eq magazine april 2011

ContraCtor’s Profile: exCePtional Caliber and business aCumen HelPs build a business

Skid-Steer round-uPexPo Preview:Get aCquainted witH two Great exPos tHis aPril

sPeCial rePort: Japanese Crisis, manufacturers expect Production delays

www.eq-mag.com MAGAZINEAPRIL 2011

ConstruCtion EquipmEnt salEs

ExpECtEd to rEaCh 2007 lEvEls pagE13

INDUSTRY NEWS

Follow Ustwitter.com/eqbulletin

10 tiPs for

motivatinG

emPloyees

april 2011 - www.eq-mag.com equipment magazine pagE 3

IN THIS ISSUE

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SERVICE AREA

Skid-Steer round-up:Skid Steer - GroWinG

to Be tHe nuMero uno CHoiCe For

ContrACtorS

18

7. advertiser index

8. Contractor’s profile: Exceptional Caliber and Business

acumen helps Build a Business

10. office matters: 10 tips for motivating Employees

12. industry news

14. Expo preview: get acquainted with two great Expos

this april

16. safety roundup

22. product news

27. Construction marketplace

SpeCiAl report:JApAneSe CriSiS,

MAnuFACturerS expeCt produCtion delAyS

www.eq-mag.com - april 2011pagE 4 equipment magazine

ADVERTISER INDEX

C

Central Equipment Sales .........2Construction Marketplace ......27Crawler WeldingRoose MFGWeisz EquipmentWisconsin Surplus Online AuctionTruck Utilities

Crysteel Truck Equipment ........6

Kohls - Weelborg Truck Center ...28

MMidland Equipent...21

NNichelson Oil Inc. ...................27

Northstar Truck Sales .............26P

Pioneer Rim & Wheel ..............11

R

RMS Rentals .......................3, 21

S

Suburban Chevrolet ..................................5Sidney Manufacturing ........................13

ZZip's ..........................................7


CoNTRACToR'S PRofIlE

What made Shane Ormon a native of Clinton, the name to be reckoned with in the con-struction business is no se-

cret. From the very beginning Shane Ormon possessed exceptional caliber and business acumen, which helped him to become suc-cessful in the construction business. After taking mechanical drawing at Clinton High School, Ormon interest grew in architecture. That's the reason why after graduation he attended architecture school for two years. It was in the University of Southern Missis-sippi he earned his bachelor degree in ar-chitectural engineering. Ormon now feels satisfied that he shifted and focused at the construction end at the young age when he was studying.

The high caliber contractor revealed that living in different places and his penchant for making friends easily helped him improve his business performance in the construc-tion business. Shane described construc-

tion business as a people business. His background in drawing came handy which also helped his clients to save their time, as he was able to finish all the projects in time.

After having spent 25 years in the con-struction industry Ormon is now a veteran in the construction business. He owe the credit of where he is today to his sheer hard work, and perseverance. All the experience and exposure in the field helped Shane Or-mon to start his own construction company called Shane Ormon Construction Manage-ment & Design Inc. in 1999. The contractor said establishing his own company was his long time cherished goal. But before starting his own company, Ormon worked in various high tech projects and got a lot of expo-sure. For example, Orman worked at Law's Construction and Rouse Construction. He also spent his 14 fruitful years with Peoples Construction Company and worked on proj-ects like management, estimating and de-sign. Ormon felt that, it was the support of

People's Construction and his unflinching faith which gave him the confidence to start his own company. When Ormon started his company, at that time construction manage-ment was the new buzz word. Initially, he undertook turnkey jobs which helped him to get the assignments from architects and engineers.

Shane has described his company as an “owner oriented” general contractor firm having in-depth knowledge within the building industry which offers advanced construction capabilities. Having an “owner oriented” tag line helps people know that all the projects undertaken by the company would be completed within the stipulated period and within the budget. The contrac-tor assures that he completes all the work wholeheartedly and beyond the expecta-tions of the client. With so much experience in the field Shane Ormon CM&D, Inc. touts that whether the work relates to commercial building, renovation, construction manage-

ExcEptional calibEr and businEss acumEn

Helps Build a Business


ment or design, the company has got supe-rior knowledge in this field and can deliver exceptional results.

As of now things are unfolding smoothly in his company located in Clinton, though he usually work within a 60 mile radius of Clinton including in the towns of Jackson, Ridgeland and Canton. Orman now has his own team of construction supervisors who are working diligently so as to get more rec-ognition. Earlier, Ormon had revealed that he has plans for expansion of his business and looks for a turnover of $10 million range for gross sales per year. The first project which Ormon's company completed was that of a day care facility, the Neighborhood Nanny, the project costed around $500,000 to com-plete.

The contractor takes everything easy and starts working on the assignment as soon as a preliminary plan is chosen. Before starting any work Ormon makes it a point to work with an architect having any project over 5000-square feet only. Ormon says he feels satisfied and it is a rewarding experi-ence and pride to see the landmark build-ing finished in time he was responsible for. It gives him a sense of pride when he passes through the building he constructed with sheer hard work and dedication. The $2.5 million YMCA building in Clinton is one such building, chuckle Ormon.

Elaborating more about his favorite proj-ect of YMCA building, the contractor re-vealed YMCA's 35,000-sq-ft Clinton Well-ness Center has two floors, an indoor track and pool, weight room and cardiovascular facility. The exterior of the building are made of split face block. Other features of the project which set it apart from its counter-part include usage of abundance glass and a recessed porch. Ormon said as he was a former board member of YMCA, so naturally he wanted to do something for this center as a goodwill gesture. On this particular proj-ect, 45 workers worked on different phases. Besides this project also had 16 subcon-tractors who worked in areas like masonry and electrical. In this particular project Or-man used, a Grove TMS 540 which was the largest piece of heavy equipment for this job. He hired this equipment from Jackson, MS based Peoples Construction, who was Ormon's former employer.

Ormon stated that the most challenging aspect of his job at YMCA was that of three pools and the foundation. In an effort to give an exciting look, three pools, an indoor lap pool and two hot tub spas all were to be integrated with the foundation design of the building. However, work related to elec-

trical, plumbing and pools made all these things complicated. The unique feature of this facility included the complicated indoor Mondo rubberized track which Ormon solely handled. Chuck Engle, branch manager of the YMCA stated that Mondo is the official provider of all tracks and equipment for the track and field competitions at the upcom-ing Olympics. The company is also the of-ficial surface provider for the volleyball com-petitions.

