Komatsu America Corp. announced the addition of the new WA480-6 wheel loader with Large Capacity Torque Converter to its fleet. With a net horsepower of 299 HP, the WA480-6 has an operating weight of 55, 920 to 56, 340 pounds and a dumping clearance of 10’6” when equipped with a 6.0 yd³ general purpose bucket.

The new wheel loader comes equipped with the latest KOMTRAX® technology which monitors a variety of machine operating information including daily fuel consumption, working hours, hour meter, location, cautions and maintenance alerts. Utilizing wireless technology, KOMTRAX relays this information to a secure website for analysis, thereby increasing machine availability, reducing the risk of machine theft, and allowing for remote diagnosis by the distributor.

The WA480-6 has a newly designed Large Capacity Torque Converter that provides the machine with excellent tractive effort, improved acceleration and improved hill climbing ability. Because of the increased tractive effort, the machine has greater productivity in V-cycle applications. The improved hill climbing ability allows the machine to up-shift gears faster due to improved acceleration, achieve higher gear ranges and maintain higher ground speeds when working in load-and-carry or hopper feeding applications. In either application, production is increased and fuel consumption maximized resulting in improved fuel efficiency (tons/gal).

The WA480-6 is powered by a Komatsu SAA6D125E-5 diesel engine with an Electronic Heavy Duty Common Rail fuel injection system that provides fast throttle response while optimizing fuel combustion. The engine is EPA Tier 3 emission certified without sacrificing power or machine productivity.

The WA480-6 is designed with a wide and spacious cab to reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity. The wide pillar-less flat glass affords excellent front visibility, and the wiper arm covers a large area for excellent visibility on rainy days. The cab’s low-noise design of 72 dB(A) creates a comfortable working environment. With its built-in ROPS/FOPS structure to protect the operator, the new roomy cab is mounted with Komatsu’s unique viscous mounts to keep noise at a minimum and provide a low-vibration, clean operating environment. The layout of the cab has also been improved for easy access to levers, and the air conditioner has been relocated to the front of the cab to increase seat reclining and backward slide adjustment.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Friday, May 8th 2009

A megayacht slip has sold for a record $4 million at Key Largo’s prestigious Ocean Reef Club, announced Russell Post, President of Russell Post Sotheby’s International Realty who represented both parties during the transaction.

The $4 million slip, located on the T-Dock, can accommodate yachts up to 165 feet in length. The previous record sale at Ocean Reef for a similar size dock was $2 million.

“In spite of the economy, the demand for megayacht slips has not waned. There are only a few marinas like the one at Ocean Reef that can accommodate a vessel of this size while also offering the privacy and security of a private club,” said Post.

A yachtsman’s paradise, the exclusive Ocean Reef Club offers a 175-slip marina with 24-hour security and all of the amenities of a world-class yachting facility. Ideally located near the Gulf Stream and North America’s only living coral reef, the Club’s surrounding waters offers superior deep-sea, reef, flats and back-country fishing in addition to great diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, and windsurfing as well as easy access to the Bahamas and Caribbean islands.

Post specializes in high-end residential real estate at Ocean Reef Club where sales to captains of industry top $20 million for oceanfront compounds in the private community offering amenities like a private air strip, two championship golf courses, medical center, academy, chapel, cultural center and five restaurants. Post has other slips for sale, including one that can accommodate yachts up to 110 feet in length.

Russell Post Sotheby’s International Realty is located at 35 Ocean Reef Drive, Suite 120, Key Largo, Florida. For more information visit the Web site at www.russellpostproperties.com or www.sothebysrealty.com.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Sunday, May 17th 2009

Al Fajer Properties (AFP) announce completion of the superstructures for phase 1, five of its nine towers, in record time. The 5 Jumeirah Business Center (JBC) towers, once handed over, will add 2 million sq ft of office space and an additional 83,000 sq ft of retail space within the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) Community. This tremendous achievement comes within the last 12 months since disbanding the old management team coupled with an extensive restructuring of the company.

