Page 22: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 1986)

Fairbanks Morse (continued) files, on an engine, siteor system basis. "In addition to our U.S. organiza- tion, we currently maintain a parts and service facility in Halifax, Can- ada," he said. "Strategically located representa- tives outside North America provide parts and service assistance to own- ers in other parts of the world."

Expanded Engine Service

Training Programs

The company now offers an ex- panded engine service training pro- gram through a new diesel training center in Beloit. Six specialized courses are currently offered, cover- ing all Fairbanks Morse Opposed

Piston and Pielstick engines. "The courses are conducted by a professional training staff, assisted by manufacturing, research and en- gineering personnel," said Bob

Jung, training supervisor. "Our soundproof classrooms are fully equipped with the latest audio vi- sual and videotape equipment, and the school has two complete engines

DON'T LEI TAKE Yi THE WEATHER U BYSTORM

The best way to deal with bad weather at sea is to avoid it. And Alden's new Marinefax" TR I gives you the information you need to plan your best and safest course.

A Wealth Of Information

With your Marinefax TR I, you can receive a wide variety of charts, available free from over 50 govern- ment transmitters worldwide.

Charts not just on weather, but on sea conditions as well. Surface an- alyses and prognoses let you avoid storms or take advantage of favor- able winds. Gulf Stream and other oceanographic charts, as well as wave height and direction charts, show you the speediest and most comfortable course.

Beyond comfort and safety, weather charts can help plan a course to minimize fuel con- sumption. And fishermen will especially appreciate sea tempera- ture information to show the most likely hot spots.

Automatic Reception

Marinefax TR I is a new genera- tion of weather chart recorder from

Alden. It features a unique micro- processor that lets you program the recorder to automatically receive the exact charts you want. You tell the recorder when to come on, what frequency to receive, when to change frequency, and when to go off. You get your maps, whether you're onboard or ashore.

Programming is easy, with the

LCD display leading you through the steps. Yet despite this sophisti- cation, Marinefax TR I is the smallest weather chart recorder on the market.

Improved Frequency Selection

Recall any transmitter frequency you like just by hitting two buttons.

Or store up to ten stations of your own choice for one-button recall.

And the TR I has a new, improved radio. Fine tuning is incredibly sim- ple: just push the button for precise, 0.1 kHz changes until you optimize reception. The frequency then locks in, eliminating the "drift" common to many other radio receivers.

New Paper

Our new Alfax thermal paper is dry for easy storage, and produces bright, high- resolution maps.

Thermal printing is exceptionally quiet, and provides for simple and inexpensive operation.

Alden Reliability

For over 40 years Alden has specialized in weather products, serving not only mariners, but pro- fessional meteorologists as well. Our one-year warranty is followed by a unique, fixed-price service plan, no matter how old your Marinefax is.

Before you have to face another storm at sea, find out more about

Marinefax. Contact your local dealer, or contact Alden Electronics, 130

Washington Street, Westborough,

MA 01581 (617) 366-8851.

MR I 1 • Please send me complete informa- ' tion on Marinefax TR I • I enclose $12.45 for a copy of your book, A Mariner's Guide to

Radiofacsimile Weather Charts.

Name

Address _

City State . Zip | Phone_ -J

ALDENMARINEFAX Wi and a number of training modules available for hands-on instruction. "We offer 20-25 individual classes per year, and can also conduct on- site training programs for customers on request. We've had over 500 graduates since our doors opened in

January 1984."

While specifically designed to meet the needs of customers, the courses are regularly attended by

Fairbanks Morse customer service personnel. "That always promotes a produc- tive interchange of ideas," Mr.

Jung added. "Obviously, bringing in our service people for training helps them to do a better job, but is also helps our instructors and fac- tory people to know what's going on in the field. It's been a source of many practical suggestions for prod- uct improvement, and it gives ser- vice people from different areas a great opportunity to exchange ideas."

Engine Service Training Via

Videotape

At present, the company is one of the few engine manufacturers which offer service training videotapes to customers. Now available are a 15- module program covering service of

Fairbanks Morse Opposed Piston engines, and a newly developed 16- module program on servicing the

Pielstick 4.2 engine. "The video programs are not in- tended as a substitute for our class- room courses and hands-on train- ing," Mr. Jung said. "The tapes are designed to serve as a training ad- junct, and as a refresher. Our re- gional service centers have all the tape modules available for customer review, and they also use them in conducting service training local- ly."

R&D For The Future "We're currently working in a number of product development ar- eas," said Mel Weiss, manager of marine sales applications. "What- ever the future brings, operators are sure to want better maintainability and reliability built into the engines they buy, and the desire for better fuel consumption will always be im- portant—much of our R&D effort is in that direction. We're also devel- oping heavy fuel technology. "We think the trend toward high- er efficiency engines will continue, •*• Circle 135 on Reader Service Card