PEORIA, Ill. – Caterpillar Inc. and Wacker Neuson SE, Munich,Germany (ISIN DE000WACK012), announced that the relevant executive bodiesfor both companies have signed an alliance agreement. The agreement between the parties is for the design, manufacture, sale and support of Caterpillar mini hydraulic excavators in the under three-ton category.

The alliance agreement calls for Wacker Neuson to leverage its manufacturingand product development capability to produce Caterpillar mini hydraulic excavators in the under three-ton category at its production plant in Linz, Austria. Caterpillar currently offers three models in this size range. The machines will be produced to Caterpillar’s specifications and will be distributed and supported via Caterpillar’s global dealer network, with the exception of Japan. All Caterpillar models will be clearly differentiated from comparable Wacker Neuson models in the same product range.

“We know many customers are looking for more options in this size range, and this alliance will give those customers expanded choices to help them grow their business,” said Mary Bell, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Building Construction Products Division. “There is also an ideal cultural fit between Caterpillar and Wacker Neuson, as both companies have a strong focus on developing and supporting world class products. Over the years, Wacker Neuson has developed a strong reputation among our Caterpillar dealers, who have become familiar with Wacker Neuson’s Light Equipment products, which are available at Cat Rental stores,” Bell added.

By concentrating production of select products at Wacker Neuson locations, the two companies will leverage joint economies of scale in the manufacturing process while supplying their respective, complementary sales channels with differentiated, competitive machines. “We are delighted at the prospect of what promises to be a strategic partnership for both companies as we move forward,” explained Dr. Ing. Georg Sick, CEO of Wacker Neuson SE.

Source: http://india.cat.com/cda/files/2254562/7/062410%20Caterpillar,%20Wacker%20Neuson%20SE%20Announce%20Strategic%20Alliance.pdf

Tokyo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Hitachi, Ltd. announced that they have entered into a basic agreement to work cooperatively in the field of intra-city railway systems for overseas markets, with the goals of strengthening competitiveness in global markets and expanding business as a result. MHI and Hitachi find overseas intra-city railway systems are the area where the two companies can demonstrate their competitiveness most, thus they decided to work together ranging from marketing to construction, installation and maintenance in the field.

Social infrastructure, such as power systems and railway systems, is expected to expand as a market, particularly in emerging countries. Even in developed nations and regions, which already have a certain level of social infrastructure, there is demand for upgrading social infrastructure supported by advanced information and telecommunications systems.

Railway systems, which are a form of green mobility, are winning increasing recognition as a means of transporting large volumes of passengers and freight with a small environmental impact. As a consequence of this, there are active moves in a host of regions around the world, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Central and South America, to build new railway systems or extend existing ones, or make systems faster with improved railcars and systems. The overseas railway systems market is thus continuing to grow.

Agreement seeks to capitalize on these sorts of market trends. MHI and Hitachi will work together as appropriate in a broad range of fields in overseas intra-city railway system projects, ranging from marketing to design, manufacturing, procurement, engineering, construction, installation, maintenance and development. With their complementary product lineups, MHI and Hitachi will respond to various railway system needs in the urban transportation field. The mixed product lineups include conventional commuter trains for subways and other systems; new transportation systems such as automated people movers (APM) and light rail transit (LRT); and monorails.

MHI and Hitachi each boast advanced product lineups, technologies and know-how concerning entire railway systems, as well as their individual constituent elements, including railcars, signaling systems, telecommunications, power systems and tracks. Above all else, the two companies have earned the trust of markets, MHI for its technological development capabilities, overseas project record, plant engineering know-how, and wide range of partnerships, and Hitachi for its railway systems hardware and software development capabilities, and system engineering strengths.

Under this agreement, MHI and Hitachi aim to leverage each other’s experience and expertise to actively develop the railway systems business overseas.

Source: http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/news/story/100622en.html

Japan - Komatsu Ltd. is going to celebrate its 90th Anniversary in May 2011. By looking forward to its centennial anniversary in 2021 and beyond on the occasion of its 90th anniversary, Komatsu is working on the following 90th anniversary commemorative projects designed to promote further growth of important management resources of Technology and Manpower.

