Construction Industry News

CHICAGO (April 21, 2015) – Leopardo Companies Inc. has released its 2015 Construction Economics Report and Outlook, an essential guide to help business leaders, healthcare administrators and government decision makers understand the factors that impact construction costs.

This year’s report shows that different factors have opposing effects on construction costs. Low oil prices greatly reduce the cost of construction, and some material costs have come down over the past year. 

BLOOMINGTON, MINN. (April 23, 2015) – The state of New York approved a contract for Toro equipment through The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN) for use by all state agencies and other authorized users. The contract was approved by the state of New York on April 13, 2015. The new agreement provides state agencies competitive pricing for the entire portfolio of Toro products, including mowers, irrigation systems and utility vehicles.

DES PLAINES, ILL. (April 20, 2015) — The 2015 Evening of Excellence reception took place on April 17 during a three-day event for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), which also included its spring business meeting, held at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 2, 2015)—Construction Business Owner, the leading business magazine for contractors, is pleased to announce a free webinar presented in partnership with Verizon Networkfleet.

The live online event, “6 Steps to Efficient Fleet Management,” will take place May 14, 2015, at 1 p.m. EST. Click here to complete your free registration.

HOUSTON (April 16, 2015)—On Center’s Software’s 2015 Construction Industry Survey found significant activity surrounding movement to cloud technologies, with integration, collaboration, communication and error reduction cited as critical drivers. Fully 31 percent of respondents indicated that they were planning on moving takeoff, estimating and project management processes to the cloud within the next one to two years.

KANSAS CITY, MO. (April 17, 2015) – Fairbanks Scales Inc. announced they will be showcasing state-of-the-art industrial scales at Waste Expo 2015, June 2-4, 2015. Visit booth #3722 to view Fairbanks Scales’ latest innovations in weighing equipment, including the Talon HVX heavy-duty truck scale, equipped with the innovative Intalogix Lightning/Power Surge Protection system.

HAMILTON, N.J. (April 13, 2015)—David M. Slaugenhoup, CRIS of New Day Underwriting Managers LLC, a leading environmental and construction-related professional liability resource for insurance agents and brokers, has been selected to address the latest insurance trends, challenges and issues at the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) Water Design Build Conference to be held from April 21 – 23 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

DALLAS (April 16, 2015)—International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI), will present a new, complimentary webinar, “Cyber & Privacy Insurance Coverage: Beyond the Basics,” scheduled for noon CDT, May 14, 2015.

NAPLES, Fla. (March 27, 2015)—EHC Inc., a construction company that provides pre-construction, earthwork and infrastructure services, is proud to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary this month.

HOUSTON (April 7, 2015) – McCarthy Building Companies Inc., a Texas builder for 36 years, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) broke ground Saturday, March 14, on the METRO Harrisburg Overpass project located in Houston’s East End. This project will be the final piece of METRO’s Green Line which travels through downtown to the Magnolia Transit Center.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 13, 2015)—Construction Business Owner, the leading business management magazine for construction industry entrepreneurs, introduced its newly redesigned website today at constructionbusinessowner.com.

The new look was crafted with a responsive design, optimized to function with any size device. It offers maximum usability and easy navigation to visitors, according to CBO Publisher Wally Evans.

CORVALLIS, ORE. (April 10, 2015) – The College of Engineering at Oregon State University is developing one of the leading facilities in the world to improve safety for construction workers and the general public. A $1 million grant announced from Knife River Corporation and MDU Construction Services Group will help support creation of this laboratory, which will be called the MDU Resources Group Construction Safety Laboratory, officials said.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 13, 2014) – Investment in equipment and software is expected to grow 5 percent in 2015, according to the Q2 update to the 2015 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook released today by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation.

WASHINGTON (April 2, 2015) — New research commissioned by the Propane Education & Research Council reveals propane is greener than electricity for major commercial applications including space heating and water heating.

GARNER, Iowa (March 31, 2015)—Iowa Mold Tooling Co. Inc. (IMT), an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced the addition of Kahn Truck Equipment Company to its distributor network. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Kahn Truck Equipment serves IMT customers in eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. The custom mechanics and service truck provider offers more than 20 years of experience in the truck industry.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (April 6, 2015)—The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) announced that it will offer low or no-cost training and credentials to pre-registered craft professionals during its 43rd Annual National Convention and Trade Show, to be held April 23-25, 2015 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

VALHALLA, N.Y. (April 6, 2015)—To address ongoing inconsistencies in pricing, deductibles and terms and conditions offered to middle market owners and contractors, USI Insurance Service has launched a Builder’s Risk Program that provides broader coverage for all project types and sizes, and establishes stable capacity for frame and renovation projects, including catastrophic perils.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (April 1, 2015)—B2W Software announced that Utah Valley University (UVU) has leveraged the company’s construction project estimating software B2W Estimate through its B2W Educate Program in order to achieve Top Five placement within the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Regions 6 and 7 student competition.

UVU is the largest public university in the state, offering 34,000 students degrees across 100 subjects, including construction management.

PLEASANTON, Calif. and EAGAN, Minn. (March 31, 2015)—IronPlanet sold $46.7 million in equipment at auctions held across its marketplaces March 25th – 27th. In addition to auctions held on IronPlanet’s online marketplaces, onsite events included a joint unreserved public auction with Cat Auction Services in Des Moines, Iowa, and a 2-day auction by Kruse Energy & Equipment Auctioneers held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.