Levelling sets handle heavy machines

The GN350 series are ideal for permanent levelling of machine tools, production line machinery, process equipment or gravity transport systems where very accurate degrees of slope may be required.

Accurate levelling of equipment and heavy machinery is facilitated by a new range of levelling sets from Elesa.

With individual load ratings from 4000 to 49,500kg static load, the GN350 series are ideal for permanent levelling of machine tools, production line machinery, process equipment or gravity transport systems where very accurate degrees of slope may be required.

Normally used in a configuration of three or more per equipment piece, the static load capacity created is sufficient to deal with even very large machinery.

The GN350 levelling sets are available in sizes from 25 to 80mm diameter, and are generally used in conjunction with spherical levelling washers, which take up angular differences in ground or equipment faces to ensure stress free positioning.

Each GN350 set comprises a threaded upper sleeve with a fine thread, which allows a stepless and precise setting and locking using a standard C spanner.

Normally, this screw is permanently and securely locked by the static load generated when the mounting screw is tightened - however if this is not considered sufficient then suitable locknuts are available.

http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/elc/elc193.html

Armory getting concrete parking for heavy machinery

Heavy machinery such as construction equipment and tanks are coming to the Keokuk National Guard Armory when a $323,000 project is completed around Labor Day.

A 70-by-85-foot section of the parking area behind the armory is getting an eight-inch concrete surface to handle the heavy machinery, according to Curtis Grant, project manager for First Construction Group, Inc. of Burlington, the general contractor. Another 100-by-40-foot portion of the parking lot will have a rock surface.

In addition, a 30-foot-long, 28-foot-wide concrete ramp is being built to load and unload the heavy machinery, Grant said.

The machinery is stored now at the National Guard Armory in Mount Pleasant, which also is scheduled to get a parking lot upgrade. No bids have been let yet on the Mount Pleasant project. Once the Keokuk armory project is finished, the National Guard will be able to store heavy machinery at each location, Grant pointed out.

A trench drain also is being installed near the metal maintenance vehicle storage building behind the Keokuk armory to handle water coming off the building’s roof and the improved parking lot.

Five trees were removed during the work in Keokuk, and they will be replaced with five new blue spruce trees or some other variety, Grant said.
The Keokuk armory’s parking lot will be enclosed with fencing with barbed wire on top for greater security. Light poles also will be installed.

First Construction Group, Inc. was the general contractor for the construction of the nearby Keokuk Aquatic Center.
http://www.dailygate.com/articles/2009/07/02/news/doc4a4cde77c663b811681197.txt

Engine stands also handle other heavy machinery

Where there is a need to move or rotate an engine or heavy object, the Benco range of engine stands from The Brixworth Engineering Co provide handling capacities between 760kg and 20tonnes.

Where there is a need to move or rotate an engine or heavy object, the Benco range of engine stands from The Brixworth Engineering Co provide handling capacities between 760kg and 20t.

The extensive Benco range has been specified by major engine and gearbox manufacturers, as well as many service companies including those involved with race car engineering.

Other general engineering applications involving large, awkward or heavy components can also be accommodated, and Brixworth has provided stands for jig and fixture assembly of aerospace components such as wing sections.

Testimony to the longevity and build quality of Brixworth products is the fact that the very first engine stand it supplied in 1966 is still providing excellent service.

The company's product range has been developed considerably over the years and now enjoys a worldwide reputation for the ease, simplicity and safety of rotational handling of heavy, out-of-balance loads with backlash-free movement.

The convenience and accessibility provided for assembly, service and maintenance operations ensures maximum production efficiency.

Whereas the ease of movement and safety while handling heavy loads complies with the highest level of regulations covering industrial working practices.

Many models can be supplied as floor mounted or mobile units, the latter providing the facility for easy relocation of work in progress to other stations.

Some models also offer an adjustable column, providing a spindle height that can be set from 760mm up to 1110mm.

Heavy items can be manipulated through 360 degrees in one plane and 90 degrees in the other.

Depending on the application, the rotational movements of the stands can be controlled electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically.

Although a comprehensive selection of standard models is available, Brixworth has considerable experience of designing and manufacturing bespoke engine stands, specifically to suit customer unique applications.

