THE largest fire to occur in Penarth in living memory happened on the afternoon of May 29, 1977, on the bank holiday weekend.
Fire swept through the Esplanade Hotel which was a prominent Victorian landmark on Penarth seafront.
The hotel was famous in rugby circles for hosting the Barbarians rugby team on their popular Easter tour of South Wales, which always featured a match against the local Penarth team.
Large crowds had flocked to the Esplanade as it was a gloriously sunny day; but they were treated to the sight of over 50 firemen battling to extinguish the blaze which seriously damaged the building.
The first appliance to arrive was driven by me, with a veteran 'old hand' Mal Peters in charge. We had received the initial call-out as a rubbish fire at the rear of the hotel, and driving along Rectory Road and down the hill to the beach we could see a huge plume of smoke rising high above the seafront.
We all quickly realised that we would soon be involved in some serious fire fighting, and to request support I had to radio-message our central control room, ensuring that all the correct details on the location of the fire and its extent were fully understood.
As always when you do this type of message, they ask you to repeat yourself, which can be very frustrating when you can see the fire taking hold.
We were only a crew of four and as you can imagine we were soon totally stretched.
We managed to run a hose line into the building, and luckily there was a fire hydrant just opposite the front of the hotel, providing water to fight the fire.
The first crew into the building were Kevin Wiggins and Terry Bullough, who had to deal with two very agitated Alsatians running loose inside.
Working our way upstairs we located three different seats of fire, and the fire at the top of the stairs had gone through the roof which helped to reduce the amount of smoke within the building.
The arrival of all the back-up appliances seemed to take forever.
The first to arrive was the Hydraulic Platform from Penarth crewed by some of our part-time firemen, who were able to provide some comic relief as they drove straight over the hose line which burst, soaking some of the crowd who were watching.
It took over three hours to extinguish the fire completely, and as you can imagine inside the hotel was similar to a bombsite.
Floors and ceilings had collapsed and one Cardiff fireman was injured, who was rescued by his colleague Hector Gosling, who at the time was Mayor of Barry.
They both emerged covered in plaster dust looking like snowmen, but with Hector laughing (as only he could), and the other fireman under his arm!
The fire crews who attended that day came from all over South Glamorgan, but the four of us on the first appliance were all Penarth 'locals' and we all deeply miss the 'Esp'.
Police investigated the cause of the fire, but nobody was ever held responsible. The building remained derelict for a number of years before being demolished and a block of flats being built on the site.
2011年5月29日星期日
Riding in a Fire Truck Brings Out the Child in Me
Although I am decades past the wonders of childhood, my long-awaited ride in a fire truck was exhilarating.
Dressed in full firefighter gear and strapped tightly into a rear cab seat, I felt happy and starry-eyed as we bumped along to our last class at the Avon Volunteer Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy. I also was wistful, knowing that this was the end of a wonderful, eight-week adventure.
It was a great vantage point, looking down at the roads of Avon as we made our way to the Avon Public Works parking lot to simulate response to a serious car accident. I had no idea what to expect and the anticipation made my heart race.
I wondered about my level of participation, as I was still recovering from a left wrist sprain when I sadly fell off my bike in a parking lot on Mother’s Day before even hitting the trail.
When we arrived, we were greeted by several firefighters who were there to assist and ensure our safety. Even Fire Marshal James DiPace dropped by to check out our progress and chat.
The fire department laid out numerous extrication tools for our use – many quite daunting to see up-close – next to a battered Pontiac Grand Prix that was provided by Farmington Motor Sports Inc. The auto repair shop had taken out the gas and battery fluids and cut power lines from the car.
Our first task was to place yellow blocks behind the tires and under the car body to stabilize the car to “make the scene safe,” according to Avon Fire Chief Michael Trick, who directed the class.
We then learned varying techniques for breaking car windows and dealing with tempered glass. I got to handle a slim, jagged knife-like tool which firefighters use to extract the windshield.
Initially, I was timid with my slicing motions until Trick joked that this was the perfect time to get out personal frustrations. Funny thing, I suddenly got a burst of energy and began cutting with great intensity. My fellow students laughed.
Less than 10 minutes into the drill, we had to take a break on the hazy, low-70s morning because I felt light-headed in my heavy gear. We were instructed to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and open our thick, multi-layered coats to cool down. It really made me wonder how difficult conditions must be for firefighters walking into a burning building in mid-summer, 90-degree weather.
With methodical efficiency, Trick and his team had each of us take turns using an over-sized vice and other unusual tools to detach the doors. I enjoyed snipping the last cord before we pulled away the driver's door.
With the assistance of Neil Pendergast from the UConn Fire Department, we learned how to extricate a person from a vehicle. With some firefighters leading the way, we helped move Jen Reeser, a brave Avon volunteer firefighter, from the car and onto a stretcher, making sure to keep her neck and spine stabilized.
The final challenge was cutting off the roof. The mammoth, hydraulic clippers were a bit much for me to handle, and my classmates lifted the roof and placed it on the ground next to what was now a shell of a car.
Some of my classmates and I took home a piece of the roof frame as a token of our work.
It was a job well done, except for the fact that it took us nearly three hours – with several breaks and instruction in between– and made us all realize the unique challenges that firefighters and emergency personnel face at the scene of a serious accident.
The morning was capped by a turn at spraying water out of a fire department hose. This is a two-person job -- in my case, three, as I was one-handed -- but I felt empowered as I learned the proper circling motion for attacking a fire with a hose shooting 100 gallons of water per minute.
When we returned to the station, I was exhausted. After turning in my gear, saying “goodbyes” and driving home, I promptly took a two-hour nap in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.
Four nights later, we were treated to a graduation ceremony and delicious dinner at Company One on Darling Drive. I shared the evening with my two daughters: Amanda, just home from her first year at college, and Grace, a seventh-grader who has heard way more than she cared to know about my firefighting adventures from week to week.
I must admit it made me feel proud to have them see the slideshow of our session and hear my name called as a graduate of the academy to received a certificate, mug and pen.
The Avon Citizens’ Fire Academy has been an eye-opening experience for me. I have met many kind, brave, selfless Avon residents who dedicate thousands of hours as volunteers for the fire department – from the young Explorers who meet weekly for training to the retired firefighters who still help out where and when they can.
The hands-on experiences were fascinating and the information invaluable to someone who lives in a community that has a volunteer fire department, and is a homeowner who cares about fire safety.
While I don’t think I am suited to be a full-fledged firefighter, I could see myself at some point helping out in a supportive role.
For now, I consider myself lucky to have gone behind the curtain. I will forever be impressed with what I saw.
If you have been reading my accounts with interest, I would encourage you to keep an eye out for the next session, which will be scheduled in April of 2012. Even better, you might consider becoming part of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department.
Dressed in full firefighter gear and strapped tightly into a rear cab seat, I felt happy and starry-eyed as we bumped along to our last class at the Avon Volunteer Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy. I also was wistful, knowing that this was the end of a wonderful, eight-week adventure.
It was a great vantage point, looking down at the roads of Avon as we made our way to the Avon Public Works parking lot to simulate response to a serious car accident. I had no idea what to expect and the anticipation made my heart race.
I wondered about my level of participation, as I was still recovering from a left wrist sprain when I sadly fell off my bike in a parking lot on Mother’s Day before even hitting the trail.
When we arrived, we were greeted by several firefighters who were there to assist and ensure our safety. Even Fire Marshal James DiPace dropped by to check out our progress and chat.
The fire department laid out numerous extrication tools for our use – many quite daunting to see up-close – next to a battered Pontiac Grand Prix that was provided by Farmington Motor Sports Inc. The auto repair shop had taken out the gas and battery fluids and cut power lines from the car.
Our first task was to place yellow blocks behind the tires and under the car body to stabilize the car to “make the scene safe,” according to Avon Fire Chief Michael Trick, who directed the class.
We then learned varying techniques for breaking car windows and dealing with tempered glass. I got to handle a slim, jagged knife-like tool which firefighters use to extract the windshield.
Initially, I was timid with my slicing motions until Trick joked that this was the perfect time to get out personal frustrations. Funny thing, I suddenly got a burst of energy and began cutting with great intensity. My fellow students laughed.
Less than 10 minutes into the drill, we had to take a break on the hazy, low-70s morning because I felt light-headed in my heavy gear. We were instructed to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and open our thick, multi-layered coats to cool down. It really made me wonder how difficult conditions must be for firefighters walking into a burning building in mid-summer, 90-degree weather.
With methodical efficiency, Trick and his team had each of us take turns using an over-sized vice and other unusual tools to detach the doors. I enjoyed snipping the last cord before we pulled away the driver's door.
With the assistance of Neil Pendergast from the UConn Fire Department, we learned how to extricate a person from a vehicle. With some firefighters leading the way, we helped move Jen Reeser, a brave Avon volunteer firefighter, from the car and onto a stretcher, making sure to keep her neck and spine stabilized.
The final challenge was cutting off the roof. The mammoth, hydraulic clippers were a bit much for me to handle, and my classmates lifted the roof and placed it on the ground next to what was now a shell of a car.
Some of my classmates and I took home a piece of the roof frame as a token of our work.
It was a job well done, except for the fact that it took us nearly three hours – with several breaks and instruction in between– and made us all realize the unique challenges that firefighters and emergency personnel face at the scene of a serious accident.
The morning was capped by a turn at spraying water out of a fire department hose. This is a two-person job -- in my case, three, as I was one-handed -- but I felt empowered as I learned the proper circling motion for attacking a fire with a hose shooting 100 gallons of water per minute.
