March 2019 Vol. 74 No. 3
Business
Latest in the News
Ox Equipment
Ox Equipment Inc., the exclusive North American distributor for Germany-manufactured MTS dry suction excavation equipment, announced a formal, strategic partnership with Seymour, Wisc.-based I-Quip (Innovator’s Equipment) Inc.
MTS GmbH world-class dry suction vacuum excavation equipment is currently the industry standard for safe vacuum excavation throughout all of Europe. These technologically advanced fan-based vacuum systems allow for unrivaled dry vacuum production.
Under the agreement, equipment supplier I-Quip will aid Ancaster, Ontario, Ox Equipment in both sales and support of all MTS Equipment within the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
“We are very excited to join forces … to bring this new North America vacuum technology to the Mid-Western United States,” said Darren Bartels, president and CEO of Ox Equipment. “We all feel the time is right for European dry vacuum systems to enter the marketplace, and we know I-Quip will be a great strategic partner going forward.
Enduro Composites
Enduro Composites Inc., a global leader in the design and manufacture of non-metallic fiberglass composite products and solutions, sold the assets of its Pearland, Texas, Pipe & Tank product line to Endurance Composites, LLC, an Andronaco Industries company. All other product lines located in Houston, as well as its Freeport, Texas, Field Services group, continue as core businesses within the Enduro portfolio.
“Since the opening of the Pearland facility over five years ago, the operation has achieved numerous client certifications and recognition by industry professionals, the most recent being ASME RTP-1 for FRP Tanks,” said Tim Broussard, CEO. “Enduro Composites will now focus all of its resources on strategic growth initiatives within its core business.”
With a history of innovation and industry firsts, Enduro’s fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) solutions have earned worldwide respect and recognition in many of its businesses. Employing diverse, multiple manufacturing capabilities in Houston and Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Enduro produces lasting results for challenging conditions in industrial and infrastructure market segments.
GTI and London-based Carbon Clean Solutions Limited’s U.S. subsidiary (CCS-US) received funding that will take breakthrough technology a step closer to commercialization. The U.S. Department of Energy/National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL) Office of Fossil Energy awarded $2.9 million to the companies to develop and test a potentially transformational carbon capture technology.
The companies will partner on designing, building and testing a prototype demonstration unit at GTI’s Des Plaines, Ill., headquarters that will undergo further field testing with coal-fired flue gas at the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) in Wilsonville, Ala.
This 30-month project will showcase a novel equipment design and advanced solvents that could reduce the levelized cost of carbon capture to the DOE target of $30 per ton or less. Known as ROTA-CAP, the technology uses novel rotating packed beds (RPBs) to intensify the carbon capture process.
“The most important feature is that it will be scalable,” said Will Shimer, general manager of CCS-US. “ROTA-CAP technology could provide a major reduction in both capex and equipment size, enabling wider-scale, commercial deployment of carbon capture systems globally.”
CCS-US is a global leader in providing low-cost carbon dioxide (CO2) separation technology for industrial and gas-treating applications. The company’s patented technology significantly reduces the costs and environmental impacts of CO2 separation, when compared to existing techniques, and received a Technology Pioneer award from the World Economic Forum in 2015.
GTI, a leading research, development, and training organization, has been addressing global energy and environmental challenges by developing technology-based solutions for consumers, industry and government for more than 75 years. This includes previous experience with similar efforts.
Hyundai
Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas (HCEA) expanded its North American authorized dealer network with the addition of Butler Equipment LLC. The family-owned and-operated, Hartford, Conn., dealership has served the compact construction and landscape market in the area.
Being a part of the dealer network, offering sales, service and parts for the full line of Hyundai excavators, wheel loaders, compaction rollers and other construction equipment, allows Butler “to better service their customer base, along with new customers’ needs for larger equipment,” said Bill Klein, district manager, HCEA-Northeast.
This latest addition brings Hyundai’s North American network to a total of more than 70 dealerships operating in just over 150 locations. Dealer partners regularly receive Hyundai product and service training to ensure they can provide top-caliber support to meet customers’ growing business needs.
McElroy
mcelroy.com; plasticpipeswelding.com
McElroy fusion machines have a new home in the Middle East with the opening of Plastic Pipes Welding in Dubai. The new company is developing close relationships with customers there to provide the best thermoplastic pipe welding solutions with the sales, rental and service of McElroy fusion equipment.
CEO Jose Ramon Arístegui has been a distributor of McElroy machinery and accessories in Europe and Northern Africa for 14 years. His new Dubai company is supported by his staff at Arístegui Maquinaria in Barcelona, which has more than 38 years of experience in the fusion industry.
“From my years of experience, I understand the industry and believe there are numerous and real customer needs for this type of machinery in the Middle East region,” said Aristegui. “We understand it is very important for the client to have the machines as soon as possible with very short delivery times. Our local facility is able to provide fast and close local service for customers in the region.”
