Rice Logging, Inc.

sVIDEOKomatsu machinery, including a PC270LL thatwe still use as a processor. Each has served uswell, been very productive and costs us littlein downtime.”More recent purchases include the89,730-pound PC290LL-11s that Rice Logginguses to sort logs and load trucks. Doug saidthe main reason for upgrading to the liveheel log loaders was an additional four feet ofreach. Rice Logging also equipped them with58-inch grapples.Operator Tom Lewison loads a truck andgrabs another load of timber with a KomatsuPC290LL-11 equipped with a 58-inch grapple.“The hydraulics are very smooth, so it’scomfortable to operate. The visibility is reallygood. There are no blind spots; so I can see thetracks, which makes it better for spotting thingslike stumps that you don’t want to run over.”Tom added, “The hydraulics are very smooth,so it’s comfortable to operate. The visibilityis really good. There are no blind spots; so Ican see the tracks, which makes it better forspotting things like stumps that you don’twant to run over. The backup camera is agreat feature because I can see what’s behindthe loader without having to turn around. It’sconvenient and saves wear and tear on me.”Great service from Modern Machinery“Newer log trucks have seven-axle trailers,so they are longer. When we loaded with theolder machines, the front of the tracks were upagainst the mud flaps of the rear bunk,” Dougexplained. “The PC290LL gives us 40 feet ofboom and arm, so we avoid that situation,which makes us and the truck drivers happy.Doug recalled that one of Rice Logging’sfirst machines was a Madill 3800C log loaderacquired in the late 1990s. During the last30-plus years, it has added several more.Today they use them for a variety of tasks,including delimbing and cutting logs withthe machines that are equipped with WaratahHTH624C processors.“Fuel efficiency is an added benefit that I reallyappreciate,” he continued. “It is saving us quitea bit in diesel. In addition, it uses very little DEFcompared to a competitive brand we’ve run.”“The power gives me the ability to process ahigh volume of logs per day; it never slowsdown,” shared Operator Jesse Rice of the3800Cs. “I can grab a log, cut the butt off,Discover more atModernUpdate.comContinued . . .5

Continuity of great service is key to success. . . continuedswing and feed at the same time. The newcomputerized Waratah head plays a big role inthat, too. It’s fast and handles big wood with afeed rate of about 19 feet per second, so I caneat through a pile of timber quickly.”the company. We could not have been happierabout it or the fact that Modern would bethe Madill dealer,” Doug continued. “Wepurchased the first 3800C that was built by thenew manufacturer about 10 years ago.”Rice Logging, Inc. purchases their Komatsu,Madill and Waratah products from ModernMachinery. The PC290LL-11s were acquiredwith the assistance of Territory Manager KarlSchaffeld, who replaced Matt Pappin whenhe retired.Focus stays the same“Karl continues to provide us with thesame great service we came to expect fromMatt and Modern,” said Doug. “Karl is veryknowledgeable, and we enjoy working withhim. On the Komatsu side, we like that Moderntracks our newer machines with Komtrax, thenschedules service under Komatsu Care for thefirst three years or 2,000 hours at no charge.That cuts my overhead and keeps me fromrunning our mechanic up to a job site.“Madill shut down about 20 years ago, thencame back after another manufacturer boughtDoug said he’s unsure of Rice Logging, Inc.’slong-term outlook. There is no succession planat this point, although his son recently startedworking in the woods for the company. For theforeseeable future, Doug and his siblings willcontinue to operate the business.“We still enjoy what we do and have noplans to retire or step away anytime soon,”he stated. “Fortunately, we have a greatrelationship with our main customer; theyare well-organized, and have plenty ofjobs prepped out and ready to go. Thereis not a lot of downtime with them, so weare steadily busy. I don’t think that’s goingto change, nor is our focus. As always, itremains on delivering quality logs and goodcustomer service.” Operator Jesse Rice processes logs with a Madill 3800C equipped with a Waratah HTH624C processor. “The power gives me the abilityto process a high volume of logs per day; it never slows down,” said Jesse of the 3800C. “I can grab a log, cut the butt off, swing andfeed at the same time. The new computerized Waratah head plays a big role in that too. It’s fast and handles big wood with a feed rate ofabout 19 feet per second, so I can eat through a pile of timber quickly.”s6VIDEO

