Diesel Progress North American Edition articles from February 2002

Diesel Progress North American Edition archives from February 2002

The month that wasn't. (Topdeadcenter).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... It took awhile before it became totally clear, but it now turns out that 2001 only had 11 months; 335 days, or so. Somewhere between September 11th and December 31st we lost a month. And I think we can pretty well pinpoint the days; from...

It's life in the slow lane for rental giants. (Trendlines).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Just a few years ago, we all heard the stories that rental equipment companies could not be hurt by recession or that the industry was virtually recession-proof. Those were the good old days, the consolidators had cash, bought everything in...

Volvo CE partners with Bilia in Poland Nissan Diesel ends bus venture ... Isuzu, Hino bus merger back on ... Mahle to Australia. (International Report).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced that Bilia, a distributor of Volvo Trucks in Poland, will take over the distribution of Volvo construction equipment in Poland from Volvo's own sales company, Volvo Poland Sp. Z.O.O. The...

New towing Dyno expands test capabilities. (Test Equipment).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Mack Trucks Vehicle Development Laboratory, Allentown, Pa., has expanded its testing capabilities with the addition of an RS-15K towing dynamometer built by DynoMotve LLC, Manitou Springs, Colo. Specifically, Mack wanted to use a towing...

6.0 L power stroke diesel debuts on Ford Tonka concept truck. (On-Highway Vehicles).(Ford's Mighty F-350 Tonka Concept Vehicle.)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... The North American International Auto Show provided the venue for the introduction of Ford's Mighty F-350 Tonka Concept Vehicle. This bold, rugged statement in sheet metal and chrome is said to establish baseline design and styling cues for the...

Donaldson does more with less: New Donaldson PowerCore intake air filters designed to provide enhanced performance in more compact package. (Filtration Technology).(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... Designers of today's mobile equipment are trying to do more with less. In some applications, it's the requirement to make a vehicle lighter or more streamlined. In others, the goal is greater power density in a smaller, more compact package....

New transmission for North America: New Jersey transit is first U.S. fleet to use ZF's AS Tronic automated manual transmission. (Powertrain).
February 1, 2002... One of the advantages of being a global manufacturer is the ability to develop and prove a product in one region, then hit the ground running with it in another. The latest example of this capability comes courtesy of ZF, which recently...

Cat sells challenger ag tractors to agco: Cat dealers get full line of ag equipment, AGCO gets high end tractor line; production to continue at Dekalb, maybe. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... For those wondering how Caterpillar Inc. was going to buy or develop its way into becoming a full line agricultural equipment supplier, the answer is now in. The Peoria, Ill., company is selling its way into the ag markets. In a surprising...

Tecumseh takes LEAP in emissions technology: New system designed to allow side valve engines to meet future EPA and GARB standards. (Engine Technology).
February 1, 2002... While meeting emissions standards is a challenge for engine manufacturers of all stripes, it's fair to say that the builders of small engines face some hurdles all their own. Because of the extremely competitive nature of their markets, it's...

Steve Stoyanac. (Newsmakers).
February 1, 2002... Steve Stoyanac -- to director of strategic accounts for Silex Inc. In his new position, Stoyanac will be involved with the development and continued support of the company's largest accounts.

Silex. (Powerlines).(new website)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Silex has introduced its newly updated website www.silex.com. The site now includes a virtual tour of an enclosure as well as pricing and drawing information. In addition, the site contains on-line quoting forms. Silex designs and manufactures...

Process control analyzer. (Products).(Sensor Electronics Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A new process-control analyzer that can monitor ultra-high concentrations of virtually any hydrocarbon gas, according to the company, has been introduced by Sensor Electronics. The analyzer taps into the gas-flow manifold or pipe for continuing...

Heat transfer analysis. (Products).(Algor Inc., heat transfer capability)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Algor Inc. has added a forced convection heat transfer capability to its heat transfer analysis products. This capability enables engineers to consider the effects of fluid flow when salving for temperature distribution by performing a fluid...

