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December 29, 2005

Superfund at 25 Faces Funding Challenge: Enviro.BLR.com Poll Says Citizens Shouldn’t Pay

Enviro.BLR.com reports that a majority of environmental professionals don’t think it should be citizens’ responsibility to pay for Superfund cleanups.

Old Saybrook, CT (PRWEB) December 29, 2005 -- As EPA marks the 25th anniversary of Superfund, Enviro.BLR.com, the website that makes environmental compliance easier, reports that a majority of environmental professionals don’t think it should be citizens’ responsibility to pay for the program.

When asked the question “Should taxpayers’ money contribute to Superfund?” 72 percent of respondents said that it was not the responsibility of the average citizen. By way of comparison, 22 percent responded affirmatively, saying “the money has to come from somewhere,” and 6 percent were unsure. There were 173 respondents to the survey.

“The biggest challenge Superfund faces is funding,” said Steve Quilliam, managing editor of Enviro.BLR.com.

In 1995, Congress allowed the Superfund tax authority law to expire, meaning that fees and taxes on companies responsible for chemical releases were no longer collected to fund the cleanup program. In 2003, the Superfund Trust Fund finally ran out of money.

For the past 2 years, Congress has authorized $1.2 billion each year to pay for cleanups where the polluter was bankrupt, refused to pay, or could not be found.

“Based on the fact that environmental professionals themselves don’t believe the current structure is fair, and considering where funding is at this point, I think industry can count on an eventual return of some type of Superfund tax,” Quilliam said. “Time will tell what form that tax takes.”

In 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) was signed into law. Commonly known as Superfund, CERCLA directed EPA to address abandoned, accidentally spilled, or illegally dumped hazardous waste that posed current or future threats to human health or the environment. Since its inception, construction work has been completed on 966 private and federal Superfund sites.

The compliance experts at Enviro.BLR.com are offering a download that gives practical advice on developing a management strategy when your company is designated as a responsible party in environmental remediations. Download the white paper here: http://www.blr.com/80502500/PRS712

About BLR
Old Saybrook, Conn.-based BLR produces plain-English compliance and training resources for HR, compensation, safety, and environmental managers. For more information, call 800-727-5257 or visit www.BLR.com.
Contact: Enviro.BLR.com Managing Editor Steve Quilliam
860-510-0100, x2148

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:45 AM | Comments (0)

December 28, 2005

ETAP Intelligent Load Shedding Deployed at One of Indonesia’s Largest Copper-Gold Mines

PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara uses the ETAP enterprise solution to monitor, control and optimize its electrical power generation and transmission.

(PRWEB) December 28, 2005 -- Operation Technology, Inc. (OTI) has announced that PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (PTNNT), operator of one of Indonesia’s largest copper-gold mines, has successfully deployed the ETAP Real-Time enterprise power system solution to reduce production losses due to faults caused by a variety of environmental disturbances. In addition, PTNNT is using ETAP Real-Time to monitor, control and optimize power generation and transmission at its facilities throughout Indonesia’s Sumbawa island.

PTNNT’s installation of ETAP Real-Time employs two primary products: ETAP Intelligent Load Shedding (ILS) and ETAP Power System Monitoring & Simulation (PSMS). Together, these products provide PTNNT with a fully integrated system to optimize electrical power management, resulting in lower generation cost and fewer process time losses due to unnecessary load tripping.

For this project, the heart of ETAP Real-Time is ILS, an advanced product that uses artificial intelligence to dynamically determine the optimal system response to a variety of system changes and disturbances. ILS evaluates electrical and physical parameters, network topology, control logics and system operating conditions (loading, generation, etc.) to determine the best load shedding priority, based on the type and location of the disturbances. ILS provides faster execution of load shedding, as compared to conventional frequency relays, further reducing the load relief requirements.

ETAP Real-Time has been operating at PTNNT for more than six months. According to Ilyas Yamin, GF Power and T&D Maintenance Engineer for PTNNT, ETAP ILS is the most intelligent load shedding system available compared with any other products on the market.

The development of ETAP ILS was a major defining milestone for OTI, stated Dr. Farrokh Shokooh, President and CEO of OTI. “We have developed many new state-of-the-art products in our 20-year history, but ETAP Intelligent Load Shedding stands out as one of our greatest achievements,” Shokooh adds. “ILS has broken new ground in power management technology by providing the intelligence and speed required to minimize the detrimental effects of system disturbances. We are extremely proud to see ETAP ILS in action.”

About Operation Technology, Inc.
Operation Technology, Inc. (OTI) is the developer of the ETAP enterprise solution for analyzing, simulating and optimizing power systems. OTI is ISO 9001 certified, covering all activities related to design, development, production and support of ETAP products. For more information, visit etap.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)

December 26, 2005

“Pulse on America” to Feature Puda Coal, Inc.

One of China’s leading suppliers of high-grade metallurgical coking coal.

Deerfield Beach, FL (PRWEB) December 24, 2005 -- Platinum Television Group is pleased to announce the selection of Puda Coal, Inc. for its innovative, educational television series, Pulse on America, to be aired through cable operators market by market on CNN Headline News. The company will be featured in a segment on “Companies To Watch”, on the “Doing Business in a Global Economy” series.

Puda Coal, Inc., trading under the symbol PUDC, is one of China’s leading suppliers of high-grade metallurgical coking coal.

Puda specializes in cleaning and marketing top grade coking coal. Through the coking process, coking coal is transformed into coke, a key component in the manufacturing of steel. Steel is vital to the construction of rail systems, bridges, ports, airports, and car production, all of which are fueling the booming Chinese economy and its steady growth of 28% per year.

Because of its strategic location in Shanxi Province, which is home to some of the world’s highest quality raw coking coal, Puda Coal, Inc. sources coking coal from eight separate mines, and after processing, delivers it to a stable, repeat customer base.

The company is currently expanding its coking coal capacity more than five fold, from the current 500,000 tons per year to a forecasted 2.7 million tons per year by 2006. This gives Puda the ability to procure bigger orders from some of China’s largest steel and coke making companies such as Beijing Capital Steel & Iron, the second largest China steel maker, and Sinochem Corp., a 2005 Fortune Global 500 company.

With added capacity coupled with more efficient operations, Puda Coal, Inc. is perfectly positioned to significantly increase sales while maintaining a per metric ton profit of about $15.40.

If you would like more information on Puda Coal, Inc., visit their website at www.Puda-Coal.com.

Puda Coal is represented in North America by Keating After Market Support, LLC (“Keating AMS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keating Investments, LLC. (“Keating”). Keating is a Denver-based broker-dealer, registered investment advisor and NASD member specializing in reverse mergers. Keating AMS creates highly effective “Stock Launch” campaigns exclusively for Keating investment banking clients. With a specialized staff of trained marketing and investor relations professionals, in-house CPAs and dedicated Chinese speaking representatives, Keating AMS provides investors with an accessible and knowledgeable domestic resource on Puda Coal, Inc.

To learn more about Keating Investments, log on-line to www.keatinginvestments.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:22 AM | Comments (0)

December 22, 2005

Gold-MiningStocks.com Reports -- As Gold Prices Fluctuate Economist Predicts 'Gold Prices Could Reach $850 per Ounce'

Gold-MiningStocks.com (GMS) an investor and industry news portal for the gold-mining sector, reports that a gold price per ounce of $850 is entirely possible in the months ahead. And gold exploration juniors are having trouble finding qualified personnel and equipment.

Point Roberts, WA (PRWEB) December 22, 2005 -- Gold-MiningStocks.com (GMS) an investor and industry news portal for the gold-mining sector, reports that a gold price per ounce of $850 is entirely possible in the months ahead. And gold exploration juniors are having trouble finding qualified personnel and equipment.

Martin Murenbeeld, chief economist of the Dundee Group of Companies with a specialty in gold, has no trouble believing the price of gold will reach $850.

He projected a decline of the United States dollar against the Euro and the Asian currencies. Other causes include the impending retirement of the baby boom generation; a need for re-deploying foreign exchange reserves in OPEC and Asian countries; deregulation; and growing personal riches in Asian countries.

