Komatsu Ltd. (hereinafter “Komatsu”) (President and CEO: Kunio Noji) has decided to clearly separate the operations of Komatsu Australia Pty. Ltd. (hereinafter “Komatsu Australia”) (Equity holding ratios: 60% by the Komatsu Group and 40% by Mitsui & Co., Ltd.). A distribution subsidiary engaging in sales and service of construction and mining equipment in Australia and neighboring countries (hereinafter “Oceania”), Komatsu Australia will be divided into two functions of production and sales/service. While continuing to be involved in the production-related operations, such as inventory management of new equipment and parts, local assembly of new equipment and installation (refabrication of equipment) and remanufacturing (sales of remanufactured components), Komatsu Australia is going to establish a new subsidiary which will be exclusively responsible for the customer-oriented operations (sales and service of equipment).

1. Reasons for the Establishment of New Subsidiary
   Komatsu Australia has operated as a sales and service distributor of Komatsu construction and mining equipment over the years in Oceania which has rich natural resources. Market demand has been steadily growing, centering on mining equipment, and Komatsu believes that similar market conditions will continue into the future. Against this backdrop, Komatsu has determined that it is appropriate to separate Komatsu Australia’s functions and clearly define the respective responsibilities by establishing the new company which will exclusively engage in sales and service operations in order to enhance its customer support capability. As a result, Komatsu Australia will be better positioned to further improve the efficiency of its production-related operations, such as inventory management of new equipment and parts, local assembly of new equipment and installation and remanufacturing. Komatsu Australia will also reinforce its collaboration with other Komatsu manufacturing subsidiaries to improve its QC&D (quality, cost and delivery) capabilities, while offering support to the new sales and service subsidiary.
2. Method of Establishment
   Komatsu Australia is going to establish its wholly owned subsidiary which will be responsible for sales and service of Komatsu construction and mining equipment in Oceania. Komatsu Australia will remain responsible for its production-related operations, such as inventory management of new equipment and parts, local installation and remanufacturing.
3. Outline of the New Company
   1) Name: To be decided.

   2) Address: Level 1, 2 Richardson Place Riverside Corporate Park, North Ryde NSW 2113, Australia

   3) Representative: To be decided.

   4) Line of business: Sales and service of construction and mining equipment in Oceania

   5) Capital: To be decided.

   6) Date of establishment: April 2010

   7) Equity holding ratio: 100% by Komatsu Australia

4. Schedule for Establishment
   For start-up of operations by the new company in April 2010, Komatsu Australia plans to submit all necessary applications to concerned authorities for corporate registration, approval and license in due time.
5. Outlook
   There will be no effect on Komatsu’s consolidated business results for the current fiscal year, ending March 31, 2010.
6. Outline of Komatsu Australia
   1) Name: Komatsu Australia Pty. Ltd.

   2) Address: Level 1, 2 Richardson Place Riverside Corporate Park, North Ryde NSW 2113, Australia

   3) Representative: William Pike, President

   4) Line of business: Sales and service of construction and mining equipment, local assembly of new equipment, installation, remanufacturing and other pertinent operations.

   5) Capital: A$21 million

   6) Equity holding ratios: 60% by the Komatsu Group and 40% by Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

Source:http://www.komatsu.com/CompanyInfo/press/2009122516130802424.html

Japanese Used Machinery for Sale

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., a group company of Kobe Steel, Ltd., has doubled the production capacity of hydraulic excavators at its new, relocated factory in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

In September 1994, Kobelco established a joint venture called Chengdu Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (CKCM) in China. Over the past 15 years, CKCM has grown remarkably. Aiming for further growth in the next 15 years, CKCM has relocated production in Chengdu to a new site about a 20-minute drive away from its original location.

Production capacity of excavators has doubled from 2,500 units per year in 2008 to the current 5,000 units per year. Mini excavator production capacity has increased 20 percent from 2,000 units in 2008 to the current 2,400 units per year. From January 2010, CKCM anticipates the new factory will be in full production.