Cool new design for direct injection diesel pistons. (Engine Technology).(Mahle Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... As engine builders push the technology envelope to meet customer performance demands and regulatory emission reduction requirements with technologies such as direct injection, EGR and variable geometry turbochargers, engine component...

Hybrid drive takes a big hit as fuel cells get a boost.
February 1, 2002... The U.S. auto industry is frantically searching for the next new thing" to delight consumers in great numbers. The industry needs a minivan idea like in the early 1980s, or an SUV idea as in the 1990s. But right now it is dreadfully mired in...

New N[O.sub.X] controls for Euro trucks ... Lubrizol to supply BP ... FuelCell energy in deal with Chevron. (Alternatives).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Two long-haul trucks operating in Europe equipped with a new N[O.sub.X] control system are currently meeting the Euro 4 standards for N[O.sub.X], which will come into effect in 2005 throughout the continent, according to Engelhard Corp., which...

New integral arm steer axle. (Powertrain).(Commercial Vehicle Systems)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Commercial Vehicle Systems unit of Dana Corp. has introduced an integral arm steer axle for medium and heavy trucks. The Dana Spicer E-1462I integral arm steer axle is designed to replace the E-14601 3.5 in. drop standard track steer axle....

Keeping up with emissions changes: Detroit Diesel invests heavily in high tech test facilities to ensure engines meet regulatory standards. (Test Equipment 2002).
February 1, 2002... With the October 2002 round of on-highway exhaust emission regulations just around the corner and the 2007 regulations in the not-to-distant future, engine manufacturers are spending a lot of money on emissions-compliant engine designs and...

New portable emission analyzer. (Test Equipment 2002).(Testo Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Testo Inc., the Flanders, N.J.-based manufacturer of portable combustion analysis systems, has introduced the Testo 350 portable emission analyzer. According to the company, the 350 analyzer offers increased accuracy, better resolution, wider...

New Dyno instrumentation from Taylor. (Test Equipment 2002).(Taylor Dynamometer)
February 1, 2002... Chassis and engine dynamometer manufacturer Taylor Dynamometer has introduced a new data acquisition and control system that is designed for use with existing Taylor products, as well as other original equipment and retrofit installations....

AVL Introduces new technology for diesel partial flow sampling. (Test Equipment 2002).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... AVL North America, the North American subsidiary of Germany's AVL List GmbH, one of the world's largest independent developers of powertrain systems and related instrumentation and test systems, has introduced a new tunnel design for its...

Meeting global emissions challenges: How Italian engine manufacturer Lombardini met EPA self-certification standards. (Test Equipment 2002).
February 1, 2002... Back in 1997, Lombardini decided to enter an emission reduction program for its line of diesel engines in order to comply with European and American emission standards. Unlike European legislation, the U.S. EPA requires engine...

Multi-Loop Dyno and throttle controller. (Test Equipment 2002).(from Dyne Systems)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... Dyne Systems has introduced a new multi-loop dynamometer and throttle controller. The Inter-Loc V modular controller is designed to simultaneously control one feedback signal from up to three installed controller modules, along with a fourth...

New family of Asynchronous Dynos. (Test Equipment 2002).(from Schenck Pegasus)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... Schenck Pegasus announced that its [Dynas.sub.3] asynchronous machine dynamometer systems family is now available in North America. Building on the success of the Dynas series in Europe, the machines are being marketed and supported worldwide...

Flexible chassis dynamometer. (Test Equipment 2002).(from the Labeco Division of Renk Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... The Labeco Division of Renk Corp. has developed a flexible chassis dynamometer system for light-, medium-and heavy-duty trucks. The turnkey test system is supplied with the Renk Dynamic Data System, Windows NT-based (RDDSNT) electronic control...

