NASCAR driver, an engineering major, appreciates high technology, charity donation

Vecoplan donated to a NASCAR effort that aims to deliver 500,000 lb of food and supplies to families in U.S. racing communities; the driver, an engineering major, and team owner of the #23 Vecoplan Ford Mustang toured a Vecoplan plant and noted appreciation for its high-tech biofuel and bioenergy products.

By Mark T. Hoske July 11, 2013

Vecoplan, provider of technologies for processing waste into biofuel and bioenergy feedstock, sponsored car #23 at the NASCAR Nationwide “Feed the Children 300” on June 28 at Kentucky Speedway. Race team members toured a Vecoplan plant and expressed appreciation for engineering technologies applied there. The race was sponsored by Feed The Children, and through a partnership with Speedway Children’s Charities, Feed The Children will deliver 500,000 pounds of food and supplies to families in U.S. racing communities. The #23 Vecoplan Ford Mustang was fielded by Rick Ware Racing and driven by Harrison Rhodes, an engineering major.

The Monday after the race, Harrison Rhodes, Rick Ware, and other members of the race team brought the #23 car to Vecoplan’s headquarters and manufacturing plant in High Point, NC. After answering questions, Harrison and other members of Rick Ware racing toured Vecoplan’s test lab, engineering departments, manufacturing plant, parts and service departments, and offices.

As an engineering major at NC State University, Rhodes took special interest in Vecoplan’s two engineering departments, product engineering and engineering project management, expressing interest in the large Vecoplan engineering staff. Rhodes, noting appreciation for Vecoplan products and support, said: “The shredders they design for recycling, plus the size and sophistication of the systems they engineer and build for turning waste into a fuel, are truly impressive.”

Vecoplan, which provides technologically advanced machinery and systems for the processing of waste, designs, engineers, manufactures, installs, and provides start-up training on, as well as ongoing parts and service for complete systems used to prepare and feed municipal solid waste (MSW) for use: as alternative fuel in the production of heat and power, as a feedstock for pelletizing, and as a feedstock for conversion to syngas, methanol, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and other liquid biofuels. Vecoplan also has experience with tires, wood, biomass, carpet, and other industrial wastes. Stated capabilities include unloading of raw feed-stocks, pre-shredding, ferrous separation, conveying, screening, air classification, re-shredding, non-ferrous separation, optical separation, testing stations, storage, and metered feeding to the boiler, to the pelletizing machinery, to the liquid fuel conversion system, or to other waste conversion technologies.

According to Len Beusse, COO – Vecoplan LLC, “This race was the perfect opportunity for Vecoplan. We’re located in the south, the birthplace of NASCAR, our subsidiary Vecoplan Midwest is about 30 minutes from Kentucky Speedway, we’re neighbors with the fine folks at Rick Ware Racing, Harrison Rhodes is not only an up and coming driver but also a young Christian man of character and integrity, and our company mission ‘Technology for a Sustainable Tomorrow,’ ties in perfectly with ‘Feed The Children 300,’ after all the reason we strive for a sustainable tomorrow is for our children.”

www.VecoplanLLC.com

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager CFE Media, Control Engineering, Plant Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

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See more photos from NASCAR visit at this Vecoplan LLC manufacturing site.

See more below from Control Engineering about the VIC/HMI control panel from Vecoplan.


Author Bio: Mark Hoske has been Control Engineering editor/content manager since 1994 and in a leadership role since 1999, covering all major areas: control systems, networking and information systems, control equipment and energy, and system integration, everything that comprises or facilitates the control loop. He has been writing about technology since 1987, writing professionally since 1982, and has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from UW-Madison.