Heavy Machinery

 Heavy machinery plays a crucial role in various industries. These powerful and robust machines are designed to perform tasks that would be impossible for humans alone. From construction sites to manufacturing plants, heavy machinery is used to lift, move, and transport heavy loads with ease and efficiency. With their immense power and advanced technology, these machines have revolutionized the way work is done in many industries. However, operating heavy machinery requires specialized training and expertise to ensure safety and prevent accidents. Therefore, it is important to have skilled operators who are well-versed in the operation and maintenance of these machines. In conclusion, heavy machinery is an essential component of modern industries, enabling us to accomplish tasks that would otherwise be extremely difficult or time-consuming.

Bulldozer vs. excavator – brothers battle in heavy machinery

BOW, New Hampshire - Police responded to a recycling facility after receiving a call that a man had used a front end loader to topple an excavator, which his brother was operating when it flipped. Police say 54-year-old Peter Emanuel then drove the bulldozer toward them, crashed it into a building, then hopped into a garbage truck and raced away. A few hours later, officers caught up to Emanuel and arrested him on several felony charges, including attempted first-degree assault, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest. His brother, Stanley Emanuel, was not injured. He blamed the attack on his brother's alleged mental illness. "Hopefully my brother Peter will get the help he needs. We love him and hope the best for him," Emanuel tells NECN. Peter Emanuel is being held on a $170,000 bail. http://kfor.com/2016/10/10/bulldozer-vs-excavator-brothers-battle-in-heavy-machinery/

Heavy Equipment Sales in Honolulu ~ Bob's Equipment Sales & Rentals ~ Heavy Machinery

Heavy Machinery - Díly lodí - videoprezentace

Heavy machinery missing, valued over $40,000

 

(CCPD) This photo is NOT the actual piece of equipment stolen.

CORPUS CHRISTI -

Tuesday, officers received a call from a construction worker stating a piece of heavy equipment was stolen.

A Yellow Caterpillar Model 236 Skid Street Loader was missing from where the worker parked it the day before. The piece of equipment is valued over $40,000.

The equipment was located at the 3000 block of South Staples Street, Annapolis Christian Academy. The worker was able to view a brief clip of a person walking in the direction of the loader around 4:30 a.m.

No description was obtained of the person who drove off with the loader. If you have any information regarding this crime call, Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at888TIPS.com 

http://www.kztv10.com/story/29396739/heavy-machinery-missing-valued-over-40000

Dozer Day to give Yakima kids a look at heavy machines

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A new event coming to Yakima next weekend will give kids a chance to get up close and personal with some heavy machinery.

The Central Washington Home Builders' Association will hold the first Dozer Day Mar. 21 and 22.

KIMA's Alan Sillence has already tested some of the equipment. Your kids can have the same opportunity.

"We'll have a whole section where the kids drive for ages two to 12," said CWHBA's Carly Faul. "They'll get to get in a dozer, excavator, roller, skidster with a trained driver, and they'll show them how to operate it and they get to dig in the dirt."

Volunteers are still needed to help out with the event. Click here for more information.
http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/Dozer-Day-to-give-Yakima-kids-a-look-at-heavy-machines-296005641.html

5 Maintenance Tips for Heavy Machinery

Heavy-lifting and earthmoving machinery are the backbone of the mining, construction and agriculture industries around the world. These necessary and expensive pieces of equipment must be used to their most effective and efficient potential to perform such demanding labor. To ensure optimal performance of these costly pieces of industrial capital and the safety of their operators, regularly scheduled and preventive maintenance are a must. Following are some key tips to keep the gears grinding and pistons pumping in your own heavy-duty machines.

1. Keep It Routine

Just like the annual check-up with your physician, a regular check-up on the overall functionality and condition of your heavy machinery helps keep the continuity of what is expected and the standard performance of your equipment. Any non-scheduled emergency maintenance and repair jobs done on heavy machinery are typically fraught with human error and performed in a time crunch.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that up to 20 percent of industrial accidents are related to maintenance operations, with 15 percent involving worker fatalities. By taking all the necessary preventative measures, not only are you ensuring the stated lifetime of your heavy machinery, but you're also keeping operators safe.

My grandfather always said, "If everything works on your truck, that's just an excuse for something to break." It's this philosophy of constantly checking and maintaining equipment, catching any minor problems before they evolve into bigger and more costly ones, that further drives the point to have regularly scheduled maintenance checks on your earthmoving machinery.

