February 1, 2008
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor - Construction Equipment
This ASRC Volvo loader working on Alaska's North Slope is the first off-road machine equipped with Temp-A-Start two years ago. The system cut idling by nearly 80 percent and improved reliability in subzero temperatures.
Terry Howard was motivated to adapt idling-reduction technology, becoming more common in trucks, to ASRC's off-road equipment because the best way to get machines rolling after 14 hours off shift in the Alaskan winter was to leave the engines running.
by Richard LeFrancois
In November of 2005 I found myself in Fairbanks, AK helping to install an aftermarket idle reduction system on a Volvo L150 wheel loader. A second Volvo wheel loader, an L120, was outfitted with the technology shortly thereafter. After installation the first loader was sent to work in Deadhorse, Alaska for the winter and the other worked the winter at Ft. Greeley, Alaska.
The pilot project that took place and the results from testing the technology on these two wheel loaders that winter has helped change the idle management practice for equipment operators in the mining and oil industries in Alaska, Colorado and Wyoming and in the oil fields of Alberta, Canada and Russia.
The technology, called Temp-A-Start, is patented and until that pilot project it had never been installed on a piece of construction equipment.
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Idle-reduction technology makes sense, saves dollarsSome ideas just make sense. And some ideas add up to dollars and cents.Such is the case for idle-reduction technologies in use by more and more companies operating heavy equipment across Prudhoe Bay, according to Terry Howard, director of equipment operations for Arctic Slope Regional Corp. He said collectively idle-reduction technology has the potential to save millions in fuel and maintenance costs for heavy equipment operating in Prudhoe Bay. "When you put the pencil to it and do round numbers, they go up so fast," Howard said. Here's a rough look at some of those numbers. Read more... |
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Hydraulic Hybrid Systems refocuses on core technologyBy Tom Hacker
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Technology Integration for Truckand Construction Equipment:On-Board Scales
Equipment Maintenance Innovators (EMIGlobal)
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