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HOW SPORTSWEAR TOOK OVER YOUR WARDROBE

    Let’s kick off with a question: what is the most valuable clothing brand in the world? That would be sportswear giant 
    
        Nike
    , which topped the 2018 league table with a total worth of $28bn, despite a 12 per cent drop due to “challenges” in North America and some executive misconduct. Buoyed by rampant sneaker culture and shifting dress codes, this should be a surprise to no-one, because there has been a fundamental shift in men’s fashion. Comfort got cool. The tastemakers went technical. Tracksuits became high fashion. At what point do we stop compartmentalising it as “sportswear” and just call it fashion, or clothes? Fashion’s brand rankings are a clear indication, if you needed one, that sportswear is no longer restricted to the playing of sport. Trailing behind the mighty swoosh, according to marketing consultants Brand Finance, are high street behemoths H&M and Zara, which finished second and third on $19bn and $17bn respectively, followed by a resurgent Adidas, up 41 per cent year on year to $14bn (one of 
    
        Nike
    ’s principle “challenges” in North America). That’s way ahead of the luxurious likes of Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Cartier, which only just reach double figures – of billions of dollars, but still. Being able to wear T-shirts, sweatpants and trainers for more than going to the gym or the corner shop is, after all, the ultimate luxury. What’s changed in recent years is exactly that: sportswear is no longer just casual dress. Even if you work in an office, there’s a good chance you’ll have a pair of sneakers on, perhaps some drawstring trousers. There could be a sweatshirt slung over your chair, a baseball cap on your desk, a track jacket in your bag. Today, it’s completely normal to look smart in clothes that were originally designed to sweat in. This isn’t brand new, of course. Rene Lacoste’s 1927 innovation of a lightweight, breathable “tennis shirt” was subsequently adopted by polo players, Ralph Lauren and the rest of us. Sporting on-court clothing off it is something your grandfather started.

    JUST DOING IT

    “Sportswear as casualwear is essentially a preppy invention – the carryover from hearty WASP athletic pursuits which gave us the likes of the sweatshirt, sweatpants and letterman jacket,” says Josh Sims, author of books such as Men of Style. “Sportswear was appreciated for being tough and practical.” Like military uniform, that other stalwart of menswear, sportswear has long been valued for the rugged characteristics it both possesses in itself and indicates in its wearer. And in sport, like war, competition results in game-changing technological breakthroughs. What we wear on the fields of battle and play has advanced more dramatically than what we wear elsewhere. If sportswear is at the cutting edge of fashion right now, that’s because – in technical terms – it always has been. The current, unprecedented sportswear boom though can also be seen as a pendulum swing away from the hashtag-menswear sartorialism that followed the economic downturn and increased competition for jobs – coinciding with the 2007 airing of Mad Men. As employment rose again, so did jobs that didn’t impose traditional dress codes and a social media-fuelled emphasis on individual creativity.

    Then there’s the swelling fashionability of fitness, which has given us a legitimate excuse to wear sportswear outside the gym beyond comfort and sheer laziness. Instead of spending valuable time fastidiously parting our hair and folding our pocket squares, we’re throwing on hoodies and baseball caps. And if you’re running around town all day, it makes sense to wear shoes designed specifically for marathons. It’s arguably the luxury sector that’s setting the pace. Streetwear designers like Demna Gvasalia at Balenciaga and Virgil Abloh at Louis Vuitton are running the show(s), elevating previously utilitarian sportswear to the very height of fashion. T-shirts, down jackets and sneakers, which grew by 25%, 15% and 10% respectively, were “standout categories” in the 2017 Bain Luxury Study. With its links to skateboarding, surfing and other sports, you could argue that streetwear – whatever that loaded term means – essentially is sportswear. “I’m not sure streetwear is the dominant mode, if you’re talking urban, hip-hop-driven streetwear,” contends Sims. “It’s sportswear with graphics, in effect. “There’s not much original design in streetwear – unlike sportswear, then and now – and what there is tends to be driven by – ta-da – sport.”

    THE EVOLUTION OF THE SOCCER JERSEY

    Once upon a time, the humble soccer jersey served little purpose other than to tell the difference between two teams.

    Occasionally superstition forced a change to the team jersey. For example, up until 1953, Brazil used to play in a white jersey. The mood of a country and the team jersey was forever changed when Sele??o failed to win the 1950 World Cup. A new jersey was debuted 4-years later at the 1954 World Cup and the team has never looked back on their way to winning an unprecedented 5 World Cup titles.

    Such a change was rare and certainly never for marketing purposes.

    Only when Admiral signed a deal to supply the Leeds United jersey of 1973 did things start to change. The deal meant that Leeds could sell replica jerseys with the Admiral logo on, making them recognizable. A whole new market was born.

    Jersey sponsorship wasn’t far behind, although it wasn’t initially something the big clubs caught on to. English side Kettering Town emblazoned ‘Kettering Tyres’ on their kit in 1976, only for the English FA to outlaw the innovation.

    Not long after that, Derby County and Bolton Wanderers applied to have advertising on their shirts and in 1977 the FA granted a license. That’s helped pave the way for lots of record-breaking jersey deals over the years, with suppliers and advertisers.

    Real Madrid are currently eyeing a $125 million per season deal with Adidas to supply their kit, a long way from the sort of money Kettering Town got.

    Not only has the financial aspect of the football shirt developed, but so has the technology used in the shirt itself. Over the years the method by which they’re produced has changed.

    An article by sports coach Jimson Lee reveals that it wasn’t just soccer jerseys that saw a technological change. Nike were one of the first companies to introduce a shirt that essentially kept sweat away from sportsman and women, used by golfers and soccer players alike.

    The drive to find that sporting edge prompted them to develop lighter jerseys to help with speed and endurance. The dri-fit technology even helps keep sweat away from the players during the game.

    Italy’s World Cup 2014 kit took the evolution of soccer jerseys a step further as it “featured a special tape that micro-massaged player’s muscles as they wore it”. The aim was to help a player’s physical recovery by massaging them whilst the jersey was being worn. Labelled a ‘compression kit’, Uruguay also wore a similar jersey at the 2014 tournament.

    The technology is only going to progress even further. With sports science becoming an increasingly popular aspect of soccer, jerseys are being developed with heart rate monitors and GPS tracking signals in them. This will help coaches understand their players’ performance and requirements down to the finest detail.

    From simply being a way to differentiate between two teams, soccer jerseys have become a huge industry. They’re used as a method to develop revenue and income, with big clubs such as England’s Manchester United making huge sums of money from selling shirts with players’ names on.

    They’re also playing a key role in aiding performance and understanding the athletes better, making the soccer jersey an integral part of the modern game in more ways than one.

    Early rugby uniform was not unlike those worn above. Matching wool jumpers were paired with white trousers. Although wool was the de facto “tech” fabric of the era (even early swimsuits were made of wool), it quickly became apparent that the itchy, heavy, knit jumpers were less than ideal in a sporting context. Heavy-gauge cotton shirts worked far better on the pitch, and thus the modern rugby shirt was born.

    How to Choose Yoga Wear

    Refining a downward dog or trying a new balance pose at the yoga studio is challenging enough on its own, but it’s made even harder when you’re fiddling with sagging, too tight or uncomfortable yoga clothes. That’s why it’s important to purchase clothes that are breathable, flexible and comfortable.

    Your yoga clothing purchases will depend largely on personal preference, as well as the style of yoga you plan to practice. But at a high level, here’s what to wear to yoga (see below for a more detailed discussion of these yoga basics):

            Breathable, flexible bottoms like yoga pants or shorts

            A breathable, narrow- or form-fitting top that won’t hang over your head when you’re upside down.