2. Use the Right Tools for the Job

Matching your equipment with the exact task that it's intended to perform requires consideration of a number of variables, including terrain, material composition and elemental effects such as climate, etc. Likewise, it's important to make certain that all attachments and performance accessories such as buckets and ploughs are made specific to your machine. With the safety of the crew operating this heavy and potentially dangerous equipment in mind, you simply cannot afford any guesswork here.

Check and double-check all machinery and attachments before using them in the field. Your workers and your wallet will thank you. When replacing parts, don’t assume the first ones you come across are the right ones for your machinery. Bearings, roller chains, gaskets, seals, etc., must all be the right quality and size and have the correct load-bearing qualities for your machine.

3. Don't Overwork Your Machines

Never exceed your equipment's stated performance specifications and limitations as found in your owner/operator manual. As with any industry where heavy equipment is a staple of operation, effectiveness and efficiency are key to optimal performance and yielding the best results for your efforts. Knowing and abiding by weight limits for loads and inclines for transit are an easy way to keep your heavy machinery working.

Most modern heavy machines come programmed with multiple power modes. It's essential for operators to make sure their equipment is set to the correct power mode for the task at hand. Also, minimizing your machinery’s travel and idle time can add longevity to the life of your assets.

4. Put Your Toys Away 

While performing regular maintenance checks is an active way of preventing damage to your equipment, properly storing your heavy machinery is another necessary, yet more passive method of ensuring optimal and safe performance. All large machinery should be kept in covered, moisture-free storage with environment control if necessary. This will help save your equipment safe from the dangers of water, which can lead to rust and corrosion, as well as from the harshness of direct sunlight.

5. Knowledge is Power

Your machinery is only as useful as the men and women working with it. For upholding the highest standards of operations while minimizing risk, everyone in contact with the equipment should be trained and familiar with the proper use of each piece of machinery on the job. For some machines, simple hands-on instruction is sufficient, while others may require special certifications before operating the machinery. Follow your owner/ operator manual and any other official guidelines pertaining to your specific industry, job type and equipment model before letting just anyone take your backhoe for a spin.

http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/29855/heavy-machinery-maintenance

Heavy-Machinery Makers Push Tracking Tools

Manufacturers are urging more-efficient use of construction-machinery fleets. Pictured, a Komatsu truck. Daniel Brenner for The Wall Street Journal

Makers of construction machinery have a new message for customers: You may have too much equipment.

Even though it may cost them some sales in the short run, companies including Caterpillar Inc., CAT +0.08% Komatsu Ltd. 6301.TO -0.09% and others are encouraging customers to use electronic monitoring devices to assess their usage of heavy equipment. One reason: Use of those devices provides valuable data to manufacturers about how equipment is being used and how much is likely to be needed in the future.

Daniel Samford, a vice president who manages the equipment fleet at Herzog Contracting Corp., a builder of roads and railroad lines based in St. Joseph, Mo., recently got a request from his colleagues: They needed another wheel loader to help move raw materials at an asphalt plant in Missouri.

With a few clicks on his computer, Mr. Samford determined that the company, which owns more than 2,000 machines, had an underused wheel loader at a Dallas work site that could be sent to Missouri. In the past, he might simply have bought a new machine, costing roughly $150,000. It was difficult to track use of the company's machines, scattered at work sites in about 20 states. Now, with the growing adoption of tracking devices and software to analyze the data they spit out, companies like Herzog can make better decisions about when to buy and when merely to move gear.

Moving machines from, say, Miami to San Diego is "not uncommon," Mr. Samford said. The result, he thinks, is that Herzog spends less on new equipment. "You're better-utilizing your assets," he said.

Shep Nelson, fleet manager at Goodfellow Bros. Inc., an earth-moving company based in Hawaii, said the company used to have a general practice of replacing machines after five years. Now in some cases Goodfellow keeps machines seven or eight years when data suggest they aren't worn out. "We know exactly how much it's being used," said Mr. Nelson, whose company also has offices along the U.S. West Coast.

The tracking systems, known as telematics, use global-positioning technology and wireless communications devices to gather and transmit data. They have been around for decades but in the past were used mostly for such things as guarding against theft and discouraging operators from wasting fuel by letting engines idle too long.

