Nashville International Airport (BNA) has become one of the fastest growing airports in North America. Airport planners are hustling to keep up with the growth. The airport just completed a $1.5 billion expansion called BNA Vision. The airport team has already started another $1.5 billion project called New Horizon, scheduled to be completed in 2028. The New Horizon Plan will transform the airport with a Concourse D extension; a Concourse A rebuild; improved terminal area roadways; and an upgraded baggage handling system.
Crews are expanding Concourse D, adding five new gates. This addition is critical, as Concourse A is slated for demolition in summer 2025 to be replaced with a larger, 16-gate
By Lucy Perry CEG CORRESPONDENT
Employers have an obligation to protect their employees and that includes providing properly fitting personal protective equipment (PPE). Well-fitted gear is essential for all workers but especially women as more choose construction as a long-term career field. Providing women-specific protective gear also shows employers are compliant with safety standards, a draw for much-needed craft workers.
“The future of PPE design must focus on expanding options for women to create a safer and more inclusive environment,” said J.J. Keller & Associates. see PPE page 44
THIS ISSUE
SOUTHEAST EDITION
8 VA.’S $937M RICHMOND HIGHWAY BRT
Although construction will not begin until 2027 on Northern Virginia’s $937 million Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) mega project, the effort is already making significant progress, Fairfax County officials said.
12 THOMPSON TRACTOR HOLDS GRAND OPENING OF NEW CAT RENTAL STORE
Thomson Tractor held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration Nov. 7, 2024, at its newest CAT Rental Store at 1599 Airport Road West in Fort Payne, Ala. 14 ABC NAMES PUGH
AS
Associated Builders and Contractors announced that David Pugh, a partner at Bradley in Birmingham, Ala., was elected 2025 chair of ABC National Board of Directors during its meeting at the annual Leadership Institute in Scottsdale, Ariz.
16 ASCENDUM’S TECHNICIAN PROGRAM SERVES CUSTOMERS MORE EFFICIENTLY
ASCENDUM Machinery in North Carolina and Tennessee has kicked off a Rapid Response Technician program through which the company has assigned three of its master technicians.
20
LANE STRENGTHENS PRESENCE IN FLORIDA WITH I-4 CONTRACT
Lane Construction has won a $190 million contract to build the Interstate 4 at State Road 33 Interchange in Florida. This latest contract for the U.S. subsidiary of Webuild Group further reinforces Florida as a key market for the company.
24 HITACHI HOSTS ITS INAUGURAL CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CHALLENGE
On Nov. 20, Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. and Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas Inc. hosted the inaugural Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge 2024 pitch event at the Americas regional headquarters.
28 BALFOUR BEATTY’S CAROLINAS OFFICES TO DELIVER SPECIAL PROJECTS
Balfour Beatty’s Carolinas operations have been selected to deliver more than $36 million in special project works within the corporate office, entertainment/hospitality and mixed-use/retail sectors.
28 TENNESSEE DOT WANTS $308M TO DEAL WITH BACKLOG OF PROJECTS
Facing a weak revenue outlook, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is requesting $308 million more from the state budget to keep up with the growing cost of maintenance and construction.
30 ARK. OFFICIALS OK PLAN TO DEMOLISH HISTORIC BUILDING AFTER FIRE
The historic W.M. Fishback/Adelaide Hall building in downtown Fort Smith, Ark., which burned in the early morning hours of Nov. 6, was approved for demolition Nov. 21 by the city’s Central Business Improvement District (CBID) commission.
30 N.C.’S ASU TO BUILD $29M INDOOR ATHLETIC PRACTICE FACILITY
Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, N.C., will use its allocation from a sports wagering tax to help pay for a $29 million on-campus indoor practice facility.
33 HOW TO CHOOSE ATTACHMENTS FOR YOUR UTILITY JOB SITE
Attachments designed for utility applications are crucial in tasks like trenching, cutting and material handling. Here are some top utility attachments, focusing on key features and benefits.
38 CIVIL CONTRACTOR SAVES BIG BY BRINGING PM WORK IN-HOUSE
From smaller single- and multi-family residential projects to large industrial and institutional jobs, Cardinal Civil Contracting aims to be the contractor of choice in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area.
39 BRANDT TO LIQUIDATE TRUCK LEASING FIRM’S FLEET ASSETS
Brandt Peterbilt, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Brandt Group of Companies, has been appointed to disperse a major portion of the fleet assets of a major Mississauga-based truck leasing firm that filed for bankruptcy protection in 2024.
64 CATERPILLAR EXHIBIT TO SPOTLIGHT ‘NEXT 100 YEARS’ AT CES
Caterpillar Inc. will launch its Centennial Celebration during CES 2025, providing visitors the opportunity to reflect on the company’s global impact over the
Liebherr
Va.’s $937M Richmond Highway BRT Project to Improve Travel
Although construction will not begin until 2027 on Northern Virginia’s $937 million Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) mega project, the effort is already making significant progress, Fairfax County officials said.
The county’s Department of Transportation (FCDOT) received approval earlier this summer from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to commence the project’s engineering phase, marking a major design milestone that will lead directly to final design and construction.
The 7.4-mi. BRT system, named “The One,” is intended to revitalize the Richmond Highway/U.S. Highway 1 corridor with a dedicated bus lane and mixed traffic.
Nine new transit station areas between the Huntington Metro station near Alexandria and the Fort Belvoir Military Reservation to the southwest also are included within the BRT project, along with pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and safety enhancements.
FCDOT’s aim is to improve transit frequency and reliability, as well as reduce traffic congestion and support economic growth in the southeastern portion of the county near the Potomac River.
The existing transit service in the corridor does not meet the needs of current or future residents, according to FCDOT, with challenges such as long travel times, infrequent service, and delays during rush hour. The new BRT system is expected to improve transit frequency, reliability, comfort and attractiveness.
“This milestone approval propels us towards a transformative era in Fairfax County’s transportation landscape,” said Jeffrey McKay, chair of the Fairfax County board of supervisors. “The Richmond Highway BRT project is not just about enhancing transit; it’s about fostering economic growth, improving the quality of life for our residents; and building a sustainable future. As we move into the engineering phase, we reaffirm our dedication to creating a modern, efficient, and reliable transit system that meets the evolving needs of our vibrant community.”
If all goes well with the construction, FCDOT plans to have the BRT fully operational by 2031.
The FTA approval aligns with Embark Richmond Highway, a Fairfax County project designed to improve the Richmond Highway area with better transportation options and economic growth. The county is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to widen the highway to include more lanes and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
Endorsed by the county board of supervisors in 2015, the new BRT system was always seen as a key part of the plan. The improvements will support federal investments, including upgrades to Fort Belvoir.
Now, engineers working on the BRT mega project can begin detailed planning and design, FCDOT noted, as well as secure additional funding and prepare for its construction.
HRT Transit Stations to Support AreaÊs Development
Additionally, each of Fairfax County’s HRT transit stations will support compact, medium-density, mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented redevelopment efforts, also known as transit-oriented development (TOD), according to Holland & Knight, a law practice that has land-use teams focused on the Richmond Highway corridor.
The firm noted that the new urban nodes are designed to catalyze smart growth and economic development along Richmond Highway, transforming the auto-dominated high-
way into distinct new districts that are transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly, and mixed-use. Additionally, the BRT will pave the way for a proposed future Metro extension from Huntington Station to Hybla Valley.
Given the nearly $1 billion future investment, the benefits of being designated as a commercial revitalization district, along with the current cost of land, makes the Richmond Highway corridor a prime area for redevelopment.
And, with the corridor already serving as a connection between Fort Belvoir, Fairfax County’s largest employer,
and Amazon HQ2/Washington, D.C., both the highway and the new transit infrastructure are likely to further bolster additional improvements to the area.
During his time working for Fairfax County, Holland & Knight’s Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia Land Use Planner Anthony DeLorenzo served as the lead urban designer for the HRT project, where he oversaw the development of urban concepts that transformed current land use and transportation conditions into distinct multimodal transit-oriented districts.
fairfaxcounty.gov
Thompson Tractor Holds Grand Opening of CAT Rental Store
Thomson Tractor held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration Nov. 7, 2024, at its newest CAT Rental Store at 1599 Airport Road West in Fort Payne, Ala.
The new store serves a growing northeast Alabama market and Thompson Tractor representatives said they are always eager and ready to celebrate the company’s “valued customers and dedicated team members when adding a new location.”
During the event, local customers and dignitaries enjoyed a catered BBQ lunch from a local favorite restaurant, Roadside Que, and were presented giveaways commemorating the day as well as being registered for some great prize drawings, including a pair of lawn mowers.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured remarks from Mayor Brian Baine and Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Townsel, both of whom warmly welcomed Thomson Tractor to Fort Payne.
“We look forward to partnering with the city of Fort Payne for many years to come,” said Jimmy Tew, vice president of Thompson Rents, and Lucy Thompson Marsh, who shared their excitement about the new location to the assembled crowd prior to the official ribbon-cutting.
The entire Thompson team worked hard to make this event a huge success. In a brief speech during the event, Jared Pennington, Thompson Rents region manager, expressed his appreciation for the Fort Payne team and his excitement for Thompson to be a part of the growing community in northeast Alabama.
“Although they’re a small team, our Fort Payne employees showed their hard work and dedication at this event,” said Pennington. “Their effort to keep our business moving forward while preparing the facility for the grand opening was outstanding. They ensured the facility was in top-notch shape and achieved their highest volume at the same time.”
Noteworthy staffers who “hit the ground running” to make this branch an immediate success included Spencer Hartmann, Kyle Cooper, Trey Lumpkin, James Wilson, Jon Atchley, Michael Luketic and Jeff Watkins.
Key staff members echoed the same message: “We’re excited to serve this community and see where Thompson Rents goes next.” CEG
(All photos courtesy of Thompson Tractor.)
A couple of the grand prize drawing items included top-of-the-line Bad Boy and Toro self-propelled mowers.
Wielding the big scissors and cutting the ceremonial ribbon was Thompson Tractor President and CEO Lucy Thompson Marsh, who was flanked by key staff members and local dignitaries.
Thompson Tractor’s newest CAT Rental Store in Fort Payne, Ala., is well stocked with all models of Caterpillar machines, as well as allied equipment and tools.
Long-time Thompson Rents Toro representative Chris Morgan gave the event a big thumbs up.
(L-R): Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Townsel welcomes Thompson Rents/Thompson Tractor to the community including Jeff Watkins, Fort Payne branch manager; Jimmy Tew, vice president, Thompson Rents; Jared Pennington, regional sales and operations manager; and Lucy Thompson Marsh, president and CEO.
ABC Names Pugh as 2025 National Chair, Executive Committee
Associated Builders and Contractors announced that David Pugh, a partner at Bradley in Birmingham, Ala., was elected 2025 chair of ABC National Board of Directors during its meeting at the association’s annual Leadership Institute in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“Nothing could be more thrilling than leading ABC in its 75th year, and as ABC’s first-ever associate member national chair, I am looking forward to the opportunity,” said Pugh.
“Throughout those 75 years, ABC has consistently helped its members develop their people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably. Whether exercising its leadership in government affairs, expanding and improving workforce development or relentlessly pursuing not only safety at the worksite but also the total human health and wellness of all workers, ABC has proven that the merit shop movement is for the betterment of the individual, the construction industry and the nation.”
“As a member-led organization, Associated Builders and Contractors truly represents the best of the best in the construction industry and the contractors that build the nation’s most enduring, innovative, high-quality construction projects,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO.
“Leading ABC into its 75th year, David, Chair-Elect ‘Murph’ Murphy, Secretary Brandon Mabile and every 2025 elected leader will continue to deliver on ABC’s primary purpose of being the voice of the merit shop and objectives to be transformational leaders in the construction industry.”
The members of ABC’s 2025 Executive Committee, who will take office on Jan. 1, 2025, are:
• Chair of the ABC board of directors: David Pugh, partner, Bradley LLP, Birmingham, Ala.
• Chair-elect: Thomas “Murph” Murphy, vice president of Aggregates Division, Power & Construction Group, Scottsville, N.Y.
• Secretary and South Central region vice chair: Brandon Mabile, corporate business development director, Performance Contractors Inc., Baton Rouge, La.
• Northeast region vice chair: Michael Bennett, vice president, CIANBRO, Pittsfield, Maine
• Treasurer: Larry May, CPA, CVA, partner, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, Jackson, Miss.
• Immediate past chair: Buddy Henley, president, Henley Construction Co. Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.
• Mid-Atlantic region vice chair: Lorri Grayson, partner and founder, GGA Construction, Middletown, Del.
