The John Deere Foundation today said it plans to provide $3 million over the next three years to KckStart, an innovative social enterprise that creates and markets tools to help end poverty in developing countries. KickStart\'s three-year plan is to enable some 80,000 African families--approximately 400,000 people--to raise their standards of living by introducing small, inexpensive irrigation pumps and other money making equipment."It is fitting for John Deere, with a long history of advancing agriculture, to align with KickStart in Africa, where access to water for farming is particularly challenging," said Robert W. Lane, chairman and chief executive officer at Deere & Company. "Through this grant, the John Deere Foundation can help improve the lives of he small family farmer by partnering with a successful organization that is already working to strengthen agricultural economies in Africa."To date, KickStart products have helped lift 36,000 families out of poverty. On average, farmers who… Continue reading
If trucks were equipped with a power unit driven by fuel cells, the carbon dioxide emissions from a single truck could be reduced by an estimated 20 to 30 tons per year. As a result, trucks would not have to run at idle to have an electrical supply when they are parked. In an effort to solve this problem, Volvo is now starting a joint-venture company for the development of power units based on fuel cell technology. The power unit features a newly patented technology and is so compact that they can be installed in standard trucks.The new company, Powercell, is owned by jointly by Volvo Technology (VTEC) and Statoil. Powercell holds the patent on an improved fuel cell technology that makes it possible to produce such small and effective power units that they can be mounted in trucks and other vehicles to replace the current that is normally generated through… Continue reading
The statistics from the customs indicate that China has been Columbia\'s main machinery equipment provider for the first two months in 2005.Among the machinery equipment and parts that Columbia has imported, 7.2% is from China, second to America (39.6%). For the first two years in 2005, Columbia has had an import of 2.929 billion U.S. dollars, with a year-on-year increase of 28.1%. The import of machinery equipment accounts for 14.2% of the total import.
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Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited, a leading diversified industrial firm, announced that it has acquired the United States distribution rights to market and sell Tramac branded hydraulic breakers and demolition tools, as well as vibratory compactors and cutting heads, from Tramac Corporation. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.Tramac breakers are used as attachments on a range of construction equipment, primarily for construction and demolition projects. In 2004, sales of the products involved in the transaction approximately $18 million."This transaction brings us closer to United States customers of Ingersoll-Rand\'s Montabert product line and provides a strong platform for product expansion through this important distribution channel," said Christopher P. Vasiloff, senior vice president of IR and president of the Construction Technologies Sector. "We are excited to have the opportunity to grow in this market in partnership with the existing Tramac dealer network."This transaction fits Ingersoll-Rand\'s long term growth strategy for the attchments business. Attachments… Continue reading
Nissan Diesel Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. announced that the two companies will collaborate in the area of diesel exhaust gas purification, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspapaer in Japan. Nissan Diesel will supply urea-based selective catalytic reduction system technology that Mitsubishi Fuso plans to use in large trucks. With this system, diesel NOx are reportedly reduced by spraying an aqueous urea solution into the exhaust gas.The companies will share related parts as well as infrastructure for the supply of the aqueous urea solution. There are already about 1300 locations in Japan that supply of the aqueous urea solution. Such stations will be installed at an additional 260 locations, including a number of Mitsubishi Fuso\'s service sites.(Source: Diesel Progress)
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Volvo Buses said today it will close its factory in Heilbronn, Germany, and lay off 150 workers there.The Swedish bus maker said it can no longer accept the losses at the plant, which manufactures the Volvo 9900 model."We sell about 100 buses a year from the factory, and that\'s not enough to make a profit," Volvo spokesman Per-Martin Johansson said.The company said the closure would lead to a 95 million kronor (euro10 million; US$12 million) charge in the second quarter.The last Volvo bus will roll out from Heilbronn in September, Johansson said.(Source: yahoo.com)
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Navistar International Corp. said its operating company, International Truck and Engine Corp., intends to enter into a joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra of India to produce and market light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles for India and export markets. The joint venture, to be named Mahindra International, will have 51 percent ownership by Mahindra and 49 percent ownership by International. The combined investment of the two companies will be more than $80 million over the next two to three years, Navistar said. The joint venture is subject to regulatory approval and the execution of definitive agreements. Daniel C. Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and chief executive officer, said that the company\'s plan to enter the Indian market constitutes a major step in its global growth strategy. "Equally important to our growth strategy is International\'s intention to use India as a significant supply base for sourcing components and materials," Ustian said. "In… Continue reading
With the world\'s toughest diesel emissions regulatins looming, Japan\'s Isuzu Motors Ltd. has begun markeing small hybrid trucks that combine a diesel engine and an electric motor for greater fuel efficiency. Based on the General Motors Corp. technology, with which Isuzu maintains business ties, the new trucks reportedly run on 10-20% less diesel fuel while emitting a smaller amount of carbon dioxide than ordinary diesel trucks, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbin newspaper in Japan.The new Isuzu model will officially debut in the market sometime in June, officials said, though Isuzu has begun to supply some units to trucking companies. Called the "ELF Diesel Hybrid," the truck has a maximum load capacity of 2 tons and obtains electricity from long-life lithium batteries. It also has a specially designed transmission to convey engine power to the wheels.(Source: Diesel Progress)
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Volvo Buses has received several orders for a total of 60 Volvo B12R chassis to be delivered to South Africa, as well as 20 chassis to Egypt. "The Volvo B12R means we now have basic, robust yet modern chassis equipped with our largest engine. A lot of markets have been asking for this," says Hakan Sjoberg, sales manager for Africa.Seven different customers placed the orders for 60 coaches to be delivered to South Africa. The chassis are manufactured by Volvo Buses\' factory in Brazil. Even the coach bodies come from Brazil, manufactured by Marco Polo, Buscar and Irizar. The coaches will be used for intercity traffic throughout South Africa and deliveries are scheduled for the autumn 2005."South Africa is an important market for Volvo Buses," says Hakan Sjoberg. "We are third on the market with a market share of about 20 percent. Last year we sold 170 buses and coaches and… Continue reading
Holset Turbochargers, a division of Cummins Inc. and headquartered in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England announced plans for the construction of a new world class turbocharger manufacturing facility in Charleston, S.C.The new plant is part of Holset\'s strategy of expanding its worldwide manufacturing capacity to meet the growing demands of global turbocharger market. Earlier this year, the existing facility in Dewas, India was expanded and in 2004, a new plant opened in Wuxi, China.The $13 million investment in a new 110,000-square-foot facility will create more than 180 new jobs and expand Holset\'s capacity by 200,000 units per year while allowing room for expansion. The plant will focus on heavy duty manufacturing, providing turbochargers for both the US and other global markets. Construction of the new facility is expected to start in May 2005, with the first turbochargers being produced early in the third quarter of 2006.Jeffrey A. Stanton, Manufacturing Support Leader, said… Continue reading