Equipment makers figure it is in their interest to encourage wider usage of these devices. John H. Thomas, a marketing and strategy manager at Caterpillar's headquarters in Peoria, Ill., said helping customers figure out when they can avoid buying new equipment is part of creating a "consultative relationship" that makes them more loyal. Caterpillar can show itself to be a partner "instead of just selling them a piece of iron," he said.

More efficient use of equipment fleets "makes the customer stronger," said Rod Schrader, chief executive of Komatsu America, and that should help his company.

Usage of the devices also provides copious data to both the customer and the manufacturer about how equipment is being used and how often it breaks down, among other things. That helps the manufacturers improve designs and forecast demand for new equipment and replacement parts. (Customers can refuse to let manufacturers see the data, but few do that.)

When customers cut back on buying new machines, Caterpillar and Japan-based Komatsu still can earn lots of money selling replacement parts. "I think parts definitely have better margins" than new machines, said Rob Wertheimer, an analyst at Vertical Research Partners in New York. He estimated that parts account for as much as half of Caterpillar's profit from machinery in some years.

Despite the manufacturers' efforts to sell customers on the advantages, usage of the devices remains low. Only 15% to 18% of Caterpillar machines sold in the past decade are using the company's monitoring system, Mr. Thomas said. A problem, he said, is that some customers see the technology as too complicated. Caterpillar is offering training at dealerships and trade shows, along with YouTube videos.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/gauging-heavy-equipment-loads-1406493923

Machinery Maintenance and Heavy Equipment Repair Services in Canada Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld

Despite improvements in industrial capacity utilization, rebounding corporate profit encouraged operators in downstream markets to upgrade rather than repair their systems, tempering the performance of the Machinery Maintenance and Heavy Equipment Repair Services industry over the five years to 2014. Key downstream markets, including the construction and energy sectors, have improved sharply over the five-year period, with the value of nonresidential construction and the Oil Drilling and Gas Extraction industry revenue (IBISWorld report 21111CA) estimated to expand at annualized rates of 7.8% and 7.5%, respectively. However, the 6.2% annualized increase in aggregate private investment includes extensive investment in new machinery and equipment, which tends to decrease repair opportunities for depreciated and worn machinery. As a result, industry revenue is anticipated to increase at an annualized rate of only 0.3% over the five-year period to $6.4 billion, including a 2.2% decrease in 2014 revenue.
“In spite of subdued revenue growth, the industry's profit margin has improved significantly in recent years,” according to IBISWorld Industry Analyst Stephen Hoopes. The average price received by domestic operators for their services is anticipated to increase at an annualized rate of 2.6% in the five years to 2014. Alternatively, wages and purchases are expected to remain relatively constant over the five-year period, despite increases in the world price of steel, which tend to boost industry input costs. In addition, downstream markets continue to outsource their maintenance needs to industry operators, given the cost and quality advantages of this practice, including the increasing quality of the industry's labour pool. According to the latest available data from Service Canada, the share of heavy-duty equipment mechanics with at least a postsecondary degree now exceeds 70.0%, with the specialization of industry employees driving additional sales for operators.
Over the five years to 2019, industry revenue is forecast to increase. Continued improvements in downstream markets and the industrial capacity utilization rate are anticipated to drive industry labour and parts fees. “However, company growth rates will likely remain subdued as some markets experience a degree of saturation,” says Hoopes. Yet, the average industry operator's size is forecast to remain small given the lack of traditional benefits garnered from economies of scale in the industry.
For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Machinery Maintenance and Heavy Equipment Repair Services in Canada industry report page.
Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld
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IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
This industry offers maintenance and repair (M&R) services, such as blade sharpening and welding, for commercial, industrial, agricultural and other sectors that use heavy machinery and equipment. Automotive and electronic repairs are excluded from this industry.
Industry Performance
Executive Summary
Key External Drivers
Current Performance
Industry Outlook
Industry Life Cycle
Products & Markets
Supply Chain
Products & Services
Major Markets
Globalization & Trade
Business Locations
Competitive Landscape
Market Share Concentration
Key Success Factors
Cost Structure Benchmarks
Barriers to Entry
Major Companies
Operating Conditions
Capital Intensity
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Annual Change
Key Ratios
About IBISWorld Inc.
Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US and Canadian industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/06/prweb11959282.htm

Heavy Machines coming to Covington

COVINGTON — A new business is moving to Covington that will not only bring jobs, but also make an impact on sales tax revenue.