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Outlook 2021Construction industry forecasters predict rise in overall startsled by single-family housing, non-building segmentsUUncertain? Cautiously optimist? Upbeat?Construction forecasters are making their bestpredictions with most seeing positive territoryfor overall starts in 2021 as well as significantgains for certain market segments.Dodge Data & Analytics (Dodge) looks themost bullish, forecasting an overall 4%increase in starts. The Portland CementAssociation (PCA) predicts a 0.6% rise. On theflip side, FMI Corp. estimates an 8.7% decline.The Northeast region of the country will bethe most robust, according to Dodge. Itsforecast sees a 14% jump in 2021, followed bythe South Atlantic at plus 5% and the SouthCentral at 4%. It believes the Midwest will beflat, while the West will fall 3%.The industry is coming off a rough year in2020, particularly the first half when COVID-19caused a deep drop in construction starts,according to Dodge Chief Economist RichardBranch in a press release announcing theorganization’s outlook. He said to expectbumps along the way.“While the recovery is underway, the roadto full recovery will be long and fraught withpotential potholes,” said Branch.Low rates spur home building, ownershipSingle-family housing was one bright marketsegment last year, increasing by 4% comparedto 2019. It also seems to be one area of broadagreement among forecasters. Dodge’s outlookhas it rising another 7% to 254 billion, whichwould be its highest since 2007.The National Association of Home Builders(NAHB) appears to concur, forecasting a 3%increase this year, followed by 2% more in 2022.PCA sees a 4% rise in total residential building.“Overall, homebuilder confidence is at adata series high as sales have outpacedconstruction,” said Robert Dietz, Senior VicePresident and Chief Economist at NAHB ina recent Engineering News-Record article.“Housing demand is driven by historically lowinterest rates, demographic tailwinds and adesire for more space, which, in turn, is leadingto construction gains in lower-density markets.”Continued . . .Construction industry forecasters agree that single-family housing will remain strong in 2021 spurred by low mortgage rates. Dodge Data & Analytics sees itincreasing by 7% to 254 billion, which would be its highest since 2007.9

Homebuilder confidence is high. . . continuedThere are opposite indications for multifamilyhousing starts. Dodge has a positive outlook atplus 7%. However, FMI, which sees a declinefor 2021 in single-family, also predicts a 16.7%decrease in multifamily homes, and NAHBsees a 15% drop.Anirban Basu, Chief Economist of theAssociated Builders and Contractors (ABC),wrote in a December 2020 online article forConstruction Executive that single-familyhousing has been and will continue to be abright spot. Similar to others, he sees theongoing decline in multifamily extendinginto 2021.“Among the most buoyant segments atpresent is owner-occupied housing,” saidBasu. “With more and more millennialscoming of age, coupled with the high rateof people looking to social distance, takeadvantage of low mortgage rates and acquireenough space for a home office, housingdemand has raced even higher duringthe pandemic. But that surging demandhas crashed into a dearth of available,unsold inventory, resulting in rapidly risinghome prices and the highest homebuilderconfidence on record.”The picture is unclearwhen it comes totransportation spending,including roads andbridges. Dodge Data &Analytics sees a slightincrease. The AmericanRoad & TransportationBuilders Association,FMI Corp. and the PortlandCement Associationpredict negatives.10Contradictory indications fornonresidential, transportationConflicting outlooks are also evident in thenonresidential sector, which includes offices,lodging and commercial properties, as wellas warehouses, educational, health care andother institutional buildings. FMI, PCA andthe American Institute of Architects (AIA) allsee relatively sizable declines, while Dodgeexpects a 3% overall increase with thewarehouse, health care and office buildingssegments all up more than 5%.Dodge’s optimism also remains for overallnon-building construction with a 7% forecastgain. That market includes highways andbridges, environmental, public works andelectric utilities. It believes the latter categorywill be especially robust with a 35% increaseafter falling more than 40% in 2020. Dodgeindicated that several natural gas exportfacilities and a large number of wind farmsare expected to break ground this year.It projects a slight increase for highwaysand bridges. The American Road &Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)sees it differently. It estimates that highwayconstruction will fall 4.4%, with a decline ofalmost 2% for bridges. FMI and PCA predictnegatives as well.These sectors could be affected by additionalinfrastructure funding.The most recent highwaybill was set to expire in September 2020;however, Congress provided an additional yearof funding as part of a short-term continuingresolution. Biden administration transportationadvisor John D. Porcari said Congress is likelyto seek an increase for core federal programs aswell as others, such as BUILD grants awardedby the Department of Transportation.“I think you need to kind of flood the zonewith more (dollars) on the formula side,more on the competitive-grant side,” saidPorcari during an annual meeting of theAmerican Association of State Highway andTransportation Officials.

