“We have some of the most enthusiastic and loyal customers in the industry. We knew we needed to create a way for them to easily get their hands on branded ASV apparel and gear and rep their favorite compact track loader brand. We focused on making the interface easy to navigate and extremely functional for the user.”

said Regan Meyer, ASV Marketing Manager.

ShopASV.com – powered by Norscot – provides an intuitive user experience that allows customers to browse in-stock merchandise or search for the items they are most interested in. Convenient “shopping cart” functionality and a seamless checkout experience make the entire process fast, easy and fun for the customer.

Customers can choose from a variety of branded items, including apparel such as shirts and beanies, office supplies like pens and magnets, and vehicle upgrades such as branded license plate frames and keychains. The website also includes a selection of dealer décor.

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“With the Yanmar-powered RT-40, we are doubling down on the machine’s performance, reliability, and comfort, as well as making it easier for our customers to service the engine at ASV dealers. The RT-40 is already a staple due to its ability to bring more power and productivity to limited-space work that may otherwise have required a fence removal or needed to be done by hand,”

said Buck Storlie, ASV Holdings Inc. product manager.

Power and Productivity

The repowered RT-40 includes a more powerful new 38.2-horsepower Tier 4, 3-cylinder Yanmar engine­. The compact track loader allows contractors and homeowners to get more done in a day, featuring a 48.3-inch width, an 8.4-foot lift height, a 931 rated operating capacity, and a 7.1 mph top speed.

The machine also boasts high tractive effort, exceptional pushing, and digging power thanks to ASV’s Posi-Power system. The RT-40’s quick attach fits a variety of attachments and works with an optional adaptor plate for full-sized or walk-behind/stand-on loader attachments. An idler wheels full-metal-face seal package increases the ROC to 1,008 pounds. In addition, the loader’s compact size allows it to be conveniently towed behind a 1/2-ton pickup truck.

The RT-40 comes standard with the variable auxiliary hydraulic flow and can operate efficiently at a high auxiliary circuit flow rate, powered by 13.3-GPM of pump capacity and 3,000 psi of system pressure. Labor-intensive belt servicing is eliminated thanks to ASV’s signature use of a direct drive pump. This, along with the machine’s large line sizes and hydraulic coolers, transfer more flow and pressure directly to the attachment to help prevent power loss.

A highly efficient cooling system allows operators to get more out of their machines. The RT-40 is tested to operate at full load 100% of the time in ambient temperatures from -40 up to 118 F.

Serviceability and Reliability

The RT-40’s Yanmar engine can be serviced at ASV dealers. Yanmar engines are renowned for their longevity, and the ability to maintain it through ASV’s network of dealers gives customers more convenient options when engine maintenance is required.

Additionally, the machine is designed so operators can spend less time servicing it and more time productively on the job site. Its rear-tilting hood offers easy access to maintenance points, including filters, oil, and fuel tank reservoirs, hydraulic and water separator drains, and the battery.

The loader is built with a heavy-duty frame, drive table, and axles. It features a new wiring harness routing for additional durability. In addition, the drive hose routing and chassis sealing are designed for reduced rubbing, fewer line breaks, and boosted hose longevity. Metal-face seals on the front and back ensure the drive hubs do not require maintenance for the life of the machine. An optional bumper or bumper and limb riser can help protect the machine in tough applications, such as rental applications.

ASV stands behind the reliability of its Posi-Track loaders with an industry-leading 2-year, 2,000-hour warranty. The warranty includes the industry’s first and only no-derailment guarantee and covers the tracks for the entire warranty period.

Comfort and Ease of Operation

ASV brought bigger comfort to the compact cab of the repowered RT-40. Entry and exit are easier and operators have more hip room due to the new single-sided lap bar, similar to that on the larger MAX-Series models. Partially adjustable armrests and a tall cab improve comfort for operators of different sizes. The cab is also pressurized, resulting in a cleaner in-cab environment. Optional all-weather or cold weather cabs include heat and air conditioning. ASV also offers additional comfort features, including a cup holder, phone mount, and DC outlet.