When we returned to the station, I was exhausted. After turning in my gear, saying “goodbyes” and driving home, I promptly took a two-hour nap in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.
Four nights later, we were treated to a graduation ceremony and delicious dinner at Company One on Darling Drive. I shared the evening with my two daughters: Amanda, just home from her first year at college, and Grace, a seventh-grader who has heard way more than she cared to know about my firefighting adventures from week to week.
I must admit it made me feel proud to have them see the slideshow of our session and hear my name called as a graduate of the academy to received a certificate, mug and pen.
The Avon Citizens’ Fire Academy has been an eye-opening experience for me. I have met many kind, brave, selfless Avon residents who dedicate thousands of hours as volunteers for the fire department – from the young Explorers who meet weekly for training to the retired firefighters who still help out where and when they can.
The hands-on experiences were fascinating and the information invaluable to someone who lives in a community that has a volunteer fire department, and is a homeowner who cares about fire safety.
While I don’t think I am suited to be a full-fledged firefighter, I could see myself at some point helping out in a supportive role.
For now, I consider myself lucky to have gone behind the curtain. I will forever be impressed with what I saw.
If you have been reading my accounts with interest, I would encourage you to keep an eye out for the next session, which will be scheduled in April of 2012. Even better, you might consider becoming part of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department.
2011年5月25日星期三
Texas Senate Approves Fracking Disclosure Bill
After a lengthy discussion, the Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would require drilling companies using hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," techniques to disclose on a public website the chemicals they use in the process.
The bill is "going to be landmark legislation on the hydraulic fracturing nationwide," said Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay and chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.
Texas produces more natural gas than any other state in the nation.
The House has already passed similar legislation, although the Senate bill includes a giant amendment that would change the name and structure of the Railroad Commission, the state oil and gas regulator. This means it could be more difficult to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the fracking disclosure bill in conference committee, which is the next step in the process.
An amendment to the bill brought by Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, would have delayed implementation of the disclosure requirement for six to 12 months, but it was voted down. Disclosure will be required starting in January 2012. But the main bill contains provisions that will allow companies like Halliburton that make fracking fluid, which is a mixture of water, sand and chemicals, to keep "trade secrets" off the public website, fracfocus.org.
Three amendments authored by Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, were voted down. They would have required studies of issues like the possibility of using a tracer in fracking fluid to make it potentially easier to sort out any water-contamination allegations.
Fraser and other state lawmakers have said Texas would be the first state to implement such a comprehensive disclosure requirement. It bears noting, however, that Wyoming implemented disclosure requirements for hydraulic fracturing last year, and a few other states, including Arkansas, also have some degree of disclosure requirement. In Wyoming, well-by-well information of what chemicals are in the fracking fluid must be disclosed on a public website, according to Thomas Doll, an official with Wyoming's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Wyoming also has provisions to protect trade secrets.
However, Texas may be the first to do this in statute — and it would take further analysis to determine which requirement is more comprehensive, Wyoming or Texas.
"I really believe this [bill] is going to be a template for the entire nation," said Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, the original sponsor in the Senate.
The bill is "going to be landmark legislation on the hydraulic fracturing nationwide," said Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay and chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.
Texas produces more natural gas than any other state in the nation.
The House has already passed similar legislation, although the Senate bill includes a giant amendment that would change the name and structure of the Railroad Commission, the state oil and gas regulator. This means it could be more difficult to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the fracking disclosure bill in conference committee, which is the next step in the process.
An amendment to the bill brought by Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, would have delayed implementation of the disclosure requirement for six to 12 months, but it was voted down. Disclosure will be required starting in January 2012. But the main bill contains provisions that will allow companies like Halliburton that make fracking fluid, which is a mixture of water, sand and chemicals, to keep "trade secrets" off the public website, fracfocus.org.
Three amendments authored by Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, were voted down. They would have required studies of issues like the possibility of using a tracer in fracking fluid to make it potentially easier to sort out any water-contamination allegations.
Fraser and other state lawmakers have said Texas would be the first state to implement such a comprehensive disclosure requirement. It bears noting, however, that Wyoming implemented disclosure requirements for hydraulic fracturing last year, and a few other states, including Arkansas, also have some degree of disclosure requirement. In Wyoming, well-by-well information of what chemicals are in the fracking fluid must be disclosed on a public website, according to Thomas Doll, an official with Wyoming's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Wyoming also has provisions to protect trade secrets.
However, Texas may be the first to do this in statute — and it would take further analysis to determine which requirement is more comprehensive, Wyoming or Texas.
"I really believe this [bill] is going to be a template for the entire nation," said Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, the original sponsor in the Senate.
2011年5月22日星期日
Marcellus Shale motherlode brings world of change
Earlier this year, Phillip Whalen packed his bags, left his home in Louisiana and set up shop in western Pennsylvania.
The 15-year oil and gas industry veteran said work has dried up around the Gulf of Mexico, in part because of the fallout from the BP PLC oil spill last year. In what has become a kind of reverse national oil rush, Mr. Whalen said, his motivation for heading north to this small community 20 miles south of Pittsburgh was simple.
“I’m doing what I have to do to keep a roof over the head and pay the bills,” the grizzled family man said early one morning. He was dressed in a blue jumpsuit and was smoking a last cigarette outside his hotel before heading off to work.
His company, T3 Energy Services, sent him to Washington, the economic epicenter for exploiting what many think is the nation’s path away from dangerous dependence on foreign oil.
Big energy companies have set up shop here to tap the Marcellus Shale, a massive chunk of marine sedimentary rock stretching from the Finger Lakes region of New York as far south as Kentucky and Tennessee, holding within its subterranean grip vast deposits of natural gas.
Technology that essentially uses extreme water pressure to crack open the rock and liberate the natural gas within so that it can be pumped to waiting pipelines has given mining and energy companies access to the plentiful supply of shale oil and gas in recent years.
Proponents tout so-called “hydraulic fracturing” or “fracking” as the key to satisfying the nation’s booming energy appetite — using reliable, domestic sources — for a century or more. Critics warn that the procedure is dangerous, an untested technology that opens the way for mysterious chemicals to seep into water supplies, while leaving unsuspecting residents of small towns and rural hamlets vulnerable to environmental and economic disruption.
The 15-year oil and gas industry veteran said work has dried up around the Gulf of Mexico, in part because of the fallout from the BP PLC oil spill last year. In what has become a kind of reverse national oil rush, Mr. Whalen said, his motivation for heading north to this small community 20 miles south of Pittsburgh was simple.
“I’m doing what I have to do to keep a roof over the head and pay the bills,” the grizzled family man said early one morning. He was dressed in a blue jumpsuit and was smoking a last cigarette outside his hotel before heading off to work.
His company, T3 Energy Services, sent him to Washington, the economic epicenter for exploiting what many think is the nation’s path away from dangerous dependence on foreign oil.
Big energy companies have set up shop here to tap the Marcellus Shale, a massive chunk of marine sedimentary rock stretching from the Finger Lakes region of New York as far south as Kentucky and Tennessee, holding within its subterranean grip vast deposits of natural gas.
Technology that essentially uses extreme water pressure to crack open the rock and liberate the natural gas within so that it can be pumped to waiting pipelines has given mining and energy companies access to the plentiful supply of shale oil and gas in recent years.
Proponents tout so-called “hydraulic fracturing” or “fracking” as the key to satisfying the nation’s booming energy appetite — using reliable, domestic sources — for a century or more. Critics warn that the procedure is dangerous, an untested technology that opens the way for mysterious chemicals to seep into water supplies, while leaving unsuspecting residents of small towns and rural hamlets vulnerable to environmental and economic disruption.
Disconnected: Getting the Internet into the hinterlands of Pennsylvania
Talk to officials in Washington, D.C., and in Harrisburg, and they'll say that a home without high-speed Internet access soon will be like one equipped with a rotary phone.
Billions of government dollars have been allocated to spread the benefits of Internet connectivity -- better jobs, better education -- with Pennsylvania securing hundreds of millions of dollars for broadband expansion in "underserved" communities where the Internet hasn't booted up.
By government standards, an "underserved" community doesn't have access to connections with download speeds of at least 6 megabits per second -- or fast enough to download a song in a few seconds or a movie in a few hours.
People in Pennsylvania are using various programs -- the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, the Broadband Initiative Program, Enhancing the Backbone for Multi-Service Delivery, the Bona Fide Retail Request program -- to connect, or at least are trying to.
Their stories address this 21st-century form of disenfranchisement: the county racing to catch up technologically with arriving natural gas drillers; the businessman in the middle of the state who couldn't get four signatures needed for Internet access.
In the second part of this series, there's the young man in Philadelphia typing his way into the middle class and the computer scientist who's pledged to get him there. Together, they represent a shift in how we define the Web as a resource, all at a time when the Web keeps defining us.
The scenes don't fit an easy narrative.
You can live in one part of the state to escape the Web.
You can travel to another part of the state where the Web is the only chance at escape.
Billions of government dollars have been allocated to spread the benefits of Internet connectivity -- better jobs, better education -- with Pennsylvania securing hundreds of millions of dollars for broadband expansion in "underserved" communities where the Internet hasn't booted up.
By government standards, an "underserved" community doesn't have access to connections with download speeds of at least 6 megabits per second -- or fast enough to download a song in a few seconds or a movie in a few hours.
People in Pennsylvania are using various programs -- the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, the Broadband Initiative Program, Enhancing the Backbone for Multi-Service Delivery, the Bona Fide Retail Request program -- to connect, or at least are trying to.