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Honored for InnovationSix machines named to magazine’s list of best products deliverimprovements driven by in-the-field customer conversationsWWhat do new intelligent dozers, two excavatorsof vastly different sizes, a specialty pipelayerand two mid-to-large-size wheel loadershave in common? For one, they were namedamong the Top 100 products by ConstructionEquipment magazine. More importantly, theywere built with new efficiency and productionfeatures driven by customer input.Among the prominent machines on the listare intelligent Machine Control 2.0 D51i-24and D61i-24 dozers with integrated GPStechnology that is proven to boost productionby as much as 60%. They feature proactivedozing control that lets operators cut andstrip like an experienced operator from firstpass to last. (See related article on page 13 foradditional features).Large, small excavatorsEarthmoving companies of all sizesappreciate a basic digging machine that’seasily transported from job to job. They likeit even better when the machine offers fastcycle times, deep digging capabilities andhigh production, such as the new PC130-11,according to Andrew Earing, Komatsu SeniorProduct Manager.“Mobility is a real asset with the PC130-11,” saidEaring of the 28,660-pound excavator that digsmore than 17 feet deep. “When a contractorfinishes one job, they can quickly load thisexcavator and be on the way to the next site.When they get there, it’s a matter of minutesto unload and start digging. That increasesproduction time.”He added that the PC130-11 is built with steelcastings in the boom foot, boom nose and armtip for exceptional durability. It is available withplus-one piping as an option, so you can runattachments for a wide range of applicationsand potentially boost profits.The much larger 200-ton class PC2000-11mining excavator is built for high-volumedigging and can move up to 17.9 cubic yards ofmaterial in a single scoop.“Customers told us they want bettermultifunction performance and productivitythan the previous model and the competition,”said Joe Sollitt, Komatsu Senior ProductManager, Mining Support Equipment. “Withmore available engine horsepower, wewere able to increase pump absorption andreengineer the engine pump control logic. Incombination with a more efficient hydraulicsystem, the PC2000-11 can load out morematerial per shift.”Sollitt emphasized that Komatsu designedthe 1,046-horsepower excavator for greaterreliability and durability with thicker, strongerboom plates and castings that are highlyresistant to bending and torsional stress. Thecenter and track frame were strengthened,and it has larger diameter carrier rollersfor extended service life. He added that aground-level service center is standard, and thepower module that service personnel grew tolove was maintained.Loaders prove more productiveEarthmoving companies of all sizes appreciate a basic digging machine that’s easily transportedfrom job to job. They like it even better when the machine offers fast cycle times, deep diggingcapabilities and high production, such as the new 28,660-pound PC130-11.12Komatsu incorporated next-generationtechnology with considerable benefits to makeits new WA475-10 wheel loader an ideal fitfor quarry, waste, infrastructure, forestry andnonresidential applications. Feedback receivedin the field guided improvements, which madeit 30% more fuel efficient than its predecessor,leading to savings that can potentially makeyou more competitive and profitable.Continued . . .

