Diesel Progress North American Edition articles from March 2006

Diesel Progress North American Edition archives from March 2006

Survey says!
March 1, 2006... I gotta admit that when Mike Brezonick first proposed the State Of The Industry Survey that appears elsewhere in this issue, I was a little skeptical. It struck me as the sort of a touchy feely, USA Today-type article. Wrong. Again. I...

Class 8s: who sold what in '05.(STREET SMARTS)
March 1, 2006... STREET SMARTS IS A MONTHLY COLUMN DEVOTED TO THE ON-HIGHWAY ENGINE MARKET. The sales figures by truck make for 2005 are now available, so it seems a good time to analyze the results. Class 8 trucks are a huge market for big-bore truck...

Special K's: Bobcat introduces new skid-steer, compact track loader lines.(COMPACT EQUIPMENT)(Bobcat Co. introduces skid steer loaders )
March 1, 2006... With production already in full swing at its Gwinner, N.D., factory, Bobcat Co. has launched its new K series skid-steer loaders (SSL) and compact track loaders (CTL). While the changes to K series loaders are not readily visible on the...

Dateline.(diesel fuels industry on highs)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... NEED MORE INFORMATION ON INDUSTRY SHOWS? TURN TO DIESEL PROGRESS ONLINE: WWW.DIESELPROGRESS.COM * INDICATES SHOWS IN WHICH DIESEL PROGRESS NORTH AMERICAN EDITION WILL PARTICIPATE. SEPTEMBER * Sept 12-Mar 13 Diesel Progress...

Are skid-steer sales at their pinnacle?(TRENDLINES)
March 1, 2006... For decades, skid-steer loaders have been one of the most sought after pieces of equipment contractors could use. You find them being used everywhere--rental yards, farms, highway projects, housing developments, golf courses, city maintenance...

Now they're really "ex"-cavators: JLG sells Gradall excavator line to Alamo Group for $39.4 million; will sharpen focus on core products.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
March 1, 2006... In the latest in a series of major moves it has made over the last several months emphasizing its focus on the access equipment industry, JLG Industries announced in early February that it had sold its Gradall excavator product line and...

Writing the perfect script: acquisition of SDMO and two subsidiaries positions Kohler Global Power for significant growth in power gen markets.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
March 1, 2006... In many cases, acquisitions are the result of a buyer wanting a particular product or market presence. With that in hand, the buyer then spends the next few months figuring out what to do with the odd bits and pieces, often selling off or...

Traction control lifts genie in rough terrain.(LIFT EQUIPMENT)(Genie Industries introduces lift platforms)
March 1, 2006... Enhancing one of its most popular lift models, Genie Industries has introduced a new traction control drive system on its GS-68 RT series of rough terrain scissor lifts. Available on both the GS-2668 RT and GS-3268 RT lifts, two of six models...

Liebherr Secures Order For 28 T 282 B Mine Haul Trucks.(POWERLINES)(Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. to provide mine haul trucks to Cortez Gold Mines and Syncrude Canada Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Liebherr closed 2005 with an order for 28 Ultra Class T 282 B diesel-electric mine haul trucks. The Nevada-based Cortez Joint Venture gold mine, owned by Barrick Gold and Rio Tinto, purchased 16 of the mine haul trucks which it will take...

Timing a technology for Tier 3: Cummins unveils 3.3 L engines for Tier 3/Stage 3A; higher ratings to incorporate high pressure common rail.
March 1, 2006... In nearly every aspect of life, timing is everything. One of the areas where it is especially critical concerns technology--more specifically, when to bring a technology to market. Too soon and complexity and cost can scare the customers away....

Challenges abound--as does optimism: first Diesel Progress industry survey finds market upbeat about technology and the future; majority would want their children in the business.
March 1, 2006... Difficulty meeting--and even understanding--emissions regulations and what they mean to manufacturers and operators of engine-powered vehicles and equipment. The growing problems surrounding energy supplies. Shortages in raw materials and...

Cat EST&S offers diesel PM testing technology.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Caterpillar's Engine Systems Technologies & Solutions group has announced the availability of a new diesel particulate matter emissions testing technology that the group said combines improved accuracy and repeatability. The BG-3 transient...

Swiss hit: Saurer AG's purchase of Fairfield Manufacturing creates global opportunities for Fairfield, Graziano Trasmissioni.(INDUSTRY NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Fairfield Manufacturing Co. is acqired by Saurer Holding AG)
March 1, 2006... When it was finally announced in late January that Fairfield Manufacturing had been acquired, it ended the turning of one of the longest running rumor mills in recent memory. For the past few years, Fairfield, headquartered in Lafayette, Ind.,...

An MTU of independent means: sale of MTU, including off-highway business of Detroit Diesel, repositions company as a major new player in global engine markets.(INDUSTRY NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Company overview)
March 1, 2006... In late December, DaimlerChrysler and Swedish investment fund EQT reached agreement on the sale of MTU Friedrichshafen. In its announcement of the sale--which included MTU Detroit Diesel, formerly the off-highway division of Detroit Diesel...

Small tractors target big performance: Deere unveils compact Twenty series tractors; three new models designed to incorporate "big tractor" features.(UTILITY EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2006... After introducing both its large-chassis 4000 and mid-chassis 3000 Twenty series tractors last year, John Deere recently focused on the compact end of the range, launching new models in its small-chassis 2000 Twenty series. Two tractors are new...

ConExpo Asia sets education program.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
March 1, 2006... ConExpo Asia 2006 will feature an industry-focused educational program during the show, to be held May 15-18, 2006 at the China National Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, China. Show organizers, the Association of Equipment...

