Jobless Rate slides to 7.6%

The U.S. economy added 88,000 jobs in March, the Labor Department said. The unemployment rate, obtained by a separate survey of U.S. households, fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.6%. Economists had forecast that nonfarm payrolls would rise by 200,000 and the unemployment rate would hold steady at 7.7%.

Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Heavy Equipment Operators

Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Heavy Equipment Operators

Heavy equipment operators from capitalized on the opportunity to practice using their heavy equipment at the Haramura training area near Hiroshima during Exercise Thunder Horse, March 17-22, 2013.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -

The Marines practiced digging 14-foot trenches and individual fighting positions in an open field near the main campsite.

“The techniques from the training weren’t just meant for practice,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Camberos, MWSS-171 heavy equipment operations chief. “It gives the Marines an understanding of how their equipment works and the ways to move dirt. When the Marines leave the schoolhouse, they don’t get the opportunity to dig anti-tank ditches and fighting positions.”

Along with combat-oriented digging, Marines earned experience assisting others digging trenches around tents with backhoes instead of using entrenchment tools.

“Digging the trenches helped me to get a better feel for the backhoe,” said Lance Cpl. Austin Blodgett, MWSS-171 heavy equipment operator. “It added valuable stick time, which is when we get behind the controls and earn time practicing.”

With extended periods of rain throughout the training, mud and clay made operations more difficult for the Marines. It escalated to the point where even vehicles with all terrain tracks were getting stuck.

“Earth-moving is very specific when it comes to the material,” said
Camberos. “If the material is too dry, it will crumble away. If it’s too wet, vehicles tend to get stuck. We had the dozer get stuck, and that rarely happens.”

Aside from moving dirt and mud, Camberos also explained what his concept of the training was truly about.

“What I mainly look for when I train them in earth moving is the Marines understanding what they’re doing and not just moving dirt,” said Camberos. “If Marines don’t know the correct process for digging a fighting position, it would become a counterproductive process.”

With the Haramura training ground providing conditions for valuable teaching periods, the Marines leave not as experts, but more experienced in their profession.

March 26, 2013

Lake County cities sharing their heavy equipment: Whatever happened to …?

By Peter Krouse

Whatever happened to a study commissioned by Ohio State Auditor Dave Yost that explored the idea of Lake County municipalities sharing their heavy equipment, such as road graders and street sweepers?

The study turned into a resolution that the county and 23 of its cities, villages and townships have adopted.

The idea is to help localities save money in cash-strapped times. If one city has a backhoe it’s not using, it can share it with a neighbor who then won’t have to go out and buy or rent one.

The state auditor’s office is developing software that will track equipment inventory across the county and indicate what items are available at a given time.

Not everybody has the same needs.

Willoughby Hills, for instance, has a backhoe, a sewer-cleaning machine and a mower with a hydraulic arm that can reach over and cut grass on the other side of guardrails, said Mayor Robert Weger last year.

What the city doesn’t have, but could borrow if necessary, are items such as a sewer-camera truck, bulldozer and asphalt spreader, he said.

The sewer-camera truck alone might cost more than $200,000 if the city had to buy one, Weger said.

Mentor-on-the-Lake also has backhoes and a sewer cleaner, then-Mayor John Rogers said last year, but the city’s lift truck went kaput a while back so borrowing one from Painesville, which has more than one, might make sense.

One of the most important pieces of equipment in Northeast Ohio are snow plows. But Weger doesn’t think there will be much sharing of them because everybody will be needing their own at the same time.

The shared services resolution "really formalizes an agreement that was basically a verbal agreement between communities," said Rogers, who is now a state representative.

The resolution doesn’t obligate municipalities to share, so why have it?

"Well, because there’s a lot of lawyers our there," Rogers said, and the resolution includes language that indemnifies the loaning municipality if something goes wrong.

Yost said he selected Lake County for his shared-services pilot program because it already "had a very rich infrastructure of relationships."

"They had already talked about the issues surrounding this kind of idea," he said.

Yost said he wants to come back after a year and depending on how the system is working in Lake County, introduce it to other counties in the state.

Caterpillar to Feature the Latest in Engine Technologies at the 13th CIPPE Exhibition

Cat 3516C (HD) to Be Launched at the 2013 CIPPE Show

Caterpillar Global Petroleum will unveil its latest innovative engine for hydraulic fracturing at the 13th China International Petroleum and Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition (CIPPE). Designed for pressure pumping operations, the Cat® 3516C (HD) engine delivers horsepower and is ideal for the growing well service market in China. In addition to the Cat 3516C (HD) engine, Caterpillar will showcase the industry leading TH55-E70 transmission utilized in pressure pumping applications, a CX31 transmission packaged with a Cat C15 ACERT™ engine for use in workover rig applications and a C18 petroleum generator set for production power.

