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Investment in Desien Diesel renaissance in Italy by David Tinsley, technical editor / At a time when the South Korean heavyweights have signaled their determination to capture more than 50 percent of the global mar- ket for low-speed diesel engines, an Ital- ian renaissance in two-stroke production testifies to a determination in one of the European camps not to bow to oriental industrial ascendancy. As part of a broad-based manufactur- ing program encompassing two-stroke and four-stroke designs, the streamlined Trieste plant of Wartsila Italia reported firm contracts, letters of intent and options for 25 Sulzer low-speed engines when your correspondent visited the works during February. Since the former Grandi Motori Tri- este (GMT) plant came under Wartsila management in 1997, followed by Finnish group's 100 percent takeover at the outset of January 1999, major efforts have been put into making the factory competitive on a worldwide basis. That this has been achieved with a diversified production portfolio, in an era when large-scale manufacturing at any one location is trending towards optimized output of as few products as possible, is a measure of Wartsila's cir- cumspect organizational planning and investment in production technology. While in-house manufacturing capa- bility is elemental to competitiveness in the four-stroke sector, the Finnish group's recourse to two-stroke building capacity at Trieste provides it with first- hand experience in a field of production otherwise dominated by licensees in the Far East. This type of involvement can only benefit its activities as a driver of two-stroke technology and design devel- opment. Success in building the two-stroke business at Trieste, while reflecting the increased efficiency of the plant and the group's European manufacturing net- work as a whole, has also been assisted by the recent rise in Far East engine prices, attributable perhaps to huge orderbook commitments The Sulzer low-speed engine order- book in Trieste includes a high concen- tration of RTA72U-B units for contain- ership newbuild projects at German yards. It also features the RTA84C design, underscoring the Italian plant's scope for wide-bore machinery, and has recently been boosted with RT-flex com- mon-rail engines booked for a reefer We're The Difference Between Inside Marine Emergency Mass Transit The Original Industrial Seal 800-366-3682 ext. 1363 219-299-1888 Fax: 219-299-8044 P.O. Box 2919 20900 W. Ireland Rd South Bend, IN 46680-2919 http://www.cleanseal.com e-mail: cleanseal36@cleanseal.com Clean Seal® has partnered with engineers since 1978, designing a full line of products that seal out noise, dust, and moisture. Our climate controlled facility maximizes bonding potential of adhesives on gaskets, molding and decorative trim. Clean Seal supports many applications in the RV, automotive, marine, and transportation industries with quality, service and product availability. • 3M* brand tapes and adhesives • On-time delivery • Wide variety of profiles available - 6 million feet in stock • Packaged by linear foot, on easy to use reels • Our specialty division can cut, splice and glue to your specifications • 100 ft. minimum order For assistance in selecting the right seal for your application, call a Clean Seal specialist today. 1-800-366-3682 ext. 1363 Circle 286 on Reader Service Card KING-GAGE® Marine Systems . Ballast and Tank Level Indicating Systems for the Marine and Offshore Oil/Gas Industries u" a f i Tr LevelPRO Multiple Tank Level Processors LevelPRO provides continuous measurement of ballast levels and shipboard service tanks. Up to 8 tank levels with local display and operator terminal. Digital multidrop network compatible with auto- mated control systems. Durable corrosion-proof housing and sealed keypad. LiquiSear Purge Control LiquiSeal Purge Control is a fully integrated level sensor for liquid cargo/service tanks or for draft measurement. External mounting on the tank or at remote location. Rugged brass construction with pneumatic or two wire (4-20 mA) output. Compressed air required for operation. LevelBAR" Replaces Fluid-Filled Gauges LevelBAR offers direct replacement for fluid-filled manometer tank gauges. Built for greater reliability, analog LED column graphically displays tank level. Rugged stainless enclosure and shatterproof window. Models for electronic or air driven systems. Coll 800-242-8871 Fax 734-662-6652 Since 1937 KING ENGINEERING CORPORATION 3201 S. Slate • P.O. Box 1228 • Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 • 734-662-5691 8 www.maritimetoday.com Circle 293 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