Analyst Lawrence Roulston, editor of the newsletter Resource Opportunities, pointed out in an InvestorIdeas.com interview recently that the gold mining industry in general is producing about 80 million ounces of gold a year and it’s a challenge for the large mining companies to replace that many ounces.

The onus for replacing that gold is on the exploration juniors and one of them, Terry Tucker, president of Vancouver-based Strata Gold Corp. (TSX:SGV) says his firm is having trouble locating and hiring available drillers and drill equipment, as well as engineers to research and provide resource estimates.

Article Excerpt: Gold prices could reach $850 per ounce
By John Hurst, Gold-MiningStocks.com
December 2005

Gold prices may achieve historic highs in the coming months, aided by a decline in the United States dollar, only marginal increases in mine production and a steady deregulation of gold buying in the major Asian countries. This puts an estimated 2,000 junior gold exploration companies in an excellent position to attract increasing investment dollars from the major gold producers.

“The small companies,” Roulston said, “have always been the most successful explorers and generally, in any industry, it’s the small companies, the entrepreneurs, that make the discoveries and the innovations. A lot of the best mine-finding talent in the industry is in the hands of the juniors and there was a big move, from the majors to the juniors, back in that quiet period when the gold price was down and the big companies cut their exploration budgets.

To Read the Full Report Click Here: http://www.Gold-MiningStocks.com/Gold_Stocks/Articles/Market.asp

The GMS website does not make recommendations, but offers a unique free information portal to research news, exclusive articles, interviews, investor conferences and a growing list of participating public companies in the Gold sector.

About GMS Featured Client: (GMS is compensated as disclosed in disclaimer)
Running Fox Resource Corp. (TSXV: RUN; OTC.PK: RFXRF) Gold and Energy Stock - A Canada based gold and natural gas resource company with the high-grade Brett Gold Project in British Columbia, and drilling horizontal natural gas wells on 28 Sections in Pincher Creek Gas Field in Alberta, Canada. The Brett Gold Project now covers 20 square kilometers, with exploration work of more than $4,000,000, including 172 drill holes. www.foxgold.ca

www.Gold-MiningStocks.com, a portal within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella, offers investors research, news, blogs, RSS Feeds, conferences and links to public companies within the mining sector.

For a list of mining companies here: http://www.gold-miningstocks.com/Gold_Stocks/Stocks_List.asp

Investor Incite Newsletter
InvestorIdeas.com free "Investor Incite" Newsletter consists of company and industry updates, investment research and developing trends in key areas such as Homeland Security, Renewable Energy, Nanotechnology and more.

To sign up, click here: www.InvestorIdeas.com/Resources/Newsletter.asp

For more information contact:
Dawn Van Zant / John Hurst
Toll free: 800-665-0411

Investorideas.com Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of of our web sites. This site is currently compensated for by its “featured company” - Running Fox Resource Corp (OTC.PK: RFXRF) One thousand dollars per month.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:06 AM | Comments (0)

Haroon Inam Joins Cattron Group as Vice President of Global Engineering

Cattron Group International, a leading manufacturer of remote control products and professional services for the industrial, mining, commercial mobile and railroad markets, has announced the appointment of Haroon Inam as Vice President of Global Engineering reporting to the CEO.

Sharpsville, PA (PRWEB) December 22, 2005 -- Cattron Group International, a leading manufacturer of remote control products and professional services for the industrial, mining, commercial mobile and railroad markets, has announced the appointment of Haroon Inam as Vice President of Global Engineering reporting to the CEO.

Cattron Group International (Cattron Group) represents the group of subsidiary companies and product brands owned by Cattron Group Inc.

Inam will officially join Cattron Group the first of January, 2006, from his current position in management of Design Automation at Hamilton Sundstrand, a unit of United Technologies, in Rockford, IL. Inam comes to Cattron with over 19 years of engineering experience including aerospace and industrial experience leading large, diverse technical teams and creating world-class product development groups.

“We’re very fortunate to have someone of Haroon’s caliber leading Cattron’s global engineering initiatives,” stated John Paul, President and CEO of Cattron Group International. “His experience with sophisticated aerospace and systems design automation, in addition to his strong business sense, will enable us to maintain and enhance our corporate mission to bring world-class products to market.” Paul added that Inam’s skill with substantially reducing time-to-market and development of a global engineering footprint will significantly augment the company’s product development cycles necessary to maintain their market leadership.

Prior to Hamilton Sundstrand, Inam was Director of Engineering at Honeywell Power Systems and Vice President of Engineering at Best Power. He earned both his Bachelor’s (with honors) and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Duke University. He holds three patents in addition to a fourth patent that is pending. Inam has also completed executive training at University of Virginia’s Darden Business School and Harvard Business School.

With 60 years of radio frequency (RF) and industrial remote control experience, Cattron Group companies have a total installed base of over 125,000 remote control systems throughout the world. Its products are suitable for all industries including railroads, construction, shipyards, mining, aerospace, steel, military, agriculture, shipping, material handling, utility vehicles and many more.

Cattron Group International subsidiary companies have operations in the USA, Canada, UK, South Africa, Brazil and Europe, and are supported by an extensive sales and distribution network throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. World Headquarters are located at 58 West Shenango St., Sharpsville, PA, 16150, USA. More information on the company is available by calling +1 (724) 962-3571 or on the internet at www.cattron.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:05 AM | Comments (0)

Doe Run Announces Management Succession

ST. Louis (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 21, 2005 – The Doe Run Resources Corporation (aka The Doe Run Company) today announced the planned succession of three of its top management positions. Pursuant to that plan, Jeffrey L. Zelms, vice chairman, president and chief executive officer, will retire as president of The Doe Run Company effective January 1, 2006, and will retire as vice chairman and CEO on April 1, 2006.

According to the company’s succession plan, Bruce Neil, president of Doe Run Peru, will succeed Zelms as president of The Doe Run Company and will relocate to St. Louis. Upon Zelms’ retirement in April, Neil will assume the position of CEO. Until that time, Neil will also continue to fulfill his role as president of Doe Run Peru.

The company also announced the promotion of Dr. Juan Carlos Huyhua to the post of general manager of its subsidiary, Doe Run Peru. Huyhua, a Peruvian native, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Universidad Nacional de San Augustin de Arequipa, a master’s degree in metallurgy and a Ph.D. in metallurgy from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He has served Doe Run Peru for eight years, as vice president and manager of operations. The succession plan calls for Huyhua to take over the role of president, Doe Run Peru, on April 1, 2006.

Finally, Marvin Kaiser, the company’s chief administrative officer is retiring effective Feb. 1, 2006.

Zelms, who led The Doe Run Company for two decades, spent his entire career in the mining and metallurgical industry. Zelms received his mining engineering degree from the University of Missouri at Rolla. He was also presented the professional degree of engineer of mines by the University of Missouri at Rolla in 1987 and an Alumni Merit Award for his outstanding professional and personal achievements in 1994. Prior to joining Doe Run, Zelms served as vice president of St. Joe Minerals Corporation. In addition to his work, Zelms serves on the board of directors for the National Mining Association, the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum and Phoenix Textiles Corporation. He was recognized by Mining World News as Man of the Year in 1993.

Credited with leading the company to a 400 percent increase in sales and through record-low metal prices, financial reorganization and record safety achievements, Zelms also oversaw Doe Run’s expansion to South America and the company’s foray into lead recycling in 1991.

“We are a company of people committed to making tomorrow better than today, and we embrace our role as the preferred global provider of lead and associated metals and services,” Zelms said. “I leave knowing the company has in place a leadership team that recognizes our strengths, our challenges and our capacity for continued growth.”
Neil, who will succeed Zelms, is a Canadian national and has served in the metals industry in three countries, most recently in Peru. Neil joined The Doe Run Company in 1998, serving as operations manager of the company’s smelter in Glover, Mo. Under his leadership, the Glover facility achieved the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for lead for 28 consecutive quarters (seven years). Neil was promoted to president, Doe Run Peru, in 2003 and is currently responsible for all Peruvian operations.

Prior to joining Doe Run, Neil held positions with ASARCO, where he was involved in custom lead refining, and with Noranda and Timminco smelters in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario, Canada.

