tracks & treads fall 2013

7/22/2019 Tracks & Treads Fall 2013

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Innovative EnterpriseAmalgamated Mining and

Finning have a one-of-a-kindpartnership

Mining MilestoneSyncrudes Cat 797 hits anhistoric landmark

Grindstone Landscapingmade the switch to Catseveral years ago andhasn't looked back

FALL 2

A FINNING CANADA PUBLICATION PM #40020055www.fnning.ca


2/36

Empowering your success

CALL YOUR LOCAL FINNING REPRESENTATIVE TODAY

FELL MORESKID LONGER

LOAD FASTER

WHEN PRODUCTIVITY MATTERS

WELL HELP YOU SEETHE FOREST FOR THE TREES


3/36

On the CoverGrindstone Landscaping made theswitch to Cat several years agoand hasn't looked back.

Fall 13Contents

14 A New ModelTe partnership between Amalgamated Mining

and Finning is unlike any other

17 Top o the WorldSyncrudes 797 is the frst on the planet to hit

100,000 hours

20 Feedback Fuels EfciencyCustomers had a say in the new 988K eatures

26 Caterpillar ConvertOnce you go Cat you never go back

30 Meeting the ChallengeUpdate rom Spencer Smirl

24

14

Columns & Departments

4 Finning FocusHelping hands

5 Letter to the Editor

6 Groundbreaker2015 Canada Winter Games; Finning earns

United Way recognition; Finning rides or

the Heart and Stroke Foundation

10 By the Numbers

11 Yesterday & TodayRead about amed fctional salesman

Alexander Botts

12 Operators TipsDont let the all the bright lights conuse you

13 Managers TipsHow to approach online marketing

24 Service SpotlightFind out about Finnings resident mechanic

on northern Vancouver Island

25 Saety FirstHow to stay sae in the orestry industry

29 Tech SpotlightOne customer calls SIECHs rimble

technology the uture o the industry

32 PortraitMeet Les and Linden Lokos

33 Bills BusinessFitness protection

34 Count on Us26

30

www.fnning.ca Fall 2013


4/36

byhilaryanaka,

finning editor

Acts o kindness help ease thepain o fooding tragedy

Te images o ood-ravaged southern Alberta

sent shivers down my spine. Watching the news, Ijust couldnt believe my eyes. Te captions had to be

wrong. Tis destruction had to be somewhere else

but, unortunately, I was mistaken.

From the rst signs o trouble, customers inundated

our power systems and Cat Rental Store branches

with urgent calls or equipment and serv ice support.

In true Finning style, our employees quickly adapted

to the situation extending hours and staying open

through the weekends to meet demand.

Te beauty o the dealer network and the link

between Finning and Te Cat Rental Store was high-

lighted through this natura l disaster. Branches rom

across western Canada sent employees and equipment

to southern Alberta to help meet the needs o ourcustomers.

Calgary Cat Rental Store branch manager, Scott

Bishop, was in the thick o things and recalls his sta

pulling together during the crisis. We unloaded

dozens o trailers o equipment rom other branches

and moved as ast as possible to get the stock out the

door. When youre equipping emergency measures or-

ganizations, as well as powering municipal buildings,

data centres and seniors housing complexes, time is

o the essence.

In addition to going the extra mile or our custom-

ers, the Finning amily banded together to support

employees who were evacuated rom their homes.Graeme owers, a Finning apprentice mechanic in

Calgary, and his wie elected to stay with relatives so

that an evacuated co-worker and their amily could

stay at Graemes house rather than a hotel.

Its these acts o kindness big and small that

ease the pain o tragedy. John Malinowski, a 42-year

employee with Finning, was working in the oil sands

when he got the call rom his wie to hurry home. I

didnt think much o it at rst, but quickly learned

the extent o the devastation. Our house was spared,

but my daughter and her amily lost their home.

As one would expect, John stil l chokes up when he

talks about his daughters loss. But what one may not

expect is the emotion in his voice when he speaks o

the calls he received rom across Finning. Countless

people phoned to ask me how my wie and I were

doing. Tat meant a lot to me and reminded me why Iwork here, says John.

In a story on page 16, Amalgamated Minings om

Flanagan speaks o the community spirit he encoun-

tered when he came to Canada rom Ireland. A spirit

so strong it convinced him to not only stay in the

country, but to pay it orward. A spirit that was no

match or the food waters this summer.

I youve got a Finning story o strength, spirit

and support youd like to share, please email me

at [email protected] .

Diference Makers

EVERYDAY HERO:Finning employee John Malinowskitook time to help out local High River businesses.

www.fnning.ca Fall 2013tracks & treads


5/36

FALL 2013 Volume 54, No. 3

PublisherRuth Kelly

[email protected]

FiNNiNG editorHilary Anaka

[email protected]

AssociAte PublisherJoyce Byrne

[email protected]

director oF custom coNteNtMif Purvis

[email protected]

editorJordan Wilkins

[email protected]

editoriAl AdvisorsJe Howard,

Michelle Loewen

Art directorCharles Burke

[email protected]

AssociAte Art directorAndrea deBoer

AssistANt Art directorColin Spence

ProductioN coordiNAtorBetty-Lou Smith

ProductioN techNiciANsBrent Felzien, Brandon Hoover

circulAtioN coordiNAtor

Karen [email protected]

AdvertisiNG rePreseNtAtiveAnita McGillis

[email protected]

coNtributiNG WritersCaitlin Crawshaw, David DiCenzo, Keith Haddock, Jim Kerr,Trica Radison, Lisa Ricciotti, Scott Rollans, Robin Schroel

coNtributiNG PhotoGrAPhers ANd illustrAtors

Buy Goodman, Kimberley Kuass, Kelly Redinger, Chip Zdarski

Tracks & Treads is published to provide its readers withrelevant business, technology, product and service

inormation in a livelyand engaging manner.Tracks & Treads is published or

Finning Canada byVenture Publishing Inc.

10259-105 StreetEdmonton, Alberta T5J 1E3

Phone: 780-990-0839Fax: 780-425-4921

Contents 2013 by Finning Canada. No part o this publicationshould be reproduced without written permission.

www.fnning.ca

t wa y nTracks & Treads would love to hear rom you. Tell us what you thinko the magazines stories, columns and look, so that we can improveit and make it a more interesting read.

Send your comments to editor-in-chie Hilary Anaka by email [email protected] or the old-ashioned way to: Hilary Anaka,Tracks & Treads,Finning Canada, 16830 107 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5P 4C3

deAr trAcks & treAds:

I thought last issues Finning Focus was very well writ ten, and on a very

important issue no less. Ive been a gravel truck driver since the early

1990's and I drive a 2005 Peterbilt with a 550 Cat. Although I learned to

drive with a different brand and was always dedicated to that engine, I

tell you: that 550 is a great pulling engine and I love it. I recently bought a94 T-800 with a mechanical 425 Cat engine, and it too is a sweetheart.

I can relate to the author of the last Finning Focus, as I too grew up

on a farm. I have dealt with the wrath of combines, haying and silage

equipment (and lets not forget the occasional angry cow during calving

season). It seems like growing up on a farm gives you a great perspective

of how to work safely around machinery. I know when my father told

me to stay away from the forage harvester during knife sharpening,

I certainly listened. But, unfortunately, I have seen a lot of change in

industrial safety over the last 22 years as it seems the pendulum keeps

moving in the wrong direction.

I dont know exactly what the problem is; perhaps theres a lot of naive

people entering the workforce. Whatever the reason, most kids these

days dont even know how to operate a lawnmower, let alone large

machinery. I guess some of the trouble stems from the fact that everyone

is in such a hurry. I see this in companies all the time. We want you to

drive safe, but we also need 10 loads hauled here before 6 p.m. This is

a slight exaggeration, but the main idea is true and Id just like to thank

Tracks & Treads for bringing safety to everyones attention.

Sincerely,

Dean Jacobs

PM #40020055



6/36www.nning.ca Fall 2013tracks & treads

The map of British Columbia is dotted with towns where mininghas been a major industry. Still, we take a simple act or granted.

I it cant be grown, says Deanna Bell, the director o sales andbusiness development or the Britannia Mine Museum, it must be mined.

Bell is eager to spread the word about the important role mining plays inour lives. And theres no better place to learn than at the museum.

There you'll learn about Britannia, a town that in the 1920's washome to the biggest copper mine in the British Empire. The acility has acomprehensive school program, a gold-panning pavilion, a tunnel behindthe mill building complete with a mine train and a variety o touch screendisplays that document not only the history o mining in Britannia but alsohow the infuential industry has evolved.

History Lesson

By David DiCenzo

The goal is awareness, says Bell. Themessage we try to convey here is a complete

one that addresses the historical and modernchanges to mining.

