Heavy Machines Online Information

On visits to heavy engineering and power station maintenance shops, the production engineers there have often said: “If only we had CNC…. Acu-Rite now offers free feasibility studies to fit CNC.

On visits to heavy engineering and power station maintenance shops, the production engineers there have often said: “If only we had CNC on this Kearns horizontal borer, on this Noble and Lund plano miller ….” Well, Acu-Rite, manufacturers of digital read-out systems and 3D CNC retrofit ‘kits’, is now able to take enquiries from users of ‘heavy’ and ’super-heavy’ machine tools.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/acu/acu105.html

Asia times reported that a plan to mine bauxite deposits in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and whose opponents include famed general Mr Vo Nguyen Giap has provoked dissent even in the companies involved while already tearing up the livelihoods of tea and coffee farmers in nearby towns.

The state controlled Tuoi Tre newspaper has said that “Hills that used to be plantations of tea have already been bulldozed into a 50 hectare site to locate the bauxite project.”

Tuoi Tre said that “The same thing has happened to the coffee hills in Dak Nong province but on a larger scale the construction site may stretch to 200 hectares.”

The government’s plan to mine bauxite for the production of aluminum has resulted in an outpouring of concern on the part of Vietnamese environmentalists and scientists.

Recently, Mr Nguyen Tan Dung PM of Vietnam called for a thorough review of bauxite mining projects and a look at ways to better monitor its impact and ensure that environmental standards are followed.

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/06/12/OTgxNzU%3D/Vietnam_farmers_fall_to_bauxite_bulldozers.html

GERMAN manufacturer Linde Material Handling (LMH) says it has been using the GageMax coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and GEAR PRO software from Carl Zeiss to measure gears during production.

Originally, Linde Material Handling measured the gears with special gear measuring machines, even though it had already purchased a PRISMO CMM from Carl Zeiss to measure standard geometric workpieces.

According to Linde Material Handling, in the past measurements were made between two peaks. Currently however, coordinate metrology is based on functional surfaces. Comparative measurements have shown that the same results can be achieved when the conditions are the same.

Carl Zeiss says the GageMax CMM is a measuring centre designed for use in production. The unit offers speed, resistance to environmental conditions such as dirt and temperature fluctuations as well as a high degree of usability and safety.

Linde Material Handling manufactures externally and internally geared spur and spiral gearing in the module range of 0.75mm to 12mm. The diameters of the gears range from several centimetres to a half metre.

According to Carl Zeiss, the operators can now perform the measurements on the shopfloor. The workpiece only needs to be clamped to the rotary table before the measurements can start.

Carl Zeiss says the GEAR PRO software is used to transfer the data, which is usually available as figures, from the measuring sheet to the gear dataset. After the figures are entered, the values are shown in a three-dimensional display and as a CAD model, enabling the user to inspect the plausibility of the values.

http://www.motorsdrives.com.au/article/linde-material-handling

Articulated dump truck specialist Bell Equipment UK has broken new ground with the introduction of its revolutionary industrial tracked scraper tractors to the UK.

Bell Equipment UK has broken new ground with the introduction of its revolutionary industrial tracked scraper tractors to the UK.

E.ON UK, the company that runs Powergen, has become the first operator in the UK to take delivery of two of Bell’s triangular-tracked 4206D industrial scraper tractors at Kingsnorth power station, in Kent.

Even in the few weeks since the machines were brought on site, E.ON UK has already seen its fuel bills slashed in half for that part of its operation.

Bell’s scrapers are being used to haul about 2.5 million tonnes of coal annually between the shipyard at Hoo St Werburgh, near Rochester, and the adjacent power station.

The machines, which are a brand new product line in Europe, are around half the price of traditional coal scrapers, and E.ON UK is benefiting from Bell’s five-year maintenance programme, which the power company claims is one-third of the cost of Bell’s competitors.

E.ON UK has also seen a marked increase in job applications from driver-operators who are keen to enjoy the superior ride comfort these new machines provide.

Added to that, the appearance of the tractors is turning a few heads at the coal-fired plant.

Bob Aldridge, sales and marketing manager for Bell Equipment UK, said: “The machines not only look very impressive on those tracks, they are also operating extremely effectively.

“We are very much trying to change some perceptions with this machine in the UK.

There’s definitely a niche market there in the power station industry and we hope to capitalize further in this area”.

Clive Burfoot, fuel and ash services team leader at Kingsnorth power station, said: “It was a big risk to take on something that had not been tried before in the UK - but it’s a risk that appears to have paid off.