Heavy Machines Inc. will locate its Atlanta headquarters at the old warehouse at 10110 Roberts Way in Covington. The company, which is based in Memphis, Tenn., is a group of equipment dealers throughout the U.S. supplying heavy-duty, special purpose equipment for sale.

Covington-Newton Chamber of Commerce industrial recruiter Dave Bernd said excavators, backhoes, lumber equipment and other heavy machinery that ranges in price from $200,000 to $1 million will be sold from the Covington site.

“As they sell this equipment and also provide maintenance, Newton County will reap the tax benefits,” Bernd said.

Heavy Machines Inc. decided to invest in the old warehouse due to the building’s layout of large overhead doors, which will make it easier for the large equipment to move in and out, Bernd said. The company also plans to invest $255,000 into the building for improvements.

About eight jobs will be offered immediately and 12 total after the business begins to grow.

“Because of the nature of the job, which includes maintenance on such big machinery, the jobs will be high-paying in the $25 per hour range or higher,” Bernd said.

Other company locations include Pooler; Skowhegan, Maine; Bartow, Fla.; Shreveport, La.; and Sorrento, La.
http://www.newtoncitizen.com/news/2014/may/12/heavy-machines-coming-covington/

Galadari Trucks and Heavy Equipment Launches New Komatsu Excavator in UAE

Company Foresees Double-Digit Growth Over Coming Two Years Dubai, 31 March 2014 - Galadari Trucks and Heavy Equipment (GTHE), the leading heavy equipment distributor and authorized dealer of Komatsu in the UAE, is announcing the launch of the latest Komatsu Excavator (PC200-8MO) in the UAE market. This new launch comes as part of the company's latest efforts to achieve a double-digit growth rate over the coming two years relying on the growing investment in the infrastructure sector in the UAE.

The new Komatsu excavator is the newest edition to the Dash-8/200 Komatsu Excavator Series. It was developed under the three concepts of "Environment, Safety, and ICT" which conformed to the highest standards of environmental regulations while meeting the user needs from the major markets and maintaining optimum performance levels.
Samer Khalid, General Manager, Galadari Trucks and Heavy Equipment commented: "With the increasing investment in the infrastructure sector and strong recovery in the property and construction market currently taking place in the UAE, especially with Dubai winning Expo 2020, the company is foreseeing an increased demand for heavy machinery in the UAE. This all translates to a great increase in business for GTHE over the coming few years."

"The new Komatsu Excavator includes major fuel economy improvements that more customers can realize by reducing hydraulic loss and employing new engine control technologies, all while maintaining optimum operating performance," added Khalid. The new Komatsu excavator also comes with a high definition "multi-monitor" that is easy to operate along with the upgraded "KOMTRAX" support energy saving operation.

Key features of the Komatsu PC200-8MO includes: · Engine and hydraulic total electronic control system
· Hydraulic loss reduction features
· Advanced technology of high performance cooling system
· Low fuel consumption by total control of the engine, hydraulic and electronic system.
· Low emission engine
· Low operation noise
· Large Comfortable Cab
· Large multi-lingual high resolution LCD monitor
· Easy Maintenance
In order to consolidate the company's relation with its clients and machine operators, GTHE also hosted an operator's event, for the first time in the GCC, to help the clients and operators get first-hand experience of the latest machine technology.
For more information on the latest Komatsu products please visit www.komatsu.com
-Ends-
About Galadari Trucks and Heavy EquipmentGaladari Trucks and Heavy Equipment (GTHE) is a flagship company in the Galadari Brothers group of companies and supplies the huge demand for construction equipment across the UAE. Galadari Brothers expertise in this area has seen expansion to work with many new partners, providing all aspects of construction equipment and associated supplies. GTHE is the exclusive dealer of Komatsu equipments in the UAE, providing bulldozers, excavators and forklifts used in civil engineering, mining and construction across the region. With an excellent distribution network in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Al Ain, GTHE manages the servicing and pre-delivery inspection of all equipment sold.
https://www.zawya.com/story/Galadari_Trucks_and_Heavy_Equipment_Launches_New_Komatsu_Excavator_in_UAE-ZAWYA20140331100807/

Minetech to expand into heavy machinery distribution

KUALA LUMPUR: Minetech Resources Berhad (MRB), one of the largest listed players in the quarry mining industry, today announced that it plans to venture into the distribution of heavy machineries.