Digital inspection system. (Test Equipment 2002).(RECON Digital Inspection System from Everest VIT)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... Everest VIT, a leader in remote visual inspection, has introduced the RECON Digital Inspection System, a zero set-up, digital inspection system for engines and turbines. According to the company, the RECON inspection system is ideal for...

New heavy-duty emissions test cell at Ricardo. (Test equipment 2002).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... Ricardo, Inc. recently added heavy--duty transient emissions testing capability to its Chicago Technical Center (CTC) in Burr Ridge, Ill. With commissioning completed on the new full dilution CVS tunnel, dilute exhaust analytical...

Vibration test and trim balancing system. (Test Equipment 2002).(RotorMD from SensorScript Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... SensorScript Corp. has introduced RotorMD, a turnkey production vibration test and trim balancing system for rotating machinery such as turbines, fans, pumps, and compressors. For vibration testing, RotorMD provides all data acquisition and...

MTS Awarded powertrain development contract. (Test equipment 2002).(MTS Systems Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... MTS Systems Corp. said that its Powertrain Technology Division, Ann Arbor, Mich., was awarded a $1 million plus contract by a major North American automobile manufacturer for powertrain engineering and consulting services. This contract is...

New independent engine testing lab. (Test Equipment 2002).(from Olson Engineering Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Olson Engineering Inc., which for some time has been involved in engine exhaust emission testing and providing exhaust emission equipment, has announced the opening of a new independent heavy-duty engine emissions testing lab in Santa Ana in...

Horiba consolidates engine activities. (Test Equipment 2002).(at Ann Arbor, Michigan, site)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In mid-2001, Horiba Instruments Inc. completed the final phase of its long-term plan to consolidate the Engine Measurement Division in Ann Arbor, Mich. All manufacturing, purchasing, and material control activities have been transferred from...

Hand-Held tachometers. (Test Equipment 2002).(from Ono Sokki Technology Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... Ono Sokki Technology Inc. has introduced a pair of new hand-held tachometers with built-in analog and pulse output. The HT-5000 and HT-4100 tachometers are for users needing both contact and noncontact measurement capabilities. The HT-5000...

Busy times for Power Test. (Test Equipment 2002).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... The last few months have been busy ones for Power Test, the Menomonee Fails, Wis., manufacturer of engine and chassis dynamometer systems, as it has brought a series of new products to the market. The newest system just now entering...

Emissions monitoring as a maintenance tool? (Test Equipment 2002).(ECOM America creates universal gas analysis system)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Developed in cooperation with an off-highway vehicle fleet that uses diesel engine emissions monitoring as a maintenance tool, ECOM America has introduced its universal gas analysis system (UGAS). According to Drew Wilson, president of ECOM...

New facility for FEV. (Test Equipment 2002).(FEV Engine Technology Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... FEV Engine Tecimology is near completion on its new Transient Test facility, as an integral part of the company's North American Technical Center in Auburn Hills, Mich. The test facility includes a transient dynamometer which will allow...

Integrated digital measurement system. (Test Equipment 2002).(from HBM Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... HBM Inc., a global supplier of measurement technology, data acquisition systems and software, has introduced the Spider8 integrated digital measurement system. The Spider8 system is designed to provide signal conditioning, amplification, A/D...

Keeping it quiet: How Perkins targeted noise reduction in new engine line. (Noise & Vibration).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In view of the intense focus on how engine manufacturers will meet imminent emission regulations, there has been comparatively little discussion of what is being done to reduce noise emissions. But oncoming environmental, health and safety...

CFD Software for engine simulation. (Test Equipment 2002).(from Fluent Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... Fluent Inc. has released the newest version of its computational fluids dynamics software, Fluent 6.0. The company said the new version opens up a whole new class of vehicle parameters to the simulation power of CFD such as de-icing and water...

Rotary shaft torque sensors. (Test Equipment 2002).(from RS Technologies)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... RS Technologies, a manufacturer of force and torque measuring equipment, has introduced a new line of rotary shaft torque sensors designed for low-capacity, high-speed and low-torque measuring applications. The sensors, designated STS2220,...