Their stories address this 21st-century form of disenfranchisement: the county racing to catch up technologically with arriving natural gas drillers; the businessman in the middle of the state who couldn't get four signatures needed for Internet access.
In the second part of this series, there's the young man in Philadelphia typing his way into the middle class and the computer scientist who's pledged to get him there. Together, they represent a shift in how we define the Web as a resource, all at a time when the Web keeps defining us.
The scenes don't fit an easy narrative.
You can live in one part of the state to escape the Web.
You can travel to another part of the state where the Web is the only chance at escape.
Gas drilling procedure known as 'fracking' causing a public fracas
Environmentalists and lawmakers view it as possibly the biggest environmental threat to the Delaware River and state water supplies in our lifetime.
The gas drilling industry labels such fears as overblown and alarmist.
The contentious issue involves hydro-fracturing or “fracking” — the process of extracting natural gas from wells thousands of feet deep by injecting a mix of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure to fracture the rock, causing the gas to flow more freely. The average frack uses between 1 million and 6 million gallons of water for each frack and many wells get fracked multiple times before going into production.
The crux of the concern arises from the fracking fluid itself — water mixed with numerous chemicals, many which are hazardous and toxic, including benzene, components of salt, and other volatile organic chemicals.
Fracking has been used extensively in western Pennsylvania, where it has opened up the previously inaccessible Marcellus Shale underground rock formation. While there is a sliver of such a rock formation in Northwest New Jersey, the Garden State is more concerned with runoff problems into the Delaware River as companies frack for gas in the Delaware River Basin. While drilling there is currently on hold, the moratorium will expire later this year, once the Delaware River Basin Commission adopts its fracking rules.
Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club contend that fracking can contaminate streams and rivers through the discharge of fracking fluids or accidental spills. Fracking fluid injected into the ground can potentially contaminate aquifers, the groups say.
Last week, the Highland Park Borough Council passed a resolution calling for a statewide ban of the controversial natural gas drilling technique. Highland Park became the first Middlesex County town to join three other New Jersey communities (Holland and Bethlehem townships in Hunterdon County and Byram Township in Sussex County) calling on state and federal regulators to oppose fracking out of concerns for public safety and impacts to water quality and quantity of the waterways and aquifers.
The gas drilling industry labels such fears as overblown and alarmist.
The contentious issue involves hydro-fracturing or “fracking” — the process of extracting natural gas from wells thousands of feet deep by injecting a mix of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure to fracture the rock, causing the gas to flow more freely. The average frack uses between 1 million and 6 million gallons of water for each frack and many wells get fracked multiple times before going into production.
The crux of the concern arises from the fracking fluid itself — water mixed with numerous chemicals, many which are hazardous and toxic, including benzene, components of salt, and other volatile organic chemicals.
Fracking has been used extensively in western Pennsylvania, where it has opened up the previously inaccessible Marcellus Shale underground rock formation. While there is a sliver of such a rock formation in Northwest New Jersey, the Garden State is more concerned with runoff problems into the Delaware River as companies frack for gas in the Delaware River Basin. While drilling there is currently on hold, the moratorium will expire later this year, once the Delaware River Basin Commission adopts its fracking rules.
Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club contend that fracking can contaminate streams and rivers through the discharge of fracking fluids or accidental spills. Fracking fluid injected into the ground can potentially contaminate aquifers, the groups say.
Last week, the Highland Park Borough Council passed a resolution calling for a statewide ban of the controversial natural gas drilling technique. Highland Park became the first Middlesex County town to join three other New Jersey communities (Holland and Bethlehem townships in Hunterdon County and Byram Township in Sussex County) calling on state and federal regulators to oppose fracking out of concerns for public safety and impacts to water quality and quantity of the waterways and aquifers.
2011年5月18日星期三
CP and Ingersoll R
After celebrating its 50th anniversary in pneumatics sales last year Thorite, now the UK’s biggest distributor of pneumatic products and process systems, is looking to the future with the launch of its most comprehensive ever free product catalogue – almost 1400 pages packed with best sellers from the world’s top manufacturers, at the most competitive prices.
CP and Ingersoll Rand air tools, plus a huge range of air compressors, including Thorite’s own Diamond Professional brand, are already firm favourites but the 2011 catalogue also brings customers the widest choice of
hydraulic couplings, valves, hose, tubing, fittings, valves and test equipment from Parker, Eaton, Hy-Fitt, Burnett & Hillman, Aeroquip and Hydrotechnick.
There are pneumatic valves, couplings, actuators, tube and fittings and air line preparation equipment from Norgren, Festo, Camozzi, Parker, with increased ranges of Burkert process control systems, Camozzi pneumatics and Ingersoll Rand products
The catalogue rounds off with personal protection equipment, welding products, tools and hardware, electrical items and necessities for the plumbing and heating engineer.
CP and Ingersoll Rand air tools, plus a huge range of air compressors, including Thorite’s own Diamond Professional brand, are already firm favourites but the 2011 catalogue also brings customers the widest choice of
hydraulic couplings, valves, hose, tubing, fittings, valves and test equipment from Parker, Eaton, Hy-Fitt, Burnett & Hillman, Aeroquip and Hydrotechnick.
There are pneumatic valves, couplings, actuators, tube and fittings and air line preparation equipment from Norgren, Festo, Camozzi, Parker, with increased ranges of Burkert process control systems, Camozzi pneumatics and Ingersoll Rand products
The catalogue rounds off with personal protection equipment, welding products, tools and hardware, electrical items and necessities for the plumbing and heating engineer.
Gates hose sleeving protects to 10,000-psi bursts
Gates has re-engineered its LifeGuard sleeving system with an additional layer of nylon reinforcement that increases worker protection for 4000- and 5000-psi hydraulic hose applications.
LifeGuard sleeving is specifically designed to protect machine operators from the hazards of catastrophic hydraulic hose failure due to line-of-sight hose bursts and pinhole leaks. It is an effective, economical alternative to costly metal shielding or re-routing of hose lines.
LifeGuard sleeving system
The new 4000-psi sleeve contains bursts up to 8000-psi and controls 4000-psi pinhole leaks for up to five minutes. The 5,000-psi sleeve contains 10,000-psi bursts and controls 5000-psi pinhole leaks.
The new Lifeguard sleeve construction has two inner layers of tightly woven nylon that elongate to absorb the energy of a burst or pinhole leak. A third outer nylon layer restrains the fluid and redirects it safely to the clamped ends. Fluids then exit the system via specially designed “channel” clamps at each end.
A noticeable pool of leaking fluid serves as positive verification that a failure has occurred so corrective action can be taken immediately. Gates LifeGuard sleeving correlates to a variety of industry standards including ISO 3457 and MSHA’s Accident Prevention Program.
LifeGuard sleeving is specifically designed to protect machine operators from the hazards of catastrophic hydraulic hose failure due to line-of-sight hose bursts and pinhole leaks. It is an effective, economical alternative to costly metal shielding or re-routing of hose lines.
LifeGuard sleeving system
The new 4000-psi sleeve contains bursts up to 8000-psi and controls 4000-psi pinhole leaks for up to five minutes. The 5,000-psi sleeve contains 10,000-psi bursts and controls 5000-psi pinhole leaks.
The new Lifeguard sleeve construction has two inner layers of tightly woven nylon that elongate to absorb the energy of a burst or pinhole leak. A third outer nylon layer restrains the fluid and redirects it safely to the clamped ends. Fluids then exit the system via specially designed “channel” clamps at each end.
A noticeable pool of leaking fluid serves as positive verification that a failure has occurred so corrective action can be taken immediately. Gates LifeGuard sleeving correlates to a variety of industry standards including ISO 3457 and MSHA’s Accident Prevention Program.
2011年5月15日星期日
GSM Power Transmissions UK Ltd sorts re-cycling picking station
Several geared motor units have been installed into a recycling plant in southern England in order to reduce down-time and improve efficiency. The plant has been converted from a hydraulic drive system with a very large power pack and complicated hose and valve system into a clean and simple electrified version with energy savings.
The plant has been operating for many years using hydraulic motors and gearboxes to perform the various individual applications which make up the picking station. The main application is the large in-cline conveyor where 2 hydraulic motors have been replaced with a highly efficient bevel helical shaft mounted gearbox and 15kw electric motor. The operators took advantage of this change and requested an increase in the speed of the conveyor by about 6% in order to improve productivity. The operator realised that with the increase in speed –the waste material was positioned more towards the middle of the belt –reducing the chance to tangle on the idlers, side skirts and head drum.
The in-cline conveyor is fed material from the "Walking Floor" Fines conveyor which when hydraulic was variable speed by varying the flow to a fixed displacement motor and gearbox. The customer was anxious to retain the variable speed function and so a shaft mounted planetary gearbox with mechanical variator and electric motor was supplied. This means that by a simple handle on the variator –the operator is able to adjust the feed of material onto the main incline conveyor whilst the conveyor is operational.
Tomas Healey –General Manager Comments: "GSM Power Transmissions UK Ltd were awarded the contract because of their hands on approach, attention to detail and willingness to understand the requirements of the plant and how it operated. There were a number of challenges on this project including having to design gearboxes which would retro-fit with little or no additional engineering and yet provide us with new parameters of operation to improve the productivity and efficiency of the plant. The support experienced was excellent and commissioning was completed in phases which caused no down-time thanks to the new solutions mounting straight in to place of the original units, an essential requirement due to the continuous nature of this kind of industry."