Based in St. Louis, The Doe Run Company is a privately held natural resources company dedicated to environmentally responsible mineral production, metals fabrication, recycling and reclamation. The company and its subsidiaries deliver products and services needed to provide power, protection and convenience through premium products and associated metals including lead, zinc, copper, gold and silver. As the operator of one of the world’s only multi-metal facilities and the Americas’ largest integrated lead producer, Doe Run employs more than 4,000 people, with U.S. operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona, and Peruvian operations in Cobriza and La Oroya. Committed to sustainable development, The Doe Run Company has helped bring electrical power, business training, educational opportunities and improved telecommunications to rural communities in Peru and the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.doerun.com.

This press release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to change. These forward-looking statements may be significantly impacted, either positively or negatively by various factors, including without limitation, the Company’s ability to satisfy its debt and environmental obligations, regulatory compliance with local state and federal governmental agencies, financing sources, potential and actual litigation, weather, permits, raw materials cost, competition and business conditions in the mining and recyclable industries. The forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding The Doe Run Resources Corporation business which are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.

Contact:
Kristin Saunders
314-469-3500

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:04 AM | Comments (0)

Doe Run Peru Seeks Extension On Environmental Operating Agreement

Company Expects to Complete Eight of Nine Projects On Schedule.

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 21, 2005 -- The Doe Run Company today announced that, as part of a program to prioritize health issues in the community around its La Oroya metallurgical complex, its subsidiary Doe Run Peru today formally submitted a request to extend its environmental operating agreement with the Peruvian government.

The submission of the request is the culmination of a year-long process of data gathering, independent research, public hearings and discussion on the company’s proposal to postpone one of nine projects so as to better address issues associated with lead in the community.

“Going through such a long and rigorous process has enabled us to develop a thorough plan that addresses the health priorities of the population,” said Bruce Neil, president of Doe Run Peru. “We greatly appreciate the input that we received along the way from independent scientists, local community groups and individuals. We look forward to continuing to work to improve the health and environment in the La Oroya community.”

The request seeks to extend until 2010 the deadline for completion of one remaining project to control sulfuric gas emissions. The other eight projects laid out in the existing environmental operating agreement -- known by its Spanish acronym, PAMA -- are expected to be completed on time by the end of 2006, along with three new projects to control fugitive heavy metals emissions. By the end of 2006, the facility is expected to be in compliance with all environmental requirements for solid wastes, liquid effluents and air emissions (with the exception of sulfur dioxide).

The company’s plans call for a total of nearly $200 million in investments in environmental projects through 2010, significantly greater than the $107 million required in the original PAMA.

A decision on the application is expected in early 2006.

Since purchasing the facility from the Peruvian government in 1997, Doe Run Peru has spent more than $140 million to modernize the 80-year-old facility and on projects to improve conditions in the community, including schools, community showers, a soup kitchen to feed needy children and planting of some 100,000 trees. The work has been described by Greenpeace co-founder Dr. Patrick Moore as an example of “responsible environmentalism.”

In addition, the company has made steady progress at reducing emissions and improving health conditions. Lead emissions are down more than 27 percent, average blood lead levels of exposed Doe Run Peru workers are down by more than 30 percent, and the Peruvian Ministry of Health has also reported improvements among children in the community.

More information on Doe Run Peru’s environmental progress can be found at: http://www.doerun.com/uploadfile/peruprogressupdate-env.pdf , and on its community programs at http://www.doerun.com/uploadfile/PeruProgressupdate-social.pdf.

Based in St. Louis, The Doe Run Company is a privately held natural resources company dedicated to environmentally responsible mineral production, metals fabrication, recycling and reclamation. The company and its subsidiaries deliver products and services needed to provide power, protection and convenience through premium products and associated metals including lead, zinc, copper, gold and silver. As the operator of one of the world’s only multi-metal facilities and the Americas’ largest integrated lead producer, Doe Run employs more than 4,000 people, with U.S. operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona, and Peruvian operations in Cobriza and La Oroya. Committed to sustainable development, The Doe Run Company has helped bring electrical power, business training, educational opportunities and improved telecommunications to rural communities in Peru and the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.doerun.com.

Contact:
Tammy Stankey, (314) 469-3500
Kristin Saunders, (314) 469-3500
http://www.doerun.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:03 AM | Comments (0)

December 21, 2005

Mining Equipment Shovels Up Second Boom Year

“When 2005 is over, mining manufacturers will have sold up to US$3 billion worth of the largest loading and hauling equipment to the world’s surface mines,” said Bristol Voss, President of AllMining (www.AllMining.com). Voss was commenting on some exclusive assessments of how the current year’s business is winding up provided by The Parker Bay Company, an Erie-PA based mining research firm, for AllMining (www.AllMining.com) of New York.

(PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 21, 2005 -- “When 2005 is over, mining manufacturers will have sold up to US$3 billion worth of the largest loading and hauling equipment to the world’s surface mines,” said Bristol Voss, President of AllMining (www.AllMining.com). Voss was commenting on some exclusive assessments of how the current year’s business is winding up provided by The Parker Bay Company, an Erie-PA based mining research firm, for AllMining (www.AllMining.com) of New York.

“In the first nine months of 2005, mining supplier shipment figures beat all of 2004,” said Voss. 1443 units of surface mining-sized equipment were sold with a market value of US$2.586 billion, according to Parker Bay. Manufacturers haven’t reported fourth quarter shipments yet, noted Voss. “When we extrapolate Parker Bay figures, we come up with total sales approaching 2,000 units with a market value topping US$3.2 billion,” said Voss.

“It marks the second year in a row of all-out demand for the mining trucks and the large loading equipment - shovels, excavators and loaders - made by such suppliers as Bucyrus, Caterpillar, Hitachi, Komatsu, Liebherr, LeTourneau, P&H, and Terex/O&K,” said Voss.

In all of 2004, 1404 units of mining equipment were sold with a market value of US$2.194 billion. “Notably, the year 2004 was no slouch,” said Voss. “It marked the conclusion of five consecutive years of very lean sales, one of the longest periods of depressed equipment sales activity in the past half-century.”

Creating more manufacturing jobs in USA

Suppliers entered 2005 with lead times as much as 12 months. “One indicator of the strength of the current upturn was the announcement by Bucyrus that it was making its first major expansion at its South Milwaukee facility – for the first time since the mid-1970’s,” said Voss of the 125-year old shovel, drill, and dragline manufacturer.

“Tires, in particular, have been scarce with some sizes taking 18 months to deliver,” said Voss. In December 2005, Michelin said it was increasing capacity at its South Carolina earthmover tire plant, on top of building new facilities in Spain and Brazil.

Tied to record-high commodity prices, boom to continue into 2006

“The boom in mining is tied directly to the sustained high prices the market is paying for metals and minerals,” said Voss. “Gold hit a 24-year high, silver an 18-year high, zinc, a 15-year high, and lead a 25-year high.” It’s not the West that’s demanding these commodities. “China and India are driving demand,” said Voss.

Across the board, suppliers are booked well into 2006 and it's almost a certainty that the current boom will continue through the year. According Peter Gilewicz, Principal of Parker Bay, “Certainly, 2006 looks to be another very good year for large mining equipment manufacturers. But how good is always a hazardous guess.”

As to whether it could top 2005, Gilewicz says, “There are at least a few reasons to think things might soften a bit after two-plus years of all-out demand for new equipment. I don't think 2006 will reach 40-50% increase in equipment shipments over the extraordinarily strong 2005 levels. But that's my guess only.”

If there’s any area that might top 2005 numbers, said Gilewicz, it’s the largest of the giant machines. “I'd watch for the biggest equipment.” How big is big? On the upper end, according to Voss, “Ultra trucks are three stories tall. They carry up to 400 short tons in payload capacity,” said Voss. “One truck can move more than 555 Dodge Ram pick up trucks,” said Voss. [An expanded, 1800 word version of this piece is available from Bristol Voss.