Sensor technology drives accuracy of diesel engine testing. (Technology).(Power Test Inc.'s dynamometers)
February 1, 2002... Today's diesel engines must meet the stringent environmental requirements of legislators and regulators, while satisfying the performance demands of OEMs and end users. To guarantee top engine performance under a full range of operating...

Case IH's latest cotton pickin' machine: CPX610 Cotton express cotton picker offers increased hp, fuel capacity for longer workdays, more efficient harvesting. (Ag Equipment).
February 1, 2002... It doesn't just pick cotton, it rakes in the dough -- was how Case JR described its new six-row, full time all-wheel drive, CPX610 Cotton Express cotton picker at the machine's recent introduction. "Case IH Cotton Express pickers have long been...

More big steps for Coleman Powermate: Company unveils 10 new diesel-powered gen-sets from 20 to 200kW; additions to gaseous-fueled line. (Power Generation).
February 1, 2002... Last winter, Coleman Powermate took its first step toward entering the commercial power generation market by forming its Industrial Division, which was established to target light commercial and industrial standby power applications. Recently...

Microwave engine timing system. (Test Equipment 2002).(Jodon Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Jodon has developed a PC version of the Jodon microwave engine timing (MET) system designed to offer expanded features from the original METS unit. The PC system employs contemporary microprocessor technology in a lightweight tabletop unit. ...

Tactile pressure indicating sensor. (Test Equipment 2002).(Sensor Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Sensor Products Inc. has introduced the Xsensor, a new electronic tactile force and pressure indicating sensor. The Xsensor allows for monitoring of how force is disbursed between any two contacting or mating surfaces in real-time while the...

Controlling gas engine fuel mixture for minimum emissions. (Emissions Technology).(Continental Controls Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Continental Controls Corp., San Diego, Calif (CCC), has introduced an emissions control valve, the model ECV-5, that is designed to control the air-fuel mixture of natural gas-fueled, reciprocating engines. CCC said the ECV-5 controls the...

Noncontact infrared thermometers. (Test Equipment 2002).(AEMC Instruments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... AEMC has introduced a new line of noncontact infrared thermometers, the models CA70, CA872 and CA876. The new units feature a laser guide for precise measurements, along with a fixed 0.95 emissivity. The CA876 thermometer includes a K-type...

High accuracy pressure gauge. (Test Equipment 2002).(Sensotec Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Sensotec has introduced a new model in its Accu-Gage line of pressure tranducers with digital readout. The model AG400 is the top end of the company's transducer line and it has a variety of uses in industrial and laboratory applications. ...

Diesel engine development dynos. (Test Equipment 2002).(Land and Sea Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Land & Sea, Inc. has developed a range of dynamometer systems for diesel engine development. The newest DYNOmite Pro diesel dynamometers are 16 in. heavy-duty water brake dynos with high flow engine load controls capable of testing diesel...

New home for application engineering. (Test Equipment 2002).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Application Engineering, a manufacturer of engine, powertrain and fluid test systems and components, has moved its operations to a site in South Haven, Mich., approximately 20 miles north of its former location in Benton Harbor, Mich. The new...

Fueling the fuel cells: Millennium cell's hydrogen on demand system answer to hydrogen logistics concerns. (Alternatives).(DaimlerChrysler minivan)
February 1, 2002... "The most important unresolved issue with fuel cell vehicles is not the fuel cell -- it's the fuel," said Thomas Moore, vice president at DaimlerChrysler's Liberty & Technical Affairs R&D group. Since fuel cells typically operate on hydrogen,...

AGGO CEO killed in crash ... Volvo truck restructures ... Eagle-Picher CE sold ... NationsRent files for Chapter 11. (Business Notes).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The chief executive officer and another senior manager of AGCO Corp. died after their private jet crashed during take-off in England on January 4th. John Shumejda, president and CEO, Ed Swingle, senior vice president for sales and marketing,...