September 2008

Naturally Fueling the Future

Clean and Green

Vermeer Celebrates Good Times

Kobelco Machines Enlist in Fort Dix Construction

Technology’s Tuition

In The News

Naturally Fueling the Future

In the fight for a green tomorrow, every manufacturer is laying the technology groundwork for the fuel of the future. Sterling Truck Corp. has chosen to go au natural with its Set-Back 113, powered by natural gas. And the Port of Los Angeles will serve as the truck’s proving ground, as the alternative-fuel chore truck is put through its paces on the docks.

“Due to deterioration in air quality, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have embraced the use of alternative fuels in commercial vehicles. At the same time, utility companies and municipalities throughout North America have shown increased interest in green transportation technology,” said Richard Shearing, Manager of product strategy for Sterling Truck Corp. “By introducing the Set-Back 113 with natural gas, we’re giving our customers a hard-working truck that reduces both costs and environmental emissions.”

An OEM factory-built product, the truck is powered by the Cummins Westport ISL G. The 8.9-liter stoichiometric cooled-exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) engine offers some of the lowest emissions available in the industry, without sacrificing top-level performance and efficiency. Available in ratings up to 320 hp, the ISL G already meets EPA 2010 standards with 85 percent lower NOx emissions than the C Gas Plus engine and features the highest power-to-weight ratio in class with an optimized turbocharger.

As natural gas fueling stations become more prevalent across the country, the technology could propel truck owners and operators into the future. It’s estimated that natural gas technology can save around $6,000 in annual fuel and operating costs per truck.

“Natural gas technology has come a long way. Buses have been using it for years, but these next-generation natural gas powertrains have more power because less air is needed for combustion,” said Shearing. “Plus, the technology simply burns cleaner.”

It’s estimated that natural gas technology can save around $6,000 in annual fuel and operating costs per truck.
Customers in states such as California will also benefit from tax incentives for alternative fuel vehicles. Fuel providers take advantage of these incentives, too, which means that accessibility to natural gas fuel is on the rise.

“By introducing this new truck, we have helped shape the future of clean technology,” said Shearing. “And with an expanded line of Class 3 through 8 vehicles, including the Sterling 360 low-cab-over engine, Class 4-5 Bullet, Acterra and Set-Back and Set-Forward L-Line trucks, our customers can spec a Sterling for all their applications.”

Clean and Green

The Cummins Westport ISL G evolved from the proven Cummins ISL diesel currently in operation in many fleets today. This cost-effective, high-performance, clean-burning engine boasts:

• 2010 EPA and CARB emission standards compliant at:
— 0.20 g/bhp-hr of Oxides of Nitrogen
— 0.01 g/bhp-hr of Particulate Matter (PM)

• 35 percent more torque at idle than previous L Gas Plus Natural Gas engines
• No Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) regeneration
• No DPF cleaning or replacement
• Maintenance-free exhaust system
• Shares many components and parts with ISL diesel engines (for easy maintenance)
• Available ratings match Allison transmission offerings

Vermeer Celebrates Good Times

From humble beginnings, Vermeer has grown over its 60 years to employ over 2,000 people and sell equipment in more than 60 countries.

Sixty years ago, Iowa farmer Gary Vermeer created a mechanical hoist to help expedite the process of unloading harvested crops from his grain wagons. Word of the invention quickly spread, spawning considerable interest among area farmers. Everybody wanted one. So the entrepreneurial-minded Vermeer enlisted the help of cousin Ralph Vermeer, constructed a modest cement block building to build more hoists, and the two men went to work.

Today, Vermeer Corp. consists of eight manufacturing plants spanning some 110 acres that occupies more than 1.5 million sq ft of space located just outside of Pella, Iowa. The company will officially commemorate its 60th anniversary in November and is recognized as a global leader in forage, tree care, wood-waste processing, composting, compact and underground installation equipment. Currently, Vermeer employs over 2,000 people and sells equipment in more than 60 countries.

Founder Gary Vermeer officially retired from day-to-day operations in 1989. His son, Bob, assumed the position of CEO, with daughter Mary becoming President and COO. Today the two share CEO responsibilities. Mary’s son, Jason Andringa, joined the company as Environmental Market Segment Manager in 2004 and was recently appointed Managing Director of Vermeer International, B.V., a manufacturing and distribution facility in Goes, the Netherlands. Bob’s daughter, Allison VanWyngarden, joined the company in 2007 as a dealer distribution manager.

“In addition to welcoming family members, we’re also very aware that we need to cultivate the many opportunities that exist in the company for all our employees,” says Mary Vermeer-Andringa, President and CO-CEO. “We emphasize to everyone within the Vermeer family, related or not, that we welcome their contributions and want to provide them the opportunities to do the kinds of things that make their hearts sing.”

And that “family” stretches out beyond the company and into its community. Formed in 1958, the Vermeer Charitable Foundation serves to promote the quality of life for Vermeer employees and their communities through the gracious and unselfish act of giving. The goal of the foundation is to inspire Vermeer employees to use their skills and resources in providing assistance to people who are less fortunate or facing overwhelming burdens or challenges.

Vermeer routinely provides volunteers, and, in many cases, paid personnel and equipment to respond to various natural disaster situations such as tornadoes, ice storms and hurricanes. In the 50 years since the Foundation has existed, hundreds of Vermeer employees have contributed countless hours of their time and financial resources to help those in need. When an F5 tornado devastated the community of Greensburg, Kan., in 2007, Vermeer was there. After Hurricane Katrina, Vermeer was there. And whenever disaster strikes and folks need a helping hand, Vermeer will be there too.

Kobelco Machines Enlist in Fort Dix Construction

What better machine to build new housing for Fort Dix staff and troops than a star-studded excavator. The patriotic machine was on display at Kobelco’s booth this past March at CONEXPO and was later purchased by Giberson Construction.