On May 4, the museum did precisely that onits inaugural Family Fun Day. Almost 400 peoplecame to celebrate the day and Caterpillar andFinning were ront and centre. One o themain attractions was a Caterpillar wheel loaderthat Finning loaned out or the occasion. Kidswere ascinated by the inside o the cab asthey got an up-close look at the controls andthe operators viewpoint. Children also got ahands-on extraction experience by miningM&Ms rom a substrate o macaroons in a

candy mountain.It turned out to be a antastic event, Bellsays. I know the kids had a lot o un and itwas great to celebrate this important part o ourprovinces history.

Rain doesnt stop the mailman. Nor motivatedmotorcycle riders raising unds or United Way.Finnings 5th annual Motorcycle Event, heldon May 25, was a huge success despite Mother

Natures best eorts. Seventy riders took tothe streets on their hogs and raised $16,500or United Way. That money pushed theevents ve-year total to an impressive $65,000in donations.

But, you can never give too much. Thats whyevent coordinator and Finning customer serviceadvisor Candy Norman has raised the bar ornext years event. The goal is to raise $30,000in 2014.

Visit www.ride.fnning.ca or more details.

Full Throttle


7/36www.fnning.ca Fall 2013

With a population of close to 80,000 people,

Prince George is a mid-sized community by mostCanadian standards. But in 2015, the city will bea much talked-about destination on the national

map and not just because o the arrival o thesame-named Royal Baby.Prince George will host the 2015 Canada Winter

Games rom February 13 to March 1. The story othis unique sporting event has yet to be writtenbut the groundwork or leaving a signifcantlegacy behind is already underway.

And Finning was more than eager to get involved.

We knew we could play a role, Don Gowan,Finnings general manager in the Prince George

Let the Games Beginregion, says about the companys sponsorship. We are going to be able tohelp out in a huge way.

Finning Canada, Finning power systems and The Cat Rental Store will all dotheir part over the 18 months leading up to the event and then throughoutthe duration o the games. Finning is currently up to bat in the constructionphase, taking part in numerous projects. The company sent a D4K tractor toTabor Mountain Ski Resort last year, where a hal-pipe, cross course and slope-style areas, aerial course and mogul site are under construction. According toGowan, a 320D excavator, a D8T and a D6N tractor, will all play a part. At theOtway Nordic Centre, Finning loaned out a 545 skidder and another 730 rocktruck or stadium widening and trail development.

There are also plans or an alpine course at Purden Ski Village and trackdevelopment and berm construction at the Prince George Outdoor Ice Oval.

They are literally sculpting the hills, says Gowan. The hal pipe, as anexample, will be a big part o the Games but also a legacy piece that people will

use or years to come. Its something that we are very proud to be a part o.When the Games actually get underway, Finning power systems and The CatRental Store will chip in, providing power, heating and lighting or various venues.

Finning and The Cat Rental Store commitment to providing powergeneration and heavy equipment or the 2015 Games means that, orexample, snowboarding athletes in Prince George and the north centralregion will have a top-notch acility or training, Canada Winter Games CEOStuart Ballantyne said in a release. And visiting athletes rom across Canadawill experience that snowboarding course at Games time. Legacies will bebuilt rom the investment that Finning is making in the 2015 Games.

During the fall of 2012, Finning held a contestwhere every customer that bought a new Catmachine between September 1 and December15th was entered in a draw. The winner o thatdraw could then select any GM vehicle they desiredwith a retail value up to $100,000.

Suncor o Fort McMurray was chosen romthe brimming list o contest entrants. As part otheir ongoing commitment to the Fort McMurraycommunity, Suncor partnered with Finning todonate the prize vehicle to the Victim Services Unit

(VSU) o Fort McMurray.Victim Services is a not-or-proft organization

that was established in 1987 and is unded bythe Regional Municipality o Wood Bualo andThe Ofce o the Solicitor General to provideadvocacy to victims o crime and tragedy. Theagency provides support to victims rom the timeo crisis through and beyond conclusion o thecourt process 24 hours a day, seven days a week.The organization provides immediate emotionaland physical support during an event, as well as

A Driving Forceconfdentiality and anonymity rom non-judgmental, respectul, empatheticproessional individuals, who are culturally sensitive and dont discriminateagainst any demographic.

Suncors executive vice president o oil sands and in-situ, Mark Little, and

Finnings oil sands vice president, Brent Davis, ofcially presented a 2013 ChevyTahoe to Victim Services during a local community event on June 20. Vehicle

shipping was generously provided by The Cat Rental Store.

WHEEL DEAL: From left, Brad Price (Finning), Michelle Velez (VSU), Marlene Proctot(VSU), Laura Barnes (VSU), Anne Marie Toutant (Suncor) and Brent Davis (Finning).


8/36www.fnning.ca Fall 2013tracks & treads

In 2011 alone, there were more than 1,000

collisions in construction or maintenance

zones throughout Alberta. Its a soberingstatistic, especially when you consider howshort the road construction season is. Thatswhy Finning took part in a campaign held byPartners in Road Construction Saety (PIRCS)to bring awareness to that number and moreimportantly, to help reduce it.

PIRCS launched its annual Dont RIP ThroughConstruction Zones campaign on May 15 withan event at Olympic Plaza in Calgary. Finningwas there to show its support at the launch,positioning two Cat skid steers beside a largewhite wreath with a Dont RIP ribbon on it.

Road building season has a short window,says Finning customer service representative JayRoss. Theres a lot o construction going onso we all have to be conscious that there aredelays. Its or the betterment o all businessesand travellers.

Calgary is proud to participate in aninitiative to improve road saety in our city

Dont RIP Through Construction Zones

A Night at the Aquarium

Of all the exhibits at the Vancouver Aquarium, the famous otter

pool is always a avourite among patrons. It is home to three stars: Elfn,Tamu and, most recently, the Alaskan-born Catamei, who was rescuedearlier this year.

The Aquarium, which opened in 1956, is celebrating the 40th anniversaryo the trios home, the Finning-sponsored otter pool that opened in 1973.Many may recognize the otter pool rom the amous YouTube video,eaturing two sea otters holding hands, that garnered nearly 20 millionviews. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno)

To commemorate the pools ruby anniversary,the Aquarium went all out or this years A Nightat the Aquarium event on June 14, and onceagain Finning showed its support. Sponsors,including Finning, helped raise a staggering$380,000, all o which will go to undconservation, education and research programsat the Aquarium.

We conduct extensive research on key issuesin the aquatic world, as well as deliver manyprograms that bring our conservation message tolie, says Sharon Butler, the Aquariums director opartnerships. Our message is to connect people

to the natural world.The galas 400 guests were treated to an

assortment o sustainable delicacies prepared by16 o B.C.s top Ocean Wise restaurants and ches.Guests also bid on adventures such as a sturgeonfshing trip with Canadian hero Rick Hansen, anextravagant Langara Fishing Adventures excursionin Haida Gwaii, and a 10-night Antarctic voyage.(This Antarctic trip is probably quite di erent romFinning tech Spencer Smirls Antarctic adventure.See page 30.)

and across the province, Mayor Naheed Nenshi (pictured above) saidat the event. Something as simple as reducing your speed through aconstruction zone may mean another sae day on the job or someone.

PH

OTOB

Y:LEETOOP


9/36www.nning.ca Fall 2013

When Lana Luchenski started at Finning10 years ago, the companys United Way campaignconsisted o a hope-or-the-best approach o hand-ing out pledge orms. In the decade since, the heavyequipment giant and global charity have developeda synergy and raised an eye-popping number odollars annually.

The eort and passion that goes into UnitedWay campaigns each year is a refection o Finningsleadership and culture, says Luchenski, regionalsales and operations planning manager. UnitedWay makes it easy or any employee to give a git tocharities and organizations that they care about. The

act that Finning matches that donation makes it ano-brainer.The donations were particularly bountiful in the

oil sands region last year. Finning received a presti-gious Millennium Award for donating $622,539 in2012. Finnings continued success with United Waycampaigns is important to the organization, accordingto United Way executive director Diane Shannon.

We are in awe o what they do, says Shannon.Thats people making the decision to invest intheir communities as a amily. For every donation anemployee makes, the company matches it, whichdoubles the impact. As a good corporate citizen,thats absolutely tremendous.

Finning has been creative in its campaigns,engaging the employee base with un events liketossing pies at managers, dunk tanks, pizza dinnersand barbeques, including the annual Leaders Eventhosted by general manager Larry Gouthro and hiswie Darlene. Gouthro has also been recognized bythe United Way individually, receiving the UnitedWays Blueprint Award in 2009.

But, there is no I in team and Finnings continuedsuccess or United Way is a direct refection o thecompanys charitable culture. They are leaders in somany ways, says Shannon. Not just rom a cheque-writing perspective but also in really committing to

the campaign and doing a lot o leadership trainingto equip the employees to talk about the United Wayin an educated and meaningul manner.

Luchenski, herself a recipient of the United WaysPillar Award in 2009, says that Finning has created ayear-round conversation and effort for United Way,making it part of the fabric of Finning, rather than be-ing a yearly two-week blitz. Its a great source of prideto be recognized in the same category as some of thelargest companies operating in the oil sands, she says.And it drives us to get bigger and better.

