1. winter 2013 • www.DoosanEquipment.com
New products, attachments, applications and user stories from your Doosan dealer
DoMORE
®
Contractors adapt to
changes with help from
Doosan heavy equipment
NEW: Excavators, wheel loaders,
hydraulic breakers
INSIDE
Product
specs
On the job:
Doosan excavators
complete urban
utility project
3. Winter 2013 54 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
Doosan continues to deliver an
impressive selection of heavy
equipment with the launch of several
new excavators — crawler and
wheel — and wheel loaders featuring
numerous system and performance
improvements. Advancing product
lines beyond the delivery of interim
Tier 4 (iT4) compliance, Doosan
evaluated markets and listened to
customers about what they need to
be more productive. The results are
exceeding customer expectations.
>>> Crawler excavators
Continuous improvements and updates to Doosan excavators
provide operators with more power, performance and speed.
New Doosan iT4-compliant machines have also been upgraded
to allow operators to customize the excavator to a variety of
working conditions found in rental, site development, commercial
construction and highway/street development applications.
Updated Doosan excavators are equipped with a new electronic
fan clutch, reducing fuel consumption and noise levels, while
providing cooling system efficiency improvements on the
machines. Newer Doosan excavators also include an Electronic
Power Optimizing System (EPOS), four power modes, four work
modes, auto idle and machine diagnostics. Operators can work
more effectively with multiple work modes, easy-to-read display
monitors and precise control levers. The new Power+ mode
provides improved performance and faster workgroup speeds for
heavy-duty work.
Four work modes — digging, lifting, breaker and shear — allow
operators to get maximum efficiency and fuel economy in specific
applications. In the lifting mode, the increased pump torque, low
engine RPMs and automatic power boost provide extra muscle when
lifting materials like pipe or concrete barriers.
Intelligent Floating Boom
A new Intelligent Floating Boom option allows the boom of the
Doosan excavator to “float” up or down, letting the operator focus
more on the task while decreasing the machine workload and
increasing efficiency.
Straight travel, increased speed
A new straight travel option streamlines the travel and transport
of the Doosan excavators. This feature is ideal for the straight
forward and backward travel, which is common in trenching
applications. It provides a single foot pedal in the right front
corner of the cab floor that operates both tracks. Additionally,
the new machines provide speed improvements, offering more
efficient movement around jobsites.
Enhanced operator comfort
Doosan continues to focus on operator comfort with further
enhancements to the Roll-Over Protective Structure (ROPS) cabin.
The door window position slider now locks in various positions,
preventing it from moving from its intended location. The door space
of the cab has increased by 1.8 inches, allowing the operator to get
in and out more easily. The cabin size has increased 6.1 percent,
providing more headroom. The joystick angle has been reduced from
25 degrees to 19 degrees to provide a more ergonomic profile and
decrease interference with operators’ legs.
Additional cab updates include both a height lever and tilting
function for the air suspension heated seat to allow the operator to
find an optimum seating position. The cabin mounting mechanism
has been improved with a thickened dampening plate, and an
internal coil spring has been added to reduce cabin vibration 20
percent, allowing operators to work longer days with less fatigue.
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
DX140LC-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06K
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 109 hp (82 kW)
Operating weight: 31746 lb (14400 kg)
Max. dig reach at grade: 28' (8,5 m)
Max. dig depth: 20' 2" (6,1 m)
Arm digging force: 13228 lbf (6000 kg)
DX180LC-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06K
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 125 hp (93 kW)
Operating weight: 41248 lb (18710 kg)
Max. dig reach at grade: 29' 5" (8,9 m)
Max. dig depth: 20' 1" (6,1 m)
Arm digging force: 20503 lbf (9300 kg)
DX225LC-3
Engine: 6-cylinder Doosan DL06K
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 167 hp (124 kW)
Operating weight: 49604 lb (22500 kg)
Max. dig reach at grade: 32' 5" (9,8 m)
Max. dig depth: 21' 7" (6,6 m)
Arm digging force: 23810 lb (10800 kg)
DX255LC-3
Engine: 6-cylinder Doosan DL06K
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 185 hp (138 kW)
Operating weight: 56659 lb (25700 kg)
Max. dig reach at grade: 33' 5" (10,1 m)
Max. dig depth: 22' 4" (6,8 m)
Arm digging force: 28219 lb (12800 kg)
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
DX140W-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06KB
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 137 hp (102 kW)
Operating weight: 34612 lb. (15700 kg)
Max. dig reach: 24' 11" (7,6 m)
Max. dig depth: 14' 9" (4,5 m)
Arm digging force: 17350 lb (7870 kg)
DX190W-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06KB
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 176 hp (132 kW)
Operating weight: 41446 lb. (18800 kg)
Max. dig reach: 30' 4" (9,2 m)
Max. dig depth: 18' 9" (5,7 m)
Arm digging force: 20944 lb. (9500 kg)
>>> Wheel excavators
DX140W and DX190W
The DX140W-3 and DX190W-3 wheel excavators
combine increased power and performance with iT4
updates, enhancing their ability to complete highway
and street development and site development
projects, as well as have an impact in dealer rental
fleets. The DX190W-3 is also suited for scrap
handling and sewer and water work. Like the new
crawler excavators, these updated wheel excavators
also offer a new electronic fan clutch and Electronic
Power Optimizing System with four work modes.
Outrigger control
Outriggers can be controlled individually to level
the machine on uneven surfaces. The front axle
oscillates and provides excellent steering angles for
maneuverability, but can be locked for better digging
and lifting performance.
New Products
Excavator and wheel
loader introductions include
system, performance and
comfort enhancements
Digging mode Breaker mode Shear modeLifting mode
Impressive
new features
available on
Doosan machines
4. Winter 2013 76 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
Visit www.DoosanEquipment.com for more details about Doosan
excavators and wheel loaders. Find additional product specifications and
approved attachments for excavators and wheel loaders.
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
DL200-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 160 hp (119 kW)
Operating weight: 26810 lb. (12161 kg)
Bucket capacity: 2.6 cu. yd. (2 m3
)
Dump height: 9' 6" (2,9 m)
Breakout force: 22230 lbf. (10083 kgf)
A high-lift model is available for additional dump height
requirements (DL200HL)
note: A tool carrier model is also available (model DL200TC-3)
DL200TC-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 160 hp (119 kW)
Operating weight: 26830 lb. (12170 kg)
Bucket capacity: 2.6 cu. yd. (2 m3
)
Dump height: 8' 10" (3,2 m)
Breakout force: 23040 lbf. (10452 kgf)
DL220-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 160 hp (119 kW)
Operating weight: 28350 lb. (12859 kg)
Bucket capacity: 3 cu. yd. (2,3 m3
)
Dump height: 9' 3" (2,8 m)
Breakout force: 23650 lbf. (10727 kgf)
DL250-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 172 hp (128 kW)
Operating weight: 31900 lb. (14470 kg)
Bucket capacity: 3.7 cu. yd. (2,8 m3
)
Dump height: 9' 2" (2,7 m)
Breakout force: 27120 lbf. (12308 kgf)
A high-lift model is available for additional dump height
requirements (DL250HL)
note: A tool carrier model is also available (model DL250TC-3)
DL250TC-3
Engine: 6-cylinder DL06
Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 172 hp (128 kW)
Operating weight: 31770 lb. (14410 kg)
Bucket capacity: 3.4 cu. yd. (2,6 m3
)
Dump height: 9' 0" (2,7 m)
Breakout force: 25980 lbf. (11784 kgf)
DL300-3
Engine: 5-cylinder DC9
Horsepower: 271 hp (202 kW)
Operating weight: 41204 lb. (18609 kg)
Bucket capacity: 4.2 cu. yd. (3,2 m3
)
Dump height: 9' 4" (2,8 m)
Breakout force: 37993 lbf (17233 kgf)
A high-lift model is available for additional dump height
requirements (DL300HL)
DL350-3
Engine: 5-cylinder DC9
Horsepower: 271 hp (202 kW)
Operating weight: 43762 lb. (19850 kg)
Bucket capacity: 4.8 cu. yd. (3,7 m3
)
Dump height: 10' (3 m)
Breakout force: 37768 lb. ft. (17131 kgf)
DL550-3 (shown below)
Engine: 6-cylinder DC13
Horsepower: 380 hp (283 kW)
Operating weight: 69655 lb. (31595 kg)
Bucket capacity: 7.5 cu. yd. (5,7 m3
)
Dump height: 11' 2" (3,4 m)
Breakout force: 58450 lb. ft. (26512 kgf)
A high-lift model is available for additional dump height
requirements (DL550HL)
>>> New Doosan wheel loaders
enhance performance and
operator comfort
Updated Doosan wheel loaders feature improvements in
performance, serviceability and operator comfort.