Named after Major General John Adams Dix, a veteran of the War of 1812 and the Civil War, Fort Dix military base in New Jersey is an Army training and mobilizer of American soldiers. While as many as 15,000 troops can train there on the weekends, Fort Dix is hosting another visitor — Giberson Construction and Kobelco excavators.

Kobelco customer Giberson Construction was contracted to carry out site preparation work for new housing on the Fort Dix military base. The project requirements and tight schedule required equipment capable of ensuring the highest levels of productivity and Giberson brought in three Kobelco excavators to do the job: an SK350, a short-radius SK235SR and the star spangled SK485 model that was on display at the Kobelco booth at this year’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG show and was later purchased by Giberson Construction.

New housing is required to accommodate military personnel following recent reorganization plans, which will bring to Fort Dix staff and troops from all major US military branches — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The house-building project foresees tearing down existing facilities to make room for 1,600 new homes for the additional military personnel to be housed at the base.

The Kobelco SK485 and SK350 excavators, made in Calhoun, Ga., are making short work of all the jobs requiring large capacity and high precision, such as soil removal, leveling and pipe lining, while the short-radius SK235SR is carrying out the work that needs to be done in tight spaces.

“This build is a complex and large scale project, which will take three years to complete, so it is important to have all the site preparation work carried out efficiently and on time,” stated Larry Giberson, Vice President of Giberson Construction.

Technology’s Tuition

Already comprised of 18 colleges and offering more than 150 courses of study, the University of Illinois will expand once again with the John Deere Technology Innovation Center.

Emissions standards, increased productivity, fuel economy, safety, maintenance — the future of construction equipment rests in the hands of forward-thinking engineers who can deliver cutting-edge technology. To stay at the front of the pack, Deere & Co. invested $1 million to create a John Deere Technology Innovation Center with the University of Illinois to leverage the skills and knowledge of faculty and students in the areas of agriculture, business, engineering and information technology.

“This investment dovetails perfectly at the University of Illinois with our 140-year history of addressing the most critical needs of society. Furthermore, it will enhance the knowledge and skills of faculty and students as we continue to prepare our graduates to compete and succeed in the global marketplace,” said Chancellor Richard Herman of the University of Illinois.

The new facility is located in the University Research Park in Champaign, Ill., and will create an accelerated innovation environment to assist Deere in utilizing advanced electronics, mechatronics, advanced sensors and control systems technology.

“This important effort will extend our industry leading investment in research and development on behalf of our customers,” said Robert W. Lane, Chairman and CEO of Deere & Co. “Our efforts to apply innovation in our products and services result in increased productivity for those who use John Deere equipment.”

Deere said the new technology innovation center in Champaign will expand its capabilities to respond to the rapidly changing environment for John Deere’s customers and businesses through leveraging the capabilities of the university.

The center in Champaign will remain a satellite organization to John Deere’s Moline Technology Innovation Center, which is located on the campus of the company’s World Headquarters in Moline, Ill. The new Champaign location will intensify Deere’s efforts to track key technology developments impacting the company.

Track Loader Triplets Mustang Mfg. Co. is the proud parent of three new compact track loaders — the MTL316, MTL320 and MTL325. Replacing the old series of track loaders, they have been updated to meet Tier III engine emissions regulations and have undergone other product improvements. A fourth Mustang track loader, model MTL312 (announced in March 2008), brings the total number of track loader units in the compact equipment manufacturer’s product line to four. The upgraded models’ high-powered, Tier III EPA-certified engines meet stringent emissions standards and deliver exceptional performance. Horsepowers have been increased and now range from 66 to 92 hp. Movin’ On Up To the N.C. side, as Doosan Infracore Portable Power, a business unit of Doosan Infracore International, officially moved all manufacturing and administrative operations to its new facility in Statesville, N.C., this month. It is anticipated that the move will create 60 new jobs in Iredell County, N.C., with the overall number of employees at the site reaching close to 400. Earlier this spring, the company moved the lighting product line to the new facility, and in mid-May, the first Ingersoll Rand LightSource portable light tower rolled off the assembly line. Doosan Infracore Portable Power manufactures portable air compressors, portable generators, light towers, concrete equipment and light compaction products serving a number of market segments in all areas of the world. The Next Best Thing Years ago, virtual reality was the future of entertainment — walk among the Seven Wonders of the World or become one of your favorite action heroes. While it never lived up to its theoretical entertainment applications, New Holland’s product development engineers put the technology to use when designing new machines and components. This cutting edge technology, which was used in the development of the latest cab upgrades for New Holland’s skid steer loaders and telehandlers, enables product development engineers to test new designs through the use of interactive 3D simulations. Computer Aided Design (CAD) technical drawings are converted into 3D models, which are projected on a massive screen. The engineers can interact virtually with the images and move “within” the virtual model. New Holland Construction benefits from the use of two Virtual Reality Centers: one in Burr Ridge, Ill., and a second in Turin, Italy. All Aboard! Reminiscent of days spent detailing model train sets, the folks at Case Construction Equipment donated a Case 590 Super M Series 2 loader backhoe to the Midwest Central Railroad (MCRR), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the nation’s railroad heritage. “We will use the loader backhoe primarily for track repair and rebuilding projects,” said Matthew Crull, President of MCRR. With volunteer labor risking sore backs when working by hand, Crull stated that they can replace two or three ties in a day. “With the Case loader backhoe, we should be able to replace up to 100 ties per day,” he said. The timing of the donation is significant because the railroad plans to perform a total tear out and replacement of the eastern half of the track next spring. The project will involve moving many tons of dirt and rock, as well as replacing the thousands of railroad ties. When completed, the restored section should last 15 to 20 years.