Manitowoc is one of two firms that recently sold product lines to private equity investors. (Photo courtesy The Manitowoc Co.) Two lifting equipment manufacturers have recently sold major product segments to private investors. OmniQuip Textron Inc., Port Washington, Wis., has sold its aerial work platform business Snorkel International, and The Manitowoc Co., Manitowoc, Wis., has sold its Manitowoc Boom Truck division of Georgetown, Texas. Even though Snorkel had reported $37 million in earnings for 2002, company reports say it was not enough to keep the business up and scissor lifts in June 2002. Elwood Holdings LLC, St. Joseph, Mo., recently
CONCRETE PUMPING EQUIPMENT Overhead Roll-and-Fold Boom The new S61SX concrete pump features 198 ft of reach. The manufacturer claims it to be the longest boom pump in the industry. The four-section, overhead roll-and-fold boom is capable of reaching out, up and below grade with no dead spots. Because the boom's first section can be angled back, the other three sections can be guided into enclosed decks with ease. With the patented telescoping Super X outriggers, the reach and versatility of the equipment is capable even on a crowded jobsite. It maintains up to 1,169 psi for concrete. Schwing America Inc.;
ROCK DRILLING TOOL Specially Designed Outer Housing This patented RS8 rock drilling tool, 57.5 in. in length, is designed for use with the manufacturer's Navigator 50x100A, D55x100, D80x100 and D80x120 horizontal directional drills. It is a steerable rock drilling head that uses an 8.75-in.-dia Tri Cone Bit that can tackle medium to hard rock formations up to and over 15,000 psi. Steering is achieved with a specially designed outer housing that allows operation of the tool with any standard drill. Vermeer manufacturing Co.; 888/837-6337; www.vermeer.com MIXING AND FLUSHING UNIT Eliminates Manual Cleanup Designated as the Flygt Hydroejector, this mixing and
INTACT New ballpark (left) was protected from implosion. (Photo courtesy of Jack Curran/ implosionworld.com) When baseball season begins this spring, Cincinnati Reds fans will enjoy a new $290-million stadium left unscathed from the implosion of its predecessor, only feet away. In 37 seconds on Dec. 23, contractors imploded Cinergy Field, formerly called Riverfront Stadium. After salvaging seats and other removable items, workers triggered the second step in a three-phase "green" demolition and environmental salvage operation. But they had to be mindful of the neighboring Great American Ballpark, under construction. Before the event, demolition workers protected the new park from projectile
Photo courtesy of Komatsu With product lines for hydraulic excavators well developed in medium-size classes, more buyers and manufacturers are exploring machines in the light and heavy ends of the spectrum. Komatsu America Corp. is no exception, replacing its 110-ton P1100 series with a new 125-ton PC1250 series of crawler excavators. Komatsu, Vernon Hills, Ill., considers the PC1250LC-7 its "flagship" construction excavator. Standard tracked, the manufacturer mounts the machine on a long-track carriage for increased floatation. The softer the ground conditions, the more need for high floatation, says Lee Haak, Komatsu product manager for large hydraulic excavators. The machines are
CLEAN SHAVE Nordstrom first conceived the cutter in 1991, after logging efforts declined. A Kingston, Idaho, logger once blamed environmentalists for timber work shortages. Now, he can thank them for opportunities in a more prosperous career in brush and shrub clearance. In 1991, when the local logging market deteriorated, Dick Nordstrom developed a mechanical brush-cutter bearing his name. There are three units now in his fleet. Starting with a Caterpillar excavator 322BFC base, Nordstrom replaced the factory bucket with a custom-designed, 3-ton cutting head. Attached to the excavator's 35-ft boom, the work-tool attachment includes a 480-rpm, 1,100-lb disc with 24
The National Equipment Register, National Insurance Crime Bureau and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a nationwide case of stolen skid-steers. So far, 33 units valued at a total of $350,000 have been recovered. According to the report, in July, a buyer in rural Lancaster County, Pa., called police when he received a suspicious sale offer. After first discovering 30 stolen vehicles on a nearby farm, officials are contacting owners by searching NER's database of 25,000 loss reports and eight million preregistered vehicles. A spokesman for NICB says the main suspect in question has a prior history of equipment theft. Robert
A worldwide capital-spending slowdown in October hit Japanese equipment makers hard, with a 4.1% monthly drop in orders from September. According to research recently released by Nikko Salomon Smith Barney, the date reconfirms a fast-slipping GDP trend in Japan, which is expected to deteriorate well into the second quarter of 2003. "Japan has a lot of influence," says equipment analyst Charles R. Yengst, president of Wilton, Conn.-based Yengst Associates. "For example, when an equipment company uses engines from one Japanese supplier, what happens to customers when that supplier goes bankrupt? There's an effect on everyone when Japan begins to shut
WHEEL LOADER Electronic Monitoring System Model 530E is the manufacturer's first wheel loader to feature the cab mounted on the rear frame. It is powered by a 195-hp Komatsu four-cycle turbocharged diesel engine and has an electronically controlled powershift transmission that can also be operated as an automatic with the flip of a rocker switch. The 530E is a versatile machine and can be equipped with various buckets from 3.7 to 5.9 cu yd capacities. It is also designed for easy maintenance with an electronic monitoring system that assists the operator with maintenance decisions and improves machine availability. Dressta North
WORK ENVELOPE MANGEMENT Monitors Outrigger Settings Truck-mounted aerial work platforms are now available with the new Bronto 2+ work envelope management system. It is designed to monitor the outrigger settings and platform load, which can be up to 1,000 lb and automatically keep platform movement within a safe operating work envelope. The system's display panel shows the maximum possible outreach in all directions for a given platform load both graphically and numerically. Duplicate display panels describing the activity are mounted on the platform and at the ground control. Bronto Skylift; 352/895-1109; e-mail: rstar1103@aol.com SURVEY CONTROLLER SOFTWARE Operates on Attachable Control
RSS