The RT-40 offers a safer and more productive alternative to similar-sized walk-behind and stand-on skid-steer loaders. Its cab features rollover and falling object protection, sheltering operators from outside elements with available enclosed configurations, and eliminating the fatigue that comes withstanding.

Operation is easy and intuitive, thanks to a new 4.3-inch color display and standard hydraulic joystick controls putting full control of the machine at the operator’s fingertips. A new drive transmission allows for more precise control and fine-tuned operation.

The machine also includes visibility improvements over its predecessor. A new frameless front door includes a floor-to-ceiling glass area, allowing operators to better see their work and attachments. The cab’s large side and rear windows provide additional lines of sight. This is further improved by the bright rear LED light and adjustable front pedestal lighting. An optional backup camera is available to replace the standard rearview mirror for additional convenience and visibility.

Posi-Track Benefits

While many compact track loader designs use the same chassis for their compact track loaders as their skid steers, ASV designs its patented Posi-Track and skid-steer loaders independently to provide customers with the highest performance from each machine. The RT-40’s dedicated frame results in 10.8-inch ground clearance, higher than any walk-behind or stand-on loader, as well as many larger machines. The unit can easily travel over rocks, logs, stumps, and other obstacles with less risk of getting hung up.

ASV’s Posi-Track system features a flexible track and an open-rail and internal positive drive-sprocket undercarriage, allowing for more traction, longer wear life, and faster, more convenient undercarriage cleaning. Posi-Track loaders also have a large number of ground contact points, spreading the machine’s weight evenly. As a result, the RT-40 features an industry-low 3.5 psi ground pressure, reducing the risk of damage to turf. Optional smooth turf tracks minimize the risk of damage underfoot even further. The low ground pressure also translates to more flotation and traction on steep, slippery, and wet ground, and enhanced control and pushing capabilities. The wide, flexible track maintains more contact with the ground than other designs, helping to virtually eliminate the risk of track derailment.

The post ASV Launches New Yanmar-Powered RT-40, with Engine Serviceable at ASV Dealers appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

YARDZ provides the most comprehensive tech platform for contractors to see all of their rented (and owned) equipment in one place. The popular tool allows contractors and construction companies to effectively manage all of this equipment and ensure that it is allocated effectively and cost-efficiently to the places it’s needed most, as well as saving money on duplicate and overdue rentals.

With this expertise in their back pocket, it’s no surprise that they have turned their attention to the supplier side, creating a unique product that allows suppliers of all sizes to provide the same customer experience as the giants of the rental space.

RentaLYNX, powered by YARDZ, gives rental companies their own portal which contractors can easily access, essentially linking rental companies’ fleets with their customers. While on the supplier’s portal, they can conduct all the business they need – from renting equipment to managing it to allocating it and more.

Suppliers will appreciate that this is a completely turnkey process: YARDZ performs all of the data compilation, infrastructure building, design, and setup. Once implemented, the customer’s experience is completely independent of YARDZ’s current offering; using the supplier’s website and branding take visitors directly to the new portal for an exceptional online experience.

“YARDZ has always been a contractor-based software,”

explained Jason Perez, YARDZ CEO.

“But we found that by customizing and white labeling it for each rental company and restricting it so that their customer is looking only at that company’s rentals, it can become a portal specific to that rental company. The customer ultimately ends up renting from that rental company. They’re not logging into YARDZ – it’s just powered by YARDZ.”

Perez emphasized that this is not a supplier marketplace. It is a portal that allows suppliers to enhance the customer experience while keeping their company information secure and confidential within the portal.

The truth is, within the rental industry, the capability to build out a truly exceptional supplier portal has only been attainable within the top 10 rental companies with significant capital and technical resources. Now, rental companies can spend a fraction of that to attract a first-class customer, allowing the supplier to effectively elevate their customer experience to that of a much larger rental company.

“The reality is, there’s been a tremendous shift in terms of what contractors’ expectations are within the industry and what a rental company should look like,”

Perez explained.

“Most rental companies believe good service is enough, and that means showing up on time and delivering equipment. You still have to have that – that’s foundational. But as technology has progressed, the benchmark for what constitutes a high-quality rental supplier has become much more demanding. Now you’ve got to give them tools to run their business and access data in a simple fashion.”