• Mid-America region vice chair: Brett McWilliams, partner, Pride One Construction, Medina, Ohio
• Southeast region vice chair: Kerrick Whisenant, president, Limestone Building Group LLC, Hartselle, Ala.
• Mountain West region vice chair: Steve Grauer, regional vice president, Southwest Region of Hensel Phelps Construction, Phoenix
• Pacific region vice chair: Greg Gutierrez, president and CEO, Truitt Corp., Bakersfield, Calif.
• Midwest region vice chair: Jim Ellis, vice president and COO, Price Electric, Robins, Iowa
• Chapter presidents’ liaison: John Smaligo, president and CEO, ABC Oklahoma Chapter
• ABC national president, CEO: Michael Bellaman
ASCENDUM’s Tech Program Serves Customers Efficiently
By Eric Olson CEG CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
ASCENDUM Machinery in North Carolina and Tennessee has kicked off a Rapid Response Technician program through which the company has assigned three of its master technicians — veteran professionals who have achieved the company’s highest skill level — to each work in different portions of its Southeastern market with the goal of improving customer uptime.
One senior technician, Scott Cox, has been assigned to central North Carolina, while Jeremy Ford is responsible for assisting contractors in ASCENDUM’S western North Carolina/eastern Tennessee market, and Mike Brown is the master tech in the Tarheel State’s eastern region.
They will be equipped with small, purpose-built service trucks geared to make quicker diagnostic evaluations on any of its customers’ machines with a jobsite issue, according to Jeff Wilbanks, ASCENDUM’s product support manager of central North Carolina at the company’s Concord location. These new trucks differ from conventional service vehicles in that they do not come packed with a variety of bulky repair equipment, “and every other tool that could fit into it,” he said.
“Here, we want to be fast and not get tied down on a particular job site, so we are using small pickup trucks without large storage capacity because we want the master technicians to be able to show up with their laptops and diagnostic equipment to troubleshoot the problem and then move onto the next site,” Wilbanks said. “After that, a trained technician can come in behind them and make the actual repairs.”
The impetus for ASCENDUM instituting the service program in the two Southeast states came about after company officials learned that a large percentage of its jobsite calls were not because of major breakdowns or failures, but involved things like sensors, error codes, telematics, software, calibrations, and machine updates — all issues that service departments did not face two decades ago, said Brandon Thigpen, who works in Raleigh as product support manager for the dealership’s eastern North Carolina region.
“These are the problems that do not require a big rolling shop with a crane, an air compressor and a welder to come on site,” he said. “What it does require is a lighter, quicker response vehicle that is primarily geared for electrical or, what I call ‘tip of the spear’ diagnostics to determine what the next course of action needs to be.”
Each of ASCENDUM’s four-wheeldrive, three-quarter-ton trucks in the Rapid Response program come equipped with a
shell over its back that contains a drawer system with a slide-out tray. As far as tools are concerned, they have all the electric diagnostic breakout boxes and adapter harnesses needed for most minor calls and any equipment analysis.
Wilbanks explained that they enable the dealership to offer its customers a timely turnaround on quotes and appraisals for the machines and service work.
In addition, the presence of technicians and light trucks at a construction zone also helps in determining if the affected machine needs to come into the ASCENDUM shop before a large service truck is dispatched to the site, where, he said, “we could discover that it could have gone on to another, more serious field breakdown and finished that work instead.”
Initiative Passes Critical Test
Following Hurricane
ASCENDUM’s Rapid Response service has so far been a big hit with contractors that rely on the Huntersville, N.C.-based dealership to keep their equipment operational and stay productive.
“The customers that did not know ahead of time about this service have been very excited about our providing a different approach to keeping their machines running,” Wilbanks said.
The Rapid Response program got quite an evaluation beginning in late September after Hurricane Helene’s deadly rampage through the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. The storm inflicted staggering infrastructure damage that caused contractors scurrying to make needed repairs at countless area sites.
Cory Penland, ASCENDUM’s product
stated.
“It is important to note that this Rapid Response technician will not be part of our normal field technician scheduling. For instance, if someone calls us to say they have a broken track or cylinder, or a wheel seal leak, a larger repair is needed. These technicians will only go out in certain scenarios where we believe they will be the most effective,” he said, meaning anything that involves electronic or computer-oriented issues.
The master technicians at ASCENDUM also are assisting mechanics employed by its regular customers in the building trades to diagnose machinery issues. To do so more efficiently, the company has introduced a phone app that the dealership’s senior technicians can use to make a preliminary diagnostic before arriving on site. It also allows them to access a software program to work in real time with the customer technician to analyze error codes and perform all the site diagnostics via the software.
support manager in the western North Carolina/eastern Tennessee region, said that prior to the weakened tropical storm’s arrival from Florida and Georgia, “we had no idea just what was coming. We did expect some heavy rain and wind, but not two full days of torrential rain and flooding.
“The addition of our Jeremy Ford in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee really put ASCENDUM’s program to the test after that storm,” he said. “Jeremy truly was a mobile force in the area for our customers who were on the front lines of recovery and rebuilding after the devastation. For instance, we were able to reach and efficiently repair machines that were down for customers working in very remote parts of Yancey County, N.C. That would not have been possible without ASCENDUM’s Rapid Response program.”
Program Teams Senior Technicians With New Hires
Another key benefit of the program is ASCENDUM’s use of its most talented service personnel in driving the Rapid Response initiative. By doing so, the company can tap into its master technicians’ expert knowledge to help bring along its newer and younger techs that are still learning their trade.
“As we are hiring the next generations of technicians that have limited experience coming out of trade schools, we can have our master technicians meet them on job sites and help teach them how to handle live problems beyond what they learned in the classroom,” said Wilbanks.
Thigpen agreed that the importance of a younger tech paired with a master working in a “real-world scenario” cannot be under-
Thigpen sees the rapid-response technician as a key piece of communication between the customer, ASCENDUM and the equipment manufacturer.
“They will be the important relay for the technical information from the equipment on the job site back to our manufacturers in order to find solutions,” he added.
The old-school way of doing things had a tech in the field relating info back to the service shop, Wilbanks recalled, where the service manager or supervisor would, in turn, relay it to the manufacturers to get answers, an often-cumbersome, back-and-forth procedure.
“The new Rapid Response program we have worked out has opened up those channels so that we can speed along the process,” he explained.
ASCENDUM Continues to Refine Customer Service
With the Rapid Response service program in place and operating efficiently, ASCENDUM is turning its attention to providing enhanced training for customer technicians, equipment operators, and how to properly perform machine walkarounds.
“Currently, the operator training is usually done with ASCENDUM’s product support managers, and we will continue to do that, but it will also include a person more from the technical side,” Thigpen said. “I think it is fantastic to also have a technician’s perspective for daily checks, and key things to look for on machinery as you do walkarounds.”
“And, of course, all this comes about as we explore ways to continue offering better solutions for our customers to keep doing business with us,” Wilbanks added. CEG
CEG photo
(L-R) are Cory Penland, Jeff Wilbanks, Kody Oliver, William Walker, Blake Etterle and Brandon Thigpen.
Lane Strengthens Presence in Florida With I-4 Contract
The Lane Construction Corporation has won a $190 million contract to build the Interstate 4 (I-4) at State Road (SR) 33 Interchange in Polk County, Fla. This latest contract for the U.S. subsidiary of Webuild Group further reinforces Florida as a key market for the company.
The I-4 interchange at SR 33 in the city of Lakeland features the reconstruction of the existing interchange to accommodate increased traffic in this area, as well as a future rail corridor in the median of I-4. The interchange is a simple diamond design with multi-lane on- and off-ramps, and two unsignalized ramp terminals which will be metered by round-a-bouts.
In addition to the reconstruction of I-4 and the interchange, this project also widens 5 mi. of SR 33 to facilitate mobility and accommodate recent development in this area. Utility relocations, signage, signalization, ITS, lighting and pavement markings also are included, as well as two bridges to accommodate animal crossings.
Once completed, the project will improve overall traffic flow and safety of the roadway and increase the bridge clearance at the interchange. It also will improve the safety of wildlife with the creation of wildlife crossings both under and over the busy roadways, thereby limiting the chances for vehicular collisions.
Other projects Lane is working on in the state include the Turnpike Mainline Widening from Minneola Interchange to O’Brien Road in Lake County; the SR 417 Widening from Aloma Ave. to SR 434 in Seminole County; the I-275/SR 60 Westshore Interchange in Tampa; I4/I-275 Downtown Interchange in Tampa; I-4 at Sand Lake Road Interchange in Orlando; I-4 at SR 535 Interchange in Orlando; and Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City.
With each project, Lane continues to help build a safer and more connected Florida.
For more information, visit www.laneconstruct.com.
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• Brakes: Air (Full ABS System) ires: Eight 215/75R17.5 (H) i
• Ramps: 72" Long x 22”
• T R72"L22”
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THE DOER’S DREAM
Loved for the features. Trusted for the performance.
Hyundai wheel loaders have the power and performance, not to mention top-notch interiors, accurate onboard weighing system, industry proven drivetrain durability, clear sightlines, and handy tech that make life on the jobsite easier. So you can do more without feeling it. No wonder so many first-time Hyundai users become longtime fans.
See the Hyundai difference yourself at your local dealer or na.hd-hyundaice.com.
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MODEL
Hitachi Hosts Inaugural Construction Machinery Challenge
The company behind the design of the battery packs, the motor, the circuitry and all components that operate the hydraulics of the Zaxis 17U electric excavator is DIMAAG AI. Representing the company is Shankar Radhakrishnan (L), COO, and Satish Padmanabhan, CEO.
On Nov. 20, Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. and Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas Inc. hosted the inaugural Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge 2024 pitch event at the Americas regional headquarters.
The winners, Sodex Innovations, Teleo and Veristart Technologies, will join the Hitachi Construction Machinery exhibition area at bauma 2025 (April 7-13, 2025) and explore the possibility of collaboration with the Hitachi Construction Machinery Group.
Traditionally, the development of construction machinery has focused on the machine itself, and development was carried out to produce high-performance and highquality machinery. In recent years, the focus has shifted to improving safety and productivity at construction sites, reducing life cycle costs and responding to ESG concerns.
The demand for “connected construction machinery” that uses digital technology to link data acquired from workers, machines and construction sites to external systems has grown. To develop solutions that improve user connectivity to machines, Hitachi Construction Machinery believes it is important to incorporate the innovations created by start-ups into the machinery and products of the future.
The Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge 2024 solicited ideas from start-ups that fit within three themes; “Construction Planning,” “Revolutionize Equipment:
(L-R) are Sonny Ishii, chairman, HCMA; Craig Hannam, Veristart; Ralf Pfefferkorn, Sodex Innovations; Mark Piotto, Teleo; and Masahiro Yamada, VP Hitachi Construction Machinery.
Industry experts discuss remote control and autonomy blending AI with robotics at the Hive Autonomy exhibit.
A prototype Hitachi Zaxis 17U electric mini-excavator was on display and attendees got the opportunity to get a complete overview of the machine prior to its delivery to Germany for bauma 2025.
A panel of judges was charged with selecting the final winners. The contest started with 127 applicants, was shortened to 45 start ups and ultimately nine finalists who made their journey to Newnan, Ga., to present their products and technology.
BIG RED MACHINE
Balfour Beatty’s Carolinas Offices to Deliver Special Projects
Balfour Beatty’s Carolinas operations have been selected to deliver more than $36 million in special project works within the corporate office, entertainment/hospitality and mixed-use/retail sectors.
Since January, the company’s buildings operations have been chosen to construct 12 projects for tenant improvements, renovations, interior buildouts and upfits on behalf of clients in the North and South Carolina markets.
Notable projects include:
• The $7.5 million interior upfit of a twofloor, 31,363-sq.-ft. legal office for a repeatclient in Charlotte, N.C. Contract executed in September 2024 with an expected completion in January 2025.
• A $3 million office upfit for Rosendin Electric’s Charlotte office which builds out 15,000 sq. ft. of office space and a 30,000sq.-ft. warehouse in Huntersville, N.C., completed in November 2024.
Balfour Beatty worked on the $7.5 million interior upfit of a two-floor, 31,363-sq.-ft. legal office for a repeat-client in Charlotte, N.C.
• The $1 million corporate office renovation for Debtbook’s Charlotte headquarters in Charlotte’s Design Center of the Carolinas, completed September 2024.
• Asana Partners’ Design Center Atrium renovation in Charlotte worth $1.1 million which features office/corporate improvements and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems upgrades, completed June 2024.
• An over $709,000 interior upfit for Flight, a wine bar in
Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood, which features a 2,506sq.-ft. transformation of a ground floor retail space into a luxury restaurant space, completed April 2024.
