June 2010 Vol. 65 No. 6

Business

June Business News

Updates from Akkerman, GTI, Vermeer, CONTECH, Caterpillar, Ditch Witch, CNH, ADS, Lockwood Andrews & Newnam, SAK and more.

Akkerman
Trenchless equipment manufacturer Akkerman Inc. is expanding into new markets, having recently appointed representatives in the Middle East, India, Russia and Singapore.

The US-based manufacturer of microtunneling, pipe jacking, guided boring and earth pressure balance equipment will be represented in the United Arab Emirates by Trenchers Land Digging & Filling LLC.

Asia Contech Inc., based in New Delhi, will facilitate sales of Akkerman equipment in India. Singapore-based International Construction Equipment Far East will also represent the company in Asia.

Finally, Intertorg, a US-based company with experience in the Russian trenchless market, will become an Akkerman agent from its Moscow office. 800.533.0386, www.akkerman.com

Caterpillar
Supporting its long-term strategy, considering officer retirements and recognizing the need to create a leaner, more agile, customer-focused company, Caterpillar has announced a number of executive changes and a streamlined corporate structure. Vice Chairman and CEO-Elect Doug Oberhelman is leading a team that is updating the company’s strategy, which was first introduced by Jim Owens, Caterpillar’s chairman and CEO, in 2005.

Once Oberhelman becomes CEO, effective July 1, he will not be replaced as a group president. As such, the number of Caterpillar group presidents will be reduced from six to five. The chief financial officer (CFO) and chief legal officer (CLO) will report directly to the chairman and CEO. Group President Ed Rapp will become CFO and will lead many of the company’s corporate services divisions. Jim Buda, vice president, general counsel and secretary, also will report directly to the chairman and CEO.

The new structure will consolidate traditional corporate divisions, reducing the number from 32 to 29. These changes also will result in a number of new responsibilities for some vice presidents.

Group Presidents Rich Lavin and Steve Wunning will be responsible for leading Caterpillar’s machine businesses. They will lead divisions supporting machine product design and development, focused industry sales execution and a greater emphasis on quality and manufacturing excellence. Recognizing the growth potential and opportunities for Caterpillar in the key emerging markets of Asia, Lavin will relocate to Asia later this year to provide senior executive leadership in this critical region of the world.

Group President Stu Levenick will be responsible for leading an enhanced focus on aggressively growing Caterpillar’s aftermarket parts and product support capabilities, its logistics business, remanufacturing and components, as well as its global marketing and distribution organizations, which directly support Caterpillar’s global dealer organization.

Group President Gerard Vittecoq will be responsible for Caterpillar’s growing energy and power systems business. This includes Caterpillar’s engine, turbines, gas and marine, electric power systems businesses and its wholly owned subsidiary, Progress Rail.

Group President and CFO Ed Rapp will be responsible for leading many of Caterpillar’s services divisions, which provide support and services across the entire Caterpillar enterprise.

In addition to the new corporate structure, Caterpillar announced that several vice presidents will retire from the company on June 1, including Dave Burritt, Caterpillar’s vice president and CFO; Jim Water, vice president of Caterpillar’s Production Center of Excellence Division; Mark Pflederer, vice president with responsibility for the Electronics and Machine Systems Division; Dan Murphy, vice president of the Global Purchasing Division; and Rod Beeler, vice president of the Marketing & Product Support Center of Excellence, who will be replaced by Steve Gosselin, currently president of Solar Turbines, a wholly-owned Caterpillar subsidiary. Jim Umpleby will replace Gosselin as a Caterpillar vice president and president of Solar Turbines.

Caterpillar is creating the Integrated Manufacturing Operations Division with responsibility for operations located in East Peoria, Decatur and Aurora, IL; Monterrey and Torreon, Mexico; Peterlee, U.K. and Thiruvallur, India, with David Bozeman, vice president, leading the new division.

Effective June 1, the Core Components Division will be consolidated with Caterpillar’s Remanufacturing Division with Steve Fisher, currently vice president, Remanufacturing Division, leading the newly expanded division.