What YARDZ has built is a system that can digest data and build out the infrastructure so a customer can log in and see everything they have rented with that specific company, along with every other piece of information they need. They’ll get the same experience that they would get from a multi-million-dollar company, regardless of their size.

Can a supplier conduct business without the kind of portal that RentaLYNX offers? Of course, said Perez. But growing their customer base, as well as the overall scope of their business, will be far more difficult.

“Customers that care about technology, in general, tend to rent large volumes of equipment,”

he said.

“So if you want to expand your business, whether it’s additional locations or just total rental volume, you need to have the technology to back it up. Sooner or later, technology gets its hooks into every industry. The rental industry is no different. And we can provide the technology that generates more brand loyalty and allows suppliers to strengthen their customer relationships.”

Suppliers interested in learning more about RentaLYNX or getting started should contact Jason Perez at jason@yardz.com.

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Take one glance at Woody Weld’s eclectic office at ACME Lift Co. (ACME) in Mesa, Arizona, and it is impossible not to ask any questions. It resembles a museum, packed with memorabilia and artifacts – from photos and books to robots, car figurines, and a large dragon sculpture.

“My office is a reflection of the people I’ve known and all the things that have happened over 45 years in the business. They’re things people have given me or that have some story and connection to the business or my life,”

said Weld, president, CEO, and chairman of ACME.

Weld’s rental industry experience helped spur the idea for co-founding ACME in 1997.

“I worked for a big rental company and we would get a job to build a stadium. We would win the whole job – all the lifts, earthmoving equipment, cranes, everything they wanted. Then we’d run short of equipment. We couldn’t find any place for short-term, late-model equipment that we could give to our customers to retain our relationship with them and not give up that relationship to another rental company,”

he said.

After understanding the industry’s need for short-term rentals firsthand, Weld decided to offer a solution.

“We started with the idea that rental companies might share their infrastructure with us if we solve problems for them. We had maybe 40 machines and a couple hundred thousand dollars, and we built ACME up to where we are today,”

Weld said.

Partnering with Hitachi

Today, ACME is the world’s largest wholesale re-rental company, with a $450 million fleet including aerial lifts, telehandlers, portable air compressors, and earthmoving equipment, which most recently includes Hitachi excavators.

In March 2018, Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (HCM) acquired a 33.3 percent share of ACME. The joint venture allows retail construction equipment rental companies access to Hitachi excavators through ACME’s re-rental business. ACME serves large rental companies as well as small independents.

“I’ve had a lot of business partners and a lot of manufacturers in my life. Hitachi is the best I’ve ever done business with, in terms of how we work together and how well we accomplish the tasks they set forward,”

Weld said.

ACME’s Hitachi excavators range from the ZX130-6 up to the ZX470LC-6. The company also buys used Hitachi equipment through the Hitachi dealer network.

“Our customers have reacted very positively to us carrying the Hitachi brand. And the machines are excellent. Hitachi makes spectacularly good products. This year we are adding at least $40 million worth of Hitachi product into our fleet,”

Weld said.

The War Room

Although ACME’s fleet includes about 300 Hitachi excavators, you won’t see any of the machines if you visit the company’s headquarters. And that’s a good thing – all across the U.S., each excavator is where it needs to be when it needs to be there.

“The machinery doesn’t do much good sitting here. It’s in rental company yards or our local laydown yards in markets where we know there’s business and demand, so it can be delivered quickly,”

Weld said.

That timely distribution is thanks to ACME’s War Room. Instead of separate departments handling logistics, service, freight, parts, and sales, ACME has them housed at headquarters in one space called the War Room. The War Room functions as a streamlined operations center designed to provide real-time information about equipment and single-point customer support.

“The War Room is a little bit like an aquarium in that all of the different disciplines required to do our job exist in that one space. Everybody works together to solve customer problems in real-time. A customer can call ACME and rent a machine, repair a machine, get parts for a machine or move a machine with one phone call into one room,”

Weld said.

ACME’s entire fleet, including its Hitachi excavators, is equipped with telematics to monitor equipment availability and usage.

