Heavy Machinery
The Lead
Deere Shows Effects Of Drought, Economic Stalemate
August 15, 2012 10:04 am | by Samantha Bomkamp, AP Business Writer | News | Comments
The ongoing drought in the Midwest, a stronger dollar and costs to introduce a slew of new products hurt the world's largest producer of agricultural equipment.
Baldor Electric Introduces Full Line Of ER-Style Ball Bearings
May 22, 2013 4:20 pm | Products | CommentsBaldor Electric Company has introduced its line of Dodge ER-Style ball bearings, which are available in two shaft attachment methods. The set screw version has a 65° set screw angle for better shaft grip, while the D-Lok product uses a clamp collar grip to minimize vibration.
Precise Flow Measurements On Small Pipelines
May 21, 2013 2:41 pm | Products | CommentsEmerson Process Management has added the Micro Motion ELITE CMFS sensor platform to its line of Coriolis flowmeters in the effort to bring more precise measurement to pipelines smaller than 2” or DN50. According to the company, the new sensor platform features better scalability and standardization.
New ATEX-Approved Pneumatic Vacuums For Hazardous Locations
May 20, 2013 2:30 pm | Products | CommentsNortech Vacuum Products has announced a new line of ATEX-approved pneumatic vacuums for hazardous locations, which eliminate the threat of static electricity by combining static conductive design with inherent safe pneumatic vacuum technology.
Where Has All The Training Gone?
May 15, 2013 11:53 am | by Robert Allen and Kathleen Bellemare, Connecticut Spring & Stamping | Articles | CommentsTraining for skilled manufacturing positions has been hit by a perfect storm of budget cuts and the mistaken idea that all young workers should go to college. At Connecticut Spring & Stamping (CSS), the situation had become so desperate that to meet its capacity and continue to grow, the company has had to replace formerly state-funded training with its own programs.
Bobcat Breaks Ground On $20 Million ND Facility
May 13, 2013 2:37 pm | News | CommentsBobcat Co. is investing $20 million in an expansion and renovations in Bismarck, about 3 ½ years after closing its manufacturing plant and laying off nearly 500 workers.The compact construction equipment maker broke ground Monday on a research-and-development facility at its existing site at the Northern Plains Commerce Centre.
Hardinge Inc. To Acquire Forkardt Operations
May 9, 2013 10:54 am | News | CommentsElmira, N.Y.-based Hardinge Inc. has announced that it will acquire Forkardt from Illinois Tool Works in a $34 million transaction of cash and debt that is expected to be completed today. Hardinge officials say Forkardt’s brands include leading providers of high-precision, specialty and customized workholding devices for machine tools.
CAT Closing Toronto Plant
May 6, 2013 8:30 am | News | CommentsHeavy equipment giant Caterpillar Inc. says it is closing a tunnel-boring machine factory in Toronto by mid-2014, throwing 330 workers out of a job. Caterpillar acquired the facility in 2008 when it bought Lovat Inc. and got into the tunnelling business, but now says the plant is no longer a "strategic growth opportunity" and will be shut down.
Assess Your Technology Ladder When Addressing Burn Risk
May 3, 2013 1:45 pm | by Scott Brooksby, Olson Brooksby PC | Articles | CommentsThere are few more sophisticated and complex high-heat metallurgy manufacturing processes — and few with less tolerance for error — than the processes involved in manufacturing components of the hot-section of an aviation gas turbine engine. This precision minimizes the risk of catastrophic aviation disasters such as uncontrolled engine failure.
PSG Completes Acquisition Of Ebsray Pumps
May 3, 2013 11:09 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | News | CommentsThe Oak Brook Terrace, Ill.-based Pump Solutions Group (PSG) has announced the completion of its acquisition of Ebsray Pumps Pty. Limited. The maker of industrial pumps, located in Brookvale, Australia, will be merged into PSG’s Blackmer operation. The companies did not disclose financial details of the deal.
Bremen Castings: Making Heavy Industry A Safer Place
May 1, 2013 12:32 pm | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Articles | CommentsIn a heavy industry, where potential hazards are numerous, reaching one million hours of safe operation is a remarkable achievement, and it’s one that Brown attributes not only to that “big stick,” but also a dramatic shift in company culture, simply by being aware of safety down to the smallest loose cable and scratched knuckle.
Playing With Caterpillars
April 30, 2013 1:52 pm | by Fritz Faerber, Associated Press | News | CommentsHere's a place where the word caterpillar does not refer to fuzzy little insects. The new Caterpillar Visitors Center is all about the roaring black-and-yellow machines that dig and lift at massive construction and mining sites. Off the main floor, there are extensive exhibits about the company's history, engineering innovations and environmental efforts.
CAT Closing South Carolina Plant
April 30, 2013 7:56 am | News | CommentsCaterpillar says it plans to close its Summerville remanufacturing plant next year, a move that will put 280 people out of work. The factory tears down, recycles and rebuilds heavy-duty transmissions and related components for original equipment makers, which then resell the parts to aftermarket buyers.
