Tag: industry: Page 4

Business

Caterpillar reports record sales, revenues, profits for 2012, despite Siwei charge

Despite continued economic uncertainty and a bad fourth quarter due to a $580 million charge taken after uncovering an accounting scheme at a Chinese unit, Caterpillar today reported all-time record sales, revenues and profit per share in 2012. Sales and revenues were up 10 percent from 2011 at $65.9 billion while profit per share was […]

January 28, 2013

Business

How construction companies can leverage social media

A new article from Construction Executive provides a great crash course in social media use for those in construction. The article gives an introduction to each of the four major social media channels — Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube — and gives a bit of advice on how to use them. Because the expansion of […]

January 24, 2013

Business

Atlas Copco acquires MEYCO Equipment

Atlas Copco recently announced that is buying Swedish company MEYCO Equipment from BASF Construction Chemicals Europe AG. Atlas Copco says MEYCO will be part of its Underground Rock Excavation division and will broaden the company’s offering of mobile equipment for applying sprayed concrete in underground operations. MEYCO has about 40 employees and makes carrier-mounted concrete spraying equipment, […]

January 24, 2013

Business

Caterpillar uncovers accounting misconduct at Chinese mining unit, ousts several managers

Caterpillar announced Friday that it had uncovered a “deliberate, multi-year, coordinated” accounting scheme at Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical & Electrical Manufacturing Co., a subsidiary of ERA Mining Machinery Limited which it purchased for $734 million last June. Cat says it was alerted to irregularities in the Chinese unit’s bookkeeping when a review of Siwei’s physical inventory […]

January 19, 2013

Business

PCA: 2013 is construction’s real turnaround year

Ed Sullivan, the Portland Cement Association’s chief economist, is not one to be overly optimistic. While others were saying that construction in 2011 — then 2012 — would break out, he was saying “not so fast.” So when PCA released it’s “strong growth rates” cement consumption forecast Thursday, it’s reason for good cheer. Sullivan says […]

January 18, 2013

Business

Construction materials prices decline 0.1 percent in December

Associated Builders and Contractors has released its Producer Price Index (PPI) report for December, which reveals that national construction materials prices declined 0.1 percent in December and 1.3 percent higher than a year ago. Average annual prices in 2012 were 1.9 percent higher than 2011 prices. Nonresidential construction prices dropped 0.3 percent in December and […]

January 16, 2013

Business

AGC forecast promises mixed outlook for 2013 U.S. construction

2013 should be a better year than 2012 for construction firms, but not necessarily a great one, said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, in a conference call detailing the results of the association’s forecast on construction hiring and business. There are bright spots in certain sectors, said CEO Stephen […]

January 14, 2013

Safety

Employee fatalities, willful violations now mean OSHA criminal referrals

OSHA has begun to make a criminal referral to the Justice Department in every case involving an employee fatality and a willful violation, Safety News Alert reported. These cases may or may not result in a criminal charge; that decision is made by a local United States attorney. In order for OSHA to convict an […]

January 9, 2013

Safety

OSHA to finalize confined spaces and electrical equipment rules this year

Two construction industry rules are listed to be finalized in 2013 on OSHA’s semiannual regulatory agenda, published today. The first deals with confined spaces in construction. According to the agenda, OSHA issued a rule in 1993 to “protect employees who enter confined spaces while engaged in general industry work.” The general industry standard, 29 CFR […]

January 8, 2013

Business

Colorado experiences $3.4 billion hospital building boom

Colorado is experiencing a $3.4 billion building boom thanks to 50 hospital construction projects across the state, NBC 11 News reported. In addition to new hospital construction, 11 additions have been started in Aspen, Boulder, Grand Junction, Pueblo and the Denver area. With the building boom, Colorado may soon see its most expensive current hospital […]

January 8, 2013

Business

AGC New York wins award for military support

The Associated General Contractors of New York State received an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriotic Award for its support of the United States military, timesunion.com reported. The award was presented to AGC New York president and CEO Michael Elmendorf for going above and beyond the law in supporting members of the military. […]

January 8, 2013

Business

World of Concrete reveals Crews That Rock 2013 winners

World of Concrete (WOC) has announced the top winners of its “Crews That Rock 2013” contest. Each crew will receive an airline credit and hotel stay for WOC 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada, plus other prizes and WOC swag. In the Commercial/For-Profit category, Hampton Commercial Construction won for the company’s Nebraska City Power Plant Silo […]

January 8, 2013