Construction Industry News

GREENVILLE, S.C. and CINCINNATI, Ohio (May 4, 2022) — AMECO, a leading provider of construction and maintenance Site Services planning and delivery, announced today that it has acquired F&M MAFCO, an international supplier of tools and equipment rental, sales and service programs.

WASHINGTON (May 3, 2022) — The construction industry had 396,000 job openings in March 2022, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industry job openings increased by 13,000 in March and are up 60,000 from the same time last year.

IRVING, Texas, SANTA MONICA, Calif. and SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (May 3, 2022) — PrimeSource Brands, a North American provider of specialty branded residential building products backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., announced that it has acquired Axxis, LLC, a provider of fastening tools and collated fasteners. The transaction is PrimeSource’s fourth acquisition during Clearlake’s ownership. Financial terms were not disclosed.

URBANDALE, Iowa (May 2, 2022) — Kerry Koberg, strategic accounts manager for DICA, was named chairman of the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association’s (SC&RA) Allied Industries Governing Committee.  Koberg’s nomination was approved on April 26 during the association’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. 

WASHINGTON (April 29, 2022) — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today unveiled its 2022 Safety Performance Report, an annual, comprehensive study of the impact of the STEP Safety Management System and guide to safety best practices on construction jobsites. STEP is a proven system, more than 30 years old, that enables top-performing members to achieve incident rates 645% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average.

LAKE MARY, Fla. (April 28, 2022) — FARO Technologies, Inc., a global leader in 4D digital reality solutions, announced it has joined forces with Oracle to help architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals create opportunities to solve their toughest challenges at the new Oracle Industry Lab.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (April 28, 2022) — The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has opened a second resource center, located in the Chicago metropolitan area, to serve Midwest communities in the concrete industry. This new ACI Resource Center — Chicago/Midwest will help meet the increased demand for ACI knowledge through hands-on training, educational offerings, and on–demand access to ACI Certification Programs.  

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 28, 2022) — RedTeam Software, a leading construction management software platform provider, has named Traci VanDalsem vice president of client experience. 

WASHINGTON (April 28, 2022) — The U.S. economy contracted at a 1.4% annualized rate during the first quarter of 2022. Investment in nonresidential structures declined at an annual rate of 0.9% during the quarter and has contracted nine of the past 10 quarters, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

WASHINGTON (April 27, 2022) — The not seasonally adjusted (NSA) national construction unemployment rate dropped 2.6% in March 2022 from a year ago, down from 8.6% to 6%, while 45 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

WASHINGTON (April 26, 2022) — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today applauded a letter sent to President Joe Biden by 16 Republican governors, led by Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Bill Lee of Tennessee, opposing the Biden administration’s policies promoting government-mandated project labor agreements (PLA) on taxpayer-funded construction projects.

PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 19, 2022) — The latest Crane Index and Quarterly Cost Report (QCR) was released by Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), an independent global construction and property consultancy providing management and advice throughout the built environment. Together, the two documents provide an on-the-ground picture of construction activity in 14 key North American markets and data-driven insights into the industry.

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (April 26, 2022) — Sullair, a Hitachi Group Company, announced its long-term climate action strategy and goal to globally reach carbon neutrality. It will be achieved by undertaking capital expenditure projects to further facilitate CO2 reduction, transitioning to 100% renewable electricity through a voluntary green power program and implementing a voluntary carbon offset program.

PLEASANTON, Calif. (April 26, 2022) — Slate Technologies, an AI software platform for the construction industry, today announced that it has acquired Splash Modular, a North Carolina-based software designer for the Industrialized Construction & Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) market. As a result of the acquisition, Splash will operate as part of Slate Technologies. 

WASHINGTON (April 21, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced a new program that unlocks $6.4 billion in formula funding for states and localities over five years. The new Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), created under the president’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help states develop carbon reduction strategies and address the climate crisis facing our nation.

RALEIGH, N.C. (April 6, 2022) — FMI Corporation, a leading provider of consulting and investment banking services to the built environment, released the 2022 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook Second Quarter Edition today. The report provides a comprehensive second quarter forecast for a broad range of construction and engineering segments in the U.S. and Canada.

WASHINGTON (April 19, 2022) — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck today issued the following statement on the final National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rule:

HAMILTON, N.J. (April 19, 2022) — Total construction starts fell 12% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $903.8 billion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts lost 29%, in part due to the start of three large manufacturing facilities in the prior month. When those three large projects are removed, nonresidential starts in March would have risen 10%. Residential starts also fell 3%, and nonbuilding starts lost 2%.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (April 7, 2022) — The American Concrete Institute (ACI) announced the launch of NEU: An ACI Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete, at its spring convention in Orlando, Florida, USA. NEU aims to collaborate globally to drive research, education, awareness and adoption of carbon neutral materials and technologies in the industry.

WASHINGTON (April 12, 2022) — For the first time, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a National Emphasis Program to protect millions of workers from heat illness and injuries. Through the program, OSHA will conduct heat-related workplace inspections before workers suffer completely preventable injuries, illnesses or, even worse, fatalities.