Karl Moilanen of Cloverdale Equipment Co. in Oak Park, Mich., bought a Triple-L from Madison Heights, Mich.-based National Ladder for use in his rental center. Before Moilanen purchased the Triple-L, he used a wood deck trailer for delivery, which was modified with a dove-tail on the back and had landscape ramps for loading. This worked for some applications, but Moilanen found that he needed to mount a winch on it for others. Sometimes when he went to pick up electric-powered machines such as scissorlifts off rental, they weren't fully charged, and didn't have enough power to be driven up the ramp onto the trailer. They then had to be pulled onto the trailer with the winch. "Now, since the bed on the Triple-L trailer lowers to the ground, one person can load just about anything."

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For Contractors
Air tools
A new line of air tools from Kaeser Compressors includes paving breakers, rock drills, trench diggers and more. The new ergonomic paving breakers are available in 40-, 60- and 90-pound models. These tools offer reduced fatigue, increased productivity and reduced noise, without compromising performance or price, the company says. The valves, pistons and other moving parts are made from shock resistant tool steels and are heat-treated to a specified Rockwell hardness for exceptional toughness and durability. This line of air tools complements the Kaeser Mobilair portable compressors, including the new M57 model.

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Scarifier
Edco's CPM-8 scarifiers clean, texture, repair and prepare surfaces of concrete, asphalt or metal for new overlays, paints, waterproofing membranes or epoxy installations. The CPM-8 can work at rates of 350 to 500 square feet per hour and uses a smooth-operating, interchangeable drum assembly to remove old surfaces and leave uniform texture.

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Paving breaker
The MPB-90 AFS paving breaker from Sullair is ergonomically designed with a hinged anti-vibration handle that reduces vibration by as much as 60 percent to lessen operator fatigue without any loss of power. Vibrations are reduced by crossed handles that swivel on two pins located on either side of the breaker head. Helical springs prevent direct contact between the handles and the body of the breaker, allowing the springs to act as effective isolators. Other features include handle guards to prevent operator hand contact with the flex joints. A unique super-silent muffler reduces noise levels by 6 dBA and prevents the tool from freezing. Its direct impact design delivers more impact energy pound for pound than conventional breakers, according to the company.

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Compactor drum
Bomag Light Equipment introduces an exclusive polygonal drum option for its BMP851 multi-purpose compactor. Engineered to increase both compaction performance and gradeability, the polygonal drums combine the benefits of a flat-surface plate compactor with the abilities of a drum-style compactor. The polygonal drums are designed to fit the same bolt pattern as standard BMP851 drums and can be installed after removing the scraper bars. The polygonal drums provide a working width of 33.5 inches and can be used on both granular and cohesive soil types.

Mark Lee, owner/founder of Mark Lee Construction in Alexandria, Minn., owns two of the BMP851 rollers and used the polygonal drums in a 12-foot-deep, 15-foot-wide trench that would eventually contain 200 feet of water line for a home improvement store. "The polygonal drums made a big difference," says Lee. "They worked just fine in the sand. And we ended up using the roller for a lot of different applications on that job, from compacting trenches and footings to backfilling around the building foundations."

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Blades
Wacker's diamond blades are offered in 136 combinations to meet dozens of applications and budgets. The line is color coded by quality, and each blade is clearly marked with the application for which it is designed. The diamond blade line can be generalized in four qualities: standard (red), heavy-duty (black), ultra (yellow) and extreme (blue). Wacker also has a line of 16 abrasive blades with the choice of 12- or 14-inch diameters for multiple applications.

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For Homeowners/Light Contractors
Light
The new BL2000 balloon light from Ingersoll-Rand is a self-inflating illumination unit designed for a number of applications including construction, disaster relief, drilling, guard rail installation, landscaping, mining, paving, and road repair and maintenance. It diffuses a strong glare-free light over a 360-degree area. It has a diameter of 43.3 inches and when placed on an optional mounting system stands 7.5 to 15 feet tall, covering up to a 15,000-square-foot radius. Its 2,000 watts of power are supplied by either a 10-amp, 230-volt source for one lamp or a 20-amp, 110-volt source for two lamps.

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Miter saws
Makita introduces two new 12-inch miter saws to its lineup, models LS1214 and LS1214F. The saws have a cutting capacity of 4-1/2 inches maximum cutting depth in addition to other enhancements. Equipped with dual rails with linear ball bearings, and a 15-amp motor that produces 3,200 rpm, the saws also feature a soft-start feature and electronic speed control to maintain constant speed under load. The LS1214 and LS 1214F also feature a pivoting fence that supports materials for miter cuts, yet easily pivots out of the way for bevel or compound cutting.

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Floodlight
The new Triple Halogen Model S10170 floodlight from Bull Dog Power Products features three 500-watt weatherproof fixtures on a mast that telescopes from 3 feet to 7 feet. In addition, the center light fixture detaches for floor duty. It has its own 16-gauge heavy-duty cord and a sturdy steel base. Light heads are fully adjustable and have their own on/off switches.

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Circular saw
The new 8-inch metal cutting circular saw from Milwaukee Electric Tool is equipped with fast-cutting Cermet-tipped blades and produces a virtual spark-free wake and cool, and burr and scorch-free edges that don't require post-cut finishing. The saw's quick-release blade shield latch provides convenient chip disposal and fast blade changes. Powered by a 13-amp, 3,700 rpm motor, the saw can cut through 1/4-inch plate material including mild steel, aluminum and stainless steel. The lever's location, adjacent to the side handle, ensures that the user has both hands firmly on the saw throughout the cut. The saw features a rust-resistant stainless-steel shoe to provide smooth, accurate cuts.

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