October 2015 News
Manitou Adds Reed Company, LLC as Dealer
Manitou has added Reed Company, LLC to its dealer network. Reed Company provides sales and service to eastern Kansas with locations in Lebo and Wamego, Kansas for Manitou agricultural/multi-purpose telescopic handlers.
Felling Trailers Online Auction Benefits "Act on Alzheimer's"
Felling Trailers conducted its third online auction of a FT-3 drop deck utility trailer to benefit a non-profit organization. Felling Trailers wanted to bring awareness of and support to Alzheimer’s Disease and individuals affected by the disease.
Nortrax Appoints Vice President of Nortrax Canada
Nortrax named Michael J. Rugeroni to Vice President, Nortrax Canada. Rugeroni will lead Nortrax Canadian operations based in Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland/Labrador.
Morbark Expands With Dealers, Distributors
Morbark, Inc., continues to expand its North American dealer and distributor network for its tree care products as well as the Boxer line of compact utility loaders.
McClaren Opens R&D Facility in Florida
McLaren Industries, a U.S.-based manufacturer of OEM and aftermarket tracks and tires, recently opened a new research and development facility in Jacksonville, Fla. Completed in September, the research and development facility boasts a large footprint with state-of-the-art features designed specifically to test McLaren’s wide range of offerings for skid-steers, backhoes, track loaders, telehandlers and other equipment.
Integrated Software For Companies Offering Rental and Retail Inventory
ECi Software Solutions' RockSolid business management system for hardware dealers is now integrated with Point-of-Rental Software’s rental management system. The integration of these platforms will help streamline operations for customers who offer retail and rental inventory.
Takeuchi Adds JPS Equipment Rental as Dealer
Takeuchi-US has added JPS Equipment Rental LLC as a new dealer, with two authorized Takeuchi branches in Louisiana, including Monroe as well as a facility in El Dorado, Arkansas. JPS will carry the full line of Takeuchi compact earthmoving equipment, including compact excavators, compact track loaders, compact wheel loaders and skid steer loaders. They also serve the rental business in Bossier City and Alexandria.
JCB Expands Dealer Network
Company Wrench JCB, headquartered in Carroll, Ohio, will offer JCB’s full line of equipment in Columbia, South Carolina, and Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina. The equipment line includes backhoes, wheel loaders, telescopic handlers, compact excavators and the unique side-entry skid steers and compact track loaders.
Kubota Breaks Ground for New Headquarters
Kubota Tractor Corporation broke ground this month at its new corporate headquarters location in Grapevine, Texas. The complex will inlcude a three-story office building of approximately 125,000 square feet, plus a 68,000 square foot research and development facility.
Durante Rentals Wins 2015 Inner City 100 Award
Posting a 5-year growth rate of 319%, Durante Rentals ranks 33rd on the 2015 Inner City 100 list, selected by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and FORTUNE magazine. The Inner City 100 program recognizes Durante Rentals as a successful inner city business and a role model for entrepreneurship, innovative business practices and job creation in America’s urban communities.
Propane Mower Incentive Returns
The Propane Education & Research Council is bringing back its Propane Mower Incentive Program for a limited time. Effective immediately, buyers can receive $1,000 toward the purchase of a new propane-powered mower and $500 toward a qualified conversion. The incentive will be available until program funds expire, so applicants are encouraged to act fast.
Takeuchi Appoints Snyder as National Service & Warranty Manager
Takeuchi-US has appointed Ron Snyder as National Service and Warranty Manager. He will be responsible for the entire service department, including four Regional Sales Managers, one National Service Training Manager, and one Customer Service Support Manager.
Builder Confidence Hits Post-Housing Boom High
The NAHB reports that builder confidence for the newly constructed single-family home market hit 64 - a return to Housing Market Index (HMI) levels unseen since the housing boom ended in late 2005. The index rose three points in October, the association said in a news release.
Atlas Copco Appoints New VP/Business Line Manager
Atlas Copco names Jamie Roush as its new vice president/business line manager, Construction Service Division to continue the growth of Atlas Copco’s consumables, parts and service business.
Subaru Receives Club Car Supplier of the Year Award
Subaru Industrial Power Products received the George H. Inman Supplier of the Year award from Club Car during the company's annual Supplier Awards ceremony. Subaru received the award for its excellence in cooperation, product quality and support.
Nonresidential Contractors See Revenue, Profit Grow
Nonresidential construction contractors were confident that sales and profits are in growth mode, according to the Association Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) Construction Confidence Index. Index readings for the first half of the year had sales expectations growing from 67.3 to 69.4 and profit margin expectations moving from 61.0 up to 62.9 – approaching the highest reading in the index’s 3-year history.
