No two residential retaining wall projects are ever the same. Function, strength, and longevity will always be of utmost concern to the contractor. Revisiting the job in the near future to fix a failing wall (especially one they installed) is not a call they hope to get! However, when we talk about residential jobs there is another huge factor that comes into play – the homeowner. Certainly, no homeowner wishes to sit on the back porch drinking a cup of coffee while staring at a boring ole block wall. This wall must not only function well, it must also be aesthetically pleasing.
To solve this problem, many contractors look to limestone block. Its face gives a rough ‘n’ rugged character that seamlessly blends with the surrounding landscape. All the while these blocks provide a strong and sturdy blockade to the naturally eroding earth on the other side. They are a solution that consistently appeases both the contractor and customer.
That’s brings us to today’s featured project by D & D Foundations, Inc of Houston, Texas. The project is one similar to the above situation – 2100 pound limestone blocks in Texas and a residential retaining wall. Kenco’s fundamental contribution to this job was the Multilift, more specifically – the ML8K10T48V1. The grip range (10-48”) suited these block quite well and allowed for lifting on the wide or narrow side. For this project, the Multilift was placed from the front to back. The lifter’s capacity of 8,000 pounds exceeded what could have been expected from even the largest of the block.
“Setup was (also) very easy,” Ruben Gonzalez stated, and he is certainly correct. All that is needed is a lift eye, a Rigmax (or similar), and a machine capable of lifting the weight. D & D had previously “tried moving the blocks with other methods with different tractors.” Although these methods were not without success, they do come at the sacrifice of time spent. And as any contractor knows – time lost means money lost. And Ruben would agree. “This Multilift has saved us time and labor expenses. We would be behind schedule without it.”
Thank you Ruben and to D & D Foundations, Inc. for becoming a member of the Kenco Workforce. We look forward to working with you in the future.
Contact/Company Name:
Ruben Gonzalez | D & D Foundations, Inc. | Houston, TX
Featured Project Detail:
Retaining wall system installation using limestone blocks weighing approximately 2,100 pounds
Equipment Used:
Kenco Multilift: ML8K10T48V1
If you would like to be highlighted in one of our Featured Projects, please contact sm@kenco.com.
Dry Stone Build with Throughstone Group of Truckee, California
/in Blog, Featured ProjectOften times we cannot put into words the satisfaction our customers have with our concrete lifting clamp products.. So why not let them speak for themselves! Take it away Jon … “The only way to make a blog about a Kenco Multilift interesting is to be honest and a little, necessarily, self-effacing. Last year, I […]
Diehl Vault & Precast – Orangeville, PA – KL12000
/in Jobsite Footage, Use CasesKL9000 Jobsite Submission: Allan Myers, Halethorpe, MD
/in Jobsite FootageKenco Multilift Attachment for Concrete Walls, Blocks and Slabs
/in Use CasesThe Multilift can be configured to grab from the outside or from the inside…
Carving the Crazy Horse Memorial
/in BlogWe’re thankful to be a part of the quest to carve the Crazy Horse Memorial! CBS recently wrote an article on their efforts. You can read the CBS article here – https://goo.gl/wtsv22
Featured Project – Town of Parker, CO and the Barrier Lift
/in Blog, Featured ProjectToday, our featured project takes us to Parker, Colorado, a small “town” located at the southeastern most corner of the Denver Metropolitan Area. The municipality uses barricades mostly for road closures but also for the separation of debris and aggregate piles. In the past, they have used forks which “beat up the barricades.” They also tried straps with a screw-in eye bolt but the “hole would fill with dirt or ice.” More so, Keith states, “(these) methods are not as safe.” And this couldn’t be more true. Safety should always be of utmost concern, especially when moving something of this size.