The company can supply site surveyors and engineers to evaluate any specialised requirements, ensuring that an effective solution is supplied in the most cost-effective manner.

The company is also now further extending its design and manufacturing facilities to embrace an entire range of specialised mechanical handling systems and devices, adding to its already impressive range of products and services.

http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/bix/bix100.html

Sector Snap: Heavy machinery makers struggle

Shares of companies that make giant mining trucks and big farming tractors fell Thursday on fresh evidence that global demand for their products is falling.

Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest construction and mining equipment manufacturer, on Wednesday reported global retail sales last month down 39 percent, the victim of the global recession and resulting construction slump.

R.W. Baird analyst Robert F. McCarthy said in a client note that the Peoria, Ill., company's "retail demand continues to decelerate globally."

Also Wednesday, Deere & Co., the world's largest farm equipment maker, cut its profit forecast for the second time this year because of falling sales.

Farmers have grown cautious about buying new equipment as prices for corn, wheat and other crops have fallen from record levels last year. Costs of fertilizer and fuel, meanwhile, remain relatively high. And the global credit crunch has made it more difficult to get loans.

Several analysts cut their 2009 earnings estimates on Deere. Jefferies analyst Stephen Volkmann trimmed his estimate by 45 cents to $2.65 per share and UBS analyst Henry Kirn trimmed his estimate to $2.50 from $3.35. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect, on average, $3.05.

In late morning trading, Deere fell $2.44, or 5.5 percent, to $41.89, Caterpillar lost $1.35, 3.6 percent, to $35.95 and Bucyrus International Inc. declined $1.53, or 5.9 percent, to $24.25.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/05/21/ap6452159.html

Worker crushed after failure to risk-assess top-heavy machinery 11/05/2009

The senior partner of a vehicle-breakdown recovery company has been fined £100,000 after an employee was crushed under a five-tonne press brake used to bend metal. Stuart Mullen, 33, was killed on 23 May 2006, while he and another employee were moving the machine using a jack and rollers. The company had brought the machine into its unit at Willowholme Industrial Estate, in Carlisle, a month previously but had set it down too close to the electric box into which it had to be wired.

Describing the machine, HSE inspector Steve Smith told SHP: “It was 5.3 tonnes, about two metres wide and about two metres high, but its depth was only about a metre and a bit. The problem that causes is, it is fairly unstable. All the hydraulic machinery and the hydraulic reservoir are at the top of the machine, which makes it quite top-heavy.”

The workers jacked up the left-hand side of the machine and inserted three rollers underneath, before repeating the process on the right-hand side. However, the feet of the machine were slightly offset from its base. This meant that as the device was moved a few inches, the rear roller had to be passed back to the front of the machine so that it could continue to be edged into position.

Once the equipment had been moved the required 10 to 12 inches away from the electric box, George Robertson Graham, the senior partner at the firm, told the employees to leave it where it was, and walked out of the unit. The workers thought this amounted to an instruction to take out the rollers and lower the machine.

As the machine was jacked up and they began to remove the rollers, it rocked and tipped over, trapping Mr Mullen underneath. Colleagues rushed to his aid and used a reach truck to lift the machine up. Paramedics were called but Mr Mullen had already died by the time they arrived.

Facing a charge under s2(1) of the HSWA 1974, for failing to carry out an adequate risk assessment, or having a safe system of work in place, Robertson Graham pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court on 27 April. He was fined £100,000 and told to pay £20,000 in costs.

His barrister pointed to the company’s show of remorse for the outcome of the incident, and its previously clean record as mitigating factors. The court was also presented with references showing Robertson Graham to be of good character.

Inspector Smith said: “What the risk assessment, if sufficient, should have shown is where the centre of gravity was on the machine, so they knew where to put the jack.”

He continued: “In this instance, an ad-hoc system was devised without proper consideration of the nature of the object that was being moved, or detailed analysis of the situation and the possible pitfalls.