Some other imminent projects of the con-tractor include 17,000-square-foot Home-land Security Building near the airport in Pearl. 10,000-Square-foot medical clinic for Dr. Wayne Woo in Flowood, 58,000-square-foot retail center, Trace Station on U.S. 51 in Ridgeland, 10,000- Square-foot medical clinic for Dr. Wayne Woo in Flowood, Clin-ton Family Care Clinic, Taxidermy Clinic, Ridgeland, MS, Cynthia Strip Center, Clinton shopping center and a Mexican restaurant.

Ormon while emphasizing more about the construction business laments that in construction field everything is not smooth

there are some problems also. Like some of the hurdles in this business include not get-ting paid promptly, leaks at odd points which crop up in the building and which are hard to find. Sometimes rain was responsible for delaying various projects. Plumbing system in a building is also a costly affair. A small damage sometimes turns out to be an ex-pensive affair, and therefore it is essential to constantly check the plumbing system even after the final work has been completed and handed over so that a client is satisfied. As in the long run it is the credibility which will count, feels Ormon. Plumbing is another technical job which is usually handled by experienced plumbers; it needs to be moni-tored on a consistent basis.

Ormon further said that other problems contractors usually face include masonry, for example all building material swells and shrivels due to changes in temperature. Sometime concrete block cures and water evaporates, due to shrinkage. Clay brick also absorb moisture and expands perma-nently. Escalating cost of materials like con-crete, steel and drywall, equipments and on top of this rising fuel cost has become a

way of life and it badly affects the construc-tion industry. It is a pity sometimes at the end of this all these costs is passed on to consumers, added Ormon. If you compare the cost of material, fuel prices etc., in the recent past you will come to know that how the cost has augmented as far as construc-tion material like steel, concrete, lumber, dirt and other materials is concerned. These are volatile sudden surge in the construction in-dustry which is adding woe not only to the residential community but also to commer-cial establishments and road builders. Or-mon concludes by saying that he tries his best not to dwell on them but moves on.

To counter the construction business problems pointed out by Ormon, a major-ity of contractors have said these types of problems can be handled in future by mak-ing an educated guess of any escalated cost. It’s all about what bidding is anyway. Bidding is all about educated guess. Mak-ing things lucid Reed Nelson, business de-velopment manager of White Construction Company said, yes it is true we are locked

into contracts and are unable to pass on the escalated cost to the clients. After all we treat this as the cost of doing business and won’t take any extra payments for the sake of future contracts.

Shane Ormon has elaborated more about the work which his company usu-ally undertakes pertaining to office building/warehouse, service facilities, retail shopping centers, tenant build out etc., on his web-site www.shaneormoncmd-inc.com. Oth-er listing on the website pertains to details about the completed projects design and build concept with photo gallery. Ormon has claimed on his company’s website that their goal is to work with the client in an effort to ensure that the completed building has both the look they inspired for and the functional-ity they require. Such a bold statement by the contractor would go a long way in build-ing the reputation of the construction work done by Ormon.

After having a look at the Ormon’s web-site one can say that Shane Ormon is in-deed a professional construction contractor whose work would be remembered by one and all in the long run. ☐

Shane OrmOn haS elabOrated mOre abOut the wOrk which hiS cOmpany uSually undertakeS pertaining tO Office building/warehOuSe, Service facilitieS, retail ShOpping centerS, tenant build Out etc., On hiS web-Site www.ShaneOrmOncmd-inc.cOm.


Managers spend a lot of time and energy in trying to figure out how to get the most out of their em-ployees. In an article for HRWorld.

com, Margaret Steen has compiled the fol-lowing list of handy tips to ensure that your employees remain passionate about their job:

Ask WhAt they WAnt Out Of WOrk One of the easiest ways to boost employee

morale is to show that you care about their goals. Ask them specific questions to figure out what they are looking for. Michael Bea-sley - a career-development and executive coach who owns Career-Crossings in Por-tola Valley (California) – told Steen that em-ployers should ask workers about former projects which motivated them. It helps if you can figure out which aspects of such projects appealed to your employee and can be repeated.

COnsider eACh emplOyee’s Age And life-stAgeWhilst there are exceptions to every gener-

alization, remember that workers nearing the end of their careers are probably less inter-ested in a promotion than those who are just

offICE MATTERS

practically every emplOyee expectS the Same thingS frOm their jOb: intereSting wOrk, a gOOd Salary and recOgnitiOn fOr their cOntributiOnS. hOwever, mOSt OrganizatiOnS grapple with maintaining the energy and enthuSiaSm Of their wOrk fOrce. yOu need tO create perSOnalized StrategieS tO tap each emplOyee’S full pOtential.

10 Tips

For motivating EmployEEs


starting to scale the corporate ladder. Similarly, younger workers might feel more restless than their older counterparts if they are assigned tasks which they find unappealing.

mAtCh mOtivAtOrs tO the COmpAny Or depArtment CultureIt has been noticed that people who regularly opt for specific

departments or industries have certain traits in common. For in-stance, an engineer is more likely to be interested in working on a cutting-edge project. Similarly, a person in sales will frequently use monetary indicators to ascertain whether a project deserves their attention.

pinpOint eACh emplOyee’s persOnAlityWhile some people enjoy public adulation, others might be mor-

tified by it. Factor in the personality of your employee into your rewarding system. Similarly, match projects with workers whose personalities are best suited for relevant roles.

use flexibility Wisely Some jobs cannot be achieved effectively outside an office

environment. This is largely because an office eliminates cer-tain distractions and helps to create a marked divide between a person’s personal and professional space. But remember that they are no universal solutions. Allow your employees occasional benefits such as telecommuting or the establishment of custom-tailored working hours. This makes their lives more manageable apart from telling them that they are a trusted and valued part of your organization.

put mOney in its plACeThere is no simple, direct correlation between money and mo-

tivation. An employee’s demand for a raise might actually be hinting at a lack of satisfaction or sense of worth within the or-ganizational structure. Dee DiPietro - Founder and CEO of Ad-vanced-HR Inc. – described money as a “baseline” to Steen. While nobody wants to feel that their employer is taking advan-tage of them, bear in mind that the motivation to work harder rarely depends solely on money. If your workers do not go the extra mile despite being paid competent salaries, then throwing more money at them is not going to solve any problems.

dO nOt rely On stOCk OptiOnsStock options are even more unreliable motivators than money.

Very few workers are comfortable with the idea that their worth will vary according to their company’s stock price. DiPietro told Steen that stock options should be treated as “retention tools”. However, most employees club them together with their salaries while ascertaining the amount that they are being paid for their work.

