Courtesy Volvo Machinery is parked at a Volvo Rents storefront in Bakersfield, Calif. Related Links: Volvo Goes Modular for Global Markets Where East Meets West, China's Uphill Battle Platinum Equity, the Beverly Hills, Calif.-based corporate takeover specialist, is paying $1.1 billion for the 132-outlet, 2,100-employee Volvo Rents, headquartered in Shippensburg, Pa., as Volvo Group focuses on its core business of equipment manufacturing.The acquisition will result in a $277.2-million fourth-quarter loss for the Swedish-based parent Volvo Group but will reduce overall industrial operations debt. A deal prerequisite entails financing the transaction though a debt offering. The sale is expected to finish
Photos Courtesy of GM The new Chevrolet Colorado is set to rejoin the midsize-pickup category when it comes out next year as a 2015 model. A diesel version is planned for 2016. Related Links: Why Contractors Are Buying Pickup Trucks Like it is 1985 Test Drive: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 After a two-year hiatus, the Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup is returning to U.S. dealerships. Scheduled to arrive in late 2014 as a 2015 model, the truck is based largely on the global Holden Colorado but contains unique styling and equipment. The new Chevy will be joining a small yet important
Tudor Van Hampton for ENR Demand for rented machines, such as this boom lift, has rental fleets gradually replacing units. Related Links: Construction Market Forecast: Slow and Steady For 2014 Tier-4 Emission Controls Push Up Machine Prices for 2014 As construction continues its slow recovery, sales of new construction machines are expected to remain muted next year, with flat to slightly positive movement in 2013, analysts say. The market expects rental companies and dealers that operate rental lots to drive much of the sales, as they did this year.Rentals on the jobsite continue to grow as contractors keep a close
+ Image Click Image to Enlarge Related Links: Where East Meets West, China Hits a Speed Bump Volvo Dials Back Hybrid Wheel Loaders, Citing Cost Concerns Volvo Opens $100-Million Factory Expansion While its acquisition of SDLG has granted Volvo Construction Equipment a crucial foothold in China and emerging markets around the world, Volvo is still looking to grow its global brand."The key here is to understand the dynamics in each and every market ... you need to find a way of meeting the local customers' needs," says Tommy Streipel, head of Volvo CE's wheel-loader product line. "We've seen studies that
Although Sany and other Chinese manufacturers are coming off a major decade of growth in construction-equipment manufacturing they still face hurdles. Many are struggling to gain ground in North America's $25-billion construction- equipment market amid a glut of Chinese equipment.
Photo by Tudor Van Hampton for ENR Manufacturers have spent billions of dollars to make diesel engines meet Tier-4 Final. Related Links: Product Snapshot: Caterpillar's CVT Wheel Loaders Tax Law Changes May Hurt Equipment Sales, Boost Rentals in 2014 Will Tier-4 Engine Challenges Bring New Opportunities? As a January deadline to clean up off-road diesel emissions approaches in the U.S., prices are expected to rise in 2014 to pay for the new technology. However, better fuel economy will help offset the up-front cost."We've looked in every nook and cranny, trying to save fuel," said Bill Campbell, product application specialist for
Related Links: European Vans Invade Work Truck Show Unlike pickup trucks, which have been consistently redesigned to keep up with drivers' demands for greater capability, fuel efficiency and connectivity, full-size vans such as the Chevrolet Express and Ford E-Series have remained relatively unchanged for decades.However, the van landscape is getting a new look for 2014, with the debut of all-new models such as the Ram Pro-Master. According to R.L. Polk data, the number of commercial van offerings has more than doubled in the past six years, with anticipated annual sales of 365,000 units—compared to 155,000 in 2009—and a bump in
Terex Corp. Market uncertainty dragged down sales of new cranes in the third quarter. Related Links: Tax Law Changes May Hurt Equipment Sales, Boost Rentals in 2014 At 2013 ICUEE Show, Utility Contractors Fleet Up A lack of confidence in non-residential construction activity slowed down equipment manufacturers' sales in the third quarter, renewing some analysts' fears the U.S. economy is suffering from a "craneless" recovery, or a scant amount of available infrastructure work requiring heavy earthmoving and lifting machines. Leading indicators, however, show that non-residential activity may soon pick up.Equipment market leader Caterpillar Inc. is experiencing what it describes as
UCR To track emissions in California, test equipment sits atop a Komatsu hybrid excavator. UCR A D7E dozer is tested in California. Related Links: Do Hybrid Construction Machines Pollute More? Volvo Dials Back Hybrid Wheel Loaders, Citing Cost Concerns For Excavators, Hydraulic Is the New Hybrid A two-year study of hybrid construction vehicles reveals that while the machines offer significant savings in fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions, they produce higher levels of smog-forming pollutants than their conventional diesel counterparts. The results have come as a surprise to scientists, who say the machines will require further engineering to integrate their diesel-electric
Photo Courtesy of Bosse Tools Old Tools, New Tricks Stephen Bosse (above) turned to the crowd-funding website Kickstarter to pay for the initial production run of his Ergonomic Shovel design. The makers of the hybrid hammer-prybar Cole-Bar (below) are now negotiating their own manufacturing arrangements after a successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year. Photo Courtesy of Cole-Bar Related Links: Hammer-Crowbar Tool Seeks Boost From Kickstarter Kickstarter The initial idea for the Ergonomic Shovel came from personal experience, says inventor Stephen Bosse. "Shoveling is tough," he says. "You get tired and sore. So I came up with this pen-and-paper design for
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