otherwise, the rubber tires will cool quickly and you’ll likely have problems with pickup.