Enhancing Safety, Productivity, Comfort with New Compact Excavator

The all-new Mustang 250Z compact excavator incorporates features that enhance productivity, operator comfort, efficiency and cost savings on the jobsite. This compact powerhouse brings 8-inches deeper dig depth and 8.3-inches additional reach at ground level compared to the previous model, the 270Z. The new 250Z is equipped with a 20.4 hp (15.2 kW) electronically controlled Yanmar Tier IV emissions-certified diesel engine. No engine regeneration is required on the 250Z, reducing downtime on the jobsite. Low exhaust position on the machine reduces noise, increases safety and improves visibility. Cold-weather starting is easy with an electric glow plug-starting aid, reducing the need […]

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FMI Predicts 2015 U.S. Construction Put in Place Will Reach $1.04 Trillion

RALEIGH, N.C. — FMI announces the release of its 2015 U.S. Markets Construction Overview. FMI researchers predict 2014 will end with approximately 7 percent growth in construction put in place. This rate of growth is expected to continue with a total CPIP of $1.04 trillion in 2015. The overview consists of three sections: a synopsis of the key energy market trends impacting the construction industry, industry sector challenges and a detailed economic forecast. A few highlights: The oil and gas industry in North America is driving growth in the industrial market, but could be draining talent and resources from other […]

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Construction Firms Add 20,000 Jobs Last Month

Construction industry employment hit a new five-year high in November as the sector added 20,000 jobs and its unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent, the lowest rate for November in seven years, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that the latest figures include signs that demand for public-sector and non-residential construction may be weakening. “November was another good month overall for construction workers and businesses,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Yet the recent declines in public works and nonresidential building construction employment may indicate some underlying weakness in the […]

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Dodge Momentum Index Moves Higher in November

NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Dodge Momentum Index increased in November, climbing to 125.0 (2000=100) for the month, up 0.6 percent from October’s reading of 124.3 according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The momentum index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. After retreating from July through September, the momentum index has now registered gains for two consecutive months, indicating that the nonresidential building market continues to trend upward even with the occasional setback. The momentum […]

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Using Prefab in Construction of New Denver Hospital Saves $4.3M

Using prefabricated elements in the construction of the new Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado, cut 72 workdays off the construction schedule and resulted in $4.3 million in savings, according to a study by University of Colorado Boulder engineers. The study, by Matthew Morris and doctoral student Eric Antillon, both of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, is one of the first to try and quantify the full costs and benefits of using prefabricated elements in a large-scale construction project. The study was done in partnership with Mortenson construction, which built the new 831,000-square-foot Saint Joseph Hospital. Developers […]

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