“Being selected to deliver these projects are a testament to Balfour Beatty’s expertise and reputation in the special projects market,” said Jeff Sandeen, Balfour Beatty president in the Carolinas. “We are grateful to have been involved with
projects this year with many first-time clients, in addition to our returning customers, who trust our building capabilities for specialty spaces and value us as a construction partner. We take great pride in being their builder of choice, transforming our clients’ visions into exceptional spaces that contribute to the growth and vitality of our rapidly expanding communities.”
In addition to the over $36 million of special project works in the Carolinas, the company has been conditionally selected for three additional special projects worth nearly $20 million which are expected to be contracted by the first quarter of 2025. The business also has various active projects across both states which include deliveries for clients within the themed attractions, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, dining, healthcare and corporate office sectors.
The company’s Carolinas operations are focused on specific, high growth sectors with population growth and economic development driving increased investment in cities such as Charlotte, Raleigh, Charleston and surrounding communities. The geography’s Buildings operations align with Balfour Beatty’s national business strategy as well as the expansion of its regional growth market which further diversifies the company’s U.S. project portfolio.
For more information, visit balfourbeattyus.com.
Fuel Tax Revenue Flattens... Tennessee DOT Wants $308M to Deal With Backlog of Projects
Facing a weak revenue outlook, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is requesting $308 million more from the state budget to keep up with the growing cost of maintenance and construction.
Gov. Bill Lee (R) labeled the situation as “sobering” and a “compelling challenge.”
Tennessee has some of the nation’s top highways, he said, “yet we have a backlog of funding for projects that need to be done in order to keep our roads the best in the country.”
The governor made the statement after state Transportation Commissioner Butch Eley and his staff introduced a plan to add $100 million in recurring expenses and $200 million in non-recurring costs for fiscal 2025-26, the Chattanooga Times Free Press noted on Nov. 23.
TDOT benefited from the state’s Transportation Modernization Act (2) in 2023 to the tune of $3 billion for major projects in Tennessee’s largest cities, as well as $300 million for aid to counties. Yet the state’s road system is under stress because of growth and the need for a better maintenance
program, officials said.
“It’s a balancing act,” Eley told the governor during the Election Day budget hearing.
He is requesting an additional $100 million in recurring expenses and $200 million in non-recurring costs for fiscal 2025-26, including $125 million for highway paving, $75 million for bridge maintenance, $50 million for non-recurring statewide road funds for low-interest loans to local governments, $20 million for safety projects, $16.7 million to expand Tennessee’s roadside help program, $10 million for litter collection and mowing, and $9 million to cover employee salary and benefits increases.
One of the recent benefits of the law that passed in 2023, Eley explained, allowed a new work process that enabled Tennessee to move quickly on repairs to roads destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The state still has some 600 employees trying to make roads passable in northeast Tennessee where large swaths were hollowed out and left in rubble by the storm’s flooding.
Additionally, TDOT is embarking on its first public-private toll lane project, planning to take bids in 2025 and begin work in 2026
on an elevated highway from Nashville to Interstate 840 near Murfreesboro.
TennesseeÊs Fuel Taxes Revenues Have Flattened Out
TDOT’s planned increase for a total budget exceeding $2.4 billion would come with a proposed $602 million for repairs, and $454 million from the federal government for resurfacing and bridge repair.
Federal money for the state agency is expected to increase $23.8 million to $1.4 billion in fiscal 2025-26, which starts next July 1. Yet state revenue is expected to dip $42.3 million to $1.28 billion, leaving the state in a $12.3 million lurch.
State transportation officials are projecting flat user fee revenue amid rising construction costs, which are up about 100 percent since 2021, the Chattanooga news source reported. Tennessee depends heavily on fuel taxes for revenue, but those monies are not producing enough revenue to continue improving roads and bridges, TDOT noted.
The sluggish outlook is accompanied by a business tax break that is hurting the state’s
overall revenue this year, already causing it to rebate nearly $865 million.
Democrats in Tennessee’s House and Senate recently launched a drive called “Rocky Top, Not Rocky Roads” to push the Republican supermajority to spend more on transportation to fix potholes and relieve traffic congestion.
They decry the state’s deteriorating roads, lack of mass transit development and allowing transportation projects to hit a $34 billion backlog. TDOT estimates each of the state’s urban motorists lose $989 a year because of traffic delays and greater fuel consumption.
State Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-51st District in East Nashville, said the state needs to amend its “pay-as-we-go” philosophy because it limits TDOT from investing in large-scale projects by forcing the state to fund projects without borrowing and pushing costs higher.
Democrats also have said that they want the state to work with local governments on regional mass transit such as light rail to extend the life of roads and cut the number of vehicles on Tennessee’s highways.
Balfour Beatty photo
Ark. Officials OK Plan to Demolish Historic Building After Fire
The historic W.M. Fishback/Adelaide Hall building in downtown Fort Smith, Ark., which burned in the early morning hours of Nov. 6, was approved for demolition Nov. 21 by the city’s Central Business Improvement District (CBID) commission.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported that the resolution allows the owner of the structure, which was home to the Bricktown Brewery, to raze some or all of the building that was damaged.
CBID Commissioner Sam Sicard said his board was unanimous in its decision that the building had to be torn down after hearing about its post-fire condition.
While a lot of attention has been put on the building’s demolition, he added that Fort Smith residents should know the developer behind the project is committed to rebuilding the structure in a quality way.
“I have complete confidence that they will rebuild something that will be an impressive building now and will stand the test of time a century into the future,” Sicard said.
Rick Griffin, of Griffin Properties, and owner of Adelaide Hall, said he hopes to begin demolition on the property sometime in early December. The company is currently working to get permits from the city and state for the work, he told the Democrat Gazette.
Griffin added that his company is already searching for a suitable company to perform the demolition through a bidding process.
“The building is in an unsafe condition, and we have been visiting with the [Fort Smith] Police Department to help us keep people and cars away from the building when we do the demo. We want to do it as fast as we can.”
A key concern in the demolition process, according to Griffin, is the brick exterior walls that are part of the structure itself and were damaged by the fire. The goal is to have all the bricks tumble inward during the demolition process, taking care that no wall or individual set of bricks falls the other way.
Once the structure is torn down, the property management company will have to look at the site like a new construction project, he said. Part of the process to construct the new building will be to do dirt work beneath the structure as well as obtain building permits from the city.
“We don’t know what is underneath the building because
“The building is in an unsafe condition, and we have been visiting with the [Fort Smith] Police Department to help us keep people and cars away from the building when we do the demo. We want to do it as fast as we can.”
Rick
Griffin Griffin Properties
it was rebuilt in 1885, so we will have to do dirt work, do footings, and do all that you would do to build a building,” Griffin elaborated.
Griffin Properties also is trying to get the demolition and new construction work done as quickly as it can to restore the downtown space. Usually, Griffin said, the process takes between 12 and 18 months to get a project ready to build.
“I loosely use the word ‘replicate,’” he explained to the Democrat Gazette. “We are going to use the Adelaide Hall Building that is burned as a guide to what we build back. It
will be modern, but it will look historic. We don’t want it to be stylish and modern; we want it to be historic and cool.”
Adelaide Hall ÂUnsafe, Unsuitable for SalvageÊ
The city’s decision to demolish the burned-out building was recommended following a thorough review by Larry Schmaltz, a structural engineer, according to a memo from Jeff Dingman, deputy city administrator.
“The building is a significant icon in downtown Fort Smith and is considered a ‘contributing structure’ to the Garrison Avenue Historic District,” read a memo included in the commission meeting packet. “The remains of the building have been inspected and deemed unsafe and unsuitable for salvage.”
Fort Smith Municipal Code requires that any demolition request for a “contributing structure” in the Garrison Avenue Historic District be approved by both the CBID and its director.
The early morning blaze Nov. 6 gutted the historic structure, located at 318 Garrison Ave., which housed the popular Bricktown Brewery restaurant, just east of the Garrison Avenue bridge over the Arkansas River.
Fire and police squads were first called to the building at about 2:30 a.m., according to an alert from the Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD).
Nearly five hours later, about 7:15 a.m., the fire rekindled, and emergency crews from the Fort Smith Fire Department (FSFD) were called back to the site. Smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles and filled the air across the city’s downtown district.
Firefighters had the flames knocked down by about 8:20 a.m., and the smoke coming from the building had lessened. By a little after 9 a.m., firefighters were entering the first and second floors of the building to check for hot spots.
The blaze’s cause was not determined at the time, and no injuries were reported, authorities reported.
N.C.’s ASU to Build $29M Indoor Athletic Practice Facility
Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, N.C., will use its allocation from a sports wagering tax to help pay for a $29 million on-campus indoor practice facility.
The University of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Governors on Nov. 13 approved ASU’s funding proposal for the 85,000-sq.ft. athletic facility, of which $3.3 million, or 11 percent, comes from the sports wagering allocation, the Winston-Salem Journal reported Nov. 19.
The new practice center will be adjacent to Kidd Brewer Stadium and will replace both the current Sofield Family indoor practice facility and the school’s nearby softball field. Demolition is expected to begin in January and construction on the new facility will take up to 18 months to complete, ASU officials told the Journal.
Although the primary goal is providing the ASU Mountaineers football team with a 100yd.-long indoor practice field, the facility also will be used by other athletic teams and
for non-athletic activities such as ROTC, camps and clinics.
According to the proposal submitted to the UNC Board of Governors, half of the funding, $14.5 million, comes from private fundraising. The university said it has 100 percent commitment to that funding, including $2.5 million already in hand.
There also is $5.8 million projected from the school’s athletic operating revenue, $2.9 million from lease revenue and $2.5 million from what was listed as institutional equity.
The Winston-Salem news source could not reach ASU Athletic Director Doug Gillin for comment on the new indoor practice facility.
Appalachian State’s current indoor practice facility is nearing the end of its useful life, according to the school’s presentation to the UNC board.
Additionally, ASU officials noted, “Inclement weather requires that App State’s football team hold separate practices for its
offensive and defensive units, and non-football groups are not able to use the facility during football practice.”
Wagering Tax Revenues Going to Most UNC System Schools
Sports Betting Alliance spokesperson Pat Ryan said, “App State’s planned practice facility is one of many positive projects that the industry’s tax revenue will support in the coming years.”
Within the controversial North Carolina House Bill 347, titled “Sports Wagering/Horse Racing Wagering,” that was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper in June 2023, is an 18 percent tax on the eight licensed sport wagering operators’ gross wagering revenue.
That tax money is to be divided between the athletics departments of all UNC schools, except for UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State, the Journal noted.
The bill does not outline how the schools
are to use the money, save for using it to “support collegiate athletics departments.”
As such, each department is projected to receive $1.33 million from tax proceeds generated from March 11 — when wagering began — through Sept. 30, according to the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
According to a legislative fiscal analysis report, “the consensus revenue forecast estimates a further $1.7 million will be allocated to each institution by the end of fiscal 202425.”
Payments are made to the departments a month after the taxes are collected from the sports wagering operators.
“North Carolina policymakers chose to take on the prolific sports betting shadow market by allowing responsible, Americanheadquartered companies to meet consumer demand,” Ryan said. “They’re proud to play by the rules and pay a reasonable tax to responsibly serve North Carolina customers.”
Bucyrus erie 22B Cable Backhoe,1:50 scale
Case 580SR Backhoe/Loader,1:50 scale ................................................
Case 850B Angle/Tilt Dozer,1:35 scale
Case 580F Backhoe/Loader,1:35 scale
Case DH4B Trencher,1:35 scale
Case 1845B Uni-Loader,1:35 scale
Case 9030B Excavator,1:50 scale ............................................................
Hitachi Crowns Three Start-Ups as Winners of Challenge
Information, Interface & Autonomy” and “Transform Fleet Management.” One hundred and twenty seven start-ups submitted proposals, and nine start-ups pitched their ideas to a panel of judges in front of an audience made up of start-up CEOs, venture capitalists and executives of construction companies.
Sodex, Teleo and Veristart Technologies pitched the ideas that impressed the judges the most.
Guest judges included Cutler Knupp, Haskell (Dysruptek) vice president of strategy & technology investment (managing director); Kaustubh Pandya, Brick & Mortar Ventures Partner; and Satish Padmanabhan, DIMAAG-AI CEO.
“Hitachi Construction Machinery is traditionally known as a company that provides mechanical items, but we are pivoting to also being a true technological solutions provider. For us, that means collaborating with innovative startups,” said Masahiro Yamada, Hitachi Construction Machinery vice president of the new business creation unit.
“This event is very important to us because it will show the world that Hitachi Construction Machinery is more than just excavators, wheel loaders and mining trucks. We are also a technology company that listens to their customers’ needs and provides wholistic solutions.”
