DEUTZ Introduces World’s First Hybrid Power Unit for Construction Equipment

DUETZ, a leading independent gas and diesel engine manufacturer, has developed a hybrid power unit for heavy equipment. DUETZ claims the new unit has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30%. The unit is not only designed to reduce fuel costs and consumption, but CO2 emissions as well.

Here are some of the main specs and functions:

• Mild hybrid drive unit
• DEUTZ four-cylinder diesel engine, electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack, control unit
• Electrical system nominal 15kW output, peak capacity at 30kW
• Start and stop: automatic engine stop during idling phases, automatic engine start in the case of continued operation, the usual starter is omitted.
• Power boost: in the case the power peaks, the electric unit is cut in.
• Battery charging: if the diesel engine has excess power, the electric unit can charge the battery while operating as a generator.
• Recuperation: part of the braking energy is refed into the battery by the electric unit

© 2008 Bird & Moore Ltd and DEUTZ AG – UK Branch (see source #2 below)

The new hybrid drive was developed with Heinzmann, a notable manufacturer of engine control systems and long-term DEUTZ partner and supplier. DEUTZ engines are commonly used in excavators, wheel loaders, access platforms, compactors, cranes, crushers, screeners, compressors, lift trucks, tractors, ride-on mowers, chippers, shredders, gensets and other off-highway mobile plant.

For more detailed information see original sources below.

Sources:

1. Green Car Congress: DUETZ Introduces Mild Hybrid Drive for Off-Road Construction Equipment
   
2. TARGETWIRE: DEUTZ Introduce World’s First Hybrid Power Unit for Construction Equipment
   
3. Buildingtalk: First hybrid power unit for construction equipment

Most Recent Crane Accidents in U.S.

On June 9 we came across a summary list of some recent crane accidents on newsday.com. With so many accidents occurring lately, we found it easier to learn more and keep track of the events from this list. From here you can search for more detailed news on the recent accidents.

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Canada’s Small ‘Project Heavy Duty’ Helping Students in Big Ways

In the small city of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada Project Heavy Duty takes place every year during February and March. As hundreds of students find themselves graduated from high school they turn their eyes toward post-secondary education and careers; but some graduates remain unsure of the education and careers they will pursue. Project Heavy Duty helps students answer questions such as, “What am I going to do for the rest of my life….”

Project Heavy Duty is an annual exposure program that helps timid high school students gain confidence through heavy equipment operating. Each year a group of roughly 20 students train for a week with competent heavy equipment operators and contractors. They do things like plowing, excavating, and laying pipeline on an actual industrial site. The project has been running for seven years now and is a volunteer program.

One of the important things that this program does for students is not just learning how to operate heavy equipment, but as Organizer Richard Coupe said, many students confirm their career goals and others realize that their aspirations may be in another field altogether. Either way, Project Heavy Duty has been helping students for the last seven years to make one of the most important decisions of their lives–what to do with the rest of their lives.

Please click below for the original story

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NAHETS Visits Estonia for 2nd Time to Assist Heavy Equipment Training Program

May 2008–NAHETS Director of Operations, Mike Martens, has made his second trip to Estonia to advise and assist the Ministry of Education with its project to improve the heavy equipment operator training program at the Paide Vocational Secondary School (PKK). The Paide school is beginning a phase in which the Estonian government will commit $30 million (USD) towards expansion and modernization of curriculum and facilities.

In addition to this project, Ministry Counselor Erkki Pissang has begun an initiative to establish the Paide school as a heavy equipment operator training center for the Baltic countries. Students would come from not only Estonia but also the countries of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. NAHETS is assisting with this regional training center initiative.

Rein Oslein, Director of the Paide Vocational Secondary School, is also working with various governmental agencies to upgrade Estonia’s operator certification standards based on NAHETS operator certification standards.

Mike’s time in Estonia was divided into meetings with Rein at the Paide school, at which time the framework for the regional training center was developed, and they began to define the heavy equipment operator certification standards.

Rein and Mike also met with the Head of the Estonian Vocational and Adult Education Department, Andres Pung, and with Siim Raie, The Executive Director of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce. Siim is working with Rein to develop contacts within the Estonian construction industry.

Those meetings were held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Tallinn is a city with a history dating back to the 12^th century; Old Town Tallin is the best-preserved example of a medieval Hanseatic League city

The next event is a Baltic Regional Conference, to be hosted by the Estonian Government, at which the education and industry attendees will work towards participation in the Estonian Heavy Equipment Operator Training Center in Paide.

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