http://cinn.aem.org Industry News en-us Copyright 2013 Association of Equipment Manufacturers. All Rights Reserved. Sat, 18 May 2013 09:47:40 GMT http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57699 Transurban-Fluor and AAA Mid-Atlantic have published an alarming report on distracted driving on the busy I-95 highway in Northern Virginia in the US. The two bodies have launched a regional campaign focused on reducing distracted driving in the 95 Express Lanes construction zone. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57698 Infrastructure projects valued at US$244.23 million (PHP 10bn) have been introduced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Metro Manila region of the Philippines. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57697 Agricultural industries contributed $37.9 billion to Indiana's economy in 2011, according to a new report from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57696 Donaldson Company's 2013 third quarter financial results show a decline in sales, but a record operating margin of 15.9%. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57695 The European Rental Association has made some small revisions to its European rental growth estimates for 2013 and 2014, slightly increasing the current year estimate from 0.8% to 1.0% and moderating growth next year to 2.2% from the previously forecast 2.5%. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57694 Construction output across all European member states (EU27) dropped 7.2% year-on-year in March and 7.9% within the Eurozone, according to the latest data from Eurostat. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57693 The construction fatality rate is declining faster in Texas than most other states according to a new analysis of federal safety data conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the state's construction fatality and injury rates have declined as many contractors have spent much of the past decade focusing on improving workplace safety. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57692 Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has inaugurated a news 20,660 m2 excavator factory in Kaluga, Russia. The SEK 350 million (US$ 52 million) facility is Volvo CE's first factory in Russia, its seventh to produce excavators and is one of 16 production plants worldwide. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57691 Volvo Rents, a worldwide provider of small-to-medium sized construction equipment, has opened a new rental center in Selma, Texas. This is the latest move in the company's continued expansion of its Texas rental business portfolio, increasing its statewide total to 12 rental centers. It also comes on the heels of a recent report by the Associated General Contractors of America that says Texas leads the nation in the increase of construction jobs. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57690 Consumer confidence rose in May to the highest level in almost six years as an advancing stock market and cheaper gas prices helped lift Americans' outlook on the economy. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57688 Indications are that legislators will waste no time in taking up the farm bill drafts on both the Senate and House floors. The version approved by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee on Tuesday was introduced later that day on the Senate floor as S. 954. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57689 The Senate Wednesday voted 83-14 in support of the Water Resources Development Act, a bill that authorizes Army Corps projects on major inland waterways in the United States, and includes a provision that partially alleviates EPA fuel storage restrictions. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57687 A correction from an unsustainably high level of production on the volatile multifamily side was largely responsible for a 16.5 percent dip in nationwide housing starts to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 853,000 units in April, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. However, permits for new construction headed solidly higher in the month, with a particularly strong gain in multifamily issuance. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57686 Mahindra USA, Inc. is proud to announce the winners of its 2012 / 2013 scholarship program benefiting young women studying agriculture, the "Mahindra Tractors' Women in Ag Scholarships." Since 2007, Mahindra USA has sponsored the Women in Ag Scholarship Program to recognize the important role that women play in the future of the agricultural industry. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57685 After several long hours of debate, the House Agriculture Committee passed a new five-year farm bill, H.R. 1947, late tonight by a 36-10 vote margin. The measure reforms or eliminates more than 100 programs, including the elimination of direct payments that have been the mainstay of the farm safety net for almost two decades. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57684 Ditch Witch of Georgia recently acquired its third location, adding Ditch Witch of Albany to the existing facilities in Savannah and Atlanta (Forest Park). The company, owned by the Ditch Witch factory, is Charles Machine Works Inc., located in Perry, Okla. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57682 Net income attributable to Deere & Company was $1.084 billion, or $2.76 per share, for the second quarter ended April 30, compared with $1.056 billion, or $2.61 per share, for the same period last year. For the first six months of the year, net income attributable to Deere & Company was $1.734 billion, or $4.41 per share, compared with $1.589 billion, or $3.91 per share, last year. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57680 The World Bank has approved two financing packages worth a total of US$ 318 million to support road improvement projects and low income housing development in India. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57679 List growth is a perennial top priority for email marketers. Today, it's even more important to grow your list with quality sales leads to keep your messages in your readers' priority inboxes and to lessen the risk that an ISP will block your messages because of outdated, nonfunctioning, or bogus email addresses. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57678 New transport infrastructure in Russia will be created from a US$4.178 billion (RUB 130bn) federal budget pot for boosting transport, energy supply, communications, utilities, and safety infrastructure ahead of the country hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57676 An estimated 34,080 people died in road accidents in the United States in 2012, up 5.3% on the year before, according to a new report from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57675 Rental revenues were $6.7 million, up 29% from $5.2 million, and product support revenues totaled $30.2 million compared to $29.6 million from the same period in the prior year. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57674 Industrial production declined in April by the most in eight months, reflecting broad-based cutbacks in U.S. manufacturing (IPMGCHNG) that show factories will provide little support for the economy. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57672 Bobcat Company has officially broken ground on its $20 million renovation and expansion to create the Acceleration Center in Bismarck, N.D. When complete, the Acceleration Center will be a modern complex for advancing innovation where professionals utilize technology and modern design to ensure the position of Bobcat as the leader in the compact equipment industry. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57671 The recession across the 17-nation eurozone has continued into a sixth quarter, figures show. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57669 During the fourth quarter of 2012, Southeastern Management, a large mutual fund managed by billionaire Mason Hawkins, initiated a position of 1.5 million shares in CNH Global, a $10 billion market cap manufacturer of farm and construction machinery. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57683 Boom truck sales and improved commercial activity were the major reasons behind an increase in Manitex's revenues for the first quarter of 2013. The company reported that net revenues rose 39% to a record $59.6m, compared with $42.8m in 2012. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57673 CNH Parts & Service, the product support division of agricultural and construction equipment maker CNH Global N.V., has announced plans to invest more than $13 million to equip and lease a new facility at 210 South Enterprise Drive in Lebanon, Ind., in the Lebanon Business Park. Once fully operational and staffed, the new facility is expected to support 100 new area jobs. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57667 Ecuador's transport and public works ministry (MTOP) has launched a tender for the rehabilitation of the 44km Cuenca-Biblián express highway. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57681 Finning International Inc. reported quarterly revenues of $1.6 billion, an 8 percent increase over Q1 2012. Strong revenue growth in South America more than offset lower revenues from Canada and the UK and Ireland. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57677 Gov. Robert F. McDonnell on Monday ceremonially signed the landmark transportation-funding bill that will generate $1.4 billion a year for Virginia roads, highways and rail. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57666 Construction of Mexico-Puebla highway's second level will start in early 2014, according to the head of the Communications and Transport Ministry, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57664 Deutz AG has recently presented its financial results for the first quarter of 2013, reporting a sharp rebound in its volume of new orders. This represents a continuation of the encouraging trend that first emerged in the previous quarter. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57662 Creditors of Ahern Rentals had until 4.00pm Pacific Time on Monday 13 May to vote on the two Chapter 11 restructuring plans on offer, one from Ahern Rentals itself and the other by a group of noteholders. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57661 According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturer's monthly "Flash Report," the sale of all tractors in the U.S. for April, 2013, were up 6% compared to the same month last year. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57659 Fiat Industrial has opened a new agricultural machinery and engine plant in Córdoba, Argentina. The investment is part of a U$ 130 million plan the company announced in 2011. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57655 Industrial production in China recorded a smaller-than-expected rise in April, underlining worries that the economy may be losing steam. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57653 Farm bill debates in the House and Senate Ag Committees will begin this week - May 14 in the Senate and May 15 in the House. Senate leaders would like to bring the bill to the floor before the end of the month, but the floor debate in the House will probably be delayed until late summer or even later. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57656 Harry Olson said he'd known it was time to quit for a couple of months. On Friday, he announced he was selling Waterloo Implement Inc., a three-store chain of John Deere dealerships, to Enid, Okla.-based Deere dealer P&K Equipment. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57652 The Board of Directors of Finning International is announced ay 8, 2013, the appointment of Scott Thomson as president and CEO, succeeding Mike Waites, effective June 17, 2013. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57665 Stock prices for companies in the AEM Construction Equipment Index rose last week – nine out of ten companies in the index had higher stock prices on May 10 compared to closing prices on May 3. The AEM Construction Equipment Stock Index rose 2.2 percent for the week ending May 10. The S&P 500 Average Index rose 1.2 percent. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57658 Major developments happened overnight in the Caterpillar contract talks.Those talks have stopped between the company and its union workers, and neither side agreed to schedule new meetings.The existing contract for 800 Caterpillar workers expired 10 days ago.Last week, the union rejected the company's six-year contract proposal by an overwhelming majority. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57657 State transportation officials released a new plan April 29 to delay reconstruction work on southeastern Wisconsin's freeways and scale back road aid to local governments in hopes of closing a looming deficit in the state's transportation fund. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57654 The number of U.S. housing markets showing sustained improvement in three key measures fell slightly to 258 in May from 273 in April, according to the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI). This total includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57651 In Indonesia major road development plans are in hand for Papua, with an expansion of the network being set out. The Ministry of Public Works has detailed its strategic programme for Papua which includes the development of 11 roads totalling 37,499km in all. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57650 Japan-based equipment manufacturer Kubota is bullish on prospects for 2014 after reporting increases in revenues and net income for the fiscal year to 31 March, 2013. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57649 Employment in the construction industry bottomed in 2011. Here's a look at the 10 states with the biggest percentage gains and declines in construction jobs since then. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57645 Farm groups Thursday welcomed the Senate Agriculture Committee's release of the 2013 Farm Bill draft, which appears in many ways to be similar to last year's Senate-passed bill. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57663 Ten years ago, a list of myths about manufacturing would have started with the humdinger that we no longer make anything in America. But behind the efforts of MAPI, the National Association of Manufacturers, the White House and others, many more Americans are familiar with the continued dynamism of this nation's factory sector. Still, myths abound. http://www.aem.org/News/CINN/Articles/Article.asp?A=57660 Caterpillar's Chief Technology Officer Gwenne Henricks recently testified before the Senate Commerce Committee and urged lawmakers to support manufacturing and highly-skilled immigrants in whatever form of immigration reform is passed into law.