1. Concepts and Slogan of the 90th Anniversary Commemorative Projects
One more step toward the centennial anniversary: Passing down manpower and technology to the future.

2. Main Commemorative Projects
1) Establishment of new training center on the former Komatsu Plant site (Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
2) Construction of new development center on the Osaka Plant site (Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture)
3) Establishment of KC Techno Center in Changzhou City, China

3. Descriptions of Projects

1) Establishment of new training center on the former Komatsu Plant site (Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture)

In March this year we transferred and consolidated production of our large presses from the Komatsu Plant to the Kanazawa Plant. Concerning the former Komatsu Plant site, we are building a new training center to open in May 2011. Once it is open, we are going to consolidate in-house training programs and trainings of service engineers there, which are currently conducted in Tochigi and Osaka prefectures.
With respect to the training programs for service engineers in particular, we are working to develop new programs and training materials by anticipating the growth of Strategic Markets and advances of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The new center will play the important role of a globalized training base for service engineers. A conference building under construction adjacent to the new training center will accommodate a diverse range of multi-national meetings.
On the site, we are also going to recreate the former head office building as the memorial hall, where children will be able to learn about mechanical technology through firsthand experience and conduct scientific experiments. We are also going to develop a greenery park area which will recreate the Satoyama woodlands of Komatsu City, where children will be able to observe and learn about the natural environment. In addition, we will exhibit a 930E super-large dump truck which was made by Komatsu America Corp. and was actually used in a large-scale mine overseas. This unit will be brought over to Japan for the first time. By making these facilities available to local children and collaborating with the city government of Komatsu and local Board of Education, we are going to improve the contents of these facilities. By providing local children with opportunities to gather and learn about science and the natural environment, we are hoping to make contributions to the City of Komatsu, our birthplace.

2) Construction of new development center on the Osaka Plant site (Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture)

In addition to developing and manufacturing our flagship PC200 and other medium-sized and large hydraulic excavators and bulldozers, our Osaka Plant plays an important role in providing information concerning global technology development and manufacturing process reforms.
Once the new development center is opened, we are going to further strengthen collaboration with the development and design departments of overseas subsidiaries. In a timely manner, we will obtain and accumulate equipment test and operation data from them in order to enhance the capability and speed of our development operation by deploying leading-edge Information and Communication Technology (ICT). We will also further improve the precision and flexibility of our global production planning as we will build on the global information system for daily sales, production and inventory data. Through these measures, we will further upgrade Osaka Plant’s development and production capabilities as a Mother plant.
We are planning to hold our 90th anniversary ceremony and technology exhibition at the Osaka Plant in May 2011, when the new development center opens.

3) Establishment of KC Techno Center in Changzhou City, China

As the Chinese market is expanding further, it is becoming ever more important for us to ensure that customers and our distributors thoroughly understand the performance, effective applications, operation methods and the like concerning Komatsu Group’s products, centering on our full line of construction equipment. Against this background, we are building the KC Techno Center in Changzhou, mainly for the training of service engineers of our distributors and the introduction of our products to customers.
We are planning to equip the Center with the following facilities and capabilities;

1) a machine demonstration of Komatsu Group’s products,

2) a comprehensive training center, and

3) a used equipment center which will also accommodate Reman products. At the same time, we are relocating Komatsu (Changzhou) Construction Machinery Corp., one of our major production bases in China, to the same location as the KC Techno Center. With a production base and the Techno Center adjacent to each other, we believe that we should be able to further reinforce our support capabilities for customers and distributors and further upgrade the level of our employees’ work performance.

In May 2011, we are planning to hold our 90th anniversary ceremony and the Advanced Technic Contest, a competitive event of service engineers’ technical skills, at the KC Techno Center.

Source: http://www.komatsu.com/CompanyInfo/press/2010061715415626915.html

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Cummins Inc. has signed a lease with SmartSpace, LLC to open a consolidated customer care center in Nashville by the end of 2010. The center, which is projected to bring more than 200 new jobs to the metropolitan area, will be located at Two Rivers Corporate Centre, on McGavock Pike, just north of the Opryland Hotel.