Kobelco enlarged the size of the land and buildings five-fold, which will enable it to quickly meet future increases in demand for construction equipment.

Kobelco has a second center for excavator production in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province near the coast called Hangzhou Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. Together, the Chengdu and Hangzhou operations have raised Kobelco’s capacity to 12,000 units per year, providing a solid base to meet the growing Chinese market in the future.

New Models for Manufacture
CKCM has until now manufactured mainly medium-size 20- and 25-ton class excavators. Its largest machine had been a 35-tonne-class excavator. With the new factory, CKCM now plans to add 46- and 48-tonne-class excavators to its menu. Production of these large excavators is to start in January 2010.

Coinciding with the relocation, on October 1 Kobelco merged mini excavator production at Chengdu Kobelco Mini Excavator Co., Ltd. (or CKME) into CKCM. Production of both mini excavators and excavators are now being undertaken at two plants located on the same property. In addition to its current menu of 5- and 6-tonne-class machines, CKCM will manufacture 7-tonne-class mini excavators.

In the future, new products will gradually be added to meet market demand.

By the end of 2010, Chengdu Kobelco Construction Machinery (Group) Co., Ltd., the company in China that oversees marketing and servicing, plans to complete the relocation to the new factory.

To mark the completion and start-up of the expanded Chengdu factory, a dedication ceremony was held on December 23 at the new facility.

Attending the ceremony were officials from Sichuan Province and Chengdu; the Consul General of Japan at Chongqing; the chairman of the China Construction Machinery Association (CCMA); and numerous distributors. From Japan, Hiroshi Sato, President & CEO of Kobe Steel, and Shigeto Kotani, President of Kobelco Construction Machinery, attended the event. A total of 1,600 people participated in the opening, including 700 invited guests.

“Fifteen years have passed since the formation of our China-Japan joint venture, and the ties between our two countries based on mutual trust have grown even stronger,” said Kobe Steel President & CEO Hiroshi Sato at the dedication ceremony.

“One of the world’s leading manufacturing facilities has been completed, and all conditions are now set to enable us to move forward,” said Sato. “This factory will be imbued with the Kobe Steel Group’s principles of ‘quality-first’ and ‘customer-first.’ We aim to achieve top reliability and evaluation in the market and will place our full efforts into achieving these goals.”

Total investment in the new facility amounted to 850 million yuan (about 11.6 billion yen) and includes the cost of the relocation, land, buildings and equipment. Kobelco received compensation funding and other incentives for the relocation.

In December 2007, Kobelco signed an agreement with the Chengdu municipal government to relocate its plants. The Chengdu municipal government has recognized CKCM as a company that will become a “10-billion-yuan enterprise.”

Source: http://www.kobelco.co.jp/english/topics/2009/12/1182805_7081.html

Japanese Used Machinery for Sale

Tokyo, December 24, 2009 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) today shipped a replacement reactor vessel closure head (RRVCH) for Unit 2 at the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station (STP) of STP Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC) from the Futami Plant of its Kobe Shipyard & Machinery Works. The RRVCH is a key component of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant (NPP). The RRVCH ready to ship today was ordered to MHI by STPNOC to enable reliable continuous operation of STP’s plants.

[RRVCH for Unit 2 at STP]

STP is located approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Bay City, Texas. In 2006 MHI received an order for two RRVCHs for STP Units 1 and 2, 1,364 MWe (megawatts of electricity) each, which commenced operation in 1988 and 1989, respectively. The delivery of the first unit was completed in August 2009.

The RRVCHs ordered are made of low-alloy steel*, have a diameter of approximately 5 meters. MHI manufactures RRVCHs at its Kobe Shipyard and Machinery Works. With each RRVCH for STP, fifty-seven (57) stainless-steel control rod drive mechanisms (CRDM) are mounted, and the overall structure measures approximately 10 meters in height and weighs about 100 tons. CRDMs are devices that play a key role in the safe and stable operation of nuclear power plants. In the unlikely event of a system malfunction, CRDMs promptly insert the control rods into the reactor core to achieve emergency shutdown.