Bill Springer, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Quarry and Specialty Industries Division (QSID), will assume new responsibilities, which include Caterpillar’s global paving products, forestry products and tunnel boring products. Caterpillar’s Work Tools business and its Governmental and Defense Products group will continue reporting to Springer as a part of a new Diversified Products Division. Springer’s new responsibilities will take effect June 1.

Sales execution and coverage for all industries will be finalized later.

The CFO position will be elevated to the company’s executive office, and Rapp will assume the CFO position and responsibilities for many of the company’s corporate services divisions effective June 1. Caterpillar’s board of directors has elected Brad Halverson, currently Caterpillar’s corporate controller, as vice president of finance and accounting effective June 1.

During a business summit in Chicago in late April, Caterpillar Chairman Jim Owens said he believes that Cat will bring back workers, both in foreign markets and in the U.S., primarily in Illinois. The company has laid off more than 20,000 workers during the past two years in order to cut costs and survive the recession. 309.675.1000, www.cat.com

CNH
CNH announced has appointed Henrik Starup as vice president, Construction Equipment Europe. Reporting to James McCullough, president and CEO of CNH Construction Equipment Business, Starup is responsible for further developing and strengthening the Case Construction Equipment and the New Holland Construction brands positioning in the marketplace.

Starup joins CNH from IVECO, and brings to his new role over 20 years experience in sales and marketing gained through leadership positions held in Denmark, the Nordic countries, Germany and at European level for the heavy, medium and light line. Most recently, he was general manager for the German market, building IVECO’s exposure and market share in this country. www.cnh.com

ADS, Foltz Concrete Pipe Co.
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS) has acquired Foltz Concrete Pipe Company, LLC of Winston-Salem, NC.

In addition to the packaged shipping abilities, ADS has a nationwide team of engineers and sales professionals who work with consulting engineers, agencies, distribution partners and installing contractors to provide cost effective solutions for drainage and sanitary sewer projects and programs. The addition of concrete pipe and precast structures further enhances ADS’ abilities as a solutions provider in the storm drain and sanitary sewer markets. 800.821.6710, www.ads-pipe.com

Lockwood Andrews & Newnam
Robert J. Fiederlein joins Lockwood Andrews & Newnam (LAN) as senior program manager overseeing operations of its Infrastructure Large Diameter (ILD) Business Group. In this role, Fiederlein will use his experience in the public sector to strengthen current and develop future relationships with the firm’s municipal clients. He also will use his expertise in project finance to assist clients to seek out monies for infrastructure needs.

Fiederlein joins LAN following a career in senior leadership roles with the city of Houston, which included serving as chief of staff of the Public Works and Engineering Department and as special assistant and assistant director of finance to Mayor Bill White.

Fiederlein holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas at Houston. 713.266.6900, www.lan-inc.com

SAK Construction
David M. Crone has joined the business development team at SAK Construction, a national pipeline rehabilitation and tunneling industries contractor headquartered in the St. Louis area. Based in San Diego, CA, Crone will manage SAK’s business development efforts on the West Coast. SAK serves a variety of city, county and state agencies; industrial sectors; municipalities; and water and sewer cooperatives coast-to-coast.

Crone brings to SAK 15 years of experience in technical service and sales in the water and wastewater industries. He is a graduate of San Diego State University. Crone is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Public Works Association and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. 636.379.2350, www.sak-construction.com

J.F. Kiely Construction
J.F. Kiely Construction Co. has appointed Andrew Thomson to head up its health and safety department.

The Health and Safety Department at J.F. Kiely Construction draws from five sources to identify ways to improve safety. They include its management, union, vendors, consultants and customers. The company takes a serious stance on employee health and safety and views its workforce as a hard asset.

Founded in 1952, J.F. Kiely Construction Co. offers utility customers a diversified list of services, including the installation of gas, water, electric and sewer. Its specialties include directional drilling, high-pressure tapping, pipe welding and plastic fusion. 732.222.4400, www.JFKIELY.com

Fecon, Vermeer Midwest


Vermeer Midwest joins Fecon as their dealer and service provider in Illinois, Indiana, eastern Missouri and the Detroit area of Michigan. Vermeer Midwest will offer Fecon’s proven line of Bull Hog mulchers, FTX track carriers (ranging from 97-440 hp) and various other forestry attachments.