Finnings Wayof Life

Rookie Red Riders

It was a tough group to miss. On May 27, a group of 29 Finningemployees rom Edmonton, decked out in bright red t-shirts andyellow hardhats, put their eet together to ride a vehicle known simply

as the Big Bike. The colourul clan was participating in the annualHeart and Stroke Big Bike team event, which is geared towards variouscommunity organizations, companies and groups to raise unds tosupport heart disease and stroke research.

This was the rst year that Finning had done a Big Bike ride,says procurement and vendor management director Doug Pettapiece.But based on the response and the support, it wont be the last.

Finnings entry a group that included vice presidents, generalmanagers, account reps and systems analysts made quite the rookiesplash, raising $7,054 or heart and stroke research in Alberta. Facilitiesproject manager Mark Beger raised the biggest chunk, $665, or theFinning donation pool.

The 29 riders (plus a driver rom the Heart and Stroke Foundation)pedalled a stretch o two kilometres, past Edmontons head oce

annex building and back to the main head oce building. In Finningashion, the emphasis was on saety.

We had Finning pilot trucks with beacons fashing, driven byWes Rains and Denis Charest, situated in ront o and behind the BigBike during our entire ride, Pettapiece says. Finning is providingleadership and support to the community through undraising eortslike this.

New CEO Takes the ReinsFinning International has a new president

andCEO. On June 17, Scott Thomson ociallycame on board in the companys top position.He brings to Finning broad nancial capabilities,considerable strategic acumen and an interna-tional understanding, with experience in theresource sector. Prior to joining Finning, he waschie nancial ocer at Talisman Energy Inc, andhe holds a BA in economics and political scienceas well as an MBA. He replaces Mike Waites as theoutgoing president and CEO who elected to retireater ve successul years at the helm o Finning.


10/36www.fnning.ca10 Fall 2013tracks & treads

4

By the Numbers

100-1Las Vegas odds that the Calgary Flames

will be the 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

Minimum numbero games that each

team will play inevery arena under

the new schedule

Number o

divisions in theNHLs new ormat

170

54,000

70

121

Barrels, in billions, o oil estimatedto be in Albertas oil sands

The number osquare miles

Albertas threemain oil sands

deposits cover

The approximate

number ocountries where

oil sands depositsare ound across

the world

8.375 3Prince Georgescurrent position

in the line osuccession to the

British throne

Birth weight,in pounds, o

Prince George oCambridge

Will and Kate, Prince

Georges parents,are 12th cousins,

once removed

340 millionNumber o tweets on Twitter each day

36Average time, in

minutes, spenton Twitter ater

logging in


11/36

retrieve it, knocking the clutch lever into engagement.

Te armer, still in his truck, was towed by a driverlesstractor chugging across the swamp and into the woods

In the end, the armer bought the tractor ater seeinghow well it traversed the sot ground.

Another story had Botts company merge withanother to orm the Earthworm ractor Company in

1928. A director o the new company chose Botts to goto Europe to expand the business. Te boss wrote, Up

to this time our European business has been practicallynothing. Economic conditions since the war have made

it almost impossible to sell tractors either in England oron the continent. Our plan is to send you over to test

the market. Your salary will be $500 per month plusexpenses. Botts replied positively but had two

conditions, (i) Mrs. Botts will go with me and theexpense account wil l cover both o us. (ii) Tere must

be no hollering, yawping, or nagging about small sumson my expense account. I I am to be at my best on this

trip, I must not be hampered by petty money consider-ations. All triing amounts must be passed without

question and in a gentlemanly way.Eight crawler tractors were to accompany Botts on

the passenger ship to Europe. He ound out that adelegation o French grape growers would be returning

to France on the boat so, knowing that tractors werenot yet being used in French vineyards, he persuaded

the captain to place one tractor on deck or demonstra-tion to these potential customers. Unortunately, beor

the tractor demonstration, a drunken passenger got onthe tractor and attened most o the chairs and

urniture. Te next day, ully sober, the recklesspassenger turned out to be a contractor rom Iowa. He

apologized prousely and paid or all the damage.

Furthermore, he ordered two Earthworm 60 tractorsor delivery to his arm. It was yet another triumph orWilliam Hazlett Upsons Alexander Botts.

Like Caterpillar, the Earthworm ractor Companysequipment wowed its potential owners. And i

Alexander Botts sales techniques were ahem unusual, its worth remembering that, while Upson

gained inspiration rom real lie, his salesman wasquite ctional.

Note: We dedicate this column to the late

Trav Booth, legendary Finning sales trainer anda huge fan of Alexander Botts.

Fw fnl rrs bm s rl r

readers as Alexander Botts did. William HazlettUpson brought the heavy-equipment salesman to lie

in his long-running series in the Saturday EveningPost, appearing rom 1927 to 1975. At the height o his

ame, Botts was the main character in a 1936Hollywood lm titledEarthworm Tractors, starring

comedian Joe E. Brown as Botts. But, despite itsctional presentation, Upsons character is based on

act. Upsons rst job ater graduating university wasin Caterpillars service department at Peoria, Illinois.

Upsons character Botts was an Iowa arm boy whoapplied or a job with the Farmers Friend ractor

Company in 1920 in Earthworm City, Illinois. Hisapplication letter to the company showed his enthusi-

asm or the industry, even i some acts may have beenembellished. I have decided you are the best tractor

company in the country, and consequently I am givingyou rst chance to hire me to sell tractors in this

region, Botts said in the letter. I am a natural-bornsalesman I have already had considerable experi-

ence as a machinerysalesmam. He later

revealed that prior tolanding this job with the

Farmers Friend ractorCompany, Botts

previous experience waslimited to selling razor blade

sharpeners.Every Botts story consisted o a series

o memos between Botts and his boss inEarthworm City. Botts blundering

nature caused one disaster ater another

but he always made amends anddeveloped sales leads. Botts acedseemingly impossible situations, but in

the end he always succeeded in a sale like the time he arrived at a arm to

demonstrate a tractor. Te armerstruck was stuck in a swamp. Botts

seized this heroic opportunity andhitched the truck to the tractor to

extract it. Just as the tractor started tomove orward, the wind blew of Botts

hat, and he jumped of the tractor to

Te Storied SalesmanFamed fctional heavy machine salesman cameto lie through a ormer Caterpillar employee

Botts blundering naturecaused one disaster afteranother but he alwaysmade amends.


by keith haddock


12/36

Tips

Nunn says a brieng in the regen unction is time well-spent. Weve had equipmentbrought in or repair, but it turns out that the only problem was a lit-up regen light.

Or, operators will shut their machines of at the jobsite until a mechanic comes along,thinking theyre going to cause damage because a warning light came on.

It leads a person to wonder: why bother having an indicator light thats just to sayeverythings working? Finning client Mike Wadsworth, a heavy duty mechanical ore-

man in Whitehorse or the Yukon erritorial Government can answer that. He saysmany o Finnings competitors asked themselves the same question and chose not

to include a regen indicator on their ier 4 Interim equipment, but the omission hascreated problems.

When the regen process is activated, a machine makes a diferent sound and theremay be some hesitation on the throttle. But i theres no light to show whats going

on, operators either dont know why, or they cant be sure whether their machinewas regenerating or not, he says. So there are still machines ending up in shops

unnecessarily.Wadsworth preers Caterpillar with its regen light because he says it lets operators

make inormed decisions. I like to understand exactly what my machine is doing atall times and an indicator light eliminates doubt about whether a regen is in process

or not. So breathe easy.

Operators are trained torespond to any blinkinglights in their cab but notevery alert requires action

By Lisa Ricciotti

Lighten Up

she n perr drem freh-frm-he-fry,paint-barely-dry piece o yellow iron. You slide onto the

seat, savouring the new Cat smell and take the controls.Suddenly an unamiliar orangey-amber light appears on

the let side o your dash. Panic grips your heart. Brandnew and you already broke it? How are you going to

explain this one to the boss?Breathe easy and take a closer look at that unamiliar

indicator light. You havent done anything wrong, itsjust the cleaner, greener ier 4 Interim engine talking,

letting you know everything is copacetic. Now younotice the handy quick-reerence card in the cab, and

match one o its symbols to the mysterious light stillglowing on your dash. Active regen in progress, it

explains. No action required.Whether its an excavator, grader or wheel loader, all

new Cat ier 4 Interim engines (750 horsepower andunder) now have technologies designed to progressively

reduce emissions to levels currently required by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency. ier 4 regulations

are the toughest yet, calling or a dramatic 90-per-centreduction in particulate matter. Cat ier 4 Interim

engines achieve this in large part due to two atertreat-ment components: 1) a ceramic diesel particulate lter

that traps soot, and 2) a new system that automatically

kicks in to burn of accumulated soot in a process calledregeneration.

Te key word here is automatically. ier 4 technologyis cleaner and smarter. Your machine decides when regen-

eration is needed, then goes ahead and does it. Te regenlight is intended to be reassuring. Unlike most indicator

lights, its purpose isnt to warn operators that somethingis wrong. Instead it signals that everything is ne; your

engine is just taking the initiative to turn polluting par-ticulates into harmless ash with its regeneration process.