“Caterpillar is fortunate to have an established reputation as a trusted power solutions provider in the Chinese oil and gas markets,” said Felix Toh, Caterpillar Global Petroleum regional sales manager for the Asia Pacific region. “Caterpillar is one of the most recognized and respected brands for delivering reliable products and services for both onshore and offshore applications. Together with the Cat dealer network, we can leverage decades of experience in the petroleum market to bring our Chinese customers comprehensive, integrated power solutions.”

3516C (HD) Engine for Hydraulic Fracturing – Caterpillar has increased power offerings for the pressure pumping market to include the higher horsepower Cat 3516C (HD) engine. The 3516C (HD) engine offers 2,461 bkW (3,300 bhp) @ 1900 rpm, providing customers with more power to optimize performance. The engine is also available at 2,349 bkW (3150 bhp) and 2,237 bkW (3000 bhp) @ 1900 rpm. Based on the proven Cat 3512C (HD) platform, the 3516C (HD) is compatible with the industry leading Cat TH55-E90 transmission and is designed for harsh operating conditions of the pressure pumping operation. The new engine will be available through Cat dealer network for global customers in 2013.

TH55-E90 Transmission – The TH55-E90 transmission is optimized for petroleum pumping applications. Its evenly spaced gear ratios provide smooth shifting for pumping, providing for a much broader range of pumping speeds than the competition. The transmission with 9 speed option and deep first gear ratio creates application flexibility, and allows pumping at lower flow rates and pressure.

CX31 – P600 Transmission Packaged with the Cat C15 ACERT Petroleum Engine – With a great power to weight ratio, the lightweight CX31 – P600 transmission delivers input power of 600 bhp (447 bkW) with a peak input torque of 2025 lb – ft (2746 N  m). The CX31 – P600 is optimized for pumping, workover and cementing application and features advanced well service controls to provide customers with flexibility and optimal performance. In addition to the C15 ACERT, the CX31 – P600 seamlessly integrates with the C9 ACERT, C11 ACERT, C13 ACERT and C18 ACERT petroleum engines.

CA Board Seeks 8.6 Billion in BONDS

The project eventually is supposed to link Northern and Southern California with trains traveling up to 220 mph.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – The California High-Speed Rail Authority voted Monday to issue nearly $8.6 billion in taxpayer-approved bonds to build the nation’s first bullet train as the state rushes to begin construction in July.

Officials are now on track to sell $3.7 billion of the bonds. That includes $2.6 billion for high speed rail and another $1.1 billion for improving existing commuter rail systems in Northern and Southern California.

Lawmakers appropriated the $3.7 billion last year, but the Legislature would have to act again to appropriate the remainder of the $8.6 billion before the entire amount can be issued.

The six-member board authorized selling the bonds on a 5-0 vote, without debate and with one member absent. Timing of the sale will now be set by the governor, attorney general and state treasurer, though the first opportunity to sell the bonds will be this fall, said Tom Dresslar, spokesman for Treasurer Bill Lockyer.

“It’s another step towards the process of breaking ground on the nation’s first high speed rail system in California this summer,” authority Chairman Dan Richard said after the vote.

The project still must withstand lawsuits that have court hearings in coming months. They include a hearing April 19 over the project’s environmental impacts, while a May 31 hearing will consider whether the funds meet the requirements set by voters when they approved the high speed rail program in 2008.

Adverse rulings in those lawsuits could stall the bond money, though Richard said groundbreaking can proceed using $3.

3 billion in federal matching funds.

The first full segment of the $68 billion rail line will run from Madera to Bakersfield. The project eventually is supposed to link Northern and Southern California with trains traveling up to 220 mph.

Contractors have submitted bids to design and build the first $1.8 billion, 30-mile stretch of track. The bids from five international design teams will be opened later this spring, Richard said. The authority also is in the process of negotiating to buy land for the project’s right of way.

“Everything about this project is ambitious,” Richard said, but he predicted the authority will meet its construction timetable.

Interest payments on the entire amount would cost the state an estimated $700 million a year for 35 years, but at least the $175 million in annual debt payments on the initial bonds would come from fees paid by commercial truckers, not from the state’s general fund, Richard said. He said it is not clear if the overweight fees from truckers would cover the entire amount.

