SHORT SUPPLY

May 1, 2002
Pressure Island and FMT Form Alliance Pressure Island, a leading manufacturer of high-pressure, aqueous-based, closed-loop equipment and parts cleaning

Pressure Island and FMT Form Alliance

Pressure Island, a leading manufacturer of high-pressure, aqueous-based, closed-loop equipment and parts cleaning systems, announced a joint manufacturing and marketing alliance with FMT Inc., Findlay, Ohio, a manufacturer of industrial equipment and builder automated custom and standard parts cleaning systems designed to replace vapor-degreasing equipment.

The two companies will work on the development, manufacturing, marketing and selling of their industrial cleaning system technologies while retaining their independence.

John Deere Enters Small Diesel Business

John Deere Power Systems officially entered the small diesel engine business with the launch of a line of engines from 35 to 99 hp. The new PowerTech 2.4L and 3.0L diesels are due for commercial release in April 2003, said Jim White, Deere senior vice president responsible for Deere's engine business. Built at Deere's plant in Torreon, Mexico, the new engines are a clean ProE screen design. There is no joint venture development partner or any corporate alliances.

Hitachi, Komatsu In Construction Machinery Agreement

Hitachi Construction Machinery and Komatsu Ltd. agreed to team up in production and procurement of components for construction machinery, in a bid to heighten cost competitiveness. The companies said they will discuss mutual supply of construction machinery components to allow for reduction in costs related to production.

They will also team up to enable the joint purchase of components. The mutual supply accord also applies to the overseas units of both companies.

Safway Buys Alberta Scaffold Company

Safway Steel Products acquired the scaffold assets of Scaffold Connection Corp., Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada. Safway negotiated the transaction with the court-appointed receiver, KPMG.

Safway will operate in Canada under the name Safway Scaffold Services, with offices in Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick, focusing its initial efforts on providing services to refineries and other industrial sites.

CNH to Supply $11 Million in Equipment to Russia

CNH Global, Lake Forest, Ill., will supply the Samara region of Russia with a fleet of agricultural equipment totaling more than $11 million dollars. The sale follows the trade mission to Moscow last October led by U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans.

Under terms of the agreement, CNH Global will provide 149 pieces of agricultural equipment manufactured in Illinois, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The company will also work with its Russian distributors to organize and equip a service center and network.

Zefer Scissor Lifts Return

East Coast Manufacturing & Design, Waynesboro, Pa., now offers parts, service and refurbished Zefer scissor lifts to the industry. The company acquired partial assets of Zefer Operations in June 2001. Officials at East Coast Manufacturing said new Zefer models might be available in the future.

“We bought the existing stock of Zefer Machinery and Equipment, and we are now in the process of purchasing the patents for the lift assemblies,” said Reggie Baker, vice president of East Coast.

Ritchie Bros. Holds Its Largest Denver Auction

Ritchie Bros. held its largest-ever Denver auction April 4 and 5, with more than $20 million in gross auction sales.

Also, about 180 people registered to participate live and in real time over the Internet, spending more than $750,000. Internet participants were buyers or runner-up bidders on 8 percent of the lots broadcast over the Internet.

UpRight Moves Headquarters

UpRight Inc. moved its headquarters to 801 S. Pine Street, Madera, CA 93637. The phone number is (559) 662-3900 and the fax number is (559) 673-6184.

Hyster Mideast Returns to Aerial Business Cincinnati-based Hyster Mideast, one of the country's largest lift truck dealers, has returned to the boom and scissors business, renewing a long relationship with Genie Industries. Eight location Hyster Mideast was formed via a merger of Bode-Finn and Quimby Material Handling. The company has been specializing in the material-handling business, contractually unable to sell, rent or support aerial work platforms because of a three-year non-compete agreement with NationsRent.

Hyster Mideast has branches in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Youngstown and North Canton, Ohio; Lexington, Ky.; Florence, Ind.; and Erie, Pa.