January 2002
Manufacturer News
Ford and Caterpillar Form Alliance to Speed Parts Delivery
METSO Minerals to Divest or Close Down Non-core Businesses and Overlapping Manufacturing Units
Manufacturer News
Ford and Caterpillar Form Alliance to Speed Parts Delivery
DETROIT (AP)—Ford Motor Co. and Caterpillar Inc. unveiled an alliance to develop a system to speed the delivery of service parts.
“We’ll be using existing best-in-class processes and methods and creating a new system,” said Amit Singhy, alliance program manager at Ford.
“Caterpillar has a long history of providing excellent
part support,” he said.
The alliance will involve the development of software that will work in
concert with Ford’s “Daily Parts Advantage” delivery network,
which was announced last July.
The network’s aim is to speed parts deliveries using 21 regional distribution centers and make parts inventories available to dealers’ parts departments in real time.
The software alliance between Ford and Caterpillar will oversee development and maintenance of the system, drawing talent from both companies, according to a joint statement.
METSO
MINERALS TO DIVEST OR CLOSE DOWN
NON-CORE BUSINESSES AND OVERLAPPING MANUFACTURING UNITS
Metso Minerals, the rock and mineral processing business area of Metso Corporation, concluded the first decisions to divest or dismantle non-core business operations and overlapping manufacturing units in order to increase its global manufacturing and operational efficiency following the acquisition of Svedala Industri AB in September 2001. The combined personnel of these operations to be divested or dismantled is approximately 600 and the combined external net sales totaled to approximately $45.1 million in 2000.
The non-core business units to be divested are Robot Pumps from Holland, a manufacturer of special pumps; Kranlyft, distributor of Japanese mobile cranes operating in Sweden and UK; and Interconsult, Swedish manufacturer of special bodies for container trucks. These units were transferred to Metso Minerals through the acquisition of Svedala. The combined personnel of these operations to be divested is approximately 280 and the combined net sales totaled to $40.6 million in 2000. Metso Minerals has initiated the process to find buyers for these operations.
Metso Minerals has also taken the first decisions to reorganize its manufacturing capacity in United States. The Minerals Processing business line will divest the Hodge Foundry in Pennsylvania, Thomas Foundry in Alabama and McNally workshop in Kansas. These units have primarily manufactured components for Metso’s own operations. The combined personnel of these operations is approximately 230 and net sales totaled to $27 million in 2000.
The crushing and screening business line is in process of closing down two manufacturing units to rationalize its manufacturing setup in the USA and to make the operations more competitive. The units are located in Columbia, S.C., and Middleboro, Mass., and they have employed a combined total of approximately 100 people. These units have manufactured stationary and mobile screens. Manufacturing will be transferred to Metso Minerals’ manufacturing unit in Gastonia, N.C.
Metso completed its offer for Svedala Industri AB on Sept. 14, 2001. Svedala is a global supplier of products and services for rock and mineral processes. Metso’s and Svedala’s combined net sales are approximately $4,868 million (in 2000) and the amount of personnel is approximately 32,000.
Stand-Alone Unit Improves Environmental Safety
Land Instruments (Combustion Instrumentation) offers GasPro+, a monitor that meets all combustion efficiency, safety and environmental requirements in a stand-alone instrument. The unit monitors CO, O2, hydrocarbons and NOx on small and medium gas-fired boilers. It offers single-flange installation and integrated keypad and display. Operators are able to address verification for the Credible Evidence Rule, EPA CAM and Periodic Monitoring and monitoring and reporting of non-attainment limit values on a continuous basis.
B Series of Biggest Cat Excavator Launched
The Caterpillar 5230B Hydraulic Shovel and 5230B Mass Excavator offers a 5-percent increase in engine power and a 10-percent increase in hydraulic flow in the implement circuit compared to the 5230, according to the company. Caterpillar says it has refined structures and systems in the new models. Changes have boosted the weight of the 5230B to about 360 tons—an increase of 14 tons over the older model. The unit typically is matched with 150- to 170-ton-capacity trucks for loading in five passes. The front shovel configuration is designed to handle a 22-cu.-yd. bucket when loading rock. The mass excavator configuration is designed to use a 21-cu.-yd. rock bucket. Components include a 1,652 gross hp Cat 3516B engine with electronic unit injection; Cat Proportional Priority Pressure Compensating hydraulics; and Cat Vital Information Management System, which gathers and reports machine data for maintenance. Front shovel breakout force is 261,145 lbs. and crowd force is 257,324 lbs. Mass excavator breakout force is 192,083 lbs. and a stick force of 198,848 lbs.
