Equipment report

Environmental Solutions Group opens Arizona plant

Environmental Solutions Group (ESG), headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., has opened a new manufacturing facility in Phoenix. The company says the expansion was needed to address the demand for its products in the western United States.

Bob McMackins, ESG vice president of manufacturing, says, “Our manufacturing operations have been primarily located in the Southeast. Having a large-scale manufacturing option in the western part of the U.S. makes perfect sense for our customers. We can now manufacture our products much closer to their point of use, reducing freight charges for our customers.”

The Phoenix facility initially will manufacture the company’s Marathon brand of compactors and balers, which are used in solid waste and recycling applications, and anaerobic digestion systems produced in partnership with Zero Waste Energy of Lafayette, Calif.

ESG will move its production operations from its plant in Yerington, Nev., to the Arizona location.

“Our new Phoenix plant is well- positioned to help us meet the increased West Coast demand for our products efficiently and cost effectively. We are excited about the trust which customers place in our brands and about our expanded capacity for meeting their needs,” says Pat Carroll, ESG president.

In addition to Marathon, ESG, a part of Dover Corp., manufactures products under company names Heil Environmental, Bayne Premium Lift Systems and The Curotto-Can Co.

Metso expands in Southwestern US

As part of its global expansion plan for its services center network, Finland-based Metso has announced plans to build a service and repair facility in Mesa, Ariz. The new facility will be integrated with existing Metso operations in the area and is expected to be operational during the fourth quarter of 2014.

The 31,000-square-foot facility has been designed around the installed equipment based in the region and customers’ needs, which include service and repairs to large-scale grinding mills, crushers and screens, according to the company.

“This is one more step in our global strategy to continue to bring service closer to our customers,” says Randall Reisinger, senior vice president, engineered services solutions, services business line, mining and construction, Metso. “Metso has been delivering great service in the region for many years, and now the team will expand the offering to develop solutions more effectively and much faster. The service center will also support our customers in the northern part of Mexico.”

The building and personnel will accommodate a wide variety of mining and construction services and advanced repairs, as well as direct on-site repair and field service. Design features of the new building include a large service area that will house two 60-ton bridge cranes, welding and machining bays, and offices for the Metso Services team members. “It’s about making an investment in our future, but also in our customers’ future,” adds Reisinger.

When complete, the Mesa center will be added to a growing list of Metso service centers worldwide. Metso operates nearly 50 services centers in locations including Perth, Australia; Sorocaba, Brazil; Antofagasta, Chile; Tampere, Finland; Macon, France; Vereeniging, South Africa; Faridabad, India; Surabaya, Indonesia; and Phoenix. New centers also are being built in Cananea, Mexico; Arequipa, Peru; and Labrador City, Canada.

Plans for the Arizona service center were recently approved by local authorities. Metso is temporarily leasing a fully equipped service and repair center in the area, allowing service to continue until the new location is complete.

Recycling Equipment Inc. recognized by North Carolina publication

Recycling Equipment Inc. (REI), based in Newton, N.C., has been recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in the Charlotte, N.C., region by the Charlotte Business Journal.

The publication ranked REI, which manufactures equipment for the waste and recycling industries, as the 24th fastest growing company. The Fast 50 Businesses were selected and ranked by average revenue growth from 2010 to 2012. To qualify, companies had to have at least $1 million in revenue in 2012 and be based in the Charlotte area.

The Charlotte Business Journal recognized REI for posting an average revenue growth of 52.68 percent during that period.

Rentech selects CBI for pellet facility expansion

Newton, N.H.-based Continental Biomass Industries (CBI) has begun a project to design and build three flail debarking and chipping systems for Rentech’s Canadian wood pellet facilities that are scheduled for installation in the spring of 2014.

Rentech, which says it is seeking to become the largest pellet manufacturer in eastern Canada, is converting two decommissioned wood fiber board mills in Ontario for pellet production. As part of the conversion, the CBI systems will deliver uniform 6-millimeter (mm) by 8-mm microchips in a single pass that can immediately be dried and milled into feedstock for pellet manufacturing.

CBI designed a custom flailing and chipping system specifically for Rentech.

“Traditionally, debarking and chipping in front of a pellet operation has been done with drum debarkers and disc chippers,” Anders Ragnarsson, founder and president of CBI, explains. “These systems are overall more expensive and have a tougher time debarking frozen wood. It has been proven beyond any doubt over the last several years that making microchips is a more cost-effective way to produce raw material for a pellet production line.”

Ragnarsson adds, “CBI has obtained orders for debarking and chipping systems for two new Rentech pellet mills in Canada. We went back and forth with numerous iterations and came up with a debarking line consisting of a feed conveyer, 2-roll flail debarker and a 1,200 horsepower CBI Magnum Force 8400 stationary chipper with a 5-pocket microchip rotor. Each system will have production capabilities of up to 120 tons per hour.”

Ragnarsson says CBI worked closely with engineers and operating personnel at AgriRecycle and Rentech to design the best solution for producing feedstock from hardwood species for Rentech’s pellet production needs.

AgriRecycle was contracted by Rentech to assist in the design, construction and operation of both pelleting plants, as well as evaluate options for new chipping lines. Mike Ferguson of AgriRecycle knew first-hand the benefits of CBI from having one of CBI’s 6400 machines with a microchip rotor that fed his pellet plant, Ozark Hardwood, for years.

