Cargotec Acquires BMH Marine

Gothenburg, Sweden -- Cargotec has signed an agreement to acquire BMH Marine AB, a Swedish company specializing in dry bulk handling equipment on ships and in port terminals. The business will become a part of MacGregor’s business area.

BMH Marine’s key offering is handling equipment for bulk terminals and self-unloaders. The key market area is Asia, which represents almost half of sales. Service represents over 30 per cent of sales revenue. Year 2006 net sales are estimated to rise to close to € 70 million. BMH Marine employs some 140 people.

BMH Marine is currently owned by Swedish-based Catella Private Equity and private shareholders including company management. The acquisition is subject to competition authority approval.

“We are very pleased with this agreement,” says Cargotec’s president and CEO, Mikael Makinen. “BMH Marine expands our offering into the growing market of dry bulk handling solutions.

“The company’s business model of no own-production facilities is an excellent fit into MacGregor’s business model. With a profitability level similar to MacGregor’s and strong order book growth during this spring, we expect BMH Marine to support our overall development this year”.

MacGregor’s president, Hans Pettersson, said: “The acquisition of BMH Marine AB is in line with the MacGregor Group’s intention to further strengthen its position within the dry bulk handling segment. By combining the companies’ product portfolios and service penetration we will enhance our offer to this specific market segment worldwide.

“MacGregor’s Dry Cargo division and BMH Marine have co-operated in projects before, and will now have further opportunities to develop and improve turn-key solutions for the market”.

For more information contact:
MacGregor Group AB
P.O. Box 4114
SE-400 40 Gothenburg
Sweden
Phone: +46-31-85 09 00
Fax: +46-31-85 09 01
Web site: http://www.macgregor-group.com/

CEMA : Equipment Orders Down 20% in May

NAPLES, FL. -- The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association reported that its May 2006 Booked Orders Index was 142 down 24 points or a decrease of 14% from April 2006's Index of 166 (1990=100). The May 2006 Index represents a decrease of 20% from the May 2005 Index of 177.

May Booked Orders Indexes were 188 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 126 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Booked Orders was 143 in May. Index in May is down 3 points or 2% from April 2006's Twelve-Month Index of 146.

The CEMA Billed Sales (shipments) Index was 150 in May up 10 points or an increase of 7% from the April Index of 140. The May 2006 Index represents an increase of 10% from the May 2005 Index of 136.

May Billed Sales Indexes were 199 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 147 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Billed Sales was 143 in May. Index in May is up 2 points or 1% from April 2006's Twelve-Month Index of 141.

* Since Bulk Handling Systems booked and billed sales are reported quarterly, they are averaged back to the two preceding months to enable a running monthly index.

Source: http://www.cemanet.org/

Hoover Introduces New Dry Material Feed Bin

Houston, TX -- Hoover Materials Handling Group, Inc. is pleased to introduce the latest addition to its’ dry materials product line: the Hoover Dry Material Feed Bin.

The Hoover Dry Material Feed Bin is a compatible unit for any dry material that flows and is in a bag. The Dry Material Feed Bin is manufactured from roto-molded, high impact, poly plastic for strength and durability. Multiple Dry Material Feed Bin units easily bolt together for multiple product storage.

Features of the Dry Material Feed Bin include the following:

-Holds 300 lbs. of dry feed
-Top fill, bottom dispense
-Safety-proof latch
-Stainless steel hardware
-Mild steel powder coated stand
-Optional casters for increased mobility

The Hoover Dry Material Feed Bin’s applications include, but are not limited to, holding and dispensing feed, kitty litter, salt, and oil dry.

About Hoover Materials Handling Group, Inc.

Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Hoover Materials Handling Group, Inc. has nearly 60 years of experience as North America's premier manufacturer of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), spare parts, and accessories. Hoover's IBCs are manufactured in an ISO 9001:2000 facility and meet the highest quality standards in the industry.

Prater Introduces New Seal Design for Airlocks

BOLINGBROOK, IL -- Prater-Sterling is pleased to offer a new heavy-duty shaft seal design for their PAV Series Airlocks with a few significant differences from their standard seal design.

New abrasion resistant packing rings provide additional wear resistance against abrasive powders and a more form-fitting, positive seal around the shaft where smoother shaft finishes reduce cutting action on the packing rings. Additional packing rings are included for sealing against higher internal valve pressures.

Tighter tolerances provide better support for the packing and throttle air leakage from within the valve. Lastly, the self-adjusting packing glands exclusively associated with Prater Airlocks are replaced with manually adjusted packing glands capable of additional pressure.

Prater also offers the option of a new air purge kit with flow meters and oversized lines for proper flow to the lantern rings.

In combination, the features are an effective way of sealing the shaft when handling abrasive powders, or when the valve discharges to a positive pressure, pneumatic conveying line. To ensure success, Prater offers the services of their skilled staff to assess specific applications and recommend ideal operating parameters.