“The machine uses far less fuel than anything we’ve previously used, and it’s got lower emissions and noise than anything else, which is better for the environment.

“The machines are presently working beyond expectations and their use has sparked interest from coal stations all over Europe”.

Mr Burfoot added: “What’s also great is that the drivers are in a nice sealed environment with air conditioning, music and loads of room.

Since they came on site I’ve had more drivers apply to work here than ever before”.

The 4206D industrial tractor and twin scraper pan units haul an average of 30 tonnes of coal each trip between the shipyard and the power station’s fuel stockpile - a round-trip of about 600 metres.

The innovation behind the industrial tractors and their respective twin scraper pan units means that each machine operates from only one power point, as opposed to twin engines on other similar products, thereby cutting fuel consumption.

And the unique design enables both scraper units to load consecutively in one single action.

The industrial tractor’s triangular tracks, a cross between conventional wheels and tracks, have been developed to give the machine superior stability and load-bearing qualities over awkward or unstable terrain.

The Bell 4206D industrial tractor offers a versatility with both track or wheel options.

Bell Equipment is unique in that it manufactures and supplies the world’s only 50-tonne articulated dump truck.

It is also market leader in the supply of 40-tonne ADTs in the UK.

http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/beq/beq100.html

Latest drilling machines have had their specifications upgraded to include a work light and table raising mechanism and drilling capacities increased.

Meddings Machine Tools move forward into 2007 with a new range of updated machines, The UK’s premier manufacturer of pillar and bench drilling machines has upgraded their machines to meet the Health and Safety requirements for education and modern machine shops.

The Meddings Compact was the first machine to be redesigned to fit into manufacturing engineering so as to reduce the cost of production, the Compact is a 13mm drilling capacity machine, and has been a major success since its addition to the Meddings range of machines.

The new Meddings LF1 and LB1 mark III has had its specification upgraded to include a work light and table raising mechanism, The LF1 also has the Meddings foot stop for easy spindle stop, the drilling capacity of each machine has been increased to 18mm from 13mm, with the price been reduced for the machine specification.

This is the equivalent of a 38% increase in drilling capacity, a table raising mechanism to ease the moving of the table to different heights and a light to illuminate the working area all for a price lower than the older equivalent model this has been achieved by instigating cost engineering into the production environment.

The new Meddings LF2 and LB2 mark V, also includes the work light, table raising mechanism with a drilling capacity of 23mm, on the floor model the Meddings foot stop is included as standard.

Meddings stated: like many manufacturers we have seen huge rises in material cost of the last 18 months, which drove us down the path of cost reduction, but when you take a fresh look at your product it was amazing how re-engineering and a little thought has saved the company costs.

We had to take a radical look at the range and we have reduced the amount of machine we offered, but by increasing the specification we now have a range of machines which more than make up for our older range of machines.

By making certain options standard we have produced machines which are more appealing to the customers, for the education sector we have added items which make using the machine for children easier to use.

When exhibited at the recent design and Technology show at the NEC, UK, the machines were given a 100% ‘thumbs up’ by the buyers and the educationalists of machine tools for schools.

Other government departments have examined the machines and given clearance to the machines for their continuing supply to the various departments.

When you get this type of endorsement from people who understand the needs of engineers from a usage and learning prospective it is clear that Meddings Machine Tools have achieved the high standards of excellence which has been their ‘calling card’ for over 64 years.

It is now the typical end-user who needs to be educated that buying cheaper machines is not cost effective, and that the cost of ownership for a company should be looked at over a longer period.

Simple type machines such as floor and bench mounted drilling machines will hold their place in the workshop for many years and will prove to be a benefit to a production environment.

The technology of the typical manual drilling machine has not changed for 100 years, but it is still the most used machine tool in the world.

Reliability does not come from buying cheap drilling machines, it comes from years of understanding the needs of customers, Meddings Machine Tools are continuing to hold the banner for quality.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/med/med110.html

Linde Material Handling has launched a range of electric pedestrian pallet trucks that features increased manoeuvrability and improved ergonomic features.

The T16, 18 and 20 (representing load capacities of 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 tonnes respectively) have good manoeuvrability in tight spaces through reduced length, a new tiller shape and a creep speed function.

The creep speed feature allows the pallet trucks to be used in confined areas with the tiller in the upright position.

The Linde pallet trucks also have larger castor wheels, which are mounted on shock absorbers to maintain truck stability when cornering.

