News

Long discussion of the Laborers' International Union and the International Union of Operating Engineers leaving the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department has finally come to a head. Two of the largest basic trade unions in the United States have decided to leave the AFL-CIO and join several other construction trade unions to form the […]

CMLabs Simulations Inc., a leading supplier of real-time physics-based simulation software and services based in Montreal, recently unveiled the new Vortex Training Simulator product line in collaboration with the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO). The first products in the series, Vortex Mobile Crane and Vortex Tower Crane, are now available. Since the launch, […]

According to research released at The Rental Show in Orlando, Fla., by the American Rental Association (ARA), 2006 is expected to bring continued growth for the equipment rental industry. The ARA “2005 State of the Equipment Rental Industry” report states that the total U.S. rental market across the construction and industrial equipment, general tool, and […]

Lifting Gear Hire Corp. is tripling the size of its Houston warehouse, turning the space into a fully functioning rental and sales facility. The expanded building is planned to be 35,000 square feet in size with a 20,000-square-foot yard. A 350-ton horizontal pull test bed will be housed at the site, allowing for the testing […]

The new ANSI/SIA A92.5-2006 standard for Boom Supported Elevating Work Platforms will be published February 28, 2006 and the effective date for compliance is August 28, 2006. While many changes to the standard were made to bring the language in line with verbiage used in ANSI 92.6-1999 Self-Propelled Elevating Work Platforms, it is important to […]

J.C. Renfroe & Sons, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., recently introduced a new line of snatch blocks for the rigging and construction industries. The company is now manufacturing and marketing snatch blocks with hooks, snatch blocks with shackles, and snatch block tailboards with lifting capacities ranging from 2 to 15 tons. Renfroe snatch blocks are proof tested […]

JLG Industries, Inc., McConnelsburg, Pa., recently announced it will use a new weatherproof inverter/charger from Xantrex Technology, Vancouver, B.C., for its scissor lifts. Designed specifically for use on aerial lifts, the Xantrex RM1024 is a 1000W inverter combined with a 25A three-stage battery charger. This inverter will supply AC power on JLG lifts so workers […]

Part One Skyjack, Inc., Guelph, Ontario, has always built a highly successful line of rough-terrain scissor lifts, but its new 6826RT (Image 1) and 6832RT compact units make a significant departure from the company's traditional design. The new RT scissor lifts do not employ differential drives. Differential drive is a proven product, and Skyjack has […]

Expansion in North America has been a key strategy for the Haulotte Group, Hanover, Md., and the introduction of new products and management is helping the company achieve its goals. The Haulotte Group has appointed a new management team for its North American operations. Bernie Kiekebosch is the director of national sales and marketing for […]

Increased orders, the re-emergence of independent rental companies, and new product introductions were all themes at The Rental Show, held February 7-9 in Orlando, Fla. Attendees were eager to see new products, do some business, and visit with friends in the industry., Orders taken from rental companies on the tradeshow floor was not an unusual […]