            For women, a sports bra or built-in shelf bra that offers enough support for the type of yoga you’re practicing

            A comfortable, warm top layer for end-of-class savasana (corpse pose) or after class when you’ve cooled down

    Yoga wear is made with polyester-nylon-spandex blends, and for good reason—these fabrics offer the right balance of comfort, breathability and flexibility:

            Comfort: There’s nothing worse than practicing yoga in an uncomfortable piece of clothing. As you tune into your body, you don’t want to focus on itchy seams and tags, saggy or too tight waistbands, or fabric that binds and chafes.

            Breathability: Depending on the type of yoga you practice, you may sweat a little or a lot. Particularly if you’re sweating a lot, it’s important to wear breathable and moisture-wicking materials to keep you cool and comfortable. Tank tops, shirts with cutouts and yoga pants with mesh pockets will all improve breathability and venting. Avoid cotton, which holds moisture, makes you feel hot and damp, then leaves you prone to chafing or getting chilled when class winds down.

            Flexibility: Yoga involves bending, stretching, binding, lunging, reaching and rolling. Your clothes need to be able to keep up with these movements, which means they’ll probably be made with at least 15 percent spandex.

    Jerseys and shorts

    Originally, basketball was played in any type of athletic attire, ranging from track suits to football uniforms. The first official basketball uniforms, as displayed in the Spalding catalog of 1901, featured three types of pants: knee-length padded pants, similar to those worn for playing football, as well as shorter pants and knee-length tights. There were two types of suggested jersey, a quarter-length sleeve and a sleeveless version.The long pants later evolved into medium-length shorts in the 1920s, and by the 1930s, the material used for jerseys changed from heavy wool to the lighter polyester and nylon. In the 1970s and 80s, uniforms became tighter-fitting and shorts were shorter, consistent with the overall fashion trends of these two decades. At this time, women's basketball uniforms transitioned from longer-sleeved uniforms to tank-top style jerseys similar to men's basketball uniforms, which more explicitly showed off players' muscle tone.In 1984, Michael Jordan asked for longer shorts and helped popularize the move away from tight, short shorts toward the longer, baggier shorts worn by basketball players today. Throughout the 1990s, basketball uniforms fell under the influence of hip hop culture, with shorts becoming longer and looser-fitting, team colors brighter, and designs more flashy and suggestive of rappers' bling. At the turn of the 21st century, basketball uniforms became even more oversized and loose-fitting; the arm holes in women's basketball jersey remained smaller than men's, but were wide enough to reveal the players' sports bras.

The ancient fabric that no one knows how to make

                In late 18th-Century Europe, a new fashion led to an international scandal. In fact, an entire social class was accused of appearing in public naked.

                The culprit was Dhaka muslin, a precious fabric imported from the city of the same name in what is now Bangladesh, then in Bengal. It was not like the muslin of today. Made via an elaborate, 16-step process with a rare cotton that only grew along the banks of the holy Meghna river, the cloth was considered one of the great treasures of the age. It had a truly global patronage, stretching back thousands of years – deemed worthy of clothing statues of goddesses in ancient Greece, countless emperors from distant lands, and generations of local Mughal royalty.

                There were many different types, but the finest were honoured with evocative names conjured up by imperial poets, such as "baft-hawa", literally "woven air". These high-end muslins were said to be as light and soft as the wind. According to one traveller, they were so fluid you could pull a bolt – a length of 300ft, or 91m – through the centre of a ring. Another wrote that you could fit a piece of 60ft, or 18m, into a pocket snuff box.

                Dhaka muslin was also more than a little transparent.

                While traditionally, these premium fabrics were used to make saris and jamas – tunic-like garments worn by men – in the UK they transformed the style of the aristocracy, extinguishing the highly structured dresses of the Georgian era. Five-foot horizontal waistlines that could barely fit through doorways were out, and delicate, straight-up-and-down "chemise gowns" were in. Not only were these endowed with a racy gauzy quality, they were in the style of what was previously considered underwear.

                In one popular satirical print by Isaac Cruikshank, a clique of women appear together in long, brightly coloured muslin dresses, through which you can clearly see their bottoms, nipples and pubic hair. Underneath reads the description, "Parisian Ladies in their Winter Dress for 1800".

                Meanwhile in an equally misogynistic comedic excerpt from an English women's monthly magazine, a tailor helps a female client to achieve the latest fashion. "Madame, ’tis done in a moment," he assures her, then instructs her to remove her petticoat, then her pockets, then her corset and finally her sleeves… "‘Tis an easy matter, you see," he explains. "To be dressed in the fashion, you have only to undress."

                Still, Dhaka muslin was a hit – with those who could afford it. It was the most expensive fabric of the era, with a retinue of dedicated fans that included the French queen Marie Antoinette, the French empress Joséphine Bonaparte and Jane Austen. But as quickly as this wonder-cloth struck Enlightenment Europe, it vanished.

                    By the early 20th Century, Dhaka muslin had disappeared from every corner of the globe, with the only surviving examples stashed safely in valuable private collections and museums. The convoluted technique for making it was forgotten, and the only type of cotton that could be used, Gossypium arboreum var. neglecta – locally known as Phuti karpas – abruptly went extinct. How did this happen? And could it be reversed?

                    A fickle fibre 

                    Dhaka muslin began with plants grown along the banks of the Meghna river, one of three which form the immense Ganges Delta – the largest in the world. Every spring, their maple-like leaves pushed up through the grey, silty soil, and made their journey towards straggly adulthood. Once fully grown, they produced a single daffodil-yellow flower twice a year, which gave way to a snowy floret of cotton fibres.

                    These were no ordinary fibres. Unlike the long, slender strands produced by its Central American cousin Gossypium hirsutum, which makes up 90% of the world’s cotton today, Phuti karpas produced threads that are stumpy and easily frayed. This might sound like a flaw, but it depends what you’re planning to do with them.

                    Indeed, the short fibres of the vanished shrub were useless for making cheap cotton cloth using industrial machinery. They were fickle to work with, and they’d snap easily if you tried to twist them into yarn this way. Instead, the local people tamed the rogue threads with a series of ingenious techniques developed over millennia.

    What is flannel fabric?

    Essentially, flannel fabric simply refers to any cotton, wool, or synthetic fabric that fulfills a few basic criteria:

    Softness: Fabric must be incredibly soft to be considered flannel.

    Texture: Flannel has either a brushed or unbrushed texture, and both textures are equally iconic.

    Material: While many materials can be used to make flannel, not all materials are suitable for this fabric. Silk, for instance, is too fine to be made into flannel, which is supposed to be both soft and insulative.

    Flannel in history

    It’s believed that the word“flannel” emerged in Wales, but we know for a fact that the term was in common usage in France in the form “flannelle” as early as the 17th century. While flannel was periodically popular among the French and other European peoples throughout the Enlightenment era, interest has waned elsewhere while Welsh flannel use has only increased.

    Flannel today

    These days, types of flannel are often known by their association with certain Welsh towns or regions. Llanidloes flannel is very different from Newtown flannel, for instance, and Welsh flannel varieties vary significantly from all other European flannel types.

    Blanket

    Sheet, usually of heavy woolen, or partly woolen, cloth, for use as a shawl, bed covering, or horse covering. The blanketmaking of primitive people is one of the finest remaining examples of early domestic artwork. The blankets of Mysore, India, were famous for their fine, soft texture. The loom of the Native American, though simple in construction, can produce blanket so closely woven as to be waterproof. The Navaho, Zu?i, Hopi, and other Southwestern Native Americans are noted for their distinctive, firmly woven blankets. The Navahos produced beautifully designed blankets characterized by geometrical designs woven with yarns colored with vegetable dyes. During the mid-19th cent. the Navahos began to use yarns imported from Europe, because of their brighter colors. The ceremonial Chilcat blanket of the Tlingit of the Northwest, generally woven with a warp of cedar bark and wool and a weft of goats' hair, was curved and fringed at the lower end. In the 20th cent., the electric blanket, with electric wiring between layers of fabric, gained wide popularity.

