The following guidance was released by Caterpillar® Inc. to provide tips on disinfecting operator stations properly.

Scope of Contact Areas:

Joysticks

Steering wheels

Switches

Displays (including touch screen)

Grab handles

Armrests/Seats

Consoles

Door handles

Products that minimize adverse effects on component surfaces:

Soap and water (used per Health Organization Guidelines)

70 percent Isopropyl Alcohol (Isopropanol – pre-packaged wipe or cloth)

Non-bleach disinfecting wipes (preferred) or spray

Avoid:

Solutions composed of household bleach or solvent-based solutions, if possible.

Disinfectants at elevated temperatures (above 86 degrees F).

Be sure to remove all residue from surfaces after health organization or manufacturer’s minimum recommended working time to disinfect.

Disclaimer: Product contents vary by manufacturer and cannot be guaranteed to be 100% compatible with all contact surfaces.

With everything going on with COVID-19, it's easy to forget that hurricane season is just around the corner. Forecasters are calling for an above-average season, with 16 named storms -- eight of which will become hurricanes. Of the eight hurricanes forecast, four are expected to become major hurricanes – Category 3, 4 or 5.

Now is the time to prepare your business. 

Our expert generator technicians can help you prepare for the unpredictable. Generator inspections and maintenance should be performed before the arrival of hurricane season on June 1. Ring Power Systems offers 24 hour emergency generator service and preventive maintenance programs for all makes of power generation equipment and switchgear. Schedule your Florida generator service today. 

Not sure what you need to keep the power running? Download our contingency planning guide. With a solid contingency plan in place, you'll know what to do and whom to call to restore your power as soon as possible, to keep your business functioning and your revenue stream flowing.

Sooner or later, power outages affect everyone. Don't wait for the inevitable to happen. The time to plan is now. Schedule a free site survey today.

Ring Power offers the following equipment for rent or sale:

Cat Sound Attenuated Diesel and Natural Gas Generators (20-2000kw)

Transformers, Transfer Switches and Load Banks

Air Compressors (diesel or electric) 20 to 3000 CFM, Compressed Air Dryers, High Pressure Booster Packages

Chillers - Water and Air Cooled - 50-500 Ton

DX - Split Systems, DX Units- 25-90 Ton

As COVID-19 threatens to overwhelm hospitals, Ring Power's Florida generator rental team has actively worked to prepare medical facilities in North and Central Florida for an influx of patients.  

Ring Power's team of temporary power experts have worked closely with Cat Entertainment Services and medical facilities across Florida to deploy generators, temperature control solutions, and other vital equipment.  

Most recently, seven generators, 70 tons of AC, multiple auxiliary fuel cells, and other vital equipment was deployed to four hospitals across Central Florida.  

At Orlando Health, the Power Systems Rental team deployed 200 kW of generator power to a surge tent for overflow patients being tested for COVID-19. In addition, a 250-gallon auxiliary fuel cell, 2x10 ton AC's & distro for medical equipment inside the tent.  

At Health First Viera hospital in Brevard County, 4x120 kW generators are supplying the power required for the AC to create negative pressure for COVID-19 isolation rooms. A 2500-gallon auxiliary fuel cell, and 2x500 gallon auxiliary fuel cells are onsite. 

Ring Power Crane and Manitowoc had a lot to celebrate at this year’s CONEXPO. Manitowoc gave the St. Augustine, Florida-based company an award for having the highest volume growth of Grove cranes in North America. It also recognized the company for being the exclusive EnCORE service provider in its territory.

Ring Power CorporationPresident David Alban, ExecutiveVice President Kevin Robbins and Vice President/General Manager of Ring Power Crane Dave Glass received the award at the Manitowoc booth. Manitowoc’s Keith Crider and Mike Herbert presented them with celebratory plaques to mark the occasion, kicking off what has already been a fruitful CONEXPO for Manitowoc.

Our most important core value, Safety Above All, exemplifies our top priority: to keep our employees, customers, and communities safe. At Ring Power, we are following the CDC guidelines to ensure we do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.

As this situation continues to evolve, we want to share with you the steps we are taking to safeguard the health of everyone we do business with, while minimizing disruptions.

All Ring Power locations are open for business during normal business hours.  Our employees remain committed to providing our customers the Parts Availability and Service Excellence you are accustomed to receiving.  As of this writing, we are still offering our full range of services, taking the necessary precautions to keep both our employees and our customers’ employees safe.  We are also restricting vendor and general visitor access to our facilities.

We have put the following policies and guidelines in place:

•           Company-wide travel policies to minimize the risk of exposure to our employees and customers. Employees traveling to a high-risk area may be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

•           Postponement of group meetings and events.  Face-to-face meetings are permitted, but only as prescribed by CDC guidelines for social distancing and hygiene. Virtual meetings (Skype, Facetime, etc.) are encouraged whenever possible.  