Data contained in this release are derived from Parker Bay’s proprietary database. The Parker Bay Co specializes in providing individualized market research for companies in the mining, earth-moving and capital equipment industries. Web: http://www.parkerbaymining.com

Media Contact:
Bristol Voss, President
AllMining (http://www.AllMining.com)
Tel: 1-212-360-7031

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:45 AM | Comments (0)

New Literature Provides In Depth Look At Rubber Lip Seals In The Process Industries. Includes: Life Cycles, Obsolescence, Power Consumption, and Alternatives

Brochure details the misapplication of lip seals and why they should not be installed on rotating equipment. Written for maintenance, repair and operations personnel at process plants, it goes on to provide information on the History Of Lip Seals, Lip Seals In The Mechanical Universe, Life Cycle Aspects, 100% Failure Rate, Misapplication, Real Costs, The Real World, Alternatives, Permanent Bearing Protection and much more, as well as charts, graphs and illustrations.

Rock Island, IL (PRWEB) December 21, 2005 -- Each year, in the United States, approximately 19,000,000 lip seals are misapplied and should never have been installed on rotating equipment in the first place. In fact, lip seals may already be functionally obsolete in the process industries, but hardly anyone realizes it. These statements are detailed by David C. Orlowski in his literature that explains the use of rubber lip seals for rotating equipment in the process industries.

Brochure details the misapplication of lip seals and why they should not be installed on rotating equipment. Written for maintenance, repair and operations personnel at process plants, it goes on to provide information on the History Of Lip Seals, Lip Seals In The Mechanical Universe, Life Cycle Aspects, 100% Failure Rate, Misapplication, Real Costs, The Real World, Alternatives, Permanent Bearing Protection and much more, as well as charts, graphs and illustrations.

Rock Island, IL (PRWEB) December 21, 2005 -- Each year, in the United States, approximately 19,000,000 lip seals are misapplied and should never have been installed on rotating equipment in the first place. In fact, lip seals may already be functionally obsolete in the process industries, but hardly anyone realizes it. These statements are detailed by David C. Orlowski in his literature that explains the use of rubber lip seals for rotating equipment in the process industries.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:44 AM | Comments (0)

December 19, 2005

Shell Lubricants Develop An Advance Lubricant For ‘Super Demulsibility’ Applications

As part of their on-going commitment to the Metals industry, Shell lubricants companies have developed Shell Morlina SD; a specialist product for use in steel mill bearing oil circulating systems, designed to reduce system costs, downtime and maintenance.

(PRWEB) December 18, 2005 -- As part of their on-going commitment to the Metals industry, Shell lubricants companies have developed Shell Morlina SD; a specialist product for use in steel mill bearing oil circulating systems, designed to reduce system costs, downtime and maintenance.
Shell Morlina SD meets Morgan’s MORGOIL® Advanced Lubricant Specification, which is commonly referred to in the industry as the ‘Super Demulsibility’ (SD) specification. In developing Shell Morlina SD, the circulating oil underwent extensive testing and field trials to assess the water separation properties of the oil at normal mill operating temperatures. The field trials also tested Morlina SD’s water separation characteristics over extended periods of service.
Please see our site to learn more www.shell.com

In addition to rigorous demulsibility standards, the MORGOIL® Advanced Lubricant Specification outlines explicit criteria that must be met in areas of rust protection, oxidation resistance, viscosity and minimal foaming characteristics, along with demonstrated in-field performance.
Comments Panot Triroj, Shell Global Industrial Lubricants Metals Sector Manager: “Water contamination in oil can affect the life of bearings and pumps in a mill, as well as induce rust, oxidation and contamination build-up, which can lead to high maintenance costs. Shell Morlina SD is formulated to resist emulsification and shed water faster at lower temperatures than conventional circulating oils - even in extreme conditions.

In trials, Shell Morlina SD has demonstrated excellent performance. When used in conjunction with good maintenance practices at mills where systems were heavily contaminated with water, Shell Morlina SD exhibited faster water separation, which aided in significantly reducing bearing failure rates and resulted in less oil being drained out of the system during water removal. This resulted in significant cost savings for customers.

The development of Shell Morlina SD follows the recent launch of next generation Shell Tellus, which was designed to meet the demands of metal companies looking to reduce downtime and maximise productivity from their hydraulic applications. Since launch, Tellus has already delivered significant cost savings to customers, increasing maintenance intervals by up to 100%.

Concludes Panot Triroj: “Shell Lubricants are constantly developing state-of-the-art products to help metal operators increase productivity and reduce costs. The development of Shell Morlina SD is another example of where we have developed a ‘problem solving’ lubricant for the metals industry, and due to our international reach, Shell Morlina SD is currently the only product meeting Morgan’s requirements for oil-film back up roll bearings on a global basis.”

Notes to Editors
MORGOIL® is a registered trademark of the Morgan Construction Company
The term ‘Shell Lubricants’ collectively refers to Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. Shell lubricants companies are global leaders in finished lubricants and operate in approximately 120 countries worldwide. They manufacture and blend products for use in a range of applications from consumer motoring to food processing and heavy industry to commercial transport. Shell’s portfolio of top quality lubricant brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, Shell Helix, Shell Tellus, Shell Cassida, Shell Rimula, Shell Spirax and a portfolio of car care products and Jiffy Lube® services. Go to our site to learn more www.shell.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:22 AM | Comments (0)

December 17, 2005

Materials for Printable Electronics to Reach $1.9 Billion

The market for inks, substrates and other materials used in printable electronics is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2010 rising to $8.9 billion in 2013, according to a new report from NanoMarkets, LC, a market research firm based here.

Glen Allen, VA (PRWEB via NSTI) December 15, 2005 -- The market for inks, substrates and other materials used in printable electronics is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2010 rising to $8.9 billion in 2013, according to a new report from NanoMarkets, LC, a market research firm based here. Information about the report including its first chapter, which is available for download, can be found at www.nanomarkets.net.

Why the Fuss About Materials?

NanoMarkets’ report notes that the next few years represent a key period for the Printable Electronics (PE) business as a whole. Crucial development work has to take place at the materials level in order for future revenue opportunities to be realized for all segments of the value chain. Materials and production issues in many ways are the limiting factor for what PE will ultimately enable, namely, electronics anywhere they are needed. PE will generate numerous opportunities for materials and specialty chemicals firms and will also help bring new business revenues to the printing industry. And, while the industry remains focused on applications such as displays and RFID, PE also provides the means for innovative companies to create the next break-out application that generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue in the blink of an eye.

Other Findings:

• Applications make the materials. Some of the highest potential applications for printable electronics have very demanding requirements for materials. For example, flexible displays obviously require flexible substrates, but they also need inks that do not easily crack when dry. Printed RFIDs will be created on high-speed printing machinery that places strict requirements on ink viscosity. NanoMarkets believes that such needs will help drive both the demand and R&D dollars in the novel inks sector.

• New directions for inks. Printable electronics inks already exhibit good stability and performance. Nanoparticle inks have shown good conductivity and curing properties in actual products. However, NanoMarkets expects that the rapidly growing PE business will lead to an arrival on the market of new inks with even better performance and suitability to specific applications. These will include inks based on oligomers, small molecules, and a variety of traditional metals and semiconductors. By 2010, the ink segment of the PE materials market alone will be worth over $700 million.

• Plastic substrates to dominate. NanoMarkets’ report states that the lion’s share of the opportunities for printable electronics substrates will be found in plastic substrates, revenues from which are expected to reach $735 million by 2010. This is an area where NanoMarkets sees business flowing to those who can show the best performance in a number of areas, especially flexibility, smoothness and antistatic properties.

• Electronics on paper. Over the next eight-years, NanoMarkets expects paper and card to become an increasingly important substrate for printable electronics. This will be required as printable electronics quickly finds its way into smart packaging, greeting cards and other novelties. Printable electronics on a paper substrate may even be the ultimate in electronic paper. To make this happen, however, paper manufacturers will have to come up with special coated papers suitable for taking electronic inks.