Performance updates
Equipped with an interim Tier 4 compliant (iT4) diesel engine,
new Doosan wheel loaders have increased horsepower and lift
capabilities for enhanced performance, helping operators get more
work done in less time. Newer Doosan wheel loaders are also more
fuel-efficient, helping owners reduce costs and improve profits.
A hydraulic locking differential is available as an option to the
standard limited slip differential. The optional hydraulic locking
differential may be locked manually or automatically, based on
ground conditions.
Newer Doosan wheel loaders are equipped with auto idle for
additional noise reduction and fuel savings. The feature reduces the
working idle of the wheel loader by 200 rpm when the machine is
inactive for a short period of time. Conversations between the wheel
loader operator and other employees are much simpler, thanks in
part to auto idle.
Doosan wheel loader operators have the ability to set upper and
lower limits for the lift arm stop positions from inside the cab rather
than setting them outside. This feature is great for working in height-
restricted structures (setting max. height) or repetitive tasks such as
truck loading to increase productivity.
Another common option for select Doosan wheel loaders is a torque
converter lockup clutch. This enables the machine to climb grades
easier and faster, increasing productivity as much as 20 percent in
certain stockpiling applications.
More new options for Doosan wheel loaders include a diesel-
powered coolant heater to improve starting in cold weather or a
block heater that warms the engine coolant before engine startup
with an electrical heater.
Serviceability
Properly maintaining equipment ensures its longevity. That’s why
Doosan wheel loaders have easy-to-access routine service items,
such as fluids and filters, to help owners and operators perform daily
maintenance checks.
The new automatic reversing cooling fan can be set to run in reverse
to assist in keeping the cooling system clean. The operator can
reverse the fan by activating a switch, or it can be set to automatically
reverse on a preset time frame. This is particularly helpful in
agriculture applications where hay and other debris can quickly build
up in the cooling system.
Enhanced comfort
Interior cabin improvements also include a number of multi-function
display panel upgrades on a centralized monitor that allow the
operator to view comprehensive machine system information — such
as engine rpm, engine coolant temperature, fuel level, DEF level,
machine warnings, time and the transmission selected gear.
Operators can quickly glance at all key switches with the application
of a window decal containing all switch icons, and description of their
function. A vital exterior cabin improvement is lowered front-side
glass, providing improved visibility of operations.
With a focus on increasing cab comfort for operators, optional
electric steering decreases operator fatigue during repetitive cycle
operations on the jobsite. A joystick has been added to the left
armrest that allows the operator to control the directional movement
without having to use the steering wheel. A new door threshold
makes getting in and out of Doosan wheel loaders — and cleaning
the inside of the cab — much easier.
5. Winter 2013 98 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
Doosan is expanding its excavator
attachment offerings with two new hydraulic
breakers. The Doosan DXB130H and
DXB190H hydraulic breakers feature an
energy recovery system that increases strike
power for maximum productivity in a variety
of demanding applications.
The nitrogen-powered breakers are
equipped with an upper/lower suspension
system that isolates the power unit from
the housing. The energy recovery system
captures the piston’s rebound energy and
uses it to increase strike power, maximizing
performance. Blank-fire protection is
standard on the DXB130H and DXB190H
and is accomplished by using a cushion of
oil at the base of the piston, which reduces
the metal-to-metal contact in case of a blank
fire situation.
Two-speed control: DXB190H
The DXB190H is engineered with
Doosan’s two-speed control, which also
is available on the DXB260H breaker.
With two speeds, the DXB190H breaker
frequency can be manually adjusted
between low and high frequency settings.
This allows the operator to match the
breaker impact rate to the working
conditions for optimized productivity.
Match a tool to the project
Delivering up to 600 blows per minute,
the 2,822-pound DXB130H is designed
for use with excavators in the popular 15-
and 22-metric-ton weight range. Rated in
the 3,000 ft.-lb. impact energy class, the
DXB130H requires a hydraulic flow rate of
between 23.8 and 37 gallons per minute.
Delivering up to 360 blows per minute
in its low frequency setting or 540 blows
per minute in its high frequency setting,
the 3,698-pound DXB190H is designed
for use with excavators in the popular
21-to-31 metric-ton weight range. The
DXB190H is rated in the 6,000 ft.-lb.
impact energy class and offers a hydraulic
flow rate of between 31.7 and 47.5
gallons per minute.
Protect and perform
The breakers’ suspension system extends
excavator workgroup life by absorbing
harmful vibrations and stress waves. Also,
a patented main valve design reduces
hydraulic pressure peaks that can reduce
pump life, crack excavator workgroup welds
and cause system overheating.
The cradle-mounted grease station
delivers continuous grease flow, reducing
bushing and tool wear while minimizing
maintenance costs and downtime. The
DXB130H and DXB190H breakers also
come with a mounting cap, auxiliary
hydraulic hoses, two moil points, toolbox
and a nitrogen checking device.
In addition to the general purpose moil,
working tools available for Doosan’s
new breakers include a blunt tool, a
chisel and a pyramidal or “nail” point.
A one-year limited warranty is standard
on these breakers.
To enhance your preferences for wheel loader
attachment change mechanisms, Doosan has
expanded its hydraulic coupler line with the
addition of ISO-style couplers.
The ISO-style coupler is compatible with
Doosan general purpose, light material and
multi-purpose buckets, as well as the four
models of pallet forks that are available
for all Tier 3 and iT4 wheel loaders. These
attachments are constructed with heavy-duty
materials and are available in a variety of
styles and configurations to add versatility
to Doosan’s wheel loader line. See the
descriptions below for more details.
DXB130H and DXB190H
bring more muscle to Doosan
hydraulic breaker line
Breaking up rocks, concrete and construction materials is
not as hard to do with two new Doosan hydraulic breakers
Doosan wheel loader
attachment offering expands
New ISO-style hydraulic coupler
now available for use with
Doosan wheel loaders, buckets
and pallet forks
Breaker
Model
Number
Approved
Doosan
Carrier
Operating
Weight
lb. (kg)
Tool
Diameter
in. (mm)
Operating
Pressure
psi (bar)
Flow: min.
gpm (L/m)
Flow: max.
gpm (L/m)
Frequency
(bpm)
Impact
Energy Class
(ft./lb.)
DXB130H
DX180LC
DX190W
DX210W
2822 (1280) 4.8 (124) 2466 (170) 23.8 (90) 37 (140) 600 3000
DXB190H
DX225LC
DX235LCR
DX255LC
DX300LC
3968 (1800) 5.6 (142) 2610 (180) 31.7 (120) 47.5 (180) 360/540 6000
Visit www.DoosanEquipment.com for more information about Doosan attachments.
New Products: AttachmentsNew Products: Breakers
General purpose buckets
• Suited for day-to-day material handling
• 20 models
• Widths from 100.5 to 136 inches
• Capacities from 2.5 to 6.5 cubic yards
• Available with bolt-on cutting edge or
bolt-on teeth
• Sloped bottom design for maximum bucket
filling and material retention
Light material buckets
• Ideal solution for lifting snow, mulch or
other light materials
• Three models
• Widths from 114 to 120 inches
• Capacities from 4 to 5 cubic yards
• Sloped bottom for material retention
Multi-purpose buckets
• Load, carry, dump and doze materials
• Five models
• Widths from 100.5 to 120 inches
• Capacities from 2.5 to 4 cubic yards
• Standard moldboard bolt-on cutting edge
• Choose from bolt-on cutting edge or
bolt-on teeth
Pallet forks
• Lift, carry and place materials easily
• Four models
• 48-in. and 60-in.: DL200 – DL250,
DL250TC
• 72-in.: DL300 – DL350
• 72-in. heavy-duty: DL420 – DL550
The Doosan ISO-style hydraulic coupler expands the
number of attachment offerings for wheel loaders.