Offer help With CAreer gOAlsWhile determining the kind of work which an employee enjoys,

also try to understand what they envision for their future. Try to offer your worker opportunities which are in tandem with these goals. By allowing them to build the skills and connections they need to advance in their career, you will build loyalty and boost motivation.

help emplOyees leArnIt is crucial that workers keep on acquiring new skills and com-

petencies through their job. In the contemporary scenario, peo-ple switch jobs at the drop of a hat and most companies do not

promise long-term employment. Leslie G. Griffen - Managing Partner of Career Management Associates in Overland Park (Kansas) told Steen that youngsters have realized that they need to keep on learn-ing simply to stay employable. They are constantly under pressure to acquire knowledge and their jobs should provide more avenues for the

same. One way to achieve this is through organized classes and semi-nars along with tuition-reimbursement programs. However, in most cases, this is simply a matter of tuning into what skills your employee is interested in acquiring and then giving them an opportunity to work on a project which will develop these skills.

remember thAt mOtivAtiOn isn’t AlWAys the AnsWer It is important to learn to let go as sometimes your best intentions

and efforts will not bear fruit. Not everyone can be motivated to per-form a specific job. If your employee would rather be doing something else, then it may be a good idea to encourage them to pursue some-thing new. ☐

dee dipietrO - fOunder and ceO Of advanced-hr inc. – deScribed mOney aS a “baSeline” tO Steen. while nObOdy wantS tO feel that their emplOyer iS taking ad-vantage Of them, bear in mind that the mOtivatiOn tO wOrk harder rarely dependS SOlely On mOney.


INDUSTRY NEWS

Rafael Ramírez, the president of state-run oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa), said that under the agreements signed with the Asian country, Venezuela will be able to overcome bottlenecks in the construction of houses. Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez

Frías announced that his government will purchase equipment and machinery from China to build housing solutions. Chávez signed two agreements with XCMG,

a leading construction machinery manufac-turer and provider, to purchase equipment

and setup a joint venture for the production of construction machinery. The Venezuelan Head of State said that

"imports of machinery will be made through loans, because the Chinese government has granted us a credit line."

vEnEzuEla purchasEs construction EquipmEnt From china

molson appointEd oFFicial Kubota construction

EquipmEnt dEalEr

Molson was appointed Kubota dealer for the southwest last Septem-ber, covering Bristol, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. Since then, the Avonmouth-based dealer is reckoned to have sold a new Kubota machine almost every day. This success has resulted in Molson’s additional appointment as the official Kubota Construction Equipment dealer for the South Wales area, with effect from 1 May 2011.Molson managing director Jonathan Wilson said: “Kubotas are great

products and they are also very nice people to work with. So far it has gone extremely well, we have sold products from across the entire range, which is allowing us to increase our share of the mini excavator market in this area”.Molson, founded in 1996, is one of the largest independent dealers

in new and used construction equipment in the UK. It also represents Hyundai, Ammann, Yanmar, Kobelco, Kawasaki and Kato.


rapid growth in construction machinEry marKEt oF saudi arabia Construction projects in Saudi Arabia are

expected to be worth around SR237.4 billion ($63.2 billion) in 2012 as the Saudi Govern-ment proceeds with its ninth Five-Year De-velopment Plan.The rapid expansion of the sector is driving

parallel growth in the kingdom's construction machinery market, which is expected to ex-pand further by 20 per cent through 2015.The Saudi 2011 budget is funding con-

struction-intensive, multi-billion-riyal projects ranging from ports and roads to rail networks and communications facilities which will re-quire more heavy-duty machinery and equip-ment.The upcoming Saudi Build - The PMV Series

2011, The Second International Exhibition for Construction Equipment, Plant, Machinery and Vehicles, will address the demand by gathering exhibitors from the world to show-case their latest and best products.

Organised by the Riyadh Exhibitions Com-pany, the series will take place from May 29 to June 1, at the Riyadh International Con-vention and Exhibition Centre. It will host ex-

hibitors from Germany, China, the UAE, India and an official pavilion from Turkey.'Over the next five years, infrastructural

enhancements will account for a significant portion of Saudi development activities,' said series project manager Kamil Al Jawhari. 'The series offers local, regional and international solutions that can help Saudi Arabia acquire the machinery and equipment it needs to maintain its construction targets. 'The event is also an effective springboard for exhibitors to explore the broader Middle Eastern mar-kets and be involved in some of the region's top construction programmes.'The series will showcase a premium selec-

tion of heavy construction machinery and equipment, including trucks, mining tools and machinery, tower cranes, lathes and in-dustrial workshops' tools and machinery, al-uminium profiling and cutting machines and ready-mix concrete plants.

construction EquipmEnt salEs ExpEctEd to rEach 2007 lEvElsConstruction equipment sales in China, India, Japan, North Amer-

ica and Western Europe are set to grow +8.5% this year to 807665 machines, according to data from Off-Highway Research.This figure will take sales back above the volume of 782661 units

seen at the previous high point in 2007.


Explaining more details about 2011 Dallas Auto Show, David Thomas, Chairman revealed that for 30 years, everyone in the auto industry be it

manufacturers, franchised new car dealers and auto show staff have worked harder to produce a classic world-class Dallas Auto Show. It was in 1982, various local car deal-ers including Classic BMW’s Lee Maas came into forefront to bring a springtime auto show to the Dallas area. At that time Dallas Mar-ket Hall was the first venue of the show with a catch phrase of ‘The Cars are the Stars’. At that time only one hall was utilized for the show out of the two halls provided. But today due to the enormous popularity of the Auto show, exhibit space has grown 10 times at the Dallas Convention Centre to a half million square feet.From April 7 – 10, the Dallas Auto Show will

provide an important opportunity to spend some time having interaction with product specialists and knowledgeable salesperson that would showcase their modern prod-ucts and services. During the course of the exhibition various domestic and imported passenger cars, trucks, concept cars, sport utility vehicles and automotive components would be on display. Other products that will be the highlight of the show would be auto accessories, batteries, oil & lubricants, auto components, petrol vending machines, auto products and accessories, automotive lighting, car care equipment, chassis & body parts, garage / service station equipment, coach & auto bodies builders, competition vehicles, antique & collector carsMore than 35 major manufactures would

participate under one roof revealing their ex-citing range of products. Some of the manu-facturers include: Audi, BMW, Bugatti, Acura, Bentley, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Cadil-lac, Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Jaguar, Kia, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, Rolls-