To this end, MRB has established a new unit, Minetech Heavy Machineries Sdn Bhd, which will be responsible for this heavy equipment business.

MRB expressed confidence in the new venture because it said the construction equipment market alone in Malaysia is estimated to be worth almost RM1.46bil (US$470mil) by 2015.

“In addition, this industry is also highly supported and boosted by Government initiatives such as the Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3, 2006-2020)," said group executive officer Chin Leong Choy.
The IMP3, he elaborated, aimed to position Malaysia as the regional production hub for high technology and specialised machinery and equipment (M&E), the main distribution centre in the region for all types of M&E, and the centre for maintenance-related services for high technology and specialised M&E.
“With such a promising market, we are eyeing the opportunities as it is also in line with our company’s goal to grow our source of income from other streams. To kick-start, MRB will first distribute a line of products for the mining industry. We also get to purchase the equipment for our own use at dealer's price, thereby improving our profit margins,” Chin continued

http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/03/05/Minetech-to-expand-into-heavy-machinery-distribution/

New expanded range of wear plate kits for heavy machinery released

An expanded range of wear plate kits is being manufactured by the TW Woods Group for the maintenance of heavy machinery employed by such industries as mining and energy, oil and gas, civil engineering and construction and infrastructure.

The growing range – produced in response to industry needs for maximum uptime, durability and cost-efficiency – now includes kits for some of the industries’ most widely used bulldozers including 854 Cat push dozer kit, D11 dozer liners, Cat 793 liners and Cat D10 and D11 blades.
These are complemented by stock kits for Hitachi R280 truck trays and Hitachi EH 4500 excavators, as well as custom-fabricated options for all major makes of machinery, says T W Woods Managing Director Mr Tom Woods.
The kits – typically employed on heavy bulldozers, trucks, graders and loaders – are precision cut, processed and packaged at the company’s new plate processing facility at Tomago, near Newcastle, which also handles challenging maintenance and fabrication tasks involving tanks, silo, chute, loader and other materials handling equipment.
Kits are distributed nationally after fabrication to the quality standards of TW Woods national and international clients, which include, for a variety of metal products, Delta Energy, Incitec Pivot, Integra Coal, Laing O’Rourke, Xstrata and surface and underground mining companies throughout Australia including iron ore producers in the Pilbara and coal companies in Queensland.

“Because we handle the broad spectrum of metal fabrication tasks in the one facility, we offer optimised quality control and delivery times for wear plate products frequently needed to precise deadlines,” said Tom Woods. “We are always aware of the uptime and maintenance needs of our world-class customers across the heavy industry sector, and we share their standards of workmanship and reliability as applied to heavy machinery,” said Mr Woods, whose company has undertaken multi-million dollar plant investment encompassing 4,500 sq m of purpose-built fully equipped workshop space at Tomago.
New plant used in the cutting and processing of wear plate kits includes a 300 amp cad-cam profile plasma cutting bed capable of cutting 13 m x 3.5 m plates up to 60 mm thick with plasma, and more than 150 mm with oxy. The facility also houses a 1,600 amp stud welding machine and a plate handling and processing facility serviced by a 10 tonne overhead gantry crane.
The company’s press brake facilities include a 1,000 ton x 3.2m brake press that can press form steel plate up to 60 mm thick, making it suitable for major fabrication tasks including include draglines, buckets, mills, earthmoving equipment, ripper blades, pressure tanks and pipelines and diverse heavy plate fabrications. The company’s services include specialised shaping, fabrication and welding technology for metals including carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminium.
Image caption: TW Woods Directors Tom and Glenn Woods with their plasma cutting plant.

http://pipeliner.com.au/news/uptime_demands_expanded_range_of_wear_plate_kits_custom-fabricated_for_heav/081864/

