Diesel Progress North American Edition articles from December 2005

Diesel Progress North American Edition archives from December 2005

Stay in touch.(Top deadcenter)
December 1, 2005... It was one of those night airline flights where they dim the lights shortly after whatever passes for food is served. Out go the lights and suddenly it's GameBoy Festival 2005. Small screens of light appear all over the place like LCD stars on...

Deere's Z-Trak mower takes the diesel track.(turf equipment)
December 1, 2005... John Deere's Commercial and Consumer Equipment Division has unveiled a new model in its Z-Trak commercial mower line. The 997 Z-Trak is not only the largest zero-turn radius mower in the Z-Trak range but is also first to be powered by a diesel...

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.(emissions & alternatives: COVERING FUEL CELLS AND OTHER EMERGING AND ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES)
December 1, 2005... To facilitate the transition to ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it is providing a 45-day extension for terminals and retail outlets to comply with the 2006 15 ppm standard, moving the...

New Jersey.(emissions & alternatives: COVERING FUEL CELLS AND OTHER EMERGING AND ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES)
December 1, 2005... New Jersey voters have passed a change to the state's constitution to pay for a diesel emissions reduction program. The measure was passed 56 to 44%. The constitutional change will divert state revenue raised from an existing tax on businesses...

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide.(emissions & alternatives: COVERING FUEL CELLS AND OTHER EMERGING AND ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES)
December 1, 2005... Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide announced that it received a contract from the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center (NAC) for an additional HyHauler Plus transportable hydrogen refueling station. This contract represents an...

FuelCell Energy.(emissions & alternatives: COVERING FUEL CELLS AND OTHER EMERGING AND ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES)
December 1, 2005... FuelCell Energy said its Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plant successfully completed a U.S. government test when operating in concert with an absorption chiller, expanding its combined heat and power (CHP) applications to air conditioning....

RigMaster.(emissions & alternatives: COVERING FUEL CELLS AND OTHER EMERGING AND ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES)
December 1, 2005... RigMaster, a manufacturer of auxiliary power units for heavy-duty trucks, announced that it is safe to use biodiesel to fuel the company's APUs equipped with a two-cylinder Perkins diesel engine. The company recommends that users use no more...

Miratech Corp.(emissions & alternatives: COVERING FUEL CELLS AND OTHER EMERGING AND ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES)
December 1, 2005... Miratech Corp. said that its HUG Engineering combiKat CBS DPF has received California Air Resources Board (CARB) Level 3 Conditional Verification for stationary diesel engines used for emergency generators and pumps.

Nanox Inc.(Nanox Inc. sampling its first Nanoxite Diesel Oxidation Catalyst)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Nanox Inc., a Quebec-based emerging advanced materials company, said it is currently sampling its first Nanoxite Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) formulation that contains significantly reduced platinum levels. Using its patented Activated...

Deany new manager for International Engine Plant.(newsmakers)
December 1, 2005... Tim Deany has been promoted to plant manager of International Truck and Engine Corp.'s Melrose Park, Ill., engine plant. Deany had been manager of manufacturing operations, a position he has held since 2004. He began with the company in 1989 as...

Heinrich new president, CEO at Ausco.(appointment of William R. Heinrich )(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... William R. Heinrich has been appointed president and CEO of Ausco Products Inc., a Benton Harbor, Mich., manufacturer of service and parking brakes for construction, ag, raining, turf care and ATV/utility markets. Heinrich joined Ausco in 1991...

Robertson new executive vp-operations at Terex.(newsmakers)
December 1, 2005... Terex Corp. announced that Colin Robertson has been appointed executive vice president--operations, effective January 1, 2006. In this new role, Robertson will report directly to Ronald M. DeFeo, Terex's chairman and CEO and will be...

