Hendrickson to Restructure Spring Business, Close Plant Hendrickson International will restructure its medium- and heavy-duty spring business and close a plant on the south side of Chicago IL. The Chicago plant makes conventional, multi-leaf and taper-leaf spring products for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, as well as support members for air suspensions.
Most of the production from the Chicago plant will be moved to Hendrickson Rassini Spring (HRS), a joint venture between Hendrickson and SANLUIS Corporacion in Piedras Negras, Mexico. Some production also will be moved to a Hendrickson facility in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.
These product moves will take place over the next few months and will involve the transfer of equipment from Chicago and some renovation work at Stratford and HRS. The company expects to complete the closure of the Chicago facility by September 2001.
The plant has about 220 employees. Employment at the plant will be reduced as production transfers take place.
Hendrickson has operated the plant in Chicago since 1978, when the company purchased the facility. The company will be seeking to find a buyer for the property.
Astro Truck Gets Ford Pool Astro Truck Equipment was named an authorized Ford chassis pool account Jan 29, 2001. The Detroit MI-based truck equipment distributor plans to start the pool with 20 chassis and to increase that total throughout the year.
"The Ford pool was part of our five-year plan, and we accomplished this in three years," say Don Anderson, president.
Best Metal Buys Division Best Metal Products Co, a Grand Rapids MI-based manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders and form clamps, has purchased the hydraulic cylinder division of Monarch Hydraulics. This purchase was completed in December 2000.
PTO Offers Bezares Products Power Transmission Options Inc (PTO) is the exclusive distributor of Bezares power take-off units, hydraulic pumps, clutches, cylinders, valves, and controls for the United States and Canada. The firm recently added Mexico to its territory. Founded in 1954, Bezares is a Madrid, Spain-based supplier of power take-off systems.
ILUK Under Slider Liftgate Provides Large Platforms Interlift's new ILUK Under Slider liftgate has an 80" x 98" level-riding platform, and operation is as simple as turning a knob. When you do, the liftgate automatically slides out from under the trailer on low-maintenance Teflon slide blocks. After unfolding, the torsion-assisted platform is ready to use. Its adjustable and standard automatic leveling system guides the platform as it finds the correct pre-set horizontal position on its own. The platform remains level, regardless of terrain, and tilts down only when it reaches the ground. A ground roller eliminates unnecessary wear when touching the ground.
The Under Slider is designed for bed heights between 36" and 54", and for most door configurations (including swinging doors). It also allows for unobstructed dock access. All platforms are equipped with standard warning lights on the platform's tip.
Other standard features include: a pre-mounted, enclosed power pack that installs quickly and slides out for inspections; a lockable control box; and a choice of three different control stations (side control, hand-held remote, and foot controls in the platform). For more information, contact Interlift, 8433 S Chetle Ave, Santa Fe Springs CA 90670.
Aeroquip Introduces New E-Z Clip System Aeroquip offers the new E-Z Clip System consisting of three components:
- GH134 multi-refrigerant hose.
- Patented (#6,010,162) E-Z clip nipple, with HNBR O-rings on the nipple's outer diameter for superior sealing capacity.
- E-Z clip fitting retention system, using a clip-and-cage (also patent #6,010,162) combination to simulate crimping action of a hose socket.
Only a pliers-type assembly tool is required to make a hose-to-fitting connection with E-Z Clip. It provides an assembly time savings of more than 50%.
Other highlights of Aeroquip GH134 multi-refrigerant hose featured in the E-Z Clip System include:
- Bend radius of 4" for #12 hose size.
- Effusion rating of .5 pounds per square foot/year for R-134a, less than the 2.1 pounds per square foot/year required by SAE J2064.
- Tested with R-134a, R-12, R-22 and R-404A (other refrigerant testing available upon request).
For more information, contact Eaton Aeroquip, 3000 Strayer Rd, PO Box 631, Maumee OH 43537-0631