Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/933470
EquipmentWorld.com | January 2018 21 Milestones Anniversaries celebrated this past year included: 175th: In 1842, Jerome Increase "J.I." Case starts the Racine Threshing Machine Works in Racine Wisconsin, forerunner of Case Construction Equipment. 150th: Deutz unveils its atmospheric gas- powered engine in 1867. 100th: St. Louis dealer Fabick Cat celebrates its centennial mark by giving $600,000 to six area charities. 100th: The Texas Department of Transportation celebrates with a traveling exhibit featuring a 1928 Liberty Truck. 100th: C. C. Hobart begins Hobart Brothers, parent company of Hobart Welders. 75th: Freightliner Trucks debuts the Model 600 "Shovelnose" in 1942. 75th: Austin Talbert designs Talbert Manufacturing's fi rst removable gooseneck trailer. 60th: In 1957, the German company now known as Wacker Neuson begins making construction equipment in the United States. 60th: Bomag GmbH begins production of the BW 60 double vibratory roller in 1957. 50th: John Deere makes its fi rst JD570 motor grader in 1967. 50th: Western Star Trucks launches in 1967, addressing the needs of Canadian mining and logging operations. MAY Cat buys YardClub APRIL Hitachi buys Sullair from Accudyne APRIL United Rentals buys NES Rental Holdings APRIL Sunbelt Rentals buys New York- based Pride Equipment JUNE Deere announces Wirtgen buy AWPs become MEWPs Can't say we're fond of the new acronym, but as part of pro- posed aerial work platform standards, the name of the entire equipment category will be changed to "mobile elevating work platforms." More important, these standards are leading to major changes to the machines, how rental shops deal with their cus- tomers and how contractors plan projects. Texas takes a bullet train A company called Texas Central announced plans to move forward on a bullet train that would link Houston and Dallas, a span of about 240 miles. According to the company, the train will be privately funded and return $2.5 billion in tax revenue back to the state. Fluor, Lane Construction and WSP (formerly Parsons Brinckerhoff) have been selected for design engineering. The train is anticipated to be operational in 2023.