< PreviousA rcelorMittal ordered new copper staves from Primetals Technologies for its steel plants in Bremen and Gent. The steelworks in Gent has had problems with wear and bending of the current copper staves. Therefore, ArcelorMittal was searching for a substitute technology. BEND PREVENTION AND GREATLY REDUCED WEAR ArcelorMittal has ordered multiple rows of copper staves for the blast furnace in Gent, Belgium. The Gent copper staves feature Primetals Technologies’ well-proven anti- bending solution. The technology prevents stave corner bending caused by thermal eff ects and stave bending in the area of pipe connections. In turn, it helps to avoid cracking in critical weldments as well as an unnecessary loss of cooling water. The rows of staves in the stack also feature slide-in hexagonal inserts. These inserts capture and retain unreduced materials on the ARCELORMITTAL ORDERS BLAST FURNACE FOR STEEL PLANTS IN BREMEN AND GENT Worn-out copper staves to be replaced at ArcelorMittal’s steel plants in Bremen and Gent hot face of the staves leading to signifi cantly less wear and lower maintenance-related expenditures. SEVERAL RECENT ORDERS Primetals Technologies will also supply ArcelorMittal with multiple rows of copper staves for the steel plant in Bremen, Germany. The current staves are at the end of their lifetime and ArcelorMittal has asked for replacement staves. Over the last few years, ArcelorMittal has placed several stave orders with Primetals Technologies. In July 2022, new cast-iron staves were installed in the blast furnace at the steel producer’s plant in Newcastle, South Africa. These staves feature a tailormade anti- bending solution and a fi xing system that eliminates the risk of bolts being pulled out – a common cause of cooling pipe failures resulting in cooling water leakage into the furnace. In addition, Primetals Technologies will be supplying copper and cast-iron staves to ArcelorMittal Poland for the relining of a blast furnace. A LEADING STEEL PRODUCER The steel plant in Gent is a part of ArcelorMittal Europe’s fl at products division. The plant produces high-quality fl at products to serve various markets including the automotive, household electrical appliances, and construction industries. At the steel plant in Bremen, ArcelorMittal produces more than 3.6 million tonnes of steel per year for several markets, one of them being the automotive industry. Primetals Technologies, headquartered in London, United Kingdom, is a pioneer and world leader in the fi elds of engineering, plant building, and the provision of lifecycle services for the metals industry. It off ers a complete technology, product, and services portfolio that includes integrated electrics and automation, digitalisation, and environmental solutions. PLANT 30 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023I suzu Motors and UD Trucks have announced the joint development of new GIGA and Quon heavy-duty tractor models for the Japanese market. The new tractor models are the fi rst jointly developed products by UD Trucks and Isuzu since UD Trucks joined the Isuzu Group in April 2021, UD Trucks wrote in a statement. They will go on sale in April 2023 through each company’s respective sales network, the statement noted. Through this joint development, Isuzu and UD Trucks have brought together technologies from both companies to realise higher load capacity by downsizing the engine, better drivability and expanding safety features. These eff orts are aimed at addressing challenges faced by the industry, such as relieving driver shortages and improving the working conditions of drivers. “Together, Isuzu and UD Trucks currently operate a commercial vehicle service network of more than 400 dealers in Japan and will continue to support customers’ operations,” UD Trucks said while adding that both the companies will continue to strengthen collaborative initiatives, such as the shared use of domestic and overseas parts warehouses, joint delivery and purchase of spare parts, and the opening of a joint offi ce in Singapore with the aim of strengthening the overseas businesses. Commenting on the development Shinsuke Minami, director of the board, and managing executive offi cer of Isuzu, said, “Today we are very pleased to announce jointly developed tractor models. Since UD Trucks joined Isuzu Group, we have continued to foster a culture of mutual understanding with an emphasis on creating new value. By deepening our collaboration, we will work to address logistics ISUZU, UD TRUCKS TO JOINTLY DEVELOP VEHICLES challenges facing our industry and accelerate the future of transport.” Agreeing with him Takashi Oodaira, managing executive of Isuzu, said, “Isuzu has a broad product portfolio that includes small, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles as well as buses. We also have extensive knowledge of how customers use our vehicles and their needs. We will continue to provide transport