Hubertus Muehlhaeuser.(appointments)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Hubertus Muehlhaeuser--to the new position of senior vice president of strategy & integration at AGCO Corp. Muehlhaeuser will assume responsibility for identifying and implementing business strategies and synergies to provide high-quality...

Brian Thoele.(newsmakers)
December 1, 2005... Brian Thoele--to engineering manager for Rockford Powertrain Inc., a manufacturer of driveline and other power transmission products for combustion engine-powered, heavy-duty and off-highway equipment. Theole will report directly to John...

Karl Vandermyde.(newsmakers)
December 1, 2005... Karl Vandermyde--to manager of original equipment manufacturer sales of Caterpillar's truck engine group, leading Cat's OEM sales and product support team working with the Freightliner companies, International Truck, Ford and several specialty...

Kathy Smith.(newsmakers)
December 1, 2005... Kathy Smith--to account executive at Michigan Custom Machines Inc. (MCM). Smith will manage current customer programs and oversee new business development activities. MCM designs and builds custom test and assembly equipment.

David Muesbeck.(newsmakers)
December 1, 2005... David Muesbeck--to West Coast service technician for Miratech Corp. Since 2002, Muesbeck has been an aviation support equipment technician in the United States Navy. He will be based in Fullerton, Calif.

Dateline.(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... September * Sept 12-Mar 13 Diesel Progress Online Show IV--At www.dieselprogress.com & Diesel Progress Magazine; Diesel Progress, 20855 Watertown Road, Suite 220, Waukesha, WI 53186. Tel: (262) 754-4100 Fax: (262) 754-4175 E-mail:...

Living up to its name: International Truck and Engine Corp. spans the globe with strategic moves that included purchase of MWM, engine cooperation with MAN.(2005 Newsmaker of the Year)
December 1, 2005... These days, just about every major manufacturer of components and equipment positions itself as "global" or "international" in scope. But some are clearly more international than others. Like this year especially, International Truck and...

Will 2006 be a transition year in the North American machinery markets?(machinery industries forecasted for their future sales)(Industry overview)
December 1, 2005... Earlier this year, we took an early look at what things might be like in 2006. That outlook, which was headlined "Still Time To Ride The Waves," was one of reserved optimism in that while we have had very strong sales years for machinery (2003...

New emissions technology to hit the streets for real.(2006 FORECAST: North American Edition)
December 1, 2005... Diesel trucks featuring entirely new emission technology are about to hit U.S. highways. Based on feedback from fleet tests, heavy-duty engine manufacturers will be putting finishing touches on the design of 2007-compliant engines. The 2007...

2006: another good year for trucking and suppliers.(2006 FORECAST: North American Edition)
December 1, 2005... The consensus of various forecasters and observers is that 2006 is likely to be another good year for the trucking industry overall and for its suppliers at least for the first 10 months. The big unknown--as it has been for the past 18...

Good news in small doses--2006 could be a year to shore up pricing.(2006 FORECAST: North American Edition)
December 1, 2005... A few years ago, I was interviewing a prospective new employee who had previously been on the other side of the table as a customer of our company. I asked him what, having had that experience, would be one of the first improvements he would...

Forecast for 2006 is sunny with a few clouds on the horizon.(2006 FORECAST: North American Edition)
December 1, 2005... Whew! 2005 was some year. Most product markets were up, manufacturers' order books are at historic highs with some product categories sold out until 2007. That all makes prospects for 2006 look pretty good. Does it sound too good to be true? It...

Dana Corp.(powerlines)
December 1, 2005... Dana Corp. has signed an agreement with SmarTire Systems Inc. to market and sell SmarTire's tire pressure and temperature monitoring systems to the commercial truck, bus and recreational vehicle markets. Specifically, Dana will market and sell...

Horton.(powerlines)
December 1, 2005... Horton, a worldwide provider of fan drives, fans and wire form products, has opened an office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has hired Humberto Monesi as regional manager in that office.