6. Winter 2013 1110 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
Need text??
The downtown business district of Iowa’s vibrant capital city is
dissected from east to west by the Des Moines River, a 525-mile-
long tributary of the great Mississippi, and the longest river flowing
through the state. Named for Iowa’s largest city, the Des Moines
River has long beckoned tourists to the downtown area for a variety
of festivals, celebrations and entertainment venues. Now, a recent
infrastructure improvement project promises to further enhance the
downtown experience, affording visitors the opportunity to traverse
both banks of the river for walking, jogging, biking and blading, or
dining at one of several planned riverfront restaurants.
The Principal Riverwalk is a multi-year, downtown improvement
initiative jointly funded by the City of Des Moines, the State of Iowa,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Highway Administration
and Principal Financial Group, one of the city’s largest employers.
When complete, the Principal Riverwalk will feature a 1.2-mile
Des Moines sewer project
underscores commitment to
infrastructure, flood control
Doosan excavator plays a key role in the installation of a much-needed sewer upgrade — in tight
quarters — within the capital city’s vibrant downtown business and entertainment district
recreational trail connecting the east and west
sides of downtown via two pedestrian bridges,
and a 12-foot-wide multi-use trail along the barrier at river level for
joggers and bikers. Night-time lighting and security will turn the
river loop into a 24/7 attraction as downtown Des Moines prepares
to take on a new and exciting recreational role.
The expansion-infrastructure equation
Planning officials agree that while city expansion projects —
especially those designed to attract tourists — are exciting and
beneficial for municipalities, new development can also place
additional strains on existing infrastructures, especially storm
water and sanitary sewer services. The Des Moines Riverwalk
project is no exception. Yet advance planning by city engineers
and cooperative efforts among all parties afforded officials the
opportunity to incorporate a much-needed upgrade to aging sewers
while addressing an ongoing threat posed by the river nearly every
spring — flooding.
After the historic flood of 1993, earthen berms and levees
— many of which had failed to protect the downtown area —
were raised and reinforced. And while the levy enhancements
proved effective in containing the rising water within the river’s
banks during a subsequent flood event in 2008, the aged,
inadequate storm water sewer system was unable to prevent
flood waters from backing up into the downtown area again,
surrounding many businesses. So city officials focused on
developing a solution.
Coined the Court Avenue and Water Street Sewer Separation
Project (no coincidence that Water Street runs parallel to and within
a few feet of the Des Moines River), city officials unanimously
approved nearly $10 million in funding to address the inadequacies
of the existing sewer system. The project includes the construction
of storm sewer along Court Avenue from Water Street west to 2nd
Avenue; then north three blocks to Grand Avenue, and west again
to 3rd Street — a distance stretching approximately six blocks.
The larger storm sewer was specified as RCPP; a reinforced concrete
pipe with a gasketed joint. The deeper sewers are below the river
level and will always have infiltration into the pipe. Also, during
high river levels, the pipe will become pressurized. Therefore,
the gasketed pipe will reduce the infiltration and material being
conveyed into the pipe through the joints.
The first phase from Water Street along Court Avenue and north
up to Grand Avenue was completed on schedule in fall 2011.
H & W Contracting selected subcontractor Rognes Excavating,
based in Ankeny, Iowa, to install the storm sewer portion. The
open-cut method identified for the majority of the project was
influenced mostly by cost. Yet there were also locations along the
sewer alignment in which open-cutting the pipe was not feasible;
hence five trenchless installations were completed along the project.
Rognes Excavating
continued on page 12
Above (leftto right):
Mike Pardekooper,project
superintendent; Cody Rognes,
estimator/project manager
andWarren Rognes,owner
and president of Rognes
Construction,Ankeny,Iowa,
pause for a post-completion
photo at the corner of
Water St.and CourtAve.in
downtown Des Moines,at the
very spot where excavation for
the sewer separation project
began in spring 2011.
A DX225LC rented from RTL Equipment was responsible for
excavating along a busy downtown Des Moines, Iowa, street.
Rognes Excavating
7. Winter 2013 1312 Winter 2013 DoMORE
RTL equipment recommended the Doosan DX235LCR excavator for
the job mainly because of its near-zero clearance capabilities. This
excavator has just 3 inches of overhang and has the ability to maneuver
within inches of construction barriers. — Warren Rognes, Rognes Excavating
Doosan excavator onsite
Rognes Excavating worked with RTL Equipment to secure a Doosan
DX225LC and DX235LCR crawler excavator to complete the
trenching and installation of the 66- and 54-inch reinforced concrete
pipe (RCPP) sewer. The RCPP along Court Avenue is all 66-inch
diameter, while the pipe diameter reduces at 2nd Avenue to 54-
inch for the extent of the upstream pipe.
“There were confined space and lane width considerations given that
this is a high-traffic, often-congested downtown area,” Warren Rognes
says. “RTL equipment recommended the Doosan DX235LCR
excavator for the job mainly because of its near-zero clearance
capabilities. This excavator has just 3 inches of overhang and has the
ability to maneuver within inches of construction barriers. It fits well
into tight spaces and has less tail swing radius.”
“Aside from the compact frame and extended reach, it’s also easy to
perform daily maintenance on the DX235LCR,” Rognes says. “All
of the routine maintenance points are easily accessible, allowing us
to complete daily maintenance more quickly, and keep the machine
running most efficiently. The DX235LCR also has extended vertical
reach that requires repositioning the excavator less often. The extended
arm reach is also capable of loading spoil into high-frame truck boxes.”
Subsurface exploration was critical. As a result, there were no delays
due to utility conflicts. Communication was also an important
component to the project’s success. Contractors, businesses and media
were kept informed continuously, not just about specifics of the
project, but also of progress and delays.
“Aside from some unavoidable traffic backups and congestion during
peak times and a few minor, unsightly inconveniences to the thousands
of Downtown Farmers Market goers, the project went really well,” says
David Kamp, an engineer with the city and instrumental in the design
of the project. “Contractors, workers and the city tried to minimize
inconvenience and mitigate the occasional frustration of drivers and
downtown pedestrian traffic, but some of the challenges were simply
unavoidable. The vast majority of Des Moines residents are unaware
of just how significant this project really is, or what has taken place
underground that now makes the downtown area safer from flooding.
It really is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind sort of thing.”
Visit www.DoosanEquipment.com to learn more about Doosan
crawler excavators.
Change is constant. Nothing could be truer
for contractor Blake Winchester, Winchester
Excavation. The Kaysville, Utah, businessman
has more than two decades of experience
in dirt work, the last six as the owner of
his company. He’s regularly evaluating his
business and making changes to meet the
business climate and customer expectations.
Winchester is able to keep up with customer
demands with reliable equipment, including
a Doosan 225LCV and S75 mini excavator
that he purchased from Mesco, the local
Doosan equipment dealer in Salt Lake City.
With this combination of equipment and a
knowledgeable staff, Winchester has become
one of the area’s best excavating companies.
“We excavate for residential and commercial
site development, including subdivisions,
townhomes, single-family homes and
commercial buildings,” Winchester says. “Two
years (2009 and 2010) were pretty tough, but
2011 was the best year we ever had. I think it’s
because of our ability to meet our customers’
needs. We’ve been called out to jobsites at 2
a.m. because they needed to pour concrete
at 6 a.m. We’re willing to get out and do
whatever it takes, to make sure they can do
their scope of work. We pride ourselves on
integrity and honesty.”
A shift in his type of work has helped
Winchester keep his business in the black.
“We had to adapt to what was going
on,” he says, responding to the declining
housing market in the Salt Lake City area.
“We’ve always done a little commercial,
but the last two years we’ve done a lot
of commercial work. We perform site
development — excavating and grading —
for general contractors.”
