MANUFACTURER NEWS
Mitsubishi, Duro Felguera to set up excavator joint venture
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Spanish machinery manufacturer Duro Felguera have signed an agreement to set up an excavator joint venture in Spain. The two companies said they expect demand for excavators to grow in Spain, where there are plans to construct several high-speed railways and subways. The two companies are still negotiating the capital stakes of the deal. The joint venture will be headquartered in Madrid or Oviedo and will market excavators, procure parts and materials, handle machine maintenance and produce key components at a plant owned by Duro Felguera.
Cummins offers used-engine warranty program for off-highway equipment
Cummins announced Thursday it will offer a two-year/2,000-hour warranty program for pre-owned midrange and heavy-duty mechanical engines that pass a general fitness inspection. Cummins will offer its Encore Pre-Owned Industrial Engine Coverage plan for pre-owned B3.3, B3.9, B5.9, C8.3, L10, M11 and N14 agricultural and construction engines that pass a visual inspection, as well as fluid- and oil-sampling tests.
Sandvik, Furukawa form agreement for rock-drilling, demolition tools
Sandvik and Furukawa have agreed to exchange rock-drilling and demolition tools, and say they will define other areas for continued cooperation. The deal will allow Sweden-based Sandvik to offer locally manufactured products in Japan and to supplement its existing product program.
KCI Konecranes buys stake in Japanese hoist maker
KCI Konecranes has acquired a 49 percent stake in Meiden Hoist System of Japan. Meidensha Corporation previously owned 100 percent of the company’s shares and has retained a 51 percent stake. Meiden Hoist System will continue its hoist and crane operations and will begin using KCI’s CXT hoist technology under license. KCI, which entered the Japanese market with the deal, has an option to buy an additional 16 percent of the joint venture’s shares.
DEALER WATCH
Rush to sell Michigan John Deere dealerships
Rush Enterprises has announced it will close and sell several of its farm and heavy equipment locations and expand its core truck dealership operations into the Southeast. Rush said it will discontinue the Michigan John Deere construction equipment dealerships as well as its D&D farm and ranch superstores. The company said it has a nonbonding agreement to sell the Michigan John Deere dealerships. Rush said it will spend about $6 million to buy Florida-based Orange County Truck and Trailer, which has exclusive rights to sell Peterbilt trucks in central Florida.
LBX authorizes two California dealers
LBX has appointed two new authorized distributors of Link-Belt excavators, articulated trucks, wheel loaders, timber loaders and material handlers. They are Sierra Machinery Services in northern and central California and Western Traction Company II in western California. The addition gives LBX coverage throughout California, the company said.
RENTAL NEWS
Godwin Pumps relocates Houston rental branch office
Godwin Pumps has relocated its Houston area rental branch office from Georgia Avenue to a 10,000-square-foot facility at 2727 Appelt Drive in Houston. The expansion will help the company address growing customer and distributor demands more quickly, said John Michael Paz, Godwin Pumps president. The facility is located on nearly 10 acres and includes an equipment yard, service shop, parts inventory and offices for more than 20 employees.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Sakai America has appointed Dale McLemore district manager for its Southeast territory, which includes Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. His responsibilities will include recruitment and set-up of new dealers in the territory and training of dealer sales and application teams.
LBX has named Scott Sutherland manager of product planning and development for excavators. He will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of both the product and marketing plans for excavator base machines. Prior to joining LBX, Sutherland was regional manager for the South-Central United States for Ingersoll-Rand. LBX makes Link-Belt earthmoving, forestry and material handling equipment.
LBX has also named Don Harvell Southern region manager. He will be responsible for sales support for Link-Belt excavators, Spin Ace excavators, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, material handling and forestry equipment in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and western Tennessee. Harvell joined LBX from an equipment distributor where he managed 14 salesmen out of four stores throughout northern Texas and Oklahoma.