Fecon and Vermeer Midwest will be able to fulfill the land clearing, vegetation management, right-of-way clearing and site prep equipment needs of the Midwest. Vermeer Midwest will also provide many local service facilities for all Fecon products and customers. 800.528.3113, www.fecon.com, www.vermeermidwest.com.

ASFE
James W. “Jay” Martin, P.E. is the new president of ASFE/The Geoprofessional Business Association, a not-for-profit association of geoprofessional firms that employ some 125,000 individuals worldwide.

The two additional officers and five directors-at-large who comprise the balance of ASFE’s board are President-Elect David R. Gaboury, P.E. (Terracon, Olathe, KS); Secretary/Treasurer David A. Schoenwolf, P.E. (Haley & Aldrich, Inc., McLean, VA); Kurt R. Fraese, L.G. (GeoEngineers Inc., Seattle, WA); Mark K. Kramer, P.E. (Soil and Materials Engineers Inc., Plymouth, MI); Frank D. Leathers, P.E. (GEI Consultants Inc., Woburn, MA); Gordon M. Matheson, Ph.D., P.E., P.G. (Schnabel Engineering, Glen Allen, VA); and Steven D. Thorne, P.E., D.GE (Melick-Tully and Associates, P.C., South Bound Brook, NJ).

Martin is a vice president and principal of AMEC’s Earth & Environmental Division (Nashville, TN). He is also the managing principal for AMEC’s largest commercial client and previously chaired AMEC’s Technical Council. A graduate of the University of Louisville, where he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees, both in civil engineering, Martin has more than 30 years experience in multiple aspects of geotechnical, environmental, and civil engineering. 301.565.2733, www.asfe.org

Sukut Construction
Mary Ellen Copek, the senior human resources officer for Sukut Construction Inc., was honored as the recipient of the 2009 Excellence in Human Resources Transformation Award by the Orange County California chapter of the National Human Resources Association.

Copek, holding the unique title of Talent Director, was recognized for her ability to create strong human resources and learning functions within Sukut while preserving the unique culture that sets the company apart.

Sukut, which employs more than 300 people, is one of America’s premier heavy civil engineering contractors with extensive operations throughout California and currently expanding to Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming and Utah.

Copek, who began at Sukut in 2004, introduced professional interviewing and hiring techniques to insure the selection of new hires that were best suited to the available jobs. She responded to the company’s need for more project management staff by tripling the number of project managers in four years.

One of Copek’s most important roles has been the establishment of Sukut University, the centerpiece of Sukut’s employee training and education program. Copek designed a curriculum for project management personnel, taught by in-house experts, which significantly reduced the time required for project engineers to be ready to run projects independently. 888.785.8801, www.sukut.com

John Deere Power Systems
John Deere Power Systems’ PowerTech PVX 9.0L and PowerTech PSX 9.0L models are the first of their off-highway 75 horsepower and above engines to be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and European Union (EU) as compliant with the Interim Tier 4 and Stage III B regulations.

Interim Tier 4/Stage III B emissions regulations begin January 1, 2011 for 174 horsepower and above engines and require a 90 percent reduction in diesel particulate matter (PM) and a 50 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) from previous Tier 3/Stage III A requirements.

John Deere met the challenge of Interim Tier 4/Stage III B regulations by starting with their proven PowerTech Plus Tier 3/Stage III A in-line, six-cylinder engine platform — which includes cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) for NOx control — and adding an exhaust filter for reducing PM. These engines will feature full-authority electronic controls, a four-valve cylinder head, a high-pressure fuel system, turbocharging and an air-to-air aftercooling system.

With their Interim Tier 4/Stage III B engines featuring cooled EGR and VGT technologies, John Deere expects to maintain fuel-economy levels similar to those achieved with their Tier 3/Stage III A engines. John Deere’s cooled EGR engines operate efficiently with ultra low-sulfur diesel as well as biodiesel blends, providing owners and operators with optimal performance and fuel-choice flexibility.