Not all the bonds will be sold at once, said state Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer. “In fact, you don’t want to sell them all now – it would be like drinking out of a fire hydrant.”

Several speakers challenged the timing of the authorization during the board’s public comment period, asking why the board was acting on the bulk of the bonds approved by voters now when it could be years before the money is needed. Kevin Dayton, a public policy consultant from Roseville, questioned whether the board was rushing to beat the outcome of the lawsuits attempting to block the railroad.

“That’s the obvious question that comes up,” Dayton said. “I think it’s reasonable to assume they’re very worried about it.”

But Richard said the board was merely being efficient by authorizing all the bonds now, so it would not have to revisit the issue in coming years.

The authority would have to comply with a court order no matter what steps it has taken, he said, and state officials are unlikely to issue the bonds until they are satisfied that they will not be blocked by the courts.

“We have to resolve those issues before the court and we are very confident about that,” Richard said. “I think until those matters are resolved, I’m not sure the treasurer would go forward with this.”

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screen shot 2013 03 22 at 10 36 10 am1

OSHA Talks Crane Certification

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has scheduled a third informal stakeholder meeting to solicit comments on the crane operator certification requirements in the Cranes and Derricks in

Construction standard. The third meeting will be held from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. on April 3, 2013.

The two meetings currently scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on April 2 and 3 are full. The three meetings will focus on the effectiveness of crane operator certification to ensure that crane operators can safely operate equipment and the level of competence and safe operation that certification ensures. The agency seeks information from the public on 1) the usefulness of certifying operators for different capacities of cranes, and 2) the risks of allowing an operator to operate all capacities of cranes within a specific type.

The operator qualification requirements are part of the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard that governs crane safety. The standard is the product of a negotiated rulemaking process that began in the summer of 2003 and culminated in the publication of the final rule on Aug. 9, 2010. The standard requires operators to be certified by November 2014. Secondly, the standard requires that certifications issued by an accredited testing organization specify the "capacity and type" of cranes the operator is certified to operate.

All meetings will be held at the U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3437 A, B, and C. The Department of Labor is located at 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210.

Individuals interested in participating in, or observing, a meeting must pre-register by calling OSHA’s Directorate of Construction at 202-693-2020. The agency will post any additional information about the meetings on its website.

Due to limited space, only one individual per organization may participate in a meeting. OSHA will permit two observers from each organization, but only one observer if that organization also has a participant in a meeting. Organizations may only participate in one meeting. OSHA’s goal is to accommodate as wide an audience as possible of informed technical experts on crane safety and operator certification. To facilitate as much group interaction as possible, formal presentations will not be permitted.

Construction Labor Shortage

Reported today……Labor Shortages in Residential Construction Impeding Housing & Economic Recovery, Labor shortages have caused 46% of builders to experience delays, 15% have turned down projects and 9% have lost or cancelled sales.

March 17, 2013

Week ahead, stocks at support: Caterpillar (CAT), 3d Systems (DDD), Ebay (EBAY), F5 Networks (FFIV)

Mar 09, 2013 (ACCESSWIRE-TNW via COMTEX) — Bridgewater, MA (March 9, 2013) – With the markets and most stocks hitting new highs we did a search to find solid company’s currently at strong support with some wiggle room to move higher. What our search found was stocks Caterpillar CAT +0.15% , 3d Systems DDD -4.89% , Ebay EBAY -2.68% , and F5 Networks FFIV -0.44% .

Caterpillar CAT +0.15% founded in 1925 is a company specializing in the manufacturing of construction & mining equipment, engines, turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. CAT over the past month has pulled back to 90, a strong triple support price area. The stock currently has an upside price target T1 of 97.84 with an excellent profit/loss ratio of 4.8:1.

Full CAT report with stock charts and analysis here:

http://www.stockconsultant.com/consultnow/basicplus.cgi?symbol=CAT

3d Systems DDD -4.89% founded in 1986 is a company that develops, manufactures and markets worldwide 3D printing, scanning and software tools. DDD over the past 2 months has had three pullbacks with the latest pullback coming to rest on strong double support in the 33 to 34 price area. The stock currently has a price target T1 of 39.82 with a good profit/loss ratio of 3.7:1.

