Equipment Manufacturers Help Battle Midwest Floods

A record amount of snow and rain in North Dakota and Minnesota led to threats of major flooding in late March and April. Local equipment manufacturers Bobcat Company (West Fargo, North Dakota) and Terex ASV (Grand Rapids, Minnesota) sent equipment and encouraged their employees—especially equipment operators—to volunteer in the efforts to battle flooding.

According to Bobcat, the company donated more than 40 machines to help accelerate National Guard efforts to efficiently fill a portable floodwall system throughout the city of Fargo. More than 100 Bobcat employees in the Fargo area volunteered to help fill and place sandbags, build flood walls along the water’s edges, provide meals and answer phones at the volunteer center. Across the state, Bobcat employees in the cities of Bismarck and Gwinner also joined volunteer efforts.

On the other side of the state line, Terex ASV sent a crew in response to a code red alert in Moorhead, Minnesota. According to Terex ASV, the company donated compact track loaders and an ST-50 tracked utility vehicle to build secondary dikes and other dikes to protect the city’s sewer system.

As the water recedes in the Fargo-Moorhead area and other affected communities, both manufacturers remain committed to supporting the cleanup process.

LoJack Reports Construction Theft Holds Steady in 2008

According to LoJack’s eighth annual construction equipment theft study, construction theft continued at a steady pace with organized crime driving theft and loaders being the No. 1 theft target.

The study also revealed that newer equipment on the jobsite is the most common theft target because of higher resale value. The types of equipment most frequently stolen are (in order):

1. Backhoe loaders/skip loaders/wheel loaders/track loaders

2. Light utility/work trucks and trailers

3. Generators/air compressors/welders

4. Skid steers

5. Forklifts/scissor lifts



Based on LoJack’s recovery data, California, Florida and Texas rank as the three states with the highest occurrence of equipment theft.

States with Highest Occurence of Equipment Theft in 2008

1 - California

2 - Florida

3 - Texas

4 - Nevada

5 - Arizona

6 - Georgia

7 - New Jersey

8 - New York

9 - Illinois

10 - Maryland


The report also indicated that construction theft is a local issue. In 97% of the cases, the stolen equipment was recovered in the same state in which the theft was reported. It was either in a storage facility or in use at another local jobsite. Unlike auto theft, which has a higher incidence in major cities around the country, construction theft is not confined to city streets and urban areas. Rather, it often occurs in suburban areas where construction activity has been high.

The 2008 LoJack construction equipment theft report is based on state theft statistics and equipment recoveries documented by LoJack in 26 states from January to December 2008. LoJack has been tracking theft/recovery data for the past eight years and will continue to issue these reports annually to provide the industry with valuable statistics and trend information. For more information, visit www.lojack.com.

Demolition Association Upgrades Logo and Web Site

As part of its strategic growth plan for the future, the National Demolition Association (NDA) upgraded its Web site (www.demolitionassociation.com) and introduced a new logo with the new organizational tagline, “Making Way,” to communicate the promise that progress accompanies the demolition process.

The redesigned Web site includes a series of videos which answer questions such as “When is Demolition Needed?” “What is the Process of Demolition?” “How Does our Work Benefit Society?” and “How Does the NDA Support its Members?”

New Business Opportunities Abound at Disaster Reconstruction Conference

The National Disaster Reconstruction Conference & Expo (NDRExpo) announced registration for its educational programs is available by visiting www.ndrexpo.com. The conference, which takes place June 17–18 in New Orleans, features experts who will address disaster preparation, response, repair, remediation and restoration.

“The NDR Conference will present new and exciting business opportunities to attendees,” said Imago Trade Shows conference director Jimmy Mouton. “At a time when normal business activity is curtailed, disaster services are still booming.”

Mouton said a variety of contractors are among the best candidates to increase their work in the disaster response field. Conference content includes sessions from representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Indoor Air Quality Association, the Restoration Industry Association, the American Bio-Recovery Association, the U.S. Green Building Council, the Mechanical Contractors Association and the Institute for Business & Home Safety.

Business News

Gradall Industries Inc. launched a new Web site (www.gradallindustries.com) to serve as a corporate home base on the Internet for its Gradall and Vacall product groups. The Gradall Industries Web site offers a brief history of the company and early photos, career information and a portal to individual Web sites for Gradall excavators and Vacall machines.

Geo-Boy unveiled a Geo-Boy Brush Cutter Web site (www.geo-boy.com) by Jarraff Industries, a land clearing and utility ROW maintenance equipment manufacturer. With technical specifications and model overviews, the new site serves as a comprehensive resource for contractors, municipalities and utilities. Easy-to-use viewers give users access to photos and videos of the equipment in action in a variety of situations.

People News

Dohnal

Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. (www.liebherr.us) hired Todd Dohnal as product manager of industrial handlers. Based at the Newport News, Virginia, corporate offices, Dohnal’s focus is primarily on port and material handling opportunities for wheeled and crawler excavators.

Halsey

Also, Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. hired Timothy Hyland as district manager and Gerald “Jerry” Halsey as factory service representative. Hyland develops sales objectives, provides training on Liebherr products, coordinates marketing strategies and provides general dealer support. Halsey assists dealers, in-house and field personnel with technical issues and special projects. Halsey has more than 24 years of experience with Liebherr, from quality inspector to his most recent position as large machine inspector with the Liebherr Mining Division.

Wojan-Coleman

Additionally, Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. hired Simone Wojan-Coleman as sales control manager. Wojan-Coleman is responsible for the day-to-day ordering, positioning and tracking of all machine orders placed with four Liebherr European factories.