Sodex Innovations won under the “Construction Planning” theme. Its product equips machines with a system that enables capturing terrain in real time. This allows job sites to keep track of their progress and report on it without the need to pause the job site for a survey. Essentially, it creates digital twins of construction sites by equipping
machines with laser scanners and cameras, giving construction machinery digital eyes.
With Sodex Innovation’s winning solution, any machine operator can become a surveyor while getting the job done.
“The ability to move on with Hitachi Construction Machinery means a lot for us because the possibility of giving Hitachi machinery more eyes will make them more attractive,” said Ralf Pfefferkorn, Sodex Innovations CEO and co-founder. “At bauma 2025 we are hoping to show attendees a great solution that they have never seen before on a construction machine. We are from Austria so we are excited to show our German neighbors some really cool technology on amazing machinery.”
Teleo won under the “Revolutionize Equipment: Information, Interface & Autonomy” theme. Its supervised autonomous machine is a brand-agnostic solution that allows operators to operate multiple machines simultaneously from an office-like environment.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to work with a global leader like Hitachi Construction Machinery. We hope to work together to develop products and solutions that are going to innovate the construction and mining industries,” said Mark Piotto, Teleo vice president of sales.
“We want to focus on the operator experience and what the next generation of operators will be. Artificial intelligence and Large Language Models have made an impact in the world and we are excited to leverage that
The design of the Hitachi electric excavator allows it to run on two to six batteries, depending on how much operating time is required. Batteries can be charged internally or removed and charged elsewhere or swapped out on site for other charged batteries. At only 48 pounds per battery, DIMAAG-AI COO Shankar Radhakrishnan shows how easy the battery is to extract from the battery bank.
technology to help operators do their job.”
Veristart Technologies won under the “Transform Fleet Management” theme. Its solution is targeted at preventing machinery theft by providing fleet managers with better control of its machines. It presented a product that is a cloud application, a mobile application, and a hardware device that works together to give fleet managers precise control over who can operate their fleet.
With this product, machine operators will receive an electronic key on their smartphone that allows them to start the vehicle.
“We are adding control to heavy machinery equipment. We want to make sure that when an operator is operating a machine they are both authorized and properly trained to use the machine,” said Craig Hannam, Veristart Technologies CEO and co-founder.
“This win is huge for us. To have a partner like Hitachi Construction Machinery at this early stage in our start-up is amazing. At bauma 2025 we are excited to show attendees our prototype and the evolution of the solution.”
Hitachi Construction Machinery will continue to engage in open innovation with start-ups and aims to incorporate these innovations into their solutions at all points of contact with their customers. In addition to this, Hitachi Construction Machinery has been working on open technology and product development through investments and collaboration in venture capital funds and start-ups.
(All photography in this article are Copyright 2024 Construction Equipment Guide. All Rights Reserved.)
One of the keynote speakers during the event was Edvard P.G. Bruun, of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, who gave a presentation on Georgia Tech’s research on robotic automation and disassembly of largescale building components.
Austin Jones (R) of Dobbs Positioning Solutions, Georgia, instructs an attendee on the control of an actual machine working in Palo Alto, Calif., using Teleo technology.
HITACHI from page 24
SECTIONAttachments
How to Choose Attachments for Your Utility Job Site
In the utility industry, having the right equipment can significantly impact project efficiency and productivity. Attachments designed for utility applications are crucial in tasks like trenching, cutting and material handling. Below are some top utility attachments, focusing on key features and benefits.
Trencher
Trenchers are ideal for digging trenches in spaces near buildings, fences or other projects, making them a great solution for installing utility and irrigation systems, as well as power and water lines. Offering a range of models with various teeth and chain configurations, trenchers are designed to cut through even the toughest soil conditions.
Trenchers are a valuable attachment for maintenance crews, municipalities, landscape contractors and rental facilities.
Breakers
Trenchers are ideal for digging trenches in spaces near buildings, fences or other projects, making them a great solution for installing utility and irrigation systems, as well as power and water lines.
Both hydraulic and nitrogen breakers are designed to break up hard materials such as concrete and rock. Used primarily during construction or repairs of underground utilities, breakers can be attached to excavators or loaders to swiftly demolish obstacles.
Bobcat’s line of breakers offers precise, high-powered strikes, ensuring minimal downtime and efficient project progress and site maintenance.
Hydraulic breakers deliver maximum efficiency by matching the hydraulic capacity of the carrier to the breaker, allowing consistent machine-to-breaker performance.
The long piston stroke of the nitrogen breaker maximizes impact energy and reduces recoil. This breaker has a unique valve design that reduces pressure fluctuations and strain on the carrier’s hydraulic pumps.
Augers
Augers are essential for drilling holes in the ground for utility poles, fence posts and landscaping applications. Known for their efficiency and flexibility, augers offer a variety of bit sizes for different hole diameters. Their ability to handle challenging ground conditions, such as clay or rocky soil, makes them invaluable for utility applications like pole installations.
Grapples
For material handling, grapples are a versatile attachment, ideal for moving logs, debris and waste, especially during utility maintenance work. Industrial grapples are designed for heavy-duty work, allowing operators to efficiently lift, carry and place materials. They are particularly useful for clearing or removing debris obstructing utility lines.
Brush Cutter
Brush cutters are beneficial for clearing thick vegetation and overgrowth, making them especially useful for clearing foliage around power lines or preparing sites for utility installations. This helps improve visibility and accessibility. Maintaining utility corridors can be challenging, but brush cutters mounted on compact track loaders or skid-steer loaders make the job easier.
Wheel Saw
For cutting through concrete or asphalt, wheel saws are a go-to attachment. In utility repair work, where crews need access to underground lines, wheel saw attachments offer precision cuts, reducing the amount of material that needs to be excavated. This minimizes road damage and speeds up repair times, reducing disruptions to traffic and services.
Light Compaction
Utility contractors and operators may also benefit from light compaction equipment which includes rammers, forward plate compactors, reversible plate compactors and trench rollers. After placing cables or pipes, ensuring the stability and longevity of trenches is critical.
Light compaction machines compact soil, gravel or asphalt around utility trenches. By reducing the risk of soil settling over time, these machines help preserve the integrity of the installation.
Equipping machines with the right attachments is crucial to completing projects efficiently on any job site, including utility projects. Whether digging trenches, handling debris or performing precise cuts, the right tool can make a significant difference in jobsite efficiency and speed to completion.
Bobcat photo
FAE’s Expands Range With Its New SFL Multitask Head
FAE is expanding its range of multitask heads with the introduction of the new SFL: mulcher, shredder and stone crusher all-in-one attachment.
The new head completes FAE's line-up in this segment, offering a product which is compatible with tractors ranging from 130 hp to 220 hp. The new SFL can shred wood, shrubs, roots up to 6 in. in diameter and stumps up to 10 in. in diameter. It also can crush stones up to 4 in. in diameter, operating at depths down to 8 in.
The FAE SFL multitask head is the ideal solution for clearing stony land, preparing fields for agricultural activities and maintaining plantations, nurseries, vineyards and orchards.
The new SFL, the smallest of FAE's multitask tractor heads, benefits from some distinctive technical features. These include a counter blade for crushing stones, comb counter blades for the correct shredding of exposed and buried plant and woody material, a hydraulic rear hood for better granulometry control, and tungsten carbide teeth for enhanced performance and durability.
The hydraulic depth control roller completes the set-up for optimum tillage results, while the central box alignment system allows the head to move freely in and out of the ground.
In addition to these upgrades, the SFL features a number of structural improvements. The sturdy protection chains limit material output to a minimum, protecting the drive motor. The ultra-strong, wear-resistant steel used for the frame, the interchangeable internal and external guards, and the heat-treated, forged-steel tooth holders guarantee a robust structure that can stand up to even the most challenging tasks, according to the manufacturer.
The new SFL is available in two widths: SFL-200 and SFL-225, both with dual gear transmission. The cylinder head is fitted with a rotor with K/3 teeth. For more information, visit fae-group.com.
The
SFL multitask head is the ideal solution for clearing stony land, preparing fields for agricultural activities and maintaining plantations, nurseries, vineyards and orchards.
SECTION Trucks & Trailers
Civil Contractor Saves Big By Bringing PM Work In-House
By Larry Lea SPECIAL TO CEG
Safety. Integrity. Reliability. Those are the principles that Cardinal Civil Contracting operates by on every infrastructure and site preparation job it handles.
This full-service contracting company provides turnkey solutions for its customers — everything from surveying, site clearing and grading, to underground utilities, paving and more. From smaller single- and multi-family residential projects to large industrial and institutional jobs, Cardinal Civil Contracting aims to be the contractor of choice in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area.
“We’ve got the desire to do a good job. Our crews put everything they got into it. They come in and stay till the job’s done,” said Jason Syphrit, equipment manager at Cardinal Civil Contracting. “Everybody has one goal in mind and that’s to be the best that we can be. And I think
that’s what puts us at the top in my opinion.”
With the influx of people moving to the area, there is plenty of opportunity to put that attitude and manpower to work. According to Syphrit, the company has around 40 to 50 active jobs currently, with many of them all-inclusive residential subdivisions with pools and recreation areas.
Not surprisingly, it takes a lot of heavy equipment to manage that many jobs and they all need regular preventive maintenance (PM) to keep up and running. For some time, Cardinal Civil Contracting hired outside service support; however, as the company grew it became apparent that it needed a solution that gave it better control in both time and cost. That led Syphrit to spend months researching service trucks that the company could purchase to provide efficient PM in the field.
Syphrit’s choice? Two service and lube truck upfits (SLU) from Thunder Creek.
“Researching, I could not find any other trucks with the
capacity these have in a small package. The SLU hauls the most fluids, gallon-wise, out of any of the service and lube trucks I found out there,” he said. “With the size of our fleet now at probably 500 pieces, it just made sense to go this route.”
Since purchasing the SLU, Cardinal Civil Contracting has gained several advantages that make it clear they made the right decision.
Versatile Solution
The SLU provides Cardinal Civil Contracting with mobile, full-scale service on a medium-duty truck chassis. It carries service fluids such as coolant, reclaim and oil, along with daily fluids such as top-off diesel, grease and DEF. The company chose a Ford F550 and a Dodge Ram 5500 for their upfits, both of which allow crew members to manage
The SLU provides Cardinal Civil Contracting with mobile, full-scale service on a medium-duty truck chassis. It carries service fluids such as coolant, reclaim and oil, along with daily fluids such as top-off diesel, grease and DEF.
www.chattanoogatrailer.com
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www.richmondmachinery.com
Brandt to Liquidate Truck Leasing Firm’s Fleet Assets
The Canadian trucking industry can look forward to a sudden influx of aggressively priced premium used and reconditioned equipment into the market in the coming months.
Brandt Peterbilt, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Brandt Group of Companies, has been appointed to disperse a major portion of the fleet assets of a major Mississauga-based truck leasing firm that filed for bankruptcy protection in late March
2024. The assets include hundreds of latemodel Peterbilt and Kenworth highway tractors, dump trucks and trailers, including dry vans and reefer units, all inspected and with fresh safeties prior to sale.
“We work hard to deliver complete solutions for our customers, and giving them access to used units on this kind of scale, along with options for asset liquidation, is an important step as we continue to invest for the long term in our truck dealership business. The addition of these units will increase our new and used catalogue to nearly 1,300 units — the largest in Canada,” said Brandt’s Chief Operating Officer — Transportation, Neil Marcotte.
“This influx of used inventory reflects a core business strategy within our dealership network. It will allow us to grow our used equipment business at an unprecedented rate, better serving our current and future customers while keeping up with the demands of the market.”
Brandt entered the truck market in fall of 2019 with the acquisition of Camex Equipment in Nisku, Ab. Since then, the company has become one of the most successful providers of new and used trucks in Canada.
In the winter of 2021, Brandt became the exclusive Peterbilt dealer for Saskatchewan and primary dealer in Ontario with the acquisition of Cervus Equipment. Brandt was chosen to disperse these units due to its significant service and support infrastructure and nationwide heavy equipment distribution network, including Canada’s largest Peterbilt truck dealership network, with 19 full-service locations in Saskatchewan and Ontario.
The equipment is expected to be available for sale at Brandt locations in Mississauga, ON; Ayr, ON; Winnipeg, MB; Regina, SK; Saskatoon, SK; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; Vancouver, BC; and Kamloops, BC.
sale at Brandt locations in Mississauga,
Ayr, ON; Winnipeg,
Saskatoon, SK; Calgary, AB;
The company is a national leader in used equipment sales and support with a decadeslong track record in multiple industries. The equipment is expected to be available for
AB; Vancouver, BC; and Kamloops, BC. For more information, contact Brian Radiff at bradiff@brandt.ca. (Photos courtesy of Brandt.)