EXPo PREVIEW

by EQ CoNfERENCE AND WEbINAR TEAM

Get AcquAinted with twoGreAt expos this April

AbOut dAllAs COnventiOn Center

Dallas Convention Center the venue of the Dallas Auto show is located at downtown Dallas, Texas (USA) offers a colossal exhibit area or more than 1 million sq ft. The venue is internationally acclaimed and has the capability to hold international events of any capacity or size. The convention center offers value added features like an arena with a facility with 9,816 seats, a theater having seating capacity of up to 1,750 guests and 96 meeting rooms. Due to its exceptional professional services the Dallas Convention Center is considered one of the most efficiently run centers in America. Parking facility is available at the convention center’s underground parking lot or in lots surrounding the DCC. The average fee at the convention center is between $8-10 depending on the lot. Shuttles to the DCC are available from remote parking lots Friday through Sunday.How to reach at the show? One of the most convenient ways to get to the show is by taking DART. The DART train station is directly behind the Dallas Convention Center and within easy walking distance to the front door. By taking DART, you will avert all of the traffic and the cost of parking.

shOW infOrmAtiOn

Date: April 7-10, 2011Time:• Thursday: 4 to 10 p.m.• Friday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Ticket Prices:• $12 for adults • $5 for senior citizens • Children 12 and under admitted free

• $1 discount coupon (off regular admission) • Available at participating franchised new car dealerships


Royce, Saab, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo etc. The show would provide exporters, manufac-turers, traders and importers a common plat-form to exchange their information to each others. Earlier Blaine Siske, Executive Direc-tor for Southwest Automotive Aftermarket Show said, this show is designed to give a boost to existing market channels with after-market retailers and installers. It is the place where new relationships are build with new car dealers and building market demand with car, truck, SUV and motor sports enthusiast.Revealing more about the Dallas Auto Show,

Thomas commented that this year the show’s focus would be on “green” vehicles empha-sizing hybrids including all-electric and fuel-efficient vehicles. Some of the “green” ve-hicles which will be on display at the event include: the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Silverado 1500 Hybrid, the Ford Fusion Hybrid etc. Moreover the concept vehicles would also

be on display showcasing the future trend. Some of the highlights would include display-ing of 2012 Volkswagen EOS, 2012 Aston Martin Virage, the 2012 Bentley Continental GT, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, the Chevrolet Stingray Concept, the 2012 Ford Focus, the Ford C-Max Prototype, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, the 2012 Mazda Mazda5, the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C etc. The website of the Dallas Auto Show suggests visitors to keep come with their cameras in order to shoot photos of cool cars as a memoir. The other attractions of the show would

include Southwest Automotive Aftermarket Show which will bring together consumers, car dealers and automotive aftermarket com-panies. A child security/identification system titled Operation kidSafe sponsored by Uni-vision would help taking children’s pictures and capture their fingerprints with the sole record of the visit going home with the fam-ily. On Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10, experts would discuss the safe installation children’s car safety seats. During the pre-sentation twenty certified safety seats will be provided. Earlier

The Southwest Automotive Aftermarket Show (SAAS) would also organize various industry training seminars from April 8-10 at the Dallas Convention Center in conjunction with the show. These seminars have been designed for aftermarket trade and new car dealers. Kelly McDonald will present fea-tured workshops called "How to Market to People Who Are Not Like You: the NEW Market Segmentation". The workshop will focus at the hottest new market segments and how they're shaping culture. Attendees

at the seminar will discover the key emotional drivers for important target segments. Other important sessions would cover topics like Maximizing Nitrogen Tire Inflation Revenue", presented by Automotive Equipment Sales and Service, and "Waterborne Paint....For Cars? The Next New Wave", presented by Sherwin-Williams. Sony Mobile Audio would also impart various training sessions cover-ing the latest trends and advancements in mobile electronics. The entry to these ses-sions is by invitation only.

nOrtheAstern WisCOnsin truCk expO

The other event which is the highlight of the month of April is Northeastern Wisconsin Truck Expo which will be held for two days on 14 and 15 April 2011. This event’s hall-mark is quality versus quantity. The exhibition is in its 24th year. During this expo exhibitor showcases the latest trends, accessories and equipments prevailing in the trucking industry. In this exhibition trucks of all sizes are displayed. The average attendance to the show is 2000 people in the age ranges from 35 to 54 years. The show attracts operators, owners, mechanics, buyers and instructors. There would be around 55 vendors includ-ing Kenworth, Peterbilt, Mack, International, Freightliner and Isuzu in two buildings the equipments which are showcased in these events include truck equipment, refrigerated trailers, parts and servicing etc. Visitors get a chance to come face to face with various truck dealers and trailer dealers at the event. Thursday night has been reserved as a VIP

night, entrance to which is by invitation only. VIP Night is based on Hawaiian theme. This special night would attract around 1200 people. A free pig-roast buffet is available for attendees along with drink tickets that the exhibitors receive. Friday is open to the public and average is 800. During the course of the exhibition, there will be a Job Fair on Friday only. Entrance of the job fair is free for attendees. On Friday there will be an array of seminars.

AbOut the venue

The Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena has been Northeast Wisconsin’s and Upper Michigan’s choice for a wide variety of events for 40 years. ShopKo Hall with an area of 43,680 square feet without pillars or columns has remained the ideal place for trade shows, seminars and conventions since 1986. Earlier this multi-purpose hall had hosted various expos, banquets, regional seminars and na-tional conventions.

shOW infOrmAtiOn

April 14-15, 2011Location:Shopko Hall at Brown County Memorial Veterans Complex1901 South Oneida StreetGreen Bay, WI US 54304Admission: Adults - $5.00 Thursday 3:00 - 9:00 pm- By invitation only

Friday1:00 - 7:00 pm Contact informationPMI Entertainment GroupSara Klemme - Sales & Event CoordinatorPO Box 10567Green Bay, WI [email protected] (920) 405-1199 Office


equipment magazine www.eq-mag.com - FEB 2011

SAfETY RoUNDUPby EQ SAfETY AND WoRKPlACE TEAM

CRC AND ICHC CONFERENCESFollowing one-day conferences to be held later this month dur-

ing ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas and ProMat in Chicago, Maxi-mum Capacity Media announces the dates for the second Crane & Rigging Conference (CRC) and Industrial Crane & Hoist Confer-ence (ICHC) to be held this summer with Reach Expo. The event returns to Houston, Texas, July 19-20. Visit www.reachexpo2011.com for details. Proposed session topics include technical dis-cussions of load charts and rigging; risk management topics ad-dressing how to limit your exposure in an accident. ☐

SOUTH KOREA TO IMPLEMENT QUAKE RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION CODES

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs an-nounced Friday it will beef up quake-resistance standards for low-story buildings. As fears about earthquakes are growing amid the on-going disaster in Japan, the Korean government is gravely con-cerned about the safety of its buildings, and is attempting to adopt construction codes that require a standard design even for one or two-story structures. Under the current laws, only buildings that are over three stories or 13 meters high with a total floor area of 1000-square-meters must be built with an earthquake-proof de-sign. In Korea, however, 84 percent of buildings have less than two stories, which could make the nation more vulnerable to a large scale earthquake. ☐

