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HEADLINES ADDED: June 28, 2008
Owners and Contractors Push To Work Through Uncertainties
With uncertainties growing in cost and availability of key construction components such as contracting capacity, labor and materials, executives of leading industry owners and contractors report big changes in project dynamics that may be long-lasting.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 17, 2008
New Technologies Produce Designer Concrete
One of the many things people don't think about is technological advancement in the composition and use of building materials, and concrete is one of them. How does concrete change, you ask? Hank Hauge, director of technical services for Strata Corporation, a civil engineer and materials supplier, said, "The materials themselves are not new, but the way we put together the proportions is.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 12, 2008
100 Best New Products 2008: Construction Equipment & Tools
These hard-working tools from Milwaukee Tools, Knaack and more were featured in the 2008 100 Best New Products issue.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 09, 2008
Construction Equipment Shipments Still Steady
Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Jim Haughey says that construction equipment orders were sharply higher in the last two months and equipment shipments edged up slightly to highest total in nearly a year and a half based on April activity reports and the annual revision of manufacturing shipments.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 31, 2008
Construction Materials Inflation Continues at Double-Digit Pace
Jim Haughey talks about how Construction materials cost rose 1.2% in April from March with similar increases expected in May and June. And how construction materials costs are expected to increase much faster than overall inflation at least well into next year. The widening inflation gap between construction supplies and the rest of the economy is due to the relatively large share of commodity or lightly processed materials used in construction that are priced in world rather than domestic markets.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 29, 2008
An Underground Revolution
The way the construction industry moves the earth is being revolutionized. Companies such as Caterpillar, Trimble, Spectra Lasers, and Cashman Equipment are facilitating the revolution by supplying earthmoving machinery solutions with cutting-edge components that provide greater accuracy, higher productivity, and more profitability.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 26, 2008
Power Show Ohio
Avariety of agricultural, construction and outdoor power equipment was on display at the 38th annual Power Show Ohio, held recently at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. Sponsored by the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association, the show displayed the latest technology from all three segments of the power equipment industry.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 15, 2008
China Demand for Construction Equipment to Outpace World
Demand for construction equipment will increase 12.7 percent per year through 2011, according to a market research firm, The Freedonia Group... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 12, 2008
Lawn Leaders Inc. Introduces The Dripper Temporary Sprinkler System
The Dripper was developed as a temporary solution for watering newly installed sod or seed, saving the homeowner's time and the aggravation of moving a hose and sprinkler around.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 09, 2008
ProBuilder Product Report: Roofing & Siding
Think outside the box with these new roofing and siding products from Timberline, Follansbee and more.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 02, 2008
Higher, Smaller, More Capacity
That describes the new wave of construction equipment. On any commercial construction site, the array of equipment can be puzzling to passing motorists and ...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 29, 2008
Equipment Demand May be Slipping
US construction equipment manufacturers continue to be in a “maintenance” market as they have been for about a year. Shipment and orders are varying month by month in a very narrow range. They are averaging high enough to avoid discount pricing but not high enough to permit the margins they realized in the 2005-06 equipment boom.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 19, 2008
Protecto Wrap Company
Super Stick Building Tape is Protecto Wrap's strongest high-performance window and door flashing tape to date... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 17, 2008
Equipment Theft Update
Mike Miller, police liaison with LoJack, discusses the recent equipment theft report released by LoJack, gives some tips on how construction business owners can protect their equipment and why construction equipment is a target for thieves.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 16, 2008
Paslode
The T250A-F16 by Paslode is a well-balanced, lightweight finisher with a unique construction and nail delivery system... Read More
ASHRAE creates “net zero” energy building tools
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is intent on developing tools to help designers create “net zero” energy buildings by 2020.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 12, 2008
Mini Skid Steers Reduce Labor Costs
Mini skid steers are appearing on more job sites across the country as contractors discover their exceptional versatility and maneuverability. Landscapers ...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 11, 2008
ProBuilder Product Report: Decking & Patio
Here's a wide variety of new Decking & Patio products from Railing Dynamic, FenceScape and more.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 07, 2008
Maximize Productivity with Versatile Machines
Of all the machines available to landscape contractors, none are more useful than a compact tractor or a compact loader. This equipment is ...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 01, 2008
Mini Skid Steers Reduce Labor Costs
Mini skid steers are appearing on more job sites across the country as contractors discover their exceptional versatility and maneuverability. Landscapers, more than any other industry segment, have embraced the mini skid steer as one small machine, equipped with the right attachments that can perform multiple functions and help to reduce labor needs.... Read More
Maximize Productivity with Versatile Machines
