Dana launches Chinese-specific off-highway drivetrain brand
Dana Holding Corp. has developed and launched the Spicer Rui Ma brand for a new class of transmissions and axles made in China to complement the supplier’s flagship Spicer brand. Announced at Bauma China 2012 in Shanghai, the initial Spicer Rui Ma products offered to Chinese OEMs include the Spicer TZL16 RM powershift transmission for ZL50 front-end loaders, the T08 RM transmission for 6- to 10-t (6.6- to 11-ton) forklift trucks, and the T39 RM tridem drive axle for five- and six-axle chassis concrete pump trucks and other heavy-duty vocational applications. The company plans to introduce additional Spicer Rui Ma transmissions and axles for the construction, mining, and material-handling industries in the coming months. Developed and produced at Dana’s manufacturing facility in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, Spicer Rui Ma transmissions and axles are supported by the supplier’s growing network of engineering, sales support, and aftermarket parts and service teams in China. Dana currently has nine facilities in China and plans to open a 12,000-m2 (129,000-ft2) technical center in Wuxi in early 2013 to provide advanced product and applications engineering.
ZF, LiuGong cooperate on modular axle concept for China
ZF and construction equipment manufacturer LiuGong recently formed a new joint-venture axle company, called ZF Liuzhou Axle Co. Ltd., that will produce wheel loader axles tailored to the requirements of the Chinese market. The companies expect that by 2018, approximately 190 employees will work at ZF Liuzhou Axle and that more than 30,000 of the newly designed axles will be delivered to LiuGong and the third market. ZF and LiuGong have been operating a JV company in Liuzhou since 1995, producing construction machinery transmissions and axles; the new JV was launched in the same location. “A team of engineers from ZF Headquarters, LiuGong, and ZF China have been working together to upgrade the existing axle models for LiuGong wheel loaders since October 2011,” said Hermann Beck, head of the ZF Business Unit Off-Highway Systems. “These joint efforts brought about a modular axle concept which, besides the standard version with dry disk brake (Basic Line), offers the possibility to supply a new, even more sophisticated technical solution with wet multi-disk brake (High Line) using a large portion of common parts.” ZF expects this modular concept to greatly reduce production costs. About 3300 newly designed axles are scheduled to leave the Liuzhou production plant in 2014.
Trelleborg begins production of agricultural tires in China
Trelleborg Group inaugurated a new facility in Xingtai, Hebei, China, on June 27 to manufacture high-performance specialty tires, primarily for the agricultural industry. The manufacturing site produces both radial and bias technology tires for farming, forestry, and agro-industrial applications, and Trelleborg expects the facility to strengthen its competitiveness in markets other than the Chinese, by broadening its range and through more efficient production. “There is enormous potential within the agricultural sector in China. Today, more than half of farming operations in the country are conducted manually and industry mechanization is taking place rapidly. The demand for high-performance agricultural tires is favorable,” said Business Area President, Trelleborg Wheel Systems, Maurizio Vischi. “Through this establishment, Trelleborg becomes the first global manufacturer of agricultural tires to have its own production in China. The facility provides proximity to Chinese customers, but also support to European and U.S. customers in the local Chinese market.” The Trelleborg Group has several other manufacturing facilities in China—in Huizhou, Shanghai, Wuxi, and Qingdao. The facilities manufacture a range of engineered products and solutions based on polymer technology, such as marine systems, specialty components, industrial anti-vibration, and precision seals.
Michelin expands earthmover tire production in South Carolina
Michelin North America broke ground in April on a new earthmover tire manufacturing plant in Anderson County, SC, and is also expanding its existing earthmover tire facility in Lexington, SC. The two projects represent a $750 million investment. The new earthmover tire plant will be adjacent to the company’s existing rubber processing plant in Starr, SC, and is expected to be operational by late 2013. “The market for earthmover tires grew by more than 20% between 2009 and 2011. This new facility will help us meet sustained demand while also attaining our growth objectives for 2015,” said Jean-Dominique Senard, Managing General Partner of Michelin. The expanded operation at Lexington will begin production in October. In addition to the Lexington plant, Michelin currently produces earthmover tires in Waterville, Canada; Campo Grande, Brazil; Le Puy and Montceau-les-Mines, France; Vitoria, Spain; and Zalau, Romania. A spokesperson noted that the company does not disclose the production numbers of any Michelin tire, but Michelin North America’s Chairman and President Pete Selleck claims that “nearly every earthmover tire is sold before it is produced.”
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Michelin is building a new earthmover tire plant in South Carolina and is expanding another to satisfy growing demand worldwide.
MacLean-Fogg forms Engineered Plastics Company
MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions has announced the formation of the new Engineered Plastics Company (EPC)—a merger of its Polymer Technologies business in Whitewater, WI, with EPC of Menomonee Falls, WI. EPC, which has been in operation since 1981, is a plastic injection molding supplier. The new Engineered Plastics Co. will be aligned under the Engineered Components Group of MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions. MacLean-Fogg supplies engineered components, fastener components, and linkage and suspension components to a range of industries including automotive, heavy truck, aerospace, appliance, wind, and mining. Engineered components include cold formed and machined components, horizontal hot-formed components, and engineered functional plastics. Fastener components include Securex and Decorex brand wheel fasteners, high-temperature Lockthread bolts, ESNA locknuts, and a variety of internally threaded fasteners such as Whiz-Lock, Clinch-Lok, and Step-Lok nuts. Linkage and suspension components include aluminum control arms, ball studs, housings, plastics, and PogoStik linkages.
Scania to deliver trucks to Chinese machinery producer
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd. has ordered 375 trucks from Scania that will be used as a platform for mobile concrete pumps. The deliveries are scheduled to occur in April. The Swedish heavy truck and bus maker has delivered trucks to Zoomlion since 2008, including Zoomlion’s largest mobile concrete pumps, which have a span up to 80 m (262 ft) and are mounted on Scania’s four- and five-axle truck chassis with six-cylinder, 420- to 470-hp (313- to 351-kW) engines. The pumps are used in the construction of high-rise buildings and bridges, for example. Within its modular product system, Scania produces the truck chassis that are then customized for Zoomlion’s needs regarding bodywork and operation. Scania China has trained personnel at Zoomlion’s service workshops and has also established special teams of service technicians who can assist in the event of operational disruptions.
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Uptime and performance are key for Scania concrete pumps, which can work constantly with maximum torque for 14 hours per day. Pictured is a Scania P 380 8x4 concrete pump.
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