Cummins employees from existing centers in Memphis and Cookeville, Tenn. and from Columbus, Ind. will be relocating to Nashville to kick off the operation, with additional team members being hired from Nashville as the new center grows. Nashville currently is home to Cummins Business Services and the Company’s Filtration business.

“We chose Nashville from among two dozen cities based on several factors, including its talented workforce, strong infrastructure, and overall quality of living,” said Executive Director of Cummins Business Services Jim Schacht. “We wanted a city with a population of 1-3 million people that offered a stable economy, a dynamic workforce, and ease of accessibility and Nashville offers all of that.”

The customer care center will respond to calls from Cummins customers throughout the United States. “By consolidating our multiple contact centers into one location, we hope to reach higher levels of customer service and consistency of care,” said Schacht.

“I am extremely pleased that Cummins chose Nashville out of two dozen cities for its new consolidated customer care center and the creation of 200 high-quality jobs,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said. “The company already has a significant presence here and the decision to expand is a statement about Nashville’s appeal as a city in which to do business and locate employees.”

“SmartSpace is pleased to welcome Cummins to Two Rivers Corporate Centre, in the Donelson community of Nashville,” said Vice President Jay Rosenblum. Jim Smith of Cassidy Turley in Nashville and Marc Marier of Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler in Chicago represented Cummins in the 40,000 square foot lease transaction.

Source:http://www.cummins.com/cmi/content.jsp?siteId=1&langId=1033&menuId=4&overviewId=15&dataId=3047&menuIndex=0

Tokyo, - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order for major components of natural gas-fired gas turbine combined-cycle (GTCC) power generation systems with heat supply capability, which will be installed in a cogeneration facility to be built by Huaneng Power International, Inc., one of the major electricity providers in China. The order was placed through Dongfang Turbine Co., Ltd., a major power generation equipment manufacturer in China to which MHI has licensed its gas turbine technology. MHI will provide two M701F gas turbines as well as major components of a steam turbine. Delivery of the gas turbines is scheduled in February and March of 2011.

The GTCC cogeneration facility in Gaobeidian, in which the gas turbines and other components are to be installed, is the first of six projects that is planned near Beijing area. The facility with 920 MWe (megawatt electrical) during the summertime, or 830 MWe as well as 660 MWt (megawatt thermal) during the wintertime, will provide electricity and heat to meet the fast-growing demands in the nation’s capital city and surrounding area.

For the facility, MHI will specifically supply two gas turbines, control system components, and steam turbine components. Dongfang Turbine will deliver the gas turbine auxiliary system, steam turbine and its auxiliary system to Huaneng Power International through Dongfang Electric Corporation, the parent company of Dongfang Turbine. Mitsubishi Corporation will handle trade particulars.

MHI has also received an order through the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Donfang Gas Turbine (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd. (MHI-DGT), which is the joint venture of MHI and Dongfang Turbine Co., Ltd, for the six years gas turbine long term service agreement (LTSA) . In this LTSA, MHI will supply gas turbine hot parts, MHI-DGT will extend repair service of hot parts, and Dongfang Turbine will dispatch technical advisors for the inspection.

Huaneng Power International, established in 1994, is a core company of China Huaneng Group. Huaneng Power International mainly operates in eastern China, including in the Shangdong and Jiangsu Provinces and Shanghai. The company constructs, operates and manages large power plants, as well as their investments, and sells electricity to electricity transmission companies throughout China. In addition to its core power generation by coal-fired thermal power, the company also produces electricity by hydraulic power, wind turbine and nuclear power. In 2008, Huaneng Group successfully acquired Tuas Power, which supplies almost a quarter of the electricity needed in Singapore.

Dongfang Turbine, established in 1966, is one of the top three power generation equipment suppliers in China. Headquartered in Sichuan province, the company manufactures and provides maintenance services for steam turbines, hydro turbines, gas turbines and compressors. MHI and Dongfang Turbine have received orders for a total of 14 gas turbines in China since their gas turbine licensing agreement in 2003. The two companies established a gas turbine core components manufacturing and marketing joint venture* in China in 2004, which began production and provision of after-sale services in 2005.