Prater also offers Ceramic airlocks, Dust Collector Series (DCS) airlocks, as well as Quick-Take-Apart (QTA) airlocks.

About Prater-Sterling

Established in 1925, Prater-Sterling is a global leader in developing and manufacturing one of the industry’s most extensive and diversified lines of material processing solutions. The Company’s products, including hammer mills, fine grinders, mixers, classifiers, airlocks, compactors, systems & automated controls, serve an array of applications. Prater has been the choice of customers in over 160 countries worldwide for over 80 years.

For more information, please visit http://www.prater-sterling.com/

I

FFE Minerals Acquires Excel Companies FFE Minerals has acquired US-based Excel Foundry and Machine, Inc., which is a leading provider of quality spare parts and services to the mining and aggregate industries.

G. Bopp + Co Acquires Utildi AB Of Sweden
G. Bopp USA, corporate office and warehouse for G. Bopp & Co. AG is pleased to announce the acquisition of Utildi AB of Sweden by G. Bopp & Co., AG, Zurich.

New Lorenz Probe Box New Probe Box or distribution box allow users flexibility when setting up a conveying system with the box modular construction.

More headline news...

People post their requests for help and offer their suggestions to others in our open forum.

Mr. Chen needs help sizing a surge tank for stability:

I am trying to calculate an ideal capacity of air surge tank for keeping stable supply air source.  But I need to provide 2 of difference air pressure source for 2 dense phase transfer system.  Details are as below.

1. The first dense phase system need a constant air supply system, air source was set at 2.8 bar (total air consumption is around 4300 to 5700Nm3/hr).

2. The second dense phase system could be operated in a variable of compressed air supply source, it depends on the load/unload range of compressor, we usually set 3.0 to 3.55 bar (total air consumption is around 4800 to 6200Nm3/hr).

I have an idea that constructing a air surge tank and installation a PIC to meet our system, but it is very hard to determine the optimum volume for air surge tank.  I would to know what basic principles could be followed or any good ideas can offer from you. (to post reply, click here)

Thank you,
Skoog Chen
Epichem
sf_chen@tpp.com.tw

Mr. Mohr wants to know more about "target boxes":

I am interested in learning more about "target boxes" used as a termination point for multiple pipelines entering a storage silo.

We are conveying fly ash in positive pressure dilute phase and have up to seven pipelines terminating at the center of the silo. The pipe diameters are 4-inches to 6-inches. The silo will have a powered bin vent filter also.

The concept of a "target box" seems simple in design, but rather than re-invent the wheel I would appreciate any feedback on designs that have been successful.  (to post reply, click here)

Thanks in advance,
Peter Mohr
Energy Products of Idaho
peterm@energyproducts.com

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Material Handling Designer - South Carolina

The MHD will be the Principal Designer responsible for designing Material Handling Systems and will perform Machine Design for Nuclear Radiation Environment. Completes highly-technical difficult and complex design assignments utilizing either Microstation 2D or 3D PDS CAD methods. Contract to direct position in South Carolina.

Will be required to work independently and complete very demanding design assignments for this hazardous waste processing facility.

The successful candidate will have the following education/experience:

* 2-year technical degree or certificate of completion from an accredited designer/drafter course (or equivalent) is preferred,

* 10+ years of Material Handling Design experience (including some job leadership experience).

* Design experience in machine design, conveyors systems, bridge cranes, hoists, transfer and handling of heavy equipment. Design of shielding casks or flask, transport pigs, hot cells, manipulator application, glove boxes and related systems; including understanding of nuclear radiation shielding. Prepare flow diagrams for pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

* Requirements include strong PC and CAD (Microstation and PDS) skills, as well as efficiency in utilizing computer software to complete design assignments.

* US Citizenship is required.

* Will complete background investigation and drug testing.

Please forward resume to:
joan.drost@hudson.com
and reference MHD in the subject line of your email.

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Computational Granular Dynamics :
Models and Algorithms
by Thorsten Puschel & T. Schwager
Hardcover, 322 pages, 2005

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Pneumatic Conveying Design Guide
by David, Ph.D. Mills
Hardcover, 650 pages, December 2003

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Manual on Test Sieving Methods
ASTM Manual Series
Manual 32, by ASTM

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Find more books for the materials handling professional online, visit our Reading Room.

Flooding Powders :
When Is Permeability Important?
by David Stuart Dick
Solids Handling Technologies, Inc.

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This weeks photo is of a ThyssenKrupp ship unloader, two will be supplied on a turn-key basis for Shanwei, China, including erection, commissioning and testing.  These have been designed to unload at a maximum rate of 1,800 tph. each from ship sizes of up to 150,000 DWT.

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