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Highway and bridge construction rises in August
According to McGraw Hill Construction, new construction starts in August dropped nine percent, bringing construction activity back to its normal pace after July’s boost in energy-related manufacturing projects. Despite this fact, both highway and bridge construction experienced gains in the month of August. Nonresidential building dropped 19 percent to $184.9 billion, with commercial building gaining 6 percent, store construction advancing to 27 percent and institutional building reaching 12 percent. Nonbuilding construction dropped 12 percent at $120.1 billion, with the public works group down 6 percent. However, gains were reported for both highways and bridges, with highways up 7 percent and bridges up 9 percent. Residential building grew 2 percent to $235.6 billion, caused mainly by multifamily housing raising to 10 percent. Although multifamily housing increased, single family housing fell 1 percent. Finally, there was an overall 4 percent increase for total construction from January to August. The Dodge Index now stands at 114, compared to 126 in July. Keep Reading
Global Construction Aggregates Market report notes 2013 highlights
The Global Construction Aggregates Market report valued the U.S. at $106.4 billion in 2013. According to the report, Asia-Pacific was the largest regional market, accounting for 44.9 percent of the global market, followed by Europe with a 26.3 percent share and North America with a 20.3 percent share. The report also notes that demand for infrastructure, residential, commercial and industrial construction in developing countries such as China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia is supporting the market’s expansion. In 2013, the U.S. had the largest market in North American construction aggregates, with a 92.7 percent share, with Canada holding the remaining shares, says the report. China held the largest share of the Asia-Pacific market with a 70.1 percent share, while France accounted for the largest market share in Europe at 17.9 percent. In the Latin American construction aggregates market, Mexico held the largest share at 44.3 percent, and in the Middle Eastern market, which was the smallest regional market in 2013, the UAE was the largest market with a share… Keep Reading
Firms consider bids for Lafarge-Holcim portfolio, sources say
A number of firms are considering a bid for the assets that Lafarge and Holcim must sell in order to remain ahead of competition, say two sources aware of the situation in an article on Reuters. In addition to this, four sets of private equity firms are interested in bidding on the entire portfolio, with bids valued from 5 to 7 billion euros, the sources add. The four sets of companies include Blackstone, Cinven and Canadian pension fund CPP; Advent and BC Partners; CVC and three other limited partners; and Bain, Onex and another limited partner. According to the article, the Larfarge-Holcim merger would create the world’s top cement group with $44 billion in yearly sales, which would reduce costs and debt. Because the duo wants to sell assets for Holcim’s French activities, Lafarge’s German ones and other operations in Austria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Britain, Canada, the Philippines, Mauritius and Brazil, competition regulators throughout 15 different countries are considering the bids. The companies now hold a combined stock market value… Keep Reading
CEMA releases semi-annual industry report
The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) released its semi-annual industry report, which shows that overall industry orders for the first six months of 2014 increased 2.59 percent compared to the same period in 2013, with total orders of $5.32 billion. CEMA also estimates that industry billed sales for the first six months of 2014 increased 5.82 percent compared to the same period in 2013, with total shipments up $5.35 billion. The association now forecasts a 5 percent increase in shipments in 2014, coming up from a predicted 2 percent increase in March. Keep Reading
Trimble Dimensions Conference introduces aggregates track
The 2014 Trimble Dimensions Conference, hosted by Trimble and Loadrite, will include an aggregates track. After acquiring Loadrite, Trimble has increased its dedication to expanding productivity improvement within the Aggregates Industry. Those participating in the aggregates track will have the opportunity to explore how technology can help improve operational performance and capture the information needed to optimize extraction, production and load-out times. The sessions, each of which will include a classroom presentation, are aimed at identifying how technology can help aggregate industry workers improve their performance, drive continuous improvement, reduce costs, increase revenue and boost customer satisfaction. The conference, which takes place Nov. 3-5, will also include a speech from Mike Johnson, the president and CEO of NSSGA, as well as 400 sessions across multiple tracks and product demonstrations. Keep Reading
FLSmidth opens service center in Mexico
FLSmidth opened its new service center in Zacatecas— its first center in Mexico. Around 200 individuals attended the opening, including Zacatecas State Governor Miguel Alonso Reyes, Secretary of Economy and Social Development Patricia Salinas and Mayor Ingeniero Horacio Franco. Rather than cutting a ribbon to celebrate the opening, the company managers planted a tree to symbolize future growth. “FLSmidth’s service centers and supercenters represent a forward-thinking step in customer service because of the unique and specific ways each local center can interact with the particular needs of the customer in its immediate area,” says Romy Gibbons, FLSmidth’s global supercenter director. “This includes everything from the convenience and availability of services and parts to training programs and job creation for members of the local community.” FLSmidth operates a number of service centers around the world, including Australia, South Africa, Chile, Peru, USA and Mexico. Keep Reading
Tracey Road Equipment new dealer for Liebherr
Tracey Road Equipment has agreed to become a dealer for Liebherr’s full line of earthmoving and material handling equipment. Tracey’s corporate office in Syracuse, as well as its four other offices in Albany, Binghamton, Rochester and Watertown, will provide sales and service support to Liebherr customers in the area. “We believe that Tracey's commitment to providing exceptional service and customer satisfaction will strengthen our competitive presence in the New York area providing the level of support our customers expect,” says Peter Mayr, president of Liebherr. Keep Reading
Liebherr renews partnership with American State Equipment
Liebherr Construction renewed its 40-year partnership with American State Equipment, which will help expand Liebherr's presence in the Midwest. American State Equipment, Liebherr’s longest standing dealer in the United States, has agreed to distribute Liebherr’s earthmoving and material handling equipment in Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, as well as in Illinois for its subsidiary company, Finkbiner Equipment. “American State Equipment’s dedication has played an important role on our journey to reach and serve our customers in the Midwest region,” says Peter Mayr, president of Liebherr. American State Equipment operates five branches in the Midwest, including Milwaukee, Wausau, Little Chute, Minneapolis/ St. Paul and Duluth and also owns Finkbiner Equipment, located in Chicago. “We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership in the years ahead,” says Mayr. Keep Reading
FMI outlook says economy slowly improving
FMI released its Q3-2014 Construction Outlook, which anticipates slow growth in the economy. This forecast is attributed to the relatively low energy prices, low inflation, unemployment holding around 6.2 percent and GDP slowly growing. In addition to this, consumers are obtaining building permits, housing bounced back in July and banks are lending again. The report says sectors such as power, conservation, development and transportation will continue to see growth ahead of GDP, but water supply, sewage, waste disposal, and highway and street construction will be weaker due to low government spending. The outlook also predicts residential construction growth, with multifamily construction expected to grow at a pace of 13 percent in 2015. It also says that the office forecast is expected to reach 8 percent growth in 2014 and an additional 7 percent in 2015. Manufacturing is expected to end up 6 percent in 2014 and grow an additional 8 percent in 2015. Finally, transportation construction has grown 7 percent in 2014. Keep Reading
