(March 13, 2014) - Gray Construction of Lexington, Ky. was named the nation’s safest construction company in 2013 by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association, which oversees the Willis Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted that 51 other companies were selected as winners for the quality of their safety programs.
Welcome to our Construction Industry News page, where we bring you the latest updates on mergers and acquisitions, key new hires, and significant industry shifts. Stay informed with breaking news and in-depth reporting to keep up with the fast-paced changes shaping the construction business.
March 17, 2014 - Builder confidence in the market for newly-built, single-family homes rose one point to 47 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released recently.
“The March HMI mirrors last month’s sentiment, as builders continued to be affected by poor weather and difficulties in finding lots and labor,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del.
CHICAGO, IL (March 17, 2014) - Eric S. Kline, PCS, Charles W. Roeder, P.E., Raymond H.R. Tide, D.Sc., Christopher Higgins, Ph.D., P.E., John Moebes, James M. Ricles, Ph.D., P.E., Michael Culmo, P.E., William Wood, Dr. Eng., and Terry M. Zwick are receiving distinguished achievement awards from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of the structural steel design and construction industry.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 14, 2014) -- Cahaba Media Group is happy to announce that it has added two employees to Construction Business Owner's sales department. Sonya Crocker has joined as the company’s marketing associate, and Sherry Smith has joined as national account executive for the magazine.
This number represents the highest level since June of 2009, the AGC reports.
(March 7, 2014) - Construction employers added 15,000 workers to payrolls in February despite harsh winter working conditions, raising industry employment to the highest level since June 2009, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, association officials noted that as the industry adds jobs many firms report they are already having a hard time finding skilled workers.
The ASA Excellence in Ethics program promotes the highest standards of internal and external integrity for a subcontracting firm.
NEW ORLEANS, LA. - The American Subcontractors Association presented its 2013 Excellence in Ethics Awards to 10 construction subcontractors that achieve “the highest standards of internal and external integrity for a subcontracting firm.” The recipients are:
Clark Construction Group and McCarthy Building Companies delivered the design-build project six months ahead of schedule and more than $100 million below the Navy's original budget.
LAS VEGAS (March 6, 2014) -- The Naval Hospital at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton received two Alliant Build America awards from the Associated General Contractors of America, including Best New Building Project and the Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering award.
The initiative is designed to alert Congress to the Highway Trust Fund crisis.
LAS VEGAS, NEV. (March 5, 2014) - With the federal Highway Trust Fund projected to be unable to support any new highway, bridge and public transportation improvements in fiscal year 2015, a national coalition of associations and labor unions announced that it is launching a campaign to help educate Congress about the connection between local jobs and federal highway and transit investment.
Nonresidential construction to be among nation’s stronger segments.
WASHINGTON (Feb. 25, 2014) – Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) hit a post-recession high in the fourth quarter of 2013, growing from 8.2 months to 8.3 months (1.3 percent). Compared to a year ago, CBI is 3.9 percent higher—up from 8 months at the end of 2012.
(Feb. 26, 2014) - Exports of U.S.-made construction equipment dropped 25 percent in 2013 compared to the previous year for a total $20 billion shipped to global markets, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), citing U.S. Commerce Department data it uses in trend reports for members. All world regions recorded declines.
NEW ORLEANS (Feb. 27, 2014) — Boh Bros. Construction Co. has agreed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to a consent judgment which requires the company to pay $125,000 in compensatory damages to a former employee in a sex discrimination/same sex harassment case. The consent judgment cannot be appealed and effectively brings the litigation to a close.
Nearly 1,000 businesses send letter urging rejection of proposal repealing Section 433 of Energy Independence and Security Act.
WASHINGTON (Feb. 27, 2014) – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and nearly 1,000 businesses from across the country today urged Congress to reject special interest efforts to repeal the law setting goals for reducing fossil fuel use in federal buildings by 2030.
The letter comes in response to reports that the oil and gas lobby pushed to include a repeal of Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act in the bipartisan Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill.
Doosan presents this award each year to honor customers that have delivered exceptional sales performance and outstanding sales achievement.
WOOD DALE, Ill., (Feb. 25, 2014) - Power Solutions International, Inc., a leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of emissions-certified alternative-fuel and conventional power systems announced today that it has been named "Customer of the Year, North America" by Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd, the worldwide construction and utility equipment manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
For the coming year almost two-thirds of distributors said that they expect an increase in new equipment sales.
SAN FRANCISCO (February 25, 2014) – Construction contractors and equipment distributors are optimistic that local non-residential construction activity will improve in 2014, according to a recent survey by Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC).
These protocols will allow end-users to employ their own business software to collect and analyze asset data from mixed equipment fleets without the need for customization work across multiple telematics provider applications.
(Feb. 24, 2014) - The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) have announced that 19 data points will be part of a standard being developed and maintained by the two Associations and their memberships. In addition, the new standard defines a format that enables OEMs to deliver fault code information as part of the data feed.
When asked, 40.6 percent of the executives surveyed reported they expect to hire more employees during the next four months.
Washington, D.C., (February 24, 2014) - The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the February 2014 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) today. Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $827 billion equipment finance sector.
LAS VEGAS (Feb. 19, 2014) — Construction contractors and other industry professionals can be a part of the John Deere booth at next month’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG show in Las Vegas. The John Deere Construction & Forestry Division is asking contractors to share their stories and their photos.
WASHINGTON (February 18, 2014) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced enforcement actions that will require 35 home renovation contractors and training providers to take additional steps to protect communities by minimizing harmful lead dust from home renovation activities, as required by the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Standards.
The increase in the score comes from an optimistic view of a rising economy, as nearly half of the participants expect construction to grow up to 5% in 2014
RALEIGH, N.C. (February 17, 2014) – FMI, a leading provider of management consulting and investment banking to the engineering and construction industry, announces the release of the 2014 First Quarter Nonresidential Construction Index report. The NRCI shows a 7.5 point increase since the 2013 fourth quarter report, as well as a 6.8 point increase from Q1 2013. This is the highest NRCI score to date.
John Deere will manufacture its backhoe loaders and wheel loaders in one location and excavators, in partnership with Hitachi Construction Machinery, in the other.
INDAIATUBA, Sao Paulo (Feb. 13, 2014) - The John Deere Construction & Forestry Division marked the completion of two manufacturing facilities in Indaiatuba-SP, Brazil. John Deere will manufacture its backhoe loaders and wheel loaders in one location and excavators, in partnership with Hitachi Construction Machinery, in the other.