In one of the biggest investments in automation by the rental industry, United Rentals on Dec. 17 announced that it has entered into a partnership with 5D Robotics to install automation systems on equipment in its rental yards.
The investigation into a September crane collapse in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has reportedly resulted in five indictments, including officials at lead contractor Saudi Binladen Group.
Recognizing that skid-steers are often used in settings where the operator either has an obstructed view or may be at risk, Caterpillar has developed RemoteTask, an aftermarket remote-control package for its D-Series skid-steer multi-terrain and compact track loaders.
Edwin “Ed” Malzahn, who invented the first compact trenching machine and built his family company into global manufacturer Charles Machine Works on the success of his “Ditch Witch,” died Dec. 11. He was 94.
As the world's largest construction equipment trade exposition, the Bauma show draws in half a million people to Munich every three years to see the latest developments in heavy iron. But attendees to the show on April 11-17 next year will also see a renewed focus on mining equipment, according to show organizers.
The future of wearable technology for the construction industry conjures up images of workers covered in clunky machinery—hydraulically powered exosuits multiplying the wearers’ strength, while gleaming visors with information-dense heads-up displays block their vision.