Since 2002 MHI has received orders for 15 RRVCHs, 6 replacement steam generators (RSG) and 1 replacement pressurizer in the U.S. The orders have been placed based on the customers’ excellent credit to MHI’s capabilities to manage quality, manufacturing process and delivery schedule with high technology. In addition, MHI has also marketed its nuclear components in other major NPP world markets, now has marked 19 RRVCHs and 28 RSGs.

Along with increased momentum to control emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas, the global demand for replacement nuclear components at existing NPPs and for new NPP construction projects that are being planned is growing. MHI, firmly responding to this trend as a world-leading supplier that has capability of basic planning, design, manufacture, inspections, installation, test operation and post-startup services for PWR plants, aggressively pursues NPP component export business opportunities in order to contribute significantly to the improvement of social infrastructure for low-carbon society, a commonly recognized as major global challenge.

Note: Reactor vessels are manufactured with strong low-alloy steel made of manganese, molybdenum and nickel steel, a combination highly resistant to the strong pressures characteristic of pressurized reactor coolants.

Source: http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/news/story/0912241329.html

Japanese Used Machinery for Sale

Tokyo, December 22, 2009 - Nantong Masada Ship Machinery Co., Ltd., a Chinese company located in Nantong*, Jiangsu Province, to which Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) licensed its marine deck crane technology, has completed production and delivery of its first MHI-licensed product. Delivery was taken by Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., a major local shipbuilder. Nantong Masada aims to increase deck crane production in response to rapidly growing demand arising from a sharp increase in local construction of cargo ships, including bulk carriers. MHI is looking for its partnership with Nantong Masada to play an important role in launching its deck cranes into the robustly expanding Chinese market.

[First MHI licensed marine deck crane made by Nantong Masada]

Nantong Masada Ship Machinery was jointly established in 2005 by Nantong Universal Machinery Co., Ltd., an industrial machinery manufacturer in Jiangsu, and Masada Ironworks Co., Ltd., a winch manufacturer in Osaka, Japan, to produce marine deck equipment. MHI licensed its deck crane technology to Nantong Masada in June 2008, following which a 30,000 square meter plant dedicated to deck crane manufacture was built with MHI’s guidance. Production got under way at the plant in June 2009.

MHI is currently supplying the hydraulic machines and other core components for deck cranes with 30–35 ton hoisting capacities being manufactured by the Chinese plant. Gaining momentum from delivery of the first completed unit, the joint venture now plans to begin full-fledged production, initially targeting 50 units in 2010 and ultimately looking to produce 200 units per year.

Marine deck cranes are located on the decks of cargo ships; they are used for loading and unloading of cargo such as coal, iron ore and grains. MHI presently enjoys the largest share, 40%, of the Japanese market. Even amid the current economic slowdown, the company has a substantial backlog of orders; but in spite of this favorable business expansion, to date MHI has been unable to accommodate rapidly increasing demand in China. In order to resolve this issue, the company opted to license its marine deck crane technology to Nantong Masada, marking a first for the company. Going forward, MHI will seek expanded adoption of its deck cranes in the global market as it simultaneously works to maintain and develop its solid relationship with Nantong Masada.

Note: Nantong city is situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River approximately 110 kilometers northwest of Shanghai. More than 800 Japanese companies are located here.

Source: http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/news/story/0912221328.html

Japanese Used Machinery for Sale

The Potencia Awards of Public Works and Civil Engineering were set up three years ago by TPI Edita, Spain’s leading technical magazine publisher, to honour companies that excel in quality, innovation and design.

