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Industry Beat Texas-Based Associated Supply Company, Inc. Acquires Hi-Way Equipment Company Eight Case locations added to ASCO's coverage of the state. Lubbock, Texas-based Associated Supply Company, Inc. (ASCO) acquired Houston-based heavy equipment dealer Hi-Way Equipment Company. The deal adds eight new Case Construction Equipment locations throughout Texas including Dallas/Fort Worth, North Houston, South Houston, Tyler, Bryan, Brenham, Beaumont and Sherman. These new locations complement ASCO's existing footprint throughout the region, stretching from Amarillo, Texas, through the Lubbock headquarters and down to San Antonio. Three additional Hi-Way Equipment locations (Alvin, Gainesville and Longview) are currently under review. The Hi-Way Equipment locations will be branded with the ASCO name. ASCO's product offering includes the full line of Case Construction Equipment, including loader backhoes, excavators, motor graders, wheel loaders, vibratory compaction rollers, crawler dozers, skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders, loader/tool carriers and rough-terrain forklifts. The company has also made a name for itself as a premier rental outlet for Case equipment, and that model will be expanded to the new locations. "We've always focused on recruiting the best people, selling the best equipment in the industry and, most importantly, providing the best product support available," said Brax Wright, CEO. "These cornerstones remain a part of who we are and are evident in the acquisition of Hi-Way Equipment. We have a vision of being a premier Case dealer in North America. This acquisition, along with the extraordinary quality of the people who joined us from Hi-Way Equipment, helps us achieve that." J.W. (Bill) Wright founded ASCO in 1960 and the company is now guided by a second- and third-generation of family leadership. Today, Brax Wright sees the business model and vision established by his father as guiding principles. "My father taught us from an early age Brax Wright that the way to win and retain customers is to always have parts on the shelf and to provide superior product support," said Wright. "This acquisition gives our customers throughout the entire state confidence that we have support nearby and will be there when they need us." Appeals Court Unpins NLRB Poster Rule On May 7, the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision and struck down a 2010 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regulation requiring most private-sector employers to post a governmentdrafted notice of employee rights. The court found the NLRB rule would violate employers' first amendment rights by forcing the display of language that favors unionization. AED joined its allies at the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) in opposition of the NLRB rule, arguing it would require nearly six million businesses to post notices amounting to little more than advertisements for union membership. The posting notice issue is far from settled. Another challenge to rule is pending before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is hearing an NLRB appeal from a South Carolina federal district court that also struck down the rule. Depending on the outcome, the Supreme Court may choose to take on the case. For now, however, employers are free from displaying this contentious poster against their will. Komatsu America Purchases Midlantic Machinery Midlantic Machinery Inc., a Komatsu construction and mining equipment distributor headquartered in Hatfield, Pa., recently became a wholly owned subsidiary of Komatsu America Corp. The acquisition is part of a strategic reinforcement of Komatsu's distributor network. The entire staff of Midlantic Machinery Inc. has been retained and will continue to serve equipment users in Delaware, Maryland and Eastern Pennsylvania. Ben Norris, previously vice president of Financial Services and treasurer of Komatsu America, has been named the new president of Midlantic Machinery. Midlantic Machinery is the oldest continuous Komatsu distributor in the U.S. 14 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | July 2013 14_industry beat_EB.indd 14 6/27/13 3:19 PM