solutions to customers by maximising developmental effi ciencies and leveraging the strengths of both companies.” Douglas Nakano, senior vice president of technology and chief technology offi cer of UD Trucks, said, “Becoming a member of Isuzu Group has allowed us to make a comeback in the 6×4 tractor segment after a 13-year absence. We will continue to develop heavy-duty vehicles that meet the needs of customers as member of Isuzu Group”. Isuzu and UD Trucks will continue to deepen their collaboration to accelerate the future of transport together, Nakano said. TRUCK 31 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023He said,“Our strategy is to grow the product portfolio rapidly over the next few years to be able to meet the needs of customers involved in this industry. “Bell Equipment’s underground mining products have recently been sold and branded through a dealer in South Africa, but we feel that it is better to be closer to our customers by managing the entire value chain from design to onsite support. We will be fully geared up to support both new machines as well as any historical units that are in service.” Understanding the complexities and requirements of this specifi c sector, a specialised underground mining division has been established within the group’s own South African dealer network, Bell Equipment Sales South Africa (BESSA), to provide dedicated and focused sales, parts, and aftermarket support for the underground product portfolio in South Africa. He said, “Appointments are underway to make sure we can deliver to our customers’ expectations.” Wheeler explained, “Our underground mining equipment portfolio is all locally designed and manufactured at our factory in Richards Bay. BESSA, through the newly formed division, will take care of support. BESSA is a 51% blacked-owned and 30% women-owned sales and support entity, with a Level 1 B-BBEE rating. Purchases from this entity will hugely benefi t our customers in terms of their own B-BBEE scorecards.” ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A frica-based mining product maker, Bell Equipment has identifi ed underground mining as an opportunity for growth. It has created a dedicated OEM business division to pursue this goal, including expanding the existing product range, providing specialised customer support, and establishing new global markets. Anton Wheeler has been appointed to head up this division. He brings a wealth of expertise from both his long career in the mining industry, where he held executive management positions with several leading platinum mining companies, and in manufacturing, where he was chief executive offi cer of an OEM that specialised in underground equipment. He is also a past Chairman of Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa. “A key part of our strategy is to grow our portfolio of products,” said Wheeler adding,“Currently, we have two underground mining products, our Bell Underground Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) and a Bell Rock Scaler. Both products have been well accepted in our existing African markets for their built-in levels of safety, use of latest technology, and lowest cost per tonne productivity, and we see the opportunity to develop our range further.” According to Wheeler, Bell has identifi ed as an opportunity a 6 tonne low profi le Load Haul Dump (LHD) loader to enhance the group’s off ering. This machine is in the design phase and will be commercialised by 2024. BELL GEARS UP TO DEVELOP ITS UNDERGROUND MINING BUSINESS Anton Wheeler underground division lead Bell Equipment MINING 32 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023Bell Equipment’s latest generation underground ADT was introduced in 2021. Available with 30t or 35t capacity, both models are powered by a high-performance Mercedes Benz engine with an Alison transmission to provide a superior power-to-weight ratio and fuel effi ciency gains. In addition, levels of safety are built-in, making the trucks Level 9 ready with PDS (proximity detection system), remote control, and autonomous systems. The trucks off er many of the same standard safety features and productivity advantages of their acclaimed surface counterparts, including keyless start, Hill Assist, speed control, Bin Tip Prevention, Auto Park Application (APA), and Turbo Spin Protection to protect the engine. Regarding productivity, the Bell B30L and B35L are now fi tted standard with onboard weighing and Bell Equipment’s proprietary fl eet management software, Fleetm@tic®, so that machine owners can access daily production fi gures. The Bell E-series Rock Scaler is a highly manoeuvrable machine that delivers exceptionally low fuel burn, operating, and maintenance costs for the lowest cost solution. It features customer-focused improvements, including a slewing boom for improved control and functionality and a sealed air-conditioned cab with improved operator ergonomics. Bell Equipment’s