ON;
MB; Regina, SK;
Edmonton,
In the winter of 2021, Brandt became the exclusive Peterbilt dealer for Saskatchewan and primary dealer in Ontario. Richmond Machinery
PM for approximately 70 percent of the company’s equipment fleet.
The remaining equipment is new and on service contracts with manufacturers or dealers.
According to Syphrit, the two SLUs can provide four to eight services a day, depending on the PM services that need to be completed.
“We’re servicing many of our machines every 500 hours, where we are just in and out, and the bigger equipment gets 2,000- to a 5,000- hour service,” added Joe Zandlo, PM specialist. “On a good day, we try to get to three of those. With the SLU, it’s possible if we don’t have to drive miles between jobs.”
As a PM specialist, Zandlo’s job is to work exclusively with the SLU servicing dozers, excavators, skid steers, large rollers and other heavy equipment. He appreciates how easy it is to maneuver the truck through different job sites.
“As far as getting on the job sites, all the clearance is good,” he said. “Its four-wheel drive capability, which I’ve had to use a couple of times, makes driving and turning into areas simple.”
“The operators are not always able to bring the piece of equipment up to the front of the job for service, but these trucks are capable of getting into a site compared to a big truck. We had a particular job that was very hilly, lots of rocks and obstacles and these trucks helped tremendously. And it’s turned out [that] there’s a safety aspect also because the drivers have got such good visibility around the truck, down both sides. I would say I probably wouldn’t go with a big truck again.”
Once on a job site, the SLUs have proven to be efficient for completing scheduled PM service. With 690 gal. of fluids available, self-contained hose reels and room for tools, the trucks offer a fast and easy way to perform PM service. Each tank has its own gun so there is no risk of contamination between fluids, and Thunder Creek has equipped the SLU with a VMAC under-hood air compressor to speed fluid delivery.
“It’s 100 percent faster. You’ve got all your fluids at hand. You’ve got the huge capacity for waste oil and for new oil. Now we can haul diesel and antifreeze on the truck too and a lot more filters,” said Zandlo. “I can back up to a piece of machinery or beside it and this is all I need right here. With
the onboard air compressor, I’ve never had to slow down on oil delivery. It’s constant. As fast as that pump’s running, it’s throwing oil.”
The SLU tanks also are easy to refill with the necessary fluids and to dispose of waste oil.
“It’s not a big headache. You can see your tank levels from the ground. You don’t have to climb up on the truck and look at how much oil you have left,” said Syphrit. “Drivers will usually come in probably once a week, twice at the most to top off fluids and drain their waste oil. So that’s been good.”
An advantage that Syphrit also appreciates is that the SLUs don’t require drivers to hold a CDL or HAZMAT endorsement. There are separate tanks for each service fluid joined by a common manifold to the commercial pumping system. Because of that, and the trucks overall lighter weight, any driver with a safe driving record can operate the trucks.
“It’s getting hard to find a quality driver for hauling oils and fuels. It is a lot easier to have a guy who already knows the PM side get in this truck and drive it than it is to find a CDL driver with HAZMAT that knows about the PM side of it,” he said. “So, absolutely it’s just a big plus all the way around.”
While the maneuverability of the SLUs, the fast and simplified PM service they provide and the ability for any driver to operate the trucks are all advantages — the major combined benefits are time and cost savings. Cardinal Civil Contracting no longer hires service contractors and can rely on the organized PM schedule provided by the front office to let PM specialists know when and where they should be.
“The more we can do the stuff in-house, the more money we can save. And as the machines drop off PM agreements with the dealerships, we roll them into our PM system,” said Syphrit. “And the more we can do, the less we are relying on somebody else’ schedule. So, they’ve worked out really well.”
If someone were to ask about a Thunder Creek SLU, what would Syphrit say?
“Buy four of them. I’m being honest that it’s just a great setup. We chose to set ours up this way, but whoever else could set it up however they want. I just don’t think you can go wrong,” he said. “It’s a lot of stuff in a small package and it gets the job done.”
(All photos courtesy of Thunder Creek.)
(Larry Lea is the vice president of sales of Thunder Creek Equipment.)
Airport Project Aims to Ease Congestion, Improve Traffic Flow
concourse. Construction also is under way to improve traffic flow around the terminal and parking garages. This will ease congestion and improve the overall travel experience for visitors.
Another key aspect of the project involves upgrades to the baggage handling system. The new system will be able to sort luggage by flight, expediting security inspections and ensuring faster delivery of checked bags to and from aircraft.
Traci Holton, vice president of New Horizon, is overseeing design and construction.
“By providing more gates, the airlines can expand their schedules and offer additional flights,” she said. “The construction also will include moving sidewalks and new areas for concessions to be built out. Our objective is to build quickly and get it open to concessionaires and passengers as quickly as possible.”
Rob Myer, project manager of Hensel Phelps, is enthusiastic about the new structure — as a nod to the city’s musical roots, the open-air terrace and restaurant at the end of Concourse D will be in the shape of a record — even though it will provide new challenges for his team.
“The construction will require specialized lifts and reach for our equipment as well as some unusual materials,” he said. “Many of the materials that are normally installed as straight pieces will have to be formed into curves to fit onto the rounded surface of the structural steel that will make up the record node portion.”
Myer estimates that erecting the steel, including the metal roof, and performing the glazing will take the rest of the year for the record node and terrace.
The team will install electrochromic glass in the record node as well as in much of the new construction at BNA. The glass uses an electric charge to change the opacity. More tint in the summer allows less light, limiting the amount of light coming in and heating up the inside of the terminals. In the winter the glass is less opaque, allowing more light to
Nashville International Airport photo
Concourse A is slated for demolition in summer 2025 to be replaced with a larger, 16-gate concourse.
Nashville International Airport photo
The construction will require specialized lifts and reach for equipment as well as some unusual materials.
Nashville International Airport photo
AIRPORT from page 1
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Poorly Fitting PPE Can Pose Risks to Women Workers
OSHA Updates Safety Bulletin On Head Protection
OSHA knows that every year in addition to slips, trips and falls, U.S. construction workers have accidents as the result of falling objects and equipment.
Construction workers especially are susceptible to these injuries because of the environment in which they work.
OSHA’s “Head Protection: Safety Helmets in the Workplace” safety and health information bulletin addresses the issue, as follows:
“Proper head protection is crucial in work environments with falling objects, struck-by, overhead electrical hazards, and risks from slips, trips and falls.”
The agency updated the bulletin in April of this year, after first releasing the document a year ago, according to Dennis Capizzi of MSA.
Capizzi, segment marketing manager for protection products for the safety equipment provider, wrote about the update for Occupational Health & Safety.
He said the update was issued to help clarify some key points about head protection types, classes and considerations when selecting a solution.
OSHA believes with a thorough understanding of the benefits and capabilities of head protection options, informed decisions can be made on selection and use.
Modern head protection varies in styles and levels of protection, allowing employers and workers to choose what’s most appropriate for the job, said OSHA.
“Employers must conduct a hazard assessment at their job site,” advises the agency.
“Based on the workplace hazards,” the contractor can then “determine whether head protection is necessary and, if so, the most appropriate type.”
The safety compliance company said employers, manufacturers and regulators “must prioritize the development and provision of women-specific PPE.”
In fact, OSHA’s final rule on construction PPE fit requirements is under review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).
In noting the rule’s final review, Safety and Health said OSHA expects no increase in employers’ costs or compliance burdens as a result of any rule rewrites.
No Cost to Do Right Thing
Sent to OIRA in mid-November, the rule intends to align with PPE fit requirements of OSHA’s general industry and maritime standards.
Historically, PPE was designed for a workforce dominated by men. But construction worker demographics are changing. Today, the construction rule only requires that gear be “of safe design and construction for the work to be performed,” Safety and Health Magazine writes.
OSHA knows access to properly fitting PPE for physically smaller construction workers has been a concern in the industry for some time now. In 2021, the BLS reported that women comprised roughly 11 percent of the construction workforce. Those numbers have continuously grown in recent years.
Gina Godeen of ohsonline.com notes that poorly-fitted PPE can pose significant safety risks for women workers.
“Loose-fitting apparel, for example, can get caught in machinery, compromising worker safety,” she said. “Similarly, gloves that do not fit correctly can decrease grip, leading to accidents.”
OSHA has proper fit requirements in place but “it’s not technically incorporated into the construction regulations,” said Godeen.
In July 2023, OSHA published a proposed rule for PPE in construction. It clarifies that the gear must fit each employee properly. The end goal of the rule is that PPE protect workers from occupational hazards, aligning with OSHA’s general industry standards.
“Improperly fitting PPE may fail to provide protection to an employee,” said Godeen.
Improper fit may “present additional hazards, or discourage employees from using it in the workplace,” she added.
Plus, poorly fitting PPE also can hinder task performance, slowing work and resulting in less-efficient operations.
Godeen included comment from a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study in which a woman worker shared her experience.
“They gave me a welding leather jacket that was a foot longer than my hand and humongous gloves [so that] I couldn’t even pick anything up.”
Because properly fitting PPE is crucial, it is essential for employers to offer PPE in women’s sizes to better accommodate their entire workforce, said Godeen.
In the “shrink it and pink it” approach to PPE design, men’s safety gear is simply made smaller and colored differently.
That “just doesn’t cut it” as far as the unique safety needs of women are concerned, said Godeen, content editor of J.J. Keller.
“Women’s bodies are not just smaller versions of men’s,” she said. “They have distinct anatomical differences.”
Those physical differences require specially designed PPE to ensure proper fit and protection, she concluded.
She pointed out that women typically have shorter torsos and wider hips compared with men.
“This difference … means that PPE like vests, jackets and harnesses must be tailored to fit shorter upper bodies and
accommodate wider hip areas,” said Godeen.
And this has to be achieved without compromising safety or comfort because ill-fitting PPE can lead to discomfort and safety hazards. Those potential safety hazards included restricted movement or increased risk of entanglement, she said.
“Additionally, women generally have smaller hands and fingers ... Gloves designed for men’s hands can result in a poor grip and reduced dexterity.”
For women, this results in increased risk of accidents when handling tools and equipment.
“Properly designed gloves for women should fit snugly, allowing for better control and comfort,” said Godeen.
Footwear is another critical area where gender-specific design is necessary, she believes, because women’s feet are often narrower with higher arches.
So, safety shoes and boots that do not consider these differences can lead to discomfort, poor posture and even long-term musculoskeletal problems, said Godeen.
Participating in a 2024 J.J. Keller survey, 84 percent of female respondents explained that they have found proper fit to be a challenge. In total, 50 percent said that they “regularly” have trouble finding well-fitting PPE; 34 percent said it happens “once in a while.”
In fact, only 16 women said they’ve never experienced this problem, according to J.J. Keller’s survey results.
“PPE must be designed based on female anthropometric data to ensure that it fits correctly and provides adequate protection,” said Godeen.
Solutions for Every Body Type
Fortunately, many manufacturers now offer PPE specifically designed for women, Godeen has found.
“These innovations have addressed the unique anatomical needs of women, ensuring better fit, comfort and protection,” she said.
Manufacturers of PPE gear have heard their customers, said Godeen, and have found several design solutions. She lists the following:
Adobe Stock photo
Half of the women who responded to a recent survey on PPE availability said they regularly have trouble finding PPE that fits them properly.
Aggregate Production and Recycling Section
Komplet Jaw Crusher Helps N.J. Biz Save Time, Money
For a small family construction company to be able to celebrate 20 years in business is quite an achievement due to the industry’s often unforgiving economic realities.
Despite that, Lancha Construction in Monroe Township, N.J., northeast of Trenton, has managed to carve out a niche for itself in the region by staying true to itself as a concrete and paving contractor for the area’s different municipalities.
Another factor that has kept Lancha in business is its dedication to hard work, a trait that its co-founder, Rogerio Lancha, brought with him from his native Portugal. Now semi-retired from actively running the company, he has passed on the leadership role to his son, Paul, who was his partner in starting the firm and today serves as its president and owner.
But just because Rogerio Lancha stepped away from overseeing field operations for the construction firm approximately two years ago, that does not mean he has stopped working there. Rather, his son said that the elder Lancha currently oversees the company’s yard, where he operates — among other machines — its Komplet K-JC704 mobile jaw crusher.
“To be honest with you, what my father is doing is a good thing because it is a lot less stressful environment for him,” Lancha said. “And, of course, being from Portugal, he did
LANCHA page 48
Rogerio Lancha (L) and Paul Lancha of Lancha Construction, based in Monroe Township, N.J.
