Backhoe Loaders

Backhoes - a better way to dig.
Designed and built with direct input from backhoe customers around the world, the Volvo backhoe loader is everything you’ve ever wanted in a machine – a loader with the strength and simplicity of a Volvo wheel loader, a backhoe with the power and performance of a Volvo excavator, an operator’s station that will envelop you in comfort and serviceability features that will ensure a long and productive machine life.
It’s all here: customer-driven design, power and reliability. And with dig depths, breakout forces and operating capacities rated higher than virtually every competitive model in its price class, the Volvo backhoe loader rises to your challenges – every day.
It’s a better way, and it’s all Volvo.

Any person Spotlight

“I like the breakout power on the Volvo backhoes. I like the all-around strength of the hydraulics. The hydraulics are responsive and they’re fast. Like when you’re loading something, you can start lifting and moving forward at the same time – when you get there the bucket will be up there, not to worry!"

"And I like the push-button to control forward and backward motion. That control is all on the joystick for the front loader boom. You don’t have to take your hand off the stick.”

 

Barnhart Makes Special Appearance in 2011 Super Bowl Commercial

Most of us are aware of the product placement advertising that sneaks its way into popular television shows and movies. In fact, the clever folks at Bud Light poked fun at the marketing methods during this year's Super Bowl commercial lineup:


But does product placement work in commercials themselves? I don't think many marketing teams have attempted it.
However, Chrysler's 2011 Super Bowl commercial "Imported from Detroit," featuring Rap Artist Eminem, inadvertently promoted Barnhart Crane & Rigging Company with a quick product placement shot.

That's right. Those are official Barnhart cranes. You can't see the Barnhart name, but they made the commercial.
Here's the full commercial below. The crane shot appears in the first ten seconds of the video.

So, how does Barnhart stand to benefit from this subliminal product placement? We can only hope that anytime someone sees a Chrysler vehicle or listens to an Eminem song, this image will flash in their minds:

HEAVY EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY RESOURCES

FORKLIFT fact

The forklift is a powered truck fitted with steel forks on its front end, used to lift and transport material. The two parallel steel forks slide beneath the material, often loaded onto a wooden pallet or skid, and then hoisted. Most are fitted with small wheels and are really only practical on finished or paved surfaces. Some forklifts carry their cargo on one side of the vehicle; these are called sideloaders. Though small by comparison to most heavy equipment vehicles, it has become indispensible for the warehousing and manufacturing sectors. Major manufacturers of forklifts (by market share) include Toyota, KION Group, Jungheinrich, NAACO Industries, Inc. (which includes Yale and Hyster brands), Komatsu, Manitou, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Caterpillar, Clark, and Crown Equipment, though many more brands are available among used forklifts. (Over the years, many other brands such as Allis-Chalmers have either gone out of business or been assumed into larger companies through acquisitions.)

Forklifts are organized by class. Forklifts range in size and capability from small, hand powered pallet jacks, designed only to give ground clearance and move the pallet from one area of floor, all the way to diesel-powered driver-operated models of enormous size, used for moving raw logs and capable of loads up to 50 tonnes. Most common are those in the middle, either electric-rechargeable or propane-powered models approximately 6-10 feet (2-3 meters) in length, with forks on a sliding hydraulic mast of cylinders or rails, and capable of loads between one and five tonnes.

Forklift operators must be well trained to operate the machine safely and effectively. Because most models steer from the rear, manouevering quickly can take some getting used to. Additionally, moving with a load held high upon the forks can upset the forklift's low center of gravity, and risk tipping. To keep the forklift balanced, some machines have a counterweight at the back, though in most cases it is the actual engine or battery that acts as the rear weight. Most forklifts have an overhead guard above the cab to protect the operator from falling debris. The exception would be those motorized pallet jacks upon which the operator stands.

Become A Certified Crane Operator

In order to become a certified crane operator crane operator you must meet several requirements.

1. You must be at least 18 years old

2. You must pass a drug test and an ASME ANSI B30.5 physical examination,  D.O.T. and D.M.V medicals are also accepted

3. You must pass a written and practical exam administered by an accredited entity on the specific type crane you will operate.
For  telescopic boom mobile cranes the term “specific type crane” is separated into 2 categories small telescopic boom cranes and large telescopic boom cranes. Tonnage use to be the distinguishing factor between the cranes. However they are now distinguished differently the small telescopic boom crane is referred to as" fixed cab" and the large telescopic boom crane is referred to as the "swing cab." The cranes Tonnage is no longer the distinguishing factor.

As far as the written exams you will be taking 3 separate exams.
The first written exam is the core. This exam consists of a 90 question which is all multiple choice and you are given 90 minutes to complete it.
You will also be given 2, 26 question specialty exams, one on the large telescopic boom crane and one on the small telescopic boom crane these exams are also multiple choice within these exams there will be several load chart questions which you will have to calculate Net Capacities, Gross capacities, as well as some specific questions pertaining to the load charts you are given 55 minutes to complete each of these exams.

Once you have met these criteria, you are now become a nationally certified crane operator.

Many organizations do not consider you to be a fully certified crane operator until you have a crane operator certification card in your pocket. Keep in mind even after you have passed all of your crane operator certification tests it takes International Assessment Institute (IAI) the national crane operator certification testing company 2-3 weeks to mail you the results of the written tests and about 3-4 weeks to mail you the results of the national crane operator certification practical (hands on) tests. As a result of this delay your crane certification card might not come in for about 1 month after you have completed all of your national crane operator certification tests.

If you become a certified crane operator the state of Washington has some minimum hour requirements for different types of cranes.