Pit & Quarry, February 2015

Equipment leasing association shares its 2015 outlook T he Equipment Leasing and Finance Association ELFA expects 2015 to be a breakout year for the U S economy with overall growth expected to top 3 percent Although ELFA says 3 percent gross domestic product GDP growth was the average pace of growth between 1970 and 2007 the association adds that the U S economy has not attained this rate since 2005 The association says mining and oilfield machinery will likely slow or potentially experience negative growth in investments over a three to six month period in 2015 given recent declines in oil prices In addition ELFA expects investments in construction machinery to moderate over the first two quarters of 2015 The association does not anticipate much to change in trucking investments over the first THE LATEST ON EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY ELFA expects 2015 to be a good year for the U S economy three to six months of the year Materials handling equipment investment growth may also experience some moderation over the next few months ELFA says while all other industrial equipment investments will likely remain strong Kobelco to build excavator production facility Kobelco Construction Machinery USA based in Katy Texas plans to construct a hydraulic excavator production facility in Spartanburg S C Kobelco says its market development has been moving at a faster rate than expected since it re entered the market in 2013 A North American production factory will allow the company to reduce production lead time for its U S customers according to the company Kobelco says site preparation for the Spartanburg facility will begin in April The company expects construction to be completed by December The 41 million investment will involve the development of a 156000 sq ft production factory a 17000 sq ft office building machinery parking and a testing area Kobelco adds that it will have access to major domestic ports including Charleston S C and Savannah Ga The company says mass production will begin at the North American facility in January 2016 Manufacturer briefs Holt Cat president retires Holt Cat President and COO Allyn Archer retired after a 43 year career with the company Archer joined the company in 1971 as a service technician leadman and made his way into senior management Executive Vice President and General Manager David Harris will succeed Archer as president and COO W S Tyler appoints VP of sales W S Tyler named Peter Kilmurray as its vice president of sales In his new role Kilmurray is implementing an aftermarket program that involves post sale follow ups equipment testing and technical support Bramco names president COO Bramco named Michael D Brennan as its president and COO He is now responsible for the operations of all Bramco companies including its subsidiaries Brandeis Machinery Supply Co Power Equipment Co Bramco MPS Certified Rental and Total Positioning Solutions Luff Industries opens new warehouse Luff Industries opened a new warehouse in Nashville Tenn According to the company the warehouse will allow employers to stock more products and better meet increased customer demand Superior names new dealer Superior Industries named AIS Construction Equipment as its sole conveying equipment dealer in Michigan As Superiors new dealer AIS will market sell and service Superiors full line of conveying equipment including stacking conveyors transfer conveyors feed systems and portable plants 14 PIT QUARRY February 2015 www pitandquarry com