SAFETY, THE FOCUS OF NEWLY BUILT EMD SERONO 115,000 SQUARE FEET RESEARCH CENTER

EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darm-stadt, Germany, has opened its state-of-the-art research center in Billerica, MA. Jones Lang LaSalle is the project’s Construction Manager. The Billerica facility accommo-dates over 115,000 square feet (sf) of lab and office space, consisting of: 25,000 sf of chemistry and screening labs; 25,000 sf biology and cell culture labs; 22,000 sf of gen-eral lab support space; 20,000 sf of office and conference rooms; and 23,000 sf of mechanical space. EMD Serono is committed to environmental responsibility and the project is working toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

The entire project team also had a strong commitment to safety starting during the design phase right through occupancy and operation. The project kicked off with a program at Harvard University titled “Safety in Design and Construction, A Lifecycle Approach” which was tailored to the EMD Serono project. Using principals discussed dur-ing this seminar and developed by the project team the new facility was constructed with no lost time or recorded injuries for a project that took over 370,000 man hours to construct. ☐

EMD Serono Research Center

QUALITY AND SAFETY WORKSHOPS BY NC MILITARY BUSINESS CENTER

Record-setting construction expen-ditures aboard Camp Lejeune and New River have many in the region eager to take advantage of contracting oppor-tunities, and a set of workshops offered at Coastal Carolina Community College by the North Carolina Military Business Center were designed to help them do just that.

On Thursday, professionals from around Eastern North Carolina attended a daylong conference on quality assurance and quality control, the keys to complet-ing a government contract successfully and satisfactorily after receiving the work.

Completing a federal military contract can be daunting, said seminar instruc-tor Paulanne Page, military construction specialist for NCMBC. “With the econo-my and with the competition, a lot of new

contractors have chosen to enter the fed-eral arena; and at times, they’ve certainly felt that they’ve been ill-equipped for the transition,” she said.

And the basics of maintaining safety and quality on the job applied to contrac-tors and workers of all sizes, she said.

“They have the same needs for qual-ity control and safety, whether they are working out of a pickup truck or are from a large business,” she said.

Both sides of the spectrum were rep-resented at the seminar, with attendees including primary and sub-contractors, small business owners, architects and entrepreneurs.

Major Williamson, of the landscaping and maintenance company Enviro AgSci-ence, Inc., said he had just moved from Columbia, S.C., to Jacksonville to help his company set up a new office, all in an-ticipation of ongoing work aboard Camp Lejeune. Enviro AgScience was recently awarded a contract for work on a new detention facility aboard the base, which broke ground on Friday.

Williamson said he hoped the work would create even more jobs for local

businesses. “We’re a big proponent of ‘buy local,’ so we want to be sure that we extend an opportunity for local firms to be involved while we’re building,” he said. The information basics shared at the seminar had been helpful, he said, as were opinions and experiences shared by other attendees who had worked on mili-tary contracts in the past.

“There was good sharing, a lot of sharp folks talking about different situ-ations,” he said. “Every contract has its own little quirks, so you got to hear peo-ple talk about the different challenges they faced.” Gerald DeVito, a military veteran and managing director of Pro-gressive Land Development Consultants in Wilmington, said he had come to get required safety information for his busi-ness, and also to learn about contracting around Camp Lejeune. “We need to learn everything we can about it, since all the work is here,” he said.

DeVito said he has advised others in the field to do the same. “I’m trying to get the engineering community in Wilmington to get into the avenue of military work, since there is work here,” he said. ☐

by EQ SAfETY AND WoRKPlACE TEAM

BRITAIN’S UCATT REVIEWS SAFETY REGULATIONS

Recruitment bosses in Britain are denying union claims that employment agencies are flouting safety laws by requiring work-ers to provide their own personal protective equipment. Con-struction union Ucatt raised the issue at a meeting of health and safety body Coniac yesterday. Executive council member Dennis Doody said: “Increasingly Ucatt officials are finding that agencies are forcing workers to supply their own PPE.

“This is against safety regulations and given growing con-cerns about fake and counterfeit PPE, being available in the construction industry, places already vulnerable workers at greater risk of injury.” But leaders of the Recruitment & Employ-ment Confederation said the union had got its facts wrong.

Tom Hadley, the REC’s Director of Policy and Profession-al Services said: “Claims made by Ucatt today seem to have missed the point that many people working in construction are self-employed and, under the current regulations, would be ex-pected to provide their own PPE along with the tools of their trade. “In a demand-led industry like construction, being self-employed, for the vast majority of the workforce, is a matter of choice. “Our ongoing work with bodies like the Health and Safe-ty Executive and our members speaks volumes about our com-mitment to health and safety regulations.“We have never denied that occasionally there are examples of bad practice, which is exactly why the REC sits on committees like Coniac along with Ucatt – to help eliminate these poor practices. “We welcome

complaints from workers and employers through our complaints pro-cedure if they are concerned about the actions of any REC members. These issues are investigated and action taken if we believe that our Code of Professional Conduct has been broken.

“The REC and its dedicated Construction group are more than hap-py to meet with UCATT and discuss how to promote health and safety regulations to the industry.”


SKID-STEER RoUND-UP

intrOduCtiOnA skid steer as the name indicates is a

vehicle which can be maneuvered by skid steering – a method of steering through brak-ing or engaging the wheels on one side of the vehicle. The wheels cannot be steered and hence the skid steering vehicle is turned by generating differential velocity on oppo-site sides of the vehicle. Pivot steering is an interesting maneuver, where standing in a single position the vehicle’s direction can be changed without having to drive forward or reverse it.

skid steers usesThe early version of the skid-steer load-

er had a bucket and was typically used for cleanup activities on roads and bridge con-struction sites. It was a rugged vehicle and had limited use. But those days are gone.

Today the vehicle can handle just about anything and take on almost any activity. Like a Swiss Army knife its attachments give it absolute flexibility to perform various tasks. It has, therefore, risen in rank to be the con-tractor’s number one equipment of choice.

skid steer AttAChmentsUsed heavily in the construction, farming

and demolition businesses, skid steer at-tachments are designed to make these jobs easier. As maneuver equipment, it has sev-eral sterling features that bring great benefits and advantages to the user.

The backhoe is a popular attachment. Used for digging the earth, the skid-steer makes this labor intensive activity extremely management. The skid steer can move or remove materials and it also has the capacity to dig large amounts of materials.