Excavating at new shopping center
In 2011, Winchester and his employees were
working at a new open-air shopping center
in Farmington, Utah, called Station Park.
“We were their onsite contractor and we
dug a lot of foundations for new buildings,
plus miscellaneous odds and ends; whatever
they needed done,” Winchester says. “We
did a lot of the building pad preparation and
backfilling for department stores and nearby
strip malls, as well as underground pipe
work and storm drains. We rented a Doosan
DX225LC for use with our two excavators.”
CenterCal Properties was the retail
development company in charge of
constructing the new shopping center.
Farmington is just north of Salt Lake City
and was selected for the new shopping center
because of its location along I-15/Highway 89
and the new UtahTransit Authority Commuter
Rail. According to the company’s website, the
new shopping center consists of approximately
800,000 square feet of retail, entertainment,
restaurant, office and hotel space.
At a second commercial job in Kaysville,
Utah, Winchester installed a new storm drain
and sewer and water lines. The 7-metric-ton
S75 Doosan excavator had the perfect amount
of dig depth and reach for the utility project.
“The machine was just the right size, and the
rubber tracks allowed us to go anywhere,”
Winchester says. “For example, we drove
across sidewalks and curbs and gutters without
damaging the surface. Also, it’s a big enough
machine that it will load a dump truck while
Adapting to change and
exceeding customer expectations
About the DX235LCR
The Doosan DX235LCR crawler excavator is designed to work in confined areas such as next to buildings or near barricades on road
construction projects. Its near-zero reduced tail swing allows it to perform exceptionally well for excavating needs without sacrificing performance.
Below is a quick look at the DX235LCR specs.
• Gross horsepower (SAE J1995): 173 hp (129 kW)
• Operating weight: 53572 lb. (24299 kg)
• Arm digging force: 23810 lbf. (10800 kg)
• Maximum digging depth: 21 ft. 11 in. (6,7 m)
• Maximum reach at grade: 31 ft. 7 in. (9,6 m)
• Maximum dump height: 26 ft. 1 in. (8 m)
Winchester Excavation
How a Utah contractor has changed his business to better serve his customers, and
how a Doosan crawler excavator plays a role in his successful construction company
continued on page 14
Photo by Rich Heki from the Principal Financial Group
DoMORE
8. 14 Winter 2013DoMORE
sitting on flat ground. Due to its size and
ability to get into tight places, yet have the
ability to perform like a bigger machine, made
it very convenient.
“The smaller excavator uses less fuel and has
fewer maintenance costs, without sacrificing
productivity,” Winchester adds.
In 2012, Winchester has been just as busy
with commercial projects. He completed
excavating and grading projects at Promontory
School of Expeditionary Learning in Perry,
Utah — a new K-8 charter school. “We did
all of the site prep at the school,” he says. “We
operated the 225LCV to remove 30,000 yards
of fill dirt and loaded it in dump trucks. We
did that in January, and then we created the
building pad. We have multiple buckets for
the excavators that we match to our excavating
needs, including a 36-inch bucket for the
225LCV.”
For smaller excavating needs and final prep
work, the S75 excavator is a good fit for
Winchester. “Recently, we operated the S75
excavator at the school to finish-grade the site
for the landscaper, and we installed some of
the underground infrastructure, including
sewer, water and storm drains,” Winchester
says. “We have a 1-foot bucket that we use
with the S75 excavator, mainly for digging
trenches for electrical conduit or when we’re
working along an existing foundation.” In
addition to the bucket, Winchester has a plate
compactor attachment for compressing the
soil when he’s done excavating.
While he was finishing the charter school
construction project, he was also excavating
and grading for a building pad for a newTexas
Roadhouse restaurant in Layton, Utah.
Fuel savings
As far as excavators go, Winchester has tried
many brands, but Doosan rises to the top
of his list. “I’ve run every brand of excavator
out there,” he says, “and I have yet to get
in an excavator that impresses me like the
Doosan machines do. One of the biggest
considerations for us is fuel consumption.
The fuel consumption, compared to other
brands, is far less. I’ve told my Doosan dealer
numerous times that a different excavator will
use 80 gallons of fuel in one day. My Doosan
excavator will get two-and-a-third days out of
the 80-gallon tank.”
Winchester purchased his DX225LC crawler
excavator about five years ago and has logged
roughly 4,000 hours. “The Doosan excavator
is really smooth, with easy-to-use controls,” he
says. “I like the balance of the machine. It has
plenty of power for what we use it for, and I
never have to run it at full throttle. It’s just a
good machine.”
Dealer support
A strong relationship with his local
Doosan dealer has played a part in
Winchester’s continued success. He says
it was his dealer who introduced him
to Doosan and lends credibility to the
company’s construction equipment.
“Part of why we got involved with Doosan
was because of Mesco,” Winchester says.
“I’ve done business with Mesco for 20 years,
and when they started selling the Doosan
line, we started running them and we liked
the products. We’ve used them a lot, often
renting loaders and excavators. When I have
friends who need a machine, I send them
to Mesco. I tell them, ‘once you sit in my
Doosan excavator and run it for a month,
you’ll be down there purchasing one.’ I wish
that I could sit in it every day, shut the door
and dig.”
Maintenance matters
Blake Winchester is a firm believer in performing regular maintenance to keep all of his equipment in top shape.“We
faithfully service our Doosan excavator every 300 hours, period,” he says.“That includes changing the oil and filters. It goes
miles toward keeping the machine in good condition.This time of year, when it’s so dusty and hot, we’ll change inner and
outer air cleaners every 150 hours. I just don’t think you can justify what a filter costs versus a major breakdown.”
— Blake Winchester, Winchester Excavation
The fuel consumption,
compared to other
brands, is far less. I’ve
told my Doosan dealer
numerous times that a
different excavator will
use 80 gallons of fuel
in one day. My Doosan
excavator will get two-
and-a-third days out of
the 80-gallon tank.
Like a family
Winchester says many of his employees have
worked for him for 10 or 15 years, following
him from project to project. One person in
particular is his wife, Sandy. He says she has
good business relationships, and that she
has helped put some deals together. “I think
part of our business success has been treating
people right so they can live their life, too,” he
says. “We try to take care of our employees.
I tell them, ‘it’s not my company, it’s all our
company, and it takes all of us to do our part
and make it successful.’ It’s a little like family.”
With loyal employees, reliable Doosan
equipment and dealer support, Winchester will
be able to sustain and grow his business, and
adapt to changing customer requirements.
Visit www.DoosanEquipment.com to learn
more about Doosan crawler excavators.
Utah contractor Blake Winchester changed his
business model, and with two Doosan excavators
took on more commercial work after residential
construction slowed near Salt Lake City.
Winter 2013 15DoMORE
A Doosan S75 excavator was the right size of machine
for excavating needs at a new shopping center in
Farmington, Utah.
Five tips for good customer service
1. Build good relationships with your customers. It’s easier to keep
a customer than get a new one.
2. Practice honesty and integrity, and pay your bills on time.
3. Be willing to adapt to your customers’ needs, even if that means
trying something new.
4. Be responsive. Don’t make your customers wait if you can get
the job done sooner.
5. Train employees to be ambassadors for your company.
From Blake Winchester, owner of Winchester Excavation
10. The boss of the aggregate pit is the newest
wheel loader in Black’s equipment fleet — a
Doosan DL300 wheel loader with 4-cubic-
yard bucket. Black selected the DL300
loader after operating several Doosan loader
models, as well as competitive brands, at the
Doosan Real Operation Center (The ROC),
just outsideTucson, Ariz.
“The DL300 loader is the ideal weight,
horsepower and size for my needs,” Black
says. “I also like the way it is balanced
and proportioned. I had the opportunity
to operate both Doosan and other
manufacturers’ loaders, and the DL300 had
the best torque proportion for my needs.
It’s also reliable, fast and easy to operate.
You don’t have to worry about spinning
the wheels when trying to load the bucket;
everything is proportioned just right.”