Trenton Forging Co.(powerlines)
December 1, 2005... Trenton Forging Co., a Detroit, Mich., custom impression die forging company, has finalized re-certification to the new industry standard ISO/TS 16949:2002. The company has also installed new major pieces of equipment in its facility, including...

Vactor Manufacturing Inc.(powerlines)
December 1, 2005... Vactor Manufacturing Inc. has announced that it has been certified by Perry Johnson Registrars Inc. for ISO registration based on the 9001:2000 standards at its Streator, Ill., facility. Vactor Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Federal Signal...

Association of Equipment Manufacturers.(powerlines)
December 1, 2005... Gerald Shaheen, group president of Caterpillar Inc., has been elected 2006 chairman of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Also, Dennis Eagan, group president Industrial/Power Equipment of Blount Inc., was elected first vice...

NAFTA diesel production in 2006 should be better than 2005.(2006 FORECAST: North American Edition)
December 1, 2005... We missed our forecast last year for the 2005 NAFTA diesel engine production on the high side by 4.8%. In our enthusiasm, we overestimated the on-highway market by 5.6% and the off-road markets by 1.4%. The on-highway market discrepancy we can...

Work truck, trailer sales expected to continue increasing through 2006.(2006 FORECAST: North American Edition)
December 1, 2005... The big picture has not changed much since the end of 2004. U.S. GDP is still growing at about its long-run rate of 3.3%. The federal deficit remains quite high and that means there is still pressure on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to...

European equipment market remains strong and stable.(2006 FORECAST: North American Edition)
December 1, 2005... Off-Highway Research's Annual Review, which was published in March of this year, forecasted a decline in the European markets for construction equipment for the full year of about 4%. Despite overall growth in the region of 11% in 2004,...

Driverless in the Desert: DARPA Grand Challenge provides major test platform for robotic vehicle operation; hail to Stanley as diesels finish 1, 2, 3, 5.(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
December 1, 2005... In a scene reminiscent of the Mad Max movies, but without any actors, 23 strange, patched-together-looking vehicles, gathered in the predawn hours in the Mojave Desert near Primm, Nev., in October. This odd and unique collection of...

The race blog of the Red Team: excerpts from Red Team's race blog at www.redteamracing.org.(INNOVATIVE USES of HORSEPOWER)
December 1, 2005... October 9, 2005 "Carnegie Mellon's Sandstorm was a surprising second, because its strategy was to creep for a reliable finish. Sandstorm was sent forth with a conservative plan, understanding that it would operate well below its peak...

Stanley & friends: a look at some of the finishers (all vehicle details taken from team websites, on-site interviews and press kits.).(INNOVATIVE USES of HORSEPOWER)
December 1, 2005... STANLEY Stanford Racing Team Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. http://www.stanfordracing.org The Stanford vehicle, nicknamed "Stanley" is based on a stock, diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg R5 TDI (not available in the...

Final results 2005 DARPA grand challenge.
December 1, 2005... FINAL RESULTS 2005 DARPA GRAND CHALLENGE Course length: 131.6 miles 1. Stanford Racing Team Finished 6:54 Vehicle: "Stanley" is a diesel- powered Volkswagen running on a synthetic diesel bio-fuel....

Truck alternator.(products)
December 1, 2005... Robert Bosch Corp. has introduced a new, more powerful alternator designed specifically for refrigeration trucks. The higher output unit is designed to accommodate the demands of 24/7 operations, plus provide additional power to handle...

Engine isolation mounts.(products)
December 1, 2005... Tech Products Corp. has introduced its new Heavy Duty Stable-Flex engine mounts for rugged mobile applications. The Heavy Duty Stable-Flex series includes three sizes of captive isolation mounts ranging from 110 to 2200 lb. load capacity....

Exhaust brake kits.(products)
December 1, 2005... Pacbrake has introduced its constant backpressure exhaust brake, the PRXB, for Ford 7.3 L Powerstroke diesel trucks. The company said the PRXB offers 1/3 more retarding hp than a traditional fixed orifice exhaust brake at 1500 rpm by allowing...

