Remote - Fall 2016 - 20

Feature Article Please see Atlas continued from page 19 With numerous pieces of equipment operating simultaneously on jobsites, noise pollution can be another concern. Look for units that have factory designed and installed sound attenuation. Be sure the equipment has been tested for the rated sound level. In addition, rather than placing the generator in a standard ISO shipping container, some manufacturers build them into 20-foot enclosures they design and build from the ground up. This allows them to make the unit structurally sound to accommodate features such as larger openings for maintenance access as well as control panels on the outside of the unit; features that would otherwise weaken the integrity of ISO containers. Instead they are safer and easier to use while maintaining the same footprint and form factor of ISO containers. An adjustable exterior control panel gives operators the flexibility to move the control panel up if it's placed at ground level or down if it's placed on a trailer, which will ensure it stays at an ergonomic height for operators. It also eliminates the time and hassle associated with getting on and off of a trailer and opening doors to make adjustments, which increases the risk of injury from moving parts and hearing loss from the equipment. Some manufactures custom design 20-foot ISO container for their 1-megawatt generators so they can use a higher grade of steel and provide greater durability on harsh jobsites. Open for Maintenance Manufacturing their own ISO-spec enclosure also allows manufactures to incorporate features that make maintenance easier and faster. For example, some generators have all fluids plumbed to the edge of the unit. This eliminates the hassle and time associated with trying to place drain pans in the unit where space is very confined. Instead, users can simply go to one convenient location and can even use hoses to divert the fluids where needed. Some generators also are equipped with large access doors that swing completely open to give operators more room to work. They may feature one-side accessibility to every maintenance point so users don't need to spend time moving from one side to the other, which helps maintenance go even faster. And to make larger repairs easier, specify models that can be completely removed from the enclosure for full access to maintenance points. Also consider the maintenance intervals. Some manufacturers require preventative maintenance evFeatures such as doors that swing completely open and all access points accessible from one side, make ery 250 hours, but in recent years, others have extended maintenance easier and faster. that to 500 hours. This is possible because of several features, such as oversized fuel and oil filters and larger oil pans. Fewer maintenance intervals can have a significant impact on maintenance costs and total cost of ownership, particularly on sites with heavy use. And if site managers are using the generator as a standalone unit, this also reduces downtime. From Site to Structure Power is essential to every building and jobsite. But in critical prime power applications it can make or break the productivity of the operation. While a single large generator can provide clean, stable power, several smaller generators that are paralleled add up to even more, from increased efficiency to greater reliability to improved cost savings. Now that's smart power. Jim Siffring is the product manager for Atlas Copco Construction Equipment's generator product line. He is based out of Atlas Copco's US headquarters in Commerce City, Colorado. For more information please visit www.atlascopco.com. 20 www.RemoteMagazine.com http://www.atlascopco.com http://www.RemoteMagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Remote - Fall 2016