Mudslinging in China's Heavy-Machinery Sector

Digging for dirt on China's machinery sector can be productive, especially when the economy's stuck in the mud.
Several companies that supply excavators, loaders and other construction equipment ran into trouble in 2012 and in the first few months of this year. The main problem was slowing economic growth, though oversupply of equipment was a big factor too. That led to slumping sales, rising inventory levels and a sharp uptick in accounts receivable as hard-up customers took longer to pay.
All that was supposed to end with an uptick in the economy in 2013. Instead, growth still looks uncertain—with little cheer to be found in recent data on factory activity and industrial profits, for example. Sun Hung Kai Financial analyst Vik Chopra noted that sales data for some equipment has turned positive recently. But that's off a low base, and prospects for a rebound are unclear, he said.
With green shoots of recovery hard to come by, the sector makes fertile ground for naysayers.
Take Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., the second-largest company in the sector by market capitalization, at $8.9 billion. Zoomlion suspended trading in its Hong Kong- and mainland China-listed shares Monday after a Chinese news website alleged the company's sales data included false numbers. It declined to comment and said a statement is pending, though none was available at the time of writing.
Investors will be concerned. Zoomlion has already had to defend itself once this year, after an anonymous letter to the media and regulators in January accused it of exaggerating sales. The company declared then that its accounts are accurate.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324310104578508913946561542.html

Activist Locks Himself to Keystone XL Heavy Machinery Launching a 'Red River Showdown' Over KXL South

TUSHKA, OKLAHOMA--(ENEWSPF)--April 22 - On Earth Day 2013, to mark the close of the State Department’s public comment period for TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL Northern Segment (KXL North) pipeline’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), an activist with the Great Plains Tar Sands Resistance has locked himself to a piece of Keystone XL heavy machinery in Oklahoma, temporarily halting work site construction. Alec Johnson, a 61-year old climate justice organizer from Ames, Iowa took direct action to defend the Red River in solidarity with the Mayflower, Arkansas community, which is currently reeling from last month’s massive tar sands spill. The disaster, due to a 22-foot long gash in ExxonMobil’s ruptured Pegasus tar sands pipeline, has resulted in chronic health problems for nearby residents and has left Lake Conway dangerous polluted.

“This is our environmental impact statement,” stated artist/activist and Great Plains Tar Sands Resistance spokesperson Richard Ray Whitman. “TransCanada claims its technology will prevent spills, but that same technology was used on the Pegasus line, too. That didn’t work, now, did it? We are taking a stand to protect our access to clean water. KXL South is already being constructed with or without the North, and the destruction of our waterways in its path is not a question of if, but when. No toxic pipeline is worth the gamble and no communities in Texas or Oklahoma deserve the fate of Mayflower, Arkansas.”
While the current fate of KXL North rests upon U.S. Presidential approval, KXL South’s now lies in the broad-spectrum opposition it has garnered in the form of legal cases as well as the grassroots civil disobedience campaigns by groups like Great Plain Tar Sands Resistance and Tar Sands Blockade. Should KXL North be permitted to start construction, these groups along with grassroots indigenous organizations, several Lakota Nation tribal councils, and over 60,000 others have pledged resistance in the form of non-violent direct action to halt pipeline construction.
International treaties like the Treaty to Protect the Sacred and strongly-worded tribal council resolutions like those recently passed by the Oglala and Ihanktonwan Oyate/Yankton Sioux General Councils pledging resistance to KXL North “by all means necessary” indicate a tremendous unity amongst Great Plains indigenous nations. The strong reactions come after years of inadequate consultation on the part of TransCanada with regards to impacts on the Lakota Nation communities by its toxic tar sands pipeline. In recognizing the dire threat to their first medicine, sacred water, the communities are also embracing the spirit of international solidarity with First Nation communities downstream from tar sands mining sites. After years decrying the chemical pollution and resulting destruction of traditional life ways from tar sands exploitation in what some affected indigenous peoples refer to as a “slow industrial genocide,” Cree and Dene Nations are experiencing an upsurge in sympathy and solidarity with their plight.
“I am personally amazed at how resistance to the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and education as to what tar sands exploitation looks like continues to grow every day,” Johnson wrote in a statement prior to his action. “Because it would be irresponsible, we’re not stopping until the industry stops poisoning our futures with lies, unnecessary risks, and death for their profit. As long as the tar sands industry promises it will kill, we will blockade.”
http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/latest-national/latest-national-news/42395-activist-locks-himself-to-keystone-xl-heavy-machinery-launching-a-red-river-showdown-over-kxl-south.html