The strengthening of the company’s balance sheet by AED 3.2 billion well before the global financial crisis makes AFP today one of the strongest developers in the local market owing purely to its decisive course of action, implemented within the first 90 days of the new management team coming on board.

Even though AFP felt the impact of the well known national cement shortage, the extraordinary efforts by Al Ahmadiah Contracting (AFP’s main contractor), enabled the project to achieve a rate of a 4-day cycle per floor for phase 1, which today has resulted in 5 towers being built in a span of twelve months. Two of the superstructures in phase 1 are currently in the process of having their construction cranes dismantled with the scheduling of all construction cranes to be removed across the 5 towers by the end of the month. Phase 1 is due for hand over in the last quarter of 2009 with deployment of phase 2 – JBC 6 and Ebony/Ivory towers, well underway.

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum was quoted as saying, “We have achieved our most significant milestone to date and I am extremely pleased with the results. I would also like to thank all the various project teams involved in helping us to reach this goal since the change in management. Our results are testimony to what proper management and a Tier 1 rated construction company can achieve in record time.”

Andre Van Schalkwyk, Project Director of Al Ahmadiah was quoted as saying, “This could only have been achieved through the streamlined processes and standards created by the new management team along with effective decision making and timely execution. We are proud to be part of such a great achievement.”

AFP is the premier developer in the Dubai World DMCC Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) community and is the only developer to include a 5-floor atrium within the lobbies of its towers. Its 9 towers, situated within a free- zone, once completed will offer high-end commercial properties attracting both large local companies and multi-national organizations from around the world. The unique state-of-the-art facilities of the JBC Towers cumulatively offer exclusive freehold offices totaling a leaseable area of 3.6 million square feet and an additional 150,000 square feet dedicated to retail across all 9 towers.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Monday, May 4th 2009

The Manitowoc Grove GCK3045 has a 45 t maximum capacity and a 34 m boom. It also has a smooth running lower works which offers road speeds of up to 80 km/h, for swift movement between job sites, and features such as crab and cramp steering, for better on-site maneuverability.

The GCK3045 offers a number of innovations that make it a uniquely advanced and flexible crane:• No additional counterweight needed. Designers located the 330 kW engine in the crane’s superstructure allowing it to act as counterweight. • Asymmetric outrigger settings. This capability gives users more flexibility in narrow areas. • A “twist jib.” The GCK3045’s jib attaches after rotating below the boom, as opposed to the more common swing away style, which rotates sideways and requires side clearance.

This attention to detail helped convince Martin van Riel that the GCK3045 would be a profitable addition to his crane fleet.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Sunday, May 17th 2009

MovinCool announced that it has upgraded all models in its Office Pro® and Classic Plus lines of portable spot air conditioners, as well as its latest ceiling-mounted CM12 model, to use the environmentally friendly refrigerant R-410A. Unlike hydrochlorofluorcarbon-based refrigerants such as R22 (Freon), R-410A does not contain greenhouse gases, which contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.

MovinCool’s portable spot air conditioners provide emergency, supplemental and seasonal cooling and moisture removal for a wide variety of applications, including server and telecom rooms, data centers, offices, warehouses, assembly lines, manufacturing processes and outdoor events. In addition, MovinCool’s ultracompact, ceiling-mounted CM12 spot air conditioner offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for applications where space is at a premium, such as server and telecom closets. For more information, visit www.movincool.com.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Monday, May 4th 2009

The Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Regensburg now has yet another attraction. In the newly refurbished conference room known as the “Light” room, linear modules with Golden Dragon LEDs from OSRAM are used to create any lighting of any mood, color and intensity. The LED modules are concealed behind a large panel. Depending on the purpose to which the room is being used, they can provide bright light for concentrating, soft calming light or exciting color sequences. The wall can also be used as a projection surface. OSRAM Opto Semiconductors completed the project together with LI-EX (LED Light Design Expert).

