Hirschmann, Manitowoc celebrate

Numerous people attended the Nov. 5 ceremony celebrating the grand opening of Hirschmann’s new building in Chambersburg, PA. The new building’s construction began in April of 2006 and was finished in October of this year. The 35,000-square-foot building features 20,000 square feet of office space with the remaining space for warehousing. In the left photo, Mark Hendel, the president of Hirschmann’s United States operations, cuts the ribbon to officially mark the opening of the facility. Many local and state officials attended the celebration, including many from Hirschmann’s operations located around the globe. Guests were later taken on a tour of the new state-of-the-art facility (photo below, top right). Seventy-six people work at the location.

Local, state and Manitowoc officials (bottom right photo) dig in during the ceremonial groundbreaking held Oct. 15 at the company’s Manitowoc location. The addition is part of a $25 million renovation and modernization investment that Manitowoc is making in its Wisconsin-based manufacturing facilities. The company also is also renovating/expanding its Port Washington, WI, campus. The Manitowoc expansion includes three new buildings and capital equipment expenditures. One of the three new buildings will be 20,000 square feet and be used to assemble MCG’s larger crawler cranes. There will also be a 33,000-square-foot final assembly and paint addition where the company will add a paint booth and oven, a reassembly area and two additional loading bays. Manitowoc’s CEO, Glen Tellock explained to the assembled group that the addition is necessary to handle the growing demand around the globe for the company’s array of cranes.

AlturnaMats acquires Mobile Matts

AlturnaMats, Inc. announced Dec. 14 that it acquired of one of its major competitors, Mobile Matts, Green Bay, WI. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to Michael Gierlach, president of AlturnaMats, the integration of AlturnaMats with Mobile Matts comprises the largest ground protection mat manufacturing group in the nation and enables dealers worldwide to offer customers a broad selection of mats.

These ground protection mats are used to eliminate damage to lawns and soft terrain due to vehicle traffic in such markets as landscape, construction, tree care, cemetery, well drilling and others. The mats are used to keep heavy vehicles from getting bogged down in mud.

Under terms of the new arrangement, Phil Schounard will continue to head up Mobile Matts and operate from the Green Bay facility; however, as of Jan. 1, 2008, Mobile Matts will now be available through AlturnaMatsí extensive dealer network. Both firms also market one-piece plastic outrigger pads in a large variety of sizes.

Latest conference is right on the money

Yours was one of the best I’ve been to as it had many presentations dealing with what the industry is going through now.
            Tom Cavanaugh
            Vice president, sales
            Kropp Equipment Inc.
            Waukesha, WI

Wal-Mart to use fuel cell-powered forklifts

Plug Power Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary Cellex Power Products, Inc., announced a purchase order for GenDrive fuel cell power units from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for use in forklifts at one of the company’s distribution centers. This is Plug Power’s largest single GenDrive order to date, although the specific terms are confidential.

The order follows a successful beta trial at two Wal-Mart distribution centers in Ohio in late 2006. During the trial, the 12 fuel-cell-powered pallet trucks ran in live, working conditions for more than four months, logging more than 18,000 hours and 2,100 indoor fuelings by pallet truck operators. The Cellex Power fuel cells demonstrated environmental and operator benefits. The new units will power pallet trucks used at Wal-Mart’s food distribution center in Washington Court House, OH, replacing the lead-acid batteries that are traditionally used in such applications.

“This is a significant event for Plug Power and a solid step forward with the widely respected leader in distribution and logistics,” said Tom Hoying, Plug Power’s vice president of sales and customer operations, Motive Power Division. “We believe Wal-Mart’s state-of-the-art distribution centers make an excellent proving ground for the commercial application of GenDrive.”

This fuel cell order aligns with Wal-Mart’s strategy to integrate innovative technologies into its business plan that reduces operating cost and helps the environment. The purchase of these fuel cell power units is equivalent to removing approximately 60 cars from the highway in southeastern Ohio in terms of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions.
“We’ve seen how fuel cells can improve efficiency in our distribution centers while enabling us to be more responsible global citizens,” said Johnnie Dobbs, Wal-Mart’s executive vice president of logistics and supply chain. “Wal-Mart is focused on finding ways to improve our relationship with the environment throughout our operations. Our hope is that our investment in fuel cell technology will encourage its development as a viable option to existing technologies.