Plastic Pipes Welding has a complete line of McElroy’s manual, rolling and track-mounted machines for butt, socket and branch fusion of polyethylene and polypropylene pipe up to 2000mm. From its prime location in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the largest free zone in the United Arab Emirates, the company is well-positioned to provide prompt service by master mechanics certified by McElroy.
Volvo Construction Equipment
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) opened a new facility in Toronto, Canada, increasing the company’s distribution footprint and reinforcing its best-in-class customer experience initiative.
With the new center, Volvo CE reduces delivery time—to the next day after an order is placed—and enables dealers in most major markets across Canada to restock both common and business-critical components much faster.
Prior to the opening of the center, the company shipped all parts to its Canadian dealers from the United States. This entailed processing through customs, which could cause delays in delivery and increase machine idle time.
“This Canadian parts distribution facility gives our Strongco customers improved access to critical Volvo OEM parts inventory on this side of the border," said Oliver Nachevski, vice president and COO for Strongco, a Volvo CE Canadian dealer.
Volvo Group Service Market Logistics operates the new 16,815-square-meter (181,000-square-foot) distribution center that will not only provide parts for Volvo CE dealers, but also for other Volvo business areas.
In other news, Volvo CE reported its strongest financial results ever, also contributing to record results of its parent company Volvo Group.
Fourth-quarter 2018 net sales increased by 21 percent to Swedish Krona (SEK) 20,323 million ($16,730 million). Operating income rose by 19 percent and amounted to SEK 2,157 million ($1,820 million), corresponding to an operating margin of 10.6 percent.
For the full year, net sales increased 27 percent, to SEK 84,238 million ($66,313 million), and adjust- ed operating income increased to SEK 11,306 million ($7,917 million), corresponding to an operating margin of 13.4 percent.
Plastic Pipes Institute
A major proponent of the recently formed Alliance to End Plastic Waste is the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) Inc. In addition to 12 of the 30 founding members being PPI members, the North American trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry believes it can help take Alliance goals to the next level.
“The plastics industry has now taken a quantum leap towards solving the problem of plastic waste,” stated Tony Radoszewski, CAE, president of PPI. There’s also an opportunity to help meet PPI’s needs.
“Our industry currently processes 25 percent of all post-consumer HDPE bottles—mainly from milk and liquid detergent products—and converts them into pipe used in underground infrastructure,” he explained. “Some of this pipe is made using more than 40 percent recycled HDPE resin.”
That depends on an enormous supply. “Making one standard 20-foot length of 48-inch-diameter HDPE pipe containing 40 percent recycled HDPE resin, requires 1,600 to 2,200 discarded bottles. Most stormwater drainage projects using this type of pipe run in the thousands of feet, sometimes even miles, of pipe.
“One PPI member reports using more than 400 million pounds a year of recycled material.”
By being successful in ending plastic waste, the Alliance gives new opportunity to supplying the demand for recycled resin.
Xylem
In a move to highlight the company’s global leadership in delivering engineered water technologies with the highest value, Xylem launched a new approach and look to its dedicated Rental Solutions business.
“Brainpower for Rent” reflects the extensive expertise, capabilities and portfolio offered by Xylem Rental Solutions, including an equipment fleet with wide-ranging sizes and configurations, and specialty products and systems that are not available from other companies.
“An ever-increasing number of industries are considering renting pumps and related equipment to efficiently and cost-effectively run their operations,” said Gregg Leslie, director of Rental Market Development, Americas. “Whether our customers require fast-track temporary emergency response or reliable, long-term operation, the depth of our expertise and breadth of our fleet will help them solve every water challenge, from the basic to the most complex.”
Beyond specializing in the design and installation of rental solutions, Rye Brook, N.Y.-based Xylem provides holistic project management services and highly responsive customer support, ensuring minimal downtime, and greater efficiency, reliability and peace of mind.
Core & Main
Core & Main LP, a leading U.S. distributor of water, sewer and fire protection products, acquired select assets of Maskell Pipe & Supply Inc., its fifth acquisition since becoming an independent company in August 2017.
Now operating as a Core & Main brand, Maskell Pipe is a full-service provider of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, with locations in Corona and Tracy, Calif., and Morgantown, W.V., serving industrial, municipal and environmental customers. In addition to HDPE pipe and fittings, Maskell Pipe provides a large rental fleet of equipment used to fuse the pipe during installation.
“Maskell is a leader in the plastic pipe industry with a solid reputation and valuable expertise,” said Steve LeClair, CEO of Core & Main. “The Maskell team will support our effort to offer a variety of options to customers who are modernizing or building new infrastructure across a variety of industries.”
Jack Schaller, president of Core & Main Waterworks, added, “We believe there is a strong cultural fit and strategic alignment that will enable us to grow our presence in the fusion market, while the Maskell team will benefit from being part of a larger organization with an increased breadth of product offerings and service expertise.”
Salma Bushala Hamud, president and owner of Maskell, will continue to operate its rigging business. Mitch Price, Maskell’s vice president of operations, will join Core & Main in a leadership role on the West Coast.
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