Ritchie Bros. offers online heavy equipment marketplace

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has launched an online website for heavy equipment sales that gives buyers and sellers an eBay-like experience for purchases of everything from helicopters to dump trucks.
The Burnaby-based auctioneer held the commercial launch of its online marketplace, EquipmentOne.com, in a webcast on Monday.
Chief strategic development officer Bob Armstrong walked participants through the workings of what he described as an innovative and unique addition to the used heavy equipment market.
Ritchie Bros. has a $4-billion-a year auction business specializing in industrial equipment, but Armstrong said although the company is the world's largest seller of used equipment, it has only a two-per-cent slice of the $200-billion-a-year global market.
"The size of the used-equipment market worldwide is colossal," he said.
Half of that market is handled through private negotiations between buyers and sellers.
"We recognized an opportunity because Ritchie Bros. has the reputation, knowledge and brand to bring to that side of the market."
Ritchie Bros. quietly launched the site Jan. 2, Armstrong said, but has spent the last three months refining it and getting feedback. During that period, the website did $10 million worth of transactions.
It has 606 listings, but includes links to other websites. However, its listing tool is available only to sellers in the United States at this time. Canadian sellers are expected to be able to list equipment later this year, with further international expansion planned for 2014.
Armstrong said Ritchie Bros. borrowed elements from existing buy-and-sell websites to develop its own portal. "We have taken advantage of all the great ideas that consumer websites and non-machinery equipment websites have used to create an awesome experience," he said. "It is quite different from what you are used to seeing in the equipment world."
Instead of kicking the tires of a log loader, a potential buyer has access to details about the equipment, high-resolution photos that can be zoomed in on, and market analysis showing what the going prices are for the displayed equipment. Negotiations are all visible, and Ritchie Bros. stands behind the process, Armstrong said.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Ritchie+Bros+offers+online+heavy+equipment+marketplace/8215059/story.html#ixzz2QALlnu5i

Top Picks in Heavy Machinery

Credit Suisse

The Machinery group slid 3.8% last week, weighed down primarily by macro headlines.

In farm equipment, we saw some positive data from both the Brazil and the U.S. markets. In Brazil, tractor sales grew of 8% year-over-year, seeing its first positive year-over-year growth since September 2010. In the U.S., combine growth turned positive for the first time since April 2011, growing nearly 10% year-over-year in October.

The September-October time frame tends to be seasonally important for combines, which should benefit Deere (ticker: DE). In construction, Caterpillar (CAT) made headlines by purchasing [Hong Kong-listed] ERA Mining Machinery, which manufactures and sells hydraulic-roof supports under its subsidiary, Siwei. On the heels of Caterpillar's recent Bucyrus International acquisition, ERA would give Caterpillar an even larger presence in the mining market with a focus on underground and a bigger footprint into China specifically. We view the deal as a modest positive as it strengthens Caterpillar's positioning in mining in China and is not too surprising given the company's more aggressive stance on improving its competitive positioning and acquisitions in general.

Top picks remain Caterpillar and Cummins (CMI).

Both KBR (KBR) and Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI) held their investor meetings this week and both had very upbeat tones, in particular with respect to the hydrocarbons end market. 2012 could be the year of the elephant for KBR, looking to win major projects including Inpex Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Kitimat LNG, Browse LNG, Pluto LNG, and the Angola Refinery. In fact, KBR believes backlog could nearly double to $20 billion, up from $11.7 billion today, over the next four years. With the house in order, KBR will look to become more vertically integrated, increasing its share of the pie both through organic measures and acquisitions. Last, KBR will continue to enhance its capabilities within Power, Minerals, and Infrastructure. In our opinion, Chief Executive Bill Utt wants the scale of Fluor (FLR) (size and diversification) but with a much deeper oil and gas (i.e. offshore, LNG and Technology) portfolio and vertical integrated service offering.

Chicago Bridge was also very positive with respect to awards growth including LNG (Browse & Kitimat projects), refining, oil sands, and gas processing in 2012. Chicago Bridge also hinted acquisitions are on the table. Chicago Bridge will look to strengthen its positioning in offshore, additional technology businesses (like Lummus), and even petrochemical to balance its already market leading positioning in LNG, refining, gas processing, and oil sands. We continue to like the oil and gas names.

-- Jamie Cook
-- Peter Chang
-- Andrew Buscaglia
-- Linda Yuan
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052748704101304577038523810687072.html?mod=BOL_hpp_oe

Heavy Machinery Hauled in for Guthrie Search

HOLT COUNTY, Mo. - Crews continued another full day of searching Friday, in hopes of recovering the body of missing Missouri Highway Patrolman, Fred Guthrie.