• Printable electronics for actual printers. At present, interest in printable electronics is mainly confined to specialists, who feel comfortable with the complex chemistries involved. However, NanoMarkets believes that the rise of “user friendly” inks and substrates will be one of the most important catalysts that will propel printable electronics into the mainstream printing industry and garner more attention from both printers and printing equipment. This will enable conventional printers to generate new revenues from prototyping and build printable electronics inline with their graphics facilities.

About the Report:

NanoMarkets’ new report, “Materials and Substrates for Printable Electronics: Opportunities and Markets,” provides a thorough analysis of market opportunities available in printable electronics for a wide range of materials including nano-metallic silver and polymer inks, as well as other inks made from metals, organic materials and standard semiconductors. It also provides in-depth coverage of evolving substrates for printable electronics including glass, plastic, paper and even niche substrates such as wood, metal and wearable fabrics. Finally, the report covers other materials that are used in printable electronics including solvents, adhesives, etc. In order to cover the broadest range of opinion, the report is based on in-depth interviews of firms throughout the entire value chain including materials, manufacturing equipment, printable electronic device and finished products companies.

The report includes an analysis of how materials for printable electronics technology are likely to evolve over the coming decade, forecasts through 2013 of all the major material types used in printed electronics, including breakouts by application and chemistry, and a guide to which companies are active in this space now and what they are doing.

Among the materials firms currently pursuing opportunities in this space are 3M, Advanced Nano Products, BASF, Cabot, Dow, DuPont, Merck, Plextronics, Sun Chemical and others, with many more eyeing the market. However, while this report will be essential reading for firms in the specialty chemicals and materials business, it will also be invaluable for device manufacturers and OEMs seeking to understand how new developments in printable materials will impact their product strategies, as well as traditional printers and printing equipment firms looking for profitable new diversifications for their business. VCs and others that are investing in the printable electronics space will also find this an important resource.

Please visit www.nanomarkets.net for additional information or contact Robert Nolan at (804) 360-2967. Members of the press may receive an executive summary upon request or schedule an interview with the report’s author by emailing the company.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:32 AM | Comments (0)

December 15, 2005

Midland Steel Limited Goes Live with Steelman Software Solutions Inc's Steel Enterprise Management Systems (SEMS)

Midland Steel Limited announced recent technology initiatives designed to drive business efficiency and enhanced customer service. The Company currently uses solutions from Accpac Corporation, has recently completed implementing solutions from STEELMAN Software Solutions Inc. These technology upgrades to Midland Steel's computerized planning, order management, scheduling and production control tools are designed to help the Company gain a competitive edge.

Montreal, ON (PRWEB) December 15, 2005 -- Midland Steel Limited announced recent technology initiatives designed to drive business efficiency and enhanced customer service. The Company currently uses solutions from Accpac Corporation, has recently completed implementing solutions from STEELMAN Software Solutions Inc. These technology upgrades to Midland Steel's computerized planning, order management, scheduling and production control tools are designed to help the Company gain a competitive edge.

Working together with STEELMAN, Midland Steel has implement Steel Enterprise Management Systems® (SEMS®) to replace separate systems with lesser capabilities that Midland Steel has used for many years. STEELMAN captures and remembers metallurgical specifications of the customer order, prices orders, compares customer deliveries to current contracts, provides claims management and tracks production, warehousing and logistics.

Midland Steel Limited is a serve a wide variety of industries throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico. Currently ship our knife strips and blanks, sheets, bar stock and die blanks throughout North America and the Far East. Midland Steel has approximately 40 employees. It has facilities in Ville D’Anjou (Montréal), Quebec. In line with our philosophy and commitment to excellence, MSL continually pursues an aggressive capital investment program with a view to providing our customers with the best services and products possible and remaining at the forefront of the tool steel industry.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:51 AM | Comments (0)

Enertech Labs, Inc. Releases New BioFlow line of Biodiesel / Biofuel Additives

Enertech Labs, Inc. has released a line of additives for B100 and Bx or Bxx Blended Biofuels. Products using the latest technologies for cold flow improvement (antigel), water dispersion, and stabilization of BioDiesel Fuels.

(PRWEB) December 15, 2005 -- Enertech Labs, Inc. is pleased to announce the introduction of the BioFlow™ line of additives for the treatment of Biodiesel, Bio-Lubricating Oils, and Bio/Petro Diesel Blended Fuels derived from Vegetable Oils, Plant Oils, Seed Oils, Rendered Animal Fats, and Used Cooking Oils.

The BioFlow line includes BioFlow™ 100, BioFlow™ 1000, and BioFlow™ 107671A for the treatment of B100 BioFuels and Bio-Lubricants Oils, BioFlow™ 20 for the treatment of blended Biodiesel fuels such as B2, B5, B10, B20, etc.

Additionally there is our BioFlow™ Matrix products that can be custom blended to meet specific customer requirements.

The BioFlow™ products use the very latest technologies to improve the characteristics of B100 and Blended Biodiesel, Bio-Heating Oil, Bio-Lubricating Oils.

BioFlow 20™ combines the latest technologies for treatment of Biofuel and proven technologies for treatment of Petroleum Diesel Fuel. Treatment of the two major components of Blended BioDiesel offers the greatest improvement and most flexibility in Biodiesel fuels.

BioFlow™ 20, BioFlow™ 100, and BioFlow™ 1000 contain the Enertech Labs proprietary product Enerfuel which totally disperses water, provides fuel system cleaning, dissolving gum, varnish, and carbon buildup, inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi without the use of dangerous pesticides, and prevents corrosion. When combined with our proprietary cold flow improver components it provides the best cold weather product available anywhere.

For more information please contact the sales department at:

Enertech Labs, Inc.
714 Northland Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14211
1-800-759-2080
1-716-597-0217 fax
www.enertechlabs.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:50 AM | Comments (0)

December 14, 2005

Gov't and Secret Miners Business, Hear no evil, see no evil

Mineral Resources NSW withholds information from community of Lightning Ridge concerning opal mining operational, rehabilitation, costs.

Lightning Ridge, NSW, AU 12 December 2005 -- Secrecy reigns supreme in the states northwest as Mineral Resources withholds details of agreements being made behind closed doors with local opal miners in the Narran-Warrambool Mineral Reserve of Lightning Ridge.

Landholders are demanding information on Mine Operations Plans (MOP’s), Mine Waste Dump Management, Rehabilitation standards and associated costs be made public. Farmers fear that opal prospecting area 4 (OPA4) will be another environmental disaster as the lack of transparency fuels suspicions.

Past mining activities have left huge areas of land unusable for any purpose and no immediate plans are in place to rehabilitate farming properties to their pre-mined condition.

A Mining Wardens Inquiry recommended that the Director General of Mineral resources take the necessary administrative steps to ensure the general objections of landholders are considered when any opal prospecting licence or mineral claim is issued over any area within opal prospecting area 4, but instead landholders are battling to get any recognition from the Department.

“What is government hiding”? Asks Jon Pocknell, who’s property is on the miners must have list. “Trust is built on open dialogue and that’s not happening in Lightning Ridge,” said Pocknell. In the past 103 years of opal mining in the Walgett Shire, no lands have been fully rehabilitated, mines closed and lands returned to the farmer in a usuable condition.

The Environmental Defenders Office in a recent discussion paper said, “Commercial in confidence clauses are often used to prevent the community from gaining access to information. It is essential that a transparent process be established to ensure the community has all the necessary information”.

DMR must recognise the difference in capacity to engage between stakeholders (limited access to information, technology, travel costs to attend meetings, legal advice)and ensure resoures and information are directed to relevant stakeholders.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:34 AM | Comments (0)

December 12, 2005

Government Assurances Not Good Enough Farmers Disappointed

Farmers diappointed with assurances given by NSW Mineral Resources on Opal Mining in Lightning Ridge.

(PRWEB) December 12, 2005 -- Farmers in the states northwest town of Lightning Ridge are disappointed with the Department of Primary Industries, Mineral Resources opal prospecting assurances announced last week by the Director of Minerals Development, Tony Galligan.

Large tracts of farm grazing land are being rushed into opal production prematurely with only an assurance that the new mining conditions will make an attempt to ensure that landowner's get back some land which is still quite useable. There is still no time frame mentioned as to when rehabiliation would take place or the standard to which land would be returned post mining. Another area of great concern is the ommission of a sunset clause to end mining and signal a return of farm properties to the landowner.