As promised, their new KL9000 arrived in record time and went immediately to work. And it of course, performed just as they had expected. (In fact, this lifter was a repeat order.) Loading and unloading of the barriers went smoothly which further expedited the process. Keith also made a valid point in stating that “it can be used with minimal manpower.” Smaller municipalities obviously have smaller work forces and this is where the barrier lift can really become a life (and back) saver! Besides, wouldn’t everyone rather stay in the cab on a cold or rainy day?!
Thank you Keith Wittlieff of Parker PW for sharing your story. Welcome to the Kenco Workforce!
Contact/Company Name:
Keith Wittlieff | Town of Parker Public Works | Parker, CO
Featured Project Detail:
General road closure and debris separation using concrete road barriers.
Equipment Used:
Kenco Barrier Lift: KL9K6T24V1
If you would like to be highlighted in one of our Featured Projects, please contact sm@kenco.com.
American Pride in Every Kenco Lifting Attachment
/in BlogEvery Kenco lifter that leaves our facility is tagged with a miniature American flag. And that’s not because we have to; it’s but because we want to. We want you to know that Kenco lifting attachments were born and raised right here in western Pennsylvania. From infancy to adulthood, each and every lifter had the privilege of pure red, white, and blue talent impressed upon it. You see, in this day and age it is very difficult to find items that are truly “Made in the USA.”
We take great pride in our lifting attachments and our employees that help them find a new home on your jobsite. Maybe that’s why when you call us, you speak to a actual person, not some automated messaging machine! And maybe that’s why you call back it often times is the same person you spoke with years ago. Good business leads to happy employees. And that’s why we like to still talk to you and ask you how your day is going. It’s very rare you will talk to someone that is not smiling on the other end of the line.
So when you conduct business with Kenco understand that we enjoy what we do and we want you to enjoy it too. We want you to be satisfied with your purchase and our service. That means there are NO dumb questions. And if we don’t know, we often times know someone who does. Trust in us and you will not be disappointed.
Featured Project – D & D Foundations, Inc. and the Multilift
/in Blog, Featured Project, Use CasesNo two residential retaining wall projects are ever the same. Function, strength, and longevity will always be of utmost concern to the contractor. Revisiting the job in the near future to fix a failing wall (especially one they installed) is not a call they hope to get! However, when we talk about residential jobs there is another huge factor that comes into play – the homeowner. Certainly, no homeowner wishes to sit on the back porch drinking a cup of coffee while staring at a boring ole block wall. This wall must not only function well, it must also be aesthetically pleasing.
To solve this problem, many contractors look to limestone block. Its face gives a rough ‘n’ rugged character that seamlessly blends with the surrounding landscape. All the while these blocks provide a strong and sturdy blockade to the naturally eroding earth on the other side. They are a solution that consistently appeases both the contractor and customer.
That’s brings us to today’s featured project by D & D Foundations, Inc of Houston, Texas. The project is one similar to the above situation – 2100 pound limestone blocks in Texas and a residential retaining wall. Kenco’s fundamental contribution to this job was the Multilift, more specifically – the ML8K10T48V1. The grip range (10-48”) suited these block quite well and allowed for lifting on the wide or narrow side. For this project, the Multilift was placed from the front to back. The lifter’s capacity of 8,000 pounds exceeded what could have been expected from even the largest of the block.
“Setup was (also) very easy,” Ruben Gonzalez stated, and he is certainly correct. All that is needed is a lift eye, a Rigmax (or similar), and a machine capable of lifting the weight. D & D had previously “tried moving the blocks with other methods with different tractors.” Although these methods were not without success, they do come at the sacrifice of time spent. And as any contractor knows – time lost means money lost. And Ruben would agree. “This Multilift has saved us time and labor expenses. We would be behind schedule without it.”
Thank you Ruben and to D & D Foundations, Inc. for becoming a member of the Kenco Workforce. We look forward to working with you in the future.