In choosing a solution for Interim Tier 4/Stage III B, John Deere elected not to use selective catalytic reduction (SCR). John Deere’s cooled EGR and exhaust filter approach provides OEMs and end-users a proven solution with the best total fluid economy. The single-fluid approach of cooled EGR means owners and operators won’t have to incur the cost of diesel fuel plus the additional cost for diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) required by SCR systems.

The certified and compliant PowerTech PVX 9.0L offers up to 300 horsepower while the PowerTech PSX 9.0L offers up to 425 horsepower. PowerTech 9.0L engines went into production in May 2010. 309.765.8000, www.deere.com

CONTECH Construction Products
CONTECH Construction Products has opened its first Mexican facility in Silao, Mexico, in the State of Guanajuato on April 15. This manufacturing facility provides CONTECH with the footprint and infrastructure to support its expansion into Mexico, Central America and South America. 800.338.1122, www.contech-cpi.com

Professional Service Industries
Tracey Bocksnick has joined Professional Service Industries’ (PSI) Houston operations office as a Business Development Manager. Bocksnick has 21 years of experience in marketing and business development for the AEC industry.

PSI is a leading independent engineering and testing firm and one of the largest consulting engineering firms in North America, with approximately $250 million in annual revenues. PSI provides a wide range of environmental engineering and testing services, including environmental consulting, geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing and engineering, industrial hygiene services, facilities and roof consulting, and specialty engineering and testing services. 800.548.7901, www.psiusa.com

Godwin Pumps
Godwin Pumps has appointed of Mick Trotter and Paul Marlow to Sales & Rental Distribution Development.

Trotter has almost 18 years of experience in the pump sales and rental industry, having served most recently as a sales engineer. Trotter will provide support to Godwin’s existing distributors in the Southeast of England, the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, he will seek to expand sales and rentals in those same territories through their distributor network.

Marlow has seven years of pump sales and rental experience, most recently as a regional pumps sales manager in Peterborough. In this capacity, Marlow honed his customer service skills, which he will apply at Godwin in support of its relationship with SLD in the central region of England from Norfolk to Cornwall. Marlow will also be applying his sales experience and pumping industry knowledge toward Godwin’s development of business opportunities in Spain and Portugal.

Thompson Pump & Mfg.
Thompson Pump & Manufacturing held their 20th annual Pumpology School April 21-23, at their corporate facilities in Port Orange, FL. The company hosted more than 40 attendees from 15 states and three foreign countries. The three-day workshop included training sessions for sales and service-oriented professionals on pumping fundamentals, dewatering and bypass applications, selecting the correct pumping equipment, designing, installing and maintaining pumping systems, troubleshooting, pump maintenance and more.

Pumpology School offers hands-on demonstrations and classroom training from industry experts. Upon completion of training and successfully passing a comprehensive examination, attendees are recognized as certified Pumpologists at an awards ceremony.

“Our Pumpology School allows us to share our expertise about pumps and pumping systems and we raise the knowledge quotient across a wide spectrum of applications, markets and territories,” said Bill Thompson, Thompson Pump president. “The training is geared to address the requirements of engineers, sales representatives and operating technicians.” 800.767.7310, www.thompsonpump.com

Gas Technology Institute
James Marean joins Gas Technology Institute (GTI) as a senior program manager for GTI’s Intelligent Infrastructure initiative.

In this position, Marean will lead efforts to assess and articulate natural gas’ role and value as part of the Smart Energy Grid.

Marean comes to GTI from New York State Electric and Gas, where he spent 30 years in positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently, he was manager, Technical Support Services, with significant focus on new innovations in technology and demonstration deployment. He has experience with distribution engineering, natural gas and compressed air energy storage evaluation, alternative fuel and natural gas vehicles, environmental matters and remediation strategies.

He has held positions on the Board of Directors for Operations Technology Development (OTD) and Utilization Technology Development (UTD). Marean earned a B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology and an M.S. in Fisheries Biology from SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry, and an M.S. in Science Education from Syracuse University. 847.768.0500, www.gastechnology.org

Leslie Equipment Company
Leslie Equipment Company has joined the SENNEBOGEN Dealer Network selling, servicing and providing parts for the company’s Green Line.