Farmers say this is land resumption for a public purpose and they should be fully compensated for their losses. The impact of hundreds of individual miners operating on their farming properties is devastating. They are left to deal with policing and security issues, as anyone with a mineral claim authority can access their businesses. After battling through years of drought, bush fires, swarms of locusts and tough native vegetation laws this is the final nail in many farmers coffins.

The local miners associations are demanding that the whole 5000 sq. km. of the Narran-Warrambool be opened to prospecting and mining, with their immediate push in accessing farms in opal prospecting area 4. There still has not been an environmental impact statement done for the area and it appears none will be done as Mineral Resources is the consenting authority and has decided an EIS is not needed. The inequity of the various State Acts has never been more obivious then in this northwest farming community.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:47 PM | Comments (0)

Americans Jump At Chance to Take Advantage of Gas Savings via New Secret Pill

Farmers, truck drivers, government offices and others can see increase in bottom line by saving at the pump

(PRWEB) December 11, 2005 -- Even though a U.S.A. based company called BioPerformance won't be officially launching until around February 1, 2006, many people in industry as well as government are taking advantage of this unique opportunity to access this companies new "Secret Gas Pill". Truck drivers, farmers and others who have a high fuel consumption already understand what a .25 to .50 cents or more savings per gallon will do for their bottom line.

Right now the "secret gas pill" is only available in America, however, it will only be a matter of time before it reaches beyond the shores of USA and arrives in the UK, Europe, Asia and other countries throughout the world. It is expected that people from all over will be looking to find out how they can get the gas pill so they can save on fuel cost as well as help save the environment.

There are at least three main reasons people are looking to get this amazing pill:

• Savings of as much as .25 to .50 or more per gallon
• Better performance and increased engine power
• Less emissions saving the air we breathe

One farmer, who drives 100 miles to and from work everyday, understands that a savings of just 25% means that every fourth fill up is essentially free. Since the gas pill cost about $1.00 each (wholesale) and one pill would be used for a 15 gallon fill up, the result for just a 20% increase in mileage on a 15 gallon tank means approximately 4 gallons of that tank is almost free. One can only imagine the savings farmers will experience on fuel cost on farm equipment as well as truck drivers and government transportation and other offices.

There are numerous testimonials which can be read on the company’s web site. Those that have already used the new gas pill have experienced additional mileage per gallon which adds up to monthly savings. Some prefer to use the gas pill because of the reduction in emissions which saves the air we breathe. It has even been found to help people pass emissions test after having driven just 100 miles using the pill.

To find out more about the gas pill and how to buy it at wholesale visit: http://BioFuel.BruceGoldwell.com. Of course the pill is available at retail price; however, users can save an additional 33% (approximately) by buying at the wholesale price.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)

December 08, 2005

Finding Australian Mining Companies s Now Easier

There is a new way to find Australian mining companies and companies that provide equipment, products and / or services to the Australian Mining Industry. The online Mining Directory on miningreference.com has been carefully compiled to make it quick and easy for users to find relevant information about these companies.

(PRWEB) December 8, 2005 -- The Mining Directory not only contains mining companies, but also companies that supply equipment, products and services to the Australian Mining Industry.

The Managing Director of miningreference.com, Calvin Close recently was the project manager for a large multi-million dollar underground coal mining project. Mr Close said that during that project, there were numerous occasions when he needed to find companies that supplied mining equipment. Mr Close said that trying to find these companies using Google, Yahoo or other search engines was "like looking for a needle in a haystack".

Mr Close added that "most companies do not understand the special requirements of the Mining Industry". Among other issues, the harsh environment and government regulation mean that most products are simply not suitable for the mining industry.

The team at miningreference.com set out to produce a Mining Directory that is:

1. Mining Specific - only mining companies and mining-related companies are allowed in the Directory
2. Industry Wide - it covers coal mining and hard-rock mining
3. Australia Wide - covers companies right across Australia
4. Comprehensive - there are well over 2,000 listings in the Mining Directory, with more being added every week
5. Easy to Use - Companies are arranged in logical categories and sub-categories

According to the Year Book Australia 2000 (published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics), the Australian Mining Industry spent over $21 billion on "Purchases and Selected Expenses" in 2000/2001. The Mining Directory puts users in this very large market in touch with suppliers that understand the Mining Industry.

If you have been having difficulty finding what you need in the Mining Industry, you should look in the Mining Directory on miningreference.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:08 AM | Comments (0)

December 07, 2005

COGZ CMMS Software Releases Version 4.60 for Faster Performance

COGZ CMMS Version 4.60 is now available from COGZ Systems, LLC. With added multiple processor environment support, COGZ Version 4.60 offers users an increase to their maintenance management software performance. COGZ Systems, LLC continues to provide new capabilities to make preventive maintenance, work order management, and inventory control even more effortless and with this new version release COGZ CMMS program provides these benefits faster.

Woodbury, CT (PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- COGZ CMMS Version 4.60 is now available from COGZ Systems, LLC. With added multiple processor environment support, COGZ Version 4.60 offers users an increase to their maintenance management software performance. COGZ Systems, LLC continues to provide new capabilities to make preventive maintenance, work order management, and inventory control even more effortless and with this new version release COGZ CMMS program provides these benefits faster.

With the release of COGZ version 4.60, users now have performance-related enhancements, but still with the same user-friendly, dependable program functionality that has always been at the heart of the COGZ CMMS software.

Version 4.60 provides performance enhancements with multiple processor support for Terminal Server and Citrix Server installations along with Windows XP Service Pack 2 support providing maintenance management improved support for preventive maintenance, work orders, inventory, and purchasing with an intuitive interface. Remote users benefit with increased speed and more effective maintenance management operations.

Easily incorporate the added performance enhancements in version 4.60 as the previous version can be quickly updated to this new release of COGZ CMMS software for added efficiency and successful maintenance management creating a thriving program that will meet increasing management requirements. Provide your corporate-wide program application with the increased speed and system performance available with the 4.60 COGZ CMMS version update.

http://www.cogz.com/updates/up460.htm

About COGZ Systems, LLC:
COGZ Systems, LLC is a leading provider of CMMS software for maintenance management. Since 1989, COGZ Systems has been supporting companies to effectively improve their maintenance management organization as they compete in the global marketplace. With the help of COGZ CMMS software, companies are increasing productivity by ensuring that their equipment is maintained for optimum performance and increased company-wide efficiency. Visit the COGZ Systems, LLC site for additional information: http://www.cogz.com/

Contact:
Lori Ewen
COGZ Systems, LLC
203-263-7882
http://www.cogz.com/

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:55 AM | Comments (0)

December 06, 2005

A Four Hour Fire Rating Is Achieved With The Tyfo® Advanced Fire Protection System

Fyfe Company has conducted an extensive research and development project that concluded with a Four Hour Fire Rating for Tyfo® Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) with the Tyfo® Advanced Fire Protection (AFP) System. The Tyfo® AFP System created by Fyfe Company is a two part system designed to, not only minimize heat exposure, but to also provide flame and smoke spread protection as well.

(PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- Fyfe Company has conducted an extensive research and development project that concluded with a Four Hour Fire Rating for Tyfo® Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) with the Tyfo® Advanced Fire Protection (AFP) System. The Tyfo® AFP System created by Fyfe Company is a two part system designed to, not only minimize heat exposure, but to also provide flame and smoke spread protection as well. (http://www.fyfeco.com)

“Five Years ago FRP structural strengthening was limited by strict fire regulations for occupied buildings. Now Fyfe Company has overcome those limitations by inventing a new fireproofing material consisting of a cementatious component coupled with a hardened rock outer layer that provides up to a 4 hour fire rating with UL Approval and excellent flame and smoke spread protection,” said Ed Fyfe, President of Fyfe Company LLC (http://www.fyfeco.com)

The research conducted was to find cost effective means to provide fire protection for the Tyfo® Fibrwrap® Systems. Working in conjunction with the National Research Council in Canada and Underwriters Laboratories, Fyfe Company (http://www.fyfeco.com) was able to conduct testing on reinforced concrete columns, beams and slabs while under load and exposed to fire.