    How to Properly Use a Bath Mat

    Whether you’ve just remodeled your bathroom or you’re looking to spruce up your existing space for the season, accessories like a handsome bath mat, perfectly patterned shower curtains, or the plushest of bath towels will take the room from everyday necessity to serene spa destination. While just as important as the others, the lowly bath mat can get overlooked. But don’t make the mistake of opting for the first white terrycloth style you see. The right bath rug won’t just help you avoid the unpleasant shock of stepping onto bare tile after a shower. It will give your floor—and the whole room—an extra hit of much-needed personality. Here, we’ve gathered bath mats that are soft, absorbent, and beautifully designed. Think geometric prints, cheery stripes, even a cheeky banana-shaped option—plus many more.

    First off, everyone had some great suggestions as to why we use bath mats at all. They soak up water, yes, but they also keep us from slipping and smashing our heads through the toilet, and act as a temperature buffer for our toesies between the hot shower and the ice cold floor. Gee, bath mats are pretty swell!

    When it came to usage, the general consensus was that this is the wrong way to do it:

    Finish shower

    Step out onto mat

    Grab towel

    Then dry off

    It leaves the bath mat soggy and wet for whoever showers after you. It also makes you much colder during the drying process.

    Most people seemed to agree that this is the right way to do it, though:

            Finish shower

            Grab towel from inside the shower

            Dry off inside the shower

            Then step out onto the mat

    But you all suggested a few excellent additions, like keeping your towel within arm’s reach of the shower so you don’t have to get cold to grab it, squeegeeing your hair and body to remove excess water before you dry with a towel, keeping the curtain or shower door closed while you dry off to stay warm, drying off from the top down (hair first), and hanging up the mat over the edge of the tub or shower when you’re done so it can dry without looking like a random wet towel on your floor.

    What is the Difference Between Fleece and Flannel?

    As you already know, the main difference between fleece and flannel is what they are made of. Fleece has synthetic fibers, and flannel features loose cotton threads. But because of their different fibers, these fabrics and finished products have several unique characteristics.

    Take a look at this in-depth comparison of key features such as warmth, softness, and sustainability for each type of fabric.

    Warmth

    Most of the time, fleece has a thicker nap and also provides more warmth than flannel. Now, flannel is quite a cozy and warm fabric in its own right! But in comparison, fleece usually wins the warmth contest.

    The exception to this rule is that some high-quality types of flannel contain wool fibers, and these types of flannel provide intense warmth!

    What makes fleece so warm? Its many tiny, raised polyester fibers trap heat and hold them in the loose, velvety surface of its pile. If you have ever stuck your hand into your dog’s fur in the middle of winter, you know how all those tiny hairs hold immense warmth against your pet’s skin! Fleece fibers work the same way when you wear them against your skin.

    Softness

    Fleece is often softer than flannel, but if you have sensitive skin, you may find that its synthetic fibers also have a slightly plasticky feel. Of course, you will find exceptions to this rule, especially in flannel made with silk fibers. This will probably feel much softer than even the softest fleece!

    Because both types of material go through a napping process, they both feature an incredibly soft texture on at least one side of the material. Fleece usually has a thicker, deeper pile, while flannel has a faint fuzziness on top of its woven surface.

    If you rest your hand on top of the fleece, you feel as if your fingers can sink into the thick surface, at least a little. When you rest your hand on a piece of flannel, you typically feel a cozy fuzziness.

    Blankets

    Both fleece and flannel make excellent blankets and throws! You can find soft, pretty fleece and flannel blanket in pretty much any color or design you want.

    That said, you should probably go with flannel for a baby blanket, as synthetic materials can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

    If you plan to sew a blanket, though, you will want to use fleece. Flannel unravels super fast due to its loose weave, making it challenging to cut and sew. Fleece does not unravel when cut because it has a knitted construction with threads looped over each other.

What is a Paper Making Machine?

    I know you’re looking for a paper bag machine that’s why you are here.

    Maybe, you want to be a paper bag wholesaler or make branded designs for your retail business.

    The truth is, paper bags are dear packages for food vendors, retailers, and even manufacturers.

    But, how can you venture in this business?

    Or, what is the most cost effective way of making paper bags?

    Today’s guide debunks the facts behind paper bag making process and machine such basic definition, working principle, classification, design, technical specification, etc.

    So stay with me to be an expert in paper bag making industry.

    Let’s begin with some facts.

    Apart from the other devastating problems associated with plastic bags, did you know that synthetic bag manufacturers produce about one trillion of those bags in a year globally?

    Did you also know that it takes one thousand years for a single bag of this kind to biodegrade?

    Yes, that’s the scariest part of it.

    Due to that, most governments are imposing bans on these carriers.

    The alternative?

    A mega-shift to more environmentally friendly paper bags.

    So basically a paper bag making machine is a state of the art machine that gathers, folds, stamps, and processes papers to produce clean paper bags.

    These paper bags are for use in the packaging of goods in various industries such as food, pharmaceutical products, grocery, and baking industries.

    The bag making machines come in various configurations depending on the type of bags for final production.

    Therefore, the paper bag making system should be versatile enough to cater to the dynamics in the paper bag manufacturing.

    Today different paper bag making stakeholders such as the machine manufacturers, raw material suppliers face a lot of shifting customer demands, government regulations, changing prices, etc.

    It’s thus good only if the machine can afford the manufacturer some relief.

    For that matter, it means that you need to know all the factors related to the paper bag making the machine.

    Besides, all the accompanying dynamics before making a purchase.

    Luckily, I have compiled all that you need to know in this article.

    The history of development and use of paper bag making machine dates back to the 19th century.

    During these early stages, the systems were simple and mechanically operated.

    With that, we move to the next step.

    Where to Use Paper Bag Making Machine

    Take a moment to reflect on the occasions you use a paper bag.

    Indeed paper bag forms a vital integral in our lives today.

    From simple uses such as carrying random goods to more complex ones such as in pharmaceuticals to wrap up drugs.

    One thing is for sure.

    Without paper bag making machine, we would be missing a significant aspect of our lives.

    Surely, there are numerous uses of paper bag making the machine.

    Subsequently, the produced paper bags can be classified under different distinct categories depending on their purposes.

    We carry stuff in them -– groceries, clothes, gifts, trash and booze. I carried my lunch to school in one until the fourth grade because my mother would decorate them with stickers and drawings. People add sand and candles to them to illuminate their neighbourhoods at Christmas. Disgruntled sports fans cover their heads with them. But how many people know where the flat-bottomed paper bag came from? Or that its invention was a triumph of feminism over patriarchy, and of brains over bullying?

    For most of recorded history, containers were made of leather, wood, cotton and reeds. Paper, made by hand one sheet at a time, was a luxury, used only for books, records and letters by the literate few. In 1799, a French inventor named Louis-Nicolas Robert was granted a patent for a machine that produced rolls of paper. This invention brought paper to the masses. Soon, merchants were using rolled paper, or ‘cornucopias’, to package small quantities of goods, with predictably messy results. They also constructed rudimentary paper bags by hand, which was a time-consuming and not always successful process.

    The race was on to produce a paper bag that was both sturdy and easy to make. In 1852, the American Francis Wolle received the first patent for a square bottom paper bag machine. It used steam and paste to create bags in the shape of envelopes. Though the machine became popular, the bags it produced were cumbersome and of limited use – picture a load of groceries in a large envelope-shaped sack. Still, they were better than nothing at all, and factories producing the bags multiplied. In the late 1860s, Margaret Knight, a tall, endlessly inquisitive and hard-working New Englander, went to work for the Columbia Paper Bag Company in Springfield, Massachusetts. Within a few years, her ingenious designs would revolutionise the industry.