Full DDD report with stock charts and analysis here:

http://www.stockconsultant.com/consultnow/basicplus.cgi?symbol=DDD

Ebay EBAY -2.68% founded in 1995 is a company that provides online market places for the sale of goods and services as well as online payment solutions. Ebay over the past month has pulled back to strong triple support in the 53 price area. On Friday the stock held support with volume 30% higher than typical volume and currently has an upside price target T1 of 56.73 with a good profit/loss ratio of 3.2:1.

Full EBAY report with stock charts and analysis here:

http://www.stockconsultant.com/consultnow/basicplus.cgi?symbol=EBAY

F5 Networks FFIV -0.44% founded in 1996 is a company that provides products and services to manage Internet traffic worldwide. FFIV over the past two months has had two pullbacks and now sits on strong triple support in the 93 price area. The stock currently has an upside price target T1 of 102.28 with an excellent profit/loss ratio of 4:1.

Full FFIV report with stock charts and analysis here:

http://www.stockconsultant.com/consultnow/basicplus.cgi?symbol=FFIV

StockConsultant.com provides automated stock consulting on over 6000 US equities. Each detailed stock report contains easy to use technical analysis indicators, charts, and news to fine tune stock entry and exits. Today’s stocks came from our daily "Stocks to Watch" list and site’s powerful screen for stocks at strong support.

Disclosure: StockConsultant.com and its employees are not registered investment advisors and nothing contained in any materials should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell securities. Please check with a registered investment advisor before making any investment decisions.

Caterpillar Inc. : Cat® Machines Help Build Supercross Track Thanks to the Cat Rental Store

The Avesco Cat® Rental Store provided four Cat machines to sculpt 2,800 square meters of dirt into jumps, bumps and a bridge for the 27th International Supercross Geneva indoor track.

Supercross is a motorcycle racing sport involving off-road motorcycles on an artificially-made dirt track consisting of steep jumps and obstacles. Three compact track loaders and one excavator transformed the track over 2-1/2 days. The stakes were high, as time delays were not an option. The dependability of the machines was critical.

Jean-Luc Fouchet, manager of the JLFO company, was in charge of the construction of the track. "Using three compact track loaders, we can shape the obstacles very precisely. We can’t allow work to stop on the site, not even for an hour, and, thanks to Avesco Rent, when we’re working here in Geneva, we can sleep soundly at night," he said.

Stocks Trading Actively: Caterpillar Inc, Suncor Energy Inc, Lloyds Banking Group, CONSOL Energy Inc

Lakeway, TX — (SBWIRE) — 03/07/2013 — Bestdamnpennystocks, an investment community with a special focus on updating investors with recent news on the U.S. stock market, issues news alert on the following stocks:-

Caterpillar Inc.(NYSE:CAT) slid 0.36% and is trading at $89.32. Caterpillar Inc. (Caterpillar) is a manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.

How Should Investors Trade CAT After The Recent Movement? Find Out Here

Suncor Energy Inc. (USA)(NYSE:SU) is higher 1.06% and is trading at $30.64. Suncor Energy Inc. (Suncor) is an integrated energy company. The Company explores for, acquires, develops, produces and markets crude oil and natural gas in Canada and internationally, and it transports and refines crude oil and market petroleum and petrochemical products primarily in Canada.

Is SU Strong Buy After The Recent Strong Gains? Get Free Trend Analysis Here

Lloyds Banking Group PLC (ADR)(NYSE:LYG) lost 2.59% and is trading at $3.01. Lloyds Banking Group plc, is a financial services group providing a range of banking and financial services, primarily in the United Kingdom, to personal and corporate customers.

Is LYG a Buying Opportunity After The Recent Plunge? Don’t Miss Out Our Latest Report Here

CONSOL Energy Inc.(NYSE:CNX) is higher 2.40% and is trading at $31.10. CONSOL Energy Inc. (CONSOL Energy) is a producer of coal and natural gas for global energy and raw material markets, which include the electric power generation industry and the steelmaking industry.
How Should Investors Trade CNX After The Latest Earnings Report? Find Out Here

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March 13, 2013

Construction employment hits three-year high

By Thomas Grillo

The building boom is on.

Construction companies added 48,000 jobs in February, the ninth consecutive month of job growth, as more people are working in construction than at any point in the last three plus years, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

“With construction employment increasing by the largest amount for a single month in nearly six years, the steady improvement in construction hiring is particularly encouraging,” said Kenneth Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in a statement. “The job gains are coming from every part of the construction industry and while the sector’s unemployment rate remains stubbornly high, it is heading in the right direction.”