Another attachment is called the `bucket’. This attachment is used for loading construc-tion material such as asphalt, gravel, logs,

SKID STEERGROWING TO BE THE NUMERO UNO CHOICE FOR CONTRACTORS


SKID STEERSKID STEER - THE NUMERO UNO CHOICE FOR CONTRACTORS

The skid steer with a bucket used typically for cleanup activities is passé. Today the vehicle can handle just about anything and take on almost any activity. Like a Swiss Army knife its attachments give it absolute flexibility to perform various tasks. The attachments can be contained to an essential few or can include a mind boggling number. It all depends on the individual’s preference. Today, the skid steer has risen in rank to be the contractor’s number one equipment of choice.

Used heavily in the construction, farming and demolition businesses, skid steer attachments are designed to make these jobs easier. As maneuver equipment, it has several sterling features that bring great benefits and advantages to the user.

For buyers, the best way to decide on a skid steer is to not only assess the reason for purchase in the short term but to also weigh all those possibilities which might crop up in the long term. The number of attachments will continue to grow and while today there are around thirty options available, at least another fifteen are in the off-ing.


sand, rocks etc. Loading material is very easy using a skid steer. It groups things that needed to be piled and transfers it from one place to another without manual interven-tion.

The blade is a preferred skid steer attach-ment that cuts through snow or soil. As the name indicates the blade is a cutting device and is very useful for clearing sidewalks, pavements piled high with snow.

Grapple rake is another attachment used extensively for farming purposes. It is used for cleaning work and works for all those stuff for which a bucket may not work. For ex-ample fallen leaves, branches, hay and other organic material, using the skid steer grapple rake attachment can be piled together.

Last, but not least is the hammer at-tachment which is used in construction and demolition activities. It can break rocks, concrete into pieces making it easy to be hauled and transferred. This attachment is extremely useful for breaking a wall or a tough structure. While this is a list of some of the more common attachments, there are several more available making the skid steer one of the most versatile of its kind of vehi-cle. Some of the newer attachments such as rock saws; scrap shears etc require a higher powered unit, the common ones work on most all options of skid steers available in the market.

There are a few attachments which do not perform any function, but enable the bet-ter functioning of another attachment. For example, manufacturers offer treads which do not perform any task but slip over skid steer wheels to make the unit work in soft or sandy sites. And on other side you have solid tire attachments used for making skid steers work on hard surfaces. These kinds of add-ons are available in huge numbers and give us a sense of how much is actually available, reinforcing the fact that the skid steer is almost limitless in its potential. Like an old Swiss Army knife, the attachments can be contained to an essential few or can include a mind boggling number. It all de-pends on the individual’s preference.

The three big names in the skid-steer business are Case Corp, Melroe Co. and New Holland Inc. and these companies to-gether offer an extensive range of attach-ments. There are other manufacturers too on the market and many of them offer pre-dictable attachments such as back hoes and utility blades but these three companies of-fer surprising options in the kinds of attach-ments they come out with like even a cement mixer, for example. However, a skid steer is not meant to provide competition to those units which are actually made for cement

rOundup Of neW prOduCtsvermeer Vermeer Manufacturing Co.’s S600tx rubber track mini-skid steer features a spring-cushioned platform and two joystick controls to enhance balance. With a width of 35.75 inches it can be maneuvered into confined areas.

neW hOllAnd The LS185.B and LS190.B skid steer loaders from New Hol-land come with 2500 and 2800 lbs. operating capacity. Spring-applied hydraulic released brakes give it reliable parking, even on slopes.

COmpACt pOWer Boxer Brute TRX has a compact footprint of 44 inches by 70 inches and an operating capacity of 900 lbs. It can handle nearly 50 universal compact utility attachments.

bObCAt Bobcat’s new T140 compact track loader is 56 inches wide and 124 inches long with bucket and has a 1400 lbs. operating capacity.

mClAughlin The McLaughlin Horizontal Boring Attachment is attached to a mini skid steer loader using a quick –attach system and is powered by the hydraulic of the loader. This versatile attachment installs irrigation pipes, sprinkler systems, CATV and utility lines under landscaped areas, lawns, driveways, sidewalks and bushes without the costly surface damage and restoration.

tOrO The Toro Co.'s new trench filler attachment allows operators to fill trenches in a single pass. Developed for use with the Dingo compact utility loader, the trench filler is equipped with two sets of opposing augers that direct the spoils from the sides of the trench back into the hole.

Asv ASV's new rubber track loader, the SR-80, is built on a new ISR-4 undercar-riage with 20-in. rubber tracks, a multi-level suspension and four wheel carriages on each side that flex independently.

pOWer trAC PowerTrac's PT-2425 and PT-425 both have articulated steering and low ground pressure to reduce turf damage. Both are 45-in. wide with 800-lb. lift capacity and 4-wheel hydrostatic drive.

gehl Gehl Co.'s line of E-Series Skid Loaders includes six new skid loaders, from the compact Model 3640E with a rated operating load of 1,175 lbs. to the Model 6640E with a load of 2,900 lbs.

ditCh WitCh The Ditch Witch SK650's 31.5-hp Kubota diesel engine and hydraulic system give it the muscle to do the jobs of much larger machines.

finn COrp. Finn Corp.'s Eagle compact skid steer comes in three models: 204, with 20-hp Kohler Command Pro; 244D, with 23.5 hp Cat diesel; and 252 with 25-hp Kohler Command Pro. Its 3,000 psi parallel hydraulic system provides full power simultaneously to all functions.

CAterpillAr The Caterpillar 268B Skid Steer Loader features the high flow XPS hydraulic system, a load sensing, pressure-compensating system that delivers maximum power regardless of work tool speed or load.

mustAng Mustang Manufacturing Co.'s skid steer Model 2026 is designed for access to tight areas at 70.3 in. tall and 48.4 in. wide. It features 1,050 lbs. operating load, 35 hp engine, hands-only steering and hydraulic controls and automatic brake and hydraulic lock system.

WOOds equipment CO. Woods Equipment offers a wide variety of skid steer attachments, including the Model 6500 and 7500 General Purpose, 3-Point Hitch Mounted Backhoes.

hyundAi R110-7 and R110D-7 models have an improved Computer Aided Power Optimization system that allows greater productivity through superior con-trols.

Some of the other models and Kanga, John Deere, Case IH, Yanmar, Komatsu, Kubota, JCB, Thomas Equipment, Volvo, and Ramrod.


mixing. These vehicles do have their uses, especially for smaller, quick jobs, contrac-tors can hire or rent a quick skid steer and thus cut down on traditional mixing tech-niques and speed up jobs at reduced costs. Setting aside skeptics raised eyebrows on `skid-steer? Cement mixing??’ - The fact remains that these vehicles are outperform-ing themselves in versatility. An important point to be noted is that, most times, it is not the skid steer manufacturers themselves who bring out the attachments. The cement mixer offered by Case dealers is actually a Palm Mixer. However, in spite of a second-party involvement, the quality of the product is vouched for by the company.

