Briefs (April 01, 2003)

Rick Thomas, president of NTN Bearing Corporation of Canada and executive vice-president of U.S. Aftermarket Sales, was appointed president and chief operating officer of NTN Bearing Corporation of America, effective April 1, 2003. He replaces Hirotsugu Mori, who returns to Japan for another assignment with NTN. Thomas will remain as a director of NTN Canada. Fred Hagino will replace Thomas as president for Canada. Hagino was most recently executive vice-president of finance and operations.

A retirement celebration was held Jan. 24, 2003, for Jim McKenna, vice-president corporate development for BDI Canada Inc., Mississauga, Ont., who retired Jan. 3 after 39 years with the company (formerly known as Kenscott Ltd.). More than 120 guests attended to give Jim and his wife Maureen best wishes for a long, happy and healthy retirement, said BDI president Cam Lawrence.

Maska has announced that it is the only company that offers the Vecobloc SCL keyless bushing in North and South America. The steel bushing transmits torque by friction as its full split design allows for pressure equivalent to a press fit. Maska can be contacted for details at 800-463-8928.

Gary Hill has been appointed vice-president, sales and marketing, at BC Bearing Engineers Limited, Vancouver. He has more than 30 years of experience in the bearing and power transmission industry and most recently was vice-president, sales. Wendy Penny Omns has been named vice-president, external affairs and corporate relations. “Liaising with the various divisions of the company and the various international offices of the company’s key suppliers will ensure consistent global communication throughout the supply channel,” said Robert S. MacPherson, president and chief executive officer. “The strength of the company is, and will continue to be, in its people — including the management team,” he added.

Jim Clark, until recently the general manager for Canadian operations for Motion Industries Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., has been named president and general manager of Mi Industrial and Hub Supply. Mark Sheehan is now president and CEO, Motion Canada of Mississauga, Ont., which includes the company’s Montreal, Waterloo and Lethbridge divisions, says Motion Industries’ president and CEO, Bill Stevens. Sheehan will continue to serve as group vice-president of Motion Industries, where he is responsible for the East group.

Dan Slabbert, chairman and chief executive officer of Bearing Power International Ltd. of Cape Town, South Africa, has appointed Rick Balmer to the position of chairman of the following group companies: Antifriction Components Limited – United Kingdom; Bearing Power (Ireland) Limited – Ireland; Bearing Power (Asia) Ltd – Hong Kong; Bearing Power (Singapore) Pte Ltd – Singapore; FPT Far East Pte Limited – Singapore; and Bearing Power South Africa Pty Limited – South Africa. In addition, he has also been appointed as managing director of Bearing Power International Limited – Mauritius. He will be located in Vancouver, B.C., as of June 1, 2003. “The company has ambitious plans for the future,” Slabbert told Machinery & Equipment MRO. “We will continue our expansion in Asia, along with other international opportunities the company has been developing over the past number of years.”

Fluke Electronics Canada of Mississauga, Ont., has appointed Mark Price as managing director, filling the void left by Dario DePaolis, who is now worldwide sales manager for Fluke Corporation – Precision Measurement. As well, Jean-Franois (J.F.) Rainville has been appointed to the position of national sales manager for Fluke Electronics Canada, Industrial Test Solutions.

Tom Johnstone, 47, will become president and chief executive officer of SKF AB of Gotenberg, Sweden, in April. He replaces the retiring Sune Carlsson, 62, who has held the posts for the past five years. Johnstone, a Scot, was executive vice-president of SKF and president of its automotive division. Christer Gyborg, president of SKF’s industrial division, replaces Johnstone as executive vice-president.

The Falk Corp. of Milwaukee, Wisc., has acquired Orange Peel Rotating Shaft Guards of Cedarburg, Wisc. Falk is a supplier of industrial power transmission components and drive systems. Orange Peel produces guards for rotating equipment. Falk now offers a standard Orange Peel guard to complement its coupling lines. The guards also will be used on Falk’s drive systems.

According to Brad Baber, marketing manager, industrial products for Goodyear Canada’s Engineered Products Division, Goodyear’s Eagle Pd synchronous drive system has become quite popular in forestry, packaging and manufacturing industries since its introduction in 1997. “We have seen continuous growth and demand for both Eagle Pd belts and sprockets since the launch. Customer orders and testimonials are indications we continue to be on the right track providing ultra-quiet belt drive systems, especially for the forestry and manufacturing sectors.” The drive system meets OSHA regulations for noise. “This means companies can reduce costs to meet noise regulations in their respective workplace environments,” said Baber.

Hyatt Industries of Vancouver is marking its 25th anniversary in 2003. The company, which started in 1978 as a regional supplier, has since evolved into a national sales organization. Hyatt’s area of expertise revolves around the rotating equipment industries for equipment supply, service and training. It distributes products such as laser alignment, condition monitoring and infrared imaging instruments. Hyatt also manufactures pre-cut stainless steel shims for the North American market.

Ringball Corp. of Toronto has introduced a new line of imported bearings and pillow blocks to the Canadian market. The RBL line offers premium quality bearings and power transmission products for a wide range of industrial applications at competitive prices. The new RBL line is available from inventory in Ringball’s five warehouses. For additional information, visit www.ringball.com.

AC Technology has opened a combined service centre, evaluation and repair facility in Toronto. The company manufactures variable frequency AC motor drives up to 250 hp in size. “We are committed to providing our customers outstanding value,” says David Reece, vice-president of worldwide marketing. The new service centre will allow Canadian customers to speed up any evaluation and repair needed on their drives. “By avoiding customs clearing, paperwork and other potential delays and costs associated with shipping drives across the border, we’ll help Canadian companies increase their uptime,” says Reece. AC Technology is based in Uxbridge, Mass., and is a member of the Lenze Group. The Canadian office can be reached at 416-766-3880.

ABB of Zurich, Switzerland, has signed a four-year, US$82-million service contract with ENI Group’s Enichem and Nuova Polimeri Europa to assume all maintenance activities at their petrochemical plants in Ferrara, Italy. It is the first large, full-service maintenance contract of its kind awarded in the Italian petrochemical industry, and covers all maintenance activities in the petrochemical complex, which includes a rubber plant, a polyethylene plant and two power plants.

Falconbridge Limited, a Toronto-based mining corporation which owns the Kidd Creek Mine about 27 km north of Timmins, Ont., was fined $225,000 late last year for a violation of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in the death of an employee.

On Sept. 2, 2000, a worker was using a torch to cut a bolt from a coupling on an air pipe when the line blew apart. The worker was part of a four-person crew removing and re-installing a section of pipes which had fallen to the ground below the surface. An Ontario Ministry of Labour investigation found a valve below the scene was one-quarter open. This had resulted in the air pipeline remaining pressurized despite the closing of val
ves above the scene.MRO

More news items, as well as additional details on several of the items here, can be found on our website, www.mro-esource.com.