Loading Up on the Web: 3-9 to 3-18

It’s been a busy, but exciting couple of weeks in the CE office. With the official launch of this blog, we’ve been scouring the Web and our inboxes for the latest industry news. We’ve left no rock unturned with news popping up from press releases, other sites across the Net and YouTube, to name a few sources. In case you missed any post, here is a run down of the top stories for the past two weeks of the The Machine Works. And while you’re catching up all the news, be sure to leave us a comment at the bottom of the blog entry. We love hearing from our readers, whether it’s complaints or praise, insights or insults — comment away.

Ford Super Duty Diary — CE managing editor Keith Gribbins records his trek to the Arizona desert to put the legendary work pickup through its paces:
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five

Honda Spring Maintenance Tips for Lawn Mowers — As temperatures begin to rise and grass breaks through winter’s frosty grasp, now is the time to get ready for working around the yard. When it comes to gearing up for a new season of lawn care, there are simple, routine steps outdoor power equipment owners should take when pulling lawnmowers out of winter storage. 

Komatsu’s Hybrid Excavator Is Put to Work in L.A. — Late in 2009, Komatsu America introduced the first of ten Hybrid PC200LC-8 excavators into the U.S. market to test the innovative equipment that was designed to reduce environmental impact by saving fuel and reducing green house emissions.

Where Contractors Start on Emissions Compliance — We’re now in the Tier 3 and Interim Tier 4 (IT4) period, which requires a significant reduction in PM and NOx emissions. Interim Tier 4 standards are based on timetables determined by the horsepower rating of the engine. Final Tier 4 standards begin phasing-in during 2013.

2009 U.S. Construction Machinery Exports Decline — U.S. construction equipment exports dropped more than 38 percent in 2009 compared to the previous year for a total $12.8 billion worth of machinery shipped to other nations, with declines of between nearly 30 to 50 percent for major world regions.