existing underground mining product range, which includes the Bell Rock Scaler (pictured) is well accepted in the group’s existing African markets for their built-in levels of safety, use of latest technology, and lowest cost per tonne productivity. MINING 33 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023S cania P 25 with Kässbohrer body and trailer introduced to daily transports by German logistics specialist ARS Altmann Automobillogistik. From regional haulage to mining tippers and crane trucks: the range of applications covered by Scania’s fleet of battery-electric trucks just keeps on growing. The latest milestone to be achieved is the world’s first all-electric Scania standard car transporter, which was recently put into service by Bavaria-based logistics giant ARS Altmann Automobillogistik. The 230 kWh-strong Scania P 25 battery- electric vehicle is being used by ARS Altmann in distribution transport. It has been combined with a Kässbohrer body and trailer that enables simple, safe and quick loading and unloading of the cars. “Up to eight cars can be transported with this truck, without being too long or too tall. With a total combination weight of up to 42 tons (the maximum allowed in Germany), the electric Scania can be fully charged in less than 90 minutes at a maximum of 130 WORLD’S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC SCANIA STANDARD CAR TRANSPORTER KICKS OFF kWh (CCS 2),” said Thiemo Freyer, Product Manager for Electric Mobility at Scania. It means that when the cars are transported from production to storage, the truck battery can be charged to 100% during the unloading and loading process at the destination. The next tour then starts again with full battery capacity. A COMPANY WITH SUSTAINABLE AMBITIONS In many ways, ARS Altmann is an ideal customer for a Scania electric truck. Like Scania, it has an extensive and ambitious corporate sustainability strategy: “As part of ARS Altmann’s eco-strategy, our major goal is to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2030,” said Wolfgang Ketterle, chief operating officer of Scania. With 650 special trucks transporting cars of all kinds on a daily basis, the company wants to diversify its transport fleet towards vehicles that run on renewable energy, as well as exploring other associated aspects such as charging solutions and power, which are elements of the three pillars of the company’s strategy: road, rail and bases. Long-distance transports over 300 kilometres are implemented in the ‘ARS ecosystem’ on the company’s own railway ELECTRIC TRUCK 34 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023wagons, while a large photovoltaic project includes the roofing of the company premises with carports, generating enough electricity for the operation of several fleets of electric trucks. A mobile storage concept, which is also fed from these systems, enables the flexible use of e-trucks at different locations, even if the public infrastructure is not sufficiently developed. “Scania has been a good partner for a long time. With this new e-truck experience, we are continuing our previous collaboration. Working together on this pilot project intensifies our relationship,” said Alberto Picco, sales director at ARS Altmann. “We support our customers with purely electric vehicle solutions as well as with the necessary charging infrastructure and services. Scania thus offers a comprehensive range of services to successfully master the switch to electromobility,” added Christian Hottgenroth, director sales trucks Scania Germany Austria. HAPPY DRIVERS The new P 25 has already been driven by some of the logistics company’s regular drivers - with favourable reactions. Manfred Rakoczi, one of the first drivers of the new truck, said, “The first impressions of the truck are tremendous! The handling is very good and compared to the diesel it is lively.” ARS Altmann’s purchase of the Scania P 25 was supported by a grant from a €188,000 ($207,000) joint pilot project that is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport, as part of the directive on the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly drives and the associated tank and charging infrastructure (KsNI). Scania is a world-leading provider of transport solutions, including trucks and buses for heavy transport applications combined with an extensive product-related service offering. Scania offers vehicle financing, insurance, and rental services to enable our customers to focus on their core business. Scania is also a leading provider of industrial and marine engines. ELECTRIC TRUCK 35 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023T albert Manufacturing, a North American leader in specialised heavy-haul solutions, completes a customised version of its 70SA-RC-RA trailer for Atlas Crane Services Inc. of Aurora, Illinois. This innovative trailer leverages Talbert’s custom-engineering expertise to incorporate