Equipment Report

Published March 26, 2003

ANALYZER IDENTIFIES CCA-TREATED WOOD

An analyzing system that can identify CCA-treated wood is now available from Spectro Analytical Instruments Inc., Fitchburg, Mass.

The system consists of a hand-held or conveyor-mounted probe that "reports" to a bench analyzer that can be located up to 100 feet away. The probe uses X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology to detect the elements that comprise CCA (chromated copper arsenate) treatment coatings.

The Spectro Model 400 Wood Analyzer not only detects the presence of the elements, but "the resulting spectrographic energies are then analyzed and the relative concentrations of chromium, copper and arsenic are quickly identified," according to the company.

If wood recyclers prefer more detailed analysis, a bench top version of the analyzer can offer high-precision readings on the balance and retention of preservatives, according to a Spectro news release.

Such readings can be "key factors in . . . ensuring batch-to-batch consistency and continuously assessing the effectiveness of operations," according to Spectro.

The company says the analyzer is being offered to help wood recyclers adhere to recently enacted regulations imposing tighter restrictions on the recycling, combustion and land filling of CCA-treated wood.

CRUSHTEK UNVEILS 400-TON CRUSHER

Crushtek LLC, Atlanta, is now offering the Supertrack™ impactor, which it touts as "a highly-mobile, track-mounted crushing unit designed for durability and consistent performance, crushing up to 400 tons per hour of recycled materials, aggregates and even concrete with heavy rebar."

A remote control box can swivel, turn and maneuver the Supertrack unit on its 13-inch wide pads and 10-foot wheelbase at construction and demolition job sites, even as the machine is crushing material, according to Crushtek.

The unit is powered by a 400 hp Caterpillar diesel engine and can be driven onto a "lowboy" trailer to be ready for transport in minutes. Once on site, an operator can drive the Supertrack off the trailer and "begin crushing in a few minutes," according to a Crushtek news release.

The machine’s hopper can hold up to 7 cubic yards of material, and has a low feed height that can allow loading by backhoes and larger bucket excavators without the need for a ramp. The Supertrack has four variable speed blow bars that rotate from 750 to 950 rpm in a 40-inch diameter impact circle, producing up to 400 tons per hour with reduction ratios ranging from 1:10 to 1:50. The main discharge conveyor dispenses crushed material at a height of 9 feet-8 inches, allowing more material to accumulate into each stock pile. Optional equipment includes pre-screener units to separate material before it enters the crusher and discharge it as a second product. A permanent magnet can be mounted on the Supertrack unit to separate rebar and metallic objects, and an on-board dust control system, including a water tank, water pump and spray bars, can help minimize dust. "Our competitive advantage is our focus on the recycling and demolition crushing and screening markets," says Johann Schmidt, president of Crushtek. "All of our units were designed and built specifically to withstand the tough demands of C&D recycling." Crushtek LLC is now the sole owner of the products and brands of the former Austrian company, Hartl Crushtek GmbH, having purchased all engineering and intellectual property rights to the Hartl line in 2001.

EAGLE NAMES NEW CFO

The Eagle Crusher Co., Galion, Ohio, has announced the addition of Mike Tinkey as chief financial officer (CFO). Eagle Crusher is a leading maker of crushing systems for the recycled concrete, asphalt and aggregate industries.

"Mike has the knowledge and experience that we need to maintain Eagle’s continued strong growth," says Susanne Cobey, president of Eagle Crusher.

As the former CEO of Holbrook & Manter Inc., a professional service firm located in Marion, Ohio, and former CFO for Ohio Locomotive Crane Co. and Plymouth Industries Inc., Tinkey understands the overall operations of a large company and its financial opportunities, Cobey adds.

He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.

MOBILE MACHINERY TAX OPPOSED

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is among the industry groups opposing a proposed IRS regulation that would extend highway excise vehicle taxes to off-road machinery.

The Chicago based group has joined with the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) to file joint comments and to give testimony in Washington opposing the regulation.

The excise tax proposal would subject machinery—including mobile cranes, aerial lift trucks and perhaps mobile crushers—to motor vehicle taxes on fuel and tires, as well as other annual taxes. This equipment was previously exempt as it does not technically travel on highways unless mounted on a trailer.

"This difficult economic period is not the time to add substantial costs for consumers with taxes at the time of purchase and throughout the life of new machines," says AEM chairman David Woods, who is also CEO of Charles Machine Works Inc. in Perry, Okla.

The two groups argue that, unlike commercial highway vehicles that carry goods and passengers, mobile machinery vehicles are not productive when traveling on highways. Thus, while the operators of commercial highway vehicles attempt to ensure that their vehicles spend as much of their time as possible on the highway, the operators of mobile machinery vehicles try to maximize their productivity by maximizing their time at jobsites. For such vehicles, highway time is nonproductive time, and they do not derive the same benefit from the public highways as taxable highway vehicles do.

The groups have helped enlist support from more than 50 members of the U.S. House and Senate who have written the IRS to express their opposition to the new taxes.

BTI ADDS TECHNICAL SERVICE MANAGER

Frank Cargould, president of Breaker Technology, Inc. (BTI), has appointed Jamie Tomporowski as Customer & Technical Service Manager for all BTI operations.

"Jamie will be a great addition to our operation," says Cargould, noting that Tomporowski spent many years in technical support and product development roles at Teledyne Specialty Equipment CM Products.

Most recently, Tomporowski served as General Manager of the Philippines operation of Sandvik Tamrock. His background includes extensive technical, customer relations and management skills in the mine and quarry industry.

BTI designs, manufactures and markets a complete line of attachments including hydraulic breakers for the construction and demolition industries through an extensive dealer network.