The final result will be two CBI flail/microchipping systems installed at Rentech’s Wawa, Ontario, facility, and a singular CBI flail/microchipping line to be installed in Rentech’s Atikokan, Ontario, facility. At the Atikokan facility, CBI also will deliver a Grizzly Mill to grind the bark into the proper size for boiler fuel. The CBI systems will eliminate hammer milling of wet product prior to the dryer and produce a chip that can be fed directly into the dryer. The resulting product is hammermilled immediately after drying.

According to Ragnarsson, CBI’s solution reduces Rentech’s capital and operating expenditures due to the elimination of the hammermill prior to the dryer. “There’s a great deal of excitement here about what these systems can and will deliver, and the new standard they will set in producing raw material for a pellet mill,” he says.

Galbreath expands dealer network in Canada

Winamac, Ind.-based Galbreath, a manufacturer of hoists, container handlers and trailers, has named Joe Johnson Equipment (JJE) as a distributor of the company’s equipment in Canada.

JJE will carry Galbreath’s entire product line eastern Canada. JJE sells, rents and services new and preowned equipment to municipalities and contractors across Canada as well as in the United States and Chile. It will service Galbreath customers in Canada from Newfoundland to Manitoba.

“We’re incredibly excited to become part of the extensive Galbreath dealer network, and we look forward to expanding their presence in Canada,” says Michel Lavender, product manager of the refuse division for JJE. “The high-quality Galbreath product line complements the best-in-class products we represent, and we look forward to making our customers aware of the many advantages and benefits that Galbreath brings to the table.”

John Defenbaugh, Galbreath mobile products division president, adds, “Galbreath is continually focused on strengthening our North American dealer network to better serve our end-users. Joe Johnson Equipment was a natural choice for expansion in Canada. The company provides sales and service through multiple locations, while focusing on quality service at the localized or regional level. That, combined with a knowledgeable sales force and extensive industry experience, is impressive.”

Galbreath is a part of the manufacturing firm Wastequip, based in Charlotte, N.C. Other Wastequip companies include Toter, Pioneer, Accurate, Cusco, Mountain Tarp and Parts Place.

Genesis Attachments makes promotions

Genesis Attachments, headquartered in Superior, Wis., has promoted Blaine Archibald to the position of national account manager. Archibald formerly served as Southwest regional manager for Genesis.

In his new position, Archibald will develop, manage and maintain a national account program for the scrap industry.

“The creation of this new role within Genesis emphasizes our focus on serving scrap customers who have nationwide locations and attachment needs,” says Shane Kuhlmey, Genesis’ director of North American sales. “Blaine’s professionalism, industry knowledge and experience developing and maintaining strong relationships will be visible in all facets of this new program he’ll be leading.”

The company also has named Matt Hughes its regional manager for the south central United States. Hughes’ coverage area includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. He will be tasked with further development of dealer and customer relationships as well as increasing Genesis’ business in the territory.

Kuhlmey says, “Working as a Genesis contract employee, Matt gained product, customer and dealer experience that will enable him to quickly start serving the region. We look forward to his continued contributions.”

Genesis Attachments designs and manufactures mobile shears, scrap grapples, concrete processors and specialty attachments for the scrap processing, demolition, material handling and offshore decommissioning industries. The company has several offices located around the globe.

General Kinematics hires marketing coordinator

General Kinematics (GK), Crystal Lake, Ill., is pleased to announce its recent hire of Amy Donahue, who will join the GK team as marketing coordinator. Within this role, Donahue will assist GK’s sales and marketing team.

GK says Donahue’s entrepreneurial background and content marketing abilities will help ensure the company continues to grow, allowing it to further its leadership position within the vibratory equipment markets.

“I am thrilled to join the GK team,” says Donahue. “General Kinematics has been an international leader in vibratory technology for decades—consistently developing new patents and leading vibratory manufacturing into the future. The GK team is focused on the creation of new tools and equipment to help customers accomplish their goals and achieve success. I look forward to being part of this process.”

CEJN introduces coupling for construction and demolition industries

CEJN, Gurnee, Ill., has introduced the TLX series coupling, which the company describes as a flat-face twist lock coupling for the toughest applications in the construction and demolition segment. This quick connect coupling is designed to work with the highest surge flows and the toughest pressure impulses, the company says.

TLX is made from high alloy steels with zinc-nickel surface treatment for a long life in harsh conditions. The series is available in sizes from three-fourths inches to one-and-one-fourth inches to cover most applications.

The company notes the most common reason for failure of screw-to-connect couplings in heavy duty applications is high surge flows. When using a crusher on concrete, operators will build up high pressure just before biting through the concrete. The moment the crusher bites through the concrete, an extreme surge flow briefly occurs. This surge flow can be several times higher than the ordinary flow rate in the machine and is the cause of many coupling failures. The solution had been to use bulky oversized couplings at a much higher cost than TLX.

The CEJN TLX has its roots in a patented design with verified performance over many years in industrial auto-couplings, which are connected at full working pressure on both sides and used in tough impulse applications, says the company. The design of the TLX valve package is highly robust and the seals are protected from being flushed away by surge flow, CEJN adds. TLX is designed with a high-pitch, high-strength round thread profile but without sensitive eliminators or complicated locking systems.

The flow rate of the TLX is not limited to a certain level as it can handle high flow without failures, according to CEJN. The limitation is on the part of the machine as you don’t want to get too high of a pressure drop as this will lead to heat build-up in the hydraulic system. If you choose the appropriate size TLX for the flow rate the pump generates, the TLX also will handle the surge flow that can occur in certain applications, according to the company.