Construction firms employed 5.78 million people in February, a gain of 48,000 from January and 140,000 or 2.5 percent from a year ago. The industry unemployment rate, which is not seasonally adjusted and thus is typically high in February, fell to 15.7 percent last month, down from 17.1 percent one year ago.

Residential and nonresidential construction added jobs for the month and year. Residential construction added 19,400 jobs in February and 64,200, a 3.1 percent gain, over the last year. Nonresidential construction expanded by 29,000 employees in February and 75,700 or 2.1 percent, over last year.

Association officials said that recent improvements in construction employment could be undermined if Congress and the Obama administration fail to reach agreement to fund federal operations known as a continuing resolution by the time it expires on March 27. Should Washington officials fail to enact a new continuing resolutions, tens of billions of dollars worth of federal investments in infrastructure and construction projects could be shut down, the association said.

Check Out The Huge Surge In Construction Jobs

The jobs report crushed expectations, with jobs coming in at 236K, ahead of the 165K that analysts had expected.

Here’s an interesting sub-number.

Construction jobs are booming:

In February, employment in construction increased by 48,000. Since September, construction employment has risen by 151,000. In February, job growth occurred in specialty trade contractors, with this gain about equally split between residential (+17,000) and nonresidential specialty trade contractors (+15,000). Nonresidential building construction also added jobs (+6,000).

Housing starts have been booming, but actual construction jobs have lagged a bit. No more.

Utah Saw 3.1 Percent Employment Growth in January

Utah’s nonfarm wage and salaried job estimate for January 2013, as generated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), expanded by 3.1 percent compared against the employment level for January 2012. This is a 12-month increase of 37,800 jobs and raises total wage and salary employment to 1,249,900.

The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate — generated by BLS — is Utah’s other primary indicator of current labor market conditions and registers 5.4 percent.

About 73,100 Utahns are considered to be actively unemployed. The current United States unemployment rate stands at 7.9 percent.

Utah enters the new year with employment growth at its long-term average of 3.1 percent. The unemployment rate stands at 5.4 percent and has fallen by three percentage points from its recession high of 8.4 percent in 2010. The labor force participation rate at 66.7 percent remains noticeably below its pre-recession high of 72 percent and is only little changed from the recession-period low of 66.5 percent that was recorded in September of 2012. Utah’s job growth of the past two years has not been forceful enough to change the dynamic of Utah’s labor participation. The numbers imply that those who moved out of the labor force during the recession are not yet feeling compelled to return to a job search and inclusion in the labor force.

An employment growth of 3.1 percent over the past 12 months places Utah with favorable job growth to build upon in 2013. It is expected that the state’s new home building market will show some post-recession life in 2013 and will help to push this growth rate higher as 2013 progresses. Currently, all industrial sectors are adding new jobs to Utah’s employment base with the exception of government.

Goods Producing

Construction employment is estimated to be up by 2,700 positions over the past 12 months, standing at 64,800. This is a turnaround from this industry’s recession low point, but still represents an employment level much below this industry’s historical norm. Whereas construction employment generally makes up around 6 percent of all Utah employment, it is currently at 5.2 percent. There is still improvement yet to be realized from this industry when Utah starts to build again in relation to its population increase of the past five years.

Employer/Programs
Manufacturing employment continues to rebound from its recession setback, adding 3,800 new jobs over the past 12 months. The job increases are broad based, as gains are recorded in many manufacturing categories, led by fabricated and primary metals, rubber and plastics, surgical equipment and sporting goods.

Service Producing
Utah’s largest employment sector is trade, transportation and utilities. Estimated employment gains of 8,800 over the past 12 months make this one of Utah’s better-performing sectors. These gains are largely occurring on the retail trade component with not much gain in wholesale trade. The transportation component added 1,800 new jobs over the past 12 months, with much of this in trucking and courier services.

The Information sector is estimated to have added 2,600 new jobs over the past 12 months. Information includes the publishing industry, motion pictures, telecommunications, and internet service providers, among others.

The Financial sector continues to rebound from its recession setback. Approximately 3,800 jobs have been added over the past 12 months. Most of these are in financial institutions. The real estate side of the equation has yet to post noticeable gains.

The professional and business services sector added 7,000 jobs in Utah over the past year. Half of these are coming from the professional, scientific, and technical side, an area that generally requires greater levels of education for employment and also returns higher-than-average wages. This includes accounting, engineering, design services, computer systems design forms, and consulting services, among others.

Private education and health services is a stalwart of the Utah economy, having grown through both of the recessions of the past ten years. The sector is estimated to have added 3,500 new jobs in Utah over the past 12 months.