Initially thats a hard concept to grasp, says BradNunn, Finnings application trainer. It goes against

operators natural instincts. Teyre conditioned to thinkits a bad thing when a light comes on but the regen light

is the exception that means just the opposite. Te hard-est part is teaching operators to do nothing when the

regen light goes on.

operators

An unfamiliar indicator light appears on the leftside of your dash. Panic grips your heart.

www.fnning.ca12 Fall 2013tracks & treads


13/36

managers

Instead o seeing social media as an alternative to a website, companies should

use their social media accounts to direct visitors to their site. Te idea is to have awebsite as the home base or all o your marketing pieces, she explains.

Te cost o a website can range rom about $2,000 to $50,000, based on thecompany and the bells and whistles desired. But ideally, companies should budget at

least $5,000 or an eective website, says diomaso. When hiring a web developer,companies should be upront about their budget, demand ull administrative control

o the site (even i theyre not sure how to manage it yet), and ensure theyre clear oneverything included in the web developer's price.

While social media accounts may be ree, diomaso points out that theyre onlyeective when theyre maintained. Teres nothing worse than a Facebook page that

hasnt been updated since the day it was launched, she says. Rather than signingup or everything, only pick what you can manage on a regular basis. Dont try to

overextend yoursel, diomaso explains.Younger says his companys decision to create a more engaging website and an

active social media presence is paying o. He reports more visitors to the website andmore online interest in the company overall. He agrees that in order to be working at

maximum capacity, a companys online presence must be resh. He says he thinks hiscompanys online success has a lot to do with hiring an employee to keep the website

and social media accounts as up to date as possible. Its easy to slap something up onthe web, but i its static, people will lose interest. And, as any manager knows, a loss

o interest can equate to a loss o business.

By Caitlin Crawshaw

Advertise Online for LessYou dont have to choose one or theother, websites and social mediaaccounts work best together

Ee ye, eepeeu su Youge

decided it was time to upgrade his small companysonline presence. Whether theyre looking to buy or

it is just or interests sake, these days the frst thingpeople do is go online, says Younger, president o

Western Gasco Cylinders Ltd., a company that sellsindustrial gases and welding supplies. While the

Surrey-based business had a website or the previoussix years, Younger admits the company had done very

little with it. It was pretty static and we wanted it to bea little more dynamic, he explains. On top o this, the

company had yet to venture into social media.Younger hired an online marketing coordinator to

manage the website redesign and social media eorts.Since February, Western Gasco Cylinders has created

accounts on Facebook, witter, LinkedIn and (becausesocial media is ever-changing) there are plans to set up

a Google+ account soon.With customers ranging rom 18 to 75, it was

important to Younger that they use a variety o platormsto appeal to all generations. Where younger customers

gravitate to Facebook and witter, older clients, who maystill think o a tweet as a sound a robin makes, still preer

websites. You get people o my generation who dont useFacebook, Younger explains. As a manager, its important

that you arent alienating any demographic. Be sure yourwebsite clearly lists your contact inormation, including

telephone number and address.

Dana diomaso, CEO o Edmonton digital marketingagency Kick Point, agrees that small companies need

both a strong website and a social media presence tomarket themselves well. Dont put all o your eggs in

the Facebook basket, says diomaso. While you may beable to attract plenty o people to your Facebook page,

its less likely to convert visitors into paying customersthan a proper website is.

A company should use its social

media accounts to direct visitorsto its website, the home basefor its marketing materials.



14/36www.fnning.ca14 Fall 2013tracks & treads

MODIFIED MINING: Tom Flanagans AmalgamatedMining modifes Cat equipment bought rom Finning,and then rents the equipment to mining companiesaround the world.


15/36

o Flanagan s n th busnss of undgound nng, but tdoesnt take much digging to realize why his company, Amalgamated Mining Inc.,

is a success. Partnered with Finning, Amalgamated Mining provides solutions for

underground mining projects and is one of only a few companies on the planet to

employ a particular business model. Amalgamated purchases Caterpillar equipment from

Finning and then rents that equipment to mining companies in Canada and around the

world, while Finning provides service on those machines wherever they end up.

T

By Jim Kerr PhotograPhy By Kelly redinger

Aalgaatd mnng saw a nch ndn th undgound nng scto andpovdd an nnovatv soluton


ANewModel


16/36

Te Coldest Journey

But, Flanagans original business model diered greatly rom how Amalgamated

works today. When the shop Flanagan was working or closed its doors in 1990, heand two o his coworkers decided to embark on their own mining rebuild venture.

Based in Edmonton, Amalgamated had some success in its rst decade and a ha lbut it wasnt until 2007 that the company evolved into what it is today, all because

Flanagan noticed that a lot o mining companies werent getting the most out otheir machines.

om saw other companies using personnel carriers as the main transportationor people at these underground mines, explains Gordon Finlay, vice president

o coal and metals with Finning. He also saw that these machines just werentlasting.

Tats when Flanagan had his eureka moment and Amalgamated Mining put inits rst order or Cat underground loaders and trucks.

How our relationship started, was om started buying our loader backhoes andconverting them into personnel carriers, conguring them so they had the right

braking system and a ll the right qualications, only now they were durable, cus-tomized personnel carriers, explains Finlay. om was modi ying them to meet

the needs in the underground mining world.At the time, Caterpillar had a new line o underground equipment on the mar-

ket and Amalgamated was looking to star t a joint venture with Finning as its maindealer. We went with Finning rom the outset, Flanagan recalls. We placed our

rst order or a variety o new underground loaders and trucks and star ted to oerthem or rent and rental purchase.

Tis order was the rst o many in what turned out to be the beginning o along-standing partnership. om came in and was really looking or a way to do

something dierent, and he saw an opportunity in the rental business, Finlaysays. Since our partnership began back in 2007, hes purchased somewhere in

the neighbourhood o 38 underground machines, or about $33 million worth o

equipment rom us, so hes been a big player or Finning and is by ar the largestunderground customer that we have.

But, according to Flanagan, its denitely a mutually benecial relationship. He

says Cats global brand and network allow him to operate around the world. Goodthing, too, in a business as vast as underground mining. Tis partnership works

best or us because, rather than having to ollow equipment all over the world, itallows us to build our business in Canada while, with the Cat network, we sustain

our market throughout the world, Flanagan says. Even though we buy the equip-ment rom Finning, its rare that it stays in western Canada. It ends up in Arica,

Europe, South America, North America we send it everywhere. Tats just some-thing that goes with the territory o underground mining and tunneling.

Flanagans amiliarity with Caterpillar extends back to his childhood in Ireland. Hisamilys business was in road construction and that meant that yellow iron was never

ar rom sight. As long as I can remember there was

always Caterpillar equipment around, Flanagan recalls.I grew up with Cat equipment and have always had an

afnity or it and the way its built; its just built stronger.While Flanagan brings a lot o business to Finning,

he also brings a wealth o knowledge rom years in the

underground mining industry. Hes more than happyto share it with the company that hes built such astrong rapport with. Its a true partnership, and both

companies are better or it, Finlay says, as Flanagansexpertise includes underground mining and Finnings

primary ocus has been on surace mining in the lastseveral years.

oms been a great conduit or us to dig in andunderstand how underground mining works, Finlay

explains. Its been a great way or us to learn moreabout the underground business. Working with

someone who is really connected to all aspects o theindustry has been very benecial.


UNDERGROUND NETWORK: Since2007, Amalgamated has purchased38 underground machines rom Finning.

Whats Mine is Yours

Through his company, Amalgamated Mining Inc., TomFlanagan is able to make the world a better a place.Whether its charitable donations to Edmonton organiza-tions like the Youth Empowerment Support Services(YESS) or lending a hand in a developing country,

Flanagan says its vital that those who are ortunate helpothers around them. Its incumbent on all o us to giveback, he explains. Some people are lucky enough tomake some extra money; money is just money and itsthere to be used.

Flanagan comes rom a large amily in Ireland andattributes that upbringing to his philanthropic mindsettoday. And its important to him to instill that attitude inhis amily as well, so when the opportunity arose or himto travel to Guatemala through a business venture, hebrought his wie and daughter along with him. Togetherwith his amily and some riends, Flanagan used his min-ing expertise to help drill water wells or communities in

the countrys northern region. It was a very humblingexperience, he recalls. I wanted to show my daughterthat not everyone is as ortunate as we are. And thatmoney isnt everything, even though the people inthese communities had very little material items, theywere happy. They were just as happy as anyone I know,maybe even more so.

Helping out around the globe is important toFlanagan, but he also believes its just as impor-tant to take care o your own backyard. Thats whyAmalgamated Mining donates to several charities eachyear in Edmonton, a community that Flanagan ell in lovewith when he frst arrived. When we came to Canadawe really had no intention o staying but I just couldnt

get over the amazing community spirit here, he says.I was given the opportunity, without any question, toget into a business thats been so great or me and myamily. I you cant return the avour and give back aterthat happens, then theres defnitely something wrong.


