MACHINE WORKS
ESAB Acer DX Precisions Cutting Machine
ESAB Cutting Systems introduces its new Acer DX High Speed Precision Cutting Machine. The Acer DX is designed to provide high-speed, high-precision plasma cutting for any size fabrication shop and features a compact footprint and easy installation. The machine also features ESAB’s m3 precision plasma system that allows the machine to cut and mark with the same plasma torch. Available on Acer DX in 200 or 360 amps, the m3 Plasma System combines multiple plasma cutting and marking features in a single easy-to-use system, producing high-quality precision cutting and marking on materials up to 1.25 inches thick. Precision cutting and accuracy are ensured on the Acer DX with the use of a three-axis precision gantry with rack-and-pinion drives; precision linear ways in both the x- and y-axis; a compact, unitized rugged design with welded and precision-machined frame; digital AC drives and AC brushless motors. The gantry features steel construction with machined mating surfaces for stiffness and accuracy; dual side drives; and precision heavy-duty gearboxes for smooth motion and long life. The machine reaches speeds up to 1400 ipm (35560 mm/min). The Acer DX is available with either a 5’x10’ or 6’x12’ working area. The machine includes an integrated downdraft table with multiple zones and side clean-out doors for ease of cleaning. The machine is equipped with the Vision 51 CNC, a versatile control for flat plate cutting machines
Climax Offers Machining Solutions for Shipbuilders
Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc. announced expanded services for the worldwide shipbuilding market. Under this new business initiative, the company will provide comprehensive services that include engineering consulting services and specialized training in machining techniques, in addition to its line of portable machine tools. The move was made to support the needs of the shipbuilding market for industry modernization, improved productivity, and diversely skilled machinists.
Litton Marine Creates Machine Automation Unit
Litton Marine Systems has established a new strategic business unit for machine automation, as announced per Dr. Clark Graham, the company's president. In addition, Patrick T. Enright, Jr. was named director and Stewart Allington was elected director of the new strategic business unit. Prior to joining Litton, Enright was head of the automation department at Newport News Shipbuilding, while Allington, who joined Decca in 1994
Bently Nevada Looks to Perfect Bearing Technology
Bently Nevada Corporation, already known to the marine market as a leading supplier of monitoring and diagnostic products and services for the rotating and reciprocating machinery, is taking the next step in their evolution as a machinery information and knowledge company. The company's protection systems are no strangers to gas and steam turbine main propulsion units, turbine and diesel generators, as well as other critical service equipment such as cargo pumps and fans
Lankhorst Ropes Invests Euro 2M in Fibre Rope Test Machine
Leading deepwater rope manufacturer, Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division has invested Euro 2M in a synthetic fibre rope test machine that, for the first time, will enable naval architects to run 'what if' scenarios to simulate the effects of storms and hurricanes on deepwater mooring lines. Located at Lankhorst Ropes’ fibre rope production facility in Portugal, the rope test machine will be used to test the mechanical performance and fatigue behaviour for a range of new materials
MHI Licenses Deck Crane Technology
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) signs to allow the Korean company, SPP Machine Tech, to produce & market its cranes. The deck cranes to be licensed are two models, currently on the market, having a 36-ton hoisting capacity and a working radius of up to 26 and 28 meters, respectively. MHI will supply components for the cranes, including hydraulic machinery, to SPP Machine Tech. With this initiative, MHI aims at accelerating market penetration of MHI technology-based marine deck
Making Mounting Easier
Vibracon SM elements, the universal adjustable chocks, are reportedly gaining in popularity for the mounting and chocking of machinery such as diesel engines, turbines, gearboxes, compressors, generators, E-motors and bearings. Patented by Machine Support BV of the Netherlands, the product is designed to permit quick and accurate alignment, in many cases eliminating the machining of foundations or base frames. The element is approved by Germanischer Lloyd, as well as by Navsea
Kvaerner Masa-Yards Licenses Shipbuilding Atomation
Kvaerner Masa-Yards (KMY) has signed a cooperation and licensing agreement for its newly developed and implemented automatic vision guided robot welding system with Pemamek Oy Ltd, a recognized Finnish welding automation supplier operating in international markets with main cooperation partner Esab. The new successful applications of machine vision guided robotics have opened a new era in the shipbuilding process. In the fabrication or
MSC Napoli Situation updated
(The Devon County Council issued a Situation Update regarding the ongoing salvage operations on the wreck of the MSC NAPOLI - HK Law) The cutting machine, which has been secured to the deck since it listed to approximately 40 degrees in storms last month, has been successfully removed and is now on board the SMITBARGE 2. The machine will be tested to make sure it is working properly and is hoped will continue to cut through the remaining structure above the water line.