multiple axle confi gurations based on customer requirements for optimum versatility. The trailer’s unique design features a fl ip TALBERT MANUFACTURING FEATURES CUSTOMISED 70SA-RC-RA TRAILER extension to accommodate a tri-axle jeep dolly, allowing for maximum load confi gurations. Talbert’s revolutionary E3Nitro™ self- tracking axle extension accommodates a 3+3+3 confi guration to enable proper weight distribution and weight transfer. The trailer maintains a 70-tonnes rating at half the deck length and off ers a 6-inch loaded road clearance. Talbert recently featured the custom-built 70SA-RC-RA trailer during CONEXPO-CON/ AGG 2023 in Las Vegas. Commenting on the development, Troy Geisler, vice president of sales and marketing at Talbert, said, “At Talbert, we understand that every customer’s needs are unique, and we take pride in delivering customised solutions that meet those requirements,” He said,“Our partnership with Atlas Crane Services is a prime example of this. We don’t just sell trailers — at Talbert, we get to know PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023 CRANES 36ride. In addition, the E3Nitro™ features a bearing pivot and pivot lockout for backing the trailer. Users can also hydraulically lock in axle loads regardless of the terrain. The E3Nitro™, part of a larger series that includes the E2Nitro™ and E1Nitro™, comes standard with two-speed dual landing gear for optimal stability when disconnected from the trailer. The 70SA-RC-RA comes complete with Talbert’s heavy-duty T-1, 100,000-psi minimum yield steel for extreme durability and longevity and Valspar R-Cure® 800 paint with clearcoat to prevent corrosion. This off ers a long-lasting fi nish and another way for Atlas Crane services to see a return on investment that can withstand the demands of heavy loads when traveling long distances. Talbert has been building world-class heavy-haul and specialised trailers to rigorous customer specifi cations since 1938. The company off ers complete lines of heavy- haul trailers and specialised transportation equipment for the commercial, industrial, military and government sectors. our customers and the industries they serve.” He explained that their team ensures that when we receive an order from a customer, they are getting a trailer that is custom-engineered to fi t their unique operations.” The 70SA-RC-RA features a wide center bolster for axles 1 & 2 and 2 & 3 as well as a rear half bolster with a lightweight design of axle 3 to ensure even weight distribution from the truck to the rear of the trailer. The specialised trailer can run with 3, 4 or 5 axles in a row and off ers a 120-inch swing radius with a gooseneck extension for up to a 222-inch swing radius. The trailer comes complete with lightweight components and fl exible, lightweight fenders over axles 1, 2 and 3, which ensures Atlas Crane’s ability to conform to weight regulations without sacrifi cing the durability required for heavy loads. According to Todd Sauer, director of operations at Atlas Crane Services,“We needed a trailer that could withstand the demands of transporting cranes to construction sites or maintenance equipment to wind energy locations, and Talbert listened by designing a trailer that is versatile and adaptable to meet the needs of our operations.” He said, “Talbert approaches trailers not as a simple commodity, but rather looks at the whole picture and being attentive to the needs of the customer. This approach is what keeps me coming back to do business with Talbert for 25 years and counting — they listen to what I’m asking for and then get to work building a trailer that meets the exact specifi cations I need.” Designed for trailers with capacities of up to 85 tonnes, the innovative E3Nitro™ axle extension uses a combination of hydraulic fl uid and nitrogen to equalize axle pressures. This provides proportionate weight distribution in each axle grouping, adding the versatility haulers like Atlas Crane Services need to run in the 3+3+3 confi guration. The E3Nitro™ axle extension, a modernised version of a rigid bar used for the same purpose, optimises the range of suspension movement, which minimises stress and provides a smooth CRANES 37 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023A sia accounts for more than 90% of all global two-wheeler sales, and it is unusual for a family not to own one in some countries, said research fi rm IDTechEx. The three largest markets ranked by sales are China, India, and Southeast Asia. When compared to cars, light electric two-wheelers are much easier to produce, are subject to signifi cantly fewer regulations, can carry much lower price tags, and are likely to entice a wider range of riders, the report said while adding reasons for growth include personal disposable incomes remaining low on average, making cars unaff ordable; fuel infl ation rates making the direct cost of owning a petrol vehicle high and; dense and crowded urban