A close friend of the Guthrie family loaned search crews several large pieces of dig equipment in hopes of speeding up the recovery effort.
Trooper Guthrie is believed to have been swept away by flood waters in early August 2011. Crews are searching for the Troopers body at Highway 111 and 118 near Big Lake, Missouri.

Guthrie's K9, Reed, was found in the area where the search is underway.
Crews from Kansas City and St. Joseph have been pumping remaining flood water from a scour hole more than 65 feet deep and four acres wide around the clock.

Thursday an "item of interest" was recovered at the dig site. Troopers are hopeful it belongs to Guthrie, but have sent it to a lab in Jefferson City for confirmation.
The dig will continue throughout the weekend.
http://stjoechannel.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=236457

Masami Shimizu Named President of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery

Hiroshima, Japan, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Board of Directors unanimously approved the immediate appointment of Masami Shimizu to the position of president of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing and Packaging Machinery, Ltd. (MHI-P&PM). Masami Shimizu succeeds Ken Watabe, who served as the first president of MHI-P&PM and guided the new company during its start-up phase.

Masami Shimizu brings a wealth of managerial skills and hands-on experience within the graphic arts industry to his new position. He attended the prestigious Nihon University for his undergraduate and graduate studies where he earned a Master in Mechanical Engineering. In 1978, he joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and was assigned to the Production Department of the Paper & Printing Machinery Division as an engineering technician, gradually expanding his responsibilities in this area over the years. Following his appointment to the position of senior manager of the Production Department, he oversaw the renovation of the production management system and headed the production cost reduction project. These and similar key accomplishments were instrumental in setting the course of the company's direction.

With the establishment of MHI-P&PM in July 2010, he was appointed to one of three executive vice president positions created within the highest managerial ranks of the new company and placed in charge of the company's paper converting machinery business (corrugating machinery and box-making machinery) and all production and procurement operations.

Calling upon his more than 30 years of experience, Masami Shimizu and former President Watabe helped mold MHI-P&PM into a leaner organization better equipped to weather the harsh economic conditions still prevalent in many of today's global markets. In his new role, President Shimizu will lead MHI-P&PM in becoming an even more customer-oriented operation through the introduction of sophisticated technologies designed to advance printers, publishers and the graphic arts industry.
http://whattheythink.com/news/51552-masami-shimizu-president-mitsubishi-printing-packaging/

Dealer deepens presence in heavy equipment sector

Heavy equipment supplier Mantrac has expanded its operations in Kenya to tap into a construction boom triggered by the ongoing infrastructure and housing projects across the country.

The construction of county government offices and related infrastructure that is expected to start soon will further provide an expanded market for construction equipment vendors.

There is also ongoing shift to give more incentives to the residential housing sector in a market that is under-supplied with lobbying directed towards enabling construction of affordable middle income homes.

Kenya is also planning mega projects in wind power, with Lake Turkana Wind Power, expected to break ground in December this year in an area that will require roads and related infrastructure.

The construction of Lamu Port, which is also in the pipeline, will need heavy equipment as well.

Mantrac and Panafrican Equipment Kenya, both vendors of earth-movers including construction tractors and heavy-duty generators are the two main players in the Kenyan market.

Mantrac said it has spent Sh160 million to expand its warehouse and renovate its premises in the Industrial Area readying for a market battle in an economy that has lined mega projects on expansion of roads, port, waterworks and airports.

“Our sales in Kenya have been growing in the last five years despite the global meltdown and post-election violence and that is why we are investing to take care of the growing client list,” said Mantrac managing director Fred Aryeetey.

The company said it plans to invest a further Sh24.6 million this year to expand its Nairobi facility to handle more equipment, spares and improve customer service.

Robust infrastructure development has provided the biggest market for earth movers and heavy diesel generators.

Other key projects that will provide long term market for earth movers include the ongoing construction of Thika Road, construction of water dams across the country, the relocation of Wilson Airport to Ruai, the Konza ICT City and other projects related to Vision 2030.

Reforms in the construction sector like the proposed National Construction Authority Bill are expected to drive growth.

Local financing solutions like the Infrastructure bonds are expected to ease the risk of stalled projects that could slow down the equipment market.

Matrac is the sole distributor of Caterpillar brand in Kenya.

The government first issued infrastructure bond in February 2009 and subsequent three others that have collectively raised Sh86 billion.