    Born in 1838, Knight’s childhood was shaped by the industrial revolution. At first glance, hers is the classic victim’s story – raised by a widowed mother, and put to work by the age of 10 in the brutally inhospitable cotton mills of New Hampshire. But from her earliest days this uneducated labourer had an agile, inventive mind. While still a child, Knight saw a fellow worker injured when a steel-tipped shuttle shot off a loom. She soon created a shuttle cover to prevent any more accidents, and her invention was adopted by her factory. In an interview with the progressive Woman’s Journal in 1872, she recalled her unconventional youth: As a child, I never cared for things that girls usually do; dolls never possessed any charms for me. I couldn’t see the sense of coddling bits of porcelain with senseless faces: the only things I wanted were a jack-knife, a gimlet, and pieces of wood. My friends were horrified. I was called a tomboy; but that made very little impression on me. I sighed sometimes, because I was not like the other girls; but wisely concluded that I couldn’t help it, and sought further consolation from my tools. I was always making things for my brothers; did they want anything in the line of playthings, they always said: ‘Mattie will make them for us.’ I was famous for my kites; and my sleds were the envy and admiration of all the boys in town.

    By the time she joined the Columbia Paper Bag Company as a lowly factory worker, the 30-something, unmarried Knight had spent years as a ‘Jill-of-all-trades’, becoming proficient in daguerreotype, photography, engraving, house repair and upholstering. Spending long hours at the factory, she soon heard of current efforts to create a flat bottom paper bag machine that could efficiently manufacture flat bottom paper bag. ‘I am told that there is no such machine known as a square-bottomed machine,’ she wrote in her journal. ‘I mean to try away at it until I get my ideas worked out.’ Independent of the factory and without her bosses’ knowledge, Knight began to study the issue intently.

    By 1867, she was hard at work on creating a machine that could ‘cut, fold and paste bag bottoms itself’. Her work kept her up at night, leading the manager of her boarding house to declare: ‘I saw her making drawings continually… always of the machine. She has known nothing else, I think.’ Her work on the machine also bled into her shifts at the factory. This initially annoyed her superiors – until she showed them her plans – which led them to believe that she had a ‘keener eye than any man in the works’. After a ‘rickety’ wooden model of her machine proved successful, producing thousands of ‘good, handsome bags’, she had an iron version produced in 1868. While the machine was at a Boston shop to be refined, it was viewed by Charles F Annan, a would-be-inventor of dubious morality.

    Knight prepared to apply for a patent for her new machine. In 1871, she was shocked to find that Annan had already been granted a patent to the machine, which he claimed as his own. The dispute ended up in court, where the cash-strapped Knight spent $100 a day to hire a patent attorney to prove that she was the machine’s true inventor. Annan’s lawyer argued that an uneducated, self-taught woman could never have built such a sophisticated machine. He was countered at every turn by the mountains of physical evidence and eye-witness testimony Knight produced. ‘I have from my earliest recollection been connected in some way with machinery,’ Knight protested. In the end, the commissioner of patents found in favour of Knight, though officials could not resist chastising her for waiting so long to apply for her patent. However, since Knight was not a ‘man of business’, this oversight was forgiven.

    On 11 July 1871, Knight was granted patent number 116,842 for her ‘new and improved shopping paper bag machine for making paper bags’. She soon formed the Eastern Paper Bag Company with a partner, and became a media darling for her revolutionary machine, which did the work of 30 labourers. The new stand-alone, flat-bottomed bags were quickly adopted by large department stores and grocers, and Knight was awarded a royal honour from Queen Victoria. In 1883, Charles Stilwell of the Union Paper Bag Machine Company, working from Knight’s patent, further advanced the paper bag with his invention of a machine that produced the Self-Opening-Sack (SOS), the pleated flat-bottomed bags that are used today.

    The vivacious Knight, dubbed by one paper the ‘lady Edison’, would spend the rest of her long life – she died aged 76 in 1914 – inventing. By 2006, when she was inducted into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, it was estimated that around 25 billion paper sacks were used annually throughout the world.

    In the past decade, Knight’s dramatic story has been told in two popular children’s books – Marvelous Mattie (2006) by Emily Arnold McCully, and In the Bag! (2011) by Monica Kulling. She is emblematic of a whole multitude of female inventors, such as Mary Anderson (the windshield wiper), Katharine Blodgett (non-reflective glass), and Stephanie Kwolek (Kevlar), who created life-changing inventions within industries – and a world – dominated by men. Their stories are important and should be better known. They can inspire future generations of girls and young women to tinker, experiment and invent.

What are Fuse Blocks?

    Fuse blocks are important electrical components intended to protect a vehicle's electrical devices from shorts or power surges. The fuse blocks contain fuses rated at different amperage values depending upon the electrical device that it is protecting. Upon a sudden voltage spike or short, the fuse will burn out, protecting the affected device.

    Changing an automotive fuse is a straight-forward operation. Once the appropriate blown fuse has been located, it is pulled from its mounting location within the fuse block. A new fuse is simply inserted into the vacated location in the fuse block. It is imperative that the same amperage rated fuse is used when changing any blown fuse.

    Automotive fuse blocks use fuses rated from 15 to 30 amps. This rating coincides with a particular electrical component's ability to withstand damage. The fuse blocks are designed to allow the fuse to blow or burn out before the component can be damaged. Replacing any blown fuse with a fuse of a higher amperage rating could cause irreparable damage to the vehicle's electrical component.

    There are several different types of fuses located within fuse blocks. Vehicles made by manufacturers before 1980 may have glass fuses. The more common plastic, push-in type fuses were used in fuse blocks from the 1980s to present worldwide. Found in limited use are mini-fuses. These fuses resemble the plastic, push-in type fuse; however, they are much smaller.

    Fuse blocks can be found in the dashboard of most vehicles. Some vehicles have fuse blocks located within the engine compartment. Refer to the operator's manual of a vehicle to find the fuse block location. It is a good idea to locate the fuse block as well as to become familiar with the fuse locations during daylight hours. This eases the difficulty of locating a particular fuse in the dark should a problem ever arise.

    While the typical automotive fuse block is designed to operate for the life of the vehicle, there is occasionally the need to replace it. Many after-market companies manufacture replacement fuse block and wiring systems. Many of these are color coded with the particular vehicle manufacturer's wiring colors. Others are labeled on the wire itself as to its purpose.

    Automotive fuse blocks need no particular maintenance. It is, however, important that the fuse block be kept dry and free of any debris. There should be a free flow of air provided to the fuse block to prevent heat build-up. An occasional check of the fuses to locate any loose fuse should be part of a vehicle's preventative maintenance routine.

    What are rocker switches?

    Rocker switches are electrical switches that are equipped with a spring-loaded button. When the button is pressed in one position, a circuit is completed. If the button is released, the spring-loaded operation pushes the button back to its resting position and the circuit is open.

    Some rocker switches operate more than one circuit on the same button. An excellent example is a power door lock switch. When the lock button is pressed, the power lock actuator is commanded to lock. When the button is released, the switch springs back to the resting position and power no longer is sent to the lock actuator to lock the door, though it remains in the locked position. The other end of the rocker switch is the unlock button. When it is pressed and released, the same function occurs with the lock actuator for the unlocked position.

    Some rocker switches activate a timer and when the button is released, the function continues to operate until the timer turns off, such as a rear window defogger grid button.

    How are they used in cars?

    As noted, rocker switches are used in some models as power door lock switches. Other uses include:

    Heated seat switches

    Rear window defogger grids

    Power window controls

    Rocker switches are popular in many kinds of systems because of their ease of use. Because the function usually turns off when the button is released or when a timer automatically turns off, they don’t require the same attention as other switches, such as a toggle switch.