LED indicator lights.(products)
December 1, 2005... Waytek has added six new LED indicator lights in two styles that complement its current incandescent light lineup. One style includes a plastic housing, a stove-pipe lens for wider viewing angle and is a snap-in panel light that fits into a 1/2...

Drivetrain products.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Roadranger has its 2005 Drive-train Specification Guide available for the medium-duty and heavy-duty markets. The publication contains guidelines for application at nominal ratings for axles, brakes, transmissions, clutches, driveshafts,...

Fans and fan drives.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... A new print and CD-format global products catalog from Horton features product descriptions, technical drawings and cross-reference information on its expanded line of WindMaster fans and fan drives including the VMaster viscous fan drives,...

Tier 3/Stage 3A engine.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... A brochure has been published by John Deere on the Tier 3/Stage 3A compliant engines it has added to its PowerTech engine line. The new engines are available from 4.5 to 13.5 L and are rated between 150 and 600 hp. The literature describes the...

Engine and oil heaters.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... A product catalog is available from Kim Hotstart on its engine heater, oil heaters, controls, switches, warmers and other accessory lines for gasoline and diesel engines used in power generation, rail, marine and on-/off-highway equipment....

Equipment controls.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Woodward offers literature on its mobile and industrial equipment controls. The design and engineering processes of the products are provided, along with worldwide contact information. Woodward designs and manufactures components and controls...

Filtration products.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... A full-color, 20-page brochure is offered by Parker Hannifin Corp. detailing its Filtration Group's capabilities, performance and services in the industrial equipment and power generation markets. The company manufactures fuel, water...

Automatic engine control.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Deep Sea Electronics has information available on its automatic engine control module. The Model 5510 module is J1939 enabled and equipped with synchronizing and load-sharing capabilities. It also offers push-button control with security...

Filter system specs.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Miratech is now offering an updated set of specifications on selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filters to consulting and specifying engineers. The specifications detail criteria that should be met by any SCR or soot filter...

Thrust washers.(products)
December 1, 2005... The thrust washers from Minnesota Rubber and QMR Plastics are made with a glass-filled nylon/silicone formulation for protecting bearings in universal joint assemblies. The one-piece thrust washers are injection molded with a variance of [+ or...

Pressure transmitters.(products)
December 1, 2005... Tel-Tru pressure transmitters are offered in a compact all-welded stainless-steel housing with a variety of available connections for pressure port and electrical connections in output signal transmissions. For use in OEM equipment, the...

Gas metering valve.(products)
December 1, 2005... South Bend Controls Inc. has introduced a gas metering valve for use in power generation systems. The new direct-acting proportional Servoid valve features a suspended armature that is designed to provide low hysteresis and enhance reliability....

Combustion emissions analyzer.(products)
December 1, 2005... Enerac, Westbury, N.Y., has announced its new Enerac Model 500, a handheld, portable combustion emissions analyzer. The Model 500 is manufactured with a heavy-duty aluminum case and is designed to provide a wide variety of emission analyses,...

Diesel fuel primer.(products)
December 1, 2005... Reverso Pumps Inc. has introduced a fuel primer designed to purge air from fuel systems to restore full fuel flow. The FP-301 fuel primer pumps diesel fuel from the tank through the fuel lines and pushes air from the main feeding line, primary...

Component software.(products)
December 1, 2005... Noregon, a supplier of custom software to the commercial vehicle industry, has expanded its family of J-PRO software products. The most recent addition includes the company's component diagnostic software application, which will now be branded...

Miller redesigns welding generators.(stationary equipment)(Miller Electric Manufacturing Co.)
December 1, 2005... Miller Electric Mfg. Co. has redesigned its Trailblazer and Bobcat welding generator lines. The new Trailblazer 302 Diesel and Bobcat 250 Diesel welders offer 10 kW peak and 9.5 kW continuous power output, and are two of several engine-driven...