The background lighting for the panel is provided by linear modules containing Golden Dragon LEDs in red, green and blue. They produce colored light directly without the need for filters and therefore with no loss of efficiency. The result is powerful vibrant colors. Countless lighting moods can be created in any color and any brightness. It is even possible to set up smooth color transitions through the entire spectrum. Thanks to their small size the LED modules can be integrated inconspicuously behind a panel. They are dimmable, extremely durable (with a life of around 50, 000 hours) and virtually maintenance-free. These semiconductor light sources are therefore ideal as illumination and design elements, particularly for integration in lighting panels and other architectural structures.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Sunday, May 17th 2009

The Dallas Cowboys’ spectacular new stadium in Arlington, TX, slated to open in June, will rely on communications network infrastructure from CommScope to support all of the stadium’s core operations and communications requirements for fans, staff and public safety officials.

The state-of-the-art venue, scheduled to open June 2009, will use CommScope’s SYSTIMAX® high-performance network solutions to create the world’s largest internet protocol television (IPTV) installation and operate the stadium’s data center and other technical operations. In addition, the stadium will feature an extensive in-building wireless communications network from Andrew that will provide complete cellular coverage in the stadium and its surrounding property for all spectators and team officials, coaching staff, employees and public safety agencies.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Friday, May 8th 2009

CertainTeed delivers greater design flexibility with the addition of a neutral color, Almond, to its line of Chesterfield with CertaStucco™ vinyl privacy fence. Featuring traditional stucco styling in an economical easy-care design, the Almond fence seamlessly coordinates with deck, railing, siding and trim colors, while also complementing stone and brick wall finishes.

Chesterfield with CertaStucco, a cutting-edge stucco alternative, doesn’t crumble, peel, chip or crack due to settlement and will not stain like traditional stucco fences. It’s virtually maintenance-free and never needs painting. It is easy to install, with less impact on homeowners since there’s no mess or cost involved with digging a foundation or applying a finish.

Chesterfield with CertaStucco is also available with CertainTeed’s exclusive WindZoneTM design, for exceptional performance in high wind conditions. Along with Almond, it is also available in Mission Ivory.

Chesterfield with CertaStucco is backed by CertainTeed’s outstanding lifetime limited warranty with SureStart™ protection, which covers warranted repair and replacement costs for five years after installation.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Sunday, May 17th 2009

The new BEHR Premium Plus Ultra Interior line features a hand-selected, designer-inspired palette of 386 colors, including English Channel #UL230-2 (wall) and Heavy Cream #UL140-14 (trim) shown here. BEHR Premium Plus Ultra Interior is a new paint and primer and one developed to provide homeowners the utmost quality and added convenience and is available at select The Home Depot stores in a variety of sheens, including flat enamel.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off

Friday, May 8th 2009

Design 4 Others, (D4O), a volunteer organization of HDR CUH2A professionals designs and oversees the renovation and modernization of medical diagnostic laboratories in Tanzania, Africa. These projects were selected for “Honorable Mention” in the first “Inspirations Awards” program held by Contract Magazine. The Inspirations Awards recognize socially responsible design and actions by the commercial architecture and design communities. Jennifer Busch, Editor-In-Chief of Contract, said, “We believe that the design industry’s current emphasis on sustainability should be expanded to include the more holistic concept of social responsibility. We are committed to raising awareness around socially conscious design, and it is exciting to see these types of efforts recognized with a national competition and tangible support.”

To expedite the improvement of 23 regional diagnostic labs, the Abbott Fund Tanzania, Abbott Laboratories, Design 4 Others, and Landplan-Icon, the local architectural firm, formed a partnership dedicated to the project. Abbott Fund has committed financing to Tanzania’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for a nationwide modernization of these labs over three years, upgrading to provide standard diagnostic testing, lab services, and training not previously available. The D4O team has completed four labs in Tanzania, with 19 more expected by 2010.

HDR CUH2A is the most comprehensive professional services firm dedicated to design and creative problem solving for complex science and technology facilities, including specialty niches in nanotechnology and bio-containment. HDR CUH2A has designed over 200 million square feet of research and development, and healthcare space worldwide in fulfillment of our mission to better the human condition.

Posted in Home Improvement | Comments Off