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Equipment leasing association shares its 2015 outlook
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) expects 2015 to be a breakout year for the U.S. economy, with overall growth expected to top 3 percent. Although ELFA says 3 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth was the average pace of growth between 1970 and 2007, the association adds that the U.S. economy has not attained this rate since 2005. The association says mining and oilfield machinery will likely slow or potentially experience negative growth in investments over the next three to six months, given recent declines in oil prices. In addition, ELFA expects investments in construction machinery to moderate over the first two quarters of the new year. The association does not anticipate much to change in trucking investments over the next three to six months. Materials handling equipment investment growth may also experience some moderation over the next three to six months, ELFA says, while all other industrial equipment investments will likely remain strong over the same period. Keep Reading
Kaman sells its Mexican distribution subsidiary
Kaman Corp. sold its Mexico business unit, Delamac de Mexico S.A. de C.V., to Rodamientos y Accesorios S.A. de C.V. (RYASA) of Mexico. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We did not have sufficient scale in Mexico to achieve our long-term targeted profitability goals and believe the operation will be better aligned with RYASA," says Steven Smidler, executive vice president and distribution segment president. "We are grateful to the employees of Delamac for their commitment and service to Kaman and believe the new ownership will be beneficial for all parties." Keep Reading
NSSGA to discuss how to mitigate fatigue risk during webinar
The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) is hosting a webinar Monday, Jan. 15 on mitigating fatigue risk. The one-hour webinar begins at 1 p.m. EST. Anyone interested can sign up for the webinar here. According to NSSGA, nearly half of all shift workers nod off while working at least once per week. The webinar will teach attendees how to pull together people, processes and technologies to establish zero-incident performances. NSSGA says attendees will also learn about technologies that are used to generate safety-related data and how systems engage all levels of the organization in mitigating fatigue risk. Keep Reading
Poll: Majority of Americans still oppose gas tax increase
Transportation advocates continue to lobby for a variety of potential solutions to address the shortfall in federal highway funds, but a gas tax increase remains unlikely to emerge as the solution to the funding dilemma. According to SKDKnickerbocker and Benenson Strategy Group, two-thirds of Americans are against increasing the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gas tax. SKDKnickerbocker and Benenson Strategy Group conducted a survey this month to derive the information, releasing their finding in a report titled, "Beyond The Beltway: Insights Initiative." "Despite the fact that a majority of voters support more funding for road and bridge repair and believe it will help the economy, two-thirds of voters oppose increasing the gas tax to sustain the fund for a longer time,” the report reads. The gas tax, which has been a key source of funding for federal transportation projects across the United States, has not experienced an increase in more than 21 years. Keep Reading
Lafarge-Holcim merger closer to completion
The European Commission found the proposed merger between Lafarge and Holcim to be in line with the European Union's merger regulation. According to the commission, the decision is conditional upon the divestment of Lafarge businesses in Germany, Romania and the United Kingdom, and Holcim operations in the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain. The commission says it had concerns that the transaction, as originally structured, would have had detrimental effects on competition in a number of European markets. But the commitments Lafarge and Holcim made addressed those concerns. The commission adds that the merged company would have faced insufficient competitive pressure from the remaining competitors in a number of markets. This would have brought a risk of price rises, the commission adds. So Lafarge and Holcim committed to divesting most of their operations where their activities overlap. Still, Lafarge and Holcim will not be allowed to officially close their deal until the European Commission approves the buyers of the assets the companies made available. Keep Reading
W.S. Tyler to address customers’ technical inquiries through technology team
W.S. Tyler formed a process equipment technology team to gives its customers the fast track to specialized equipment answers. The team is made up of six W.S. Tyler employees, including Duncan High, who leads the team. Michael Hines, Michael Honea, Pike Wang, Brian Milne and Dianne Donofrio are also on the process equipment technology team. W.S. Tyler says it can pull together its team members from the application, engineering and commercial departments in circumstances that require customization. The team works directly with the customer and/or the company’s sales representatives and dealers. If a customer requires an in-person visit, W.S. Tyler says a process equipment technology team member can be at their site within two days. “We want to assist every customer and help them boost their efficiency and profit as much as possible for their individual operation,” High says. “Because we have extensive experience with W.S. Tyler’s product offerings, from washing to screening to pelletizing, we know what questions to ask so we can point our customers in the right… Keep Reading
Associate editor, Buyers’ Guide manager join Pit & Quarry team
Pit & Quarry continues to add to its staff, adding an associate editor in Megan Wilkinson, a 2014 graduate of Kent State University. Wilkinson earned a bachelor's degree in magazine journalism. She has experience with two other business magazines and two daily newspapers over the last three years. She'll also be working on Pit & Quarry sister publication Portable Plants & Equipment. Chloe Kalin also joined Pit & Quarry as marketing and sales manager for the magazine's Buyers' Guide. Kalin has 10 years of experience with sales and customer service in the retail and hospitality industries, with the last five years in a management role. She'll be working on PP&E's Buyers' Guide, as well. Keep Reading
NSSGA offering noise, dust workshop at AGG1
The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association's (NSSGA) Noise and Dust Workshop will co-locate with the 2015 AGG1 Academy & Expo. According to NSSGA, the workshop will begin March 19 – the last day of AGG1 – and run through March 21. “Co-locating with AGG1 offers major value to participants," says Joe Casper, NSSGA's vice president of safety. "Prior to the start of the class, they can take advantage of the additional educational opportunities provided by the AGG1 Academy, including a number of classes in the Environment, Safety and Health Track.” According to Casper, the Noise and Dust Workshop offers a hands-on opportunity to better monitor and mitigate sound and air hazards to protect workers. Rocky McKinney of the MSHA Academy will lead the workshop at both the Baltimore Convention Center and Bluegrass Materials’ Texas Quarry, the site of the AGG1 Quarry Tour. Casper urged those considering the workshop to sign up quickly. The class is limited to the first 20 registrants. Keep Reading
Another state pursuing road-use highway funding system
The state of Oregon passed the first bill in the United States establishing a road use charge system for transportation funding last year. Now, the state of Washington is attempting to follow in its neighbor's footsteps. According to KING 5 News, the Washington State Transportation Commission is expected to approve a pilot project that's designed to charge drivers for every mile they travel on public roads. A road use charge would eventually replace the Washington state gas tax that has reportedly been bringing in less revenue in recent years because of the increase in electric and hybrid vehicles on the road. GPS devices would track miles driven, and charges would be delivered based on that data. The pilot project is expected to begin in 2016. Full implementation would not begin until 2018, King 5 News reports. In addition, four options would be available to Washington drivers. Drivers could be charged a flat fee that gives them limitless miles on the road. They could also have a GPS installed in their… Keep Reading