CNC Tube Bending Machines from Schwarze-Robitec
Speed, volume and size of container ships are constantly increasing to facilitate international transport of growing quantities of goods. At the same time, shipyards are facing increasingly intense global competition. In Europe, the USA, Asia and even Australia, there is competition for customers from civilian and military shipping. In view of these developments, the focus is on the production processes in the shipyards: the motto is “greater speed, greater flexibility
New Dynamic Positioning System from GE
GE’s Power Conversion business debuted its latest Dynamic Positioning (DP) system at OTC. It is more energy efficient, better integrated and—most importantly—more mariner friendly, GE said. Since they were introduced some 50 years ago
Damen Brest Service 50 Vessels in First Year
Since acquiring Sobrena, Damen Shiprepair Brest has serviced 50 vessels from leading shipowners and managers. The yard’s work portfolio includes a large number of Afra/Suezmax tankers and LNG carriers. The latest project concerns the Höegh LNG owned and MOL LNG Transport
Get on Board with Shipyard Electrical Safety
After teaching electrical safety for many years, one tends to understand the regulations, and the standards more than the average safety professional. We live them most every day. We also understand what regulations and standards apply to shipyard employment and what regulations and
Omega Launches New Thermocouple Connectors
Omega introduced compensated M12 thermocouple connectors, to be featured at Sensors Expo and Conference. The M12-FM series is a new Omega connector that will ensure accuracy for your applications. The M12-FM Series feature male pins and female sockets made of thermocouple material
GE Trials High-Temp Superconducting Technology for Power Generation
GE’s Power Conversion business has taken a step in testing a viable way of producing large amounts of electricity from renewable resources using superconductors running at relatively high temperatures. The company completed trials of Hydrogenie
Eastern Shipbuilding to Build Large Fishing Trawler
Eastern Shipbuilding Group contracted by O’Hara Corporation to construct a 194-ft freezer stern-trawler. The new vessel is a ST-115 design by Skipsteknisk, AS of Aalesund, Norway, and will be built to DNV classification rules: +1A1, Stern Trawler, E0 Notation for hull
Seafarers' Voluntary Welfare Service Active in Port of Cleveland
The Port of Cleveland is a particularly welcoming destination for foreign crews, enhanced by the Cleveland Seaman's Service. In his CEO's port stakeholders' letter, Will Friedman draws attention to the organization, now almost half-a-century old
Latest Underwater GAPS Launched by iXBlue
iXBlue has launched the next generation of its underwater global acoustic positioning system (GAPS), designated GAPS-NG. The manufacturers say that GAPS-NG, like its predecessor GAPS, is a truly portable and precalibrated ultra-short baseline positioning system (USBL) that incorporates INS
Liebherr Group Achieves Highest Turnover in its History
Turnover up by more than 9% to €9.1 billion, workforce increased to 37,800 – investments totaling approximately € 840 million World economic development was weaker in 2012 than in the previous year. Although growth was still 3
Marcon International Brokers 3,000-hp Tugboat Sale
After 6 months of charter Marigny Tug LLC of St. Augustine, Florida has closed on the purchase of the U.S. flag tugboat “Leslie Foss”. Prior to the sale, the twin-screw, sheer bow, ocean tug “Leslie Foss” (ex-Caribe Pioneer) had been on charter from Foss Maritime of Seattle
ECDIS Ltd Launch Tokyo Keiki Familiarization Course
U.K.-based ECDIS training and consultancy company ECDIS Ltd. announced the launch of a new course, Tokyo Keiki ECDIS familiarization. This marks the completion of the first stage of course development. As a training partner ECDIS Ltd will progress to delivery of MCA and DNV approved
GE Unveils Marine Application Solutions at OTC
Improved performance, efficiency and sustainability all figure strongly in the new solutions that GE’s Power Conversion business is unveiling at OTC 2013, the Offshore Technology Conference taking place in Houston, Texas, on May 6-9.
NorSea Group Invests in Scotland Supply Base
NorSea Group, a supplier of base services and integrated logistics systems to the Norwegian oil and gas industry, and the Scrabster Harbour Trust in Caithness signed an agreement which will result in major investment and new job prospects for the local economy.
GE Partners with the Shanghai Maritime University
GE signed an agreement with Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) to help improve the capabilities of the shipping engineering community in China by providing laboratory facilities and cooperating on research and innovation projects. SMU is a multidisciplinary university that encompasses such
Hyundai Heavy Develops Mini Welding Robot for Shipbuilding
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced the Company has developed mini welding robots for building ships. The compact design of the welding machine, measuring 50 cm by 30 cm by 15 cm when retracted its welding arm, can operate in confined areas inaccessible to human welders