Grasan offers Customized Bin Fabrication
Grasan custom bins (for storage, blending or as surge bins) are available in stationary and mobile designs for all kinds of applications. Units can be furnished with a variety of vibratory or belt feeders. The company says its will design and build systems from scratch or to meet specifications of new or existing facilities.
Backstop Release Allows Simple Belt Reversal
A patented Manual Release Backstop from Van der Graaf, Inc. reduces the time and effort needed to reverse inclined conveyor direction. The unit has the ability to disengage an internal backstop allowing the drum motor drive to move freely in the reverse direction so the belt can be unloaded. Drum motors with the device can be implemented on new or existing inclined conveyors. A cap screw turned counterclockwise disengages the backstop allowing the belt to be reversed manually or by reversing the motor. When the unloading operation is completed, the cap screw is turned clockwise to re-engage the backstop. Its function is internal to the drum, allowing operation under adverse conditions, according to the company.
Brochure Covers Air Pollution Control Options
Camfill Farr offers a product and capabilities brochure describing its line of dust, mist and fume collectors for air pollution control and product recovery. The 16-page brochure describes key features, benefits and applications for the equipment, including the recently introduced “Gold Series” high efficiency cartridge collector and “Big Round Filter” reverse air dust collector. Also described are the company’s customer service programs, R&D and engineering support, and full-service laboratory that is equipped to perform a battery of tests on customer dust samples, according to the company.
Fuel Additives Enhance Protection
Fleetguard Inc. offers Fleet-tech, a diesel fuel additive package that provides advanced fuel system protection for heavy-duty vehicles during harsh weather conditions. Fleet-tech is available in four formulations: Winter Conditioner, Winter Conditioner Concentrate, Asphaltene Conditioner and Asphaltene Conditioner Concentrate. Additives come in quart, 2.5-gallon, 5-gallon and 55-gallon drum sizes. According to the company, the fuel conditioners provide easier cold-weather starting and reduce the cold filter plugging point by as much as 30°F in select fuels.
Belt Cleaner for Worst-Case Applications
An addition to Flexible Steel Lacing Company’s Eliminator Belt Cleaning Systems, the M-Type Precleaner for worst-case applications, uses a more massive blade that shaves off thick, heavy, wet, clinging carryback on mechanically fastened and vulcanized belts, according to the company. The unit uses a compact mounting/tensioning system, which allows installation close against the head pulley within the discharge chute, to keep material in the product stream. The unit is backed by a 30-day guarantee that allows return for full credit or refund.
Brochure Covers Instantel Series II Equipment
Instantel offers an eight-page color catalog for Instantel Series II vibration monitoring equipment, BlastMate II and MiniMate. The catalog covers in detail these monitors and accessories, along with the BlastWare III software for compliance reporting and analysis.
Insight Into ISO 9000 Revisions
Perry Johnson, Inc., offers a free booklet entitled “ISO 9000: 2000 Executive Overview”. According to the company, ISO 9000 quality management systems (QMS) standards have taken on a completely different look under revisions released in December 2000. The revised ISO 9000 series consists of four primary standards, replacing more than 20 standards and documents. Three of these new standards, ISO 9000, Quality Management Systems—Fundamentals and Vocabulary, replacing ISO 9000-1 and 8402; ISO, Quality Management Systems—Requirements, replacing ISO 9001, 9002, 9003; and ISO 9004, Quality Management Systems—Guidelines for Performance Improvements, replacing ISO-9004-1; were published in December. The remaining standard, ISO 19011, Guidelines on Quality and/or Environmental Management Systems Auditing, replacing ISO 10011-1, 10011-2 and 10011-3, as well as the ISO 12010, 14011 and 14012 environmental auditing standards, is slated for publication in 2002. The new process-based structure, similar to that used in ISO 14001, creates a completely different look for ISO 9001. The 20 elements have been replaced by five clauses containing 23 elements. The two standards are more compatible under this approach, making it easier to integrate management systems and combine documentation. ISO 9001 is now more generic through the new options of being tailored to omit requirements that don’t apply to an organization or limiting the scope of application. This eliminates the need for the less comprehensive ISO 9002 and 9003 standards.
Brochure Details BTI Low-Noise Systems
Breaker Technology, Inc. has published a brochure on its hydraulic pulverizers and another on its multi-systems attachments. BTI MCP Series of hydraulic pulverizers, according to the company, offers low noise and vibration, good fragmentation and separation of steel wire from concrete. The MS Series of hydraulic multi-systems offers interchangeable crusher, pulverizer, shear and demolition jaws, allowing tool configuration for multiple applications. The bulletins detail product features, benefits and specifications.