Once the material has dropped from the incline conveyor onto the shaker plate –the material starts to be sorted. Lumps of rubble ,stones and buliding aggregate fall through onto a second Fines conveyor which was also converted from Hydraulic to electric drive. The use of shaft mounted planetary gearboxes and electric motors are ideally suited to this type of application because they are robust in design, highly efficient and compact so that they can be squeezed in to tight spaces with relative ease. The weight of the shaft mounted planetary gearbox together with the transmittable torque is also a big advantage especially when shaft mounting from an existing driven shaft.
The trommel which separates the aggregate by size was being driven by 2 hydraulic motors. These have been replaced by 2 electric motors and gearboxes. The Planetary gearbox option was chosen because on the Trommel they are suitable for high radial loads exerted onto the output's twin taper roller bearings which support the output shaft .The space available to fit the drives was also very limited and the plant runs 24/7 so reliability was also paramount in the decision of what type of drive to install. The planetary gearbox affords a highly efficient compact gear design which transmits torque from the sun-pinion to the planet gears all encased within a planet ring -this allows ratios on a single stage from 3:1 to 7:1 and as the planetary gearbox is a modular design –ratios up to 20,000:1 are not un-common.
Jon Snaith –Managing Director of GSM Power Transmissions UK Ltd comments " this was a particularly enjoyable and rewarding project to work on because there was so much variation in the requirements of the drives. The Industrial Planetary Gearbox range from GSM PT UK LTD has a large torque range available from 1,000Nm to 170,000Nm and incorporating innovative casing and output configurations like foot mounted, flange mounted , in-line or right-angle and the unique options for shaft mounted gearboxes like the shrink disc version and female keyed shaft version- where the cost of splining the driven shaft is illuminated from the decision making process.
High radial load capacity versions of each gearbox torque size are manufactured for applications like winches and slew drives - so that the OEM manufacturer gets a competitive and compact solution to work with.
Jon Snaith adds "We have 3 versions of right-angle planetary – the conventional planetary gears with spiral bevel, planetary gears with bevel helical and planetary gears with a worm/wheel input. All these options allow the best selection for the application to be carried out and give the OEM customer complete peace of mind".
GSM Power Transmissions UK LTD provides electric and hydraulic drive solutions for all kinds of applications like access platforms, off-shore spooler/winch systems, material handling, crushers and mixers etc.
The plant has been operating for many years using hydraulic motors and gearboxes to perform the various individual applications which make up the picking station. The main application is the large in-cline conveyor where 2 hydraulic motors have been replaced with a highly efficient bevel helical shaft mounted gearbox and 15kw electric motor. The operators took advantage of this change and requested an increase in the speed of the conveyor by about 6% in order to improve productivity. The operator realised that with the increase in speed –the waste material was positioned more towards the middle of the belt –reducing the chance to tangle on the idlers, side skirts and head drum.
The in-cline conveyor is fed material from the "Walking Floor" Fines conveyor which when hydraulic was variable speed by varying the flow to a fixed displacement motor and gearbox. The customer was anxious to retain the variable speed function and so a shaft mounted planetary gearbox with mechanical variator and electric motor was supplied. This means that by a simple handle on the variator –the operator is able to adjust the feed of material onto the main incline conveyor whilst the conveyor is operational.
Tomas Healey –General Manager Comments: "GSM Power Transmissions UK Ltd were awarded the contract because of their hands on approach, attention to detail and willingness to understand the requirements of the plant and how it operated. There were a number of challenges on this project including having to design gearboxes which would retro-fit with little or no additional engineering and yet provide us with new parameters of operation to improve the productivity and efficiency of the plant. The support experienced was excellent and commissioning was completed in phases which caused no down-time thanks to the new solutions mounting straight in to place of the original units, an essential requirement due to the continuous nature of this kind of industry."
Once the material has dropped from the incline conveyor onto the shaker plate –the material starts to be sorted. Lumps of rubble ,stones and buliding aggregate fall through onto a second Fines conveyor which was also converted from Hydraulic to electric drive. The use of shaft mounted planetary gearboxes and electric motors are ideally suited to this type of application because they are robust in design, highly efficient and compact so that they can be squeezed in to tight spaces with relative ease. The weight of the shaft mounted planetary gearbox together with the transmittable torque is also a big advantage especially when shaft mounting from an existing driven shaft.
The trommel which separates the aggregate by size was being driven by 2 hydraulic motors. These have been replaced by 2 electric motors and gearboxes. The Planetary gearbox option was chosen because on the Trommel they are suitable for high radial loads exerted onto the output's twin taper roller bearings which support the output shaft .The space available to fit the drives was also very limited and the plant runs 24/7 so reliability was also paramount in the decision of what type of drive to install. The planetary gearbox affords a highly efficient compact gear design which transmits torque from the sun-pinion to the planet gears all encased within a planet ring -this allows ratios on a single stage from 3:1 to 7:1 and as the planetary gearbox is a modular design –ratios up to 20,000:1 are not un-common.
Jon Snaith –Managing Director of GSM Power Transmissions UK Ltd comments " this was a particularly enjoyable and rewarding project to work on because there was so much variation in the requirements of the drives. The Industrial Planetary Gearbox range from GSM PT UK LTD has a large torque range available from 1,000Nm to 170,000Nm and incorporating innovative casing and output configurations like foot mounted, flange mounted , in-line or right-angle and the unique options for shaft mounted gearboxes like the shrink disc version and female keyed shaft version- where the cost of splining the driven shaft is illuminated from the decision making process.
High radial load capacity versions of each gearbox torque size are manufactured for applications like winches and slew drives - so that the OEM manufacturer gets a competitive and compact solution to work with.
Jon Snaith adds "We have 3 versions of right-angle planetary – the conventional planetary gears with spiral bevel, planetary gears with bevel helical and planetary gears with a worm/wheel input. All these options allow the best selection for the application to be carried out and give the OEM customer complete peace of mind".
GSM Power Transmissions UK LTD provides electric and hydraulic drive solutions for all kinds of applications like access platforms, off-shore spooler/winch systems, material handling, crushers and mixers etc.
The Gates Corp. donates $100,000 to aid in local relief efforts
The Gates Corp., which sustained significant damage to its Glade Spring facility in the April 28 tornado, presented $100,000 Tuesday to aid in local relief efforts.
Red Cross volunteers have been among those assisting the community ravaged by last month’s EF3 storm. The Gates plant, which employed 170 who produced hydraulic hose assemblies, was nearly leveled.
“It says a lot to me about this company that will step up and help its employees by giving this to us,” said Felisha McNabb, executive director of the Mountain Empire chapter of the American Red Cross, who accepted the donation. “They suffered a huge loss of their own, but I’ve been with this chapter for eight years – and this is the largest, single contribution I’m aware of.”
The donation is designed to “support relief and recovery efforts” and “help speed the community’s recovery,” according to a written statement issued by the company. Attempts to speak with a Gates spokesperson Tuesday were unsuccessful.
To date, the local Red Cross chapter and its volunteers have provided more than 16,400 meals and snacks during the first 10 days after the storm and is now concluding its meetings with families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged, McNabb said. About 95 homes and 35 apartments received that designation by Red Cross officials.
“We’ve completed meeting with about 90 percent of the families, but [dispensing] all the individual assistance will take longer,” McNabb said. “We’ve met with 86 families but we’ve only paid the first month’s rent on about 2 percent of those so far.”
Officials estimate up to 95 families will seek Red Cross assistance and the agency has been unable to make contact with everyone affected.
To date, the local agency has spent about $129,000 on relief efforts.
“When we start paying out first month’s rent, that adds up in a hurry,” McNabb said.
The tornado recovery effort from the storm system currently ranks as the second largest in chapter history. Local case workers processed more than 200 victims who fled the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their homes in 2005, expending more than $500,000.
While the local chapter is concluding its relief efforts, it also plans to be part of the long-term solution.
“Our assistance is meant for immediate needs after a disaster – food, shelter and clothing,” McNabb said. “There will be additional needs that come up and we want to be part of the long-term recovery efforts in any way we can.”
Red Cross volunteers have been among those assisting the community ravaged by last month’s EF3 storm. The Gates plant, which employed 170 who produced hydraulic hose assemblies, was nearly leveled.
“It says a lot to me about this company that will step up and help its employees by giving this to us,” said Felisha McNabb, executive director of the Mountain Empire chapter of the American Red Cross, who accepted the donation. “They suffered a huge loss of their own, but I’ve been with this chapter for eight years – and this is the largest, single contribution I’m aware of.”
The donation is designed to “support relief and recovery efforts” and “help speed the community’s recovery,” according to a written statement issued by the company. Attempts to speak with a Gates spokesperson Tuesday were unsuccessful.
To date, the local Red Cross chapter and its volunteers have provided more than 16,400 meals and snacks during the first 10 days after the storm and is now concluding its meetings with families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged, McNabb said. About 95 homes and 35 apartments received that designation by Red Cross officials.
“We’ve completed meeting with about 90 percent of the families, but [dispensing] all the individual assistance will take longer,” McNabb said. “We’ve met with 86 families but we’ve only paid the first month’s rent on about 2 percent of those so far.”
Officials estimate up to 95 families will seek Red Cross assistance and the agency has been unable to make contact with everyone affected.
To date, the local agency has spent about $129,000 on relief efforts.
“When we start paying out first month’s rent, that adds up in a hurry,” McNabb said.
The tornado recovery effort from the storm system currently ranks as the second largest in chapter history. Local case workers processed more than 200 victims who fled the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their homes in 2005, expending more than $500,000.
While the local chapter is concluding its relief efforts, it also plans to be part of the long-term solution.