•           A “no handshake” policy in accordance with the CDC guidelines for social distancing and hygiene.  To that end, we have increased the number of hand sanitizer stations throughout all facilities.

•           Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting at all of our branches, paying special attention to high-traffic areas (parts/rental counters, etc.) and high-touch areas (door handles, light switches, counters, bathroom fixtures, etc.)

•           Reinforcement of employee guidelines for staying home when sick. We also are encouraging employees to reconsider personal travel to a high-risk area, which may require self-quarantine for 14 days.

We recognize this a fluid situation and will continue to keep you informed with updates on our website, email communications, and social media posts.

While the actions taken to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus may seem drastic, it is critical that we all work together during this unprecedented time. Ring Power has a history of rising to the occasion in emergencies, and we want to continue to support our customers in any way we can. We are confident that we all will emerge from this stronger than ever. Feel free to contact us by phone or email us at info@ringpower.com if you have any questions or need assistance.

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Please take the steps necessary to be healthy and safe!

David Alban

President

Steve Brown (Ring Power Safety Director), was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Florida Safety Council (NEFSC).  Based in Jacksonville, the safety council serves five counties in Northeast Florida.  NEFSC is a non-governmental, not-for-profit, public service organization dedicated to promoting good health, saving lives, preventing accidents and maintaining a safe environment through workplace safety programs, road safety training programs, and community service. With four locations throughout the First Coast, NEFSC offers classroom safety courses in addition to online training.  The safety council has served the Northeast Florida area since 1942 and has over 450 local business members, including Ring Power. Kudos to Steve on this awesome achievement!

On a crisp day in Clayton, North Carolina, local Operator Challenge winners from across the country came together for a single purpose—to crush their North American competition. 

Kenny Billings, equipment operator at Cypress Gulf, represented Ring Power at the North American Regional Finals on October 24.

Billings, who won the Ring Power Operator Challenge this summer, was accompanied by Ring Power demo operator Blake Conwell during the event. Conwell coached him on a couple events prior to the Regional Finals, getting together at the Tampa branch to practice running some of the Cat Next Gen machines he would be operating in North Carolina.

“I met a lot of nice, world-class operators and made a lot of new friends,” Billings said. “Blake was great. It was a great experience overall. I really enjoyed it.”

Billings admitted that even though they had practiced plenty, the challenges at the regional finals proved to be pretty tough, even for a 38-year veteran operator like himself. But Billings is always up for a challenge.

“They were a little tougher than I expected,” Billings said. “But any Cat equipment out there I can operate.” While Billings had an excellent showing in all events, he ranked 10th overall in the competition.

Events at the regional finals included:

• Trenching Challenge — Operators used a Cat excavator to dig a trench with Grade with 2D Grade technology.

• Fully Loaded Challenge — Operators used a Cat wheel loader with production measurement technology to accurately load a target.

• Easy Doze It Challenge — Operators used a Cat dozer blade and steering while working through a course.

• Control To A Tee Challenge — Operators used a Cat mini excavator to “tee off” a golf ball then navigate a course and place the ball in a hole.

“With the Trenching Challenge, my trench was good and straight, and I was on grade,” Billings said. “The Easy Doze It course was hard, but I had the least penalties on that one. The mini excavator golf tee was very difficult!”

Billings said the event was a great way to indulge in his competitive side. He’s already looking forward to the potential of another Operator Challenge next year.

“I hope they continue to do these,” Billings said. “I’ll be at every one. These Next Gen Cats are awesome.”

In October, Ring Power’s training department conducted a training class in Ocala, Florida on the new Cat® D6 XE Track-Type Tractor. This was a chance for Heavy Equipment (HE) Service Technicians to learn all about the world’s first world’s first high drive electric drive dozer. 

The electric drive system starts with a Cat C9.3B engine. Instead of powering a torque converter, the engine drives a generator that turns the mechanical engine power into electricity. Instead of a transmission, an electric motor powers the final drives. A power inverter is connected to both the generator and the motor by heavy-duty power cables and connectors, and this inverter controls the flow of electricity between the two components.

The electric motor can operate at all ground speeds, ensuring the dozer is always operating at the most efficient point possible. The electric drive components are fully sealed against the environment and liquid cooled, so the whole system performs efficiently and reliably in the most demanding dozer applications. Like a traditional powershift transmission in a high drive dozer, the D6 XE Electric Drive power train is completely modular, so internal components can be accessed quickly and efficiently.

The new D6 XE with Electric Drive offers up to 35 percent better fuel efficiency; class-leading maneuverability and power; almost 90 percent fewer rotating parts than a traditional power train — which generates less heat and aids serviceability and component life.