Combat Rising Fuel Costs
With the cost of fuel at a premium, and forecasters projecting this summer’s fuel costs to reach record highs, everyone is looking for ways to decrease their fuel consumption. Contractors who are already closely watching their overhead are continuously researching methods for cost reduction on their jobs. And, we talk and talk about efficiency, but are we really demonstrating efficiency techniques? Sure, but only if it doesn’t affect our comfort, convenience and quality, right?
And, what about change? No one really likes change. We continue to do things the way we always have, and use the products we’ve always used, because change can be…well, scary. In many cases the theory to leave well enough alone is inarguable. But, what if that change, that risk in trying something new, would absolutely save you money – lots of money – and increase your comfort, convenience and quality?
And, what if you learned about machines that would provide all that, AND use about 40% less fuel? Well, maybe you’ll complain that the price of fuel is still too high, but at least you won’t have to purchase as much of it. Share your thoughts on this subject as well as other ideas to minimize fuel cost pains. Post your comments and questions. If you’d like to learn about one contractor’s experience and savings link to www.millerwelds.com/results/construction/articleSummary.php?id=22
Average (Not Rated)
May 8th, 2007 at 8:43 am
It takes money to switch to new equipment. If you keep switching to the new equipment to try new technology, sometimes you get burned and then you are out all the money you spent on the new technology, the time it took to try it, the cost of repairing the job, and the cost to your reputation for having screwed up the job with the new technology. If you have something that is tried and true, then there is not a lot of motivation to switch until that new technology is not so new and has been tried and tested by a lot of other ppl.
May 9th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Exactly. Everyday it seems that there is some new technology that can greatly increase efficiency and reducer the skill level required. Shouldn’t we have all lost our jobs to a bunch of monkeys operating with little to no overhead costs. Change for the sake of change is not positive change, the tried and tested method is still being used for a reason, it works.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Love that dual voltage input!
I was in the market for a new MIG the Millermatic 251 was a machine that would meet my needs.. I started reading about the dual voltage system on the Millermatic 350P…WOW it can be ran on single or three phase power….I work out of two shops , one single phase (the customers) and one three phase (my shop) the cost to run the machine drops in half on three phase..yet it still runs on single phase if needed. The cost savings over time will more than pay for the machine..
I’m not recommending that you buy everything new that comes out, but when it is time to upgrade do your homework…it pays off!
May 24th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
common sense is rite again
May 6th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Gas prices are way too high. I go broke just buying gas for my snowmobile in the winter. New fuel efishen things cost way too much and I can’t aford it. So yea lower the prices.