centers with slow-moving traffi c making two-wheelers the transport of choice for the masses. CHINA: A SATURATED MARKET The electric two-wheeler market in China has been growing for twenty years, driven by the need to travel quickly around cities and the relative unaff ordability of the car (consumer preference). The S curve has already happened: the market peaked at over 30 million sales in 2016 and was expected to decline steadily. ELECTRIC TWO- WHEELERS GAINING POPULARITY IN ASIA:IDTECHEX However, due to the introduction of a new national technical standard in 2019, sales are expected to peak once again (only briefl y during the transition period spanning 2019-2025) before stabilising and exhibiting negative growth rates. The 2019 regulation will drive the uptake of Li- ion batteries from 27% in 2022 to over 90% by 2040, according to IDTechEx forecasts. Many of the electric scooters in China are simple, low-end models (<4 kW motor power) designed to be aff ordable to the masses made by market leaders like Yadea and Aima, who continue to dominate sales. Premium brands like Niu capture lesser market shares. INDIA: A GROWING MARKET India is one of the largest two-wheeler markets in the world. The two-wheeler is the most preferred means of commuting for the Indian population. India has witnessed strong growth in electric two-wheeler sales in recent years. The main factors driving sales growth are supportive government policies, lower total cost of ownership, rising fuel prices, increased localization of electric two-wheeler manufacturing, and adoption of e-commerce platforms. In terms of power split, IDTechEx anticipates that the market will be dominated by <4 kW e-scooters that have reached price parity with ICE equivalent models. IDTechEx expects the models with >4 kW of power to slowly increase in sales as battery prices fall. The introduction of Ola’s S1 and Ather’s 450X models (both in the top 5 unit sales volume in 2022) is establishing the premium high-power electric scooter segment in India, with further new models expected to be launched that will drive the >4 kW market share higher. SOUTHEAST ASIA: ICE DOMINANT WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR ELECTRIFICATION The two-wheeler market is dominated by ICE two-wheelers in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam —collectively the Southeast Asian market leaders. The 2&3W sales in these four market leaders account NEW TRENDS 38 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023for over 90% of total 2&3W sales in Southeast Asian countries. The market share of electric two-wheelers in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines is relatively small, with less than 1.5% of all two-wheelers sold in these countries. Vietnam has the largest share of electric two- wheelers among these countries, and it grew substantially, from 5% in 2019 to 8% in 2020 and 10% in 2021. The Vietnamese electric two-wheeler market is thriving, with the emergence of domestic makers like VinFast, Datbike, Arevo, and Pega, as well as foreign brands, including Yadea, Dibao, and Niu. The use of battery swapping to eliminate charging woes is seeing prominence as well. ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE MARKET TO GROW STEADILY The scooter segment has a higher number of electric models on off er (thanks to various Chinese products sold overseas) and off ers a much lower total cost of ownership compared to ICE counterparts. This explains their popularity and growth. Electric motorcycles, however, remain a premium niche segment that must appeal to a crowd of enthusiastic riders. High- performance electric motorcycles are now coming to market, aiming to off er the thrills without the emissions. Italy is the largest European market, followed by Spain, France, Germany, and UK. These countries account for about 80% of electric motorcycle registrations in the EU+UK block. An upward trend in sales for the last three consecutive years is noticed across most countries, confi rming the attractiveness of electric motorcycles. Motorcycles in the US are predominantly ridden for enjoyment and as part of a lifestyle choice; this, in turn, makes it harder to sell the electric motorcycle because of the nostalgia and lifestyle associated with ‘loud pipes’. Electric motorcycles off er a variety of motor power outputs based on their type – everyday cruisers typically use lower-power motors, whereas performance superbikes use high-power motors. The general takeaway found from IDTechEx benchmarking is that e-motorcycles with a premium price tag (around ~US$15,000) use larger capacity batteries and powerful motors (often based on a higher voltage platform 120- 400 V). In contrast, more entry-level variants off er performance more comparable to some premium e-scooters (often using similar componentry packaged in a motorcycle frame). NEW TRENDS 39 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comMAY 2023Next >