With GTCC-type power generation, gas and steam turbines are used in combination to generate electricity in two stages, utilizing high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas turbine. This configuration enables GTCC power plants to achieve higher thermal efficiency than non-GTCC plants such as conventional boiler steam turbine plants. Higher efficiency means that GTCC plants consume less fuel and emit less CO2 relative to electricity output, thus making them friendlier to the environment.

On the strength of the latest order, MHI intends to further strengthen its activities in collaboration with Dongfang Turbine in the future, to explore demands for highly efficient GTCC power generation systems in the continuously growing Chinese gas turbine market and contribute to the efficient use of energy and reduction of environmental burdens in China.

Source: http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/news/story/1006151363.html

U.K.- Caterpillar’s extreme duty Flexport solid tyres are proving popular in a range of industry sectors, with an increasingly diverse mix of machinery. While some customers may think of the Flexport tyre as a solution designed purely for compact machines such as skid steer loaders, the concept is also available both new and remanufactured for all of Caterpillar’s small and medium wheel loaders.

Improved productivity due to increased uptime

Mick George Limited is one of the leading suppliers to the construction industry in East Anglia and the East Midlands in the UK, specialising in providing bulk excavation and earthmoving services, aggregate supply and waste management services. With quarries, landfill sites and waste transfer stations spread across the region, they offer bespoke commercial solutions. The company has always used wheel loaders for this rehandling task, but in the past has suffered numerous punctures, causing extensive down time on site. UK Cat dealer Finning provided Mick George with an ultra-high lift loader arm solution for the firm’s 950H wheel loader. At the same time that this machine was delivered to the firm’s site near Cambridge, it was also equipped with Cat Flexport tyres.

Two years on, and the company reports zero downtime due to tyre issues. “They were a new idea to us and they were more expensive than some of the other options that were presented to us,” says George’s Pete Newman. “However that has been money well spent because we’ve suffered no down time due to tyres since the machine has been on site.” It is estimated that this increase in uptime, and the subsequent reduction in tyre replacement costs, has saved the company in excess of £1,500 (€1,700) per year.

Innovative Design

Flexport tyres are designed with holes moulded through the outer ring of the sidewall. This provides the necessary flexibility and comfort, as there is no air cushion within the rubber. This increased tyre flexibility offers an improved ride compared to other solid tyre solutions, reducing operator fatigue, increasing comfort and boosting productivity.

Unlike some solid tyre solutions, Flexport tyres absorb much of the shock loading, protecting machine components and reducing stress regardless of the application.

The elliptical design of the holes in the tyre is designed so that under load, it compresses into a round shape, reducing stress points and preventing cracking. Competitive designs that have round holes, can become flattened under load, causing cracks and stress points in the rubber.
Caterpillar Flexport tyres are available for all small and medium wheel loaders and integrated tool carriers from the 924F to the 962H. The tyres can be ordered in a 59×9x20.5 size and a larger 62×9x23.5 fitting, and both sizes are available new or remanufactured.

In the case of Caterpillar Remanufactured Flexport tyres, the tyre uses 100% new rubber, only the steel rim is reused. This provides the same, as-new, service life expectancy as a new Flexport tyre and customers receive a core refund if the steel rim is undamaged when the time comes to change the tyre.

Reduced Cost Per Tonne

Caterpillar Flexport tyres offer a cost-effective solution for customers in a variety of arduous ground condition industry sectors. In waste and metals handling, demolition and other heavy duty applications, where tyre damage can cause regular down time, the Flexport tyre solution ensures that equipment keeps working, while providing improved operator comfort, reduced machine stress and increased productivity.

