Deere Goes to Washington

In the 1939 Frank Capra-directed classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” an ordinary man (Jefferson Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart) goes to the nation’s capital and (long story short) speaks truth to power and effects change in the political landscape. Domenic Ruccolo’s visit to Washington, D.C., may not have been as full of drama, but his was a key voice in a real and recent U.S. House of Representatives Committee meeting. Ruccolo is John Deere Construction & Forestry senior vice president of sales and marketing and he was tapped to testify before the U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Ruccolo used the platform to advocate the greening of infrastructure projects through the use of more productive and efficient construction equipment that gets the most work out of every gallon of fuel used.

Ruccolo testified during the Committee’s hearing on “Constructing a Green Transportation Policy: Transit Modes and Infrastructure.” Among other action items, he urged the Federal government to take steps to support further efforts within the construction equipment industry to improve equipment productivity and efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

“Collaboration and cooperation between the public and private sectors are needed to investigate and fund the research and development of new standards and technologies to further improve equipment productivity and efficiency,” Ruccolo said. “The Federal government has not consistently assisted the non-road equipment industry in the past on such an effort, concentrating instead upon the on-road sector.

“However, by recognizing the essential role non-road equipment will play in transforming transportation and other sectors of the economy to achieve ambitious and necessary greenhouse gas reductions, we can see that appropriate investment by the Federal government into non-road technologies would create substantial environment returns.”

Ruccolo went on to point out that any future strategic modal shifts from road transport to rail and public transportation systems to help offset growth in greenhouse gas emissions would require construction equipment to build and maintain the infrastructure foundation for the shifts.

“By supporting the non-road equipment industry to make machines more productive and efficient, the nation will be able to achieve these shifts and realize the environmental benefits more quickly and with lest cost,” Ruccolo explained.

Ruccolo also addressed the vital relationship between infrastructure investment and job creation. “John Deere witnesses firsthand the dramatic impact of the current financial crisis on its workforce, dealers and customers,” Ruccolo said. He then asked Congress to trust national experts regarding the financial requirements to accomplish healthy infrastructure funding for the next Highway and Transit Bill, quoting the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission’s estimate that $225 billion is needed annually.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of construction equipment, John Deere believes one way to make infrastructure projects greener is through the use of productive and efficient construction equipment. The construction equipment marketplace has consistently demanded machine productivity and efficiency because fuel consumption is a primary operating cost for its customers. In response, John Deere and other construction equipment manufacturers expend substantial resources to ensure their customers can get the most work out of every gallon of fuel used. For example, when comparing the 2008 John Deere 744K four-wheel drive loader to its 1997 predecessor, Deere was able to reduce fuel consumption by 32 percent despite increasing machine weight and engine power.

Ruccolo said that the Federal government can take many steps to support further efforts in the construction equipment industry to improve equipment productivity and efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. But product innovation alone cannot help us transition to a greener transportation system if the system itself and the processes by which it is developed are unusable or wasteful. America’s infrastructure directly affects our economic, social and environmental wellbeing.

Every day we all rely upon roads, bridges, transit, rail and other infrastructure to survive and thrive. Despite our dependence on it, the nation has taken infrastructure for granted and permitted it to fall into disrepair without concern for its sustainability. The nation’s current infrastructure — to which the American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave a “D” grade — has suffered from the absence of a national vision for a 21st-century infrastructure premised on both robust funding as well as the pursuit of the most productive and effective projects.

“Action in recent weeks reflects Congressional leadership in creating such a new vision for infrastructure,” said Ruccolo. “From the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the passage in the House of Representatives of the Water Quality Investment Act, it is clear you appreciate something as significant as our infrastructure requires significant funding. We also must make sure this and future money is spent wisely, and to do so we need to incorporate principles of environmental sustainability into our infrastructure policy.”

For 171 years, John Deere has enabled human flourishing by offering solutions to those who produce food, fiber and fuel, beautify and protect the environment and build and maintain homes and critical infrastructure. Over this period, Deere has invented, manufactured and sold worldwide thousands of models of agricultural, construction, forestry, lawn and turf care and landscaping equipment, as well as the engines powering them. Deere created all of these tools with a consistent purpose — improving productivity and efficiency.

“Just as productivity and efficiency drive Deere’s product innovation, we suggest they should also drive our nation’s infrastructure policy,” said Ruccolo.

Biodiesel is one of the most thoroughly tested alternative fuels on the market today. That research includes studies performed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and even engine makers like Yanmar.

Now Yanmar engines has announced availability of B20 compatible diesel engines across their product line.

Biodiesel is the first and only alternative fuel to have completed the rigorous Health Effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. Biodiesel has been proven to perform similarly to diesel in more than 50 million successful road miles in virtually all types of diesel engines, countless off-road miles and countless marine hours.

“The development is less the result of end-user response and more the product of internal corporate mindset,” said Jeff Williams, Yanmar’s national sales and marketing manager for the Industrial Engine group. “Our researchers were investigating this possibility long before biodiesel fuel became a catch phrase by the public. We even have a dedicated facility designed to elevate biodiesel fuels to mainstream’s center stage.”

Yanmar’s newest Research and Development operation is located in the biomass rich regions of Malaysia and will be the center of all Yanmar’s efforts into this discipline. This new facility is officially called the Yanmar Kota Kinabalu R&D Center (YKRC). YKRC also conducts long term engine durability tests with biodiesel fuels, monitors and supervises biodiesel projects in India and the United Kingdom and continually analyzes the effectiveness of biodiesel fuel as well as biolubricants.

Those who have driven the new Massey Ferguson 1600 Series compact have described it as being on Cloud 10. Thanks to a new promotion from the manufacturer, one lucky winner will be in a similar euphoric state when he or she wins a new MF1635 compact tractor. The Massey Ferguson Cloud 10 sweepstakes begins April 27 and runs through June 30, 2009.

“We are excited to offer our customers the chance to win one of the new Massey Ferguson 1600 Series compact tractors,” said Steve Barcuch, Massey Ferguson product marketing manager. “This new series of compact tractors was designed to raise the bar across the entire product class. The tractor is the ultimate combination of function and fun — a tractor that enhances the joy in the work.”

There are two ways to enter the sweepstakes — via mail or online. To enter by mail, visit your local Massey Ferguson dealer to pick up an entry form or go to www.masseyferguson.com/cloudten for the official rules and to enter online. There is no purchase necessary to enter and win.

Sometimes our armed forces need long arms to finish big missions. When it comes to construction in elevated environments, moving shipping containers or lifting heavy loads to new heights, the JLG All Terrain Lifter Army System (ATLAS) II telehandlers have a long arm that can handle lofty applications.

JLG Industries Inc. recently received an order from the United States Army for 214 ATLAS II telehandlers — a contract valued at $33.7 million, with the first units scheduled for delivery in September.

“This contract demonstrates JLG’s ability to design and manufacture the next generation of military telehandlers capable of meeting the stringent durability, reliability and productivity requirements of the U.S. Army,” said Denny Buterbaugh, JLG vice president of government products and programs. “We are excited about the ATLAS II and its ability to build on the stellar reputation for material handling versatility, superior reach and the rough terrain performance of the original ATLAS machines.”

The ATLAS II is designed to reach into trucks or shipping containers, lift loads over obstacles and pick up loads from both above and below grade. It has a maximum reach of 28 ft and loads of up to 10,000 lbs can be lifted as high as 17 ft. With four-wheel drive, high ground clearance and 173 hp, the ATLAS II is built to go through the most rugged terrain.