The Leisure and Hospitality sector is estimated to have added 9,100 new jobs over the past 12 months. When revised data comes in several months down the road, this current estimate will most likely be viewed as quite generous.

Government is the only industry estimated with lower employment in Utah than a year ago; down by 5,400 positions. Federal government declines lead the way, but both state and local government estimates are also down. Most of this is in education, particularly at the state level. This decline is probably just the quirks of the calendar, as the monthly surveying of employers only asks for the employment counts of one week of the month. If that week does not coincide with the seasonal return to a new college semester and returning student employment, employment levels can look lower than the previous year if the previous year’s calendar did cover the start of the new semester. That appears to be the case for the decline this year.

March 7 , 2013

Caterpillar to Power Russia’s Largest Offshore Oil and Gas Platform

By MarEx

Caterpillar Oil and Gas is pleased to announce the Cat® 3500 diesel generator sets have been successfully installed on what is expected to be Russia’s largest offshore oil and gas platform. Three Cat 3516B (HD) generator sets will provide both essential and emergency power for the fixed platform. Each generator set can provide 2000 ekW @ 1500 rpm (50 Hz) of rated power. The platform also features 3x Cat 3412 fire pumps.

“Regardless of how severe the Arctic conditions become, the Cat 3516B (HD) generator sets will serve as a reliable power source for the platform,” said Sergey Chernyshov, Caterpillar Oil and Gas CIS territory manager. “In addition to the reliable, innovative performance of the 3516 power products, Caterpillar enjoys a unique ability to collaborate with the local Cat dealer to meet the highly customized specifications and our ability to fully support the product in the harsh environmental conditions.

Essential gensets provide a safe power source for the drilling process in case of loss of main power. Emergency gensets provide safe power for the operators’ accommodations and other safety features necessary in the event main power is lost. All the diesel generators can be interchanged in service to cover both the emergency and essential loads as per power demand. The packages are highly customized for offshore service and severe seismic requirements.

Manufactured in Lafayette, Indiana, the Cat 3500 diesel generator sets have been installed on countless offshore platforms around the world en route to becoming the industry standard for prime power. With proven performance in drilling applications, the 3516B series features market-leading power density, a long overhaul life and the ADEM™ A3. For this particular project, auxiliary systems necessary for climate control, black dual starting capabilities at low temperatures and snow conditions as well as sophisticated controls, monitoring and protection systems were included in the package scope of supply.

Cat dealer, Sakhalin Machinery, with their project team of highly qualified Russian and Expatriate Engineers led by Mahmoud Helmy, Sakhalin Machinery’s Power Systems Manager, successfully managed the project and led Caterpillar Global Petroleum’s efforts. Sakhalin Machinery, along with the global Cat dealer network, provides superior, around the clock service to customers around the globe delivering stellar product support upon the proven performance of Cat products.

Caterpillar to supply longwall systems to four CONSOL mines

CONSOL Energy the largest producer of coal from underground mines in North America has placed orders for Cat longwall equipment including more than 1,100 roof supports and totaling nearly USD 300 million. In addition to roof supports, the four northern Appalachia mines Bailey, Bailey Mine Extension, Robinson Run and Shoemaker will get 2 armored face conveyors a shearer and 3 shield haulers.

CONSOL also is equipping all 4 longwall systems with the Cat PMC R electro hydraulic control system for advanced automation and Cat Detect Personnel a personnel proximity detection system designed to enhance the safety of miners working around longwall systems. Delivery of equipment started in the fall of 2012 and will be completed in summer 2013.

In addition to the 4 mines receiving complete roof support systems from the Caterpillar facilities inLünen,Germany, CONSOL’s McElroy mine will receive 60 roof supports to be used in extending the longwall face. Also Enlow Fork mine as well as Shoemaker will upgrade to Cat PMC R electro hydraulic control systems. After retrofit of the old systems CONSOL will operate a total of 9 faces with PMC R control systems. Of these CONSOL will equip 7 longwalls with Cat Detect Personnel. CONSOL plans to make the use of PMC R controls standard in all its mines.

All of the CONSOL mines getting new equipment are mining the Pittsburgh 8 coal seam in southwestPennsylvaniaand northernWest Virginia. The Bailey and BMX mines inPennsylvaniawill take delivery of 25.4 t roof supports with 380 mm diameter props. The roof supports will operate on 1,750 mm centers and have an operating range of 1.295 to 2.743 m. The Shoemaker and Robinson Run mines inWest Virginia will operate 22.9 t roof supports with 345 mm diameter props with an operating range of 1.245 to 2.743 m. All 4 mines will have identical face end supports weighing 29.8 t and having an operating range of 1.295 to3.048 m.

