With strong 2018 outlook, Global Rental Alliance focuses on workforce development, technology
Strategies to promote more women and minorities in the rental industry, as well as efforts to engage young professionals, provoked a lively discussion when the Global Rental Alliance (GRA) met recently at The Rental Show in New Orleans.
Technology trends and workforce development issues are priorities for the members, they say. Technology is the one area that cuts across industry segments, geographies and cultures to improve business performance. It’s improved safety, operational efficiency and the customer experience – and will continue to reshape the industry, members agreed at their 16th annual meeting.
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Minnich signs N.Y.’s JC Smith to sell concrete dowel pin drills
According to a Minnich press release, JC Smith is one of the largest construction supply operations in the region. Founded in 1976 by John C. Smith Jr., JC Smith serves heavy highway construction, municipal, concrete, building supply and landscaping contractors with a variety of construction supplies, equipment, consultation, estimating, equipment parts, repair and rental.
In its new deal with Minnich, JC Smith will offer sales, rental and service of the Minnich A-1 Series on-grade dowel pin drills in its Syracuse, Utica, Albany, Rochester, Ithaca and Vestal locations.
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Dip in government holds back private jump as U.S. construction spending ticks up 0.1% in Feb.
U.S. spending on construction projects was barely better than flat in February as a big gain in private spending was nearly completely offset by a dip in government spending.
Total spending reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.273 trillion in February and is up 3 percent over February 2017.
Private spending rose by 0.7 percent to $982 billion due to a 1.5 percent jump in nonresidential spending. Government spending fell 2.1 percent to $291 billion due to a 2.2-percent drop in nonresidential.
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Streak of construction employment gains snapped in March with loss of 15,000 jobs
The U.S. construction industry lost 15,000 jobs in March, snapping a seven-month-long streak of employment gains.
The industry’s employment total now sits at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 7.150 million Americans and is up 3.3 percent over the March 2017 total, according to preliminary data from the Labor Department.
Construction’s unemployment rate fell from 7.8 percent to 7.4 percent in March.
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Chicago Pneumatic excavator attachments re-branded to Epiroc as Atlas Copco spin-off continues
Atlas Copco has announced that its Chicago Pneumatic hydraulic excavator attachments will be re-branded to fall under the new Epiroc product lineup as the company continues the process of splitting its product lineups into two companies.
In December, Epiroc AB LLC began operating as an independent subsidiary of the Atlas Copco Group with a focus on customers in mining, infrastructure and natural resources. The company will continue the development of drill rigs, rock excavation and construction equipment.
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