Deere Introduces Its Most Powerful Dozer
John Deere Construction & Forestry Co. introduces its most powerful dozer the 324 hp 1050C. The dozer is powered by a single-lever-controlled hydrostatic transmission that delivers items such as powerturns, counterrotation and automatic load sensing. Dual-path design gives an operator independent control of each track for smooth full power turns with big blade loads, according to the company. The unit allows tight pivot turns at any speed. An AutoTrac system electronically monitors the rpm of both independently driven final drives. AutoTrac makes automatic adjustments to maintain straight tracking in forward or reverse and minimize necessary steering corrections, says Deere. Other items include a hydrostatic drive system; dynamic braking; automatic park brake and a walk-through air-conditioned ROPs cab, with fully adjustable, deluxe-suspension armchair. Two blade options are available: a 165-in. wide, 12.5 cu. yd. semi-U and a 170-in. wide, 15.3 cu. yd. semi-U. Push beams, blade push plates, blade liners, and a wide variety of cutting edges and end bits are also available. Rear attachments include single- and multi-shank parallelogram rippers with hydraulic pitch adjustment.
Portable Plant Provides Compact Shredding/Screening
Screen Machine says its Achiever 46 is a powerful compact shredding/screening plant designed for high production at low cost. It offers heavy-duty construction with a Caterpillar diesel engine and independent hydraulics. Options include a hammermill shredder and auxiliary power for extra conveyors. The 24-in. wide conveyor belt drops material onto the 4- x 6-ft. four-bearing double-deck vibrating screen with optional spray bars. The 8-cu.-yd. hopper is 11 ft. wide and comes with a hinged tipping grizzly with optional remote control. A fifth-wheel pin transport eases portability, and the unit sets up in minutes, according to the company. Weight is about 18,000 lbs.
Video Trains in Rigging and Lifting
A 25-minute video by VISTA Training, Inc. was filmed at mine and quarry operations. It is an instructional video designed to make rigging in mines safer and more efficient. Offering advice on rigging such items as crusher parts or conveyors, the video shows how to safely rig and lift odd-shaped loads. Items covered include estimating weight/balance points, rigging to position load, adjustable leg slings and special rigging hardware. According to the company, it collected information from respected professional riggers and videotaped actual situations.
Brochure Highlights Versatile AC Drive
Rockwell Automation offers a brochure highlighting the Reliance SP600 AC drive. The 12-page, color publication provides more than 25 photographs and illustrations to describe a range of speed-regulated applications. A number of charts depict various aspects of the product’s performance. According to the company, the unit offers performance and flexibility, without complexity or high cost.
Terex Adds to its New-Look Artics
Terex Equipment Ltd., a division of Terex Corp., has added the TA25 23-ton size to its line of new-look articulated dump trucks. Improvements from older models include upgrades of rear suspension and brake systems. Also, the truck offers trunnion-type link bushes incorporated into the suspension. Brakes are fitted with double calipers on both front wheels for better performance and wear. Through drive bearings in the pivot are oil-lubricated. Rotational pressure compensation on the clutch piston enables a more stable shift quality, particularly at different speed conditions on the clutch, according to the company. A one-piece hood is standard.
Wire Screen Designs Counter Blinding
W.S. Tyler offers Cobra-Vibe for tough screen-blinding applications. According to the company, Cobra-Vibe is a high production, “flex-type,” wire screen manufactured in three clear opening designs, which provide screening accuracy close to traditional wire mesh square openings. The screens are custom-fabricated and no deck modification is required. High-wear polyurethane reinforcement strips and W. S. Tyler’s traditional hook strips allow for proper screen tensioning and extended wear life.
Lasers Provide Affordable Level Measuring
K-Tek offers an inexpensive laser level, distance and position transmitter for measuring bulk solids and opaque liquids in harsh environments. The line comes in two models, the LMC4 and the lightweight, LM02 Lasermeters. Units can be used in tanks, silos, hoppers, bins, mineshafts, mixing basins and tubs. A 1-µm laser wavelength protects against beam divergence and can measure to surfaces at an angle. The Lasermeters will accurately measure uneven surfaces and bulk solids in a cone-up or cone-down position, according to the company. The LM4C model laser can traverse distances up to 120 meters. The company says the confined laser beam allows passage between narrow grids, and can be programmed to ignore passing objects like rocks coming down a chute. Available dust tubes allow continuous operation in high-particulate ambient environments.