The PMC R electro hydraulic control system operating each longwall has sufficient computing power and data transfer speed to allow adding remote and semi autonomous face operation. All roof supports will be readied for the retrofit installation of the Cat MotionMonitor system. MotionMonitor employs the use of several strategically placed inclinometers that supply angularity data to the PMC R system. With this data the system can calculate the geometric attitude of each roof support. That information is needed to steer the face when operating in a semi autonomous or autonomous mode.

By monitoring the angular rate of change during times when the roof support has not been given a command to move, the system also can be used to detect unexpected movement of roof supports as well as roof convergence. The detection of unexpected movements helps in preventing equipment collisions and enhances prediction of impending geologic activity such as rockbursts.

All roof supports will be equipped with Cat Detect Personnel part of the Detect capability set of Cat MineStar™ System. The system has the ability to accurately and reliably identify the presence of personnel and to transmit this information in real time to the local roof support control system to allow appropriate action to be taken to prevent injury.

The BMX mine will be supplied with 2 complete 470 m long PF6 armored face conveyor systems equipped with P 65 Controlled Start Transmissions and KP 65 CST AFC drive with installed power of 3 x 1,200 kW. These PF6 AFCs have a width of 1.142 m and can convey a maximum of 3,500 t/h of coal.

Source – CONSOL Energy

Stock’s Active Momentum – Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW)

Houston, TX – March 6 , 2013 — (Net PR News) – AnotherWinningTrade.com, the leader for breaking information and up-to-date market activities on Wall Street, locates high-growth equity opportunities. To receive our FREE, comprehensive newsletter, visit AnotherWinningTrade.com.

Today’s focus is on: CAT, MTW

The worthwhile stocks of the Farm & Construction Machinery industry of the Industrial Goods sector are in today’s spotlight, which scored heavy volume and were moving upward during the prior trading session. The active stocks were Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), which remained a top volume stock in its industry and Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW), which gained traders attention mainly due to superb trade.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) declared the appointment of a new vice president and changes in responsibility for an existing vice president.

Is CAT a Solid Investment at These Levels? Read This Report For Details

Farm & Construction Machinery company moving up during the prior trade, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) closed at the price of $90.21 after opening at $90.49. Stock traded during its last trading session with the total volume of 5.35 million shares, as compared to its average volume of 6.17 million shares.

During the previous session, the company’s minimum price was $89.99 while it touched its highest price for the day at $91.28. CAT’s beta value stands at 1.92 points, while its earnings per share was $8.49. During the last one month, the company declined -8.36% while its last 5 days shows an upsurge of 0.29%.

Can Investors Bet on CAT after this News update? Find out in this Research Report

Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW) unveiled that its fourth quarter of 2012’s sales were $1.1 billion, 10.0 percent up in comparison to for the prior year similar period sales of $1.0 billion.

How Should Investors Trade MTW Now? Don’t Miss out a Special Trend Analysis

Manitowoc Company was showing a bullish trend during the previous trading session. Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW) reported the increase of 6.16% to close at $19.30 with the overall traded volume of 3.41 million shares. Its market capitalization was $2.56 billion. Its beta value stands at 3.15 times and Manitowoc Company’s earnings per share was $0.77.

Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW) has the total of 132.47 million outstanding shares. During last trade, the company’s minimum price was $18.41, while it touched its highest price of $19.43.

02-26-13 Supply of existing home sales falls again

GOOD NEWS FOR HOUSING MARKET…..FINALLY

Across the country the supply of existing home sales has fallen seven straight months,hitting an eight year low in January,2013. Competing bids for the same house is driving up prices especially in the west.But,many homeowners still cannot afford to sell,28% are still so far underwater that that if they sold their house their would not be enough money to pay closing costs and make a down payment on their next house.At the rate of current increases it is going to be four more years before everyone has their head above water.The fourth quarter of 12 showed a healthy 7.3% increase with half the cities at 9.0%. Phoenix,AZ led the way with 23% increase followed by San Fransisco,CA at 14.4% and Detroit MI at 13.5% and Las Vegas, NV in fourth place with 12.3 %

New home construction is the best shot in the arm our economy could hope for,best estimates are for every two homes built creates one full time job,my guess is that it only takes one and a half new homes built to create one full time job.There are many different people and businesses that benefit when a new home is built,during the life of that home there is upkeep,repairs,replacement and maintenance that generates jobs that you wont find in apartments.When a tract of land is being developed for houses the heavy equipment operators are many times recent graduates from heavy equipment operators schools or some other heavy equipment operators program,that is one of the benefits that many times is overlooked when economists estimate the benefits of new home construction.