A major concern regarding the use of composites for structural strengthening is fire. Elevated temperatures during a fire can cause epoxy resins to soften or burn seriously compromising the structural strength provided by the FRP materials causing failures that could jeopardize the building, building occupants as well as the fire fighting crews.

The Tyfo® AFP System has received Underwriter’s Laboratory Certification to meet the requirements of ASTM E-119 and ASTM E-84 (ASTM is the organization that develops the industry’s standards for fire resistance in buildings). Technical data sheets can be downloaded at http://www.fyfeco.com.

About Fyfe Company and the Tyfo® Fibrwrap® Systems:

Fyfe Company is the manufacturer of the Tyfo® Fibrwrap® Systems. These FRP Systems are used to repair, strengthen and upgrade existing concrete, masonry, steel and wood structures. During the past fifteen years our Tyfo® systems have been used on over 7500 projects throughout all regions of the world.

• Systems available in glass, carbon, aramid and hybrid configurations.

• Over 500 structural tests have been performed on the Tyfo ® materials at over 50 universities and private labs worldwide.

• The Tyfo® System has been subjected to major seismic events in Los Angeles, Taiwan, Athens, Seattle and San Salvador.

• The Tyfo® Systems have received International Code Council Acceptance as well as acceptance from NSF, Underwriters Laboratories and many other agencies and ministries.

• Company Offices located in five countries, representatives in over 50 countries.

Contact:
Edward R. Fyfe – President
6310 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 103
San Diego, CA 92121
Tel. 1.858.642.0694
Fax 1.858.642.0947
http://www.fyfeco.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:54 AM | Comments (0)

December 05, 2005

Making Ore While the Sun Shines; Miners Scramble to Take Advantage of Favorable Market Conditions

New book, The Maintenance Scorecard, ISBN 0831131810 (Published by Industrial Press), addresses the unique issues of extracting further economic value from physical assets within the mining industry.

(PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- The commodities boom is now an established fact rather than a noticeable blip on the radar. Prices in some sectors are reaching all-time highs, copper and iron ore, while others, such as gold, are enjoying a long awaited resurgence. The book, The Maintenance Scorecard, ISBN 0831131810, addresses the unique challenges that this situation creates for mining companies throughout the world.

Normally high prices would be cause for concern as observers within the industry would be quick to point out. However, this time things are different. The demand profiles within the commodities have been irreversibly changed due to the growth in both India and China, making this boom one that could continue at least for the next five years.

The presence of high levels of sustained demand has placed the mining industry under pressures that it has not felt for up to twenty years in some cases. Like all boom periods at the end there will have been winners and losers. The winners will be those companies who were able to deliver value to their shareholders through aggressively exploiting the current opportunities.

The short answer for many organizations is to increase capacity, drive up production levels while maintaining, or reducing, the costs of producing every tonne, ounce, or pound of product that is sold. At first glance, this appears to be an obvious solution. Except hat every mining organization wishing to take full advantage of the current favourable climate has also thought of this!

On current stated requirements there are simply not enough productive units (be they trucks, shovels, loaders or shipping facilities) to satisfy all the expansion demands of the worlds miners during this boom cycle. There is a similar story when looking at the resources available in the area of parts and consumables for these machines. For example there is currently a world shortage in tyres for the largest of open pit ore haulage trucks. This places miners under the unique pressure of increasing productivity levels with existing physical assets, and ensuring that similar regimes are in place for new assets when they finally arrive.

In the past similar pressures existed from the cost reduction standpoint, however today the pressure comes from the increased demand perspective. The difference being that in the past approaches aimed at achieving this were aimed at cost reduction, thus increasing profit margins, today the goal is increasing potential revenue through exploiting the opportunities offered within the market place.

Advances in technology have allowed miners to be more productive generally. Today haulage and digging units are far larger than they were ten years ago, also much of the world modern mine sites are more highly automated and mechanised than the were even five years ago. This is where the challenge for today’s asset managers is far greater than in the past. The loss of one productive unit today, has a far greater impact than it would have had a decade ago, similarly; higher levels of automation and mechanization mean that there are now many more “mission critical” components in many transporting and refining processes throughout the world. Both older mines and newer mines are also dealing with increasingly complex geology; this places even fur-ther pressures on modern asset managers within the industry.

For companies to answer these challenges, and be able to take full advantage of cur-rent market opportunities, there is going to need to be a vast change in the operating practices of many of the worlds leading mining houses. This can be summarised into two general areas:

a. A need for a different view of costs of asset management, focussing more on unit rather than on direct costs, and

b. A need to survive with lower capitalization throughout the industry in general.

Since the middle of the 1980’s analysts have lauded mining houses for aggressively driving costs out of the industry. This need has been one of the driving factors behind such things as automation, mechanization and increasing unit size. However, the result of this today is that while these organizations still need to be making progress along the cost optimization path, their ability to do so through traditional rationalization methods, such as reductions in human resources and inventory optimization, are greatly reduced.

During these periods the focus was on driving whole-of-life costs of machinery to an absolute minimum. Today, this approach is no longer enough, in fact it can even be counter productive in the current high-demand environment. Asset managers need to establish the link between performance and costs if they are to achieve greater levels of productivity while maintaining low unitary costs. This requires an altogether dif-ferent focus on the whole-of-life asset management procedures than those fostered during the late 1980’s and through to the end of the twentieth century.
Deterministic, or static, costing models will need to be replaced with proactive, comprehensive and forward looking, models in order for miners to be able to drive out greater economic value from their physical asset base.

This is far more than merely representing the whole of life profile as it exists within maintenance systems and goes into such areas as; accurately forecasting corrective actions and their costs, modelling the changes in operating environment, driving asset decisions by condition assessments rather then anachronistic age or usage based thinking, and providing minimum safe levels of asset management interventions for a varying levels of performance and risk. All the while looking at improving the integrity and quality of the asset information portfolio to support a move towards stochas-tic or probabilistic support of decisions. (Something that is often not possible today)

In the past asset management was seen as something carried out by predominantly the maintenance department, however modern organizations realise that it is a combination of equipment design and acquisition, operations and maintenance that go into creating a sustainable high performance and low cost whole-of-life profiles.

This is a change from low costs to high cost effectiveness, possibly taking the hit on direct costs to guarantee sustainable low unit costs, and through ensuring that there is a balance between capital and revenue spending to produce the lowest overall costs for the company for a given level of performance and risk.

If miners are going to take full advantage of current market conditions, while having physical limitations on the rate and amount of expansion that they can undertake, then they will need to accept a reduction in capitalization of their physical asset base relative to production levels, and will need to manage this change aggressively.

Daryl Mather is a specialist in asset management, risk and reliability. This article is based on his new book “The Maintenance Scorecard” ISBN: 0831131810. He currently assists selected companies to achieve strategic advantage.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:51 AM | Comments (0)

December 02, 2005

First Environment To Open Canadian Office Peter Clarke, Climate Change Expert, to Lead New Operation

First Environment is opening a Canadian office near Toronto that will offer services to Canadian companies looking to capitalize on new laws, regulations and programs that will help Canada comply with the Kyoto Treaty. The new office will be led by Peter Clarke, a recognized specialist in emissions management, emissions credit trading, life cycle assessment, and sustainable manufacturing.

Boonton, NJ (PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -- First Environment has announced the opening of a Canadian office near Toronto that will offer services to Canadian companies looking to capitalize on new laws, regulations and programs that will help Canada comply with the Kyoto Treaty.

The new office, located at 1100 Burloak Drive, Suite 300, in Burlington, Ontario, will be led by Peter Clarke, a recognized specialist in emissions management, emissions credit trading, life cycle assessment, and sustainable manufacturing.

Tod Delaney, president of First Environment, said, “Peter Clarke brings to our Canadian operations an extraordinary level of expertise and a commitment to customer service that is the hallmark of First Environment. Under his leadership, First Environment is poised to assist Canadian companies take advantage of market forces to reduce their impact on climate change.” First Environment will offer a full suite of environmental and engineering services in Canada. More information about First Environment, including the Canadian operation, is available on the company's website.