After having used other crushers and screeners in the past, Paul Lancha said that when he and his father were shopping for a new machine, they quickly became impressed with the simplicity of the Komplet jaw crusher’s mechanics. see
Barford SR124 Portable Track Scalping Screener
Barford
Making RCA Proves to Be Win-Win for Lancha Construction
“Not only are we saving on the material and the material disposal but saving time as well. It has worked out very well for us in that sense.”
not want to leave the field so soon.”
As a small, family-run operation, Lancha Construction is a fully unionized general contractor specializing in utility work, including concrete drainage, curb and gutter and sidewalk jobs, in addition to road improvements and paving projects.
It employs eight people in the field full-time and hires subcontractors to handle the paving jobs for its clients, 99 percent of which are small New Jersey municipalities.
“With our being located in central Jersey, we usually travel within an hour radius of Monroe Township,” Lancha said. “We can go in any direction; we do a lot of jobs in Union Township, closer to Newark, or to Old Bridge, or as far east as Rumson Township. We’re all over the place.”
Making RCA Is Win-Win for Lancha
Much of Lancha Construction’s work involves breaking up old concrete surfaces and, typically, at the end of each work day, Paul Lancha’s crews must dispose of several truckloads of material that cannot be brought back to its yard.
Rather than paying someone to haul off the entire amount of old pavement, the company brings back at least one load to its property each day to be crushed by Rogerio Lancha into 0.75-in.-size recycled crushed aggregate, or RCA.
“What that does is keep Dad busy,” Lancha said. “He will go crazy if he is not busy.”
By doing so, he said, Lancha Construction is not only able to reuse the crushed concrete for its own projects, such as regrading underneath curbs, sidewalks and pavement, but save substantial amounts of time and money for the budget-conscious family company and allow it to further its environmentally friendly practices.
“So, we are saving, let’s say, $200 to bring a load in, and another $200 to take it out — that is $400 a day,” Lancha said. “It does not seem like a lot, but it adds up.”
The remaining four loads of broken concrete, particularly if they came from a job an hour or more away from the Lancha office, would then be taken to a nearby concrete plant, which would charge the contractor a dumping fee.
“It also saves us time,” he added. “For example, at the end of the day, the plants close at 3:30 p.m. If the driver can’t make it to one in time, and we have a truck loaded, that would mean he would bring it back here, and the next morning go back to the concrete plant, dispose of that old concrete and pick up new material.”
If, instead, that same truck driver comes to the Lancha yard late in the work day and drops off the old concrete to be crushed in time for him to load up RCA the next morning, the repurposed concrete is ready to be used once again at a job site.
“It saves us at least two hours during the day,” Lancha said. “Not only are we saving on the material and the material disposal but saving time as well. It has worked out very well for us in that sense.”
To help accomplish those savings, and with so much concrete to process, the company purchased a Komplet KJC704 mobile jaw crusher in January 2023 from the Komplet America master distributor in Hillsborough, N.J.
With it, the elder Lancha is able to process a single load of concrete in just a couple of hours, according to his son.
“We went with a little bigger model, one that was perfect for us because, as I said, we don’t sell any material — it is just for us to reuse concrete,” said Paul Lancha. “We felt this machine was the right size for us because we are not looking to process very big amounts even though this crusher can do up to 10 loads of material a day. For a small company like us with a small operation, it is perfect.”
Lancha Purchases Komplet Jaw Crusher for Its Simplicity
After having used other crushers and screeners in the past, he said that when he and his father were shopping for a new machine, they quickly became impressed with the simplicity of the Komplet jaw crusher’s mechanics.
“It is simpler because it is all hydraulic-powered,” he said. “There is no electrical generator, and it is easy to maintain.”
Another key point in the Komplet jaw crusher’s favor, Lancha said, is the relative ease with which it extracts rebar and wire from old concrete. The machine is adept at pulling steel components from the material via its powerful magnetic
That function is an important one for companies like Lancha Construction that often must remove unwanted debris from concrete and pavement.
separator.
LANCHA from page 45
Lancha Construction has managed to carve out a niche for itself in the region by staying true to itself as a concrete and paving contractor for the area’s different municipalities.
By using the Komplet K-JC704 mobile jaw crusher, Lancha Construction is not only able to reuse the crushed concrete for its own projects, such as re-grading underneath curbs, sidewalks and pavement, but save substantial amounts of time and money.
Paul Lancha Lancha Construction
FROM REDUCTION TO SHAPING
Cedarapids Introduces TC1300X Cone Crusher to Static Lineup
Cedarapids, a Terex brand, announced the launch of its newest and most advanced cone crusher model, the TC1300X.
This crusher marks the latest innovation in Cedarapids’ exten sive static cone crusher product line, designed to meet the grow ing demand for higher productivity and efficiency in rock crushing applications.
The TC1300X delivers impressive power, boasting a 400 hp (300 kW) motor, making it a cone-crushing pow erhouse. The advanced design includes key kinematics improvements, as well as a large eccentric throw option, which results in the production of high-quality aggregates with superior shape and cubicity. These features ensure that the TC1300X consistently meets customer demands for higher reduction ratios and increased productivity in various applications, according to the manufacturer.
Cedarapids has incorporated the TC1300X into other Cedrapids crushing equipment, including the CRC1350, CRC1350S and MC1350 machines, to provide a wide range of solutions,. These models, designed for different operational needs, all benefit from the efficiency and power of the TC1300X cone crusher.
In particular, Cedarapids recently unveiled the CRC1350S portable closed circuit cone and screen plant, which features the TC1300X at its core. This combination delivers enhanced production capabilities, higher output, and lower cost per ton across various applications, as confirmed by recent case studies. Customers looking to improve their crushing operations will find that the TC1300X cone crusher offers enhanced per formance with increased productivity at a competitive cost, the manufacturer said.
For more information, visit www.terex.com/mps/cedarapids.
Family Biz Focuses On Quality of Work, Not Size of Job
When Lancha Construction began, it worked on building driveways and concrete steps, but after it became bonded, it moved up to performing municipal projects, a sector of the industry in which both Rogerio and Paul Lancha were experienced. Lancha Construction brings back at least one load to its property each day to be crushed into 0.75-in.-size recycled crushed aggregate, or RCA.
LANCHA from page 48
“Some of it comes with wire mesh, although not a lot of rebar, but we do get that sometimes, too,” he said. “We break up concrete into smaller pieces with a hammer excavator before we throw it into the crusher because the pieces are often too big, but you cannot get all the rebar and wire mesh out that way. With the Komplet jaw crusher, the wire and rebar will come through the hopper and as it enters the belt, its magnetic separator extracts it in the end. It is all done very well.”
Lancha Construction’s own mechanic has been able to keep up with the Komplet’s preventive maintenance — about the only service the piece of equipment has needed since the company acquired it almost two years ago.
Although Komplet machinery has been in existence for 25 years, it has only been over the past seven years when it has become known to the U.S. marketplace through Komplet America. Lancha noted that as Komplet is still a relatively new product line in the U.S., he and his technicians are still learning from Komplet America what parts need to be switched out and how often.
“We changed one of the back plates recently because they tend to get worn out more often,” he said. “When the problem came up, I called Komplet America because we have a good relationship with them. They are excellent to work with and anything that we have needed so far, they have in stock and, if they didn’t, they would order it. They took my mechanic through the process to change the plate, and it was very simple.”
His technician was trained by Lancha Construction’s Komplet representative shortly after the K-JC704 mobile jaw crusher was purchased and has since received further instructions on how to change other components on the machine.
“They have come down to our facility a couple times and shown my mechanic how the system works so that we can do
it ourselves in the future. Like I said, it is not a hard machine to understand and Komplet has been 100 percent helpful with everything.”
Among the other equipment in the Lancha Construction fleet are a Kubota KX57 excavator with an FRD hammer attachment that Paul Lancha said is used to break up old cement, and an older John Deere 310-J backhoe that works in the company’s yard to load the Komplet crusher.
“We also have three other John Deere backhoes that we use in the field, along with a larger Kubota KX80 model, four Scania dump trucks and two Dynapac rollers, one of which is older that we keep in the yard,” he said. “Although we subcontract out much of our paving work, we use the Dynapacs for smaller stuff. Plus, we have both a John Deere and a Bobcat skid steer.”
He noted that his crews have used the Scania-brand dump trucks since the company’s beginning, and each one of its current fleet of trucks are older models.
“We have a guy up north that rebuilds them up to standard and almost from scratch,” Lancha added. “He rebuilds the engines, he rebuilds the transmissions, and he puts new bodies on them, but we have had those for a long time.”
Lancha Brings Tremendous Work Ethic to Each Job
Paul Lancha noted that he and his family came from very humble beginnings in Portugal before arriving in the United States just a few decades ago.
“When I came to America, I was 12 years old,” he said, adding that his family had lived in the city of Aveiro, near the Atlantic coast.
“After high school I went straight to work with my father, who has been in construction all his life. It was tough because
he wanted me to stay in school and I decided not to do that, so he pushed me hard and after a couple of years, I got used to it. I began liking it more and more to the point that I started thinking to myself, ‘This could be something very good if I did my own thing.’
“That was the hunger we had back then,” Lancha added. “We wanted to do better things. So, when I was 23 years old, I started my own business to be my own boss and help our family.”
As a result, the entire company is made up of extended family members, many of whom are his cousins and uncles.
“In fact, my future son-in-law and all of our subcontractors are in my cousin’s company, which does all our paving work,” he said.
When Lancha Construction began, it worked on building driveways and concrete steps, but after it became bonded, it moved up to performing municipal projects, a sector of the industry in which both he and his father were experienced.
Eventually, they joined the New Jersey Laborers unions, Locals 472 and 825, and began to take on larger projects. Lancha said they also saw to it that their employees were paid a fair wage and focused their efforts on making the business profitable.
“As I said, we are not a big company, but we do big work and sometimes it’s not about the size,” he said. “For about the past three years, we decided that we wanted to do more quality work instead of just more work. And by keeping the company compact and having the family involved, we have come up with a better way for us to do the best job for our clients.”
CEG
(All photographs in this article are Copyright 2024 Construction Equipment Guide, except where noted. All Rights Reserved.)
Lancha Construction photo
MANY MODELS, ENDLESS APPLICATIONS
BUILT TO CONNECT
KUHN EQUIPMENT
Metso Agrees to Acquire Long-Term
Partner Swiss Tower Mill Minerals
Metso is investing in the development of energy-saving comminution technology and has signed an agreement to acquire the outstanding shares of its long-term partner Swiss Tower Mills Minerals AG (STM).
Previously, Metso had a 15 percent minority ownership in the company. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction value.
Metso decided to exercise its right of first refusal following the divestment decision of STM’s other shareholders. As a result of the transaction, Metso’s ownership will increase to 100 percent. Metso has reported its previous 15 percent shareholding as a noncurrent financial asset.
Swiss Tower Mills Minerals, based in Baden, Switzerland, specializes in vertical grinding mill solutions. It is best known for the HIGmill grinding mill, which has been exclusively sold and serviced by Metso. This technology is crucial in modern grinding circuits and integral to the development
of energy-efficient comminution processes, for example, in combination with Metso HRCTMe high-pressure grinding rolls.
Over the years of cooperation, the use of vertical grinding mill technology has seen significant growth, and the trend is expected to continue.
“We are excited to have the Swiss Tower Mills Minerals team as part of Metso. For many years, we have collaborated in serving customers in the mining industry. Going forward, our customers will continue to benefit from an unrivaled comminution solutions offering, which we will develop further,” said Markku Teräsvasara, president, minerals business area and deputy CEO at Metso.
“Being fully convinced that Metso is highly committed to further develop Swiss Tower Mills Minerals as the benchmark of the art of grinding, together with my private shareholder colleagues, we have decided to divest our ownership in the company. Hence,
we are pleased to know that the technology we have established together with Metso for the mining industry will remain an essential part of Metso’s flowsheet capability,” said Fritz Moser, chairman of the board of Swiss Tower Mills Minerals.
The acquisition, which is subject to the approvals of anti-trust authorities, is expected to be closed in early 2025.
About Swiss Tower Mills Minerals AG
Swiss Tower Mills Minerals AG is an innovative mid-size Swiss engineering company with a vision to revolutionize and continuously improve grinding in the base and precious metals mineral processing industry. The company’s vertical mill technology has a rich legacy of more than 50 years in industry, with over 200 fine and ultrafine mills in operation.
Fore more information, visit www.stmminerals.com
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130 Robinson Rd NW Calhoun, GA (706) 629-0776
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1899 Knight Ave Waycross, GA 912-283-9321
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Bobcat of Nashville La Vergne, TN 615-941-4000
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Bobcat of Maury County Columbia, TN 931-981-9909
FLEXIBILITY MEETS PRECISION.