    How to Wire a Light Bar with a 5 Pin Rocker Switch

    Wiring a light bar switch can seem like an intimidating task but it’s actually quite the opposite and you can have all the wiring done under 5 minutes. The most challenging part of the installation process can be understanding where all the different wires go but don’t worry as we will walk you through the process.

    Understanding the light bar switch

    A 5 pin light bar rocker switch is one of the most popular light bar switches because it is rectangle in shape, and typically blends with most vehicles interior’s. The rocker switch operates a light bar by pushing the top portion of the switch and to turn the light bar switch off you simply push it the lower part of the switch.

    Another reason why the 5 Pin rocker switch is popular for light bars is because they have an illuminated light that can work with your factory interior dash lighting. When the light bar switch is on another light will be illuminated on the light bar rocker switch notifying you that the switch is currently powering whichever light bar you have connected to it.

    It’s the law

    When it comes to installing aftermarket auxiliary lighting on your vehicle you need to cognizant of your state’s laws. For example, here in the state of Pennsylvania you are required to have light bar switch that illuminates when the light is on. The purpose of this law is they want to make sure the driver knows when the auxiliary light bar is on, so you don’t blind on coming traffic.

    Lets check out the back

    On the back of a 5-pin light bar rocker switch is 5 pins that all have specific purposes.

    The switch is standing upright so we will start from the top to the bottom:

            #8 Is the Ground for the switches upper light – (This terminal can be grounded together with #7)

            -#7 Is the Ground for the switches lower light - (This terminal can be grounded together with #8, except in the occasions that you are wiring the switch lights with your vehicles factory light dimmer)

            #2 Is the Positive power from the battery or Power source that has a fuse (This terminal can be combined with #6)

            #3 Is the Positive power that goes to the light bar (This is the only terminal that cannot be combined with another terminal)

            #6 Is the Positive power that goes to the lower light (This terminal can be combined with #2)

    How to make the light bar Jumper Cables

    You will need to make two jumper cables:

    Ground Jumper Cables – These will be foe the ground for #8 Ground for the upper light, #7 Ground for lower light

    Positive Jumper Cables – This will be for #2 Incoming Power source, and #6 Power for the lower light

    Once that is complete, run the rest of the light bar wiring and you are good to go.

    If you are trying to convert a 3 pin light bar switch to a 5 pin rocker switch, then please read below.

    To wire a 3 pin switch to a 5pin rocker switch you need to find out what your 3 wires do. Aurora wiring harnesses are set-up as black = ground/negative, red = positive, blue = power to lighting product. If you are using any other wiring harness you will need to test each wire to find out which wire represents power, ground and power to the LED lighting product.

Benefits of Pet Beds & How to Pick the Perfect One!

    There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our pets. They are a huge part of our lives, they bring us so much joy and they are, most definitely, honorary members of our families. 

    We’ve already covered about a few different pet-related topics for our apartment residents, like the benefits of making homemade dog treats, how to calm hyperactive dogs, apartment pet etiquette and even ways to be an eco-friendly pet owner. Our apartments are pet-friendly, and we provide plenty of amenities to make you and your pets live the best life possible here at AMLI Residential. Bottom line, we love our residents, and we love our pets, and so we love to make sure both are as comfortable as possible!

    Pet bed is just one facet of pet ownership, and it's one that provides a lot of benefit to both the pet and the owner. We’ll delve into what makes a good pet bed, what the benefits of pet beds are and, finally, how you can make some of your own DIY pet beds!

    What are the benefits of pet beds?

    If your pets are the kind that sleep anywhere and everywhere (looking at you, cats!), then you may be wondering if it’s even necessary to provide them with a designated pet bed. As it turns out, however, having a designated sleeping area is as important for pets as it is for us pet owners! 

    Support

    Think about it. We could fall asleep on the couch, on a sofa, a recliner or even on the floor if we are tired enough, but our bodies benefit from a comfortable and supportive bed. Both dogs and cats need beds that support their bones and muscles enough to allow adequate sleep and rest without stiffness or achiness. As your pets get older, it’s even more important for them to have proper support.

    Warmth

    Having a warm bed that’s situated away from drafts can help your pets avoid catching colds. Floors can get cold, sofas next to air vents can get chilly and even your own bed can be too hot or cold for your pets’ liking. If your cat or dog has its own pet luxury bed situated in a warm, comfortable spot, then your pets will be able to rest comfortably and better regulate their internal temperatures. 

    Security

    It’s important for your pet to have a space that they can call their own, especially if you have multiple pets. Your pet should feel safe and secure in their bed, and it should be a place where they can truly relax. 

    Health

    We love snuggling with our pets in bed, we also need to have a proper night’s sleep without a paw in our faces or a tail across our nose. Having clean bedsheets and sleep areas are good for our own health and wellness, especially if you’re prone to allergies. 

    This doesn’t necessarily mean that sleeping next to your pet is bad, per se. It just means that if your pet is negatively affecting your sleep and health, then a pet bed is a great alternative. 

    What type of bed does your pet need?

    Veterinarians are the best resource you have for finding out what’s best for your pet. Since every animal is so different and has such different needs, your vet will be able to give you the most accurate information that’s tailored specifically to your pet. 

    In general, though, there are a few different things you can be aware of that will help inform your decision on what type of bed your pet needs. 

    Size

    Your pet needs a bed that’s big enough for it to shift, turn and settle in comfortably. No heads and/or limbs should have to hang off the edge of the bed. 

    Washable 

    You want your dog’s bed to be washable, trust us, especially if you have young puppies or senior dogs. Pets also bring food, fleas, urine and other regular pet-related smells and sights into their beds with them, so being able to clean the beds regularly will make a huge difference. Plus, you wouldn’t want to sleep in filth for months on end, right? Neither do your pets. 

    Stuffing/support

    Keeping your pets warm and well-supported is crucial for their health, especially as they age. Orthopedic foam is usually a good option for pets of any age, as it's sturdy and reliable over long periods of time. 

    Eco-friendly

    There are a lot of factors when it comes to choosing an eco-friendly pet bed for your pet. Sustainable pet beds could mean chemical-free fabrics or recycled material, or it could mean upcycling something you already had so it gets more use. Whatever your priorities are, there’s definitely something out there already that’s exactly what you’re looking for. 

    Here are a few examples of eco-friendly dog beds!

    Making your own pet bed

    If your pet is healthy and young (i.e. they don’t need special orthopedic support), then making your own pet soft bed can be a great way to upcycle old materials and give your furry friend their own space. 

    As long as the bed is washable and supportive enough for your pet, then it’s a great way to avoid buying new products and keep old products in use for much longer!

    How To Choose a Dog Bed

    Choosing the right dog bed is an important decision. After all, a dog can easily spend 14 hours a day or more sleeping. And as a cherished member of the family, your pet deserves no less than the very best sleeping accommodations. Even a dog who shares your bed at night needs a special place to claim as his own: a quiet sanctuary for peaceful, uninterrupted naps.

    Before you make this important purchase, consider your dog's age, size, health, breed, activity level and sleeping habits. Think about how the dog bed will look in your home. Will the color blend with your décor? Does the size fit your dog and your room? Is the bed easy to launder?

    With so many choices available in the marketplace today, you can rest easy knowing that we've curated an extensive sleep selection that reflects our eye for smart design, uncompromised quality, dog-approved comfort and owner-approved ease.


    For lasting value and satisfaction, we recommend choosing the highest quality dog bed your budget allows, rather than a bargain bed that will soon need replacing.

    Choosing the Shape

    This is an important decision, and one your dog can help you with. Observe him as he sleeps. Does he like to curl up, burrow in, sprawl out or lean back? Most dogs fall into one of these four "sleep personality" categories.