“There had not been any special arrangements made through risk assessments, formalised systems of work, specially designed equipment, or training of the employees involved. Consideration had also not been given to the use of a specialist contractor.”
http://www.shponline.co.uk/article.asp?pagename=incourt&article_id=8803

Tectura Partners With Dean Machinery for Delivery of Heavy Equipment Dealer Solution

Tectura Corporation, a worldwide provider of business consulting services, is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Dean Machinery Co. Tectura will implement NAXT®, a solution developed on Microsoft Dynamics® AX technology exclusively for Caterpillar dealers, which will allow the company to plan and manage business operations throughout its seven locations.

NAXT streamlines and consolidates a dealer's computer system requirements on a single platform supporting all departments, including Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Equipment Sales, Equipment Rental, Parts (new, used and tear-down), Service, and Power Systems. The solution enables improved business process and business intelligence, integrates with Caterpillar systems, and is capable of interfacing with many leading OEMs and financial institutions.

"The NAXT solution represents another step in our quest to take our business to the next level," said Lori Dean, President of Dean Machinery. "As is our newly opened headquarters facility, our new Microsoft solution will be an important tool for us to provide the best possible customer experience and will provide our entire Dean Team visibility to all of our customer data. We chose Tectura as our partner on this journey based on their deep understanding of our industry, coupled with their knowledge and delivery skills related to NAXT and Microsoft Dynamics AX."

"We are pleased to partner with Dean Machinery on this important initiative," said Terry Petrzelka, Chief Executive Officer, Tectura Corporation. "Tectura has made a global commitment to this industry. Our heavy equipment team members have a proven track record of focusing skill, experience and deep industry knowledge and leading technologies to achieve success. We look forward to exceeding expectations and delivering the value-added services that make a distinctive impact for our heavy equipment dealer clients." In addition to Dean Machinery, Tectura has implemented solutions at Caterpillar dealers in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.

About Dean Machinery Co.

Dean Machinery Co. is the Caterpillar dealership providing quality equipment and superior support for construction, power generation, transportation, and agriculture customers in northwestern Missouri and eastern Kansas. Dean Machinery Co., founded in 1955, employs 320 people in 7 locations including its new headquarters campus in Kansas City, Missouri. Learn more at www.deancat.com.

About Tectura Corporation

Tectura is a worldwide provider of business consulting services delivering exceptional service and sustainable value through consulting, software and IT implementation. Our diverse clientele includes mid-sized companies and larger enterprises in the aerospace, life sciences, manufacturing and distribution, retail and services industries.

With more than 1,800 team members in 20+ countries, Tectura applies its industry knowledge and best practices philosophy to provide Microsoft Dynamics® ERP, CRM and technology solutions throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, we maximise our vast technology resources and deep Microsoft expertise to deliver increased efficiency, project acceleration and a competitive edge. Learn more at www.tectura.com.

http://ca.sys-con.com/node/930722

Special bearings for agricultural machinery

Schaeffler has an enviable reputation amongst designers of agricultural machinery for providing reliable, high quality, maintenance-free bearing solutions

Heavy-duty agricultural machinery, including tillage and sowing machines, harvesters and tractors, must be designed to withstand extremely harsh operating conditions.

Key here is the selection of appropriate bearing supports and seals.

Harsh conditions such as dirt, dust, sand, high humidity levels, heavy clay soil and shock loads, all take their toll on the mechanical strengths of the machine components and seals.

Large machinery often involves high costs for regular bearing maintenance.

Indeed, specialist agricultural machinery contractors are now demanding such solutions for their equipment.

This explains the current trends towards incorporating maintenance-free bearing solutions and seals on agricultural machinery.

Components on a harvester, for example, have to cope with plant remnants and sap, the acidic contents of which can cause ingress of dirt, leading to possible seal damage.

On a corn harvester, high rotary speeds lead to high mechanical stress on the bearing; contamination and aggressive, acidic corn sap affect the seal.

To solve these problems, Schaeffler has developed a ready-to-fit bearing unit with triple-lip sealing.

Similar to automotive wheel bearings, flingers can also be offered as an additional protective measure against ingress of dirt and other contaminants.

These components are pressed onto the rotating inner ring, using centrifugal forces to transfer contamination away from the bearing.

Schaeffler double-row angular contact bearings transmit loads through a solid housing into the adjacent structure.

The bearing has an additional grease chamber, which protects the bearing from dirt and corn sap.

The spherical bearing outer ring and the counter-shaped surface in the housing compensate for any misalignment in the adjacent structure during shaft mounting.

