Bridge Contractor Gets A Lift
Ohio bridge company increases efficiency, cuts costs with addition of compact loaders
With more than a half century of experience in the business, the people at Miller Bros. Const. Inc., Archbold, Ohio, know bridges — how to build them, how to repair them, and how to do it cost-effectively. That means, among other things, not turning big loader backhoes into expensive wheelbarrows and forklifts.
For the past couple of years, Miller Bros. Const., one of northwestern Ohio's premier bridge construction firms, has been eliminating the use of bigger equipment for cleanup, moving materials and other routine jobs. The original plan was for the company to switch over to skid-steer loaders. Then they discovered a machine with features that makes it even more practical for this type of work — an all-wheel steer (AWS) loader with skid-steer capabilities.
"Once we saw how well the Bobcat A300 all-wheel steer loader performed in this application, we were sold," says Mel Williams, project manager for Miller Bros. Const.
They were so sold that the company purchased three of the unique loaders, which allow operators to switch between an AWS and skid-steer mode — giving them the advantage of having two machines in one. Operators can transition to AWS and back to skid-steer mode with the simple flip of a dash panel switch.
Bridges Become Big Business
Two ambitious brothers, Dale and Floyd Miller, founded Miller Bros. Const. in 1945, and their company specialized in roadway work, earthmoving, drainage, and paving. But as the construction industry changed, the brothers and their successors saw a need to branch out into even more markets. So in the mid-1980s, Miller Bros. Const. purchased Harper Structures Inc., a successful and well-known bridge contractor in their area that had already been in the business almost 40 years. In addition to specializing in all forms of bridge construction and rehabilitation, Harper Structures also was an expert in structural concrete foundations, retaining walls and dams.
With Harper Structures, Miller Bros. Const. was able to provide a more complete heavy highway construction package, Williams says. Recently, Harper Structures took its parent company name of Miller Bros. Const.
Over the years, Miller Bros. Const. has completed several major bridge projects throughout Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. In 2004, the company completed a $32-million bridge project for the Maumee River Crossing in Toledo, Ohio, that entailed constructing four bridges and eight retaining walls. The project took three years to complete.
In 2000, Miller Bros. Const. completed two major bridge projects, including an $18-million job that involved adding a third lane to the Ohio Turnpike in Sandusky County and a $40-million Ohio Department of Transportation project that involved building nine new bridges and demolishing two existing bridges.
Doing The Work Of Many
When it comes to completing small- to medium-sized bridge projects, Miller Bros. Const. uses its fleet of recently purchased Bobcat A300 AWS loaders. Williams says the three AWS loaders work well on projects that don't require the power of heavy equipment.
"One A300 actually does the work of three or four pieces of equipment that we would have had to move into the job site," he says. "It'll replace an end loader, rough terrain forklift, power brooms, and other equipment we typically use to complete the job."
By being stationed at a bridge project, the A300 is kept plenty busy, Williams says. Whenever a truck arrives, it is used with the pallet fork attachment to unload materials. It also easily picks up and moves barrier walls regularly.
In addition to the pallet fork attachment and buckets, Williams says they also have a sweeper attachment that they use to keep the job site neat and clean and a hydraulic breaker for quickly performing smaller concrete demolition tasks. He says they also plan to purchase a surface planer attachment to remove lines, painted stripes and thermoplastics on the bridge.
"The capacity of the (optional) high-flow auxiliary hydraulic system on the machines is excellent for running all the attachments," he says.
Nothing is worse, in Williams' mind, than coming up on a new white bridge deck and seeing black marks all over it where equipment has been twisting and turning.
"The A300 took care of that problem," he says. "By operating the loader in the all-wheel steer mode, there is no surface damage. That saves us money because we have far less repair work. Plus, the tire wear is so much better than with other equipment."
The all-wheel steering also comes in handy when operators must maneuver within tight spaces while doing earth or pavement work, Williams says.
Versatility Equals Cost-Savings
As a result of the success of the A300s, Miller Bros. Const. eliminated some of its bigger, more expensive machines.
"These loaders increase our efficiency because we're doing two and three tasks with the same piece of equipment," he says. "Whereas before, we would have to switch different pieces of equipment out of the job site. We save on mobilization costs because we only have to transport one piece of equipment out to the site instead of three or four."
The A300 AWS loaders are assigned to three of the company's seven construction superintendents, Williams says. At times, he notes, the loaders are assigned out to the remaining four superintendents when they need them.
"Our field supervisors are very happy with the performance and versatility of the machines," he says. "This equipment is so cost-effective that we can leave it at a job site without it being a financial burden. They can do all the same work and a whole lot more for much less money than a larger dedicated machine."
20-Jan-2006