Contact/Company Name:
Ruben Gonzalez | D & D Foundations, Inc. | Houston, TX
Featured Project Detail:
Retaining wall system installation using limestone blocks weighing approximately 2,100 pounds
Equipment Used:
Kenco Multilift: ML8K10T48V1
If you would like to be highlighted in one of our Featured Projects, please contact sm@kenco.com.
Behind the Scenes Prep for ConExpo
/in BlogOne of our warehouses has been buzzing with some unusual noises this month. Although they sound much like teacher’s nails down a chalkboard, I couldn’t help from sneaking over the other day for a “look see.” It’s not nails, rather a hot knife and the chalkboard? Well, that would be styrofoam. (Don’t worry, we haven’t cut back on manufacturing costs of our lifters!) So what has been going on here at Kenco HQ? So what has been going on here at Kenco HQ? Preparation for ConExpo March 2017, of course! The sounds, smells, and sweat are all too familiar to our marketing department who heads up the design of this castle-like structure. And what better way to understand the trials and tribulations of the stage-hands for ConExpo exhibitors than to jump right in?!
Anyone that knows me well, knows that I am not the most patient person. That being said, It took every bit of self-control I had to sit idle for instruction on how to use the hot “butter knife” for cutting foam block. (Oh, just let me try it already; I can do it!) With the lesson finally over, I tossed my gloves on and went to work with my melt-tastic, samurai sword in hand! (Watch out world; this woman has skills no one could have ever imagined!)
Maybe I was overzealous or a tad too confident in my first cut because it didn’t go as smoothly as I had planned. Styrofoam can be quite persnickety. And so I calmed my horses and decided slow and steady will win the race. As I worked ever so carefully along the edge line of each individual brick (yes, hand-melted INDIVIDUAL brick), my mind started to revert back to being a kid watching marshmallows melt over the fire. It is quite mesmerizing to say the least. Could be the childhood memories – could also be the fumes…
Either way, thirty minutes in and I have a newfound respect for all that it takes to prepare this exhibit that will be unveiled at ConExpo March 2017.
When you walk by it, you will probably think similar to what I had. “Just some foam blocks; nothing to be seen here.” But let me assure you, each and every block was meticulously created and painted to give you a realistic stone/brick exterior you would swear was the “real deal.”
I hope you take a gander by our castle in the North Hall. I’ll be there basking in the glory of the mere dozen or so brick I created. Come join me!
-Jess
Con-Expo March 2017
Las Vegas | March 7-11, 2017
North Hall, Booth N11749
Top 5 Funniest Names for the Actuator
/in BlogEvery once in awhile, we all need a little comic relief. I’m not here to poke fun at anyone because if the tables were turned, there would be plenty of reasons to laugh at myself! However, sometimes I find it really hard to contain a chuckle when I hear the names our customers have called our actuators. If one of these happens to be yours, please feel free to claim its notoriety – you deserve it!
I think it would be best to do a simple countdown:
#5 The PLUNGER
I was pretty certain I moved into sales to steer clear of anything that sounded like it belonged in a toilet. I just … ugh … let’s just move on.
#4 THING-A-MAJIG
Now, this name doesn’t really bother me too much. Although it really is quite confusing. I’ve seen many thing-a-majigs in my life and none of them look like this. They are usually under the hood of my car making some odd clicking or whistling noise and spewing mass amounts of oil.
#3 RATCHET
You probably already know this as a “tie down”. Makes perfect sense to me. However, I know this as the “knuckle blaster”. It somehow tightens extremely easy but then it becomes the devil in disguise. I push and pull and grip and pinch but it stays jammed. I’ll walk away in anger to come back and on the first try it flies open and blasts my knuckles! (Ouch!)
#2 ARTICULATOR
This just sounds downright fancy! Sorry but this five dollar word would best be used elsewhere.
#1 AGITATOR
Listen, I like laundry like the rest of the world… Wait – no one likes laundry! In fact, even the term AGITATES me!
You can call it whatever you want and sometimes you may try your best to stump us. But the cold hard truth is that we’ve heard them all … or have we?