Volvo Trucks will be the first manufacturer with an efficient diesel engine fuelled by a mixture of methane gas and diesel. The engine meets the strict Euro 5 exhaust emission standards introduced in 2009. Field testing will start in Sweden and the UK in 2010. “This unique technology allows us to combine the advantages of gas with the diesel engine’s high efficiency rating, which is about 30-40 percent superior to that of the spark plug engine,” comments Lars Mårtensson, Environmental Director Volvo Trucks. “As a result, this truck consumes considerably less energy than traditional gas trucks do.”

In August 2007, Volvo Trucks presented no less than seven driveable demo trucks adapted for different biofuels. Following further analysis, the company is now focusing on two renewable fuels: DME and methane gas + diesel.

“Methane gas is by far the most accessible fuel as an alternative to diesel. There are larger reserves of natural gas than oil. But above all, production of climate-neutral biogas is gaining momentum in many countries, which solves the most urgent problem - reducing CO2 emissions,” says Lars Mårtensson.

It used to be difficult to use methane gas for long-haul transportation. A truck with a spark ignited engine usually has a restricted range of operation (approximately 150-200 km). Volvo Trucks solves this problem by combining methane gas with diesel and using this fuel in a diesel engine. This increases the operational range by over 50 percent, but when a liquefied gas is used, with higher energy density, the range will double. In addition, the diesel engine’s driveability is better compared to a spark ignited engine.

Source: http://www.volvo.com/trucks/global/en-gb/newsmedia/pressreleases/press_article.htm?pubId=8098

Japanese Used Vehicles for Sale

Komatsu Ltd. (hereinafter “Komatsu”) hereby announces that Komatsu decided, at the Board of Directors meeting held today, to have Komatsu Industries Corporation (hereinafter “Komatsu Industries”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Komatsu, succeed to the product development and sales & service operations of the large press business of the Industrial Machinery Division by way of an absorption-type corporate split (hereinafter “Absorption-Type Corporate Split”) effective April 1, 2010.

As this corporate split is a simplified absorption-type corporate split, which means the wholly owned subsidiary of Komatsu becomes the successor company, certain matters and descriptions are omitted from the disclosure below.

Komatsu believes that effects of the Absorption-Type Corporate Split on its consolidated business results will be minimal.

Description

1. Purpose of Corporate Split
   Affected by the worldwide economic downturn since autumn of last year, Komatsu’s Industrial Machinery Division’s main clients, such as the automobile manufacturing industry, have drastically reduced capital investment. Against this backdrop, Komatsu needs to manage the industrial machinery business more efficiently in order to promote its sustainable growth as a core business of Komatsu. Specifically, Komatsu is going to integrate its large press operation and Komatsu Industries’ small and medium-sized press operation in order to:

   1. Reinforce its development capability by reorganizing its development operations

   2. Enhance customer satisfaction by reorganizing its marketing operations in tune with customer characteristics.

At the same time, Komatsu Industries is also going to speed up the management decision-making process, while working to develop and expand business in China and other emerging economies by integrating marketing and development activities for large, medium-sized and small presses.

Source: http://www.komatsu.com/CompanyInfo/press/2009121517150509848.html

Japanese Used Machinery for Sale

TOKYO, December 14, 2009 - Kobe Steel, Ltd. announces that it is providing Austria’s voestalpine Stahl GmbH, with technology to produce fingerprint-resistant electrogalvanized steel sheet.

This material is highly applicable for use in appliances and other electrical devices. It has a special surface treatment that makes the sheet resistant to fingerprints or fingerprints on the steel less noticeable. The steel sheet is also noted for its high resistance to corrosion.

voestalpine plans to conduct mill trials and customer trials starting in 2010. Following successful trials, it will then have the capability to produce this innovative steel sheet for potential flat-screen television manufacturers in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other central European countries, where many Japanese and South Korean transplants have set up production.

Kobe Steel’s fingerprint-resistant electrogalvanized steel sheet is an original special surface-treated steel developed by the company. It is already being used in China and Southeast Asia, mainly in electric appliances. Kobe Steel has an over 25% share of all electrogalvanized steel sheet that Japan’s blast furnace steelmakers export to China and Southeast Asia.

Because of its anti-corrosion properties, a chromate treatment was traditionally applied to fingerprint-resistant steel sheet. However, in 2005 Kobe Steel became the first Japanese steelmaker to cease chromate treatment to reduce the environmental burden. In February 2008, Kobe Steel stopped using chromate treatment in all of its other steel products as well.

Kobe Steel’s relationship with voestalpine goes back many years. In 2002, Kobe Steel and voestalpine Stahl formed a cooperation agreement for automotive steel high strength steel sheet technology. The alliance between the two companies is centered on technology, know-how exchange, as well as the joint research and development of this material. The arrangement creates a global supply network for high strength steel to Japanese automotive transplants.

In 2008, Kobe Steel and voestapline Krems, another company of voestalpine AG, formed a cooperation agreement covering the application of Kobe Steel’s ultra high strength steel and Krems’ roll-forming technology in auto parts.

Expanding the cooperative relationship into the appliance field, the two companies are striving to increase their presence in their respective markets of Asia and Europe. These initiatives help support Japanese transplants in their global operations, both in the automotive and appliance fields.

Source: http://www.kobelco.co.jp/english/topics/2009/12/1182769_7081.html

Japanese Used Machinery for Sale

Lexington, KY (December 10, 2009) Debbi Brewer has been promoted to Customer Service Representative in the Parts Department of Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co. Vi Brine, Supervisor, Customer Service, made the announcement at Link-Belt’s headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Brewer started at Link-Belt in 2008 as Customer Information Clerk supplying distributors and owners with crane literature. Prior to that, she worked in customer service for over twenty years. Brewer resides in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

“Debbi has moved up quickly because of her substantial customer service experience and superior work ethic,” said Brine. “We look forward to tapping that experience to provide even better parts support for our dealers and customers.”

Source: http://www.linkbelt.com/news/newsreleases/09-12-10_d_brewer.htm

Japanese Used Machinery for Sale