17/36

TOP o t WordCatrpars 797 as a t aroud t word sc tscpto 1999, ut o mac at Sycrudrds aov t rst

t Sycruds Aurora M ortr Arta, a Catrpar 797autruck unit 17-100 is part o a eet that runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,

hauling up to 360 tons o oil sands at a time to eed the companys produc-

tion plant in a steady stream. Te 797 is a vital piece o equipment or Syncrudes

operations, but the machine recently earned itsel a rare break and a barbecue

thrown in its honour when it hit 100,000 hours o operating time the night o

May 31.

Te Caterpillar 797 mining truck was designed in the late 1990's to change

the ace o oil sands mining. Te result o a collaborative eort between Finning,

Caterpillar, and Syncrude, the truck was created to haul large loads while with-

standing the unique and dicult conditions o temperature and terrain encoun-

tered in the oil sands. Unit 17-100 was the very frst 797 delivered, arriving at

AFinnings Mildred Lake acility or assembly in May

1999 and going to work at Syncrudes North Mine

around June o that year. In 20 07, it was moved to

Syncrudes Aurora Mine where it has operated

ever since.

According to Greg Fuhr, Syncrudes vice president,

production mining, the invention o the 797 was vital

in allowing the company to leave behind the old style

dragline bucket wheel method o oil sands mining.

o say the least, the 797 ushered in a new era or the

company. I this truck had not existed, it would not

have been economical or us to move into a truck

By RObin SChROffel

HAPPY 100: Syncrude's 797 became the frstin the world to hit 100,000 hours o operating.



18/36

and shovel operation. It was a key component in

ensuring long-term viability o oil sands mining,

explains Fuhr.

Brent Davis, Finnings vice

president, oil sands, has been

involved with the 797 since

the earliest stages. He was

present in Arizona in 1998

when a team o Syncrude

executives watched a proto-

type 797 in action, and waspart o the team that sold the

very rst one in the world. According to Davis, the

machines potential was obvious rom the beginning.

It was a purpose-built oil sands truck. Te larger pay-

load capacity helped to reduce cost-per-ton, it had the

ability through its mechanical drive to work through

the really high rolling resistance we subject these ve-

hicles to with the big loads, and we were able to make

it productive in all sorts o conditions, he explains.

But, despite all o the potential everyone saw in

the revolutionary machine, no one anticipated that a

797 would one day be celebrating the 100,000-hour

benchmark due to the extreme conditions the machine aces. When we rst got

together to talk about the truck, we talked about it lasting around 50,000 to 60,000

hours and that would be really good in a tough environment, says Davis.

Tats not all: though the 17-100 was the rst, its not

the only 797 marking the operational milestone. Six 797s

were delivered to Syncrude that rst year and, one by one,

theyre all breezing by that mark. ogether, the 797s

in Syncrudes feet have helped extract more than 12.6

million barrels o oil during their time in service. Te

machines have exceeded everyones expectations, espe-

cially considering that even the 17-100 itsel shows nosign o slowing down. I have a eeling its going to still

be working long ater Im done, Davis says.

According to Fuhr, its a regimen o routine maintenance that keeps the 17-100

going and going. With its durable steel rame and replaceable components, theres

not much that can keep it down when it stays on its preventive maintenance sched-

ule and components are replaced according to their anticipated liespan.

Te 17-100 has gone through seven engines to get to the 100,000-hour mark and

is still operating with a mechanical availability over 83 per cent, thanks largely to

the ongoing partnership between the maintenance group at Syncrude and Finning.

Davis agrees with Fuhr that the partnership between their companies has been

incredibly important to the success o Syncrude's 797s. Te key is the superior

product support capabilities o Finning our ability to solve technical issues,

You could see the pride in theoperator and he thought this was

the greatest truck hed ever had thechance to operate, says Davis. That

pride goes a long way toward why this

truck is still operating today.

ONE OF A KIND: The Cat 797 is the world'slargest mechanical drive haul truck. The 797 weighs

over a million pounds and can haul over 360 tons.



19/36

have components on the shel, all those sorts o things, Davis says.

But Davis also speculates that regular maintenance isnt the sole reason behind

the success o the 797. He recalls making a visit to a Syncrude mine years ago,

where he had the chance to ride in a 797 or the rst time, and he vividly remem-

bers the operators excitement. Tere were only a ew o them at the very begin-

ning. You could see the pride in the operator and how he thought this was the

greatest truck hed ever had the chance to operate, says Davis. Tat pride goes

a long way toward why this truck is sti ll operating today: the pride that Syncrude

had in it, the pride that Finning had in making it successul, and the pride that

Caterpillar had in making it successul.

Tat Syncrude operator who took Davis or a spin is just one o the ew charac-ters whose eforts helped the 797 hit its 100,000-hour milestone. Retired Finning

technician Bill McDougall is another whose contribution cant be orgotten, nor

underestimated. According to Davis, McDougalls input on technical issues is a

huge part o why the 797 works as well as it does. Tis was a developmental prod-

uct when we rst introduced it. Te respect that Caterpillar and the customer had

or Bills knowledge was a big part o this thing being successul, Davis says.

Jim Carter, president and CEO o Syncrude at the time o the 797s development

and now a member o Finnings board o directors, was also essential in making

the 797 a reality. He had the vision and drive that we needed to have this type o

hauling unit in the oil sands. He helped Caterpillar to visual ize and design the 797.

All that hard work and thoughtulness led to the 797s ruition, Davis says.

Since selling the rst 797 to Syncrude, Finning has delivered more than 280 o

the mining trucks to customers in western Canada,

most working in the Albertan oil sands.

Davis attended the June 6 barbecue at Aurora

in celebration o the 17-100s milestone. Among

the guests were representatives rom Syncrude,

Caterpillar and Finning, all had played a part in the

797 story somewhere along the line. For Davis, being

there to celebrate the milestone was a rewarding

experience. What weve delivered is outstanding,

and we should all be proud that we had a part in it,

everybody along the way.At the end o the day, the 797 mining truck is

representative o the kind o success that can happen

when groups collaborate to reach a common goal: a

superior product that meets the needs o the cus-

tomer. Davis summarizes, I am very proud to be

part o the Finning and Caterpillar amily. When you

see something you had a small piece in still working

14 years later i you really think about it, its quite

humbling. It just goes to show, this product support

capacity and the va lue proposition o Finning and

Caterpillar, its something we should all be proud o

and never take or granted.

SURFACE SAFETY: All walkways on the

machine eature slip-resistant suraces toensure the saest conditions or operators.

Caterpillar 797

CLEAR PATH: An optional system monitorshaul road conditions by measuring rame

rack, bias and pitch to improve cycle times,rame lie, tire lie and uel efciency.

HAUL THE WAY: The 797s maximum

payload capacity o 360 tons is due in partto the machines two V-12 engines.

MAGIC BOX: The 797 eatures an isolationbox on the ront bumper with an engineshutdown switch and a transmission lockout.

SCOREBOARD: External payload indicatorssignal loader operators when the machinehas hit optimal payload capacity.

ROUND UP: The 797 uses six 59/80 R63radial tires and is 30 eet wide rom tireto tire.



20/36

THE NEW STANDARD: The new 988K gets its power from a CaterpillarC18 ACERT engine. The six-cylinder, fourstroke design meets US EPATier 4 Final /EU Stage IV emission requirements.



21/36

Th nw Cat 988K aturs a varityo upgrads, just in tim or th 988modls 50th annivrsary

By CaT Magazine

n 2013, it will b th 50th annivrsary o th Cat 988 modl.

Caterpillar rst started producing the wheel loader in 1963. oday, more than20,000 units have been sold. Over the past decade, however, little has changed

on the platorm in terms o structures and linkage. But this models changes are

substantial.

I we could only pick one attribute to describe the new, streamlined 988K, it

would be eciency. Ater hearing eedback rom our customers, one thing was

clear. Tey wanted a more ecient machine, especially when it comes to uel

consumption, says odd untland, product application specialist.

Te machines uel eciency is the result o a culmination o modications made

rom the buckets cutting edge to the rear bumper and everything in between.

z-Bar LinkagCurrently, the 988H uses a boom system, which is a box section structure. On the

988K, that will be changed to a z-bar linkage with two, solid steel lit arms, similarto the 988F. Tis was done to increase application fexibility. Going back to the

z-bar design shortened the machine, gave it more dump clearance and improved

centre visibility.

Much more went into that design change.

We also used sotware to optimize the linkage pin layout even beore iron was

cut. Te goal was to help decrease uel burn, enhance ll actors and add to the

machines eciency, adds odd. Carried over rom the 988H are the perormance

series buckets. Te same prole and volumes will be available on the 988K.