    Choosing the Support

    While young and healthy dogs will slumber soundly on a bed plumped with resilient, high-quality polyfiberfill, polyfill or foam, many dogs require the extra support that only an orthopedic dog bed can provide.

    Dogs who are aging or arthritic, suffer from hip dysplasia or are recovering from injury will benefit from sleeping on an orthopedic dog bed. High-density orthopedic foam soothes aches and pains, reduces stress on joints, hips and pressure points, and provides superior support. For exceptional comfort and therapeutic relief, look for beds made with authentic, NASA-certified orthopedic memory foam.

    Choosing the Design

    Because a dog bed is a visible part of your home décor, it should reflect your own sense of style as well as your dog's. Our collection includes a beautiful selection of luxe, upholstery-grade fabrics—plush microvelvet, sumptuous chenille, cuddly Sherpa fleece, shaggy faux fur, rugged canvas and lots more—in the newest decorator colors and designer patterns to enhance any room.

    Determining the Correct Size

    Before ordering a dog bed, make sure to measure your dog from nose to base of tail while he's in his sleeping position, then add 8" to 12" to determine the bed length or diameter.

    If in doubt, always round up in size to ensure maximum comfort. Then doublecheck to make sure the bed you've selected will fit into the spot you've chosen in your home.

    Easy Clean Features

    Because every dog bed eventually gets dirty, wet or smelly, we've made sure that every bed we sell is machine washable or has a removable, machine-washable cover.

    Special Beds for Special Dogs

    Is your dog a senior with mobility issues, or one who suffers from arthritis or hip dysplasia? Simple, low-profile dog pet beds such as pillows, nappers, pads and mats are easily accessible to an aging or aching pet.

    If your dog is elderly, incontinent or prone to accidents, look for an easy-to-launder bed with a waterproof liner.

    For the dog-on-the-go, portable travel beds provide instant, familiar comfort and convenience when you're on the road.

    Need a bed you can use outdoors? Our weatherproof dog beds, cots and futons let your dog camp out in comfort on your deck or porch, join you by the pool or relax under a shady tree—and they're so attractive, you can move them into your home as the seasons change.

Doorbells with Intercom: What Are They, Types and Top Picks

    A doorbell with intercom enables you to hear the visitor’s voice when he or she presses your doorbell at your front door, and talk back in real time.

    Some doorbells with intercom and camera can even let you see who and what is at your front porch with your smartphone, so you can, hear and communicate the visitor before opening the door.

    In this article, you will get the main types of doorbell intercom systems in the market, and check the recommendations.

    1. Doorbells with Intercom: What Are They & Types

    2. Doorbells with Intercom Recommendations

    1. Doorbell Intercom Systems: Introduction and Main Types

    Home doorbell intercom systems typically include 2 main types in the market now.

    1. Doorbells with intercoms ONLY are smarter than traditional doorbells that only enable you to hear the “Ding-Dong” voice when someone presses the doorbell on the doorstep.

    Doorbells with voice intercom enable you to communicate with the visitor prior to allowing access to your home.

    Typically this kind of doorbell intercom systems come with 2 parts: the master intercom and door intercom.

    The master intercom enables you to hear and talk to the visitor, while the door intercom is installed on your front door so that your visitors can press the doorbell and talk with you.

    However, this type of doorbells have no cameras, so you can’t see who and what is at your front doorbell.

    There are wired doorbell intercom and wireless doorbell intercom doorbells with intercom in the market now.

    Wired doorbells with audio communication need to be plugged into a power outlet to get power.

    Wireless doorbells with intercom systems are battery powered, so you don’t need to run any wires to install the doorbell systems.

    The above 2 types of doorbells with intercom operate over wireless signal, so you can hear the “Ding-Dong” voice even you are not near the doorbell’s position.

    2. Doorbells with video intercom are the smart type doorbell in the market now.

    This type of smart doorbells can let you see who and what is waiting at your front door via your mobile phone while communicating with the visitors in real time with the built-in speaker and microphone in the doorbell.

    Video doorbell intercom systems come with PoE and wireless types.

    PoE doorbell intercom systems require a Cat 5/6 Ethernet cable to realize both Internet and power connection.

    Wireless video doorbells with intercom are normally powered by battery, and rely on WiFi to provide you with real-time video streaming and two-way audio talk.

    Nowadays, wired or wireless video doorbells with intercom are the most popular doorbell for its versatility and feature-rich design, which combines video streaming, two-way audio, video recordings, and other features into 1 single device.

    Doorbells with intercom only enable you to talk to the visitor before allowing him or her to enter your home. However, if you don’t need to see who is at your front porch but only hear a voice, this type of doorbells is a perfect choice for you.

    You can check the below recommendation on the 2 types of doorbells with intercom respectively to get your preferred choice.

    2. Best Wired and Wireless Doorbells with Intercom: Top Picks with Videos

    Both of the 2 types doorbells with intercom are quite favorable nowadays.

    Many doorbell companies have adopted advanced technology to provide you with high-quality doorbells with the best price.

    You can check the below 3 recommendations.

    1. Aiphone Wireless Doorbell with Intercom

    When opening the package of Aiphone doorbell with intercom, you will see a master intercom and a door intercom.

    This wireless doorbell with voice intercom is a basic and simple doorbell system, that can fit your basic needs.

    Someone presses the button of the door intercom. You push the button of your master intercom, you talk to the visitor, pretty simple and no hassle at all.

    Though this doorbell with intercom is lack of smart features like video streaming, video recordings, etc. it can still act as a qualified doorbell guard for your home.

    2. Ring Smart Wireless Video Doorbell with Intercom and Camera

    Ring Video Doorbell 2, one of the most popular wire-free battery powered smart doorbells in the market now, enables you to see who presses the doorbell via your phone, talk to the person in real time, and store the videos when there are motion events.

    This 3-in-1 smartphone-controlled video doorbell with intercom is super easy to install. With its truly 100% wire-free design, you don’t need to run power cables for it.

    This WiFi doorbell with 2-way intercom and speaker connects to your WiFi, and send you real-time video streaming, so you can simply see if everything goes right around your front door.

    The high-quality doorbell can let you talk to the visitor extremely clearly. You can see how this remote doorbell with intercom works in the video below.

    3. Ring Wired Doorbell with Intercom

    Ring Video Doorbell Pro can let you hear and talk to the visitors with the 2-way audio.

    By connecting this doorbell intercom camera system to the existing doorbell wiring, you don’t need to charge the battery on a daily basis, and no need to worry about the power outage.

    The 1080p Full HD and excellent night vision enable you to see everything clearly via your mobile phone or computer both day and night.

    Please watch the video below to learn more about this doorbell with intercom.

    Installation

    An Analog Door Phone by itself can only provide a bi-directional communication once installed. In order to provide door access an extra remote controller unit need to be installed as well as a matching door latch. Additionally to connect to your office IP network, an analog Door Phone requires an ATA device.

    An IP Door Phone setup is much simpler and only requires a door latch. 

    components
Doorphone - Can be either IP or Analog. An IP phone will connect directly to your office network and will receive power from it using POE technology (power over Ethernet). An analog phone will need to be connected to a power source, which can be a regular phone line.

    Door latch - The door latch allows for a remote opening of a door. There are mechanical types and magnetic types.

    How to choose video intercom?

    Choosing the video intercom the buyers often do not know a lot about this product. This is not surprising because the video intercom appearedrecently in our lives in comparison with other household utilities (such as TV, telephone, notebook etc). That is why to find more information about a video intercom buyers begin to surf the Internet to find the answer: how to choose video intercom? This article can help you to solve the problem. With our help you will find the real answer.

    Color or black-white picture?