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Tuscaloosa, AL 205-752-0621 Panama City, FL 850-763-4654
SMOOTH THINGS OUT.
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Caterpillar Exhibit to Spotlight ‘Next 100 Years’ at CES 2025 in Las Vegas
Caterpillar Inc. will launch its Centennial Celebration during CES 2025, providing visitors the opportunity to reflect on the company’s global impact over the last century as well as envision what’s in store for the future.
Caterpillar’s exhibit, “The Next 100 Years: Experience What’s Possible,” will feature a powerful combination of technologies and expertise designed to highlight some of the ways Caterpillar is evolving with customers through the energy transition.
“Caterpillar was founded in 1925 with an innovative spirit, aimed at helping our customers overcome practical problems and challenges. Over the past 100 years, the company has built on a revolutionary legacy — creating industry-leading products, technologies, services and solutions,” said Rob Hoenes, senior vice president of Caterpillar’s Electrification + Energy Solutions division.
Taking center stage at the Caterpillar exhibit will be a 55,000-lbs. Cat 972 wheel loader featuring a technical demonstrator Extended Range Electrified Machine hybrid retrofit. The demonstrator maintains or exceeds performance similar to a diesel machine and does not require DC charging. The retrofit could eliminate the need for additional electrical infrastructure at job sites.
“What sets this demonstrator apart from other Cat battery electric machines is an additional power source,” said Rob Janssen, vice president and general manager of Caterpillar’s Electrification + Energy Solutions division. “In this case, it’s a conventional diesel generator running AC power to a rectifier, which converts energy from AC to DC. The energy created is used to charge the battery, drive the machine or both.”
Additional key features of the demonstrator:
• Cat machines nearing end-of-life can be rebuilt and repowered in a way that allows them to function as part of a reduced-carbon future.
• Can be driven on 100 percent zero emission battery power for several hours. For extended operation, the machine can operate on hybrid mode with electricity generated from an onboard gen set.
• An option for customers looking to lower emissions, but not ready to go all-in on battery electric.
• Charges overnight on a regular utility grid connection at 240V.
Visitors to the Caterpillar exhibit also will experience a virtual job site of the future showcasing examples of the infrastructure required to support electrified job sites, varying charging schedules, and the complexities of a job site powered by the full Caterpillar ecosystem.
Key technologies featured in the exhibit:
• Cat Command — A remote operating station on the show floor will allow attendees to operate Cat machines physically working at the Caterpillar Tinaja Hills Demonstration and Learning Center in Green Valley, Arizona, 445 miles away.
• VisionLink — The cloud-based software application is designed to take the guesswork out of fleet management by providing key insights to maximize performance — regardless of fleet size or equipment manufacturer. Actionable equipment performance data is delivered to a customer’s desktop or mobile device to help customers make informed decisions geared toward analyzing performance and improving productivity.
“Our industry-leading digital capabilities convey a distinct competitive advantage. Our customers have autonomous haul truck working 24/7 around the world and have moved nearly 9 billion tonnes,” Hoenes added. “We also offer autonomous dozers, drills, wheel loaders and compactors. Our customers are using these technologies to increase the efficiency, output, safety — and ultimately, the value — of their operations.”
Another exhibit feature, the Centennial Corridor, will allow visitors to experience the Caterpillar legacy firsthand. The company’s first 10 decades will be represented, enabling attendees to recognize the significant role Caterpillar has played in building a better, more sustainable world and its contributions to society at large.
CES 2025 runs from Tuesday, Jan. 7 through Friday, Jan. 10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Caterpillar exhibit is in the center’s West Hall, booth #6416.
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Knoxville
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LINDER TURF & TRACTOR
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1501 N. Memorial Drive Greenville, NC 27834 252-695-6200
5504 15th Street E Bradenton, FL 34203 941-755-5722
505 US Highway 82 West Leesburg, GA 31763 229-435-2212
1205 Veterans Parkway North Moultrie, GA 31788 229-985-3882
2902 US Highway 84 West Valdosta, GA 31601 229-588-8100
Caterpillar photo
Caterpillar’s exhibit, “The Next 100 Years: Experience What’s Possible,” will feature a powerful combination of technologies and expertise designed to highlight some of the ways Caterpillar is evolving with customers through the energy transition.
MASON TRACTOR COMPANY
www.masontractor.com
1050 Appalachian Hwy Blue Ridge, GA 30513 706-632-3777
2510 Dahlonega Hwy Cumming, GA 30040 770-887-6119
395 Industrial Blvd. McDonough, GA 30253 770-957-3370
5038 Buford Hwy. Norcross, GA 30071 770-582-0377
1275 Carrollton Villa Rica Hwy. Villa Rica, GA 30180 678-952-2037
912 Jernigan Street Perry, GA 31069 478-987-1173
BROOKS SALES, INC. www.brookssales.com
3144 Hwy 74 East Monroe, NC 28112 704-233-4242
CREEL TRACTOR CO.
www.creeltractor.com
3771 Palm Beach Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33916 239-694-2185
Liebherr Showcasing Truck-Mounted Concrete Pump at World of Concrete
The 38
a four-part distribution boom in a practical Z-fold, making it easy to handle with a low
Liebherr will participate at World of Concrete 2025 showcasing the 38Z4 XXT truck-mounted concrete pump equipped with the latest drive technology as well as the THS THS 110 D-K crawler pump at booth #C6149.
“We are thrilled to announce our participation at World of Concrete 2025. We look forward to showcasing our cuttingedge 38 XXT pump, which offers enhanced performance and top-tier operational support solutions, including powerbloc and the XXA stability support system,” said Guilherme Zurita, director of concrete technology.
“Liebherr USA’s involvement highlights its continuous dedication to advancing the concrete industry. Our booth staff eagerly anticipate meeting customers and their future goals.”
38Z4 XXT Truck-Mounted Concrete Pump
The 38 XXT features a four-part distribution boom in a convenient Z-fold making it easy to handle and offers an impressive reach for the 30 m class.
This model comes standard with XXT-outriggers and an XXA stability assistance system. The pivoting XXT support ensures stability when supporting in tight spaces, and the XXA stability assistance system allows partially supported areas to be electronically monitored. The concrete pump also is equipped with the latest drive unit, powerbloc. This unit does not require a separate control block.
Offering an extensive accessories catalogue, the 38 also can be equipped with LED lighting designs for optimal work in the dark, various storage boxes for materials and tools as well as shelves for extension hoses.
THS 110 D-K Crawler Concrete Pump
The THS 110 D-K crawler concrete pump is ideal for bored pile foundations to supply concrete to any foundation machine. This work involves deep drilling holes to prepare the ground for construction. When the drill is pulled out, these holes are filled with concrete. In the process, the concrete is conveyed down via a tube in the middle of the drill.
The crawler concrete pump travels in parallel with the drilling rig to the various pile locations, with the concrete hose remaining connected to the drilling rig.
The Liebherr crawler concrete pump also is suitable for various other types of pumping applications.
(Photos courtesy of Liebherr.)
CRYSTAL TRACTOR & EQUIPMENT
11863 US HWY 301 Hampton, FL 32044 352-770-0488
Crystaltractor.com
PERRY BROTHERS EQUIPMENT COMPANY
523 US Hwy 280 E Americus, GA 31709 229-924-0035
843 Pinehurst-Hawkinsville Rd Pinehurst, GA 31070 229-273-4333
perryequip.com
ATLANTIC COASTAL EQUIPMENT SALES & RENTAL 922 Longwood Drive Richmond Hill, GA 31324 912-459-1155 www.acesalesandrentals.com
NEWMAN TRACTOR
2600 W State Road 60 W Bartow, FL 33830 863-777-5570
www.newmantractor.com
XXT offers
unfolding height.
The THS 110 D-K crawler concrete pump pairs well with bored pile foundations to supply concrete.
Crews to Pour 3,500 Cu. Yds. of Concrete, Remove Nearly 600,000 Cu. Yds. of Rock
enter, thus providing more heat and will reduce the burden of heating the facility.
Hensel Phelps and team are building foundations for the new gates. Concrete is being poured on an almost daily basis with steel scaffolding in place for building at the higher levels. Throughout the summer, workers worked on utility installation and connecting the fuel lines for later use by the airlines.
The airport hopes to have the first gate opened by March 2025 with the rest ready by July.
The work team plans to use some 3,500 cu. yds. of concrete this year with some concrete paving used around the pedestrian bridge foundations and the area near the new gates.
Construction safety issues rise to a new level when working around airlines.
“We have to be careful with our crane utilization,” said Myer. “We communicate with the air traffic controllers, so we are sure not to interfere with any of the airplane activity, including their lines of sight. We also walk the perimeter of our construction area, to make sure our equipment and work is within the restricted boundaries and does not impede airfield operations or airline activities.”
Myer knows that their work is not just for a better passenger experience.
“As we move along in the construction of Concourse D expansion, we will eventually be taking down Concourse A and building a new one in its place. We hope that the new Concourse D extension will create opportunities for the airlines to grow their operations here because of the extra gates
and more flexibility, as the airport continues to grow and develop,” said Myer.
Open-Air Terrace
In keeping with the community’s status as Music City and the capital of country music, the airport is building a unique open-air terrace and restaurant at the end of the new Concourse D extension, which will be in the shape of a record. A circular clerestory will rise in the middle, mimicking the center of a record and providing additional natural light into the record node portion. The terrace will overlook the Nashville skyline and promises to be a signature feature on the new construction at BNA.
Another key aspect of the New Horizon project is enhancing the terminal area roadways. The Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) eastward relocation of Donelson Pike, a major thoroughfare, is crucial to this effort. However, abundance of rock, ideal for future structures, poses a challenge during excavation.
“It can be difficult to remove out new areas,” said Holton. “Work along Donelson Pike requires blasting nearly every day.”
This phase alone will necessitate the removal of a staggering 600,000 cu. yds. of rock. However, the airport authority isn’t discarding this valuable resource. The excavated rock is being stockpiled on-site for use in current and future construction projects.
In anticipation of passenger growth reaching an estimated 35 million by 2034, the New Horizon program also prioritizes an expanded baggage handling system. CEG
Caterpillar, IMA Engineering Forge Innovative Collaboration
Caterpillar Inc. announced a new alliance with IMA Engineering to enhance Caterpillar’s Cat Precision Mining initiative.
This collaboration aims to use cuttingedge technology to provide real-time, detailed information about ore, the raw material extracted in mining, enabling sites to improve the efficiency and accuracy of mining operations.
Cat Precision Mining is Caterpillar’s advanced vision to improve every step of the mining process, from extraction to processing. By incorporating real-time data and the latest technologies, this initiative aims to ensure that mining operations can adjust more quickly and precisely to the natural variations in ore.
“Our goal with Cat Precision Mining is to give our customers the tools they need to make quick and accurate decisions, leading to better handling and processing of materials,” said Marc Cameron, senior vice president Caterpillar Resource industries Sales, Services and Technology. “We believe the collaboration will ultimately elevate the industry’s standards in mining productivity and efficiency.”
The joint effort will focus on using IMA Engineering’s ore sensing technologies in different stages of mining and integrating them into the Caterpillar ecosystem. These technologies are crucial for accurately identifying and analyzing the material properties of ore as it is mined and processed so lowquality material is classified as waste and not processed, the company said.
Jukka Raatikainen, CEO of IMA Engineering, highlighted the importance of teamwork in advancing the mining industry.
“Mining is going through a transformative shift to digitalized, autonomous operations. Disruptive solutions are required to reach the ambitious levels set by the industry for safe, efficient and sustainable mining. Our collaboration with Caterpillar is enabling that change,” said Raatikainen.
This alliance not only underscores Caterpillar’s commitment to leading through innovation but also strengthens its role in transforming the mining industry by improving decision-making and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
Manufacturers Helping to Ensure Adequate PPE for Women
• High-Visibility Apparel: Manufacturers now offer high-visibility vests designed with women’s body shapes in mind.
These vests often come in various styles, such as lime or orange polyester mesh with a drawstring waist and zipper enclosure.
These options not only ensure that workers are highly visible but also that the vests fit comfortably, enhancing safety and compliance.
• Hand Protection: Women’s gloves have seen considerable improvements in recent years.
Designed for improved grip, extra warmth, or abrasion and cut protection, these gloves come in sizes ranging from extra small to double extra-large.
• Eye Protection: Safety glasses are now available in different shapes and sizes to fit various facial structures.
These glasses cater to the unique facial dimensions of women, providing a secure and comfortable fit that doesn’t slip off the nose, helping prevent eye injuries.
• Foot Protection: Safety shoes also have advanced to be specifically tailored to women’s foot sizes.