“Our assistance is meant for immediate needs after a disaster – food, shelter and clothing,” McNabb said. “There will be additional needs that come up and we want to be part of the long-term recovery efforts in any way we can.”
2011年5月10日星期二
It has a 16" cutting bar for wood pilings
CS Unitec's new hydraulic chain saw is compact and powerful, making it ideal for use in construction, utility, underwater and maintenance applications. The Model ACH000-16 chain saw is designed with a pistol grip for easier handling when cutting from an aerial bucket or on the ground. It has a 16" cutting bar for wood pilings, trimming tree limbs and other applications. Bar lengths of 12" and 14" are also available. Safety features include a chain brake, safety trigger lock and insulated handle for safe use near utility power lines. An optional Hydraulic Hose Swivel allows the tool to turn 360° without tangling the hydraulic hoses.
The ACH000-16 can be operated on either an open center or closed center hydraulic system. The closed center system allows the chain saw to be powered from a bucket lift on a utility truck. The open loop system is for use with a portable hydraulic power unit. The saw has a powerful 6.5 HP, high-torque gear motor. The open/closed hydraulic system has an oil flow of 3-8 GPM at 2000 PSI. A patented spool system for the hydraulic motor eliminates heat generation within the tool for safer operation and easier handling.
The ACH000-16 can be operated on either an open center or closed center hydraulic system. The closed center system allows the chain saw to be powered from a bucket lift on a utility truck. The open loop system is for use with a portable hydraulic power unit. The saw has a powerful 6.5 HP, high-torque gear motor. The open/closed hydraulic system has an oil flow of 3-8 GPM at 2000 PSI. A patented spool system for the hydraulic motor eliminates heat generation within the tool for safer operation and easier handling.
Witness quizzed over kill motive
JYE Burns danced around in the back seat of a car as he was driven to Beerwah with the man who would allegedly shoot him dead minutes later.
The third man in the car, the driver, Shane Moroney, said he saw Shane “Capper” Oulds shoot Mr Burns after the pair left his car on Old Caloundra Rd, apparently “to do a pee”.
Yesterday Mr Moroney told Maroochydore Magistrates Court he and the two others were on their way to a drug dealer’s house at Beerwah that Mr Oulds had said they would rob for $100,000.
However, plans changed and when Mr Moroney’s passengers left the car he said he saw Mr Oulds shoot Mr Burns.
Mr Moroney said Mr Oulds claimed to have shot Mr Burns after he threatened his family.
Mr Burns also allegedly claimed to be planning a “home invasion” on Mr Moroney.
Mr Moroney said Mr Oulds got back in the car and told him: “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
Under heavy police guard, Mr Moroney took to the stand for a second day of giving evidence at the murder committal of Mr Oulds.
Mr Moroney is the key witness in the case as the only person to see the alleged murder on July 8 last year.
He was quizzed about why he was “unable to provide (police) with any motive” for why Mr Oulds killed Mr Burns when he was first interviewed three days after the man’s death.
Mr Moroney did not tell police the explanation he received from Mr Oulds until he gave a second statement on July 21.
He said he did not ask Mr Oulds more details about why he had shot Mr Burns because he was frightened.
Mr Moroney said he did not stop Mr Oulds from throwing his mobile phone into Maroochy River with the alleged murder weapon because he was “scared” of his friend and also of having any evidence that could implicate him in a murder.
The pair drove to a car wash where Mr Oulds used a hydraulic hose to wash dirt and dust off the vehicle before they continued to a nightclub at Mooloolaba where Mr Oulds allegedly said they had to be seen on CCTV cameras.
Mr Moroney eventually left the club by himself, but not until after Mr Oulds disposed of a coat in a rubbish bin outside.
He said he had driven only about a kilometre when he was pulled over by a police car, which he feared had stopped him in relation to the alleged murder.
His heart pounded as police walked to his car and he quickly weighed up if he would tell the officers he had just seen an alleged execution-style murder hours earlier.
Police had stopped him for a random breath test, which had a negative result.
Mr Moroney said he also lied to police the following morning when he signed a statement saying his mobile phone had been stolen, a story he fabricated to claim insurance for the missing phone.
He was later arrested for the murder but was given indemnity after he gave police a statement saying Mr Oulds had shot Mr Burns.
The committal continues today. Mr Moroney is expected to continue with his evidence.
The third man in the car, the driver, Shane Moroney, said he saw Shane “Capper” Oulds shoot Mr Burns after the pair left his car on Old Caloundra Rd, apparently “to do a pee”.
Yesterday Mr Moroney told Maroochydore Magistrates Court he and the two others were on their way to a drug dealer’s house at Beerwah that Mr Oulds had said they would rob for $100,000.
However, plans changed and when Mr Moroney’s passengers left the car he said he saw Mr Oulds shoot Mr Burns.
Mr Moroney said Mr Oulds claimed to have shot Mr Burns after he threatened his family.
Mr Burns also allegedly claimed to be planning a “home invasion” on Mr Moroney.
Mr Moroney said Mr Oulds got back in the car and told him: “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
Under heavy police guard, Mr Moroney took to the stand for a second day of giving evidence at the murder committal of Mr Oulds.
Mr Moroney is the key witness in the case as the only person to see the alleged murder on July 8 last year.
He was quizzed about why he was “unable to provide (police) with any motive” for why Mr Oulds killed Mr Burns when he was first interviewed three days after the man’s death.
Mr Moroney did not tell police the explanation he received from Mr Oulds until he gave a second statement on July 21.
He said he did not ask Mr Oulds more details about why he had shot Mr Burns because he was frightened.
Mr Moroney said he did not stop Mr Oulds from throwing his mobile phone into Maroochy River with the alleged murder weapon because he was “scared” of his friend and also of having any evidence that could implicate him in a murder.
The pair drove to a car wash where Mr Oulds used a hydraulic hose to wash dirt and dust off the vehicle before they continued to a nightclub at Mooloolaba where Mr Oulds allegedly said they had to be seen on CCTV cameras.
Mr Moroney eventually left the club by himself, but not until after Mr Oulds disposed of a coat in a rubbish bin outside.
He said he had driven only about a kilometre when he was pulled over by a police car, which he feared had stopped him in relation to the alleged murder.
His heart pounded as police walked to his car and he quickly weighed up if he would tell the officers he had just seen an alleged execution-style murder hours earlier.
Police had stopped him for a random breath test, which had a negative result.
Mr Moroney said he also lied to police the following morning when he signed a statement saying his mobile phone had been stolen, a story he fabricated to claim insurance for the missing phone.
He was later arrested for the murder but was given indemnity after he gave police a statement saying Mr Oulds had shot Mr Burns.
The committal continues today. Mr Moroney is expected to continue with his evidence.
2011年5月8日星期日
Families spend day celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Island Grove
Desiree Salazar and Victor Ruiz of Evans stood and smiled Saturday afternoon at Island Grove Regional Park, watching their kids soak in the inflatable play sets and activity center.
On one of the brightest and warmest days Greeley has seen this spring, hundreds of people flowed in and out of Island Grove, 14th Avenue and A Street, Greeley, for the Cinco De Mayo Family Fiesta.
“It is sort of played off from what it really was but everybody is enjoying it,” Ruiz said. “Fast cars, food and stuff for the kids. It used to be more about the dances and everything else and now it’s about the lowriders, but everybody is enjoying themselves.”
Salazar said her family usually attends this event every year.
“Just having fun and enjoying a wonderful day,” she said of their trip to the fiesta.
The fiesta, sponsored by the Latino Chamber of Commerce, had a lot going on inside and outside the events center.
Wall-to-wall booths offered various food items — everything from popcorn to smothered burritos or pizza — and jewelry, clothes, hats and more were all for sale. While people wandered the endless aisles of items, they were entertained by several bands and dance groups performing on the main stage.
About 100 bright, shiny — and some even glittery — cars filled the exhibition hall and spilled out into the street. Each car had something special to show. A white-and-cream 1969 Volkswagen Beetle had screens built into each door and the radio console that displayed music videos and offered sound that could rival the live bands.
Kids were not left out, as there was a petting zoo, pony rides and several inflatable play places.
Despite all of the modern takes on the holiday, one piece of tradition remained: Aztec dancers.
Two groups, the Tonantzin of Greeley and the Huitzilopochtli of Denver, dressed in traditional brightly colored dresses with beads and a feathered headdress.
The Aztec dance begins with participants asking their ancestors for permission to dance. They then begin a series of dances that have been passed through generations. They danced to drum beats and provided their own flair of percussion with handmade “bones of a tree” attached to their ankles to mimic the sounds of a river.
For the dancers, the day ended on a traditional note. They closed their day as they started it in the parade — by returning their focus to the ancestors to tell them they are done.
“We do that at the beginning to open the circle, and we do that at the end to close the circle,” dancer Delfina Franco said.
Franco said the dances combine to tell key parts of Aztec history.
“These dances are from way back when the Aztecs lived,” she said. “It’s a traditional thing. They kept on passing it down, and now we are the ones doing it.”
On one of the brightest and warmest days Greeley has seen this spring, hundreds of people flowed in and out of Island Grove, 14th Avenue and A Street, Greeley, for the Cinco De Mayo Family Fiesta.
“It is sort of played off from what it really was but everybody is enjoying it,” Ruiz said. “Fast cars, food and stuff for the kids. It used to be more about the dances and everything else and now it’s about the lowriders, but everybody is enjoying themselves.”
Salazar said her family usually attends this event every year.
“Just having fun and enjoying a wonderful day,” she said of their trip to the fiesta.
The fiesta, sponsored by the Latino Chamber of Commerce, had a lot going on inside and outside the events center.