One of the disadvantages of this second party involvement is that all attachments may not work on one model of skid steer. To explain, if a person has invested in an older model of a Melroe Bobcat, and decides to upgrade it with a new attachment, there is no guarantee that the attachment will work on the older model, and might require a cou-pler, which is probably why Melroe says they offer 35-plus different attachments and that many of them are universal but some may require couplers to be swapped! As of today there really is no universal coupler available

hOW tO ChOOse the right skid steer?For buyers, the best way to decide on a

skid steer is to not only assess the reason for purchase in the short term but to also weigh all those possibilities which might crop up in the long term. While a hydraulic-hammer attachment is one of the more popular at-tachments today, it requires a high flow hy-draulic and will this be required in the future is a point to be carefully considered.

Many skid-steer manufacturers believe that the number of attachments will con-tinue to grow. While today there are around thirty options available, there are at least an-other fifteen waiting to be released.

in the market. While it appears that attach-ment manufacturers would prefer to have an industry standard coupler, skid-steer manu-facturers are still steering towards offering one universal style and another which is the `house brand’ outfitted to suit the skid-steer brand identity.

But the good news is that the trend is slowly slanting towards universality and the

industry is leaning towards industry market leader Melroe. However, even if the time comes when there will be one universal cou-pler, even then it does not mean that this cou-pler will work on all attachments. For some attachments, high-flow hydraulics is required and sometimes the cost of the skid-steer is determined by the performance level of its hydraulics. ☐


PRoDUCT NEWS

iAWp-7.3 AeriAl WOrk plAtfOrm frOm AbsOlute e-Z up

With a zero inside and 39-in. outside turn-ing radius, the compact, 965-lb. IAWP-7.3 self-propelled industrial aerial work platform easily ma-neuvers within tight quar-ters. It measures 43"L x 30"W x 59" with a 397-lb. maximum capacity. It can be driven at its full work-ing height of 14 ft. The direct drive system pro-vides 270 complete duty cycles (lift up and down) or the ability to drive over 12 miles on a single charge. It has 35% grade-ability and a maximum drive speed of 1.9 mph. and fully proportional lift and drive joystick con-trols.

843/388-2556; www.absolutee-zup.com

Wireless remOte Welding COntrOls frOm miller eleCtriC mgf. CO.

These wire-less remote welding con-trols improve p r o d u c t i v i t y, eliminate clut-ter, cord tangles and cord failures and extend the operator's weld-ing range with-out adding cord extensions. The Wireless Remote Hand Control for Stick, TIG, MIG and Flux Cored welding allows parameters to be adjusted for different joint con-figurations, electrodes and wire types/sizes at the point of use and the other one, Wireless Remote Foot Control, allows amperage adjustment at the point of use, and is designed for TIG welding in manufacturing, fabrication and plant applications. The CONEXPO/CON-AGG Booth No. is G-254

920/734-9821; www.millerwelds.com

rOtellA energiZed prOteCtiOn prOduCts frOm shell lubriCAnts

Shell Lubricants introduces new Ro-tella Energized Pro-tection products. The Rotella Ener-gized Protection product portfolio is led by three pre-mium heavy-duty engine oils that are part of a tiered, easy to understand, ladder of protection. The Rotella T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend Technology delivers bet-ter fuel economy; the updated Rotella T6 Full Synthetic offers im-proved viscosity protection; Rotella T Triple Protection features an enhanced engine wear claim. Rotella T5 and T6 are also available. They can meet requirements of on- and off-highway equipment, including the latest vehicles fitted with diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and catalysts.

713/241-6161; www.shell.us

rOAdvistA mOdel 922 frOm prOfes-

siOnAl pAvement prOduCts inC. The model

922 handheld sign retrore-flectometer is designed to measure the ret-roreflection of road signs and other materials. The 922 meas-ures observa-tion angles of 0.2 and 0.5 de-grees simulta-neously, with and entrance angle of -4 degrees and can store more than 4,500 measurements. An internal GPS and barcode reader is standard. Meets ASTM, CIE, and DIN specifications. It measures all types of retroreflective materials with a single measurement,it meets ASTM, CIE, BS, EN, and DIN specification. It has built-in GPS and barcode reader and LCD touch screen. It stores 4,500 measurements and data-logging software included.

904/733-2121; www.pppcatalog.com


sp series engines frOm subAru rObin

Subaru Robin introduces the 5.7-hp, 169cc SP170 engine and 7-hp, 211cc SP210 air-cooled engines which provide more power and easier starts, while minimizing noise and emissions. The new SP engines feature chain-driven OHC technology and a hemi-spherical combustion chamber. The engines intake and exhaust valves positioned to lower resistance for the air/fuel mixture. They have easy one-pull starts, with no perceptible kickback. The cool-ing technology forces air over large, slanted cooling fins cast into the mounting base, cylinder and interior and exterior crankcase. They incorporate cast-iron cylinder liners, dual ball bearings and high-quality piston rings.

847/540-7300; www.subarupower.com

bid-Well 5000 AutOmAtiC rOller

pAver frOm terex rOAdbuildingThe Bid-Well 5000 Automatic Roller Paver is designed for high-

performance concrete paving on projects ranging from airport run-ways, taxiways and aprons to highways. It has self-widening leg design, standard 15-ft. frame insert for up to 12-ft. leg travel, truss construction with 48-in. truss depth, pave widths from 8 to 68 ft., truss inserts in 3-, 6-, 12-, 15- and 18-ft. or customized sizes. It can set crown points at any hinge on the frame or standard power crown adjustment at the primary crown point. It has 35-hp engine, dual vibration system to consolidate pavements up to 32 in. thick; Rota-Vibe vibration system reconsolidates the top 2.5 in. of con-crete for a denser, uniform surface; dual 6-ft.-long paving rollers for surface smoothness.

405/787-6020; www.terexrb.com

liftpOd fs60 frOm Jlg industries, inC.

fd4000 frOnt disChArge mixer frOm terex rOAdbuilding

F D 4 0 0 0 Front Dis-charge Mixer is powered by 2010 EPA-compliant De-troit Diesel/MTU Series 1300 engine. There are three power package op-tions: 350 hp at 1,350-ft.-lb. torque; 380 hp at 1,450-ft-lb. torque; or 450 hp at 1,550-ft.-lb. torque. It is for Terex 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-axle front discharge trucks. It has electronic control module automatically senses if truck is carrying a load of concrete and drives the load-based shift scheduling to match shift patterns to truck's load. The Allison RDS4500 transmission automatically eases engine torque when shifting to reduce stress on the transmission. CONEXPO-CON/AGG Booth No. 140.