Terex Names New CEO
Terex Corporation today named John L. Garrison, Jr. Chief Executive Officer and President effective November 2, 2015. He will also become a member of the Terex Board of Directors effective November 2, 2015. Mr. Garrison will succeed outgoing CEO Ronald M.DeFeo, who will continue to serve as Executive Chairman of the Company through December 31, 2015.
Morbark Adds Bobcat of New Castle as Dealer
Morbark, Inc.added Bobcat of New Castle as the exclusive Morbark tree care products dealer for New Castle county in Delaware. Bobcat of New Castle is owned by the Garden State Bobcat Group, which also owns Morbark dealers Bobcat of Central Jersey and Garden State Bobcat.
Construction Unemployment Lowest in 15 Years
September's unemployment rate for workers with construction experience was the lowest since 2000, according to the AGC. While this means fewer experienced workers are on the sidelines, the association emphasized that hiring is slowing and that's likely because of a lack of available workers. This, in turn, could lead to higher construction costs and slower schedules.
LoJack's Annual Theft Report Released
LoJack Corporation released it's annual Construction Equipment Theft and Recovery in the United States study. The report shows industry trends specific to construction equipment and machinery equipped with the company's Stolen Vehicle Recovery System.
Lower Q4 Outlook from Equipment Leasing & Financing Foundation
The Q4 update on equipment and software investment growth for 2015 dipped to 4.1%, according to the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation's (ELFF) U.S. Economic Outlook. The Foundation lowered its forecast from July's 5 percent growth projection, released in its Q3 Update.
MacKinnon Equipment & Services Joins Morbark, Boxer Dealer Network
Morbark has added MacKinnon Equipment & Services as the exclusive Morbark tree care products dealer for northern and central Florida and southwestern Georgia. MacKinnon also becomes a Boxer Equipment distributor; all North American Boxer distributors have non-exclusive territories.
JCB Global Government, Defense Division Moves to North America
JCB recently relocated its Global Government and Defense Division from the United Kingdom to its North American headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. This strategic move comes on the heels of JCB’s success manufacturing the High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE) for the U.S. Army.
Weber MT Expands in Canada
Weber MT, manufacturer of walk-behind soil compaction equipment, has opened an office in Laval, Quebec. The new location will be managed by the company's office in Bangor, Maine, but will handle customer service inquiries, parts orders and marketing for Canada.
Big Toys at the ICUEE Show
There were a couple of "big kid toys" to capture your attention at the recent ICUEE (International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition) in Louisville last week. Ditch Witch's Super Witch roared to life a couple of times each day and a highlight in Kohler's booth was an "oh-would-I-like-to-have-that" upfitted UTV.
Construction Spending at 7-Year High
An Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) analysis shows construction spending in August reached a seven-year high and climbed at the fastest rate since 2006. Manufacturing, lodging and apartment spending remained strong; office, health care, highway and school segments rebounded, their analysis showed.
Used Equipment Prices, Auction Values Slip
Used equipment prices decreased 0.8% from July values, along with a 7.2% dip in August auction sales of rental and construction equipment tracked by Rouse Services, compared to July values, according to the Rouse Rental Report.
Manitou Americas Announces New VP-Sales & Marketing
Manitou Americas has promoted Eric Burkhammer to Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Burkhammer is responsible for the sales and marketing of the MANITOU, GEHL, MUSTANG and EDGE brands in the US and Canada.
Orion Equipment Acquires Pacific Coast Equipment
Orion Equipment, a Seattle-based, construction equipment dealer representing Liebherr, Kobelco, Wacker Neuson, and Bell Trucks, has announced the purchase of the Pacific Coast Equipment business in Vancouver, Washington, from Ohio-based Company Wrench Ltd.
ICUEE Event Breaks Attendance Record
ICUEE - billed as "The Demo Expo" - drew more than 18,000 attendees, a 13 percent growth over the previous (2013) event, according to the event management. Officially stated as the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition, setting a new attendance record suggests a positive outlook for the market.
Ditch Witch President: "Fairly Bullish" Outlook
If seeing the seven or eight new products introduced at the ICUEE Show wasn’t enough to suggest Ditch Witch was seeing opportunity, the company’s president, Dennis Wierzbicki, made it very clear: “We have a fairly bullish outlook on the market,” he said, pointing out that the company has “a year-to-date (sales) increase in the double digits.”
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