“We don’t get phone calls from people idly wondering what we have in inventory. Our customers call, and they need something right away. The War Room map is basically a heat map of where there’s work. If the Gulf is busy, the machines get drawn there. After the big fires in California, they needed earthmoving equipment for the clean-up. The machines migrate to wherever the work is,”

Weld continued.

Weld said the secret to ACME’s customer service is resourceful employees.

“One of the most important things I teach people when they start working at ACME isn’t that we know the answer to every question. What we know how to do is learn. ACME is about learning. It’s about finding the answer very quickly. The whole point of this place is to make customer problems disappear.”

An evolving industry

Weld’s success comes not only from his industry experience but also from his strength to continuously adapt. When he first entered the industry, the rental was a monthly business. A company would create a machinery list and bring all the equipment to the job on the first day. The equipment yard would be debited as work was carried out. This process has changed dramatically over the years, and by focusing on logistics, Weld ensures that ACME remains an industry leader.

“Now, there are algorithms, product management systems, and highly educated people coming out of construction management programs. Those people are managing down to the hour and the day and the week. Customers are saying, ‘I want it on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and I want it gone by Friday. And then I want it back again the following Thursday.’ That becomes more of a logistical business than it is a rental business,”

Weld said.

The charismatic Weld forges ahead, making sure he has the best people on his team.

“This company is about people. It’s about the relationships we have with our customers and the interrelationships with all the people on our team. And trying to make sure we do the right thing every day and we’re headed in the right direction.”

Weld also said it’s those relationships, along with the multi-faceted work, that keeps him coming back for more.

“I do this work because I passionately love to be involved. I guess the thing you think about as you age is that you want to remain relevant. I want to have a purpose and a meaning. I can teach young people about the business. Customers have problems we can solve. Manufacturers have issues; we can give them a solution. Maybe that’s why I’m passionate about it because it’s quite fulfilling.”

The article first appeared in Hitachi’s BREAKOUT magazine, Spring 2021 issue, and it was written by Kristin Stires

The post [Job Story] How Hitachi Excavators are Used by ACME Lift appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“We want our customers to have the best performance from their machines. These kits make it easy and convenient for them to achieve that through proper upkeep combined with OEM parts designed to keep the machine performing long term while avoiding costly repairs,”

said Buck Storlie, ASV product line manager.

The ASV Maintenance Kits include a hydraulic filter(s), an engine oil filter, fuel filter(s), and air filters. The packaged kits remove the guesswork from the process of replacing filters by including all required components in one package. This simplicity speeds up regular maintenance tasks and allows operators to get to work sooner. Additionally, the kits include labeling with instructions for ASV’s ELITE line of high-performance, heavy-duty lubricants. The engine oil, hydraulic oil, and grease products are extensively tested for use in optimizing ASV equipment and allow operators to do more work in more places.

“Whether you’re a contractor completing a job or a landowner tending your property, you don’t want to waste time hunting down the proper filters for your machine. With the kits, you have everything you need in one place. Just open the box and go. Plus, the added convenience means you’re less likely to procrastinate your filter changes, helping ensure the long-term health of your machine,”

Storlie said.

ASV Maintenance Kits are available through ASV’s dealer network. They are compatible with all current machines as well as many older models.

The post New ASV OEM Maintenance Kits Provide Convenient, All-In-One Solution appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“We’re seeing the market for this type of technology advance at a rapid rate and it’s important for us to stay on the forefront. Though there are no plans for its immediate use, our dealers enjoyed testing the remote-control technology.”

said Buck Storlie, ASV Holdings product line manager.

ASV dealers had an opportunity to try the feature for themselves on ASV’s RT-120 Posi-Track loader. Dealers stood outside the enclosed operating area and directed the machine through many common tasks, such as avoiding obstacles and digging and hauling material.

As interest in the safety and convenience of remote-control technology grows, ASV continues to test new innovations and improve the company’s machines, allowing operators to do more work in more places. Remote-controlled machines are beneficial for completing tasks in difficult locations and can increase efficiency by reducing the number of crew members required; instead of one driver and one spotter, the remote operator can fill both roles.

ASV has no immediate plans to integrate the feature into its machines at this time, but will continue testing it and other technological advancements.

Source: ASV Holdings

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