Wall-to-wall booths offered various food items — everything from popcorn to smothered burritos or pizza — and jewelry, clothes, hats and more were all for sale. While people wandered the endless aisles of items, they were entertained by several bands and dance groups performing on the main stage.
About 100 bright, shiny — and some even glittery — cars filled the exhibition hall and spilled out into the street. Each car had something special to show. A white-and-cream 1969 Volkswagen Beetle had screens built into each door and the radio console that displayed music videos and offered sound that could rival the live bands.
Kids were not left out, as there was a petting zoo, pony rides and several inflatable play places.
Despite all of the modern takes on the holiday, one piece of tradition remained: Aztec dancers.
Two groups, the Tonantzin of Greeley and the Huitzilopochtli of Denver, dressed in traditional brightly colored dresses with beads and a feathered headdress.
The Aztec dance begins with participants asking their ancestors for permission to dance. They then begin a series of dances that have been passed through generations. They danced to drum beats and provided their own flair of percussion with handmade “bones of a tree” attached to their ankles to mimic the sounds of a river.
For the dancers, the day ended on a traditional note. They closed their day as they started it in the parade — by returning their focus to the ancestors to tell them they are done.
“We do that at the beginning to open the circle, and we do that at the end to close the circle,” dancer Delfina Franco said.
Franco said the dances combine to tell key parts of Aztec history.
“These dances are from way back when the Aztecs lived,” she said. “It’s a traditional thing. They kept on passing it down, and now we are the ones doing it.”
2011年5月5日星期四
Tasco celebrates its 40th anniversary with a trade show
Tasco Supplies is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the lakecity with a Trade Expo at the Curling Rink this Friday and Saturday.
More than 60 exhibitors catering to the automotive, industrial and welding trades will be featured in the show.
Tasco and its sister businesses Taylor Automotive and Cariboo Steel Centre typify the entrepreneurial spirit that remains alive and well in the Cariboo Chilcotin.
Owner Rick Weil says there is no doubt his company has suffered over the past few years with the global recession, but he is proud to say they have not had to cut back on employee hours or income.
Tasco Supplies was founded in Williams Lake March 1, 1971 by Rick Weil, Dave Ireland and Fred Thuncher. A few years later, in 1974, the partners opened a second Tasco Supplies in 100 Mile House.
The Williams Lake store was expanded five times over the years to meet the growing demands of industry in the region, which included a demand for custom-made parts for heavy equipment and machinery.
So in 1989 the company purchased the Cariboo Steel Centre and then a third Tasco Supplies in Quesnel 12 years ago.
Over the years, Rick bought out his partners’ shares in the business, eventually becoming sole owner in 1993.
Today the businesses employ 68 people, including 12 welders and machinists capable of making custom bushings, shafts, couplings, protective grills and other items needed by the automotive and heavy equipment industries.
The company specializes in problem solving.
“We started out selling industrial and automotive supplies, and have evolved to provide specialized service for the automotive and equipment trades,” Rick says, as an employee hands me a beautifully polished steel cylinder he calls a “splined bushing.”
I almost drop the object on the floor because it is much heavier than it looks. Then my jaw almost drops to the floor when they tell be the small custom object carries a price tag of $400 because of the time it takes to make.
These days one of the company’s biggest challenges is keeping track of and maintaining inventory because the needs of industry are always changing.
A floor-to-ceiling wall of resource material in the purchasing department is testimony to the enormity of this task.
“We have 30,000 different parts or “SKUs,” which is an anachronism for numbers given to the parts in the computer,” Rick says. “We are looking forward to the day when everything is bar-coded.”
While Tasco and Taylor Automotive meet specific needs of industry, the stores are also great scouting places for the home hobbyist and do-it-yourselfer.
There are nuts, bolts and screws as small as an eighth of an inch, right up to three inches in diameter. There is heavy duty hydraulic equipment and there are garden hose attachments. And there are plasma cutters in sizes large enough to slice through inches of steel and small enough to design thin metal sculptures.
But what really makes the business tick is its employees who are treated as family.
Rick says it is important for the employees to have wages they can live well on and he has also worked hard to provide medical, dental, extended health, and RRSP benefit plans.
As a result many of the employees have been with the company 20 years or longer.
Creating a stable working environment, he says, is especially important for a business like their’s which caters to repeat customers, who know what they need and can develop an easy rapport with the employee who specializes in the particular type of equipment they are seeking.
Rick and his family also have deep ties to the Williams Lake community.
Rick, was born in Paris, France and lived in England until the age of six, when his family settled in Williams Lake where he was raised.
His wife Carol (Kelly) was born and raised in Williams Lake.
“We married young and decided early on that we wouldn’t work together so we would have things to talk about in the evenings,” Rick says. “It’s worked so far. We’ve been married 47 years.”
Fresh out of school Rick started learning the automotive and industrial supply trade as a salesman for Taylor, Pearson and Carson automotive equipment supply. He has taken many workshops and training sessions over the years to develop his skills in business.
Carol became a well-known and respected realtor in the community.
Today their son, Troy, is working with his father as manager of the Cariboo Steel Centre and their daughter, Tanya Rankin, has followed in her mother’s footsteps as an independent realtor.
Tanya and her husband Jordan have three school-age daughters, Makena, Mailea, and Mallory. Troy and his wife Naomi have two school-age daughters, Kaylee and Paityn.
Friday and Saturday Rick and his close and extended family will be looking forward to sharing their 40th anniversary with visitors to the trade show at the curling rink where there will be a three-foot-by-six-foot cake to share each day of the show.
In addition to displays by some 60 exhibitors and suppliers there will be all sorts of demonstrations of welding, woodworking, new products and equipment.
“Everyone is invited,” Rick says. People working in industry, families, hobbyists — everyone.”
More than 60 exhibitors catering to the automotive, industrial and welding trades will be featured in the show.
Tasco and its sister businesses Taylor Automotive and Cariboo Steel Centre typify the entrepreneurial spirit that remains alive and well in the Cariboo Chilcotin.
Owner Rick Weil says there is no doubt his company has suffered over the past few years with the global recession, but he is proud to say they have not had to cut back on employee hours or income.
Tasco Supplies was founded in Williams Lake March 1, 1971 by Rick Weil, Dave Ireland and Fred Thuncher. A few years later, in 1974, the partners opened a second Tasco Supplies in 100 Mile House.
The Williams Lake store was expanded five times over the years to meet the growing demands of industry in the region, which included a demand for custom-made parts for heavy equipment and machinery.
So in 1989 the company purchased the Cariboo Steel Centre and then a third Tasco Supplies in Quesnel 12 years ago.
Over the years, Rick bought out his partners’ shares in the business, eventually becoming sole owner in 1993.
Today the businesses employ 68 people, including 12 welders and machinists capable of making custom bushings, shafts, couplings, protective grills and other items needed by the automotive and heavy equipment industries.
The company specializes in problem solving.
“We started out selling industrial and automotive supplies, and have evolved to provide specialized service for the automotive and equipment trades,” Rick says, as an employee hands me a beautifully polished steel cylinder he calls a “splined bushing.”
I almost drop the object on the floor because it is much heavier than it looks. Then my jaw almost drops to the floor when they tell be the small custom object carries a price tag of $400 because of the time it takes to make.
These days one of the company’s biggest challenges is keeping track of and maintaining inventory because the needs of industry are always changing.
A floor-to-ceiling wall of resource material in the purchasing department is testimony to the enormity of this task.
“We have 30,000 different parts or “SKUs,” which is an anachronism for numbers given to the parts in the computer,” Rick says. “We are looking forward to the day when everything is bar-coded.”
While Tasco and Taylor Automotive meet specific needs of industry, the stores are also great scouting places for the home hobbyist and do-it-yourselfer.
There are nuts, bolts and screws as small as an eighth of an inch, right up to three inches in diameter. There is heavy duty hydraulic equipment and there are garden hose attachments. And there are plasma cutters in sizes large enough to slice through inches of steel and small enough to design thin metal sculptures.
But what really makes the business tick is its employees who are treated as family.
Rick says it is important for the employees to have wages they can live well on and he has also worked hard to provide medical, dental, extended health, and RRSP benefit plans.
As a result many of the employees have been with the company 20 years or longer.
Creating a stable working environment, he says, is especially important for a business like their’s which caters to repeat customers, who know what they need and can develop an easy rapport with the employee who specializes in the particular type of equipment they are seeking.
Rick and his family also have deep ties to the Williams Lake community.
Rick, was born in Paris, France and lived in England until the age of six, when his family settled in Williams Lake where he was raised.
His wife Carol (Kelly) was born and raised in Williams Lake.
“We married young and decided early on that we wouldn’t work together so we would have things to talk about in the evenings,” Rick says. “It’s worked so far. We’ve been married 47 years.”
Fresh out of school Rick started learning the automotive and industrial supply trade as a salesman for Taylor, Pearson and Carson automotive equipment supply. He has taken many workshops and training sessions over the years to develop his skills in business.
Carol became a well-known and respected realtor in the community.
Today their son, Troy, is working with his father as manager of the Cariboo Steel Centre and their daughter, Tanya Rankin, has followed in her mother’s footsteps as an independent realtor.
Tanya and her husband Jordan have three school-age daughters, Makena, Mailea, and Mallory. Troy and his wife Naomi have two school-age daughters, Kaylee and Paityn.
Friday and Saturday Rick and his close and extended family will be looking forward to sharing their 40th anniversary with visitors to the trade show at the curling rink where there will be a three-foot-by-six-foot cake to share each day of the show.
