Equipment Report

MARATHON EXPANDS PRODUCT LINE

With its acquisition of Reduction Technology Inc. (RTI), Leeds, Ala., Marathon Equipment Co. now has a product line that includes shredders, granulators and other size reduction equipment.

The acquisition includes RTI’s 70,000 square foot manufacturing facility and six acres of property. "RTI has a 150-year history of designing and manufacturing size reduction equipment, which compliments our existing waste handling, compaction and baling business," says Ed Furnari, president of Marathon.

"RTI’s owners, Don Farnham and Jim Pritchard, will remain with RTI to spearhead the company’s growth," adds Furnari.

RTI has joined Marathon’s Recycling Systems Group to provide a full line of size reduction and horizontal and vertical baling equipment. In the mid-1960s Marathon operated in Leeds, Ala., but relocated to its current headquarters site in Vernon, Ala., due to business growth and the need for larger facilities.

NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR SYSTEMS ALTERNATIVES

Systems Alternatives Inc., Maumee, Ohio, has purchased Metals Industry Products Group of Neural Applications Corp. Neural develops artificial intelligence technologies used for real-time process control and charge design optimization. "Our analysis, working with several steel firms, shows that the potential savings generated by integrating the steel mill/ scrap processing supply chain from procurement to blending to melting can range from $5 to $11 per ton," says Norman Bliss, a vice president with Neural Applications Corp.

SAI’s acquisition of Neural and expanded products and services was made possible by an alliance SAI has formed with The David J. Joseph Co., Cincinnati. The alliance is designed to allow these technologies to be made available to the entire steel and scrap industry. SAI also announced a partnership agreement with software packager J.D. Edwards. "This relationship will allow us to create the only chain supply solution specifically designed for the special requirements found in the steel and scrap processing industries," says John Underwood, SAI’s founder.

SAI is also expanding its product offerings and services to include motion-compensated crane scale technology.

AL-JON IMPACT V CAR CRUSHER

Al-jon Inc., Ottumwa, Iowa, recently delivered an Impact V Car Crusher to Bumphrey Salvage, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Brad Jackson, the Impact V operator, expects travel to auto wreckers to be much easier than in the past, since the crusher has a higher ground clearance of 17 ½ inches.

"We anticipate being more productive with this machine since it effortlessly manipulates over hilly country, muddy yards and uneven railroad tracks," Jackson says. "Because of the work we do on the road it is imperative that the machine is easily transported."

BOLLEGRAAF BALER AND LUBO STARSCREENS

Van Dyk Baler Corp. is installing a Bollegraaf HBC-110F baler and two Lubo Starscreens at Louis Padnos Iron and Metal, Holland, Mich. The Lubo starscreens will automatically sort out large OCC from Padnos’ commercial loads and remove dirt, grit and other small contaminants from the high-grade stream. The Bollegraaf baler will allow Padnos to process all the company’s fiber in one high-capacity baler.