The three-wheel configuration with two adjustable castor wheels improves traction in slippery conditions.

The Linde designs are based around the concept of ‘Sinergo’ (safety, innovation, ergonomics), which places the emphasis on the interface between the operator and the machine.

This eases the workload for the operator and increases the safety and productivity of employees in the warehouse.

The materials Exxtral and Grivory help achieve the Sinergo aims.

Grivory is used for tiller and tiller head.

It is light and warm - making it more user-friendly, but without compromising robustness.

Exxtral, for the motor and battery cover, is tough but flexible, resisting shocks and reducing damage costs.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/lbq/lbq109.html

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is alleging 34 violations at the New Bedford plant of F&B Rubberized Inc and has proposed fines of USD44,250.

It is alleged the rubber products manufacturer was employing an unidentified number of forklift operators without training, using forklifts emitting excessive carbon monoxide levels and operating units with missing or illegible data plates.

Other serious violations include locked exits, obstructed exit access and an unmarked exit, lack of welding screens and personal protective equipment for welders and exposed live electrical parts.

“These citations address a cross-section of manufacturing-related safety and health hazards that need to be addressed effectively and continuously to prevent injuries and illnesses, and ensure the health and safety of the workers at this plant,” says Brenda Gordon, OSHA’s area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts.

F&B was formed in the early 1970s to use tyre rubber in die-cut forms. The firm provides a variety of rollers, chaffing gear and other wear-susceptible replacement components to various customers including those in the fishing industry.

“There were at least three forklift trucks that emitted carbon monoxide levels above 50 parts per million (ppm), OSHA’s permissible exposure limit,” says a citation for a serious violation.

One Nissan forklift was emitting 1,535 ppm. OSHA says 1,200 ppm is “the level that is immediately dangerous to life and health”. Another was not equipped with a data plate, and a third Nissan and a Toyota forklift “were equipped with data plates that were not legible,” according to a citation.

Other than the inspections initiated in November 2008, F&B had not been subject to OSHA inspection or regulatory action in the past five years, according to Edmund Fitzgerald, deputy regional OSHA director.

OSHA issued the citations on 15 April. From receipt of the actions, F&B has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference or contest the citations and proposed penalties before an independent review commission.

OSHA is an agency of the US Department of Labour.

http://forkliftaction.com/news/newsdisplay.aspx?nwid=7052

A machine rams a heavy steel girder into the ground. In future, a new electronic system will monitor the expensive equipment and indicate when it needs to be serviced.

On construction sites, machines several meters large ram heavy steel planks and girders into the ground by generating targeted vibrations. In future, a new electronics system will monitor the expensive tools, indicate when they need servicing and thus prolong their useful life.

A steel plank weighing more than 300 kilograms sinks into the ground under continuous vibrations, rammed into the earth by what is known as a construction vibrator. Unbalanced masses inside the machine rotate to produce strong targeted vibrations. These are transferred to the steel plank and greatly weaken the soil—“liquefy” it, so to speak. The plank sinks on account of its own weight. Several such planks can be joined together to make building pits, for example, or steel quay walls in ports. The machines are very expensive, so small building companies usually hire them from rental firms as and when they need them.

Construction vibrators have to endure heavy loads and require regular servicing, during which a technician changes the oil and replaces the seals. The longer a machine has been in action, the more frequently it has to be serviced—much like a car, which has to be taken for an inspection after clocking up a certain mileage. However, rental companies can only make a rough estimate as to how long a machine has been in use overall with its customers, and when it needs to be serviced next. Should they fit in an extra maintenance inspection before renting it out to the next customer?

An electronic guard developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg will answer this question in future.

“It keeps track of how many hours the machine is in operation,” explains IMS project manager Frederic Meyer. The hour counter is housed in a small box measuring five by seven centimeters, can be mounted on any construction vibrator, and oscillates at the same frequency as the machine.