In addition to displays by some 60 exhibitors and suppliers there will be all sorts of demonstrations of welding, woodworking, new products and equipment.
“Everyone is invited,” Rick says. People working in industry, families, hobbyists — everyone.”
Mooring systems launches new 400-tonne mobile spooler
Aberdeen-based Mooring Systems Ltd has launched what is believed to be the most adaptable offshore, mobile spooler of its kind in the UK, that will offer significant advantages for clients operating in the oil and gas and the renewables markets.
The spooler, which was designed and built by Caley Ocean Systems at East Kilbride, has been transported to Mooring Systems’ warehouse and quayside facility at Montrose on the east coast of Scotland.
The new 400Te capacity spooler has been designed to accommodate a wide range of flexible products including umbilicals, dynamic risers, marine hoses and cables. It is capable of delivering almost 20km (12 miles) of 100mm cable in one batch. Its modular design can quickly be dismantled and loaded on to road transport – greatly improving its viability for offshore projects that can sail from any port in the UK at short notice.
Designed in accordance with the latest Lloyds Register rules for lifting appliances in a marine environment, Mooring Systems’ offshore product storage unit is suitable for lifting with the hose or cable pre-loaded. The carousel is supplied with a fully integrated hydraulic power pack and controls, all rated IP56, suitable for a marine environment.
Mooring Systems general manager Douglas Davidson said: “The new spooler has filled a gap in the market for a mobile, modular and - most importantly - transportable system that has particular applications for the burgeoning renewables market. We expect that 2012 will see a massive surge in the number of projects being commissioned and we have already experienced increased interest in our fleet of spoolers.”
The new spooler fills the space between conventional reels, which carry smaller payloads and the 1,000Te-plus turntables and carousels that are less adaptable and take longer to deploy. There is nothing quite like this in the UK rental market at present,” said Mr Davidson.
The modular nature of the design means that many of the components used to build the spoolers are consistent across Mooring Systems’ range from 16Te to 400Te.
Mooring Systems is already in discussion with a number of potential clients. Renewables projects are expected to mushroom over the coming months and years with projects being commissioned in UK sector of the North Sea as well as off the coasts of Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany.
Gregor McPherson, sales director at Caley Ocean Systems, said his company’s years of experience in developing quality handling equipment for the marine industry, had enabled the company to deliver a market leading product for Mooring Systems, adding: “Our manufacturing expertise and track record meant we were in a unique position to help develop and deliver a product customers – particularly in the renewables market – are looking for.”
Mr Davidson said the company was already making plans for further investment in an even larger spooler.
The spooler, which was designed and built by Caley Ocean Systems at East Kilbride, has been transported to Mooring Systems’ warehouse and quayside facility at Montrose on the east coast of Scotland.
The new 400Te capacity spooler has been designed to accommodate a wide range of flexible products including umbilicals, dynamic risers, marine hoses and cables. It is capable of delivering almost 20km (12 miles) of 100mm cable in one batch. Its modular design can quickly be dismantled and loaded on to road transport – greatly improving its viability for offshore projects that can sail from any port in the UK at short notice.
Designed in accordance with the latest Lloyds Register rules for lifting appliances in a marine environment, Mooring Systems’ offshore product storage unit is suitable for lifting with the hose or cable pre-loaded. The carousel is supplied with a fully integrated hydraulic power pack and controls, all rated IP56, suitable for a marine environment.
Mooring Systems general manager Douglas Davidson said: “The new spooler has filled a gap in the market for a mobile, modular and - most importantly - transportable system that has particular applications for the burgeoning renewables market. We expect that 2012 will see a massive surge in the number of projects being commissioned and we have already experienced increased interest in our fleet of spoolers.”
The new spooler fills the space between conventional reels, which carry smaller payloads and the 1,000Te-plus turntables and carousels that are less adaptable and take longer to deploy. There is nothing quite like this in the UK rental market at present,” said Mr Davidson.
The modular nature of the design means that many of the components used to build the spoolers are consistent across Mooring Systems’ range from 16Te to 400Te.
Mooring Systems is already in discussion with a number of potential clients. Renewables projects are expected to mushroom over the coming months and years with projects being commissioned in UK sector of the North Sea as well as off the coasts of Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany.
Gregor McPherson, sales director at Caley Ocean Systems, said his company’s years of experience in developing quality handling equipment for the marine industry, had enabled the company to deliver a market leading product for Mooring Systems, adding: “Our manufacturing expertise and track record meant we were in a unique position to help develop and deliver a product customers – particularly in the renewables market – are looking for.”
Mr Davidson said the company was already making plans for further investment in an even larger spooler.
Hydraulic chain saw is compact and powerful
CS Unitec's new hydraulic chain saw is compact and powerful, making it ideal for use in construction, utility, underwater and maintenance applications. The Model ACH000-16 chain saw is designed with a pistol grip for easier handling when cutting from an aerial bucket or on the ground. It has a 16" cutting bar for wood pilings, trimming tree limbs and other applications. Bar lengths of 12" and 14" are also available. Safety features include a chain brake, safety trigger lock and insulated handle for safe use near utility power lines. An optional Hydraulic Hose Swivel allows the tool to turn 360° without tangling the hydraulic hoses.
The ACH000-16 can be operated on either an open center or closed center hydraulic system. The closed center system allows the chain saw to be powered from a bucket lift on a utility truck. The open loop system is for use with a portable hydraulic power unit. The saw has a powerful 6.5 HP, high-torque gear motor. The open/closed hydraulic system has an oil flow of 3-8 GPM at 2000 PSI. A patented spool system for the hydraulic motor eliminates heat generation within the tool for safer operation and easier handling.
The ACH000-16 can be operated on either an open center or closed center hydraulic system. The closed center system allows the chain saw to be powered from a bucket lift on a utility truck. The open loop system is for use with a portable hydraulic power unit. The saw has a powerful 6.5 HP, high-torque gear motor. The open/closed hydraulic system has an oil flow of 3-8 GPM at 2000 PSI. A patented spool system for the hydraulic motor eliminates heat generation within the tool for safer operation and easier handling.
2011年5月2日星期一
Starcraft STX 206 Viper
One of the more overused catchphrases in the boating industry is “fishing machine” for any boat that has rod holders and a livewell. But when describing the capabilities of the Starcraft STX 206 Viper, you’ll find yourself going to the cliché well as often as “Nuke” LaLoosh in the movie “Bull Durham.”
Unique Factor
The first grabber is the fact this is a fiberglass “walleye” boat instead of the more traditional aluminum. The reason “walleye” is in quotes is that while this is a boat you wouldn’t be surprised to see on the FLW Walleye Tour, like its slightly wider and shorter aluminum brother the 2050, the STX 206 Viper is a true multispecies fishing machine.
Part of its versatility comes from the standard Bert’s Custom Track system on top of each gunwale. This clever system allows you to quickly slide in and tighten down a wide variety of fishing accessories, such as rod-holder trees and rocket launchers. When not in use, the track system has Starcraft-logoed plastic step pad inserts to make boarding safer. In a nod to angler preferences, the cockpit isn’t carpeted and there’s a hose for quick cleanups.
Performance
There’s a reason this boat is called the Viper and not the Garter Snake. Most anglers are a little impatient (some would say ADD) and aren’t out for a leisurely cruise to admire the scenery. They’re more inclined to race from one hot spot to the next, and with a Mercury OptiMax 225 Pro XS on the transom, this boat is an enabler. Weighing just 1,535 pounds without the motor, it has a power-to-weight ratio similar to a coyote with an Acme rocket strapped to him. Time to plane was a scant 2.6 seconds, and we got out of the hole without excessive bowrise. The direct-injected two-stroke engine muscled us to 30 mph in only 5 seconds, and we hit a top speed of 58.4 mph. The only downside was a healthy amount of engine noise. At idle, the Merc registered 68 decibels, which is about 10 more than typical four-strokes. At WOT, it measured 97 decibels. Of course, Kevin VanDam just won $500,000 at the Bassmaster Classic using a Pro XS, so there is that.
Handling
At the helm, the driver has plenty of legroom with an inclined footrest, and the sport wheel and throttle are perfectly placed. An Air Ride pedestal for the captain cushions the ride over the chop. The black-faced gauges match the onyx dash that also cuts down on reflections in the tall-enough-to-hide-behind windshield. At trolling speeds, the STX 206 Viper displayed good side-to-side stability. Our test boat has the standard Teleflex Sea Star hydraulic steering system, which felt a little stiff and made it a little hard to whip around in turns. While not a problem when cruising from point A to B like most anglers do, bumping it up to the power-assist option wouldn’t be a bad thing if skiing is on the agenda or if you frequent twisting rivers.
The Viper corners well, and we found nothing untoward when whipping it about smartly; no chines caught for a smooth transition. Only at the end of the turn when the wheel was locked did it finally ease its grip in the turn.
With 19 degrees of deadrise, combined with its relatively narrow 8 feet of beam, the Starcraft handled the chop on Lake Wawasee in northern Indiana in style. We scooted over the 1- to 2-foot chop without having to reduce speed, something most anglers never do until the fillings in their teeth start coming loose.
Unique Factor
The first grabber is the fact this is a fiberglass “walleye” boat instead of the more traditional aluminum. The reason “walleye” is in quotes is that while this is a boat you wouldn’t be surprised to see on the FLW Walleye Tour, like its slightly wider and shorter aluminum brother the 2050, the STX 206 Viper is a true multispecies fishing machine.
