news

CEM: Building roads to riches (2006-5-26)

Standard & Poors says U.S. companies that supply construction equipment and services will reap big benefits as developing countries upgrade their infrastructure.The distance that nations in emerging markets must travel on their journey toward "developed" status starts to shrink whenever ground is broken for the construction of infrastructure projects. Standard & Poor\'s believes this is a potentially lucrative opportunity for U.S. companies that supply and service governments and corporations in developing nations.Investors may participate in this growth by taking positions in U.S. outfits that we have identified as those most likely to benefit from the construction of basic networks of roads, rails, ports, and airports that are badly needed in remote, yet growing, corners of the world. These include American Standard (ASD; S&P investment rank: 4 STARS, buy), Clarcor (CLC; 4 STARS), Ingersoll-Rand (IR; 5 STARS), Jacobs Engineering (JEC; 5 STARS), Manitowoc (MTW; 4 STARS), Pentair (PNR; 4 STARS), Shaw Group… Continue reading

MAN Likes Navistar, Not In Talks (2006-5-26)

According to press reports in Europe, German engine and truck manufacturer MAN AG would like an even closer relationship Navistar International Corp., an interest that could MAN said could include an equity position in its U.S. partner. The European reports said an MAN spokesman confirmed remarks to this effect by MAN Chief Executive Hakan Samuelsson in an interview with the Swedish business daily Dagens Industri, but added no talks were under way at this stage. "We find Navistar interesting. I think that we should over time cement somehow our cooperation, including by becoming part owners," Samuelsson was quoted as saying."We are in preliminary talks on strengthening our engines cooperation and a joint plant will be on the agenda in 2007. We are also talking about cooperation in axles and electronic systems," Samuelsson told the Swedish paper.(Source: Diesel Progress) … Continue reading

Honda To Offer Diesel Cars In U.S. (2006-5-29)

Honda said it will release new diesel cars onto the U.S. market by 2009, according to Bloomberg News. The company aims to offer the first diesel automobile to meet emissions rules in all 50 states and also announced plans to develop a hybrid car. In order to meet its diesel goal, Honda said it has patented a new emissions technology. In Honda\'s system, exhaust flows through a plasma reactor that separates harmful nitrogen oxides and forms nitrogen dioxide that is then reduced or absorbed by alkali metals and silver.No automaker has built a diesel-powered car that can meet emissions rules in California and some Northeast states, which are tougher than federal requirements. DaimlerChrysler AG and Volkswagen AG, the largest sellers of diesel autos, are working on systems that would meet the stricter rules by using SCR.Both the proposed diesel and hybrid vehicles are designed to take advantage of the growing numbers… Continue reading

New Holland Approves B20 (2006-5-17)

While a number of engine and equipment manufacturers have approved the use of biodiesel, until now most had limited their approval to the relatively small B2 (2% biofuel, 98% petroleum diesel) or B5 (5% biofuel, 95% petroleum diesel) blends. But now ag equipment manufacturer New Holland, part of CNH Global, has approved the use of 20% biodiesel (B20) in all of its equipment using New Holland engines. According to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), New Holland is the first original equipment manufacturer to announce full support of B20 in all of the diesel engines that it produces. "Biodiesel is the future," said Dennis D. Recker, vice president of New Holland Agricultural Business in North America. "As the availability of fossil fuels becomes a greater problem, we need to look at alternatives. But they must also be cleaner, environmentally friendly alternatives."NBB\'s close work with New Holland was said to be instrumental to… Continue reading

Isuzu Takes To The Water (2006-5-17)

Isuzu Motors America, Inc., PowerTrain Division (ISZAPT) announced that it will enter the commercial marine engine market, effective January 2007. The Plymouth, Mich., headquartered company said that by that date, it will have assigned 11 new Isuzu Commercial Marine Engine distributors within North America to focus on work boat, fishing and trapping, tug and specialty vessel segments. Those markets, ISZAPT said, are primarily comprised of marine vessels whose role and principle operation dictates a return to their home port following each assignment. Key geographic markets are the Pacific Northwest, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Northeast.In May 2006 Isuzu gained EPA Tier 1 certification for the UM6WG1 marine diesel engine. It will be offered with three performance ratings from full power - continuous duty, to full power - intermittent duty, to intermittent duty. Following the UM6WG1 will be the UM6HE1 engine in the same fashion. Each model will be available… Continue reading