“At one-minute intervals, the electronics determine whether the machine is currently vibrating and, if so, at what frequency. This is done using an acceleration sensor and an internal clock,” says Meyer. A technician reads out the counter via a radio link and can thus see whether he needs to service the machine before it is delivered to another customer. The electronics also monitor the temperature of the construction vibrator. This is necessary, for if the machine is over-used, it runs hot and wears out more quickly. “Temperatures of 85 degrees Celsius and above can damage the seals,” Meyer explains. In future, the electronic guard will record any threateningly high temperatures that occur and will warn the technician, who can then organize an additional inspection. The researchers have already successfully tested the first prototype, and the system is currently being put through its paces by their customer, ThyssenKrupp GfT efbautechnik.

http://www.rdmag.com/ShowPR.aspx?PUBCODE=014&ACCT=1400000101&ISSUE=0904&RELTYPE=

TEST&PRODCODE=00000000&PRODLETT=GE&CommonCount=0

REDWOOD CITY, CA — (Marketwire) — 04/22/09 — Tectura Corporation, a worldwide provider of business consulting services, is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Dean Machinery Co. Tectura will implement NAXT®, a solution developed on Microsoft Dynamics® AX technology exclusively for Caterpillar dealers, which will allow the company to plan and manage business operations throughout its seven locations.

NAXT streamlines and consolidates a dealer’s computer system requirements on a single platform supporting all departments, including Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Equipment Sales, Equipment Rental, Parts (new, used and tear-down), Service, and Power Systems. The solution enables improved business process and business intelligence, integrates with Caterpillar systems, and is capable of interfacing with many leading OEMs and financial institutions.

“The NAXT solution represents another step in our quest to take our business to the next level,” said Lori Dean, President of Dean Machinery. “As is our newly opened headquarters facility, our new Microsoft solution will be an important tool for us to provide the best possible customer experience and will provide our entire Dean Team visibility to all of our customer data. We chose Tectura as our partner on this journey based on their deep understanding of our industry, coupled with their knowledge and delivery skills related to NAXT and Microsoft Dynamics AX.”

“We are pleased to partner with Dean Machinery on this important initiative,” said Terry Petrzelka, Chief Executive Officer, Tectura Corporation. “Tectura has made a global commitment to this industry. Our heavy equipment team members have a proven track record of focusing skill, experience and deep industry knowledge and leading technologies to achieve success. We look forward to exceeding expectations and delivering the value-added services that make a distinctive impact for our heavy equipment dealer clients.” In addition to Dean Machinery, Tectura has implemented solutions at Caterpillar dealers in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.

About Dean Machinery Co.

Dean Machinery Co. is the Caterpillar dealership providing quality equipment and superior support for construction, power generation, transportation, and agriculture customers in northwestern Missouri and eastern Kansas. Dean Machinery Co., founded in 1955, employs 320 people in 7 locations including its new headquarters campus in Kansas City, Missouri. Learn more at www.deancat.com.

About Tectura Corporation

Tectura is a worldwide provider of business consulting services delivering exceptional service and sustainable value through consulting, software and IT implementation. Our diverse clientele includes mid-sized companies and larger enterprises in the aerospace, life sciences, manufacturing and distribution, retail and services industries.

With more than 1,800 team members in 20+ countries, Tectura applies its industry knowledge and best practices philosophy to provide Microsoft Dynamics® ERP, CRM and technology solutions throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, we maximise our vast technology resources and deep Microsoft expertise to deliver increased efficiency, project acceleration and a competitive edge. Learn more at www.tectura.com.

For additional information: mediarelations@tectura.com

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” relating to, without limitation, future economic performance, plans, and objectives of Tectura Corporation for future operations and projections of revenue and other financial items that are based on the beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to Tectura Corporation. The words “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The cautionary statements in this press release and the assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements identify and involve important factors with respect to such forward-looking statements, including certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or the benefits that Tectura Corporation might derive to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Products mentioned in this release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

http://ca.sys-con.com/node/930722

Original Meco air-purged seals effectively contain dry powders and other abrasive materials in crushers, grinders, hammer mills and similar rotating equipment

Original Meco air-purged seals effectively contain dry powders and other abrasive materials in crushers, grinders, hammer mills and similar rotating equipment.

Meco seals can increase MTBF by a factor of 4 or more over packing and can be quickly rebuilt on site.

The patented Meco concept is based on the use of a driving elastomer, which co-rotates with the shaft.

Since this self-compensating driving elastomer is the only seal interface with the shaft, Meco seals accommodate significant radial and angular shaft misalignment and shock loads while protecting the shaft and bearings from abrasion damage.

Designed to accommodate shaft run-out up to 6 mm and to completely contain dry, abrasive materials, Meco seals are also ideally suited to mixing equipment and horizontal or inclined screw conveyor applications.

The fully-split versions permit installation and maintenance without disturbing the bearing or drive assembly.

http://www.processingtalk.com/news/woo/woo107.html