Ful efcincyEciency is the name o the game with the 988K, so Cat made signicant changes

and improvements to lower uel consumption. In act, Caterpillar was able to

I



22/36

SMOOTH RIDE: The 988K boasts a completelyredesigned cab that is quieter than the 988Hand more comfortable.

reduce consumption by 15 per cent, compared to the latest 988H. In certain ap-plications, that number goes up to 20 per cent. One actor contributing to thosenumbers is engine speed, or revolutions per minute (rpm). For example, high idle

has been dropped more than 200 rpm while still maintaining perormance. Lowidle rpm was also reduced by 100 rpm. Another big contributor is Economy Mode.

Te great thing about EconomyMode is that an operator can

still use throttle lock but achievethe eciency o manual throttle.

Te operator controls desiredengine speed with the let pedal

and implements. Tat leads tosignicant uel savings, says

odd. Te 988K has another uel-eciency enabler hydraulic fow sharing. Tesystem, called Positive Flow Control can produce maximum hydraulic fow at much

lower rpm. Imbedded into the hydraulic system are an implement pump and asteering pump. I the operator isnt using the steering, hydraulic fow is borrowed

rom the steering pump so lower engine speeds, along with cycle times, can bemaintained, says odd.

Fuel efciency vs. the competitionWhen it comes to uel consumption, odd admits the 988K has the advantage.Tanks to numerous improvements on the 988K, the machine is just as uel-

ecient as any in its class. Against the 988H, were 15 per cent better with ueleconomy and weve eliminated any o the competitions uel advantage, odd says

with condence.

Additional ImprovementsMany other improvements also grace the new 988K.Te cab is quieter and completely redesigned including

seat-mounted controls to decrease operator atigue andimprove comort. Te overhead controls have been repo-

sitioned to the right hand console. On the control panel,there is a real-time uel display so the operator can see

uel consumption in terms o litres per hour (gallons). Or,i using a payload control system, the operator can look at

tonnes per litre, explains odd.

Grand introduction

Te Cat 988K goes into production in 2013. According to

odd, Were estimating August is when we would load theline in Aurora, Illinois and start building the machines. We

plan to ship in September. odd also says Caterpillar had a988K on display at the international construction machinery

trade air, bauma 2013, in April. Te event was the rst truepublic appearance or the machine and efectively acted as

the worldwide launch. As ar back as May 2012, Caterpillarwas conducting 988K demonstrations to get exposure and

additional customer reaction. So ar customer eedback hasbeen very positive. Operators have said its quicker, smooth,

powerul, ast and quiet, says odd. With the majority o the988K improvements coming directly rom customers, were

sure the new ront loader will be a big hit.

Cat made signifcant changes

and improvements to lower

uel consumption.



23/36

0% OR 0.9% + 2436 MONTHS 42 MONTHS MONTHS /

2000 HOURS

Contact your Finning representative today!

WHEN VALUE MATTERS

WE MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK

AS HARD AS YOUR MACHINE

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2000 hours Powertrain and Hydraulics warranty.

Only until December 31st, 2013!

Empowering your success

1-888-fnning fnning.ca(346-6464)

Finance offers apply to all Cat Skid Steers, Multi-track Loaders, Compact Track Loaders, Mini Excavators and Compact

Wheel Loaders sold and delivered from October 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.See you Finning representative for details. Machines must be inoviced by December 31, 2013 to qulify for this program.

POWERTRAIN

AND HYDRAULICS

WARRANTY


24/36

Dav Maudr w t yu s a uky ma.As a resident mechanic or northern VancouverIsland, he has the challenge o keeping a very busy

and diverse population o heavy equipment operatingat top calibre. But the rewards are many: hes doing a

job he loves, all while surrounded by some o the mostbeautiul scenery in Canada.

Based in Port Hardy, a town o 4,000 on thenorthern tip o Vancouver Island, Maundrell is

responsible or Finnings service in the geographicalarea north o Woss, 128 kilometres north o Finnings

nearest branch at Campbell River.Aboard his well-equipped service truck and backed

by Finnings well-established support network,Maundrell makes service calls to places like Port

McNeil, Port Alice, Winter Harbour and BeaverCove. Geographically, its not that ar, but a lot o the

spots are airly remote theres not a lot o good roadaccess, he says.

Still, Maundrells community is relativelysmall and everyone knows each other; customers

typically contact their trusty heavy equipmenttechnician directly. Daves wie is an integral part

o the operation, keeping everything organized.Te position o resident mechanic oers a guy a lot

o reedom i youre responsible with your time,he explains.

Business is brisk these days. Finning customersin Maundrells area are involved in everything rom

orestry and gravel to wind energy and the coast

guard. My rule o thumb is to try and treat yourcustomers equipment like its your own, he says.

His goal is to provide service eciently andeectively and to keep his customers machines

productive. I usually get to whoevers broken downfrst and then whoevers next in line and then try

to respond to calls on a frst-come-frst-serve basis,Maundrell explains.

Maundrell grew up around heavy equipment inLillooet, B.C. his parents were both involved in the

orestry industry so ater high school, choosing hiscareer path was a no-brainer. I wanted to stay in the

Te northern region of Vancouver Island is home to avariety of heavy equipment operations and Finning residentservice technician Dave Maundrell is up to the task

By Robin SchRoffel

Skillful Support

servicSpotlight

industry, so I got into the heavy duty mechanic side o it, he says.He joined Finning in 2006 as a resident mechanic in Merritt. When an

opportunity opened up on the Island in 2011, Maundrell and his wie jumpedto take it; theyd previously lived in Haida Gwaii and wanted to raise their

three young daughters somewhere similar.We always wanted to come back to the coast in some capacity. When we

saw the job opening on the Island, it was the best o both worlds: wed be ableto get back to the coast and keep working with Finning, he says.

Te decision was defnitely the right one. Shortly ater relocating, the twowere walking their girls to school when they spotted a whale in the bay. Add

to that the year-round fshing (We flled the reezer last year fshing romthe dock in Port Hardy, Maundrell says) and he knows hes got it made.

Im right where I want to be. I love my job and I love the community up here,he says.

In act, when he considers his job and the amount o responsibility Finninghas placed in him as well as where he gets to hang his hat at the end o the day,

Maundrell cant ask or much more except maybe a boat. Tats next on thelist, he says.

When we saw the job opening on the Island, it was the besto both worlds: wed be able to get back to the coast andkeep working with Finning.



25/36

By Tricia radison

oly x mth t 2013, the fety utyin B.C. had already experienced an unusually high

number o atalities. Many o these incidents involved

mobile equipment. Reducing such incidents is clearly

a priority or the industry and especially so orworkers and their amilies.

Every time I hear o a atality I eel ill. Our cus-

tomers in orestry need resources to prevent these

incidents rom happening, and we want to help,

says Brian Mulvihill, director o orest products

with Finning.

Reynold Hert, board chair and CEO o the B.C.

Forest Saety Council, says that part o the problem

is that orestry has recently increased its volume o

production and hired people who are new to the job

or who have been away or a while. Tey may not be

amiliar with the equipment they are using or with

the circumstances in which theyre working. In other

cases, people get too comortable with equipment andthe kind o work theyre doing and orget the impor-

tance o, as Hert puts it, doing the basics properly.

Here are our best practices Hert has provided to

help decrease the risk o injuries or atalities due to

machinery. While Hert takes a orestry perspective,

these saety practices apply to any industry that oper-

ates heavy equipment.

Keep fe te fm petg equpmet.Some o this years atalities involved people outside

the cab who were in the danger zone o an operating

piece o equipment. Tey were struck by either the

equipment itsel or whatever it was handling. Tis canbe avoided by clearly dening the working zone and

avoiding that zone whenever a piece o equipment is

operating.

Establish rules and procedures for communication.

Sometimes people need to be within the working

zone - or instance, when maintenance is perormed.

o eliminate risk on these occasions, clear procedures

must be in place or notiying the operator and or

communicating with the operator as maintenance

proceeds.

Best practices to decreaseequipment-related incidentsin the forestry industry

Tree of Life

alwy lk ut e-eegze.I someone has to be within the working zone o an operating piece o equipment,

lock out and de-energize the equipment. I you have to leave the equipment run-

ning, stay out o the operating area. In addition, always lower hydraulic attach-

ments and set the parking brake, i equipped, so there is no chance the equipment

will suddenly move.

Thk but fety befe yu buy.A piece o equipment can be modied to make it saer or a specic application.

ake the operators manual and have someone physically go through all the dailyand weekly routines that need to be perormed on this piece o equipment while an-

other person supervises. I something looks like it will be risky, talk to the manuac-

turer or the dealer about installing ooting, handholds, grips, or whatever you need

to make it more secure. Youll reduce the risk and workers will actually get their

tasks done quicker in the eld, so youll also become more efcient.

Lg i

For more inormation and strategies or keeping everyone sae when equipment isoperating, visit www.bcforestsafe.org. The website has inormation specifc toorestry, but also some good advice that applies to other industries as well.



