Stationary Milling Machine               Portable Linear Mill

1. Portability – Because they are modularly designed, portable machine tools can be easily assembled at the workpiece in the plant or in the field, and begin repairs usually within 30 minutes. Stationary machine tools require disassembling the workpiece and transporting it to a machine shop, which incurs cost and time, in addition to the lost revenue due to equipment downtime.

2. Flexibility – Portable machine tools can be used for a wide range of machining applications, without having to fully disassemble the workpiece to transport it to a machine shop.

3. Accuracy – Greater accuracy can be achieved in some cases with a portable machine tool because its design allows it to adapt to the machining application, and puts the rigidity required to support the machining forces as close to the machining surface as possible.

Portable machine tools rely on the rigidity of the workpiece or mounting structure to ensure a good cut. The accuracy of the machining operation depends on careful machine tool leveling, securing, and setup.

The post How are Portable Machine Tools Different from Stationary Machine Tools? appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

For many companies, the growth strategy carries the echoes of “Buy it or build it, and the business will come.”  Unfortunately, when the economic downturn occurred, many companies were crippled by excessive capital investment in under-utilized assets.  These wounds are still very fresh, and a significant reason why renting equipment has become so strategically popular over the last few years.

Today, more and more companies are managing capital expenditures conservatively, and relying on rental alternatives to navigate through the peaks and valleys of business cycles.  According to a recent rental industry study, roughly 40% of construction equipment is utilized through rental companies, and this trend continues to grow globally.

Having an effective rental strategy allows companies to focus more on core business strategies.  From Heavy Construction, Mining, Power Generation, Petrochemical, and Ship-building, to businesses providing repair services to these industries, here are ten great reasons to consider renting as part of a successful growth strategy.

1.             Try it before you buy it

You may be considering buying a certain model of equipment and/or would like to operate equipment to ensure it suits your specific long-term needs before making that capital expenditure. The best way to “Test Drive” equipment is to rent.

2.             Invest your money wisely and grow profitably

A growth strategy that involves renting equipment, will free up capital. Rentals are typically categorized as an expense, and only incurred when needed for a particular job. The extra capital you save by renting can be applied to other needs within your business so you can grow profitably.

3.             Avoiding the financial risks of ownership

A company increases its exposure to risk in today’s economy by owning a lot of equipment.  Renting avoids cumbersome acquisition and disposal processes and will release your business from the costs associated with owning equipment, like maintenance costs, repairs, inspections, storage, transportation, staffing, taxes, and insurance. 

 4.            Shorter lead times and rapid response

Demand for equipment is not always predictable and lead times from dealers or manufacturers are not always guaranteed.  Having quick access to rental equipment will lead to efficiency gains. Rental companies will ensure you get the equipment, when you need the equipment. 

5.             Greater security of supply.  You use it only when you need it

Renting provides your business with flexibility, allowing you to rent for the short-, medium-, and long-term. Having a virtual fleet of equipment from which to choose increases a company’s flexibility to take on more projects and grow profitably!

6.             Be safe and avoid the risk by renting

The rental industry is well regulated and controlled, providing you with peace of mind. Renting gives companies the ability to avoid using potentially unsafe methods by using the right equipment for the job.  Furthermore the outsourcing of product responsibility and legal compliance costs can also minimize your risk.

7.             Peace of mind, every time.  Rental Equipment is newer and well maintained

Rental equipment is typically newer and maintained on a regular basis by trained mechanics prior to each rental.  This will ensure you get reliable and quality equipment.  Renting also allows you to eliminate costly service shops, service tooling, spare parts and cumbersome maintenance records, as repair and maintenance services are included in the rental.

8.             Rental companies have what you don’t have

Your job requirements are always changing. You may not always have the right equipment or enough equipment to get the job done.  It makes a lot of sense to have great rental partners that can quickly supply the equipment you need.

9.             Rental companies are in compliance with environmental regulations

Government regulations continue to tighten requirements for air and water pollution, and disposal of hazardous materials.  There are significant costs incurred to manage the compliance of your equipment and your facility.  Renting late model equipment will ensure your operation conforms to the ever-changing regulatory environment.

10.          Renting is cheaper

There is no denying the bottom line.  Renting is cheaper than buying equipment, and that makes sense today when money is tight!

Ultimately, the impact of purchasing equipment will be felt in operations and on the balance sheet.  If a company is not confident that owning equipment is in its best interests, having a clearly defined strategy for supplementing demand with rental equipment can be instrumental in accelerating growth and eliminating competition.