Of all the machines available to landscape contractors, none are more useful than a compact tractor or a compact loader. This equipment is popular with landscape contractors because of its ability to perform so many tasks. From soil preparation to maintaining the finished product, compact loaders and compact tractors help landscapers during any phase of their projects.... Read More
Lawn Leaders Inc. Introduces The Dripper Temporary Sprinkler System
The Dripper was developed as a temporary solution for watering newly installed sod or seed, saving the homeowner's time and the aggravation of moving a hose and sprinkler around.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 26, 2008
Conexpo 2008 exclusive: Moxy displays revised AB510 dump truck
Having considered the customer feedback from Bauma on its AB510 rigid dump truck, Moxy displayed an updated version of the machine at Conexpo. Gone are the angular lines and red paint and in come much smoother and more modern lines along with a yellow livery.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 25, 2008
Innovating Collaboration: Making Thinking Visible in Business
A Design Thinking coach and professional speaker shares how teams in business and non-profits can work together more closely without the usual stress and misunderstandings by using a component of Design Thinking called Making Thinking Visible.... Read More
Duo-Fast
See if your flooring contractor's aim is true with the SureShot Engineered Wood Flooring Tool... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 24, 2008
Conexpo 2008 exclusive: Topcon's 3D-MC2 speeds up grading
Machine control specialist Topcon had a host of new products on display at Conexpo, perhaps the most exciting being its 3D-MC² system, which is said to make grading with a dozer twice as fast and twice as accurate.... Read More
Conexpo 2008 exclusive: Case launches 14 new products
There were some 14 new products on the Case stand although none are destined for the UK. Key highlights from a European perspective were the TX1055, the fourth of Case’s telehandlers to be upgraded.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 23, 2008
Construction Material Costs Hardly Budge in Latest Quarter
The increase in RSMeans’ January 2008 Construction Cost Index (CCI) was 3.6% versus January 2007. The total CCI is based on a national 30-city average. Included with this report are charts showing the year-over-year results, back to January 1999, for 49 major cities in the United States. The annualized change in total material costs in the latest quarter was only +0.4%. The latest annualized change in labor costs was +3.5%, a figure that has not changed much over the last several quarters.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 18, 2008
Construction Material Costs Hardly Budge in Latest Quarter
The increase in RSMeans’ January 2008 Construction Cost Index (CCI) was 3.6% versus January 2007. The total CCI is based on a national 30-city average. Included with this report are charts showing the year-over-year results, back to January 1999, for 49 major cities in the United States. The annualized change in total material costs in the latest quarter was only +0.4%. The latest annualized change in labor costs was +3.5%, a figure that has not changed much over the last several quarters.... Read More
Why are diesel fuel prices rising so fast?
The energy department just reported that diesel fuel pump prices soared to $3.82 /gal. last week . This is $0.16 more than a week earlier and also is more than double the price rise for gasoline. But this spike in diesel prices is not due to cold winter and accompanying extra demand for heating oil as has happened many times in the past. This time the villains are foreign car buyers and domestic environmentalists.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 06, 2008
Underground Technology Spotlighted At UCT Conference And Exhibition
The latest in underground construction technology was in the spotlight in Atlanta recently during the 2008 Underground Construction Technology International Conference and Exhibition, held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Among the highlights of the four-day event was a broad lineup of educational sessions and seminars covering a variety of topics of interest to the underground utility c...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 18, 2008
Leasing Heavy Construction Equipment
(Edited by Loren Faulkner) Despite an ever-changing economy, equipment leasing might provide a simple solution to grow your business. Think: Fair Market Value Lease, Dollar Buy Out Lease and Commercial Leasing. Capital is key in order to operate a successful business, especially when the economy is as fickle as it is today.... Read More
Rock Trenching Opens Door To Growth
Here's a look at how the decision to buy specialized equipment opened the door to business growth for a Tennessee contractor. There was a time when some folks in Lebanon, Tenn., were concerned that Eddie Conrad had gone a little crazy. His company, Conrad Construction, was primarily in the business of building roads.... Read More
Equipment Acquisition Options
With new technology available, contractors have another method to acquire construction equipment: online buying. Although no figures have been published, the number of contractors buying equipment and tools online is rising, based on website hits. At Molstad Excavating in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Drew Molstad, president of the company, said he thinks the equipment business is changing because...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 17, 2008
Point! Click! Sold!
The construction business is tough, especially on equipment: It takes a beating at all points on the construction cycle. Sometimes it's in the best interest of contractors to make equipment productive as long as possible before replacing it for newer makes or models. However, many contractors are in the market today for used, reliable equipment and want the best deal possible.... Read More
This Truck Supplier Knows Contractors
Rick Pogue of Arrowhead Building Supply in St. Louis knows what contractors want when it comes to service truck fleets. Pogue, liaison to Arrowhead’s president, has been in the business of outfitting trucks for contractors for 11 years, and he learned about the roofing business from the best — his father, Arrowhead President Jerry Pogue.... Read More
Getting the Truck Job Done
When it comes to service trucks in the construction business, it’s all about “getting the job done” at General Motors. And this year, GM has a new lineup of full-size pickups, hardworking vans, chassis cabs and cutaways, and medium-duty models for contractors to choose from.... Read More