Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/134956
Industry Beat Tetsuji Ohashi assumed the positions of president and CEO at Komatsu Ltd., on April 1. Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) recently cut the ribbon on its $100 million expansion program at its Shippensburg, Pa., facility. The event also marked the start of wheel loader production at the company's North American base in there. James E. Walker, vice president, Case IH NAFTA for CNH in Racine, Wis., has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Atlas Copco agreed to acquire the business of U.S-based RapidTorc, which develops and markets hydraulic torque wrenches as well as the assets of Saltus-Werk Max Forst GmbH, a manufacturer of mechanical and electric torque solutions based in Germany. Saltus-Werk makes products for quality assurance in tightening, including mechanical, mechatronic and electronic wrenches as well as special sockets. Atlas Copco was also named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Caterpillar Inc. recently announced the creation of a new order-to-delivery organization to be headed by Dave Bozeman, current Caterpillar vice president with the responsibility for the Integrated Manufacturing Operations Division. Bozeman will be senior vice president with responsibility for the Caterpillar Enterprise System Group. He will be a member of Caterpillar's Executive Office and will report directly to Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman. Caterpillar also entered into an international power projects (IPP) agreement with Zahid Group, which recently formed a new subsidiary company, Altaaqa Global. As an IPP partner, Altaaqa Global will provide multi-megawatt temporary power solutions around the world, supported by partnerships within the worldwide Cat dealer network. Takeuchi-US has expanded its existing partnership with H&E Equipment Services Inc. in Southwest region locations in Louisiana – Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Kenner, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport and Little Rock, Ark. IronPlanet, an online marketplace for used heavy equipment, launched TruckPlanet, an online marketplace dedicated exclusively to buying and selling used commercial trucks. BidSpotter.com, a U.S.-based industrial and commercial online auction company, was acquired by ATG Media Holdings Ltd, a UK-based company. Wacker Neuson announced that it will identify its efficient and ecological products with a new ECO seal – ECO for ECOlogy and ECOnomy. Jason Holt has been named to fill position of vice president of Operations Omaha Standard Palfinger. Infor introduced Infor Service Management 4.20, the next generation of Infor's leading service management application. Infor also reached an agreement to acquire CERTPOINT Systems Inc., a provider of SaaS-based learning management software (LMS) and learning content management software (LCMS). Hamilton Strayer Dies at 94 Hamilton Strayer, formerly owner and president of concrete equipment manufacturer Erie Strayer Company, passed away at age 94 on March 16. Strayer led the company for more than 35 years. He was as a long-time member of AED and active in many industry associations including the Associated Equipment Manufacturers and the National Association of Manufacturers. He held leadership positions with The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and the Concrete Plant Manufacturers Bureau, as well as the Manufacturing and Business Association in Erie. According to his son, Robert Strayer, president and CEO of Erie Strayer Company, Hamilton Strayer led by example and had a sincere passion for the concrete industry. He continued to work up until December 2012. Ernest L. Ransome III Dies, 86 Chairman of the Ransome Family of Companies Ernest L. Ransome III, passed away on Sunday, May 5, at the age of 86. Ransome, along with his two brothers, represented the second generation of ownership of Giles & Ransome Inc., which his father P.A. Ransome founded in 1916. Ernest Ransome III played a pivotal role in both the transition of the Caterpillar dealership to third generation Wayne Bromley, and most recently, to Kristin Bromley Fitzgerald as the fourth generation owner. The company attributes Ransome III as a key reason why Giles & Ransome has been a leader in the local construction industry for nearly 100 years. Giles & Ransome serves southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware and is among the largest and oldest familyowned companies in the tristate area. In addition to his role as chairman, Ransome III was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, as well as president and chairman of Pine Valley Golf Club. He earned All-American honors in lacrosse and football at Princeton University, received an honorary doctorate of laws degree from Saint Andrews University in Scotland, and served as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. 18 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | June 2013 14_industry beat_KP.indd 18 5/31/13 12:18 PM