Shown is the XR842 hard at work on an unrelated project.
April 19, 2016 7:00 AM CDT
The decision to build a new VA center came after a federal study last year found the Fayetteville VA hospital had the second-longest wait time, nationwide, to see a doctor – an average of 28.45 days versus the national average of 6.95 days. The newly opened outpatient clinic allows the VA to consolidate its primary care services, mental health services, outpatient surgery and specialty care in one location. It’s estimated by VA officials that 40,000 patients a year will use the outpatient facility. It is anticipated that it will free up space at the 75-year-old VA hospital on Ramsey Street for much-needed renovations.
The estimated cost to build the new VA center is $120 million, and the VA will hold a 20-year lease. The first year cost is estimated to be $7 million, with an annual rent of about $10 million per year for the rest of the lease. Calvin had to work with a $4.5 million budget on this new building project. Calvin and his crew were onsite from June 2014 through March 2015. The challenge as with most large construction projects was to stay on track with the budget and to complete by the deadline.
University officials said more space was needed as the current recreation center is inadequate, when compared to with other schools in the University of North Carolina system. The new center also will be able to host campus events such as concerts, dances and career fairs. The new facility will expand from 90,000 to 216,000 square feet.
Similar to the VA Medical Center, the challenge with this large project was to deliver the project on time, while keeping the build within the fixed budget of $4.5 million. Brodie and his crew worked onsite from April 2014 through October 2015.
For example, Xtreme’s boom lift point, which is positioned just behind the fork carriage, helped him effortlessly suspend loads from the telehandler, saving time and reducing the need for additional equipment. The telehandlers made it easy to perform masonry tasks, such as lifting and breaking blocks, and assisted with moving scaffolding onsite.
The lockout switch available on Xtreme telehandlers helped to protect the equipment during the projects. “I was able to leave the equipment onsite without having to move it and I felt comfortable that it would be there when I returned the next morning,” Brodie says. “This helped save time and avoid possible damage to other equipment and property onsite.”
Some of the features Brodie found extremely useful included 360-degree operator visibility and the easy access to components for servicing. He has used many types of rough terrain forklifts in the past, but says none have held up as long as the Xtreme telehandlers. “The Xtreme telehandlers just don’t break down,” he says.
He also adds that any minor issues the telehandlers experienced were serviced right away, so he was able to stay on track with both the VA Medical Center and the recreation center at University of North Carolina, Greensboro projects.
The Xtreme XR842 can lift up to 8,000 pounds and is capable of reaching up to 42 feet. It is powered by a 99.5-horsepower Tier IVi engine. The Xtreme XR1045 has a lift capacity of 10,000 pounds and can reach heights of up to 45 feet. The XR1045 features a powerful 111-horsepower Tier III Flex engine. All Xtreme telehandlers are backed by a 10-year/5-year/2-year warranty.
“I hope that none of my competitors will buy them,” Brodie says of the Xtreme telehandlers. He looks forward to adding more Xtreme telehandlers to his fleet and would recommend them to anyone looking for efficient and durable forklifts.
More information on Xtreme telehandlers can be found at www.xmfg.com/telehandlers.
Xtreme telehandlers lend a helping hand
Case study
By Masonry
Mason contractor and longtime Ahern Rentals customer, Calvin Brodie, operates his construction business out of Raleigh, N.C., and surrounding cities. He incorporated his business, Brodie Contractors, in 1992 and holds a builder’s license under the North Carolina contractor license board. When faced with working on big contracts that are time and budget sensitive, he has repeatedly relied on Xtreme telehandlers to do the job right, based on their functionality and durability.