    First of all you have to answer the question yourself do you need the video intercom with black-white picture or more up-to-date color video intercom? Both these variants should be discussed. The black-white variant fits perfectly for the office. But for the private house it is better to choose one of the color video intercoms to make the atmosphere at home secure and comfortable. The video intercom as any other thing in your house is the interior design item. That is why it should fit in the interior.

    As far as we began to talk about the interior we should notice that the manufacturers present their equipment in three color schemes, namely: white, black and grey metallic. Everything depends only from your wishes.

    Anyway having chosen do you want a black-white video intercom or the color one we can move along. Farther we will discuss the color video intercom because we should keep up with the times.

    Do you need a handset?

    As far as the model range is very various it’s time to speak whether you need a device with or without handset. At first let’s discuss the one with a handset. What is the main advantage? It is noteworthy that with a help of handset you can talk with a visitor and others around you won’t hear your conversation what is really necessary sometimes. The video intercom without handset also has own advantages. Firstly, it is very convenient. Secondly, it is up-to-date. The manufacturers expanded the model range without handsets and designed models with touchscreen.

    As a result we can say that you have lots of choice. And it would be easily to make up your mind what you like. Someone likes to use the handset whether others want to use up-to-date function ?Hands free?.

    Is the CRT size important?

    So you choose whether you want the black-white or color video intercom and also make up your mind do you want it with or without handset, than it’s time for you to pay your attention what CRT size you want. The manufacturer Commax Co, Ltd. offers you CRT size 3.5, 5, 7 and 10.2 inches. That is why first of all you should measure the place where you want to install your video intercom. It’s important because sometimes people buy devices and during installation they clear up that there is not enough place for installation. Also you should remember that the devices you’re going to use should be handy for you.

    What the diagonal influences on? It influences on the pictures that is why the bigger the image is the more details you can see. If truth to be told, it doesn’t affect anything, but you shouldn’t spare on the outdoor panel. If you choose the video intercom with the diagonal more than 5 inches, you should take the according panel. Selectingthe outdoor panel you should pay your attention on what viewing angle does it have. For example, for the 5-inches video intercoms fit perfectly outdoor panels with viewing angles V 75°, H 55°.This is enough big viewing angle and you will receive quality image. To compare if we choose, for example, the outdoor panel with theviewing angles V 55°, H 40° for the 5-inches intercom you should be ready that the image will be stretched.

    So if you choose the intercom with big diagonal you should remember that you need an according panel. For the monitor with smaller diagonal fits the outdoor panel with smaller viewing angles. Whether you want big or small picture – it’s you to choose.

    Additional features

    Choosing the Tuya video intercom you should remember that it can have additional features. The main function is to monitor the visitors that stand behind your door during the call. If you buy the 4 Wire Analog video intercom only for this reason you can you choose the simplest model. But the manufacturers continue updating the production. For example, you can choose the model with memory it means that if you’re not at home and you have a visitor, the intercom will record the image automatically. Also you can connect additional cameras besides the one which is in an outdoor panel.

    Finall

    Let’s sum up everything. Besides the fact the model range is quite huge, to decide what you want is not so hard thing to do. No one apart from you can decide what do you like most of all. It’s you to choose what 4 Wire AHD video intercom you need because no one except you knows your taste and financial possibilities. We hope that this article will help you to make a choice.

    If you have difficulties you can always address to the specialists of the company Slinex that help you to make your choice and give you qualified consultation. Also you can visit our office and see the whole model range. Slinex offers the large range of video intercoms at the affordable price. Slinex group wishes you great deals and is ready to answer all the questions you have.

Skid steer loader – Different models for multiple applications

    Skid steer loader is used for digging, the skid steer is a versatile machine that is light and easily maneuvered, with a range of attachments available for application. It’s commonly found in construction sites and its arms can utilize a range of tools for various landscaping functions. A skid loader can be described as a small, rigid-frame machine with lift arms used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments.

    A skid-steer loader can sometimes be used in place of a large excavator by digging a hole from the inside. The skid loader first digs a ramp leading to the edge of the desired excavation. It then uses the ramp to carry material out of the hole. The skid loader reshapes the ramp making it steeper and longer as the excavation deepens. This method is particularly useful for digging under a structure where overhead clearance does not allow for the boom of a large excavator, such as digging a basement under an existing house.

    Several companies make backhoe attachments for skid-steers. These are more effective for digging in a small area than the method above and can work in the same environments. Other applications may consist of transporting raw material around a job site, or assisting in the rough grading process.

    Different models of skid steer loaders

    Skid steer loader with Fuel Efficient Engine

    A modern skid steer is designed to work efficiently. These models have the best in class fuel efficiency, lowest maintenance cost and very high productivity. Its unmatched structure & design helps the machine to perform in tougher applications and work in confined areas. All large platform machines are powered by an Ecomax engine, using up to 9% less fuel. These Ecomax engines achieve Tier 4 Final emissions standards without the need for a diesel particulate filter (DPF). An optional electric quick-hitch permits faster attachment and bucket changes, reducing downtime. The system also reduces the chance of hydraulic oil leakage during attachment change-over.

    Manufacturers have come up with the cab-forward design which allows the operator to see the bucket edge or attachment without leaning forward and thereby resulting in safe and efficient operation. Visibility has been significantly increased in all directions. A lowered rear screen and cooling package improve rear visibility which is critical while reversing at high speed. Also, the side windows are made larger increasing the visibility to the tires and the sides when the loader arms are raised. The design, balance, and weight distribution deliver more usable horsepower, powerful breakout forces, and faster cycle times. The machines work quicker, lift more, and outperform to meet various job site requirements.Newer hybrid skid steer loaders boost productivity and increase operator comfort. The cabs feature increased headroom and lap-bar width, along with improved forward, side, rear, and overhead visibility. Ergonomically positioned controls, industry-first side lighting, and improved reliability and serviceability help you get more work done daily. The wide door repositioned grab handles and a lower threshold provide easy access to the cab. These kid steer loaders benefit from a cab with up to 25% more internal width, providing greatly improved operator comfort. The cylinder geometry optimizes the skid steer and compact track loader push and pulls power, while the bucket support bearing directly on the chassis of the machine further adds to its pushing power.

    In newer models, the extended bucket is different in a way that it increases dump height by one meter(1m). An extended reach design allows the vertical movement to be more straight-up vertical, to keep the bucket forward of the operator’s cab and allows safe dumping into the heightened or tall containers. New models come with an extended bucket built with more power and torque which accelerates productivity and increases operator comfort. The Extended Bucket is beneficial for the task which requires high dumping height.

    The new skid steer loader is the perfect machine when maneuverability and controllability become critical. The variable flow of the Closed-Load Sensing System (CLSS) ensures precision and smoothness to all movements and provides quick and reliable power for any required operation. The servo-controls included as standard, make the SK510-5 fast and easy to use. Natural movements and maximum precision guarantee unique efficiency and greatly contribute to reducing operator fatigue. The right joystick controls the movements of the arm and the bucket; the left one controls the translation. With easy access for periodic maintenance, this is an efficient and reliable skid steer loader.New age radial lift design helps in delivering excellent digging performance, superior mid-lift reach, and higher forward reach. Low profile boom provides optimal side-to-side visibility. High-power drive chains powered by heavy-duty drive trains coupled with powerful 60hp engines give the best performance with clean emissions. With only 63 inches in width, 1700R is capable of performing well in cramped and constrained spaces.

    A skid steer loader, also called a skid steer or nicknamed a bobcat, is a small engine-powered construction machine used on a variety of job sites. Skid steers can move soil on a building site, dig holes, help with landscaping gardens, clean stalls on a farm, and more tasks. Some skid steers have tracks and are often called compact track loaders. Other skid-steer loaders have wheels.