Proper fitting footwear helps prevent injuries related to poor fit, such as slips, trips, and falls.
These shoes provide better support and comfort, reducing the risk of long-term musculoskeletal issues.
Overall, these advancements in women-specific PPE represent a significant step forward in workplace safety and inclusivity.
“Manufacturers are helping to ensure that women are
adequately protected, comfortable and efficient in their roles,” said Godeen.
She encourages employers to “take several important steps moving forward” in providing properly-fitting PPE for all employees:
First, said Godeen, it is essential that contractors conduct regular PPE assessments of their inventory.
“These evaluations should focus specifically on the needs of female employees, identifying any gaps or inadequacies in the current PPE offerings.”
“By regularly assessing these needs,” she said, “employers can stay ahead of potential issues and ensure all workers have access to necessary protective equipment.”
Next, employers should stock a variety of women-specific PPE sizes, because maintaining an inventory that includes PPE for women’s bodies is crucial.
“This ensures that all female employees, regardless of their body type, can find PPE that fits them properly,” said Godeen.
“An inclusive range of sizes helps in providing better protection and comfort,” she added.
Employers should actively seek out and listen to the experiences and suggestions of their female employees regarding PPE fit and comfort.
“By continuously collecting and acting on feedback, employers can make informed adjustments to their PPE offerings,” said Godeen. “Finally, collaboration with suppliers is essential to ensure a steady supply of appropriately sized PPE for women.”
Employers should work closely with their suppliers to source women-specific PPE and address any shortages or gaps in availability. CEG
Traditionally,
DBIA Honors Design-Build Projects From U.S. to Antarctica
DBIA recognized nearly 50 project and team awards during a special Awards Dinner at the 2024 Design-Build Conference & Expo.
In addition to celebrating Merit Award winners from each category, DBIA revealed the recipients of this year’s Excellence Awards, several Best-In honors and the coveted Project of the Year.
Chosen by the Chair of DBIA’s National Board of Directors, the Chair’s Award is a special honor recognizing design-build teams that have shown extraordinary commitment to triple bottom line success.
• 2024 Project of the Year: University of Arizona Applied Research Building (Ariz.)
• 2024 Chair’s Award: Holt Watters Field Camp (Livingston Island, Antarctica)
• Best in Process — Best Value: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) (Colo.)
• Best in Process — Progressive DesignBuild: Wake Technical Community College, Central Energy Plant (N.C.)
• Best in Design — Architecture: University of Arizona Applied Research Building (Ariz.)
• Best in Design — Engineering: Central
70 Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain
(Colo.)
• Best in Virtual Design and Construction: Nashville International Airport Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility (Tenn.)
• Best in Small Projects — Horizontal: Fern Hollow Bridge Emergency Replacement Project (Pa.)
• Best in Small Projects — Vertical: Holt Watters Field Camp (Livingston Island, Antarctica)
• Best in Teaming: Millbrae Recreation Center (Calif.)
• Meaningful Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: I-270 North Design-Build (Mo.)
• Enlightened Owner: NREL Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) (Colo.)
• INSPIRED Owner: Queens Borough Hall Municipal Garage and Community Space (N.Y.) The jury also chose National Award of Excellence winners, representing the best of their category. The 2024 Excellence Awards winners are:
• Aviation: Nashville International Airport Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility (Tenn.): This 780,000 sq. ft. renovation transformed a 35-year-old terminal into a modern, efficient facility that enhances passenger experience and reflects
Nashville’s musical heritage through innovative design elements.
• Civic/Assembly: Millbrae Recreation Center (Calif.): Rebuilt after arson destroyed the original structure, this recreation center features sustainable design and net-zero emissions standards and is a flexible community hub in Millbrae, Calif.
• Commercial/Office Buildings: Wake Technical Community College, Central Energy Plant (N.C.): This cutting-edge facility in Wendell, N.C., features one of the largest geothermal well installations in the southeast and serves as a living classroom showcasing sustainable energy solutions.
• Educational Facilities: University of Arizona Applied Research Building (Ariz.): This research facility at the University of Arizona supports diverse atmospheric and space exploration research activities. It features the world’s largest university-based Thermal Vacuum chamber.
• Federal, State, County, Municipal: Queens Borough Hall Municipal Garage and Community Space (N.Y.): New York City’s first design-build project under new legislation, this Parksmart Bronze-certified garage and community space exemplifies urban sustainability and civic integration.
•Industrial/Process/Research Facilities:
NREL Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) (Colo.): This flexible, cross-disciplinary research facility at NREL in Golden, Colo., sets a new standard for sustainable and collaborative laboratory spaces. It focuses on advanced energy materials and nextgeneration batteries.
• Rehab/Reno/Restoration: Large Diameter Sewer Rehabilitation Project (Ky.): This project successfully rehabilitated critical sewer infrastructure using innovative techniques and strong community engagement, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
• Transportation: Central 70 DesignBuild-Finance-Operate-Maintain (Colo.): This transformative project modernized an 11-mile stretch of one of Denver’s busiest highways, replacing an aging viaduct with a below-grade highway topped by a park, reconnecting divided communities.
• Water/Wastewater: Headworks Facility at the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (Calif.): As part of a major capital improvement program, this project modernized one of the largest wastewater treatment facilities in the western United States, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
For more information, visit dbia.org.
Adobe Stock photo
protective gear, including hard hats, was designed for men. But simply reducing the dimensions of larger-sized PPE is not the answer, safety engineers have found.
WANTED (CA): CATERPILLAR 966F II WHEEL LOADERS - LOOKING TO BUY ANY CATERPILLAR DISMANTLED MACHINES – WHEEL LOADERS, EXCAVATORS, BACKHOES, DOZERS OR MOTOR GRADERS, ANY MODEL.
WANTED (WA): CATERPILLAR 420E BACKHOE LOADER. I AM INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE FOLLOWING CATERPILLAR BACKHOE MODELS: CAT MODELS: 416C, 416D, 416E, 420D, 420E, 420F ST, 420F, 420F IT, 420F2, 420F2 IT. ADDITIONALLY, I AM LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING CASE BACKHOE MODELS: CASE MODELS: 580M, 580SM, 580N, 580SN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS ON THEIR CONDITION, OPERATING HOURS, AND PRICING.
WANTED (US): TAKEUCHI SKID STEER LOADERS, ALL MODELS. TL150, MUSTANG MTL 25TH, GEHL CTL80 TURBO 2 OR CYCLONE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY AND ACCESSORIES, PLUMBING FROM FILTER AND EXTERNAL SPINNER. EMAIL: AMATZEN@BROOKFIELDR3.ORG; PHONE: 660-734-0452
WANTED (NC): JCB 214E BACKHOE LOADER - HEAVY ROOT RAKE TO REPLACE FRONT BUCKET ON 214E BACKHOE LOADER EMAIL: NORWOOD1310@GMAIL.COM; PHONE: 910-289-1310
WANTED (NC): JOHN DEERE 12” BUCKETS – LOOKING FOR A 12” BUCKET FOR A JOHN DEERE 310 G BACKHOE.
EMAIL: DANDHWORRELL@CHARTER.NET
WANTED (TX): CATERPILLAR EXCAVATORS, ALL MODELS. EMAIL: MMERRILL@WHEELERCAT.COM PHONE: 801-201-8655
WANTED (US): CASE 650L LGP CRAWLER DOZER – LOOKING FOR CASE 650LLGP BULLDOZER WITH OR WITHOUT ENC. CAB, MODEL YEAR 2010 – 2017, LESS THAN 900 HOURS TRUE HOURS METER AND FRAME, UNDER $35000 US.
WANTED (US): CUMMINS GENERATORS, ALL MODELS. LARGE PORTABLE OR STATIONARY GENERATORS IN ANY CONDITION — CAT, CUMMINS, DETROIT, MTU, PERKINS, VOLVO (DIESEL OR NATURAL GAS) CAN REMOVE IF NEEDED.
EMAIL: MICHSURPLUS@GMAIL.COM; PHONE: 201-679-6437
WANTED (WORLDWIDE): KOMATSU WHEEL LOADERS, MODELS WA 600-3 AND WA 600-6 2014 OR UP MODELS. EMAIL: IUKANDCO@YAHOO.COM; PHONE: +923331234598
WANTED (PA): CAT OR CASE BACKHOE LOADERS, ANY CONDITION. EMAIL: DEALER.SALES11@GMAIL.COM; PHONE: 717-621-3470
WANTED (US): CATERPILLAR 140G MOTOR GRADERS - NEED TO BUY CAT MOTOR GRADER 140G/H, 14G,14M. ALSO LOOKING FOR A KOMATSU WHEEL LOADER WA-600 AND WA-900. EMAIL: IKCEQUIPMENTS@GMAIL.COM
WANTED (US): MISCELLANEOUS CATERPILLAR ATTACHMENTS. LOOKING FOR RELIABLE IT COUPLER ATTACHMENTS AND JOHN DEERE 644K FORKS (JRB COUPLER) TO ENHANCE OUR CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS. ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE IN GOOD, WELL-MAINTAINED CONDITION. THE MOST DESIRED ATTACHMENTS ARE SIDE DUMP BUCKETS (LEFT AND RIGHT), BROOM ATTACHMENT, EXTENDABLE BOOM ATTACHMENT FORKS. PHONE: 484-781-2958 EMAIL: JWALSH@JAMESTOHARAINC.COM
WANTED (US): CLARK M371 SKID STEER LOADER EMAIL:ANDYGRANGER30@GMAIL.COM
WANTED (US): CATERPILLAR D10N CRAWLER DOZER. PLS PRICE FOB OR CIF ALEXANDRIA PORT EGYPT. EMAIL: ELEKTESADCO@YAHOO.COM; PHONE: 00201005311220
WANTED (US): CATERPILLAR 336 EXCAVATOR - MUST HAVE A HYDRAULIC QUICK COUPLER, AUXILIARY HYDRAULICS AND GPS EQUIPPED. UNIT SHOULD HAVE BETWEEN 4-6000 HOURS. EMAIL: AARONA@BLACKSTARACA.COM PHONE: 737-587-1936
The Midwest’s Premier Provider of Agricultural Expos
The Fort Wayne Farm Show
Dates: January 14 – 16, 2025
Place: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 4000 Parnell Avenue
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
Phone: 260/482-9502
The Fort Wayne Farm Show is back in full force for its 36th year!
The TRADEXPO’s team works diligently every year to meet the evolving needs of America’s livestock producers, row crop farmers and other agricultural professionals!
The Fort Wayne Farm Show has been distinctively curated to provide real time value and opportunity to the industry.
You are certain to love the fantastic variety of exhibitors and educational seminars that the Fort Wayne Farm Show provides as Indiana’s largest indoor agricultural expo. Together, we achieve the extraordinary!
The Fort Wayne Farm Show is back and better than ever
before!
Show Hours:
Tuesday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM – 8 PM Thursday: 9 AM – 4 PM
For more information:
TRADEXPOS, INC.
811 Oakland Avenue, West Austin, MN 55912
Phone: 1-800/347-5225
Associated Equipment Distributors (AED)
AED Summit 2025
Dates: Wednesday, January 15 – Friday, January 17, 2025
Place: The Hyatt Regency Orlando 9801 International Drive Orlando, FL 32819
ABOUT AED:
The Association of Leaders in Equipment Distribution
Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) is an international trade association representing companies involved in the distribution, rental and support of equipment used in agriculture, construction, forestry, mining, power generation, rental, cranes, material handling, and other industrial applications.
AED SERVES:
. Independent distributors that sell, rent, and provide aftermarket support for industrial equipment and related products.
. Manufacturers of industrial equipment and related products.
. Suppliers of business services, including finance, insurance, business systems/ERP and other services AED have many core strengths, but most notably, it’s our ability to speak with one unified voice as an industry.
The Organization finds success in many ways; mainly, it’s through our ability to maintain excellent relationships with dealer principals and professionals in manufacturing through understanding the challenges that they face in their specific business operations.
We believe in and encourage the highest business standards and ethical behavior.
We are committed to strengthening the free enterprise system. We promote synergy and cooperation among individuals and companies when pursuing the industry’s common interests.
We value continuous improvement and lifelong learning, and we encourage and support members of the industry in their active participation in the processes of government.
Join us and get involved with our growing network of companies and organizations working together to advance the success of the Equipment Distribution Industry.
Phone: 630/574-0650
Email: help@aednet.org
MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION
NORTHERN GREEN 2025
DATES: January 21 – 23, 2025
PLACE: Saint Paul River Centre 175 Kellogg Blvd. West, Saint Paul, MN 55102 Phone: (651) 265-4800
Description:
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Community day for these Villages with a full day of focused education.