Part of its versatility comes from the standard Bert’s Custom Track system on top of each gunwale. This clever system allows you to quickly slide in and tighten down a wide variety of fishing accessories, such as rod-holder trees and rocket launchers. When not in use, the track system has Starcraft-logoed plastic step pad inserts to make boarding safer. In a nod to angler preferences, the cockpit isn’t carpeted and there’s a hose for quick cleanups.
Performance
There’s a reason this boat is called the Viper and not the Garter Snake. Most anglers are a little impatient (some would say ADD) and aren’t out for a leisurely cruise to admire the scenery. They’re more inclined to race from one hot spot to the next, and with a Mercury OptiMax 225 Pro XS on the transom, this boat is an enabler. Weighing just 1,535 pounds without the motor, it has a power-to-weight ratio similar to a coyote with an Acme rocket strapped to him. Time to plane was a scant 2.6 seconds, and we got out of the hole without excessive bowrise. The direct-injected two-stroke engine muscled us to 30 mph in only 5 seconds, and we hit a top speed of 58.4 mph. The only downside was a healthy amount of engine noise. At idle, the Merc registered 68 decibels, which is about 10 more than typical four-strokes. At WOT, it measured 97 decibels. Of course, Kevin VanDam just won $500,000 at the Bassmaster Classic using a Pro XS, so there is that.
Handling
At the helm, the driver has plenty of legroom with an inclined footrest, and the sport wheel and throttle are perfectly placed. An Air Ride pedestal for the captain cushions the ride over the chop. The black-faced gauges match the onyx dash that also cuts down on reflections in the tall-enough-to-hide-behind windshield. At trolling speeds, the STX 206 Viper displayed good side-to-side stability. Our test boat has the standard Teleflex Sea Star hydraulic steering system, which felt a little stiff and made it a little hard to whip around in turns. While not a problem when cruising from point A to B like most anglers do, bumping it up to the power-assist option wouldn’t be a bad thing if skiing is on the agenda or if you frequent twisting rivers.
The Viper corners well, and we found nothing untoward when whipping it about smartly; no chines caught for a smooth transition. Only at the end of the turn when the wheel was locked did it finally ease its grip in the turn.
With 19 degrees of deadrise, combined with its relatively narrow 8 feet of beam, the Starcraft handled the chop on Lake Wawasee in northern Indiana in style. We scooted over the 1- to 2-foot chop without having to reduce speed, something most anglers never do until the fillings in their teeth start coming loose.
CAT® 990 Wheel Loaders Keep Wood Moving at High Volume Paper Mill
On an average day, 450 log trucks rumble in and out of the woodyard at a paper mill in southeast United States. On a really good day, 600 trucks, each carrying 30 tons of pine or hardwood, queue up to be unloaded by one of two CAT® 990H wheel loaders or a 40-ton P&H portal crane.
The CAT wheel loaders were purchased in January 2010 to replace two log stackers. “The log stackers are good machines built well for unloading log trucks,” explains the mill’s woodyard superintendent. “It was more a reliability issue; they just would not hold up in our environment. The 990s were a Godsend. It was a nightmare when our old log stackers were our only machines.”
The woodyard superintendent is responsible for overseeing all activity in the yard from unloading log trucks to ensuring there are enough wood chips to keep the pulp mill well-fed 24/7. Basically, he’s got to keep the wood moving. “My biggest challenge now is making sure we have enough wood chips to feed the digesters of the pulp mill. We have to run very consistently, very reliably to keep the mill running,” he says.
Early in 2009 the biggest challenge was at the beginning of the process — getting log trucks unloaded quickly and consistently. “We would have problems with the log stackers. They would be down and trucks would back up for a half a mile out on the highway. We’d actually end up cutting trucks off for the day because we couldn’t get them unloaded because nothing was running,” he recalls.
Mill management decided to buy two new pieces of equipment. The main requirements for the new machines were: enough capacity to unload a log truck in one pass, stability to lift a full load off the ground without tipping and, of course, reliability. Bottom line, it was all about getting trucks unloaded and out of the woodyard in a timely manner.
Show and Tell
The team charged with determining what machine to buy included the mill manager, the procurement manager, the woodyard superintendent and a woodyard senior operator. They evaluated several makes and models of wheel loaders and log stackers. Besides the CAT 990, they also considered the smaller CAT 988 wheel loader. They still had a 1984 CAT 988B that had already gone through one rebuild and, at 100,000+ hours, now was used as back-up.
After doing their homework, they told their CAT dealer rep, Mike Farris with Thompson Machinery in Tupelo, Miss., that they wanted to go look. So Farris arranged for a one-day whirlwind tour on the company jet to several locations in Georgia and South Carolina to see both the 990 and 988 working in mills doing the same work they needed them to do — unloading 30-ton trucks and reclaiming wood off the ground.
The evaluation team concluded that the 988 could do the job unloading 60,000 lb. truckloads in one pass, but it would be working at close to its maximum tipping capacity of about 65,000 lbs. They were concerned that the machine wouldn’t survive its full life cycle working at the maximum every minute of every day. On the other hand, with a tipping capacity of about 90,000 lbs., the 990 could unload 60,000 lb. truckloads, with another 30,000 lbs. of available capacity to spare.
One mill they visited in South Carolina had two 990s. “The company shared its maintenance records that showed one of the wheel loaders had 30,000 hours and basically no down time other than a hose or two. That’s what the company was looking for — a machine they did not have to work on,” Farris says.
The senior operator was able to ride along with the 990 operator in the jump seat. “I could tell what the machine was capable of doing, just riding with him,” he says. “I didn’t actually unload a truck or handle any wood, but I did operate the machine just to get the feel of it and the functions.”
He asked himself if he would want to run the 990 on a daily basis. “Comparing it to all the machines I’ve experienced in my years at the mill, I thought this was going be a real nice machine — a lot easier to operate, a lot more comfortable,” he says. “The cab was roomy and all the controls were user friendly and handy.”
He especially liked the joystick operation compared to the steering wheel in the old 988 back in the woodyard. “The joystick just seems to give you more room in front. You don’t have that big steering wheel right there in front of you. And I feel like I have a little more control, too.”
According to Farris, by the end of the day, the mill team had pretty much made up their minds that the 990 was the machine size they were looking for.
The CAT wheel loaders were purchased in January 2010 to replace two log stackers. “The log stackers are good machines built well for unloading log trucks,” explains the mill’s woodyard superintendent. “It was more a reliability issue; they just would not hold up in our environment. The 990s were a Godsend. It was a nightmare when our old log stackers were our only machines.”
The woodyard superintendent is responsible for overseeing all activity in the yard from unloading log trucks to ensuring there are enough wood chips to keep the pulp mill well-fed 24/7. Basically, he’s got to keep the wood moving. “My biggest challenge now is making sure we have enough wood chips to feed the digesters of the pulp mill. We have to run very consistently, very reliably to keep the mill running,” he says.
Early in 2009 the biggest challenge was at the beginning of the process — getting log trucks unloaded quickly and consistently. “We would have problems with the log stackers. They would be down and trucks would back up for a half a mile out on the highway. We’d actually end up cutting trucks off for the day because we couldn’t get them unloaded because nothing was running,” he recalls.
Mill management decided to buy two new pieces of equipment. The main requirements for the new machines were: enough capacity to unload a log truck in one pass, stability to lift a full load off the ground without tipping and, of course, reliability. Bottom line, it was all about getting trucks unloaded and out of the woodyard in a timely manner.
Show and Tell
The team charged with determining what machine to buy included the mill manager, the procurement manager, the woodyard superintendent and a woodyard senior operator. They evaluated several makes and models of wheel loaders and log stackers. Besides the CAT 990, they also considered the smaller CAT 988 wheel loader. They still had a 1984 CAT 988B that had already gone through one rebuild and, at 100,000+ hours, now was used as back-up.
After doing their homework, they told their CAT dealer rep, Mike Farris with Thompson Machinery in Tupelo, Miss., that they wanted to go look. So Farris arranged for a one-day whirlwind tour on the company jet to several locations in Georgia and South Carolina to see both the 990 and 988 working in mills doing the same work they needed them to do — unloading 30-ton trucks and reclaiming wood off the ground.
The evaluation team concluded that the 988 could do the job unloading 60,000 lb. truckloads in one pass, but it would be working at close to its maximum tipping capacity of about 65,000 lbs. They were concerned that the machine wouldn’t survive its full life cycle working at the maximum every minute of every day. On the other hand, with a tipping capacity of about 90,000 lbs., the 990 could unload 60,000 lb. truckloads, with another 30,000 lbs. of available capacity to spare.
One mill they visited in South Carolina had two 990s. “The company shared its maintenance records that showed one of the wheel loaders had 30,000 hours and basically no down time other than a hose or two. That’s what the company was looking for — a machine they did not have to work on,” Farris says.
The senior operator was able to ride along with the 990 operator in the jump seat. “I could tell what the machine was capable of doing, just riding with him,” he says. “I didn’t actually unload a truck or handle any wood, but I did operate the machine just to get the feel of it and the functions.”
He asked himself if he would want to run the 990 on a daily basis. “Comparing it to all the machines I’ve experienced in my years at the mill, I thought this was going be a real nice machine — a lot easier to operate, a lot more comfortable,” he says. “The cab was roomy and all the controls were user friendly and handy.”
He especially liked the joystick operation compared to the steering wheel in the old 988 back in the woodyard. “The joystick just seems to give you more room in front. You don’t have that big steering wheel right there in front of you. And I feel like I have a little more control, too.”
According to Farris, by the end of the day, the mill team had pretty much made up their minds that the 990 was the machine size they were looking for.
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