In March 2012, North Dakota surpassed Alaska to become the United States’ second-highest crude oil and natural gas producing state, following Texas. Hyundai Construction Equipment is on the job for Hess Oil, the largest gas producer and third-largest oil producer in North Dakota, with its HL760-9 wheel loader. Hyundai wheel loaders provide operators fast cycle times, and allow operators to easily switch out a bucket for a fork, plus benefit from the value of many standard features.
Hess Oil uses United Vision Logistics, a transportation and logistical service provider for the U.S. energy and petroleum industry, to relocate oil rigs in North Dakota. United Vision Logistics’ business model is to subcontract the work to equipment-owning contractors, one of those being Triple J Transport, started in 2005 and headquartered in Navasota, Texas. Triple J started a new rig moving division in North Dakota in March 2011 and expects to be working there for another two and a half years.
Dustin Johnson, owner of Triple J, has his operators using a Hyundai HL760-9 wheel loader with pipe forks. The wheel loader is used for the safe assembly, transport and disassembly of oil rigs, including moving pipe and other pieces of equipment, throughout North Dakota. The process can take anywhere from one-and-a-half to four days, depending on the time of year, the type of rig and the distance between the oil wells.
Johnson purchased the Hyundai HL760-9 from Four Seasons Equipment of North Dakota, a new division of Four Seasons Equipment Inc., Hyundai Construction’s largest authorized dealer.
“The price was very competitive, and I knew of a few other operators using this Hyundai wheel loader who had good things to say about it,” said Johnson. The HL760-9 boasts an operating weight of 39,460 lbs. (17,898.8 kg), a 9 ft. 9 in. (3 m) dump height, and a breakout force of 35,780 lbs. (16,229.6 kg).
One of the features Johnson appreciates the most is the HL760-9’s fuel efficiency. This wheel loader’s Cummins Tier-III QSB6.7 engine (212 HP, 160kW, 2,100 rpm) comes equipped with three engine modes: power, standard and econo, which range from full power to reduced fuel consumption. Johnson has purchased a second Hyundai HL760-9 wheel loader, and at one point when he had them both on the same job site, he put their fuel efficiency to the test.
“We put one loader on the power setting and one on econo,” said Johnson. “The one on econo burned half as much fuel. With Hyundai, it’s great to have the option of a setting that makes such a large difference in fuel consumption.”
“Hyundai Construction’s research and development department continually works with customer feedback in order to design products that meet operators’ requirements and preferences,” said Kirk Gillette, vice president of Hyundai Construction Equipment.
Johnson said his operators like the cab in the HL760-9, especially due to the roominess inside and the doors with windows that can open. Operator comfort, stress reduction and improved efficiency all played important roles in the newly designed cabins of the Hyundai 9-series line of wheel loaders.
Advanced color monitors with 5.7 in. (14.5 cm) wide color LCD screens, mounted on adjustable swivel-mounts for reduced glare, allow the operator to easily control the machine. Special attention was given to a comfortable and convenient interior with many standard amenities such as automatic AC/heat, heated rear-view mirrors, hands free phone, personal storage space and AM/FM radio/MP3 interface/USB ports.
Just like all of the equipment in the 9-series, Hyundai designed the HL760-9 to maximize profitability through improved efficiencies and extended life components. This wheel loader comes standard with Hi-mate, Hyundai’s proprietary remote management system that provides operators and dealer service personnel access to vital service and diagnostic information via an online portal.
Hi-mate saves time and money for the owner by promoting preventive maintenance and reducing machine downtime. Plus, 9-series wheel loaders are equipped with long life hydraulic filters that now have 1,000 hours service intervals, and Hyundai certified hydraulic oil can last up to 5,000 hours before changing.
“We haven’t had any mechanical problems with the HL760-9,” said Johnson. “Oil rig moving takes every piece of equipment to the extreme. The HL760-9 gets put to the challenge every day, and we’ve been pleased with the results.”
For more information, visit www.uvlogistics.com, http://www.fourseasons-equip.com, www.hceamericas.com or call 877/509-2254.
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