Source: http://deutschland.cat.com/cda/layout?m=343975&x=7

Tokyo, — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has shipped a payload fairing (PLF*1) for the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.18 to Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center. Design and manufacturing of the PLF was performed at Kawasaki’s Gifu Works before the fairing was assembled and shipped from its Harima Works. Upon arrival at the Tanegashima Space Center, the PLF will be delivered to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. who will be executing the launch. Mitsubishi will incorporate the PLF into the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 in preparation for the upcoming launch scheduled for this summer.

The four-meter diameter PLF has a single launch configuration (4S) and can accommodate a large satellite. The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 will carry the Quasi-Zenith Satellite-1*2 (Michibiki) developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in cooperation with related research organizations.

Since delivering the first PLF for the H-II launch vehicle in 1993, Kawasaki has supplied payload fairings for a total of seven H-II launch vehicles. Kawasaki has a proven track record of designing and building a variety of PLFs for H-IIA launch vehicles, including four-meter single (4S), four-meter dual (4/4D), and five-meter single fairings (5S). These PLFs have been a key component in 17 H-IIA launch vehicles to date.

Kawasaki has developed and manufactured a wide spectrum of H-IIA launch vehicle PLFs designed to meet a broad range of payload specifications, including the launch of large satellites as well as the simultaneous launch of two satellites. Kawasaki is playing a vital role in today’s satellite launch industry via the development and production of cutting-edge PLFs.

Overview of PLF for H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18
Type: 4-m single fairing (4S)
Length: 12 m
Diameter: Approximately 4.1 m

Maximum payload size: 10.2 m long and 3.7 m in diameter

Source: http://www.khi.co.jp/ba/2010data/ba_c3100601_1.html

Tokyo, Japan,- Hitachi, Ltd. announced that it will hold the “Hitachi uVALUE Convention 2010″ at the Tokyo International Forum in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, over two days - July 22 (Thursday) and 23 (Friday) - in celebration of the Company’s 100th anniversary.

A celebration of Hitachi’s centenary, the “Hitachi uVALUE Convention 2010″ is based on the theme of “Dependable Technologies for the Next 100 Years : Accelerating Innovation of Society and Business Through Collaborative Creation.” The convention will feature lectures, seminars and exhibitions looking back on Hitachi’s journey to date and at its new initiatives for the next 100 years. Hitachi has held this event, including its predecessor IT conventions, since 1999. Fittingly for a 100th anniversary event, however, this year’s convention is expected to attract the largest number of visitors ever.

The keynote speech will be delivered by Hiroaki Nakanishi, President of Hitachi, Ltd.Mr. Nakanishi’s speech is titled “The Hitachi Group and Social Innovation” and will introduce initiatives the Hitachi Group is taking to accelerate social and business innovation around the globe. The convention will also feature an anniversary speech and discussion by two distinguished guest presenters : Harvard University Professor Amartya Sen, a past recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics, and Sadako Ogata, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The title is “Mission for the Next 100 Years : Humanity, Global Economy and Japan” Hitachi has also invited respected experts from various circles to participate in panel discussions on “Ubiquitous Services in the Cloud Computing Age,” and “Advancing and Globalizing Social Infrastructure.”

At the exhibition venue, Hitachi will showcase safe, reliable, comfortable and convenient services and solutions for homes, stations and other settings based on the theme “Making Cities Smarter Through Social Innovation.” In addition, Hitachi will exhibit smart grids, cloud computing and other innovations that will support its ambition. Moreover, as a celebration of its 100th anniversary, Hitachi will showcase a proud history of manufacturing that has opened up new eras through technology. Displays will include Hitachi’s founding product, a five-horsepower induction motor, as well as some of the cutting-edge technologies Hitachi is researching to help create a vibrant and rich society over the next 100 years.

The seminar venue will host a total of 93 seminars and panel discussions on topical themes such as social innovation, cloud computing, and the environment and green IT.

Inside the same facility, Hitachi will also simultaneously stage the “Hitachi Technology Forum 2010,” a symposium based on the theme of “The Role of Technology Over the Next Century.” Again, Hitachi has invited preeminent figures from various industries to participate in this symposium.

Hitachi is also sponsoring “Innovation Summit 2010,” which is being hosted by Nikkei Business in parallel to this convention.