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Dave Baker has over 18 years of rental industry related experience.  He is currently Director of Global Rental Operations for Climax Portable Machining and Welding Systems. Climax has , 17 rental operations in 12 different countries  worldwide including, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, the U.A.E., and USA.

Climax Portable Machining and Welding Systems is a global engineering services provider and machine tool manufacturer, specializing in the invention, design and development of portable tools used for on-site machining, welding and cladding. Through 32 offices and licensed representatives worldwide, Climax offers custom and standard machine manufacturing, rental tool programs, and equipment training. Industry applications include power generation, shipbuilding, petrochemical, heavy construction and mining, as well as service and engineering sectors. Climax holds 31 issued patents with 3 pending. More information about the company isavailable at climaxportable.com or by calling 1-800-333-8311 or 1-503-538-2185.

The post Ten Great Reasons To Rent appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

Düren, Germany and Newberg, Ore. – June 3, 2013 – At Power-Gen Europe 2013 next week in Vienna, Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems will demonstrate two of its advanced CNC-enabled portable machines: a BB6500 portable boring machine and a LM6000 portable milling machine. Staff experts will also be on hand at its booth, Stand 3142 in Hall B, to discuss best practices for in-situ repair of equipment in the plant or field at minimal cost and disruption.

Climax computer-controlled machines represent a breakthrough in portable machine tool technology. By programming the machine to perform the desired movements and metal removal process, machinists are able to make repairs to contoured pipes and valves and other complex geometries never attempted before in situ. Moreover, automating the machining process significantly reduces the risk of human error when doing repetitive machining tasks.

Executives from the company also plan to meet with power generation companies to discuss challenging repair problems and strategies for adding and removing metal that increase operator productivity.

“For more than 20 years, Climax has partnered with leading companies throughout the power generation industry, supplying maintenance and field service teams with the highest quality standard and customized portable machining and automated welding systems, engineering consultation, rental options, training, and 24/7 customer service,” said André Rombouts, Sales Manager – EMEA from Climax. “We like coming to Power-Gen Europe because we can talk about new ways we can help the industry optimize and transform their machining and welding processes and reduce downtime.”

About Climax Portable Machining and Welding Systems

Climax Portable Machining and Welding Systems is a global engineering services and machine tool provider, specializing in the invention, design and development of portable tools used for on-site machining, welding and cladding. Through 32 offices and licensed representatives worldwide, Climax offers custom and standard machine manufacturing, rental tool programs, and equipment training. Industry applications include power generation, shipbuilding, petrochemical, heavy construction and mining, as well as service and engineering sectors. Climax holds 33 issued patents with five pending. More information about the company is available at www.climaxportable.com or by calling +49 (0) 2421 9177 0 or +1-503-538-2185.

#  #  #

Organization Contact:                                              Media Contact:

Andy Becker, VP of Marketing                                  Marion Margiotta

Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems         Grady Britton

+1-503-538-2185                                                      +1-503-228-4118

abecker@cpmt.com                                                 marionm@gradybritton.com

The post Climax Exhibits Innovative CNC-Enabled Portable Machine Tools at Power-Gen Europe 2013 appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

Corrosion under washers on the bonnet of the valves required removal and reestablishment of the seating surface for the closure washers.

Previous/Existing process disadvantage

Machine the whole bolt circle face down until the corrosion is cleared out. This affects the overall strength of the part, and would not be able to be repeated multiple times.

Climax bore welder & boring bar solution:

A Climax BW3000 AutoBoreWelder (formerly the Bortech 306P) can be used to face weld the corroded area under the washers, to bring the part back to new condition. Once face welding is completed, machining can be done using a Climax BB5000 Boring Machine in a blind mount with a Facing Head attachment. Additionally, a corrosion-resistant overlay can be applied to prevent corrosion.

The post Welding Applications in Power-Generation: Welding of Faces on Intercept Valve Washer Seat Area appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

Lean helps companies get closer to perfection by focusing on four key aspects: Quality, Cost, Lead Time, & Respect for People. Although each of these is important, Respect for People is by far the one that will make the biggest impact.  Respect goes beyond paying a fair wage and ensuring employees have a safe work environment.  It is also about knowing a person’s current role and capability, truly taking the time to listen, and providing them with a challenge that will help them grow, both personally and professionally.

When in the pursuit of excellence, challenges come up daily. Challenges addressed using Lean principles shift mindsets toward bringing new ideas to the problem-solving table by offering the challenges to someone who may not have faced them before. This provides learning opportunities, a chance to try something new, and encourages improvement. By listening throughout the process and providing resources and support, we can demonstrate respect for people.