Links To Lead Sales At Isuzu Motors (2006-5-17)

Isuzu Motors America, Inc., PowerTrain Division has named Bob Links manager, sales, effective immediately. Links has more than 20 years experience selling Isuzu products as an Isuzu distributorship manager. He is responsible for growing the company\'s industrial engine sales, along with the newly established commercial marine engine business. (Source: Diesel Progress) … Continue reading

Caterpillar Methane Gen-Sets For China (2006-5-18)

Caterpillar Inc. said it has been selected to provide 60 methane-gas- powered generator sets to produce 120 MW of power at the Sihe Coal Mine in Jincheng City, Shanxi Province, China. The Shanxi Jincheng Anthracite Coal Mining Group Co., Ltd. is the project developer for the methane gas power project, expected to be one of the largest of its kind in the world when it is fully operational.It is anticipated the planned power generation plant will use 60 Caterpillar G3520 generator sets, paralleling switchgear and four steam turbines driven by recovered exhaust heat to produce 120 MW of power. Project partner Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd. will provide the steam turbines. The entire methane-fired power plant is expected to be fully operational in 2007. Caterpillar will work with its dealer WesTrac China Ltd. on product commissioning and ongoing support for this project. Plans call for capturing previously vented methane gas.(Source… Continue reading

Terex Atlas launches new loader crane (2006-5-18)

Loader crane manufacturer Terex Atlas has launched the 118.2 VGL, a new concept in grab loader design that, it said, is quickly finding favour in the utilities and civil engineering sectors following its first sighting at the 2006 Commercial Vehicle Show. One of the first companies to acknowledge its advantages is Bristol, UK-based Gulliver’s Truck Hire, which has ordered 40 units.With a load capacity of 110kNm and a reach of 6.6 - 8.6m, the new 118.2 VGL is initially being offered in four boom versions and three stabilising widths. In the H1-B4 stress group and enjoying a slew range of 410 degrees, its operating pressure is 250 bar and flow rate 100 l/min.The 118.2 VGL has a single circuit hydraulic system that offers the standard "slew-lift-jib-extend-rotate-grab sequence," according to Terex Atlas. The incorporation of an LS-control valve allows simultaneous independent operation of all functions to maximise operator productivity.Other features include a… Continue reading

China’s Construction Machinery Industry Will Maintain Rapid Growth

In the first half of this year, the construction machinery industry maintained a rapid growth trend, but the performance of each product has not been balanced. Cranes and electric forklift trucks have shown steady growth. From January to May year on year, total output increased 21.5% and 10.5% respectively for these products. Concrete machines, however, have slowed down. From January to May, total output increased by only 4.6% year on year.

Construction machinery's structural growth in the first half of 2010 is due to two main reasons: First, many of China's massive infrastructure construction projects have entered critical stages. For construction machinery, especially infrastructure construction machinery such as excavators and loaders, demand has greatly increased. Second, since April, countries have begun regulating the real estate market, and therefore real estate operations… Continue reading

Industrial production index rises 24.33% year-on-year

Taipei, July 23 (CNA) Taiwan's industrial production index grew 24.33 percent in June compared with the same month last year, thanks to large foreign orders received by the information and electronics and the machinery manufacturing industries, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said Friday. Statistics released by the ministry indicate that the industrial production index stood at 125.71 -- with 2006 as a base year of 100 -- and the manufacturing sector index was 128.43, with year-on-year growth of 26.22 percent. As improving economic prospects stimulated investment interest, demand for machinery and other production equipment increased in the first half of this year. Machinery production in June grew 68.51 percent year-on-year. The electronics manufacturing industry also registered impressive growth in June, with a 43.48 percent year-on-year increase attributed partially to rising demand from newly industrialized countries. Large demand from integrated device manufacturers also helped boost the output of semi-conductors, flat panels, printed integrated circuit boards and electro-optical products.