26/36

story By Rick OveRwateR

THE RIGHT MOVE: Dave Dueck (let), owner o GrindstoneLandscaping, never owned a Cat beore meeting Finningsales rep Roy Cooper (right). Now, thanks to Cat's ingenuityand Finning's customer care, Dueck owns a whole feet.



27/36

Oce devoee of oher brd, DvDueck mde he swich sever yers

go d hs ooked bck

hr yrs go, Fg ss r Roy Coor sod pickup truck driving down an Edmonton street. Te company namedon the truck, Grindstone Landscaping, was one that Roy had yet to do

business with.o a salesman like Cooper, there are only two types o construction workers in

this world: customers, and people he hasnt met. So, naturally, Cooper ollowed the

pickup to its destination and introduced himsel to the trucks driver, Grindstoneowner Dave Dueck.

Cooper laughs, recalling the reception he received. Dave said to me, Dont talk to

me about skid steers, because Im never going to change. Dueck remembers the exchange even more starkly: I said itd be a cold day in hell

beore Id buy a Cat skid steer! he laughs.Dueck enjoyed a strong relationship with the sales rep at a competitor, and had an

almost religious devotion to that companys oot-controlled skid steers. I told Roy,Im a diehard and I always will be. I I ever need something bigger, Ill call ya.

Tat time arrived sooner than expected. A couple o years later, Grindstone hadgrown into a much larger operation (and continues to grow today) and Dueck had

launched a second company, Mountaintop Stone Sales, supplying landscape stoneand rock to the public and to landscaping companies through wholesales. Tese days

his eet consists o about a dozen pieces o equipment. And, most o that iron is Cat,particularly 252B3s.

Duecks success is a classic tale o elbow grease and chutzpah. He startedGrindstone seven years ago in Winnipeg. I was just a guy with a wheelbarrow and a

trailer, he recalls. On a vacation to Edmonton, he borrowed a buddys car and drovearound town. When he stumbled across one high-end neighbourhood, his entrepre-

neurial instincts kicked in. He started ringing doorbells and handing out businesscards. It wasnt long beore he landed his frst Edmonton customer.

Dueck laughs, recalling his own naivet. I actually gave him a napkin drawing owhat we could do, and I gave him a price. I didnt know this at the time, but I was 50

per cent lower than his frst landscaper, who was based in Edmonton. But, I thought Iwas making money!

By SCOtt ROllanS PhotograPhy By BUFFY GOODMan

CateRpillaRCOnveRt

T



28/36

In any case, Dueck now had his oot in the door.

Tat rst job turned into another, and another. Beorelong, a wheelbarrow and a trailer werent enough. I

bought my rst machine and thats all I had or thelongest time, says Dueck. I was a one-man show.

Ten, I started hiring guys, and I started buying moremachines. In 2010, I bought eight or nine more.

Ten, last year, when Duecks operations grew tothe point where he needed something larger, he called

Cooper, who ater reviewing Duecks situation pointedhim in the best direction or his business. Ater a

handshake and some paperwork, Dueck made his rstFinning purchase, a Caterpillar 907H compact wheel

loader.Within days, Dueck was blown away by his new

907H. Anything we needed it to lit, anything weneeded it to do, it was the perect machine, he mar-

vels. So, I ended up buying another one, and now Ivegot two. Teyre incredible machines.

Dueck also uses the 907Hs on snow removal and

has come to preer using the 907Hs to his previousskid steers. I drive it mysel across the city to varioussites, he explains. Its as ast, or aster, than having

to load up a skid steer on a truck and haul it around.Tere is a lot more room in the cab and I can see all

around me. Te best part is that it can move moresnow and clear a parking lot quicker than I could with

my old skid steers.Based on that experience, Dueck reluctantly agreed

to take a look at Caterpillars skid steers as a replace-ment or his old ones. Last winter, he tried out a

couple o Cats alongside his ormer avourite brand(like many landscapers, he does snow removal in the

o-season). Operating the Cats ull oot throttle,

Dueck burned less than hal the uel he did when usingthe competing brand.

Dueck just had to run the numbers to comprehendthe savings potential in ront o him. And, the numbers

didnt lie: or every 1,000 hours o operating time,a Cat would save him $7,500 in uel costs. He told

Cooper, For every ve Cats I buy, every year I get aree one in uel savings.

Dueck still keeps his original machine in the yard,but he reserves it or small jobs. Now that hes used

to a Caterpillar joystick, he nds the other machinesoot controls too taxing. I Im running or more than

an hour in that thing my knees ache, and I dont even

have bad knees. Also my calves are sore and the samegoes or my shins. Te Cat is just more comortable,no question about it .

Although Dueck had been a hard-core oot-controlguy, he was surprised at how quickly he adapted to the

Caterpillar skid steers. Within the rst 20 minutes,I knew what I was doing. And within the rst hour, I

was comortable.Looking back, Dueck says he was silly to resist

change. A lot has to do with being stubborn, and notwanting to learn something new. Te older I get, the

more I learn that you need to be more open to things.

You cant have tunnel vision, because youre not going to be successul that way.

Troughout the transition, Dueck was struck by Coopers depth o knowledge.Cooper cant take all the credit though, and attributes his knowledge to the training

provided by Finning and Caterpillar. We know our machines rom top to bottom,but were also trained on our competitors machines, he observes. Te guys in our

branch and in the general construction division o Finning probably know moreabout the competitors machines than the competitors own salesmen do. And that

gives us a distinct advantage.Dueck has also been amazed at Finnings post-sales service. On December 23, or

example, he called Cooper, who in turn called his service department at Finningsdedicated general construction division. Tey sent out a mechanic late at night to

x an O-ring issue. For a guy plowing 40 parking lots a night, the prompt assistancewas a liesaver, says Dueck. Ultimately, youre trying to keep the customer happy.

And they dont want to hear excuses. Just get the job done.Service like that also makes a salesmans job easier, says Cooper. Ill sell the rst

one, but my service department sells the rest.In contrast, one o Duecks remaining original machines is currently out o

service, and he has been waiting over our weeks or a replacement cylinder. Its ap-parently on order, he grumbles . Meanwhile, were down a machine. Te payments

dont stop. And I want to make money. Over our weeks at $100 per hour in lostrevenue, well you do the math; it adds up. I only have rom May to November, i Im

lucky, and we all know how soon Edmontons winter comes.Although Finning works with the biggest players in the construction industry,

Cooper and the entire general construction division take pride in delivering the samelevel o service to smaller companies not just outts like Grindstone, but single-per-

son owner-operators as well. Dave has a feet, but a lot o our customers only have onemachine. So, i we have an owner-operator down or three weeks, hes going to suer.

On top o that, says Cooper, you can never tell which small operations will grow

into bigger ones. Dave arrived here with a pickup truck in 2007. And now he hasa dozen machines, and a dozen or so employees. You have to get in on the groundfoor with guys, and treat them right rom day one.

Dueck agrees. I remember, even now, who wouldnt give me the time o dayback when I started, and who would. Dueck may always have a sot spot or his

original machines because o the role they played in his early days, but, as his busi-nesses continue to grow, he realizes that those days are behind him. Cats purchase

price may seem higher at rst, but they actually cost a lot less in the long run, heexplains. Im not going to buy another brand, Ill tell you that right now. I like Cat. I

like the service. On the skid steer and loader side, theyre everything I could expectrom a machine and more. Ten add to that the best service support, why would I

go anywhere else?

NUMBERS GAME: Dave Dueck estimates that for every 1,000 hours of operating time,a Cat saves him $7,500 in fuel cost compared to the previous machines he used.



29/36

Road grading has never been a big part of theportolio at Okanagan Aggregates Ltd., an Armstrong,B.C.-based aggregate and paving company that has been

in business since 1983. So when general manager RussellCraword received word that the company landed a

contract to work on the rans-Canada Highway in BanNational Park, he sought some technical help.

As Craword says, It was time to take the plunge.So the company invested in an assortment o rimble

equipment to use with two Catmachines, a 140H grader and a

328D excavator.Tis contract gave the

management at OkanaganAggregates the opportunity to

explore the new technology theyd been hearing about.Te company had been considering making a technolo-

gy investment rom SIECH Western Canada (Finningsdistribution network or rimble technology) or quite

some time. Finnings Vernon branch manager, LeeCallow, connected Okanagan with SIECH to complete

the sale o a package that oered GPS-based machinecontrol, paving control, a site positioning layout tool and

sotware solutions.Craword knew that bringing his company up to date

with the latest technology was the right move, but what

shocked him and his sta was just how quickly the mod-ernized system began to pay or itsel. In the past, wecontracted out surveying, he says. At a rate o $130 an

hour, a surveyor was expensive. Acquiring the rimbletechnology opened the door to doing things new ways.

We put a civil tech grad out there with the rimble sur-vey equipment to work in conjunction with the contract

surveyor. Pretty quickly, the contract surveyor told us, Idont need to be here. His equipment is newer and aster

than mine already. We were expecting to save somemoney on surveying but we were not expecting to elimi-

nate the need or a contract survey crew immediately.