Every challenge should be faced with a vision or direction in mind and a support system for getting help.  Leadership’s role is to be clear when defining the vision, and be there to provide resources as needed to be successful.  When this happens, people are engaged and involved, driving positive change in the organization.

Take a moment to reflect on the vision and direction of your organization. Are people engaged and challenged to meet the business needs? Are people being developed into better problem solvers and thinkers? Does each person have the proper support system to be successful?

Bryant H. McGill said, “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”  We couldn’t agree more.

The post Lean- The Power of People appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

Will France Give Up Its Role as a Nuclear Powerhouse? (MIT Technology Review)
A look at how France, who gets most of its electricity from nuclear power, is debating whether or not to wean itself from that dependency.

President Obama Gets It: Fracking is Awesome (Forbes)
Interesting thoughts on President Obama’s comments on oil and natural gas during the State of the Union address this week.

Wind Taking Flight in Oregon (Energy.gov)
Nice little write up on Oregon’s Caithness Shepherds Flat wind farm — and how it’s creating jobs and revenue for our region.

Hungry for Energy, Brazil Builds Monster Dams in the Amazon (NPR)
Controversy in Brazil as dozens of hydroelectric dams start being installed in the Amazon.

ASCE Statement on the President’s State of the Union Address (ASCE)
ASCE’s enthusiastic response to President Obama’s comments the other night — specifically regarding new infrastructure programs.

The post Weekly News Roundup (Feb 15) appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

Publication date:
May 6, 2013

A slow economy is boosting the rental business for Climax Portable Machining and Welding Systems Inc.

Global rentals are up 30 percent this year and North American rentals are up 38 percent.

Click here to read the full article about how Climax is continuing to grow even during a slow economy.

The post How the slow economy is boosting sales for one company appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

Predictions for the Building Industry, 2030 (Engineering News-Record)
Some fascinating thoughts on where the building industry is headed — and how digital technology is playing a role.

Could a Manufacturing Boom in the U.S. Create a Million Jobs? (WNYC)
Great discussion around the increase in insourcing and job creation here in the United States.

The Top 10 Wind Energy States in 2012 (AOL Energy)
A quick look at the top contributing states in the U.S. wind power industry’s record-breaking past year.

Is 3D Printing Overrated? Not at All, Says GE’s Jeffrey Immelt (The Atlantic)
Thoughts on the impact of 3-D printing from the chief executive of GE.

3-D Printing the First Lunar Space Station with Space Soil (Fast Company)
While we’re on the topic — here’s a new test being done to see if the first lunar habitats could be printed using the rocky sand that covers the moon.

Into the Big Apple’s Core (The Independent)
A sneak peek at the massive Grand Central-style subway station being built in New York.

The post Weekly News Roundup (Feb 8) appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

Global Offshore Wind Energy Capacity Expected to Skyrocket by 2020 (North American Wind Power)
A look at the coming surge in offshore wind energy installations, especially in the U.K. where the increase might be as much as 800%.

NASA Will Launch a 13,000-Square-Foot Solar Sail Next Year (Popular Science)
Innovative idea from NASA that will put 70 pound solar sail into the solar system in 2014.

Infographic: Mining in Ontario (Mining.com)
Really neat infographic profiling the mining growth that’s happening in Ontario.

The Big Picture on Infrastructure Investment (ASCE)
Fantastic graphic presentation discussing the future of everything from architecture and our highway system to culture and communication.

Bloomberg Businessweek’s Design Conference Slideshow (Bloomberg)
Thoughts from the ASCE on the impact of America’s economic future if we don’t invest in our infrastructure today.

The post Weekly News Roundup (Feb 1) appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.

Sellwood Bridge Move Comes Off without a Hitch, Amazing Hundreds of Onlookers (The Oregonian)
A massive engineering project here in our home state– taking the Sellwood Bridge from it’s permanent concrete supports to temporary stell piers to make way for a new bridge to be constructed in its place.

Additionally, here is a fantastic time-lapse video of the bridge moving.

Two European Projects Launched to Improve Wind Turbines (Renewable Energy World)
Two interesting projects that aim to improve the technology behind wind power generation (one with more efficiency and cheaper ways to make blades, the other with smaller and lighter turbines).

Top Priority for Mining Companies is Safety of the Workforce (Mining.com)
Research shows that companies “have shifted their focus from finding qualified workers anywhere, at any cost to ensuring the workforce they currently have is efficient, well-informed and safe.”

Germany Grapples with Switch to Renewables (Financial Post)
A look at the challenges Germany faced this week as they met to discuss their infrastructure project — which has the potential to become a model for the rest of us.

The post Weekly News Roundup (Jan 25) appeared first on Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems.