Midland Forge wins FIA safety award

Cedar Rapids, IA – Midland Forge, a division of the Columbus McKinnon family, has received an award from the Forging Industry Assn. for the most improved safety record at a Class 3 size forge. The award was presented recently at the 2008 FIA Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

With a DART (days away/restricted time) rating of 3.05 from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the forge received the award for a series of actions that impacted the improvement in the DART incidence rate. More specifically, in the calendar year of 2007, Midland Forge exceeded 325,000 hours without a lost time incident. Over 24 forges were included in a survey that determined that Midland Forge was to be the recipient of the “Most Improved” safety award. The Midland plant improved more than 85 percent when compared to the figure for the calendar year 2006.

The forge implemented several steps or practices that especially impacted the safety rating of the plant. A routine monthly meeting of a joint safety committee composed of employees from all areas and levels regularly discussed safety subjects and assessed areas that needed swift attention. Special focus groups were also formed in the areas of eye protection, safety maintenance, hearing protection as well as overall employee wellness.

To maintain the rating, the plant plans to hold a monthly safety training session for all employees and also hold a standard introductory safety training to set safety conscious groundwork for all new employees.

In 2005, Midland Forge established an EHS (Environmental, Health and Safety) position to provide a dedicated resource to environmental, health, and safety for all employees to refer to with questions and suggestions.

The plant corporate holder, Columbus McKinnon Corp., has committed to embedding an overall safety culture in all divisions and locations of the corporation with a renewed commitment from senior management in terms of resources and behavior. In recent years, the company has extended its commitment to this directive beyond compliance to training, communication, goal setting and increased capital funding to update/replace equipment/programs as well as establishing the position of and installing a corporate safety manager.

Cedar Rapids, IA, Midland Forge plant produces lifting attachments for use on chain, wire rope and synthetic lifting materials.

Trico adds Reachmaster to lineup

Trico Lift recently added the Falcon ReachMaster to its selection of fleet rentals. These aerial platforms lift a worker 95 feet high and are capable of passing through a door opening measuring as small as 2 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 6 inches.

“In an industry dominated by traditional boom lifts, the ReachMaster sets a new standard for compact, flexible and light aerial work platform design,” Trico Lift president and CEO Ken Pustizzi explains. “The reach of 95 feet has already proven helpful to contractors and maintenance crews needing considerable work height combined with limited or narrow access particularly in facilities with finished overhead construction.” 

ReachMaster lifts features include an automatic safety and stability system as well as a multi-position outrigger system, which allows for set-up on uneven surfaces.

The distant reach up to 95 feet helps workers during the final construction phase of a Maryland shopping mall. This new Trico Lift aerial work platform fits through a standard door opening and safely lifts a person to a significant work height. 

Genie tabs Alan Lofurno

Genie Industries announced today that Alan Lofurno has been appointed to the new position of global general manager for the Genie boom product line. In his new role, Lofurno will set priorities and strategy for aerial booms globally.

“Alan’s extensive knowledge and prior experience will guide him in his new position with Genie Industries,” said Linda Mayer, Terex Aerial Work Platforms vice president and general  manager, Global Marketing and Product Management. “With his skills and dedication, we expect Alan to have a positive impact in the growth of the aerial booms group.”

Lofurno’s responsibilities include assessing customer and market needs around the world, identifying new product ideas, setting production levels to meet demand, establishing pricing and developing marketing programs and sales tools for sales teams.

Prior to joining Genie Industries, Lofurno spent 16 years at Black & Decker in various roles. Most recently, he served as the director of outdoor equipment. His responsibilities included product marketing and directly overseeing gas equipment engineering.

“I am looking forward to helping Genie continue its success and growth in the aerial booms industry,” explained Lofurno. “Genie maintains an extensive network of global aerial customers. My goal is to uphold and support the Genie customer service focus.”

A native of Pennsylvania, Lofurno obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Delaware, and a master’s degree from Baltimore’s Loyola College.

Palfinger releases quarterly report

The Palfinger Group continued to pursue its growth strategy in the first quarter 2008 and once again reported a record quarter both in terms of revenues and earnings. Sales revenue rose by 28.7 percent, from $252.41 million in the first quarter 2007 to $324.69 million.

“Our record revenues and earnings underscore Palfinger’s strong market position as reflected by our crane business in Europe and the high capacity utilization in production. Currently the economic environment is very mixed, which is to say that some of our markets are declining while other markets, especially Eastern Europe, South America, and Asia, show great potential,” said CEO Wolfgang Anzengruber. “All in all we are still satisfied with the demand situation even though the economic climate is no longer as overheated as in previous quarters.”

Delivery times were reduced in the first quarter 2008 and now correspond to those of large trucks on which the Palfinger products are mounted. This was made possible both by the capacity expansion in the course of the ongoing investment program and the market developments.

At the beginning of the year Palfinger adjusted most of its sales prices to material prices, which continued to rise. Given the high number of orders on hand, this increase in prices will, however, have a delayed impact on results. In the period under review results were also influenced by the transfer of all tail lift activities to MBB. By the middle of the year 2008 the PALGATE product division will be fully merged into MBB and the capacities released will be used for expansion in the field of crane assembly.

Sunbelt Rentals launches new website 

Sunbelt Rentals launched a new website recently.

“Sunbelt has once again raised the bar,” said John Stadick, vice president of information technology.  “We believe the functionality of our new web site is unlike any other in our industry.  We now offer the most comprehensive suite of online tools that will allow our customers to easily manage their account throughout the complete rental lifecycle.”

The website’s (www.sunbeltrentals.com) new features include a dynamic equipment search, the ability to make equipment reservations, request equipment pick-up or a service call, and manage and maintain job sites.  Customers may also review and reprint open invoices, pay invoices online, save, schedule and print custom reports, and manage all their equipment on rent.  In addition to leading functionality, the web site also features a modern design and simplified navigation.

“We are excited to offer our customers a new tool that ultimately helps them manage their rental activity,” said Brendan Horgan, chief operating officer.  “With our web site, customers can view detailed information on job sites and equipment.  They can even see the weather.”

Economist cites nonresidential leap but warns of higher costs, spending shortfalls

Nonresidential construction spending rose an impressive 1.3 percent in March and 12 percent compared to March 2007," Ken Simonson, chief economist for The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), said recently. Simonson was commenting on the March construction spending figures released by the Census Bureau on May 1. "The housing slump buried this news by dragging total spending down by 1.1 percent for the month and 3.4 percent for the year. Yet nearly every category of nonresidential spending continued to exceed year-ago levels."

"In addition, estimates for nonresidential spending in January and February were each revised up, suggesting that gross domestic product (GDP) may have grown a little more in the first quarter than the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) said yesterday," Simonson added. BEA reported that real (net of inflation) GDP grew 0.6 percent, the same as in the fourth quarter of 2007.

"Both private and public nonresidential construction are still growing, although public spending is losing speed," Simonson said. "Private nonresidential spending was up 15 percent from March 2007, whereas public spending grew 7.2 percent.

"I expect a further slowdown in public spending as revenues flatten out or even shrink for highways, schools and other public projects," Simonson predicted. "On the private side, I expect ongoing vigor in spending on power, energy, communications, hospital, higher education and military base realignment-related projects to offset a likely retreat by office and retail construction.

"The biggest challenge for all nonresidential construction is runaway materials costs," Simonson warned. "Yesterday, a steel supplier told customers the price of rebar was rising another $100 overnight, compounding increases of 40 to 70 percent earlier this year. The retail price of diesel fuel is now almost 50 percent higher than a year ago. Copper is close to its all-time high set in May 2006, and near-record prices for oil and natural gas may push up asphalt and plastics prices.

"It is essential that public budget-setting and contracting agencies recognize that construction costs have been rising at more than double the rate of consumer prices and seem sure to keep doing so," Simonson concluded.

"With regard to highway construction, Congress must act immediately to prevent a huge drop in spending that will begin five months from today unless the Highway Trust Fund is replenished by the start of fiscal 2009."

Read more news in the article archive.