Equipment report

Lakeshore Recycling Systems installs SamurAI from Machinex

Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), Morton Grove, Illinois, has announced the installation of the new Machinex SamurAI at its single-stream Heartland Recycling Center in Forest View, Illinois. The company is the first to install the technology in the U.S. (Lakeshore was profiled in the October 2016 issue of Recycling Today, online at www.RecyclingToday.com/article/apart-from-the-crowd).

Featuring a robot with four articulations, the SamurAI employs artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify materials for an accurate, positive product recovery or a precise quality control function, Machinex says. The AI operates according to a predetermined task hierarchy and continues to improve and learn from operating experience to assure maximum recognition efficiency, the equipment supplier adds.

SamurAI is intended to reduce LRS’ reliance on manual labor, decrease operating costs and improve productivity.

“We developed this technology further to always answer the evolution of the market needs,” Pierre Pare, CEO of Machinex Group, Plessisville, Quebec, says.

“LRS continues to look for innovative solutions to help us improve our sustainability efforts,” LRS CEO Alan T. Handley says. “With the SamurAI technology, we are now able to sort, separate and allocate recyclable items more quickly than before. With this new technology, LRS is able to contribute more to preserving the Earth and providing innovative as well as environmentally responsible waste and recycling solutions.”

Winkle expands parts and support capabilities

Winkle Industries, Alliance, Ohio, has expanded into a new 50,000-square-foot parts warehouse and service facility to support its nationwide dealers and their customers.

Joe Schatz, president of Winkle Industries, says the new facility, which is adjacent to Winkle’s main plant, will increase capacity for aftermarket renewal parts while allowing greater efficiency in its manufacturing operations. “With our increased inventory, we can be that much more responsive to our customers’ immediate needs, keeping in mind in their operations downtime is not an option,” he says.

The new warehouse also will house the receiving and inspection services for Winkle’s Unit Exchange components.

According to the company, its enhanced parts inventories will support Winkle’s role as exclusive distributor for industry-preferred brands in magnet power and control technologies, including Cutler-Hammer electrical components and systems, GTS generators, Hubbell controllers and Post Glover resistors, along with Winkle’s own full range of new and refurbished lifting magnets.

AMCS acquires DesertMicro

AMCS, the Limerick, Ireland-headquartered integrated software and vehicle technology provider for the waste, recycling and resource industries, has announced the acquisition of DesertMicro, a Jacksonville, Florida-based software as a service (SaaS) solutions provider for the waste industry. The transaction amount was not disclosed.

In total, the acquisition will add more than 250 customers from across the U.S. and Canada to AMCS’ existing 1,600 global customer list. AMCS says its solution portfolio will be further strengthened by DesertMicro’s suite of cloud software designed specifically for the waste and recycling industry, which includes what it calls a highly developed and fully embedded payment channel.

AMCS CEO Jimmy Martin says companies in the waste and recycling industry “are repositioning themselves in the growing, more circular economy. These organizations also have an increasing appetite to digitalize their business and automate business processes.”

He continues, “With the addition of DesertMicro to AMCS, we have the opportunity to further strengthen our global footprint, expand our product portfolio and continue to invest in our state-of-the-art AMCS platform.”

Regarding the direction of the company in North America, Michael Winton, president of the region, says, “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome DesertMicro’s customers and employees to AMCS and assure them that they will experience a seamless transition and a high level of support from our global organization. Going forward, I am confident they will benefit from an increased level of support and access to even broader and more powerful technology offerings, designed to improve their operational efficiency and support their plans for future growth.”

In January, AMCS acquired Brady Recycling solutions from Brady PLC and in recent years has completed eight other acquisitions.

Liebherr breaks ground on US headquarters

Representatives from Switzerland-based equipment maker Liebherr and Newport News, Virginia, city officials gathered in July for a groundbreaking ceremony in the Copeland Industrial Park to celebrate the construction of the new Liebherr USA headquarters. The company has been manufacturing and operating in Newport News for more than 48 years and broke ground at the site adjacent to its current facility.

