Equipment Report

Doppstadt, a leading brand of environmental and recycling equipment in Europe, is now available to the U.S. market through its newly established DoppstadtUS office. As the exclusive North American distributor, DoppstadtUS offers the company’s full line of mobile and stationary grinders, shredders and trommels as well as service and support.

Based in Germany, Doppstadt equipment is designed to offer precise engineering and technical solutions—and ultimately a lower operating cost per ton—driven by constant and thorough customer dialog. Research and development is conducted on site at the company’s Schönebeck, Germany, plant, which incorporates a sizable testing and presentation facility.

Features incorporated into many Doppstadt products include simple, one-person operation; easy, remote-controlled mobility; fast set-up and component swapping; large, protective access doors; swing-out engines; maintenance-friendly bearings and Mercedes-Benz power plants.

Doppstadt grinders, shredders and trommels are immediately available for order directly from the DoppstadtUS office in Haslett, Mich., online at www.doppstadtus.com.

Walker-National, Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, is reporting a great deal of interest in its new line of Rare Earth Magnetic Separators.

"There’s already a ripple of excitement running through the industry," says Brian Thwaites, vice president and GM of Walker-National. "Like every other business segment, the crushing and demolition industry is constantly looking for cost savings and more efficiency. This is the equipment line that will do it."

The line of separators has been designed to offer considerable magnetic power at a low cost. "Another outstanding feature of the line is portability," says Thwaites. "The separator can work as a stand-alone unit without the need for electrical power for the magnet. With increased [magnetic] power that will outperform electro-magnets, reclamation of materials is more efficient, resulting in better returns from recycling," he adds.

The new Walker units are available in several different sizes designed to meet a variety of on-site needs. "We’re getting response from the industry daily," says Thwaites.

The Walker Rare Earth Separators are now available as stock items. More information can be found online at www.walkermagnet.com.

Exports of U.S.-made construction equipment improved in the second quarter of 2002, though they trail 2001 figures. The numbers are in keeping with an expected overall decline in heavy equipment sales forecast by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Chicago.

Machinery worth $1.65 billion was shipped to overseas destinations from April to June of 2002, a 5.5 percent gain over shipments the first three months of the year. That figure is still 16.5 percent lower compared to the second quarter of 2001.

Canada and Africa improved as export destinations during the second quarter, while South American markets accepted 15 percent less in equipment value compared to the first quarter of the year.

In a recent presentation to AEM members, Johnnie VanGelderen of Astec Inc., Chattanooga, Tenn., said equipment makers should become familiar with financing options available to support international transactions.

VanGelderen recommended looking into several Ex-Im Bank options that provide insurance and other guarantees to help mitigate risk. VanGelderen's additional tips included:

• Ship products to a bonded warehouse or free trade zone and collect payment when items are released and taxed.

• Mitigate risk with insurance until the products are sold.

• Investigate private companies and government agencies that purchase products and lease them to customers as an alternative for selling units into international markets.

AEM plans to make VanGelderen’s presentation available on its Web site at www.aem.org.

A prototype wheel-mounted construction and demolition (C&D) debris sorting system is at work in the Chicago area.

Bob Brickner of consulting firm Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc. (GBB), Fairfax, Va., and Steve Clements of Cornerstone Materials Co., McHenry, Ill., have teamed to design and build a mobile system for screening and sorting C&D materials.

"A prototype unit has been built and has operated [at Cornerstone in McHenry] for five continuous months," says Brickner. "We have used it to generate a lot of data on the performance of the unit as built."

Brickner and Clements have patented the machine and are speaking with existing C&D equipment manufacturing companies to gauge interest in building the machine. "We are looking for a partner who would license the manufacturing and sales rights to the system," says Brickner.

Equipment makers hoping to reach the European secondary aggregates market can still book space at the International Quarrying and Recycling Show, also known as Hillhead 2003.

The show takes place at Tarmac Central’s Hillhead Quarry in Buxton, England (near Manchester) June 24-26, 2003.

The event’s organizers say more than 80 percent of the equipment display space has been reserved and that many regular exhibitors have expanded their space requests.

More than 400 manufacturers and suppliers from the United Kingdom and other countries are expected for the biennial event, which features a "live demonstration" area for equipment at the working quarry.

An estimated 15,000 attendees are expected over the three-day span. In addition to inspecting equipment, they can attend technical presentations on a number of topics, including safety, automation and occupational health.

More information on the event can be obtained at www.hillhead.com.