Business Briefs

• Bosch Rexroth Canada now offers Bosch Production Tools designed for industrial use. They include cordless screwdrivers and wrenches for precise assembly, air tools for production, service air tools used in trades and workshops, and high-frequency grinders. In addition to Rexroth’s DC electric tightening systems, Bosch Rexroth Canada also offers a full range of assembly systems. For more information, visit www.boschproductiontools.com.

• FLO Components Ltd., Mississauga, ON, a firm specializing in automatic greasing systems, is one of 16 Ontario employers being recognized for dedication to training the next generation of skilled workers and supporting the province’s economic future. The annual Minister’s Awards for Apprenticeship Training celebrate employers that show leadership in training apprentices, support the apprenticeship training system, and promote careers in skilled trades. From 16 final nominees, four will be announced as winners in late June 2011.

Commenting on the award nomination, Chris Deckert, president of FLO Components, said, “It was an honour to be nominated, especially to be named with such other great organizations in industry as Mining Technologies International Inc. of North Bay and Toromont CAT of Thunder Bay.

“The apprenticeship training system is something we believe in very strongly. We are committed to ‘meeting customers’ needs better’, and the only way to do that is with qualified, well-trained people. We see this as a necessary investment in the growth of our employees in order to continue providing superior service to our customers.”

• Due to demand, Boston-based Emerson Bearing has converted its online product catalogue into a 210-page print catalogue. Feedback from clients has indicated that a comprehensive print catalogue better suits a number of the company’s bearing clients, who may not have easy access to a computer or who simply prefer the print catalogue to the online catalogue.

• Chain Guard Industrial Lubricants, Markham, ON, has appointed Comlube Technology Inc., Whitby, ON, as a distributor of its lubricating products. Comlube will distribute and provide technical and troubleshooting support for all products offered by Chain Guard. Incorporated in 1986, Comlube is a supplier of high-technology lubricants. For more information, visit: www.comlubetechnology.com.

• WEG, which is based in Brazil, and the Spanish company M. Torres Olvega Industrial (MTOI), have established a joint venture for the manufacturing of wind turbines. A technology transfer agreement between WEG and MTOI resulted in the establishment of the joint venture, with equal shareholding participation, and includes manufacturing, assembling, installation and commercialization of wind turbines, as well as a package of operation and maintenance services to be provided in Brazil.

The technology developed by MTOI allows the power generator to be coupled directly to the turbine shaft, without requiring the application of a gearbox. As a result, there will be a significant reduction of components, as well as operational and maintenance costs.

“We are stepping into this segment with a technology that is modern and comparable to what is best in the market,” says Newton Idemori, WEG’s business development director. “Our partner has already supplied wind turbines to Europe for over 10 years.”

The wind turbines are being initially manufactured at WEG Energy manufacturing facilities in Jaraguá do Sul, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, with the first order scheduled to be delivered in the second half of 2011. About 250 employees are working directly in the manufacturing of this new WEG product.

“In addition to allowing a more direct participation in the wind-power generation business, this co-operation agreement will give us the possibility of meeting the growing domestic market demand,” says WEG CEO Harry Schmelzer, Jr. “Furthermore, several of our current products, such as generators, transformers, drives, electric motors and coatings, will make up part of the package to be supplied to this market segment.”

• Lincoln Industrial Corp., St. Louis, MO, has presented its Distinguished Distributor Award for 2010 to FLO Components Ltd., Mississauga, ON. This award is presented annually for outstanding sales performance to one or two distributors in North America. This is FLO’s fifth time receiving this particular recognition, the previous years being 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2007.

• Brian Dixon, a student in the Joint Apprentice Refrigeration Training School (JARTS) at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), has received recognition for outstanding achievement in the HVAC (heating ventilation air conditioning) field of study, and was awarded a Fluke 116, a multimeter specifically designed for the HVAC technician, by Fluke Electronics Canada, Mississauga, ON.

• Viking Pump of Canada Inc., Windsor, ON, celebrates its 86th year in business this year. The company supplies application-specific products of rotary positive displacement and kinetic technologies, including gear pumps, centrifugal pumps, vane pumps, lobe and circumferential piston pumps, diaphragm pumps, metering pumps, flow meters, systems and controls. It also offers base-mounted packages complete with motor, reducer, fabricated steel baseplates, OSHA guards, VFDs, control panels and more.

Viking recently completed a large gear pump project for a major oil company in Canada that required heavy-duty gear pump packages for a variety of demanding applications. The pumps are rated up to 1,100 US gpm, up to 150 psi discharge pressure, have special cartridge seals, and API flush plans, all mounted on custom-fabricated baseplates with motors and gear reducers. For more information, visit www.vikingpumpcanada.com.

• The Timken Company of Canton, OH, and Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd. (Goldwind) of China have signed a memorandum of long-term strategic collaboration in the United States to co-operate on a range of technical services, products and aftermarket support for the development, supply and maintenance of advanced wind turbine components and systems.

This memorandum’s three-year term extends and broadens the existing relationship between the two companies, with the opportunity to multiply significantly their current collaboration. To support these efforts, Timken will develop additional capacity in China and at its other facilities focused on wind energy technology to support Goldwind’s expansion globally.

The companies have had a strong relationship since 2008, when they began collaboration on wind turbines of 1.5 megawatts. Last year, they signed an agreement valued at US$26 million to support the development of additional, multi-megawatt projects.

Timken has continuously expanded its capabilities over the past decade to serve the wind energy sector, which is the company’s fastest-growing business. The company’s product offering includes a breadth of bearings and gearbox systems for multi-megawatt wind turbines with a full complement of seals, lubrication systems, online intelligent monitoring technologies and support services for the life of the equipment. Timken’s wind-energy supply chain includes wind-bearing production in China, India, Romania and the United States. The company this summer break
s ground on a new Wind Energy Research and Development Center in Ohio, the first full-scale wind-energy bearing and seal system testing facility in the Americas.

• BDI Canada Inc., Mississauga, ON, a national industrial distributor that already operates 32 branches across Canada, has opened three new branches in Alberta to service the oil and gas industries in Alberta and Saskatchewan, says regional manager Cam Lawrence. The new branches are located in Red Deer, Lloydminster and Rocky Mountain House. MRO

Extending belt drive life

Problem: What should I do to get longer life from my V-belt drives?

Solution: Two preventive maintenance tools can be used to accurately align and tension belt drive systems: a laser alignment device and a tension tester or sonic tension meter.

When properly designed, aligned and tensioned, a new V-belt drive can operate at 98% efficiency. Misalignment of the pulleys and improper belt tension, however, can cause significant energy efficiency reduction and shorten the life of the drive.

Mr. O thanks the engineers at Gates Corporation for this tip.