Tudor Van Hampton Arnold fills up the tank, which is easy to do, but computing mileage is a chore. Tudor Van Hampton Due to the size of the fuel, experts say CNG (shown) is ideal for delivery fleets. LNG is suited to long-distance hauls. As a transportation fuel, natural gas has a lot to offer: It is cheap, abundant and clean. The downsides: lack of available pumps, less power and a higher up-front cost for the vehicle. These are hard to overlook, but fleets are doing just that in an effort to cut their fueling costs.Today, natural gas sells for
Putzmeister America Putzmeister is the market leader for concrete truck pumps outside of China, sources say. Related Links: Chinese Heavy Equipment Digs In Globally Robot Loaders and Massive Pumps Head to Fukushima Sany Heavy Industry Co. Ltd., a China-based manufacturer of concrete pumps and other heavy equipment, has inked a deal to acquire Germany-based Putzmeister Holding GmbH for an undisclosed sum. Believed to be the largest deal between China and Germany, the acquisition aims to create a global juggernaut for concrete-pumping machinery."This merger is a global showcase transaction," said Karl Schlecht, Putzmeister's founder, in a joint statement released on Jan.
The annual World of Concrete show opened its doors in Las Vegas this week with better moods and traffic. The estimated attendance of 50,000 was an improvement over 2011, but 10% less than just two years ago. Photo by Tudor Van Hampton Attendance at this year's World of Concrete is expected to reach 50,000, slightly higher than last year's 48,554. Photo by Tony Illia While some longtime large exhibitors were missing this year, smaller independent dealers picked up the slack. "There is a tinge of optimism," said Ed Sullivan, chief economist for the Skokie, Ill.-based Portland Cement Association, on the first day of
Photo by Tudor Van Hampton Industry analysts say that Chinese manufacturer XCMG has purchased a stake in Schwing, which exhibited at this year's World of Concrete. Related Links: Schwing Exits Chapter 11 Chinese Firms Boost Overseas Spending Chinese manufacturer XCMG has taken out a stake in Germany-based Schwing, industry analysts have told ENR.Details of the deal are sketchy though it is the subject of much talk here at the annual World of Concrete show, held Jan. 24-27 in Las Vegas. Schwing, a large exhibitor at the show, declined to comment."We prefer to communicate directly with our customers, not through the
As the construction industry struggles to grow jobs, Matthew W. Wallace and his company, VRSim Inc., are blazing a new trail for how the industry recruits and trains young people.
AP/Wideworld A pickup truck driver who was texting caused a deadly pileup last year near a highway work zone in Gray Summit, Mo. Fluor-Lane LLC The Capital Beltway initiative along I-495 encourages drivers to hang up their phones when in the construction zone. Related Links: Read NTSB's Recommendations Interactive Map of State Laws Construction firms are getting behind this month's sweeping recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board that calls for a nationwide ban on phoning and texting while driving."From a work-zone perspective, we would be 100% supportive," says Brian Deery, who heads the Associated General Contractors' highway and transportation
Related Links: Terex To Appeal Patent Verdict Link to the '618 Patent The stakes are rising for Terex Corp. and other manufacturers as it soldiers on to defend an important patent-infringement case relating to its line of Powerscreen-brand equipment.A judge in a federal court in New York City on Dec. 9 awarded $31.6 million to Metso Minerals Inc., affirming a jury decision last year and doubling the jury's original award damages of nearly $16 million."All of Terex's motions to overturn the jury verdict were denied," says Michael Stuart, a New York City-based attorney at Cozen O'Connor, Philadelphia, which represents Metso.
The two largest American rental companies are merging.United Rentals Inc. on Dec. 16 inked a deal to buy RSC Holdings Inc. for $1.9 billion. As part of the deal, which United expects to close in the first half of next year, United will also assume $2.3 billion in debt, for a total value of $4.2 billion."This transaction marks a transformative moment in our company's history," says Michael Kneeland, United's president and CEO. "Combining the experience and resources of two top-performing equipment rental companies creates an exceptional company." Kneeland plans to stay in his position after the closing.Erik Olsson, RSC's president
Photo Courtesy of Cummins Inc. Eight ft tall, five ft wide and 14 ft long, this diesel engine will power offshore drills and generator sets. Mining companies want giant haul trucks to carry 500 tons. Today's threshold is 400 tons, and the biggest limitation is the availability of massive tires and engines. Cummins has the second part covered: The company plans to build a new 4,000-horsepower diesel in Seymour, Ind., by 2015.The new QSK95 powerplant "moves Cummins into a significantly higher power class, and we know that many of our customers have been eagerly anticipating us making that move," says