Last year Dynapac were finalists in the Awards, but this year they went one better and were recognised as best in class for compaction. The judge’s panel, which consists of leading industry experts from prominent Spanish construction and rental companies, argued that the CP274 improves efficiency, operators’ comfort and the final compaction results. In particular they were impressed with the operators platform, overall comfort and visibility, the dual-circuit braking system, and the optional asphalt temperature sensor and DCA-A compaction analyser.

“We’ve put a lot of effort into developing the main features in the new series of pneumatic rollers”, says Mats Walden, Product Manager.“From the beginning of the design phase our aim was to significantly enhance serviceability, capacity, safety and operator comfort, while producing perfect compaction results”.

The Dynapac CP274, which has a compacting width of 2300 mm and maximum operating weight of 27 tonnes, is ideal for a wide variety of finishing, sealing and soil compaction applications. The vehicle’s cabin is spacious, has operator-friendly controls and a rotating and sideways sliding seat and steering assembly, for improved ergonomics. Moreover, it offers extra comfort and has outstanding all-round visibility. While the dual-circuit braking system, which is unique to Dynapac, maintains full braking effect even if one circuit is disabled.

The optional Dynapac DCA-A analyser registers the number of passes and the asphalt temperature which can be views on a graphic display. Furthermore, all this information can be documented for analysis if required.

Two smaller pneumatic tyred rollers in this range, CP224 and CP224W(wide base tyres) with maximum weight of 21 tonnes and a compaction width of 1800 mm and 2265 mm respectively, are also available.

”Seeing a newly laid road full of vehicles is usually all the proof we need that our products are performing to the high standards we set our machines, but of course, when a group of industry experts vote it best in its class, we know we’re doing something right,” says Bengt Merkel, Marketing Manager.

Source: http://www.dynapac.com/en/NewsEvents/News/Atlas-Copco-appoints-new-distributor-in-Botswana1/

Japanese Used Machinery for Sale

Tokyo, December 21, 2009 - Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation today delivered the Blue Ridge Highway pure car carrier (PCC), with a capacity of 5,000 cars, to KAW1603 Shipping S.A. at Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) in Nantong, China. The carrier, identified as Kawasaki hull No. 1603, is the fifth PCC with a capacity of 5,000 cars built at NACKS.

The 179.99 m long, roll-on/roll-off PCC has 12 decks, of which three are movable. They can be lifted up or lowered from the ceiling to accommodate mixed loading of different types of vehicles, including buses and trucks. There are two rampways to facilitate the loading and unloading of large cars driven to/from ports.

In an effort to make the ship more eco-friendly, the carrier is powered by an electronically controlled ME engine that optimizes fuel injection patterns and exhaust valve opening/closing timing, by allowing the operator to select either an economy mode that reduces fuel consumption or an emission mode that reduces exhaust emissions.

Source: http://www.khi.co.jp/ba/2009data/ba_c3091221_1.html

Japanese Used Vehicles for Sale

DETROIT – Today, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox was named the Urban Truck of the Year by On Wheels Media. The Equinox was selected as the best new truck for urban and suburban drivers by On Wheels Media and an independent panel of 15 automotive journalists.

Randi Payton, On Wheels Media’s president and publisher said, “The Urban Vehicle of the Year resonates with the majority of new car buyers who live in urban and suburban areas, who drive on crowded road conditions. The vehicles chosen are cost and fuel efficient, and have the performance and safety characteristics that are relevant to the consumers in Metropolitan areas.”

Chevrolet will accept the award for Best Urban Truck of the Year at the 14th Annual Urban Wheel Awards, January 12, 2010, during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

“We are very proud to be recognized as the Urban Truck of the Year,” says Jim Campbell, Chevrolet General Manager. “Urban Truck of the Year panelists select their favorite vehicle based on factors such as safety, fuel efficiency, performance and affordability. Those are the same factors that our customers rate as key reasons they purchased an Equinox. In fact, the Equinox has been such as hit with customers that we added a third shift at CAMI assembly – and are still struggling to meet demand.”