Self-locking nuts.(products)
December 1, 2005... The Flexloc prevailing-torque locknuts from SPS Technologies are designed for securing screws, studs, bolts and other threaded fasteners in a temperature range from sub-zero to 800[degrees]F. The company said they resist impact, shock and...

Stainless-steel fasteners.(products)
December 1, 2005... Leland Powell Fasteners Inc., a specialty fastener manufacturer producing small diameter parts to customer specifications (up to 1/2 in.), now offers stainless machine screws, tapping screws and patented Lo-Driv thread forming screws. The...

No-tenths hourmeter.(products)
December 1, 2005... Designed to simplify and improve accuracy of elapsed time readings by field personnel, Energy Kinetics Inc. has added a "no-tenths" model to its line of dc hourmeters. The model EK-200-10SS-NT hourmeter measures hours of operation to the...

Transmission oil.(products)
December 1, 2005... The manual transmission and transaxle gear lube from Amsoil Inc. is designed for synchronized manual transmissions and transaxles that require 75W-85, 75W-90 or 80W-90 gear lube. The lubricant meets GL-4 performance specifications required by...

Lever-controlled oil valve.(products)
December 1, 2005... Fumoto Engineering offers a forged brass ball engine oil drain valve designed to replace standard oil drain plugs and simplify oil changing. The N series valve allows for oil to be drained by turning a lever. It also allows for a small amount...

Rear Truck Suspension.(products)
December 1, 2005... Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems has added a 27,000 lb. single axle and 54,000 lb. tandem-axle rated air-ride suspension system to its Firemaax rear air suspension line. The suspension has application in fire and rescue vehicles and...

Magnetic filter.(products)
December 1, 2005... The new Forcefield spin-on magnetic filter from Boss Products is designed to capture 99% of metal particles in engine oil, power steering and transmission systems when added to a hydraulic system's existing filter. The Forcefield filter spins...

Fuel hoses.(products)
December 1, 2005... Avon Automotive features fuel hose products designed to help manufacturers meet emissions regulations for small engine applications in outdoor power equipment and recreational markets. Designated as its GREENbar series, the hoses are available...

Hydraulic pumps.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Sauer-Danfoss has published literature detailing its new line of servo-controlled hydrostatic pumps, the H1 series. The brochure describes the features of the H1 range including reliability, installation and packaging. The H1 pump series is...

Mobile electronics.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... A new 16-page, four-color brochure highlights Rexroth hardware, software and services for mobile electronics, including recent additions of software modules and application packages. Examples demonstrate how Rexroth systems can help optimize...

Rubber products.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Robinson Rubber Products Co.'s new website, www.robinsonrubber.com, provides technical and design information, design assistance tools, tolerance tables and product information on its line of molded rubber products. This includes custom-molded...

Hydraulic valves.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... The Oilgear Company has introduced a new comprehensive product brochure for its prefill and exhaust valves. The brochure includes technical information and specifications for Oilgear's PV, VPE and SPE valves including dimensions, weights and...

LED lights.(products)
December 1, 2005... Superior Signals Inc. has expanded its Meteorlite 4400 series of self-contained LED warning lights, with the new SY4405 and SY4415 6.5 in. oval and 4.5 in. round models. These lights are multivoltage 12 to 24 Vdc and feature a quick-flash...

Variable area flow meter.(products)
December 1, 2005... The newest variable area flow meter from Hedland provides a digital display of both flow rate and total accumulated flow in selectable measurement units. The MR Flow Transmitter combines microprocessor-based technology and piston-type variable...

Hydraulic multimeter.(products)
December 1, 2005... The DHM series of digital hydraulic multimeters from Webster Instruments provides digital readouts of pressure, peak pressure, volumetric efficiency and hydraulic horsepower in addition to flow rate and fluid temperature. The two models within...