New iMC 2.0 dozers increase productionup to 60% with the ability to useautomatics from grass-to-gradeIntelligent Machine Control 2.0 D51i-24 and D61i-24 dozers feature patent-pending proactive dozing control that automatically cutsand strips from existing terrain like an experienced operator – 100% of the time, from grass to grade. The dozers also have improvedautomation with patent-pending lift layer control, tilt steering control and quick surface creation.Jon Jennings,Komatsu Product Marketing ManagerWWhen experienced operators retire, they take with themtheir knowledge about how to move dirt as productivelyand efficiently as possible.That could potentially slow downyour operations. What if it could be faster for your new orless-experienced operators to become as productive as thosewho left? It’s possible.One of the key attributes of Komatsu’s new intelligentMachine Control (iMC) 2.0 dozers is patent-pendingproactive dozing control that automatically cuts andstrips from existing terrain like an experienced operator –100% of the time, from grass to grade. This technologyincreased production by as much as 60% compared tothe first-generation dozers, according to Komatsu ProductMarketing Manager Jon Jennings.“The ability to use automatics from first pass to last, insteadof just during the finish grading, significantly reduces the timeit takes to reach target elevation,” said Jennings. “Proactivedozing control logic decides the appropriate action, such aswhether to cut and carry material, spread or fill that materialor whether it should finish grade.”The system provides the real-time position of the dozers tothe job site to create a highly accurate elevation for it to drivethe blade to the precise grade needed. During operation,the dozers measure the terrain as they track and use thetrack-level data to plan the next pass.New automation, satellite systemsImproved automation is also part of iMC 2.0, includingpatent-pending lift layer control, which automatically spreadsfill from existing terrain with the press of a button. Much likeproactive dozing control, this feature tracks the terrain anduses the data to plan the next pass, which doubles productionand achieves consistent layers for quality compaction.Additional automation features include tilt steering controlthat automatically tilts the blade to maintain straight travelduring rough dozing, reducing the need for operatorsteering input by 80%. Quick surface creation produces atemporary design surface with one press of a button withoutthe need for a complex 3D model.Other upgrades include a second GPS antenna, whichJennings noted will aid in side-slope work.The new machinesalso gain access to three additional satellite systems.“The biggest advantage is greater overall accuracy,” he said.“More satellite systems increase production through theability to use GPS in places where it may have been a bigchallenge before, such as at the edge of a wooded area orclose to buildings on an urban project.”In addition to the new D51i-24 and D61i-24 models recentlytouted by Construction Equipment magazine as topproducts, the D39i-24 and the highly anticipated D71i-24 thatwas introduced last year at CONEXPO will soon be available.“We had numerous orders for these machines beforethey were available because customers realized howmuch the new dozers will increase their production,” saidJennings. “We encourage anyone looking for the same intheir business to contact their distributor for a demo, moreinformation or to add one to their fleet.” 13

New features improve cycle time. . . continuedThe WA475-10 has 18% greater horsepowerbut achieves increased fuel efficiencywith its Komatsu hydraulic mechanicaltransmission. Contributing to better economyand productivity is the independent workequipment control that simplifies operationby separating the accelerator pedal from thespeed of the work equipment.To further boost productivity, the boom liftforce was bolst

of Astec Industries, Roadtec and Peterson Corp. product lines. Rich Dupuis, Service Manager Kevin Carlson, Parts Manager Karl Schaffeld, Territory Manager Ed James, Territory Manager John Hamlin, Territory Manager Boise, ID Jim Sandercock, Branch Manager Keith Moody, Parts Manager Ryan Rowbury, Territory Manager