Okanagan Aggregates took anopportunity to explore a newtechnology that paid of quickly

By DaviD DiCenzo

Te SIECHAdvantage

techSpotlight

SIECHs Ed Picher helped convince Craword to give the rimble system a shot,but the sale is just one small part o the equation. SIECH also holds training sessions

to school customers on how to maximize the benets o their equipment and sot-ware. Craword recognized the potential in these training sessions and sent brothers

Mike and Josh Verhage (quality control coordinator andsurveyor, respectively) to a our-day course and presenta-

tion session SIECH held in Surrey, complete with starom rimble to explain the sotware and its uses. But

Okanagan Aggregates wasnt the only business that sawthe potential in these sessions, recalls Picher, as SIECH

customers showed up in big numbers.It was standing room only the second-highest attended event like this in North

America, says Picher. Were really proud o this.Ater the training, the benets o rimble systems become even clearer to those

in attendance.With 3-D machine control, you eliminate rework because your blade always

knows where the grade is, explains Picher. Tere is no overcut and no undercut.Te smoothness is greatly improved because o hydraulics initiating the unction o

the blade.No stakes, no contract surveyors and less uel consumption because o the

improved accuracy lead to signicant savings and efciency. Craword can relate.

Te Verhage brothers returned to their company armed with condence and energy.Its very much like a new toy, says Craword. Tey came back really excited and

had learned quite a bit. Tey got a chance to play with the sotware and see everything

it can do, he adds, noting that Mike used the technology to do his own topographicalstudy o the companys yard or a report required by the Ministry o Mines.

According to Finnings Callow, these systems, which have numerous applicationsin civil construction, are the uture in the industry. It improves the contractors

efciency and their abil ity to bid on jobs, so much that i you dont use this technologyit will limit what you do moving orward, he says. People that were successul in the

past stil l have to keep up.From Crawords side, taking the plunge has been well worth it. It was a great

decision, he says. Weve had no second thoughts.

No stakes, no contract surveors

and less uel consumption lead to

signifcant savings and efcienc.



30/36

Meeting the Challenge

May 14 was a very difcult day or the Ice Team o The Coldest Journey.For those o you reading this, it was likely just another spring day, but or the ve ous clawing our way toward the South Pole, it was ar rom ordinary. We had been

battling our way through extremely hazardous, crevassed terrain or three weeks,

in what was the worst weather imaginable. Te temperature wasnt the worst wedaced, ranging only in the mid -40C range, but winds uctuated between 70 km/hand 100 km/h, creating wind-chill temperatures around -80C. With this wind chill,

and visibility less than a ew metres, it was very dangerous to go outside. However,there were a ew daily tasks to complete each day that require some time out in the

elements. Te human body wasnt designed to cope with such extreme conditionsand neither were the heating and derosting capabilities o a Cat bulldozer cab. I

think I used the ice scraper on the inside o the windows as much as on the outside.Tat particular aternoon was one o only a ew that month where the horizon was

actually visible. It was also the last day we would see the sun.It had been three months since we watched the S.A. Agulas sail away, leaving us

on the shores o Crown Bay. Watching the sun set or the last time, knowing it wouldbe another three months beore we eel its warmth again, let me more alone and

isolated than I had been at any point o our adventure.Te diculty o saying goodbye to the sun, coincidentally, came the same day we

made our hardest decision yet as a team. Due to the unoreseen terrestrial dicultiesalong our selected route, we were orced to abandon our record-breaking traverse o

the Antarctic continent. Being a mere 350 kilometres inland o Crown Bay, wherethis epic adventure began, made this a very disappointing decision. Te requency

and the sheer magnitude o the crevasses reached a point where the risk to both manand machine was ar too great to continue. Furthermore, the diculty we had with

this terrain over the previous three weeks had massively depleted our already strictuel rations. Our assumptions, based on limited satellite surveillance available in this

part o the world, were that we would have approximately another 100 kilometres osimilar terrain beore any extended improvement in travel occurred. It was already

guaranteed we would not have the time to successul ly complete the crossing in

Out In the ColdTe Coldest Journey didnt go as expected, but Spencer Smirland the rest of the Ice eam have no regrets

winter by the spring equinox. Our battle against thecrevasses meant we would not have enough uel either.

We had decided that the latitude 75 degrees south

was to be our PNR (point o no return). A point wherewe would asses our uel usage and the amount o uel

let to determine i we could reach the other side. Inot, we would turn back. We were still 200 kilometres

north o that location when we decided to turn back.Our PNR was chosen because, at just slightly higher

than 3200 metres, it was to be the highest point oelevation along our route. From that point on we could

anticipate a massive increase in our uel economy asall uture travel would be essentially downhill. We all

knew that i we continued on at the current pace, notonly would it take us until mid-August to reach 75

degrees south, we would have to turn back regardlessdue to uel consumption. Knowing this, we elt that

to continue to venture south would be incredibly irre-sponsible. Not only would the science programs sufer

because every waking moment was spent pawing ourway south, leaving little time to conduct and contribute

to the various programs, but the possibility o con-demning a Cat D6N or a caboose to a seemingly bot-

tomless crevasse would put us in a dangerous position.Tis would cost millions in evacuation and recovery as

well as create an embarrassing situation or the team

I was disappointed in ourfailed traverse, but relieved thatI wasnt going to battle another100 kilometres of unknowncrevasse territory every dayfor three months.

by SPENCER SMIRL


ON THE HORIZON: When the wind died down andvisibility returned, the Ice Team witnessed spectacular,although limited, colour in the sky.

DRIFT AWAY: Richmond Dykes and Spencer Smirlhad to dig out this buried D6N in the middle of Augustbefore the Ice Team could start their journey back north.


31/36

and the various organizations we represent.

urning around and heading north was a huge

blow to the morale o the team. We spent the next two

weeks careully navigating our way out o that particu-

lar crevasse eld. Te depressing blow o the decision,

coupled with the act that Richmond and I hadnt had

a day o in over six weeks, made or a tense living

environment during our retreat. Finally, we arrived at

our current location, on the southern edge o what we

know to be ve kilometres o sae terrain. Ten we got

a day o; actually, we took two. It elt so good to nallyrelax. Although I was grossly disappointed in our ailed

traverse, I was relieved that I wasnt going to have to

battle another 100 kilometres o unknown crevasse ter-

ritory every day or the next three months.

Our commitment to our science program has dic-

tated that we stay at this altitude as long as we can. Our

intention is to camp at this location until sometime

the beginning o September. When we rst arrived

at this location we had almost a ull week o beautiul

conditions. We escaped the wind and temperatures

climbed as high as -25C. It made or the best weather

we had seen since the beginning o our expedition back

in March. Tis unusual bit o good weather made it much easier to complete some

cargo rearrangement as well as some minor repairs to the two Cat D6Ns beore we

entered hibernation mode or the winter. Ater my daily rounds, I have some ree

time. I usually spend it lying in my bunk watching movies or surng the web. I was

also lucky enough to have Axe Music sponsor me a Rain Song Carbon Fibre acoustic

guitar. Te rest o the guys havent complained yet so my ski lls must be improving.

A year ago I would have admitted that winter was my avourite season. Nothing

beats a blue bird powder day, whether youre shredding down through the trees o

your avourite mountain or planting that rst high mark in a back country bowl, I

lived or winter. Tis expedition has been an amazing experience. I eel very grateul

to Finning or allowing me the privilege. However, I think that ater 18 months o

winter, I will have a completely dierent outlook on summer.

Both o the Cats we brought with us have proven to be extremely reliable and veryresilient to the climactic conditions o the Antarctic. Due to uel constraints, the ma

chines had to be shut down at night, and that always made me a little nervous. Ater

testing the vehicle tents in Northern Sweden in January 2012, I was satised enough

to shut them down in any temperature, so long as they would spend the night under

the tents. With the use o the Webasto heating system I was positive we would have

no problems starting these units in any condition with the help o these insulating

aids. But, in the Antarctic nothing goes as planned. Due to the high winds we were

constantly subjected to during our traverse, we were never able to saely deploy these

tents. In temperatures as low as -50C, with wind-chills approaching -80C, the Cat

machines still started up every morning. During a discussion I had with the lead

equipment tech at the Belgium research acility, he was extremely surprised that

we had no intentions o blending a Cetane booster into our uel or operating the

D6Ns at altitude. With the JP-8 aviation uel we were running in the D6Ns, and thealtitudes we would be climbing to, this technician was very skeptical o our ability to

re-start the machines. Morning ater rigid morning, the D6Ns never let me down.

Currently the D6Ns lay dormant, buried under six weeks o snow along with all our

uel scoots and the sledges we use to ride the cabooses.

Te past ve weeks have been the worst weather o the entire expedition.

emperatures as low as -55C, winds gusting up to 120 km/h and enough blow-

ing snow in the air to reduce the visibility to a ew metres. I hope that sometime

between now and the end o August the weather wil l improve enough or me to

get everything dug out o the snow so we can pr

tracks & treads fall 2013

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