Digital diagnostics.(products)
December 1, 2005... Diagnostic Innovation LLC has introduced an addition to its Digital Diagnostic Assistant line for truck and bus mechanics. The Digital Diagnostic Assistant is a customized tool that integrates diagnostic OEM software for engines, transmissions...

Correction.(products)(Correction notice)
December 1, 2005... Due to a processing error, an improper photo of one of a new series of Cummins Power Generation generator sets appeared in the August issue of Diesel Progress. The correct photo of one of the new DQC gen-sets, which are available in 600 kW, 750...

Diesel engine forecast.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Rhein Associations Inc. has its NAFTA Diesel Engine Production Five Year Forecast available. The book includes economic indicators, major overall market trends, detailed application analyses and engine manufacturer summaries. Ordering...

Molded urethane seals.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... A new online sea catalog has recently been introduced by Cincinnati Test Systems Inc. The catalog is available on the main navigation bar of the company's website at www.cincinnati-test.com. The catalog features seal dimensions, shapes,...

Engine replacement parts.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Replacement parts for Cummins L10 and M11 diesel engines are pictured and described in a color catalog now available from Interstate-McBee of Cleveland, Ohio. Each component is identified by part number and is illustrated on an expanded view of...

Bearings website.(product information center)
December 1, 2005... Kaydon Bearings Division has launched its website, www.kaydonbearings.com, to provide tools and information to simplify and speed up product design cycles. The site offers product descriptions, technical literature and drawings for each product...

Caterpillar Inc. and JLG Industries Inc. have signed definitive agreements to enter into a global alliance to produce a line of Caterpillar-branded telehandlers.(global business notes)
December 1, 2005... Caterpillar Inc. and JLG Industries Inc. have signed definitive agreements to enter into a global alliance to produce a line of Caterpillar-branded telehandlers. Under the terms of the 20-year strategic alliance agreement, JLG will provide a...

Auburn Consolidated Industries Inc.(global business notes)
December 1, 2005... Auburn Consolidated Industries Inc. (ACI) said it has entered into a strategic alliance with John Deere. As part of the agreement, ACI said it has acquired the Great Dane commercial mowing equipment assets and will be moving the manufacturing...

Hino Motors Ltd.(global business notes)
December 1, 2005... Hino Motors Ltd. said it will manufacture trucks in North America by the second half of 2007. The plant is expected to be located in Marion, Ark., with production expected to be around 10,000 units a year. Construction of the truck...

Takeuchi.(global business notes)
December 1, 2005... Compact excavator and rubber track loader manufacturer Takeuchi, has announced what it says is its eighth U.S. expansion in the last 26 years. The company will erect a new 250,000 sq.ft. facility in Jackson County, Ga., that will allow a 60%...

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co.(global business notes)
December 1, 2005... Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. said it will raise production capacity for its mini-excavators by 40% by the end of fiscal 2006. Hitachi said the increase is due to growing demand, particularly in the U.S., with the recently passed highway...

Fleetguard Emission Solutions.(global business notes)(selective catalyst reduction (SCR) systems)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Fleetguard Emission Solutions said it has opened an exhaust aftertreatment manufacturing facility in Pretoria, South Africa, to produce selective catalyst reduction (SCR) systems. Fleetguard said it has invested more than $3 million in a 50,000...

3e Technologies International Inc., Rockville, Md., and Omnex Control Systems, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, have announced an alliance for wireless products for the industrial markets.(global business notes)
December 1, 2005... 3e Technologies International Inc., Rockville, Md., and Omnex Control Systems, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, have announced an alliance for wireless products for the industrial markets. The alliance, the companies said, will combine...

Timken Co.(global business notes)
December 1, 2005... The Timken Co. said it will invest approximately $27 million in its Asheboro bearing plant in Randleman, N.C., enabling expanded manufacturing of tapered roller bearings, principally for industrial applications.