January 2014 news
Atlas Copco predicts used equipment growth
Atlas Copco Portable Energy said it had recorded a 70 percent increase in its portable used equipment business for 2013.
GE Capital expands financing for rentals
GE Capital Equipment Finance is expanding its financing program for dealers to purchase construction equipment for use in their rental fleets.
Caterpillar sales fall
Caterpillar Inc., the world’s largest producer of mining and construction equipment, will report a 12.3 percent drop in fourth-quarter earnings due to high dealer inventories and low global demand for mining equipment, which can’t be offset by recent cost-cutting measures or a flat growth in its construction segment.
Briggs & Stratton reports results
Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended Dec. 29, 2013.
United Rentals positive on 2014 outlook
United Rentals is forecasting revenue growth of between 12.5 and 17 percent this year on the basis that the bulk of the recovery in non-residential construction has still to come and that the rental sector is at the early stages of a multi-year growth cycle.
Schwing America optimistic
Schwing America, the North and Latin American operation of Germany-based concrete equipment manufacturer Schwing, is considering increasing production this year in line with growing demand.
Predict 8 percent cement growth
With U.S. residential, non-residential and public construction sectors “all beating positive,” Portland Cement Association chief economist Ed Sullivan said cement consumption will grow eight percent in 2014.
Worker shortages are concern
Many firms plan to start hiring again and most contractors predict demand will either grow or remain stable in virtually every market segment this year.
Trojan battery revamps website
Trojan Battery Co., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of deep-cycle batteries, has launched its newly-revised corporate website.
IronPlanet four-day online auction
IronPlanet announces it will host the industry’s first major auction of 2014 on Jan. 28-31, featuring nearly 2,000 construction and related items for sale online.
Mabey Inc. rental protection plan
Mabey Inc. is now offering a Rental Protection Plan (RPP) on all excavation shoring equipment rentals to provide coverage in the event of accidental damage or loss.
Acme Lift names president
Former Volvo Rents executive Mike Crouch has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Acme Lift Co., bringing more than 35 years of rental experience to the wholesale aerial platform rental company.
Construction employment declined
Construction employment declined by 16,000 in December but the industry unemployment rate fell to 11.4 percent.
Essex to auction crawler fleet
Essex Rental Corp. will be offering a portion of its surplus crawler crane inventory in a sealed bid auction.
Briggs & Stratton adds industry veterans
Briggs & Stratton Corp. is adding two commercial engine industry veterans to its commercial power sales team.
United Rentals hits 52-week high
United Rentals, Inc. hit a new 52-week high of $78.37 and then closed at $77.37 on Jan 6.
Fuel efficiency keys JCB rental order
Expanding Netherlands-based rental company Boels Rental is investing in a fleet of JCB machines worth more than $18 million in their third major order in three years.
‘Knockout Power Challenge’ returns to World of Concrete
Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power is bringing back its popular Knockout Power Challenge booth promotion for the third consecutive year at World of Concrete, Jan. 21 to 24, in Las Vegas.
Case CE launches SiteWatch
Case Construction Equipment has launched SiteWatch, a remote monitoring, telematics and data reporting system that allows customers to optimize machine performance and manage their fleets more effectively.
ADMAR expands locations
There’s a new option for rental and purchase of construction equipment and supplies in Erie with the opening of ADMAR’s second Pennsylvania location.
Two companies expand options for construction customers
Caterpillar and Trimble combine to offer job site solutions.
New JCB dealer in Kansas City
JCB’s North American dealer network continues to expand with the addition of CSTK JCB.
Construction employment increased
Construction firms added jobs in 39 states over the past 12 months, while employment nearly stabilized in the remainder.
Construction spending increased
Total construction spending increased between October and November and for the year amid growing private-sector demand.
JCB chief retires
Colleagues have bid a fond farewell to JCB Chief Executive Officer Alan Blake, who is retiring from the company after almost a quarter of a century of service.
Ritchie Bros. posts $3.8 billion auction sales
Industrial auctioneer Ritchie Bros. posted more than $3.8 billion in auction sales for 2013.
United Rentals continues specialty rental expansion
United Rentals, Stamford, Conn., has added another three locations in the U.S. and three in Canada to further the expansion of its specialty branch network.
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