Critical Path

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You may have heard rumors about Bigge Crane and Rigging Co.'s 7,500-ton super crane. But not until now has the company talked openly about this massive rig.

March 25th marks the 100th anniverary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, the second worst workplace disaster in Manhattan after September 11th. The tragedy, which killed 146 mostly female immigrant garment workers trapped by illegally locked exit doors, was the catalyst for improved labor laws and building codes in the U.S. The anniversary coincides with the recent implementation of a controversial new fire sprinkler code in Pennsylvania.

Two inventors approached me at CONEXPO-CON/AGG today while I was putting in my "at home" time in the McGraw-Hill Construction booth so people who wanted to, could find me. Both had intriguing products and the encounters were delightful.

CEO Ron DeFeo said Terex, a portfolio of niche construction equipment businesses, will achieve $8 billion in net sales by 2013 with a 12% operating margin. "It's been a roller coaster ride, and it will be a steep climb," he adds, "but we have been there before and we can get there again. 

Perhaps the oldest machine on display at this week's CONEXPO-CON/AGG show is a 1:10 scale model replica of the original Otis steam shovel, first built in 1836.

At this week's CONEXPO-CON/AGG show in Las Vegas, vendors and construction attendees alike are reporting that their order books for 2011 are already hitting sales figures for the entire year of 2010.

Many Chinese vendors have quickly moved past the stereotype of the salesperson who eagerly presents you with an offer you can't understand. But some Asian vendors are still lost in translation.

"it's much like the mainframe-to-PC move, predicts one enterprise systems vendor at CONEXPO-CON/AGG as he extols the virtues of cloud computing. "It will happen gradually, but when it reaches the tipping-point, it will happen in a hurry," he says.

After much build-up and fanfare, Deere & Co. on the first day of CONEXPO finally took the wraps off what it was billing as its most important machine ever: A recording studio.

The ribbon-cutting opening ceremonies of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 included industry leaders with traditional giant scissors. But in true Las Vegas style, it also included a rap band singing "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas while they banged on equipment attachments and made noises with a welding torch. See the photos!