News

Sunbelt Rentals, Charlotte, N.C., a subsidiary of Ashtead Group plc, announced that it will acquire Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based NationsRent Companies for approximately $1.05 billion. The transaction is expected to close on or about August 31, 2006. Following the closing, the combined company is estimated to be the third largest United States equipment rental company with […]

The Job Board Network, Inc., Davidson, N.C., recently launched an exclusive job board for the construction equipment industry at www.ConstructionEquipmentJobs.com. ConstructionEquipmentJobs.com is an employment advertising and resume bank platform designed to connect job seekers and employers in cost effective means via the Internet. The service is free to job hunters. “Employers will now benefit by […]

Part One If you're not familiar with Sturgeon Bay, Wis., you can find it by driving 45 minutes northeast of Green Bay. It sits on a sliver of land that is bounded by the Green Bay (for which the city is named) and Lake Michigan. This is a big area for both commercial and pleasure […]

At its Customer Days, held June 28 and 29 in Ehingen, Germany, Liebherr-Werk Ehingen launched its new five-axle 143-ton LTM 1130-5.1 all-terrain crane • the fifth newly developed five-axle model introduced by Liebherr in the last two years. The LTM 1130-5.1 features a 197-foot telescopic boom that can extend even more with a 35- to […]

Further expanding its product offerings, Bil-Jax, Archbold, Ohio, introduces a broad selection of options and accessories for its new trailer-mounted aerial lifts, the Summit Series. Bil-Jax's new pallet fork option, which is scheduled for release this fall, joins the previously introduced material-lift hook option to enhance the Summit Series' material-lifting capabilities. With the pallet fork […]

Veri-Tek International, Corp., Wixom, Mich., announced it completed the purchase of Manitex, Inc., from Quantum Value Management, LLC, on July 3, 2006. Subject to post-closing working capital adjustments, Manitex was purchased for approximately $35 million and was paid by delivering 234,875 shares of Veri-Tek's common stock and a promissory note for approximately $1.1 million. For […]

Upright USA, Fresno, Calif., has received its first significant order for aerial lifts after re-launching production in North America. The company has secured an order worth more than $1 million from a U.S. rental company for 100 TM12 mast lift machines. According to Darren Kell, director of UpRight USA, the United States is a multi-billion […]

Hoist Liftruck Mfg., Inc., Bedford Park, Ill., recently introduced a new diagnostics system on its entire line of liftrucks that will help monitor numerous vehicle functions, helping to maintain quality performance and prevent premature damage. The RemoteTech system monitors potential problems in the engine, transmission, autoshifting, hydraulics, and filters as well as shock, overloading, and […]

The Manitowoc Crane Group, Manitowoc, Wis., recently appointed John Lanning as director of advanced engineering and products. He will be responsible for advanced engineering for the entire Americas region and reports directly to Americas Executive Vice President John Wheeler. Lanning has more than 20 years of service with Manitowoc and is a seasoned engineer and […]

Sears, one of the nation's largest retailers, will adopt a safety and health program to ensure that all powered industrial trucks are operated in a safe manner, as part of a settlement agreement announced last week by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The settlement applies to all Sears stores […]