The Urban Truck of the Year winner is selected by a panel of 15 automotive journalists from a broad array of newspapers, magazines, broadcast and Internet outlets. This year’s panelists include:

• Brian Armstead - Autosense
• Frank Aukofer - Scripps-Howard News Service
• Warren Brown - Freelance
• Mary Chapman - Freelance
• Anqoinette Crosby - Motorweek
• Grant Davis - Examiner.com
• Chris Jackson - Freelance
• Valerie Menard - Freelance
• Greg Morrison - Freelance
• Kimatni Rawlins - Automotive Rhythms
• Beth Lear VanderYacht - Kelley Blue Book
• Yolanda Vazquez - MotorWeek
• Arv Voss - Auto Impressions
• Frank Washington - AboutThatCar.com
• Jeff Yip - Freelance

Source: http://publish.media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2009/Dec/1221_GM_chevy_equinox1

Japanese Used Vehicles for Sale

A truck’s axles are subjected to immense stress and strain every day, year after year. To ensure they are rugged enough to withstand the toughest situations without having to over-dimension them, Volvo Trucks is using an entirely new test rig for wheel axles in its product development. It is the largest of its kind in the world and can handle full-scale tests of axle assemblies up to 32-tonne bogies, making it unique in the truck world.

The new test rig is located at Volvo’s facility in Göteborg, Sweden. In the space of a mere few weeks, it can simulate the stresses and strains that truck is subjected to throughout its entire lifetime. Equivalent tests took four times longer in the previous test rig.

“The tests that we can now perform in six to ten weeks with the new rig used to take six to eight months, and involved testing the vehicles out on the track. The new rig also gives us better-quality test results,” says Göran Johansson, manager of test operations at Volvo.

Quality assurance is a crucial and time-consuming part of Volvo Trucks’ development and quality work. The entire product development phase has been shortened since important test operations can be conducted in just weeks instead of months. In the new test rig, it is also possible to carry out more advanced tests early in the product development cycle. The tests are one stage of product development for next-generation axle assemblies designed to optimise the vehicle’s all-round construction.

“Optimisation is all about ensuring that customers can depend on the truck’s various systems always functioning correctly, while simultaneously ensuring that the systems do not weigh or cost too much due to over-dimensioning,” explains Göran Johansson.

Source: http://www.volvo.com/trucks/global/en-gb/newsmedia/pressreleases/press_article.htm?pubId=8094

Japanese Used Trucks for Sale

Novi, Michigan - Hino Trucks recently donated six trucks to various colleges across the country in support of their diesel technology programs. The trucks selected for donation are MY ‘05 & ‘06 training vehicles ranging from a 14,050 lb GVW model 145 light-duty truck to a 33,000 lb GVW model 338 medium-duty truck. The trucks will provide apprentices and students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with engine mechanics and functionality and allows them to learn the latest on-board diagnostic technology.

“Hino is pleased to make this donation to enhance innovative educational leadership at these institutions,” said Ryan Hitsman, Manager of Human Resources for Hino Trucks. He continued, “Hino Trucks has made a commitment to education by donating vehicles to diesel technician programs that provide students with knowledge and experience that prepares them to work on diesel trucks as well as new technologies that are important to the environment and current needs of the industry.”

The colleges receiving a truck donation are:

• Washington State Community College, Marietta, Ohio
• Rancho Santiago Community College, Santa Ana, California
• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois
• Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan
• Universal Technical Institute, Norwood, Massachusetts

Various programs from these colleges will benefit from these vehicles including Diesel Truck Technology, Heavy Equipment Technology, Automotive Technology, Heavy Equipment Service Engineering Technology, Automotive Engineering Technology, and Automotive Management.