    The two different types of skid steers suit different jobs and job sites. With two different options available, you may be wondering which is better on a skid steer: tracks or wheels. We compare skid steers with tracks and wheels to help you make a choice.

    Wheels Work Best on Even Ground

    When you’re working on even, hard ground, skid steers with wheels are the superior choice. Wheels don’t like to be challenged too much. They thrive on paved ground, concrete areas, and landscaped sites. That’s why you’ll usually see skid steers with wheels on renovations and extensions instead of new building sites. On these developed surfaces, the extra traction of a skid steer with tracks gets wasted.

    Skid steers with tracks are also slower to move on a developed ground than varieties with wheels, and faster-wheeled machines are more efficient on flat ground job sites. Wheels also wear less on hard surfaces than tracks will. Skid steers with tracks call for regular replacement of tracks, bogey wheels, sprockets, and other components. These parts will naturally wear out more quickly over hard surfaces, such as pavers or concrete, than softer surfaces.

    The greater the distance your skid steer covers, the greater the wear. When you choose a skid steer with wheels for these job sites, you’re making an economical choice.

    Tracks Suit Difficult Terrain

    While wheels excel in ideal, flat conditions, tracks love a challenge. Skid steers with tracks make light work of difficult surfaces such as muddy, sandy, and snowy ground. They’ll also do well in wet and uneven ground that wheels alone can’t handle.

    “While uneven terrain, slopes, and muddy or snowy ground conditions can be very challenging and tough on skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders are designed and built to handle these types of conditions,” confirmed Rick Harris, senior product manager of Terex Construction, in an interview with Forester Daily News.

    Bob Beesley, a product manager for Komatsu, recalled driving one of the company’s skid steers with tracks into an area with soft ground. He got out of the machine and sank to his knees in the soil. However, the skid steer stayed afloat.

    Skid steers with tracks do well where wheels can’t because they disperse their weight over a larger surface area. This weight distribution improves their stability.

    Skid steers with tracks won’t simply move over a challenging terrain. They’re also easy to maneuver in less than perfect conditions. When you need to steer through narrow clearings between trees, for example, a skid steer with tracks has you covered.

    A track skid steer loader that can handle difficult terrain helps boost productivity on your job site. When using a skid steer with tracks, you don’t need to wait for your site to dry out after rain or for winter snow to clear. These tough machines will happily take on the challenge.

    You can buy snow tires for your skid steer with wheels. Snow tires won’t usually do as well as tracks will. However, they can make your skid steer with wheels more useful during winter.

    Tracks Can Work Under Any Conditions

    While tracks do their best work on difficult terrain, they can also work on the flat, even ground wheels like. In contrast, skid steers with wheels can’t work safely on challenging terrain. Having skid steers with wheels makes them a better investment for some builders.

    Skid steers with tracks are a relatively new addition to the marketplace. However, their versatile nature has helped them claim 30 percent of the skid steer market, as Chris Giorgianni, vice president of product support government and defense for JCB, told Forester Daily News.

    People who rent skid steers don’t have to worry about choosing a versatile machine. They can simply rent the right skid steer for any given project.

    You can also buy tracks to put over the tires of skid steers with wheels. This add-on will help your skid steer with wheels tackle the type of tough terrain it’s not usually suited for. Slip-on tracks usually cost between $2,000 and $5,000, and you can install and remove them in 30 minutes. The price depends on variables including the following:

            Machine model

            Track width
        
            Track length

    Think carefully about the type of over-the-tire tracks you choose.

    “Over-the-tire steel tracks can add productivity to existing equipment, but they can also damage sidewalks and curbs,” Mike Fitzgerald, a loader product specialist for Bobcat, explained to Total Landscape Care magazine. “You want to use rubber tracks in areas under development, which have improved surfaces, and use steel tracks in areas that are primarily dirt or new construction.”

    Tracks Suit Bulldozing and Dig Jobs

    Track skid steer loader can tackle your bulldozing and dig jobs better than skid steers with wheels can. Tracks have more traction than wheels so that they can push into piles of soft or muddy soil more effectively. Tracks have more area in contact with the ground than wheels do.

    Skid steers with wheels can do these jobs like skid steers with tracks, as both machines use the same attachments. Common skid steer attachments include the following:

            Buckets

            Bulldozer blades

            Mulchers

            Trenchers

            Augers
 
            Levelers

            Snowblowers

            Box rakes

    Skid steers with wheels take more time to bulldoze or dig than skid steers with tracks do. When time is money, the efficiency of skid steers with tracks is worth considering.

    Wheeled Skid Steer Loader Cost Less

    Wheel skid steer loader cost less to buy and run than skid steers with tracks. The higher costs come because skid steers with tracks:

            Have a higher purchase price

            Have higher priced parts

            Use more fuel

            Need more frequent maintenance

    Tires cost less to replace than tracks. However, they don’t last quite as long. A new set of skid steer wheels usually costs between $600 and $1,000, stated Total Landscaping Care magazine. Depending on their quality, skid steer tires usually last between 600 and 1,000 hours. Rubber tracks last longer, between 1,200 and 1,600 hours. But they are pricier, usually costing $3,000 to $4,500 per set.

    Since tracks can work in a wider range of conditions, they can be more productive. This greater productivity can offset their higher purchase and running costs. However, for businesses operating on a shoestring budget, the upfront costs may be the most important. In fact, we’ve seen a swing back to cheaper skid steers with wheels after the global financial crisis, according to Jamie Wright, product manager for Terex Construction Americas.

    The cost of purchasing and maintaining skid steers don’t need to concern you if you rent your construction equipment. When you rent your construction equipment, you can always get the skid steer that suits your conditions and jobs best.

    Skid Steer Loader Tracks Make Minimal Mess

    Skid steers with tracks make far less mess than wheeled skid steers. Wheels typically leave ruts as they travel across a job site. In contrast, skid steers with tracks seem to float on the top of the ground without sinking down and making an impact.

    You can repair the ruts that skid steers with wheels leave behind. However, fixing the impact of wheeled skid steers takes more time and effort. Repair and cleanup can keep your crew on the job site for longer, which means they won’t be working as efficiently.

    Wheeled Skid Steer Loader Require Less Maintenance

    Skid steers with tracks need more maintenance than wheeled skid steers do. When you own a skid steer with tracks, you’ll spend much time cleaning the undercarriage and checking track tension.

    While you also need to clean the undercarriage of skid steers with wheels, this task is much easier and faster than cleaning underneath a skid steer with tracks. Skid steers with wheels usually don’t get as dirty as skid steers with tracks because the machines with wheels typically work on clean, developed surfaces. The undercarriage is also more accessible on a skid steer with wheels. Wheels don’t cover as much of the undercarriage as tracks do, which makes cleaning easier.

    Thorough maintenance is essential for lengthening a skid steer’s life. However, some equipment operators can find the level of maintenance needed for skid steers with tracks inconvenient. If you rent your skid steer, the rental company will take care of much of that maintenance for you.

    Most construction equipment makers believe no type of skid steer is better than the other. Instead, skid steers with tracks and skid steers with wheels have their strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these strengths and weaknesses is important when you’re renting the best skid steer for your next project.

    Whether you want a skid steer with tracks or wheels, BigRentz has you covered. For more about skid steers, visit the BigRentz website to read more about our skid steers and rent the one that best suits your needs.

    Remote control skid steer and skid steers are not as sophisticated as Google’s driverless cars, but their seats are just as empty when the machines are operating. That is the whole point — getting compact equipment operators out of the cab so they can work more safely and accomplish some tasks more easily. These are the reasons why mining operations have relied on remote-controlled digging machines for years. More recently, some full-sized quarry equipment has been modified to run remotely to scoop up aggregate in precarious locations. It’s no wonder then that more and more compact and mini loaders are being operated by walking-around joystick jockeys.