Soggy, soggy site
Perched high atop a hill overlooking North
Dakota’s scenic Devils Lake, preparing
the soggy hilltop school site posed greater
challenges than the actual grading,
foundation and utility work. Several
thousand feet of drain tile — positioned
6 to 8 feet beneath the entire 80 acres —
was installed first before excavation and dirt-
moving equipment could even access the site
and grading work could commence.
“All jobs have their own unique things, and
the most unusual about this project was the
wet conditions that one doesn’t normally
encounter at the top of a hill,” Black says.
“It’s hard to describe how the water perches
itself up there, way above the water table.
That had to drain for at least three months
before we could even get up there to dig
footings. The biggest challenge was to get
access to it. Once we got things dried out,
we were able to establish good roads to and
from the site.”
Once drained and dried, Black’s excavation
crews got to work. All told, more than
60,000 yards of dirt were scraped, loaded,
hauled, replaced and leveled before the
footings for the school’s foundation could be
dug. Aside from the actual school building
site, Black Construction was also responsible
for preparing the 550-foot-long, 180-foot-
wide parking lot, a process that involved
installing more than 3,000 yards of gravel
aggregate fabric — including storm sewer
— beneath what was to become, in its final,
finished form, a smooth paved surface with
the capacity to accommodate 150 vehicles.
Aggregate art
The specified aggregate was to be composed
of a precise mixture of various sizes of crushed
stone, sand and gravel. The first step in the art
of aggregate preparation is to locate a pit for
producing the gravel to the specified size. As
an expert in aggregate preparation, Black is
often forced to import rock or other materials
to achieve specifications.
Once all of the materials have been secured,
it’s a matter of crushing, measuring,
blending, binding and spreading. The
materials are blended together and run
through a screen after the crusher. The
crusher crushes the rock to desired particle
size, which is then blended back in with
the other gravels. A screen downsizes the
mixture to ¾-inch particles, required for
Class V aggregate. The mixture is then tested
using the “sieve analysis with wash” testing
method, which shows the percentages of the
materials passing five sieve sizes.
Winter 2013 1918 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
These gradations should fall within the
corresponding range for each sieve size, as
outlined in the aggregate size specifications.
“Once you run it [the materials] through the
crusher, everything is thoroughly blended and
combined,” Black says. “The aggregate is then
tested by an independent laboratory to make
sure the mixture meets specs. Aggregate mixing
is no guessing game. It’s checked continuously
to ensure every batch meets standards.”
According to Black, the Doosan DL300 was
instrumental in preparing the aggregate more
efficiently, allowing his crews to produce more
than 1,000 yards of finished product within
a typical workday. In a matter of three days,
Black’s crews had loaded, crushed, mixed,
blended, hauled and positioned the aggregate
foundation in final preparation for a visit from
the paving crew.
“Since we’ve had the DL300 loader, we
don’t have to worry about keeping the
aggregate plant going,” Black says. It’s
got the bucket capacity, the traction, the
horsepower and the quickness to keep the
loading process moving forward. The cab
is so comfortable and has great visibility.
This loader is an integral part of why our
company operates so efficiently.”
Next up …
Having recently finished their multi-task
role at the school, up next for Black and
his team of excavation, installation and
aggregate preparation experts is a street
repair gig in nearby Maddock, N.D., some
30 miles southwest of Minnewauken.
This will be a return visit for Black, whose
company completed a forced main line
sewer job there previously.
“The street repair project in Maddock is the
type of work that is really turnkey for us,” Black
says. “We have the milling machines to remove
the old asphalt, the excavators to dig it out, the
gravel pits to make the aggregate and the rollers
and dozers to apply it. So it just kind of fits us.
We’ve been fortunate here that the jobs just
keep coming our way. Things are booming here
in the great state of North Dakota. We’ve got it
pretty good up here right now.”
Visit www.DoosanEquipment.com to find
more details about Doosan wheel loaders.
A Doosan DL300 wheel loader is an
invaluable piece of construction equipment
for owner Dean Black.
TOP: Dean Black operates the wheel loader at his construction jobsites, as well as loading materials into a crusher.
BOTTOM: Dean Black’s DL300 wheel loader moving dirt at a new school in Minnewauken, N.D.— Dean Black, Black Construction
This loader is an integral part of why
our company operates so efficiently.
11. Winter 2013 21DoMORE20 Winter 2013DoMORE
An ability to adapt to changing business
conditions and take on new and challenging
projects has helped a western Michigan
construction company survive the Great
Recession and continued regional economic
struggles. Today, two new pieces of orange
Doosan construction equipment are among
the many machines on assignment for
Lounsbury Excavating, Inc.
On top of the national economic crisis
that crippled the United States in
2008 and 2009, Michigan has had its
own set of economic challenges, most
notably a decline in manufacturing in
the early 2000s and again in 2008 and
2009. Michigan has one of the nation’s
highest rates of unemployment. In
the western part of Michigan, where
Lounsbury Excavating does a majority
of its earthmoving and utility projects,
the unemployment rate is slightly
less than the state average. Fruit-and-
vegetable operations and dairy production
are traditionally strong agriculture
cornerstones in these counties, which has
helped keep it below the state average.
50-plus years in business
After returning home from World War
II, Stuart Lounsbury started Lounsbury
Excavating. That was 1946. He purchased
some land and built an office in Paw
Paw, Mich., where today Stuart’s son and
grandsons keep the family-owned and
operated business alive. Michael Lounsbury
is the president and general manager. His
sons Michael L. and Jeff run the day-to-day
field operations as project manager and field
superintendent, respectively.
“I’m the president of the company,”
Michael says, “and I usually take care of the
financial end of it. I help with some of the
more complicated parts of the work when
needed. Our estimator and fourth partner
is Mike Hiestand; he handles the business
development and office management.”
Switch in projects
Commercial projects have always been the
core of Lounsbury Excavating’s business. Since
2008, Lounsbury says it switched from private
to more public projects.
“Although we’ve been pretty slow in recent
years, our work has been 60 percent public
and 40 percent private,” Mike says. “It used
to be the opposite of that. We used to be
primarily a subcontractor on jobsites. We’ve
become more of what I’d call a site general
contractor, where we’re managing the
whole project.
“One example is where we’re taking on
rebuilding parking lots and having curbs and
asphalt put down. We see a lot more of that
coming along now. That’s a change
for us. We’ve done a lot of school
work, and replacing or installing
new storm and sanitary systems,
water lines and water mains. We
just finished a project on a college
sports complex. Currently, we are
getting ready to finish a project on a
county jail. We do some light, local
street work but leave the highway
work alone.”
New Doosan pair in 2012
During the economic downturn, Lounsbury,
like a lot of other contractors, did anything
and everything to keep his business afloat.
“We were conservative,” Mike Lounsbury
says, “and I think the consistency in how we
run our business has helped. We have a good
handle on our costs, especially our machine
costs, labor costs and fuel consumption.”
“I think our size plays a big role in our
success, too, because we’re able to adapt pretty
easily to the changing marketplace, with
different types of equipment,” says Jeff.
Lounsbury Excavating owns an assortment of
heavy construction equipment for excavating
and earthmoving projects: dozers, crawler
excavators and wheel loaders; some of them
with as many as 18,000 hours on them.
In January 2012, new orange heavy
construction equipment arrived at the
Lounsbury headquarters — a DX350LC
crawler excavator and a DL300 wheel loader.
It was the first Doosan purchase for the
Lounsbury family.
“Prior to purchasing the Doosan excavator
and wheel loader, we rented a Doosan
DX140LCR for a while, and then a larger
200-size crawler excavator,” Mike says.
“We were among some of the first in this
area to demo the Doosan excavators.
Carleton Equipment has never steered us
wrong on anything.”
“When we first rented the
Doosan excavator, I called him
(Mike) and said, ‘you’ve got
to come and try this excavator
because it’s so smooth,’” Jeff
says. “The controls were better
than any other excavator I’d
operated before. Our new
DX350LC is a very smooth,
nice machine.”
On a typical day, Jeff operates
a machine about 50 percent
of the time. He’s been able
to evaluate the pluses and
minuses of equipment and
has well-formed opinions of
their abilities. “The limited
slip differential on the DL300 is a good
feature,” Jeff says, “and the DL300 easily
gets into a pile and handles everything that
I can give it. The cab is worlds away more
comfortable than anything else we had. It has
air conditioning, heated mirrors and many
other perks.”
