Heil Trailer’s Radish to Head Sister Operation Kalyn Siebert

Photo: Kalyn Siebert

Heil Trailer International sister company Kalyn Siebert has appointed Jake Radish, Heil's operation director, as its new president.

Kalyn Siebert and Heil Trailer are part of EnTrans International, a manufacturer of tank trailers, oilfield capital equipment and related components used in the oil and gas industry.

Radish joined Heil Trailer International in 2013 as plant manager at the company's Athens, Tenn., facility and was later promoted to general manager. In 2016, Radish was promoted to director of operations over both Athens trailer operations and Minnesota trailer operations.

Radish holds a bachelor of science degree in business management as well as a bachelor of arts degree in German from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

“We're very excited to appoint Jake as president of Kalyn Siebert,” said Don Kyle, president of the Energy Division. “He brings a depth of experience and knowledge that will move Kalyn Siebert forward and grow the brand.”

Related: HDT's 2017 Trailer Update

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Economic Watch: Employment Surges, Exports Highest in 2+ Years

Employers in the U.S. continued adding a strong number of jobs in July, while separate reports show better exports and factory orders.

Overall 209,000 non-farm jobs were added during the month, according to the Labor Department. That was more than many analysts were expecting and pushed the nation's unemployment rate down to 4.3%, matching a 16-year low hit in May. June's 222,000 gain was revised up to 231,000 while May was cut from 152,000 to 145,000.

The biggest job gains during July occurred in food services and drinking places, professional and business services, and health care.

Employment growth has averaged 184,000 per month so far this year, in line with the average monthly gain in 2016 of 187,000.

The for-hire trucking industry added 400 jobs in July and 7,900 so far this year. During July the wider transportation and warehousing sector added nearly 1,000 jobs, pulled down by the loss of 2,200 jobs in the warehousing and storage sector. In contrast, support activities for transportation increased by 1,700 jobs, while the couriers and messengers sector added 3,200.

Tightening labor markets had been putting upward pressure on wage inflation through 2015 and 2016, however, data so far this year show wage gains flattening out at around 2.5% which matches the 2016 increase and compares to increases of 2.3% and 2.1% in 2015 and 2014, respectively, according to Paul Ferley, assistant chief economist at RBC Economic Research.

“Confirmation that labor markets are approaching full employment is expected to warrant the Federal Reserve continuing to withdraw current stimulative monetary conditions,” he said. “Though tightening labor markets will eventually return wage inflation to an upward trend, in the interim, the absence of wage pressure will keep the pace of tightening gradual.”

The government report follows one on Wednesday by payroll processor ADP which showed 178,000 private sector jobs were added in ...Read the rest of this story

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Freedom X Inverters Offer More Surge Power and Precision

Xantrex's Freedom X is a sine wane inverter line designed to bring more surge power and precise electrical power in a more durable package.

The Freedom X is available in 1,000- and 2,000-watt units with an adoption built-in three-stage battery charger. The new inverters feature 2X surge power for up to two seconds for motor loads, according to Mitul Chandrani, senior marketing manager for Xantrex business and Schneider Electric.

“That's a big advancement for high-frequency sine wave inverters, and a welcome sight for truckers who want to use power tools and other initial high-draw devices,” said Chandrani. “Other sine wave inverters might get up to a ½ second in surge power, and can't handle the surge -it will shut down the inverter.”

Freedom X works in unison with traditional batteries and is also designed to work with and recharge Lithium-ion batteries. The inverter is capable of charging dead batteries that have been drained to 0 volts, according to Xantrex. In addition, the new inverters are designed for quick installations with quick connect terminals.

Improved climate protection allows the inverter to provide full output in temperatures ranging from -4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Oil prices flatten, but under shadow of high production

Oil prices recouped earlier losses on Friday but remained on track for a weekly decline, weighed down by rising OPEC exports and strong output from the United States. Brent crude futures (LCOc1), the international benchmark, were trading at $52.06 a barrel at 1314 GMT, 5 cents above the last close and heading for a fall of just under 1 percent on the week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures (CLc1) were up 5 cents at $49.08 per barrel but set to end the week more than 1 percent lower.