405/787-6020; www.terexrb.com

JLG Industries, Inc., has just added the FS60 to the LiftPod line of aerial work platforms. It is ANSI A92.3-2006/CSA B354.1-04 compliant, and the new liftpod has casters on the back wheels. The unit has a 30-in. base which allows it to fit through small hallways, doorways and even larger elevators. With an enclosed platform, 12-ft. working height and 6-ft. standing height, the unit allows workers to move hands-free in a 360° range of motion. The FS60 con-sists of three components weighing about 50 lbs. and is powered by an 18-v drill.

717/ 485-6417; www.jlg.com


SPECIAl REPoRT

According to MarketWatch.com, Caterpillar Inc. – the world’s larg-est manufacturer of construction equipment - warned of probable

global production delays apart from the ones registered at its facilities in Japan fol-lowing the recent earthquake.

Till recently, Caterpillar Inc. had been expected to be a key player in the recon-struction efforts in Japan and had been claiming that supply-chain disruptions in Japan had not influenced production out-side the country. The Illinois-based Cater-pillar also said that its plants in Japan were not damaged by the March 11 quake which had led to a partial meltdown at a nuclear facility north of Tokyo. However, a state-ment released by the company admitted that factories around the world “…may be sporadically impacted as a result of the sit-uation in Japan…” The company has 110 plants around the world. It is also important to note that Caterpillar had shifted its re-gional headquarters from Tokyo to Beijing more than four years ago.

Caterpillar’s Akashi and Sagami plants build hydraulic excavators, while the Tokyo office serves as headquarters for Caterpil-lar Japan. MarketWatch.com also revealed that the company employs approximately 5,000 workers in the country.

The company is also actively trying to develop alternate sources for parts sup-plied out of Japan to ensure that it is pre-pared for the worst-case scenario. Market-Watch.com stated that Caterpillar’s shares

had risen 1.9% to finish at $105.48 as part of a broad market rebound on 18th March, 2011. The stock - a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA 11,859, +83.93, +0.71%) - had already surged 76% in the past year.

While the Dow was still lingering in overall negative territory since the disaster, Caterpillar had managed to rise 7%. For-expros.com added that Caterpillar’s ma-chinery sales had accelerated in the three-month period through February through dealers. This had been led by a significantly stronger demand in Latin America.

Marketwatch.com reported that global industrial firms were still assessing the impact of the devastation in Japan. How-ever, the impact of supply-chain disrup-tions was beginning to make its presence felt worldwide. General Motors Co. (GM 31.85, +0.41, +1.30%) announced on 17th March, 2011 that it would suspend produc-tion at its Shreveport, La. assembly plant. AllHeadlineNews.com revealed that the plant employs more than 900 workers who build Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Can-yon trucks.

A day earlier, Standard & Poor’s Eq-uity Research analyst Michael Jaffe had claimed that Caterpillar was expected to be one of the primary companies to capi-talize on Japan’s reconstruction efforts. Jaffe opined that the major rebuilding effort “…should eventually benefit companies that make building materials and construc-tion equipment…” He also noted that Cat-

erpillar had the largest footprint in the Asia-Pacific region amongst all the stocks that he covered.

Caterpillar's dealer-reported retail sales were up 59 percent from a year earlier in the three months ended in February, an ac-celeration from the 49 percent pace report-ed for the three months ended in January. It was the 10th straight month of improving sales.

Caterpillar's monthly dealer statistics showed 19 consecutive months of declines before a recovery took root in May 2010.

In some months during the downturn, including much of 2009, sales were down 50 percent or more. Caterpillar's increase in the three months through February was led by a 76 percent jump in Latin America, well above the sales growth in that region in the three months through January.

Forexpros.com revealed that the 55 percent increase in North America was down slightly from the prior period's pace, possibly reflecting weather disruptions. North America was the only region to show a sequential dip, according to a regulatory filing. Sales rose 57 percent in Asia/Pacific and were up 53 percent in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, both regions marking a faster pace than in the prior period, re-flecting continued strength among emerg-ing markets. Sales of reciprocating and tur-bine engines were up 31 percent, the fifth consecutive sequential increase, helped by demand for engines used in petroleum pro-duction. Analysts have said sales increases

in sEparatE rEports, Both CatErpillar inC. and dEErE & Co. havE

warnEd oF produCtion and dElivEry dElays as a rEsult oF thE

dEvastating EarthquakE and tsunami that ravagEd parts oF Japan

JApANESE CRISIS

MANUFACTURERS ExpECT pRODUCTION DElAyS


are likely to moderate in coming months.According to AllHeadlineNews.com, Cat-

erpillar’s admission of a potential crisis was the second from a U.S.-based company, and the latest from several manufacturers including Fuji Heavy Industries and Toyota. Toyota has already stopped production at all its plants in Japan but has assured custom-ers and dealerships in the United States that the impact of the quake and nuclear crisis on North American operations is "limited." However, there are growing fears that there is going to be a shortage of the Japanese car maker's Prius - the world's most popular hybrid.

Toyota had claimed that battery produc-tion plans in Japan were "to be determined" and that every effort was being made to "minimize any long-term impact on Prius availability." Fuji Heavy Industries has like-wise halted production at all its Subaru plants, citing its supply chain and issues in the power supply.

In a separate report on online.wsj.com, Deere & Co. (DE) claimed that it expected delivery delays for some construction exca-vators built under a joint venture with Japa-nese equipment manufacturer Hitachi. The company – which is the world's largest man-ufacturer of farm machinery – averred that it was still assessing the effects of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami on the Japanese suppliers that provided components for Deere and Hitachi-branded excavators and Hitachi mining equipment.

In a written statement, the company opined that because of the uncertain situa-tion in Japan, it was too early to assess the impact on “…Deere's overall business…” and “…the supply chain…”

The Moline (Illinois) company said that some of its Japanese suppliers were re-covering from disruptions caused by the disaster which leveled coastal towns, killed thousands of people and triggered a crisis at a nuclear power plant that has yet to be resolved.

Under Deere and Hitachi's manufacturing and marketing agreement, Deere is respon-sible for marketing and selling excavators, mining equipment and compact construc-tion equipment for both brands in North and South Americas.

The joint venture, Deere-Hitachi Con-struction Machinery Corp., operates an ex-cavator assembly plant in Kernersville, N.C. Deere’s stock closed the regular trading ses-sion by rising up by 0.81% at $90.13 a share on 18th March, 2011. The stock was flat in after-hours trading. ☐


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