Similarly, tillage machines that are used to prepare the field for seed planting also require very robust bearing supports.

The bearings are combined with suitable flange housings, which simplify installation.

In plough discs, for example, the inclined position of the disc results in transverse forces and bending moments, as well as radial loads.

For these applications, Schaeffler offers double row angular contact ball bearings or robust, four-point bearings for applications with limited space.

Robust ball bearings are also offered for shaft supports.

For seeders, where the forces involved are lower, Schaeffler offers smaller bearing supports, as well as corresponding solutions for combinations of tillage and seeding machines.

* Bearing solutions for tractors.

Increasing working speeds and the higher performance capacity of tractors means that drive and power transmission units are subjected to higher stresses, which places higher demands on the bearing arrangements.

For these applications, Schaeffler offers both standard bearing units and custom designed bearing solutions.

On tractor engines, for example, under its INA brand, Schaeffler offers various belt drive components, such as tension systems and over-running clutches, water pump and fan bearings.

Together, the Schaeffler INA and FAG brands offer a wide range of bearings for applications in gears, power transmission systems and axles.

This includes needle roller bearings, drawn cup needle roller bearings and needle roller cages, machined or manufactured by forming methods.

Schaeffler premium quality 'X-life' range of bearings boast improved surface and geometrical accuracies, resulting in increased service life.

Full complement needle roller bearings are offered for maximum load carrying capacity in tight installation spaces and needle cages with a special, profiled 'KZK' cage is used in high acceleration applications.

Similarly, cylindrical roller bearings with different cage designs (and as full complement variants) with or without outer ring are other important components for the tractor drive train.

Schaeffler X-life tapered roller bearings with large contact angle, can be used for high load applications, with various heat treatment and material coatings available.

These types of bearings are often used in transmission-integrated hydro engines, pumps, in pinion bearing arrangements and rear axles.

For the interface between engine and transmission, Schaeffler can provide its LuK branded clutches, which incorporate specially developed clutch release bearings.

Here, effectively sealed bearings with drawn outer and/or inner rings are used, which enable cost-effective overall designs, while offering high reliability and extended service life.

For supporting slewing, tilting and for the alignment of chassis movements, axle suspensions and load harnesses, Schaeffler spherical plain bearings and rod ends are ideal.

Spherical plain bearings with complex lubrication groove systems on the outer ring can be used in combination with spring-dampened front axles and chassis.

Stabilisers, damping and hydraulic cylinders are fitted with spherical plain bearings and rod ends.

For example, Schaeffler Elgoglide maintenance-free, heavy-duty spherical plain bearings are used in the wishbone systems of front axles with independent wheel suspension.

Maintenance-free Permaglide cylindrical plain bushes can be found in door hinges, engine hood supports, lever sets and rod systems.

* Radial insert ball bearings.

In agricultural machinery, housed bearing units are often used to compensate for static angular misalignment of the shaft of up to 5 degrees for non-lubricating units.

The housing bore and bearing outer ring are spherical in shape so that the radial insert ball bearing can align itself in the housing.

In conjunction with the different housing types (cast iron and sheet steel), Schaeffler radial insert ball bearings form complete units, offering significant rationalisation options at the design stage and during customer manufacturing/assembly.

Numerous combinations are possible for every application.

Radial insert ball bearings come with a choice of five seals.

Most seals comprise three pieces and are made from zinc-coated outer and inner steel plates with rubber sealing ring.

This prevents ingress of dirt and humidity, while also ensuring the required elasticity and preload of the seal, even after a long period of operation.

The deep drawn outer steel plate protects the sealing ring against mechanical damage.

Bearings with R-seals have a larger grease reservoir due to sealing shields that are bent to the outside.

All sealing concepts comprise evenly and concentrically abutting rubber lips for increased bearing life, as well as firmly rolled inner and outer caps to ensure easy re-lubrication.

Schaeffler Corrotect coating can be applied to its radial insert ball bearings, offering customers a corrosion-resistant, low cost alternative to stainless steel bearings.

The inner rings and locking collars are coated against fretting corrosion as standard, which also prevents rust formation at the sealing lip.

http://www.processingtalk.com/news/ina/ina166.html