George Daniels, Vice President of Service Operations for Hino Trucks added, “The EPA has made changes in exhaust emissions every few years, and with those changes come new technology advances. Diesel technicians must be versatile to adapt to not only these new technologies but to customers’ evolving needs. These truck donations will provide state-of-the-art technology to automotive educational programs and will go a long way in complementing their efforts to provide world-class future leaders for our industry.”

About Hino: Hino Trucks, a Toyota Group Company, assembles, sells and services class 4-7 commercial trucks in the United States and is headquartered in Novi, Michigan. With over 180 dealers, Hino Trucks is the fastest growing medium duty truck nameplate in America and is the recipient of the 2008 and 2009 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Medium-Duty Truck Engine and Transmission.

Source: http://www.hino.com/news/story_848.php

Japanese Used Trucks and Machinery for Sale

(Stoke-on-Trent - December 8, 2009) - County Down-based Mulgrew Haulage Ltd has become the first operator in Ireland to operate Michelin’s award-winning* X One MaxiTrailer tyres.

Designed by Michelin to deliver up to 50 per cent more mileage than standard 385/65 R 22.5 XTE2 tyres, the 455/45 R 22.5 X One MaxiTrailer tyres are fitted on two new Montracon tri-axle curtainside trailers.

The company has operated a 100 per cent Michelin tyre policy across its mixed fleet of 130 Scania, DAF and Volvo tractor units and 300 trailers for four years, supported by local independent MBA (Michelin Business Advantage) tyre distributor A1 Tyres.

Michael Murray, responsible for the Mulgrew Haulage tyre purchasing and maintenance policy, comments: “As a company we never stay still and like to change with the times, investing in new innovations that make good business sense.

“Michelin X One MaxiTrailer tyres offer us a range of significant fleet benefits in terms of mileage and fuel efficiencies, so we have made the decision to specify them as original equipment on our two latest Montracon trailers.”

Each new X One MaxiTrailer tyre benefits from Infinicoil architecture, one of the key innovations of Michelin Durable Technologies, consisting of up to a 400 metre steel cord wrapped continuously around the crown, delivering unrivalled robustness, greater longevity and even wear. Compared to a 385/65 R 22.5, the tread band is also 120 millimetres wider and has 35 per cent more rubber in the compound, which is responsible for increasing the mileage potential of each tyre by up to 50 per cent.

“We will be running a series of trials with these new trailers over a variety of different routes with a view to specifying X One MaxiTrailer tyres as original equipment on all new trailers if the trial is a success,” concludes Mr Murray.

The Michelin X One MaxiTrailer tyre is primarily available for fitment as original equipment on new trailers manufactured across Europe, and when fitted to most conventional or mega volume trailers it offers the additional benefit of increasing load volume by between five and nine cubic metres due to its low profile design.

Staff from A1 Tyres have maintained and monitored tyres on the Mulgrew fleet for over 10 years to Michelin’s high standards of customer service and technical competence.

Wilson Mackey, Managing Director of A1 Tyres, comments: “We continually seek ways for our customers to maximise fleet tyre performance and support Mulgrew in this move to X One MaxiTrailer tyres. We will be monitoring the new fitment with interest.”

Mulgrew Haulage specialises in transport between Ireland and the UK. The company also offers a regular and reliable service for internal Irish movements. Established in 1973 the company has grown to become one of Ireland’s biggest and most recognisable independent hauliers operating an extensive and immaculate fleet of high cube trailers with an internal height of 3.1m. A big focus on customer satisfaction has been rewarded with a customer base which reflects most of the Blue Chip companies within the food and drink and packaging sectors.

*In July 2009 Michelin scooped the prestigious Motor Transport Innovation Award for its new X One MaxiTrailer tyre. Judges commented that the X One MaxiTrailer was a “high-quality technical solution, which is well supported and brings economical and environmental benefits.”

Source: http://www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/en/more/news-detail/news/20080819113604/26199.html

Japanese Used Vehicles & Vehicels Part and Machinery for Sale