Sector Snap: Heavy machinery manufacturers slip

Shares of several heavy machinery manufacturers fell Friday as an analyst said CNH Global NV's warning about a turbulent 2009 demonstrates "the view is abysmal" for the year.

Analyst Robert F. McCarthy of Robert W. Baird & Co. said in a note to investors that he sees "particularly negative implications" for Caterpillar Inc., Deere & Co., Terex Corp. and Astec Industries Inc., which will follow CNH Global in reporting earnings results.

CNH Global, a supplier of agricultural and construction-equipment businesses, reported Thursday it earned $114 million, or 48 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, about the same as a year ago. Excluding restructuring charges, it earned 49 cents per share.

Revenue for the Amsterdam-based company dropped 10 percent to $3.67 billion.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, on average, had expected earnings per share of 69 cents on much higher revenue of $4.75 billion.

McCarthy said the implications also are negative for lifting equipment manufacturers such as Manitowoc Co. Inc., Oshkosh Corp. and suppliers such as Parker Hannifin Corp. and Sun Hydraulics Corp.

Shares of Caterpillar fell $1.89, or 5 percent, to $35.34 in morning trading as the overall market was down. Deere was down $1.53, or 4 percent, to $35.98. Terex slipped to 56 cents, or 4 percent, to $13.50. Astec dropped 43 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $25.50. Manitowoc slipped 11 cents, or about 2 percent, to $6.27 and Oshkosh dropped 43 cents, or 4 percent, to $9.57.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/01/23/ap5957560.html

Machining center for heavy workpieces

Hermle Machine says its C 50 U Dynamic machining center extends the C series' capabilities to cut larger, heavier parts. With XYZ axis travels of 1,000 x 1,100 x 700 mm, the machine can accommodate workpieces weighing as much as 2,000 kg. Rapid traverse rates are 60 m per minute in the X and Y axes and 55 m per minute in the Z axis. In addition, the Y axis is equipped with tandem drive for higher machine dynamics.

The machine is available with an NC swiveling rotary table with clamping surface diameter of 700 mm or an optional 1,150 x 900 mm diameter. Both tables use an integrated torque motor on the C axis and a tandem drive motor on the A axis. The A axis is capable of speeds of 20 rpm, while the C axis can reach 30 rpm. Both are said to increase flexibility by offering a swivel range extending to +30 degrees/-115 degrees.

According to the company, the machine is useful for simultaneous five-axis and/or five-sided machining of large automotive parts, aircraft parts or precision molds. It can accommodate parts with diameters as large as 1,000 mm and heights ranging to 810 mm. Precision is in the single-digit micron range, the company says.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3101/is_2_80/ai_n19362157?tag=content;col1

Fluids for heavy machining and grinding

Designed for moderate- to heavy machining and grinding applications, the Cimstar 3800 family of fluids has been developed to meet the challenges of aluminum machining and grinding in the automotive industry.

The line is suitable for use with titanium, exotic alloys and ferrous and non-ferrous alloys and provides cleanliness and bimetallic corrosion control for parts, individual machines and central plant systems, the company says.

For more information from Milacron Inc., call (513) 487-5643 or enter MMS Direct code 434KK at www.mmsonline.com

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3101/is_10_77/ai_n13455093?tag=content;col1

Mitsubishi Heavy Said to Abandon Sale of Tokyo Base

Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan’s largest heavy-machinery maker, canceled a plan to sell its Tokyo headquarters because bids for the property failed to meet expectations, two people familiar with the sale said.

The sale of the 28-story building was scrapped in October, the people said, declining to be identified because the information wasn’t public. The company had aimed to sell the property for about $800 million, according to one of the people.

Mitsubishi Heavy joins other Japanese companies seeking to reduce non-revenue producing assets and instead expand its power equipment and aerospace business. The company, which makes everything from ships to nuclear reactors and wings for Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner jet, is developing Japan’s first passenger jet, slated to come into service in 2013.

“As general practice of our company, Mitsubishi Heavy periodically evaluates its assets, including real estate,” spokesman Hideo Ikuno said by telephone. He declined to discuss the Tokyo building.

Mitsubishi Heavy is spending 235 billion yen ($2.5 billion) on facilities and equipment each year to March 2011, 28 percent more than the average of the past two years, it said last year.

Lack of Capital

Other Japanese companies have started to sell off properties or real estate units to focus on their main businesses. Banks including Resona Holdings Inc., Shinsei Bank Ltd. and Citigroup Inc. sold their Tokyo headquarters last year to raise capital.

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Building is located in Shinagawa, southwest of central Tokyo. The tower, completed in March 2003, has space of 227,527 square meters (2.4 million square feet). The company occupies about one third of the property.

Shinagawa Mitsubishi Building, a 32-story tower next to Mitsubishi Heavy’s headquarters, was sold to Morgan Stanley’s real-estate fund for 140.2 billion yen in January 2005.