Clarke has been trained by Environment Canada to conduct third party validation and verification studies under the country’s greenhouse gas offset system. He also is approved by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED-accredited professional, and trained as a lead auditor for ISO 14001.

He worked most recently for Energy Advantage, Inc., in Burlington, ON, where he managed all aspects of the company’s environmental services. He is a frequent presenter on topics such as corporate social responsibility, waste management, and the financial benefits of energy and environmental awareness. He has spoken to the Marine Fuel Efficiency and Emissions Conference, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association, the Emissions Marketing Association, and the Canadian Air Transportation Association.

About First Environment
First Environment is a global strategic environmental management and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Boonton, New Jersey. The firm is widely recognized for its creative and economically viable approaches to resolving environmental challenges faced by private and public sector clients. First Environment has earned international recognition as an authority on emerging environmental issues based on its involvement in international greenhouse gas standards development, endorsement of the CERES principles and designation as the first environmental consulting firm in the Western Hemisphere to obtain ISO 14001 certification for its own EMS.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:11 AM | Comments (0)

December 01, 2005

Everlast Coatings, Inc. Announces Appointments of Christopher J. Siemer as Technical Director/Plant Manager and Christopher D. Willey as Director of Sales/Marketing

Everlast Coatings, Inc. announced the additions to Company Staff of both Chris Siemer and Chris Willey; both will serve in newly-created Staff Positions.

Camden, New Jersey (PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -- Everlast Coatings Inc. announced the additions to Company Staff of both Chris Siemer and Chris Willey; both will serve in newly-created Staff Positions.

“We are delighted to announce these staff appointments, and excited about the changes in technologies and marketing efforts that will continue to fuel Everlast’s momentum into new, high technology surface finishing,” stated Everlast Vice President/Operations, Sarina DiBianca. “These staff changes support and reflect Everlast Coatings’ interest in, and commitment to, the environmentally responsible future of coatings and surface finishing technology.”

Christopher J. Siemer brings broad educational and practical expertise to Everlast. A graduate of Wichita State University with both Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Chemistry, Mr. Siemer is continuing his formal education at Princeton University, where he is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering. Published in scientific journals including “Polyhedron”, “Inorganic Chemistry”, and “Synthetic Metals”, Chris also has direct plating and coatings experience at Kansas Plating, Inc. where he served in various management and technical capacities.

Mr. Siemer comments, “I am thrilled to join the Everlast Coatings team, and am confident that I will be able to assist in the Company’s development. I’m additionally pleased to make use of my knowledge of chemistry and engineering as it relates to the plating industry in a practical manner, such as the addition to our product line of metallic coatings on plastics.”

Christopher D. Willey also has both educational and direct experience which will assist him with the responsibilities of his new Position. A graduate of both Gloucester County College and Monmouth University, Chris holds Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Marketing.

States Mr. Willey, “This Company has a long, proud heritage generally associated with the electroplating of rolls used in the paper and plastics industries. Although our dedication to our traditional product lines remains firm, the company intends to develop growth by serving industries requiring new technologies including cellular, microwave and ultrasonic sound coatings applications.”

About Everlast Coatings
Everlast Coatings, Inc. develops and provides coatings designed to reduce abrasion, improve corrosion resistance, or enhance/eliminate the conductive characteristics of metals used in paper equipment, power transmission, and cellular microwave filters, connectors and enclosures. Globally-recognized products include engineered corrugator roll coatings “NUchrome®” and “NUchrome2®”, as well as doctor and metering blade coatings “WearEX®” and “WearEX+®”.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:14 AM | Comments (0)

Data Feeds Improvements in Physical Asset Management

Asset-centric organizations throughout the world are under increasing pressure to increase the economic value they are able to extract from their physical asset base. Sophisticated asset data strategies allow for leverage of IT investments to dramatically improve performance.

(PRWEB) November 30, 2005 -- Asset-centric organizations face many and varied challenges throughout the world. These include competition from low wage countries, regulatory and legislative changes, demand outstripping supply, (as in the mining industry), as well as increasing difficulties arising from reductions in capital investment and increases in automation and unit sizes.

Responding to these challenges over the past five years has forced many companies to continue the cost reduction drives that were commenced during the eighties and nine-ties. However, the ability for large-scale asset-centric companies to continue to derive benefits through traditional methods of rationalization is limited at best, and counter-productive at worst.

These companies are looking for other, more sophisticated means of reducing direct costs, raising unit efficiencies and improving asset yields throughout their economically useful life. These are significant challenges that will require a dramatic change in thinking regarding how they are going to power decision making in the coming years.

Currently, most organizations are either working with or planning to work with, large-scale enterprise asset management or enterprise resource planning systems for driving inefficiencies out of their administration functions. Yet many of these systems are yet to realize the full benefits offered by such data capturing and analyzing systems.

One of the, as yet, untapped areas is in the area of asset reliability and performance management. While some organizations excel in this area, others will need to strive hard to catch up within the very near future. When managed correctly asset data can power such decisions such as how and when to extend asset life, determining the re-turn on investment of asset acquisitions or interchanges, analyzing whether risk pro-files are being adequately managed, and determining which assets are not being maintained or operated in a manner that supports the minimum whole-of-life cost profiles.

However, by itself computer generated data can only ever deliver part of the answers that are required. Even using sophisticated modeling tools the fact remains that data will always contain areas of integrity deficiency. In managing assets, for example, decisions taken on failure data need failures to occur before first, not the most ethical or effective way of managing asset failures!

To produce valuable asset information there is a need to take into account both sides of the equation. That of asset data, and that of asset knowledge, which is contained within the experience of the workforce, the manufacturers, and similar equipment users throughout the industry. Once these two sides of the equation can be gathered then the organization can look towards powerful uses of asset information such as knowledge engineering and other modern techniques.

The process to capture both sides of the asset information equation, data and knowledge, is where the challenge commences for asset centric organizations. Particularly those with distributed asset bases such as electricity distribution, water networks, rail infrastructure and gas pipelines. Capturing data means ensuring that all processes are in place to ensure that all failure, routine and ad hoc tasks are captured in a manner that will allow it to be managed effectively initially, and analyzed comprehensively later. For this work there is a need to focus very thoroughly on what asset information will be needed to support corporate goals, not merely to make current processes electronic. This is a key failing of large-scale enterprise asset information systems.

Once the processes are in place then the focus needs to be on data-capture. “Feeding the beast” is not something that most technicians particularly enjoy having to do, even in the modern age. Solutions such as mobile data collectors, barcode solutions and other mass data capture technologies can drive improvements through this area dramatically.

However the problem of knowledge capture remains. This requires a more comprehensive process. This process needs to enable people to contribute their experience, understanding, judgment, and suggestions in a structured and controlled manner.

Even though the benefits of doing so are immense, particularly for newer plants and those in hazardous environments, the techniques aimed at doing this often falls through the cracks of asset-centric organizations. Squeezed between IT initiatives and capital spending planning, the value of knowledge gathering and use does not strike many executives as the obvious choice for powering improvements.
Yet the fact remains, without a focus on knowledge as well as data the asset information portfolio will always be deficient and will always be focused on what has happened, rather than managing asset performance in a proactive manner.

If structured correctly, a knowledge gathering process could become a valuable improvement initiative in itself. Creating benefits as it is being rolled out, not least of which is the transfer of knowledge from within those involved as well as to the organization as a whole.

Within modern asset management there are a range of initiatives that support this form of knowledge collection. Methods such as reliability-centered maintenance, whole-of-life progression management, problem elimination logic and technical change management processes are all examples of collaborative working practices.

If companies are not including these techniques, or similar improvement initiatives, within their asset management strategies then they are facing the very real possibility of missing a large potential area of increasing economic value from the physical asset base. And in the modern industrial environment, this could be a fatal flaw.

Daryl Mather is a specialist in asset management, risk and reliability. This article is based on his new book “The Maintenance Scorecard” ISBN: 0831131810. He currently assists asset-centric companies to achieve strategic advantages throughout the world.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:12 AM | Comments (0)