Equipment Report

Bomag, governor celebrate launch of Connex South Carolina

Bomag Americas welcomed South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and leadership from South Carolina’s business community to its North American headquarters in Ridgway, South Carolina, in July to announce the launch of Connex South Carolina.

The free, online platform provides a location where manufacturers in the state can connect with one other, find local suppliers, discover new business opportunities and manage their supply chains through a database.

The database, Connex Marketplace, allows manufacturers to create company profiles and include pertinent information, such as certifications, Small Business Administration designations, manufacturing capabilities, equipment and more. The platform features an exchange center in which manufacturers can post and respond to business opportunities with companies in South Carolina and around the nation.

“South Carolina is recognized around the world as a manufacturing state,” McMaster says. “Therefore, we must do all we can to provide our manufacturing industry with the advantages and resources needed to continue to build upon our sterling reputation. With Connex South Carolina, we will be able to provide equipment manufacturing companies like Bomag Americas with the tools needed to optimize efficiency and ultimately help drive South Carolina’s economy to even greater heights.”

McMaster and business leaders were led on a guided tour of Bomag Americas’ 140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, seeing a Bomag CR Series paver on the assembly line.

“The Bomag family was honored to host Gov. McMaster, as well as other business leaders, for the launch of Connex South Carolina, an innovative 21st century supply chain solution that helps address deficiencies and speed up production timelines,” Bomag Americas President Brian Bieller says. “Every day, contractors rely on Bomag compaction and roadbuilding equipment to construct America’s infrastructure. I thank Gov. McMaster for providing solutions that help to address manufacturing challenges while allowing Bomag to further our investment in the South Carolina economy through a local supply chain,” he adds.

Bomag Americas is a manufacturer of asphalt pavers and milling machines, reclaimer/stabilizers, single-drum and tandem vibratory rollers, pneumatic tired rollers, landfill refuse compactors as well as a range of light compaction equipment.

In memoriam: Jay Giltz Jr.

Clarence A. “Jay” Giltz Jr., who spent nearly 30 years helping Ohio-based Eagle Crusher Co. boost its presence in the aggregates recycling equipment sector, has died at age 75.

Giltz’s sales and product applications roles with Galion, Ohio-based Eagle Crusher helped the firm grow throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century.

According to its website, Eagle Crusher grew from being a two-person operation at the start of the 1970s to an industry-leading crushing equipment design and fabrication company with dozens of equipment models. Much of the growth occurred under CEO Susanne Cobey’s leadership, starting in the 1990s.

Giltz, along with Cobey, was involved with the Washington-based National Demolition Association and the Chicago-based Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), whose members were frequent buyers of the high-impact crushing units made by Eagle Crusher. In 2019, Giltz was honored as a CDRA Hall of Fame member.

Before joining Eagle Crusher, Giltz served in the United States Air Force for eight years before being honorably discharged in 1974.

Born in California, he also was a long-time Ohio resident and, in his later years, maintained homes in Venice, Florida, and in the Thousand Islands region of New York.

Glitz is survived by his wife, Marsha, with whom he frequently attended industry events, as well as one son, one daughter and three grandchildren.

According to an obituary posted on the WWNY-TV website, donations in Giltz’s name can be made to the Thousand Island Emergency Rescue Service.

Ohio Magnetics emphasizes scheduled maintenance

Ohio Magnetics is continuing to offer its PRO magnet inspection program, which includes on-site magnet inspection services to customers who operate at least 10 of the firm’s lifting magnets.

Ohio Magnetics, based in Maple Heights, Ohio, says it has tailored the PRO program to help optimize production efficiency and safety while minimizing costs. While its steel service center, mill and scrap yard clients predominantly own lifting magnets, the company also sells and services magnetic separation units used by recyclers and concrete crushing plant operators.

The firm says its program contributes to participants’ bottom lines by reducing operating costs, extending the life of magnets and maximizing their uptime. While Ohio Magnetics equipment is the program’s focus, the firm also inspects magnets and separation equipment from other manufacturers, according to Ohio Magnetics Sales Manager Tim Schuh.

Whether as part of the PRO program or via another scheduled appointment, Schuh says Ohio Magnetics’ experts conduct on-site visual inspections of the equipment and take electrical readings that are essential to thoroughly evaluate each magnet.

“During inspections, we look for signs of excessive wear that could cause failure or lead to unsafe conditions,” he says. “The case condition, leads, connections, suspension system and terminal box are all examined. Our experts also capture coil resistance, current and voltage, along with impedance of the magnet.”

Although magnets in recycling applications can operate in harsh conditions, Schuh says annual inspections typically are adequate for most types of magnets.

“Our team can suggest whether additional inspections are required,” he adds.

A lifting magnet in a large-tonnage application can experience excessive wear to its suspension system, chains, pins and yokes, he says. Outdoor models can be exposed to leaks through cracks in magnet cases or terminal boxes.

Ohio Magnetics personnel also provide complete postinspection documentation.