A lack of financing forced 25 public traded real estate and construction companies to file for bankruptcy in Japan in 2008. The less a potential buyer of a building can borrow, the less they can pay.

The banking units of Japan’s top four lenders -- Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Mizuho Financial Group Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. and Resona -- cut commercial real estate lending by almost 770 billion yen in the six months through September, compared with the end of March, according to earnings statements published in November.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kathleen Chu in Tokyo at kchu2@bloomberg.net; Masumi Suga in Tokyo at msuga@bloomberg.net.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aJUEuhuAlT00&refer=japan

What is Heavy Machinery and what are the merits of Heavy Machinery?

Heavy machine or heavy machinery is referred to a complex machine doing a number of simple machine operations at the same time. The need for usage of heavy machinery arises from the fact that complex and complicated activities such as laying of roads, tilling and sowing seeds equidistantly spread over a vast area of agricultural fields ready for the commencement of agricultural operations can neither be performed with the help of simple machines, nor the labor force is capable of doing the complex and heavy activities at a relatively faster pace. Heavy machinery, or heavy equipment, meets the requirement of completing complex jobs at a relatively quicker pace of time, and in the bargain saving considerable amount of overheads.

Have you ever watched a giant-sized machine being used at the roadside to lay roads? or a heavy machine being put to use to create a gravel and sand mixture to build roads? These business wire release similar types of equipment are jointly referred to heavy equipment required to carry out heavy jobs of specific nature.

The need for usage of heavy equipment machinery arises from the fact that global competition among the different types of activities is on the rise due to technological innovations, and in such a competitive world, any firm aspiring to survive and grow in the competitive market space is to innovate new products, press release with mostly reduce the overhead costs. For example, the activity of laying roads over a stretch of say 500 meters can be completed by the heavy equipment operator (or) heavy machinery operator and a couple of helpers in less than 12 hours maximum. If the heavy machine were not there, about 50 to 60 employees might have to be employed for digging the hole, clearing the debris and all other such related works to complete the mission of laying a new road for the local street.

Heavy equipment or heavy machinery needs the services of heavy equipment operator or heavy machinery operator, who is capable of operating the machine and complete the multi-tasks assigned to some of the custom-built heavy equipment.

The market for heavy equipment is vibrant with lots of competition among the heavy machinery traders to offer heavy equipment sales or heavy machinery sales either as new products, or used heavy equipment or second-hand equipment, in the market to prospective customers.
http://www.meadowfreepress.com/trucks-suvs/0,1873,400761,00.html

Russia top heavy machinery producer listed on Frankfurt bourse

MOSCOW, December 30 (RIA Novosti) - A holding company for Russia's top heavy machinery manufacturer Concern Tractor Plants group of companies has successfully completed a listing procedure on the Frankfurt stock exchange, the group said in a press release.

Concern Tractor Plants N.V. placed shares in the form of Global Depositary Receipts issued by Deutsche Bank, the company statement said.

Concern Tractor Plants is an international producer of diversified light and heavy machinery, with most of its factories located in Russia.

The placement of shares on the Frankfurt stock exchange is important for the stable development of the group's business and is aimed at acquiring a new status, increasing attractiveness for financial institutions, expanding a range of creditors and improving relations with clients and counterparties, the statement said.

http://en.rian.ru/business/20081230/119226290.html

Toyoda's Double Column Vertical Machining Centers Meet Needs of Heavy Part Manufacturers

Toyoda Machinery USA Inc.
Release date: November 19, 2008


Arlington Heights, IL - Toyoda Machinery's bridge type machining centers deliver rugged reliability and high-accuracy output. This provides heavy cutting capabilities for large, heavy part manufacturers in industries such as aerospace and energy.

Toyoda bridge and gantry machining centers' superior structural integrity is essential to achieving high performance and extreme precision. The large Meehanite cast iron base offers higher density and uniform soundness over traditional cast iron, giving the casting greater tensile strength and maximum vibration-dampening capabilities.

The machines' work area ranges from 83 to 239 inches in the X axis. The automatic tool changer technology delivers drastic improvements in high-quality part throughput. A full splash guard, dual chip conveyors, and a Fanuc CNC make the machines easy to use and maintain.

Toyoda Machinery is one of the largest machine tool manufacturers worldwide. Toyoda is an engineering-driven company that builds, supplies and services flexible machining systems, horizontal and vertical machining centers and grinding machines. Toyoda Machinery headquarters is located in Arlington Heights, IL. The Automotive Products Division is located in Wixom, MI. For more information call 847-253-0340 or visit www.toyoda.com.

Contact:
Jamie L. Goff
Public Relations Director
LoSasso Advertising
773-271-2100
jgoff@losasso.com

Company Information:
Name: Toyoda Machinery USA Inc.
Address: 316 W. University Dr.
City: Arlington Heights
State: IL
ZIP: 60004
Country: USA
Phone: 888-513-8368
FAX: 847-253-0540
http://www.industry.net/toyoda.machinery