The $45 million expansion will serve as the new headquarters for Liebherr USA and will include the construction of three new buildings: a four-story administrative building, a warehouse and parts distribution center and a modernized production and workshop facility intended to support the company’s cranes, construction and concrete divisions. Once completed, the new buildings will add more than 251,000 square feet to the existing 560,000-square-foot Liebherr campus.

“The U.S. is a strategic market for Liebherr, and with this investment we send a clear message of commitment to our customers, employees and the local community here in Newport News,” Torben Reher, managing director of Liebherr USA, says.

“We are grateful for Liebherr’s corporate citizenship, the investments and the jobs the company has provided for our citizens and others around the region,” McKinley Price, mayor of Newport News, says. “This expansion will set the stage for even greater success as the company continues to grow, and we are proud to partner with and support Liebherr now and always.”

Construction is expected to be completed in 2020.

The facility will house Liebherr USA employees working in administration, finance, marketing, human resources, sales and service, product support, production and distribution across eight product divisions.

Wendt to represent Moros line in US

Buffalo, New York-based Wendt Corp. has entered into a partnership to sell and service recycling equipment made by Zaragoza, Spain-based Moros Industrias Hidraulicas SA in North America.

Wendt Corp., which describes itself as a manufacturer and systems integrator of automobile shredding and nonferrous separation equipment, refers to the Moros product line as consisting of “high-quality and robust machinery for the ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal recycling industry.”

The Moros line consists primarily of metal shears and balers, and Wendt Corp. will now sell and service the product line in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“The value proposition to our existing and potential customers is to offer high-quality pieces of equipment for baling and shearing applications,” says Wendt International Sales Manager Manuel San Sebastian. “Wendt’s strengths in sales engineering and integration, as well as support for parts and service domestically, will offer our customers additional value.”

The partnership came to fruition after Wendt Corp. President Tom Wendt Jr., Sales Director Scott Edwards and Parts & Service Manager Nick Edbauer visited Moros’ manufacturing facility.

“In touring the Moros facility, I was able to witness firsthand [its] robust machinery designs and well-integrated controls,” Edbauer says. “I fully expect this equipment to be extremely reliable, and Moros has a strong track record to support that. ”

Miguel Clavel, president of Moros, adds, “Wendt has the staff, knowledge and the structure to explain all the technical advantages of Moros machines and to provide superb after-sales support.”

Wendt will offer Moros’ full product line, with its sales efforts focusing on its three-ram balers and stationary shears.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. opens US corporate headquarters

Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. (HCMA) celebrated the grand opening of its new United States corporate headquarters in Newnan, Georgia, with employees, local officials, business partners and members of the media in June. The new facility represents a $4 million investment in HCMA.

The initial phase consists of the new headquarters facility measuring 12,300 square feet, a new training facility at 3,600 square feet, training facility offices and administration at 5,100 square feet and a future storage building at 21,400 square feet.

This investment represents the foundation to support the anticipated market expansion of Hitachi wheel loaders in the North American market and represents the confidence HCM says it has in the HCMA organization and its distribution network, the organziations say. HCMA says it anticipates tripling its market share in the next five years.

Masaaki Hirose, HCMA president, made closing remarks reiterating HCMA’s appreciation of the support from HCM and the bright future ahead of Hitachi Wheel Loaders in North America.

“The introduction of the Hitachi branded loaders and the new HCMA headquarters exhibits the Hitachi commitment to the foundation of our business, our customers, our dealers and our employees,” said David Agan, HCMA vice president of corporate, at the event.

With manufacturing plants in Banshu and Ryugasaki, Japan, and in Newnan, Georgia, HCMA offers parts availability, a factory component exchange program, customer and dealer training and services and programs supporting Hitachi wheel loaders.