Unimech to tap China
The Unimech Group will start production of highperformance
industrial valves at its plant in Tianjin, China, in the second quarter
in 2005. The group, an OEM for customers in North America, would invest
in a new line for the production of the highperformance valves used
in water, petrochemical, oil and gas industries. According to sources,
this market has contributed about five per cent to group revenue in
2004. In 2005, a larger contribution from North America is expected,
as high-performance valves can yield a higher profit margin. The Tianjin
facility would design and manufacture the valves. A lot of the manufacturing
operations have been transferred from the Penang plant in Malaysia to
Unimech’s facilities in Tianjin and Ningbo.
Cat propels to the top
A combination of engine combustion technologies,
developed through a $500 million research and development program, is
being brought together by Caterpillar to deliver previously unachievable
levels of engine performance through the enhanced control of fuel delivery,
electronic engine control, combustion and air management. The technology,
called Acert Technology, will bring significant performance benefits
to all marine propulsion and power generation systems manufactured by
Caterpillar in the future. These include significantly enhanced power
density and fuel efficiency achieved at the same time as reducing emissions
levels to well within the strictest known and anticipated international
regulations. The C32 Acert engine is the smallest and lightest 1825
mhp engine of its type in the world. The technology is also giving Caterpillar’s
larger 3500 series of engines the level of power density (high power
and low weight) which makes them even stronger candidates for planning
hull applications in yachts and other types of vessels. With this technology
the engines offer improved planning hull power solutions in the 35-50
metre mega yacht class where twin engine installations of 5000-6870
mhp (3790 bkW-5050 bkW) are required. Originally developed by Caterpillar
in response to the increasingly strict emissions regulations for on-highway
truck engines in the United States, where the Environmental Protection
Agency EPA) 2007 regulations demand 90 per cent reduction in particulate
matter and a 95 per cent reduction in NO2 compared to its 2004 levels,
Acert Technology is a combination of leading edge technologies each
of which makes a contribution to improved engine performance in terms
of more complete combustion, leading to increased power density, reduced
emissions and enhanced fuel economy.
Rexroth strengthens Japanese base
Uchida Hydraulics and Bosch Rexroth have been merged
to form one company in Japan, which is a subsidiary of Bosch Rexroth
AG in Lohr, Germany. According to Dr Alfons Weber, Head, Asian business,
Bosch Rexroth AG,“Through targetted expansion of our business activities
in the growth region of Asia, Bosch Rexroth AG will realise their consistent
and long-term investment expansion strategy in important markets”.
The purpose of the merger is to bundle Rexroth’s broad product
line for factory automation with Uchida Hydraulics’ competence
in hydraulics. The new company will be based in Minato-ku, Tokyo, where
Uchid has its present headquarters
....CONTD
