News

Sunbelt Rentals, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., announced it has completed the acquisition by merger of NationsRent Companies. The acquisition is valued at $1 billion and creates the third largest equipment rental provider in the U.S. rental market with more than 470 locations, including 100 NationsRent locations at Lowe's. “We are pleased that the acquisition is completed, […]

The Oilgear Company, Milwaukee Wis., announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by Mason Wells Buyout Fund II, Limited Partnership, an affiliate of the Milwaukee-based private equity firm Mason Wells. The proposed merger is expected to be completed by the end of 2006, subject to approval by Oilgear's shareholders and […]

The use of personal fall protection, harnesses, and lanyards on aerial work platforms was the focus of the Aerial Platform Council's meeting at the annual Scaffold Industry Association convention, held in Baltimore, Md., in July. Dave Merrifield of Merrifield Safety Consulting, Jeff Stachowiak of Sunbelt Rentals, and Chuck Hutchinson of Bil-Jax, Inc. chaired the Aerial […]

Rental Holdings, LLC, Chicago, Ill., parent company of Industrial Hoist Services, LP, and a platform company of Chicago private equity firm Prospect Partners, LLC, has announced the management•led acquisition of Delta Wire Rope, Inc., Lafayette, La. Founded in 1979, Delta Wire Rope specializes in the sale, rental, and servicing of equipment to customers primarily in […]

Hirschmann Automation and Control (PAT), Chambersburg, Pa., has introduced the PRS 40 EZ indicator system for mobile cranes. The PRS 40 EZ replaces their previous model, the PRS 35 EZ. The PRS 40 EZ was designed to incorporate both wireless and hardwired sensors and can be set up to monitor inputs from a single sensor […]

Part One If you count all the different makes, types, models, and sizes of aerial work platforms on the market today, the total would undoubtedly reach into the hundreds • if not a thousand. Out of this broad range of products, there are really only a few that can be classified as true niche machines. […]

Editor's Note: In researching our September State-of-the-Industry article, Crane Hot Line Magazine interviewed several folks in the crane industry about the current status of equipment backlogs. Here's what people in the trenches had to say. If a spike in nonresidential, petrochemical and transportation construction has contractors on the prowl for cranes this year, overseas exports […]

Verbal crane signal company Signal-Rite, LLC, Hayward, Calif., is now offering an eight-hour signal training course, for which it is seeking national certification. The verbal signal training program includes a written exam and a practical exam. While taking the practical exam, the student must show they have complete control over the hoist by landing the […]

At The Rental Show 2006, Bil-Jax, Inc., Archbold, Ohio, introduced the Summit Series product line, which at the time consisted of four trailer-mounted boom lifts. Pending successful field trials this fall, the company is positioned to add two new models to the Summit Series: the 2622T and 4642T. The smaller of the two new models […]

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), Fairfax, Va., is renaming its large and small telescopic mobile crane categories. The “Small Telescopic, Less Than 17.5 Tons Capacity” category will be known as the “Small Telescopic, Fixed Cab” category, while the “Large Telescopic, More Than 17.5 Tons Capacity” will become the “Large Telescopic, […]