Wayne Hoffman also has joined the company as the Product Sales Specialist for the SENNEBOGEN line. He can be reached at 513-313-0038 or hoffmanwayne@lec1.com.

With ten locations throughout Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, Leslie
Equipment Company has provided quality construction and forestry equipment for over 40 years. 304.226.3299, www.lec1.com

Ditch Witch
Ditch Witch Safe, being offered by Ditch Witch, is a new safety program designed to meet the ever-present need for timely, substantive safety information for crews working on jobsites on a daily basis.

A library of “Safety Matters” training and information sheets are available in both Spanish and English. Safety Matters sheets can be used in classroom settings, safety meetings and even on the jobsite. They address a wide range of safety topics, including working in trenches/pits, safely transporting equipment, rollover protection, electrical strike education, and much more.

Safety Matters sheets can be downloaded at Ditch Witch Safe. In addition to Safety Matters topics, customers will find a growing number of training materials including safety tips, safety training videos, operator’s manuals and material safety data sheets (MSDS).

In other company news, Ditch Witch announced winners of three of its annual awards. Winner of the 2009 “Gold Ace Award,” given to the top Ditch Witch salesperson worldwide, is Thomas Reszkowski of Ditch Witch Northeast in Perrineville, NJ. Tim Conover of Ditch Witch Midwest in Carol Stream, IL, earned the 2009 “Lowell Highfill Award” for his promotion and marketing of Ditch Witch products and the 2009 “Service Manager of the Year Award” went to Mark Frey of Ditch Witch of Montana in Billings, MT. 800.654.6481, www.ditchwitch.com

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has launched a 21-language web site (www.rbauction.com). The new rbauction.com delivers the world’s largest used equipment inventory, largest database of auction results and equipment specifications, and more features in more languages than any other equipment auction web site.

Key features of the new rbauction.com include:

• Current auction inventory and equipment search now in 21 languages
• Auction results now in 14 languages with equipment photos
• Live online bidding service now in seven languages
• Online bidding amounts and Auction Results in your preferred currency
• Enhanced search functionality: find items by make, model, auction details, lot number or serial number
• Zoomable, high-resolution equipment photos
• Side-by-side equipment comparison tool: compare by make, model, usage, specifications and auction
• Fully functional account services in 14 languages, featuring saved searches, a personal Watchlist and customized email alerts

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co.
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company’s RePVC (polyvinyl chloride) and ReUze are now certified by NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to protecting and improving public health and the environment. Both piping systems were inspired by the green and sustainability industries.

According to Charlotte Pipe, there are three sources of non-potable water: rainwater, gray water and municipally supplied reclaimed water. Non-potable water systems are great for applications that do not require water, which have been treated to drinking water standards.

NSF International’s certification for water piping systems verifies that the products meet all applicable requirements by conducting thorough testing and facility inspections. This includes three unannounced inspections annually, formulation and manufacturing process reviews and testing of product samples.

ReUze, a purple CPVC piping system for distributing non-potable water inside the building, is directly aimed at increasing water efficiency. The line pipes are purple to differentiate non-potable water from potable water. Non-potable water can be used to save building owners money, relieve stress on already over burdened public agencies, and preserve a precious resource in applications such as toilet and urinal flushing and process water.

RePVC is a PVC pipe that uses recycled content as the center layer. It expands the market for recycled materials, slows the consumption of raw materials and reduces the amount of waste entering landfills. RePVC is one of the first products to be certified by NSF International to ASTM F 1760: Standard Specification for Coextruded Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Non-Pressure Plastic Pipe Having Reprocessed-Recycled Content. ASTM F 1760 contains requirements for plastic pipe having recycled content. 704.348.6685, www.charlottepipe.com

Takeuchi-US
Takeuchi-US, Atlanta, announced Carolina Crawler and Equipment, Charleston, SC, is a new dealer of the Takeuchi line of compact earthmoving equipment. www.takeuchi-us.com

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