Survey: Equipment Sales To Rise at Modest Pace

The construction machinery manufacturing industry is expected to close out 2004 with robust business growth followed by moderate gains in 2005.

Gains are expected to be strongest for U.S. markets, said the Milwaukee-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers, which released the outlook.

Each year the group polls its manufacturer members about expected sales of the construction-related machines.

Manufacturers that participated in the survey expect construction equipment markets to close out 2004 with double-digit gains in the U.S. (16.1 percent) and Canada (14.3 percent) and an increase of 8.8 percent in other worldwide business.

For 2005 market growth is predicted to continue but at a slower pace: an 8.4 percent increase in the U.S., 6.6 percent gain in Canada and 7.0 percent jump in other worldwide markets.

ASA: States' Laws Fail Subcontractors

Every state but one gets an F for policies affecting subcontractors and suppliers, according to an evaluation by the Alexandria, Va.-based American Subcontractors Association Inc.

The lone exception is New Mexico, which gets a D.

The finding is contained in the inaugural, annual evaluation of state policies,

"The ASA Report: The Policy Environment in the States."

The ASA calculated the overall grade for each state by scoring seven key public policy areas and combining the points for a final score and grade.

The areas included prompt payment protections, treatment of pay-if-paid clauses, mechanic's lien protections, payment bond protections, retainage limitations, anti-indemnity protections including limits on additional insured endorsements, and anti-"bid-shopping" measures.

"State laws simply do not make the grade for subcontractors," said Mat Glover, ASA president.

While some states had excellent public policies in one or two areas, no state had adequate public policies across-the-board.

The report in its entirety can be viewed on the ASA Web site, www.asaonline.com

AGC Allies with Minorities Group

An agreement was recently signed between the Alexandria, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America and the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Minority Contractors.

The pact pledges to develop dialog, promote the use of mentor-protege programs and collaborate on issues that improve the business climate for contractors, the AGC said

NW Indiana Owners, Contractors Lauded

The Munster-based Northwest Indiana Construction banquet recently honored two sets of contractors and owners.

Chesterton-based Berglund Construction and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart were awarded Commercial Project of the Year for the $36 million Inpatient Tower.

LaPorte-based Larson-Danielson Construction Co. and The LaPorte County Commissions were awarded the Public Works Project of the Year for the $19 million county jail.

Larson-Danielson will also receive the Contractor of the Year award for the heart center addition to LaPorte Hospital.