Tenneco to supply international with aftertreatment ... low-emissions locomotives in Texas ... Malaysia to promote biodiesel production ...(EMISSION & ALTERNATIVES: Covering Fuel Cells and Other Emerging and Alternative Technologies)
March 1, 2006... Tenneco said that it has been awarded a contract with International Truck and Engine Corp. to supply exhaust aftertreatment systems for International's line of medium-duty diesel vehicles with International engines, launching in 2007. The...

Weber new president and CEO Of Remy International.(NEWSMAKERS)
March 1, 2006... Remy International has appointed John H. Weber president and chief executive officer to succeed Thomas J. Snyder, who is retiring. Weber was most recently president and CEO at EaglePicher Inc., and he has also held management positions at...

New global product manager at Manitowoc.(NEWSMAKERS)
March 1, 2006... Manitowoc Crane Group has appointed Raman Joshi to its senior management team as global product manager for the Manitowoc range of crawler cranes. Raman reports directly to Larry Bryce, vice president of worldwide marketing and is responsible...

Meritor WABCO names Morrison General Manager.(NEWSMAKERS)
March 1, 2006... Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems has named Jon Morrison as general manager, effective immediately. Morrison, who most recently was global director of sales and application engineering at Dana Corp. in Rochester Hills, Mich., will direct...

Hydraulic pumps.(PRODUCT PIPELINE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The Oilgear Co.'s PVG open-loop pump series is designed for high pressure applications with five available displacements and multiple frame sizes. The pumps provide an instantaneous response to system commands through a high response four-way...

Dual-element filter.(PRODUCT PIPELINE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Boss Products USA has designed an inline dual filtration element featuring magnetic and multifiber filtration for industrial, mobile, marine and agricultural applications. The company said the Magnefine can offer up to a 99% removal of ferrous...

Electrical switches.(PRODUCT PIPELINE)
March 1, 2006... Expanding its electrical product range, Velvac Inc. has launched a flurry of new toggle and rocker switches. Its heavy-duty toggles are available in lighted or non-lighted, single pole or double pole and with momentary contact functions....

Making it easy: Fleetguard's new "User Friendly" filter targets lube oil, fuel filtration applications in engines up to 10L.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
March 1, 2006... There are few things more critical to the operation of diesel engines than liquid filtration. And yet there are few areas in which more serious problems can occur from the most mundane causes. On the manufacturing floor, dropping a filter...

Atlas Copco adds hydraulics.(CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2006... At the World of Concrete, Las Vegas, Nev., Atlas Copco gave the first glimpse of its new line of hydraulic power packs and new hydraulic hand tools since the product line was acquired from Lifton Bulgaria in January 2005. Lifton is a...

Durability key in joystick design.(CONTROLS)
March 1, 2006... Rounding out its line of Hall Effect joysticks, J.R. Merritt Controls Inc. has introduced a new multifunction joystick controller. Designed for rugged mobile applications, the NS3 joystick is one of the larger joysticks in the company's lineup...

Away from the usual grind: new system targets greater flexibility, productivity in machining of diesel engine crankshafts.(TECHNOLOGY)
March 1, 2006... For years, most diesel engine crankshaft manufacturers have found crankshaft lines made up of traditional style indexing-type crankpin grinders with conventional grinding wheels to be a cost-effective solution to their manufacturing...

Vibration test technology.(PRODUCT PIPELINE)
March 1, 2006... LMS has developed a new test system designed for economical, four-to eight-channel system for closed-loop vibration control testing. The LMS Test.Lab Vibration Control system allows test engineers to qualify whether a product is fit for normal...

Rotary torque sensor.(PRODUCT PIPELINE)
March 1, 2006... RS Technologies has added a high-capacity rotary torque sensor able to measure torque and angle to its product line. Rated to 7375 lb.ft., the Series 3001 sensor is designed for heavy-duty applications. It features a 1.5 in. square drive and...

Shock, vibration, impact sensor.(PRODUCT PIPELINE)
March 1, 2006... Instrumented Sensor Technology (IST) offers a stand-alone battery-operated measurement and recording system for shock, vibration and impact. The Motion Master EDR-6DOF is designed for use with off-road equipment and features a six-channel,...

A hot new look for Hoyt pyrometers.(INSTRUMENTATION)(Hoyt Electrical Instrument Works Inc. introduces digital pyrometers )
March 1, 2006... Hoyt Electrical Instrument Works Inc. has launched a new line of digital pyrometers to measure engine temperature in trucks, motor homes, generators, turbochargers and recreational vehicles such as ATVs and snowmobiles. "Hoyt has been...

Brian Bishop.(NEWSMAKERS)(Demag Plastics Group)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Brian Bishop--to president of the North American-based operations of Demag Plastics Group. Bishop had previously served as interim president since March 2005. He joined Demag as vice president of sales in 2003 and was promoted to executive vice...

Dan Morgado.(NEWSMAKERS)
March 1, 2006... Dan Morgado--to regional sales manager for the Australia--New Zealand region at Helac Corp. Morgado, who has 20 years' experience with the helical, rotary actuators and construction equipment attachment manufacturer, will be responsible for...

JLG sells excavators to Alamo ... Fairfield sold ... Terex branding telehandlers Genie ... Cat Environmental Technologies formed.(GLOBAL BUSINESS NOTES)
March 1, 2006... JLG Industries has sold its line of Gradall excavators to Alamo Group Inc. for $39.4 million. The sale includes a 430,000 sq.ft. manufacturing facility in New Philadelphia, Ohio, and related equipment, machinery, tooling and intellectual...