Source: http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/100601.html

Vehicles are manufactured in left-hand drive (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD) configurations, referring to the placement of the driving seat and controls within the vehicle. There are some countries with RHT and mostly RHD vehicles. The terms nearside and offside are equestrian terms meaning left and right respectively, and are used both in LHT countries (e.g., the United Kingdom) and RHT countries (e.g., Denmark). The terms are often used in the British vehicle maintenance industry to mean the left and right hand side of a motor vehicle.

Some instructions for right hand drive traffic:

• All traffic is generally required to keep right unless overtaking.
• Oncoming traffic is seen coming from the left.
• Left-turning traffic must cross oncoming traffic.
• A right turn at a red light may be allowed after stopping.
• Most traffic signs facing drivers/motorists are on the right side of the road.
• Traffic on roundabouts (traffic circles) goes anticlockwise.
• Pedestrians crossing a two-way road look first for traffic from their left.
• The lane designated for normal driving and turning right is on the right.
• Most dual carriageway (divided highway) exits are on the right.
• On roads without a footpath pedestrians may be advised to walk on the left.
• Other vehicles are generally overtaken (passed) on the left, though in some circumstances overtaking on the right is permitted.

Safety factors : Research in 1969 by J. J. Leeming showed countries driving on the left have a lower collision rate than countries driving on the right. It has been suggested this is partly because humans are more commonly right-eye dominant than left-eye dominant. In left-hand traffic, the predominantly better-performing right eye is used to monitor oncoming traffic and the driver’s wing mirror. In right-hand traffic, oncoming traffic and the driver’s wing mirror are handled by the predominantly weaker left eye.

In addition, it has been argued that left sided driving is safer for elderly people given the likelihood of their having visual attention deficits on the left side and the need at intersections to watch out for vehicles approaching on the near-side lane. Furthermore, in a right hand cars, the driver has his right hand on the steering wheel at all times and uses his left hand to change gear.

List of some RHD Countries:
Kenya, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Mongolia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, United States, Vietnam, Switzerland, Burma, South Korea, France

Right Hand Drive in Japan -
Japan does allow both RHD and LHD vehicles on their roads. In some cases the same vehicle is available in both LHD and RHD configurations but most of vehicles are Right Hand Drives. Some time LHD cars are also available drive by foreigners.

Check the latest stock of RHD cars from Japan at: http://www.japanesecartrade.com/special/drive-rhd.html

Cypress, Calif- Sparked by sales of the new-for-2010 Lancer Sportback, Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) announced May 2010 sales of 4,737, an increase of 8.8 percent compared to May 2009.

It’s the third straight monthly sales increase for MMNA. Over that period (March/April/May) sales have increased an aggregate 9.4 percent.

“The addition of Sportback to our unique line-up of products and its warm reception emphasize that consumers are coming to us because we offer products that stand out from the crowd. These products are ‘different, for a reason,’” said MMNA President & CEO Shin Kurihara. “Our sales improvement over the last three months positions us for a summer in which we will align our sales efforts and our marketing to set the stage for the launch of our exciting all-new Outlander Sport.”

May highlights included:

• Lancer Sportback sales of 256 marked the second best month of sales since the Sportback began sales in August of last year.
• Outlander sales increased more than 56 percent compared to May 2009 and are up more than 27 percent year-to-date. Outlander sales have increased five of the past six months.
• Lancer sales were up 5.5 percent compared to a year ago (May 2009) and jumped more than 75 percent from the month before (April 2010). It was Lancer’s best sales month since August 2009 and the fuel-efficient sedan’s second best sales month since August 2008.
• Galant sales increased 59 percent compared to last May, and are up more than 70 percent year-to-date. This marks the sixth consecutive month that Galant sales have increased compared to the prior year.
• Year-to-date sales of MMNA’s models built in Normal, Illinois, remain strong. Sales from January through May of Galant, Eclipse, Spyder, and Endeavor are up a combined 12.2 percent compared to the same period in 2009.

Source: http://media.mitsubishicars.com/releases/3705193a-5797-b4d4-70db-9edd4c06ae49