PRODUCT NEWS

Astec Consolidates Product Branding

Astec Industries, Inc. is launching a new modern look with a rebranding initiative to coincide with its business model. The rebrand includes a new logo, color palette and website. The launch comes while the organization streamlines its internal structure and operations to improve efficiency and drive growth.

The organization’s former brands, including Peterson, Astec Inc., Astec do Brasil, Astec Australia, BMH Systems, Breaker Technology, Carlson Paving, ConE-Co, Heatec, KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens, Osborn, RexCon, Roadtec and Telsmith, will no longer operate as separate subsidiary companies and will all take on the ASTEC name. The unification is a significant part of the company’s OneASTEC business model including its “Simplify, Focus and Grow” strategy.

“We made the decision to unify to make it easier for our dealers and customers to do business with us. By coming together as one organization, we can offer greater customer service and drive innovation,” says Barry Ruffalo, president and CEO of Astec Industries, Inc. “The rebrand enables us to build our strength together under one common name and purpose. We can better leverage our growth as one ASTEC team rather than individual brands.”

The new website (www.astecindustries.com) replaces previous subsidiary websites. Dealers, customers, suppliers and consumers will be able to find information about the company, its product offerings and other resources in one location.

Barko Welcomes New President

Barko Hydraulics has named Justin Rupar as President. Rupar brings more than 27 years of equipment industry expertise in manufacturing, dealer development, sales and marketing.

“I’m very excited to join Barko, and I’m looking forward to getting to know our dealers and customers better,” Rupar says. “The Barko team and I are excited to continue working to improve our product and services offerings and to add exceptional value to both our dealer partners’ and our retail cus-

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tomers’ operations.”

Before joining Barko, Rupar held leadership positions with Yamaha Motor Corp., YANMAR America and ASV Holdings, overseeing global commercial, distribution and after-sales support activities.

A native northern Minnesotan and Iron Ranger, Rupar holds a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and an MBA from the University of Georgia.

John Deere, Hitachi End Joint Venture

John Deere announced it has agreed with Hitachi Construction Machinery to end the Deere-Hitachi joint venture manufacturing and marketing agreements. John Deere and Hitachi will enter into new license and supply agreements, which will enable John Deere to continue to source, manufacture and distribute the current lineup of Deere-branded excavators in the Americas.

As a result of the new agreements, the following changes will go into effect on February 28, 2022: —John Deere will acquire the Deere-Hitachi jointventure factories in Kernersville, NC; Indaiatuba, Brazil; and Langley, BC, Can. —John Deere will continue to manufacture Deerebranded construction and forestry excavators currently produced at the three Deere-Hitachi factories. These locations will discontinue production of Hitachi-branded excavators. John Deere will continue to offer a full portfolio of excavators through a supply agreement with Hitachi. —John Deere’s marketing arrangement for Hitachi-branded construction excavators and mining equipment in the Americas will end; Hitachi will assume distribution and support for these products.

“For many years John Deere and Hitachi enjoyed a mutually successful partnership in the Americas,” comments John Stone, president, John Deere Construction & Forestry Div. and Power Systems. “As we turn the page to a new chapter of Deere-designed excavators, we remain committed to supporting our customers of today and tomorrow.”

John Deere and Hitachi began a supply relationship in the early 1960s; then in 1988 the companies started the Deere-Hitachi manufacturing joint venture to produce excavators in Kernersville. In 1998, Deere-Hitachi expanded the relationship to include the production of forestry swing machines at

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Deere-Hitachi Specialty Products in Langley. In 2001, John Deere and Hitachi combined their marketing and distribution efforts in the Americas. In 2011, excavator manufacturing was expanded with the addition of the Deere-Hitachi Brazil factory in Indaiatuba.

Hyundai Purchases Doosan Infracore

Following the sale completed in mid-August of Doosan Infracore to Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. (HHIH), Doosan Infracore becomes a subsidiary of the newly created Hyundai Genuine (HG) group alongside Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE) as two independent construction equipment companies under HHIH. HG will act as the intermediary company of HHIH Group’s construction equipment businesses and will be leading both DI and HCE to maximize the company’s efforts and focus on the construction equipment industry. The plan is to manage overlapping investments and invest heavily in future technologies and innovation. Doosan Infracore will be working to commercialize Concept-X and develop cutting-edge products such as electric excavators, battery packs, hybrid fuel cells and other next-generation products. By focusing on each company’s areas of strength, HG will be able to advance the development of these types of products to gain a competitive edge in the global market.

Doosan Infracore North America, LLC, headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, markets the Doosan brand of products that includes crawler excavators, wheel excavators, mini excavators, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, material handlers, log loaders and attachments. Doosan has more than 160 equipment dealer locations in North America.

BE&E Continues To Build Up Team

Jeff Niewedde has joined Biomass Engineering & Equipment as Chief Financial Officer. Before joining BE&E full time, Niewedde served as the company’s interim CFO and served in similar roles with two prior companies in streamlining processes and process improvement. Niewedde holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of Indianapolis and has 18 years of experience. ➤ 30

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28 ➤ “Jeff brings another level of maturity to our growing company,” says Dane Floyd, owner and CEO. “We’re more confident than ever about our position and ability to meet the ever-increasing demand for our products and services.”

Bandit Offers Compact Track Grinder

Bandit Industries’ new Model 1425 track is a highly productive and compact horizontal grinder. It is equipped with many of the same features as the tow-behind version and by adding tracks it substantially increases the capabilities of this unit. By making it available with tracks, it can now travel over a variety of landscapes with the durable Caterpillar steel track undercarriage.

The 1425 track is equipped with a 7 ft. long x 24 in. wide steel or rubber belt infeed conveyor and a stationary discharge with a stacking height of 7 ft. To further enhance the machine’s capabilities, a grinder head or chipper drum can be ordered, giving it the ability to produce mulch or a dimensional chip.

When ordered with a grinder head, there are 14 cutterbodies with teeth, creating an aggressive yet smooth grinding action. The chipper drum features four chipper knives that will produce a chip ranging from ¼ in. to 1 in. Like the larger Bandit horizontal grinders, the 1425 track is offered with a variety of tooth and screen options.

Customers can now order this machine with a Caterpillar C4.4, 174 HP Tier 4 Final. Visit banditchippers.com.

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