Most importantly, Jeff has seen an increase in
his productivity in the Doosan DL300.
Lounsbury Excavating
continued on page 22
When the going gets
Jeff Lounsbury sits inside the family’s Doosan DX350LC crawler
excavator, where he spends many hours at the company’s jobsites.
tough,the tough
get
left to right: Michael Lounsbury, Mike Hiestand, Michael L. Lounsbury and Jeff Lounsbury.
A Michigan contractor who
previously owned other brands
of heavy construction equipment
selected a new color when it came
time to update his fleet — orange.
He bought a Doosan crawler
excavator and wheel loader, thanks
in part to a long-time relationship
with his local equipment dealer.
doosan
12. Winter 2013 2322 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
He says that in addition to the added
comfort and loading abilities, it uses less
fuel, too. “We’re able to do more work
for the same amount of fuel, per day,” Jeff
says. “Some of our other excavators and
loaders are fuel-eating machines.”
Equipment tandem on projects
Earlier this year, both the Doosan wheel
loader and excavator worked in tandem
at a county jail project. “We did some
bulk dirt-moving, over-cutting of the
site to get rid of bad soils,” Mike says.
“We installed pipe, storm water, sanitary
and water utilities, as well as dug some
retention ponds. We utilized the Doosan
excavator to lift and place an oil grit
separator to take the impurities out of the
storm water before it goes into a stream.”
At another project, the Doosan duo
worked together to redo sports fields
at a local college. “We did a lot of
underground work there, too,” Mike
says. “The excavator was particularly
helpful to backfill some of the big
retaining walls, move dirt and load
out trucks.
Attachments drive versatility
Commonly, the Doosan DL300 wheel
loader is paired with a 4.8 cubic-yard
general purpose bucket for moving
dirt on jobsites or loading trucks. “It’s
a support machine for other functions
on the site,” Mike says. In addition
to the bucket, Lounsbury has a pallet
fork attachment for moving building
materials and pipe.
The DX350LC excavator has a quick
coupler that makes it easy for Lounsbury
to switch between buckets to best match
the digging conditions and required
widths. “We do a lot of underground
pipe work, bulk digging and truck-
loading, and we shape ponds with it,”
Mike says. “We have a 54-inch trenching
bucket with a capacity of 2.25 cubic
yards for the DX350LC. We often
switch buckets when we’re trenching.
For example, when we’re working in a
trench box, we’ll put a narrower 36-inch
bucket on.
“It’s also nice for grading and shaping
banks and slopes, and cutting ponds
for storm water retention. For a big
machine, it’s much more thrifty on fuel
than what we’ve been used to.”
Strong dealer relationship
Decades ago, owner Stuart
Lounsbury conducted business with
an equipment dealer in the area,
Carleton Equipment. Today, Carleton
Equipment is still serving the needs of
contractors in Kalamazoo, including
the Lounsbury family. In the late
1970s, the dealership took on a line
of compact equipment and shortly
thereafter, Lounsbury purchased his
first Bobcat® skid-steer loaders.
“We’ve worked with Carleton
Equipment for years and years, with
the owners and their sons,” Mike
says. “It’s a comfort level. We feel very
comfortable that if we have an issue, it
will be taken care of, even it if means
we need another machine until ours is
fixed. That’s the biggest reason that got
us interested in the Doosan equipment.
And now that we’ve had a chance to
put some hours on them, the machines
do a good job. We expect to get at least
10,000 hours of good serviceable life
out of our equipment.”
Employees at Lounsbury Excavating
have quickly gotten comfortable
operating in the orange Doosan wheel
loader and excavator. “One of our
biggest problems when we bought the
Doosan machines was getting some of
the operators to work in them,” Mike
says. “They couldn’t get past the orange
color. That’s not a problem now. We get
a lot of questions from other contractors
about the Doosan equipment.”
Thanks to Mike and the guys at
Lounsbury Excavating, Carleton
Equipment was able to rent a Doosan
wheel loader to another local contractor.
Even in tough times, it’s important to
take a second look at another color of
heavy equipment.
Visit www.DoosanEquipment.com to
find additional information about
Doosan excavators, wheel loaders and
approved attachments for both types
of machines.
A clear
vision
Rain. Too much or too little can be the bane of
any farmer’s existence. Dean Mount of R&R
Mount Farms has experienced both, but has found
a way for his crawler excavators to balance out
each extreme for the family operation. He recently
used his two Doosan DX340LC excavators during
Iowa’s historically hot and dry summer of 2012 to
correct problems resulting from the devastatingly
wet ones of 2007 and 2008.
Mount Farms
continued on page 24
Preventive maintenance
pays dividends
Lounsbury Excavating owner Michael
Lounsbury believes so strongly in preventive
maintenance that he’s had contracts with
Carleton Equipment for many years. The
reason is simple: Maintaining equipment at
the proper intervals ensures his earthmoving
machines perform at peak levels, even with
tens of thousands of hours.
“The dealer comes to our shop or jobsites
and does all of our preventive maintenance
and service work,” Mike says. “It’s about
$3 an operating hour. All of our major
equipment has GPS on it and we closely
monitor it. The system gives us times for
service, total hours, hours worked on a
particular site and so forth.
“My shop foreman and I will get together
once a week and we review the upcoming
service schedules. The system will start
alerting us at 50 hours, which is about a
two-week window if we’re running fairly
steady. That’s when we’ll schedule the
machine for service.”
A field service truck and a trained
mechanic from Carleton Equipment tend
to Lounsbury’s preventive maintenance
needs. “Lounsbury Excavating keeps very
good track of their equipment, the number
of hours, and knowing where they’re at and
what they’re doing,” says Howard Simmons,
Carleton Equipment.
An Iowa farmer’s Doosan DX340LC
excavators turn severe weather into an
opportunity for the family farm and
shape a second business
13. Winter 2013 2524 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
Protecting the harvest
Partners with his brother, Clint, and father, Rick, the Mounts farm
a total of 3,000 acres in the fertile, rolling hills of southwestern
Iowa. One particular section of 380 acres forms a mosaic of corn
and soybean fields that hug the West Nishnabotna River. Five years
ago, the swollen river jumped its banks and surged through a levy,
swallowing the harvest. Another soggy year followed in 2008, and
nearly every June after has brought monsoon-like rains. With no grass
stand, weeds and volunteer willow trees took root and grew fast in the
wet areas.
By 2012, some willows towered 25 feet high. While the dry spell
— the worst drought since 1936 — had stressed most of Iowa’s
crops, conditions were ideal for clearing the fields’ ditches, erecting
a stronger cross dike alongside a creek bed and resloping a mile-long
levy constructed by a previous landowner. The excavators, each
configured with 2.5-cubic-yard, 54-inch buckets with hydraulic
clamps, formed a powerful one-two punch for removing trees,
clearing brush and reshaping the dike and levy walls.
By clearing the overgrowth bordering the fields, Mount plans to
replant grass and control future growth to better monitor field
drainage. “If you can’t see the drainage out of this bottom field, and
you have a problem, it will drown out on a rainy year and you’ll lose
your crop,” Mount says.
Duping a dozer
R&R Mount Farms has tended fields outside of Riverton, Farragut
and Shenandoah for three generations. The family knows firsthand
the kind of devastation that spring storms can bring to crops and
property. In the flood of 2007, Mount’s grandfather abandoned his
farmhouse as it rapidly became an island. With more storms brewing,
a lightning bolt sparked a fire that completely destroyed it.
His grandfather always preferred dozers to perform clearing on
the farm. “Grandpa thought excavators would be a maintenance
nightmare, but I wanted to try them and I’ve had a good experience.
To me, it would’ve been a nightmare using a dozer for this kind of
work, and it would’ve gotten stuck in some areas,” he says.
Mount says his excavator and key attachments provide more
versatility than a dozer for removing thick growth. Unlike a dozer
blade, the bucket provides more precise control for digging out
trunks and scooping trees, stumps and root balls. The clamp secures
the material, allowing him to place the roots on the outer edges of
the brush piles for rinsing from the rain and better drying before
burning. The clamp and front window guards combine to reduce the
threat of vegetation causing cab damage. “They’ve saved my bottom
window a couple of times,” Mount says.
Mount says his setup keeps his worksite cleaner and increases the
excavator’s productivity. “I always want a clamp if I’m clearing
trees. It speeds up the work and you can shake the dirt out of a
root ball and place a tree higher. With a dozer, your pile would be
three times as wide and full of dirt that won’t burn,” says Mount
who likes the hydraulic attachment’s convenience. “You push a
button and it’s out of your way for dirt work and digging deep
holes, but it’s there at the touch of your thumb if you dig up
something that needs moved,” he adds.
Mount cleared the entire levy wall by positioning the excavator on the
levy’s shelf. The machine’s 22-foot digging depth allowed him to easily
access vegetation in the adjoining ditch below. In the final passes, he
reshaped the wall by pulling dirt to the levy’s top edge. “We moved the
dirt up with the excavators and the dozer rolled it downhill so it would
settle at a slope that we can eventually mow or spray,” Mount says.
Working in tandem with the dozer revealed more advantages. “The
excavator’s engine is so quiet that I didn’t have to open a door or
window to hear the tracks on the dozer coming,” Mount says. Fuel efficiency
has improved also, as the excavator uses approximately 8 gallons of fuel per
hour compared to 12 gallons per hour in the dozer.
Operating in comfort
Once harvest is complete, the excavators will deliver the horsepower to
Mount’s solo venture doing house demolition, digging basements, tiling
and clearing ditches and river bottoms. Operating in a comfortable cab with
controls within reach is important to Mount. “It’s easy to navigate the LCD
screen and find your diagnostics. The cup holder is in a good spot and I don’t
have to turn around to control the radio. There aren’t a lot of buttons to use,”
Mount says.
Building a Doosan tradition
After owning and renting competitive excavators in previous years, Mount
purchased a used DX300LC in 2008 from a Doosan owner in North
Carolina. He sold it to a Nebraska farmer last year and purchased two used
DX340LCs. “Doosan looked like a high-quality machine when I studied
them and talked to people who were knowledgeable about them. I’ve owned
and rented competitive machines and I don’t see the point in spending the
extra money when I have this quality,” Mount says.
The 75,000- to 80,000-pound size is best suited to Mount for securing
transport permits and maneuverability in wet terrain. Those reasons are
significant factors in his upcoming trade-in of the DX340LCs to purchase a
DX350LC from his new Doosan dealer, Bobcat of Omaha. “I’m not going
to spend the money on a used machine when I could buy a new Doosan
model for the price they want for a higher-priced competitive machine. This
is my opportunity to get into a new one and be set up for a very long time,”
Mount says.
And, the Doosan brand has won the stamp of family approval. “Grandpa
said, ‘it’s a lot nicer and I don’t have to do trees with the bulldozer.’ That’s
what it’s for, and since we have a lot of bottom ground, we need one
around,” Mount concludes. Maintaining a rural routine
Servicing any heavy construction equipment in a
rural setting could be a challenge, and because Dean
Mount is 90 minutes from his Doosan dealer, he plans
ahead.“I keep a stockpile of parts just in case I have
a problem,” Mount says.As a former mechanic, his
excavator success can be attributed to daily diligence.
“It’s a machine and you can’t expect it to take care of
itself. I check it over every morning and I’m an over-
greaser,” Mount admits.
Increase your uptime by checking these routine
service items every 8 to 10 hours or daily:
• Filters
• Fluid levels
• Hoses
• Grease points
• Instrument panels
• Electrical devices
Doosan DX340LC owner Dean Mount clears
unwanted trees and brush situated next to his
southwest Iowa farm fields.
ABOVE: Dean Mount’s DX340LC excavator easily knocks down a tree, as part of his land-clearing
project.TOP RIGHT:Thanks to the hydraulic clamp and bucket, Mount was able to lift, carry and
dump organic materials removed near his fields.
14. Winter 2013 2726 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
After more than five years of successfully completing a variety
of challenging excavation projects with the Doosan DX225LC
excavator he purchased in 2007, Ewald Rothmaier describes
it as “the perfect balanced machine”
Turnkey
excavation
For the past 23 years, Ewald Rothmaier
has served as a full-time independent
contractor for Wellington Construction,
headquartered in Palmerston, Ontario.
Wellington Construction specializes
in heavy civil construction projects,
primarily water and wastewater treatment
facilities and structures. With Rothmaier’s
specialty in excavating, concrete work and
water and sewer installations, the success
and longevity of the two-plus decade
partnership is well founded.
As an experienced excavation expert and
construction veteran of more than three
decades, Rothmaier has witnessed several
notable equipment advancements over
the years, including enhancements to
hydraulics, chassis/frame design, ease of
operation, ergonomics and fuel efficiency
— just to name a few. But according to
Rothmaier, rarely does an excavator come
along that combines so many important
features into one efficient and reliable
hydraulic excavator package.
“We just run them, and run them some
more, and I haven’t had any major issues
with Doosan excavators,” Rothmaier
says. “I encounter conditions that will
challenge any excavator and, to tell you
the truth, of all the models I’ve owned
previously, the DX225LC — in my
opinion — is a superior machine. It’s
big enough to do bulk work, but it’s
small enough to get into tight places. It’s
efficient, reliable and very durable.”
Service … regardless of the sale
Rothmaier’s relationship with Doosan
began long ago when he owned another
brand of excavator that was in dire need
of service. A fellow construction comrade
had been doing business with CG
Equipment, based in Zurich, Ontario,
for several years and suggested Rothmaier
get in touch with them.
“Even though it wasn’t an excavator
manufacturer they represented, the good
folks at CG Equipment said they could
help me out,” Rothmaier says. “They
have a top-notch service department
and were so willing to accommodate.
The excavator was similar to Doosan
equipment, which CG Equipment sells.
“They were able to accurately diagnose
the problem and knew exactly how to fix
it, since the machine was so much like
Doosan equipment. It turned out to be
one of the best calls I’ve ever made.”
A few months later, with the repaired
excavator having surpassed the
10,000-hours-of-operation benchmark
— and a solid 18-month project on the
horizon — Rothmaier found himself in
the market to expend his fleet. Rothmaier
did his homework, including side-by-side
and feature-to-feature comparisons of
excavator models offered by three different
manufacturers. The features and benefits of
the Doosan DX225LC matched up well to
other brands that Rothmaier reviewed.
“In addition to myself, I have two other
guys who run the excavators; ease of
operation, especially in tight, confined
spaces, is critical,” Rothmaier says. “The
controls on the Doosan are so much lighter
than all the other equipment. For speed
and operation, everything really comes
together in such a nice, fluid motion with
the DX225LC.”
Engineered for accuracy
Focusing primarily on excavation work,
Rothmaier is often on sites that involve
encounters with numerous existing utilities
infrastructure. Accuracy — the ability
to operate a bucket or ripper as precisely
as possible — is crucial. At the core of
operational accuracy is operator comfort
that begins with improved ergonomics
designed to maximize comfort, along with
excellent visibility, providing a safe and
pleasant working environment.
“I especially like the lightness of touch,
specifically as it relates to joystick
operation,” Rothmaier says. “I was shocked
at how much more effort it took for me to
run the controls of other excavators. But
it’s not just the accuracy and efficiency with
Doosan, it’s also ergonomics. The guys are
not as tired at the end of the day, so yes,
there’s greater efficiency that lasts longer
throughout the day because we’re not
fighting the machine all the time.”
Performance
The performance of the DX225LC also
has a direct link to productivity. Its high-
pressure common-rail engine and Electronic
Power Optimizing System (EPOS) of
hydraulics have combined to create a
highly productive hydraulic excavator,
with a cost/performance ratio that makes
the DX225LC even more appealing for
excavator enthusiasts like Rothmaier.
The DX225LC’s diesel engine produces
155 horsepower at only 1,900 rpm, and
more torque, due to its design combined
with high-pressure common-rail fuel
injection and four valves per cylinder.
These features help optimize combustion
and minimize pollution through reduced
particulate emissions. And increased
torque allows for more efficient use of
the hydraulic system by providing faster
working cycles that enhance productivity.
The EPOS system electronically links
to the engine’s electronic control unit,
enabling a continuous exchange of
information between the engine and
hydraulic system. The result is perfect
synchronization, where electronic control
of fuel consumption optimizes efficiency
and enables fuel savings.
Ease of maintenance
The DX225LC has been designed to
simplify access to daily maintenance
points, while extending short maintenance
operations to longer intervals. The engine
oil filter, for example, offers a high level of
filtration, allowing the oil change interval
to be increased to 500 hours. The oil filter
is also easy to access, and is positioned
to avoid contaminating the surrounding
environment. Access to the cooling system
is also easy, making cleaning less difficult.
Arm grease points are grouped and
centralized for easy access.
“Greasing takes less than 15 minutes
because the various zerks are grouped
within a central location,” Rothmaier
says. “Keeping an eye on all the fluids is
also easy. By simplifying the maintenance
points, there is a greater likelihood that
operators will be more diligent about daily
servicing. It’s easy to justify ignoring a
service maintenance point if it’s hard to
reach, or worse yet, out of sight.
“Any of the heavier maintenance chores, I
have CG Equipment handle. If I know
I’m having a heavy operational year, I
try to get the machines in once a year
to CG Equipment and they will take
care of flushing radiators, draining and
replenishing all fluids, and service the
hydraulics and drives; all the bigger
stuff. The biggest thing I can say about
CG Equipment is that those guys keep
me running.”
In addition to his DX225LC, Rothmaier
owns and operates a Doosan DX340LC.
“The DX340LC I have is a much older
machine, but that thing is still really
smooth,” he says. “It is just a joy to run.”
Visit www.DoosanEquipment.com to learn
more about Doosan excavators. The website
has a complete list of attachments approved
for Doosan excavators.
Wellington Construction
A Doosan DX225LC excavator owned by
Ewald Rothmaier is used to load dirt into
a nearby truck. Rothmaier operates the
crawler excavator at a variety of heavy
civil construction projects, for general
excavating assignments.
15. Winter 2013 2928 Winter 2013DoMORE DoMORE
As a Doosan customer, there’s a good possibility
your first exposure to the brand happened as
a result of doing business with a rental branch
location. Perhaps you needed an excavator
equipped with a hydraulic breaker, or you
specified a 2-yard wheel loader and a Doosan
machine was delivered to your jobsite.
That market presence will continue to grow
through a partnership between Doosan and
Neff Rental, one of the largest renters of
earthmoving equipment in the country. With
an expansive geographic footprint, Doosan
excavators, wheel loaders and other Doosan
equipment are stocked in Neff Rental’s
network of 68 locations throughout the
United States.
According to Steve Michaels, VP of fleet
management at Neff Corporation, this heavy
equipment relationship is designed to provide
Neff Rental’s application-driven customers with
more solutions to their specific project needs.
“We have a significant investment in all three
lines — Doosan Heavy, Bobcat and Portable
Power — with multiple models and sizes in
each group. Neff Rental and Doosan provide
the right combination of specifications,
attachments and accessories for our customers
to customize their equipment,” Michaels says.
Strategic alliance values
relationships
Michaels is quick to point out that taking
care of contractors in a competitive rental
industry for a variety of earthmoving
applications, as well as general and niche
construction markets, means aligning with
manufacturers whose products can help
them successfully facilitate business.
“Customers are looking for reliability,
dependability and outstanding service from their
trusted rental company. They depend on us to
provide a solution to their needs with a product
that fills that need,” Michaels says.
The alliance between Doosan and Neff Rental
demonstrates how rental companies can
collaborate with selected manufacturers to
deliver a valuable service to end-users.
“The rental business is really a service business,”
Michaels says. “It’s taking a commodity or
product, and turning it into a whole service
from the time the order is taken, finding the
right solution to delivery, to pickup, to billing,
to maintenance,” he says, “and all those services
are provided by the rental company with the
manufacturer’s product. So it’s kind of a joint
marketing or a joint service process.”
After years of purchasing other brands of heavy
equipment for earthmoving and construction
applications, the Doosan brand has gained
credibility and market share among Neff
Rental management. Based on past history
with Bobcat® compact equipment, Michaels
lists several good reasons to have confidence in
meeting their customers’ demands.
Neff Rental and Doosan strategic alliance delivers customized solutions
to application-driven customers
Right combination, right time
“Having a relationship with Bobcat Company
absolutely propelled the product,” Michaels
says. “Their past product support programs and
market share all lent credibility. So, it opened the
door to explore Doosan.”
Application-driven customers
Michaels explains that the Doosan heavy
equipment focus has allowed Neff Rental to
build a very full and diverse product offering
that strengthens its inventory. “It’s allowing us
to streamline vendors and provide significant
volume to leverage our competitiveness in the
marketplace,” Michaels says.
To those product advantages, Michaels observes
that Neff Rental brings a strong customer service
reputation. “Given the support and training
from Doosan, along with the customized
programs for complete ownership, we are
extremely confident that the Doosan product,
along with Neff support, will prove to be a solid
investment in our fleet,” Michaels says.
The partnership is built from a foundation of
equipment that includes three full product
lines that perform very specific applications,
yet provide versatility. Michaels points to the
Doosan wheel excavators as an example. “When
you need a wheel excavator, it’s either a highway
road job or it’s a general construction job. So, it
really has two different uses,” Michaels says.
Customers often specify these excavators for
certain types of road projects and other specialized
excavating on jobsites where existing pavement
may require the use of rubber tires. Additionally,
wheel machines are advantageous for transporting
a machine between jobsites — eliminating the
need for trailering.
Excavators and even wheel loaders can easily
be customized to a project. “In today’s world,
attachments such as hydraulic breakers, grapples,
clamps and buckets, and having easy access
to switch these attachments with coupling
systems all provide the necessary tools to satisfy
a diverse application-driven customer group,”
Michaels says. “It’s about tailoring the machine
with accessories and attachments that allow the
product to be like a Swiss Army knife,” he adds.
Beyond product, Doosan has provided
Neff Rental staff with tools such as
application, technical and diagnostic training
to complement the product knowledge.
Doosan instruction also focused on market
applications and attachments. “We learned
the different types of attachments that can
adapt the machines to different industries,”
Michaels says.
Rental trends look positive
Michaels and his colleagues at Neff Rental are
bullish about the growing demand for rental
transactions going forward. “In general, the
secular trend that everybody talks about in the
industry as the economy slowly recovers and
projects are on an uptick is the shift we see from
traditional ownership to rental,” he says.
As customers evaluate their purchasing and
rental choices, Michaels and his colleagues
remain confident that the Doosan and Neff
Rental partnership represents a viable option.
“Doosan offers reliable equipment with solid
factory support. Add that to Neff’s strong
customer relations, service capabilities and
customization to our customers, and you have
a win-win,” Michaels concludes.
Neff Rental
Advantages of renting
Renting a piece of heavy
earthmoving equipment can be
intimidating, but Neff Rental
employee Steve Michaels says
it can be to the individual’s
advantage to rent before
purchasing a machine. He says
it’s easier for some customers
to write a check at the end of
the month for a rental, rather
than making the investment in a
purchase. Renting may provide
more flexibility in a customer’s
monthly cash flow. Additionally,
Neff Rental takes responsibility
for keeping up with advances in
Tier 4 technologies and OSHA/
ANSI training required for safety
compliance (add maintaining
inventory, storage, maintenance,
delivery and pickup of
equipment) as well as financial
and tax issues. Michaels
says customers can rent the
equipment they need for a
particular job or time period and
leave all the ownership issues to
Neff Rental.
A DX340LC crawler excavator was rented from Neff Rental for use at a demolition project at Emory University.
AnAtlanta area demolition contractor scooped debris in
a bucket and used a hydraulic clamp to grab materials
before dumping them into a trailer.The clamp was
especially helpful to handle odd-shaped objects.
Neff Rental
17. 32 Winter 2013DoMORE
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