Statement From Adair Grain Inc. Regarding West Fertilizer Co. Fire and Explosion
April 19, 2013 5:23 pm | News | CommentsDonald Adair, lifelong resident of the community of West, Texas and owner of Adair Grain Inc., today issued the following statement: "This has been a terrible week for everyone in West, Texas and I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt sympathy for those affected and my appreciation for those who responded."
CAT Shifts Ordering, Delivery Operations
April 15, 2013 5:09 pm | News | CommentsManufacturer Caterpillar Inc. said Monday it is reorganizing its operations so many orders will be handled by one division from the time they are placed to the time they are delivered. The new division will combine existing operations from areas including global purchasing, manufacturing logistics and transportation, and Caterpillar production system.
Hypertherm Introduces New Centricut Consumables For Plasma Systems
April 9, 2013 11:53 am | Products | CommentsHypertherm has announced the release of new consumables for PerCut 210M and 450M torches, which are found on all new and upgraded Kjellberg HiFocus systems. According to the company, these Centricut consumables will match or surpass the equivalent Kjellberg version.
Kubota Corp. Opens New Plant In Ga.
April 9, 2013 4:01 am | News | CommentsGeorgia Gov. Nathan Deal Monday announced the grand opening of the new Kubota Corp. plant in Jefferson — about 20 miles northwest of Athens. Deal says the 522,000 square-foot plant has brought 200 jobs to the city. Officials say the plant will produce Kubota's 30 to 50-horesepower compact tractor models.
AutomationDirect Expands Interlock Safety Switch Offering
April 8, 2013 11:04 am | Products | CommentsAutomationDirect has announced an expansion to its line of safety products with additional tongue interlock and cable-pull safety switches. The tongue-operated safety interlock switches are designed to fit to the leading edge of sliding, hinged or lift-off machine guards.
CAT Laying Off More Than 400 In Illinois
April 5, 2013 1:57 pm | News | CommentsCaterpillar Inc. says it plans to lay off more than 460 employees this June at its plant in Decatur. Rachel Potts is a spokeswoman for the Peoria-based company. She said Friday that Caterpillar is laying off the employees as part of an ongoing series of production cuts.
CAT Reports Slowdown In Sales
March 21, 2013 9:58 am | News | CommentsCaterpillar Inc. said Wednesday that global sales of its heavy equipment fell 13 percent for the three-month rolling period that ended in February, hurt by a steep drop in Asia Pacific demand. That followed a 4 percent decrease for the three months that ended in January and a 1 percent slide for the three months that ended in December.
CAT To Cut 1,400 Jobs In Belgium
February 28, 2013 8:31 am | News | CommentsIt says the facility is hampered by Europe's low growth prospects and labor costs that are so high that "it currently costs less to import machines to Europe from some other Caterpillar locations than to produce them in Gosselies." The Belgian plant produces hydraulic excavators, loading vehicles, engine parts and components.
Exports Of U.S.-Made Construction Equipment Grew 13 Pct. In 2012
February 27, 2013 3:46 pm | News | CommentsExports of U.S.-made construction equipment topped 13 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year for a total $26.7 billion, with South America and Asia reporting the weakest gains, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), citing U.S. Commerce Dept. data it uses in global markets reports for members.
CAT May Close Pa. Plant
February 22, 2013 11:11 am | News | CommentsHeavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. is considering closing its distribution facility in central Pennsylvania. The York Distribution Center in Springettsbury Township employs 250 people. Caterpillar spokesman Jim Dugan says the workers were notified in September about the possibility the facility could move elsewhere in the eastern U.S.
PITTMAN Offers Enhanced Customization Capabilities For DC Motors
February 19, 2013 4:21 pm | Products | CommentsWith PITTMAN customized motors, design and automation engineers are not limited to an off-the-shelf motor that may not completely meet application requirements, especially in applications where the motor is expected to operate continuously in a harsh environment. Highly customized DC motors can be designed to meet strict customer specifications for use in harsh environments.
Farm Equipment Sales Robust In January
February 13, 2013 11:54 am | News | CommentsThe Association of Equipment Manufacturers reports that retail sales of farm tractors and combines have grown in January in the United States. The industry group reported Tuesday that farmers bought more than 11,163 tractors last month. That is up 20.3 percent compared to the same month in 2012.
OSHA Cites Bacardi Bottling After Temp Worker Death
February 12, 2013 11:23 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | News | CommentsBacardi Bottling Corp. has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 12 alleged safety violations following the death of a 21-year-old temporary worker in August 2012. Lawrence Daquan "Day" Davis was on his first day the job when he was crushed to death by a palletizer machine at the company’s Jacksonville facility. OSHA has proposed a fine of $192,000 for the various safety violations.