VA Medical Center
VA Medical Center
Brodie had the challenge of building the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, N.C., while staying on budget and reducing downtime. The 250,000-square-foot VA clinic on Raeford Road was created to shorten the amount of time it takes for local veterans to get medical attention. The new VA center will be able to accommodate veterans who are currently waiting for primary care.The decision to build a new VA center came after a federal study last year found the Fayetteville VA hospital had the second-longest wait time, nationwide, to see a doctor – an average of 28.45 days versus the national average of 6.95 days. The newly opened outpatient clinic allows the VA to consolidate its primary care services, mental health services, outpatient surgery and specialty care in one location. It’s estimated by VA officials that 40,000 patients a year will use the outpatient facility. It is anticipated that it will free up space at the 75-year-old VA hospital on Ramsey Street for much-needed renovations.
The estimated cost to build the new VA center is $120 million, and the VA will hold a 20-year lease. The first year cost is estimated to be $7 million, with an annual rent of about $10 million per year for the rest of the lease. Calvin had to work with a $4.5 million budget on this new building project. Calvin and his crew were onsite from June 2014 through March 2015. The challenge as with most large construction projects was to stay on track with the budget and to complete by the deadline.
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Brodie also worked on the building of the recreation center of the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. The project involves building a new campus recreation center that will more than double the space of the existing facility scheduled to open in 2016. The $91 million project is being funded through student fees.University officials said more space was needed as the current recreation center is inadequate, when compared to with other schools in the University of North Carolina system. The new center also will be able to host campus events such as concerts, dances and career fairs. The new facility will expand from 90,000 to 216,000 square feet.
Similar to the VA Medical Center, the challenge with this large project was to deliver the project on time, while keeping the build within the fixed budget of $4.5 million. Brodie and his crew worked onsite from April 2014 through October 2015.
VA Medical Center
The Xtreme solution
Brodie chose Xtreme Manufacturing telehandlers for these projects, because they offer many safety and functionality features. On both projects, he used three Xtreme telehandlers, choosing the XR842 and two of the XR1045 models. He says that Xtreme’s innovative standard features on the telehandlers are what made getting the job done much easier.For example, Xtreme’s boom lift point, which is positioned just behind the fork carriage, helped him effortlessly suspend loads from the telehandler, saving time and reducing the need for additional equipment. The telehandlers made it easy to perform masonry tasks, such as lifting and breaking blocks, and assisted with moving scaffolding onsite.
The lockout switch available on Xtreme telehandlers helped to protect the equipment during the projects. “I was able to leave the equipment onsite without having to move it and I felt comfortable that it would be there when I returned the next morning,” Brodie says. “This helped save time and avoid possible damage to other equipment and property onsite.”
Some of the features Brodie found extremely useful included 360-degree operator visibility and the easy access to components for servicing. He has used many types of rough terrain forklifts in the past, but says none have held up as long as the Xtreme telehandlers. “The Xtreme telehandlers just don’t break down,” he says.
He also adds that any minor issues the telehandlers experienced were serviced right away, so he was able to stay on track with both the VA Medical Center and the recreation center at University of North Carolina, Greensboro projects.
From rental to ownership
Brodie first experienced Xtreme telehandlers when he rented the XR842 model from Ahern Rentals. He was extremely satisfied, and, in April 2014, invested in the purchase of three XR1045 telehandlers, which remain in his fleet today.The Xtreme XR842 can lift up to 8,000 pounds and is capable of reaching up to 42 feet. It is powered by a 99.5-horsepower Tier IVi engine. The Xtreme XR1045 has a lift capacity of 10,000 pounds and can reach heights of up to 45 feet. The XR1045 features a powerful 111-horsepower Tier III Flex engine. All Xtreme telehandlers are backed by a 10-year/5-year/2-year warranty.
“I hope that none of my competitors will buy them,” Brodie says of the Xtreme telehandlers. He looks forward to adding more Xtreme telehandlers to his fleet and would recommend them to anyone looking for efficient and durable forklifts.
More information on Xtreme telehandlers can be found at www.xmfg.com/telehandlers.
Originally published in Masonry magazine.
About the Author
Masonry, the official publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America, covers every aspect of the mason contractor profession - equipment and techniques, building codes and standards, business planning, promoting your business, legal issues and more. Read or subscribe to Masonry magazine at www.masonrymagazine.com.