Construction Spending Ends 2012 on a High Note

02/26/2013 by Bernard M. Markstein

Total Construction Spending and its Major Components
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that total construction spending advanced 0.9% in December to $885.0 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), its ninth consecutive monthly increase. Spending numbers for October and November were revised up $8.0 billion and $11.0 billion, respectively. The November revision changed a 0.3% decline into a 0.1% gain. For the year, construction spending increased 9.2% over 2011.

Nonresidential building construction rose 1.0% to $301.0 billion (SAAR) in December following a 1.4% drop in November. October spending was revised up $3.0 billion and November was revised up $2.2 billion. For the year, spending was up 5.6% from 2011.

Heavy engineering (non-building) construction spending was the one area of weakness in December, falling 0.5% to $269.4 billion (SAAR) after jumping 1.1% in November. November’s number included a $2.3 billion upward revision. Despite the cutbacks in public financing for heavy engineering projects, spending was up 7.4% for the year.

Total residential construction spending, which includes improvements, continued its upward march, increasing for the ninth consecutive month, jumping 2.1% to $314.6 billion (SAAR) in December after increasing 0.7% in November. New residential construction spending, which excludes improvements, rose a healthy 1.4% after increasing 1.6% in November. For 2012, total residential construction spending was up 15.4% from 2011 while new residential construction was up 19.6% from 2011.

Total public construction spending fell for the fourth month in a row, down a seasonally adjusted (SA) 1.4% in December after slipping 0.1% in November. For 2012, public construction spending decreased 2.7%. Total private construction spending shot up 2.0% in December, its tenth consecutive monthly increase, after rising a more modest 0.2% in November. For the year, private construction spending increased 16.1% over 2011.

U.S. Total Construction Spending (billions of U.S. current dollars)
Current Monthly			3-Month Moving Average			Year-to-Date (NSA)
Oct-12	Nov-12	Dec-12	Oct-12	Nov-12	Dec-12	Jan-11 to Dec-11	Jan-12 to Dec-12
New Single-family	141.5	143.7	144.8	136.5	140.5	143.4	108.2	129.2
Month-over-Month % Change	3.8%	1.5%	0.8%	3.5%	3.0%	2.0%
Year-over-year % Change (NSA)	29.7%	30.6%	29.0%	-3.9%	19.4%
New Multifamily (1)	29.6	30.2	31.6	28.7	29.4	30.5	22.6	27.2
4.0%	2.2%	4.5%	2.2%	2.5%	3.6%
29.7%	30.4%	34.3%	-6.1%	20.3%
New Residential (2)	171.1	173.9	176.4	165.2	170.0	173.8	130.8	156.4
3.8%	1.6%	1.4%	3.3%	2.9%	2.3%
29.7%	30.5%	29.9%	-4.3%	19.6%
Residential Improvements (3)	135.1	134.3	138.2	132.1	133.8	135.8	114.9	127.0
2.2%	-0.6%	2.9%	2.4%	1.3%	1.5%
16.9%	12.3%	17.4%	2.2%	10.5%
Total Residential (4) (5)	306.2	308.2	314.6	297.3	303.8	309.7	245.7	283.4
3.1%	0.7%	2.1%	2.9%	2.2%	1.9%
23.3%	22.2%	24.2%	-1.4%	15.4%
Nonresidential Building	302.3	298.1	301.0	300.7	299.4	300.4	283.2	298.9
1.5%	-1.4%	1.0%	0.5%	-0.5%	0.4%
5.1%	1.7%	-0.2%	-2.5%	5.6%
Heavy Engineering (Non-Building)	267.8	270.7	269.4	266.7	268.6	269.3	249.4	267.9
0.1%	1.1%	-0.5%	0.0%	0.7%	0.2%
5.3%	3.7%	0.9%	-5.9%	7.4%
Total (1)	876.2	876.9	885.0	864.8	871.8	879.4	778.3	850.2
1.6%	0.1%	0.9%	1.2%	0.8%	0.9%
11.1%	8.8%	7.4%	-3.3%	9.2%
Monthly levels are seasonally adjusted at annual rates (SAAR figures). (1) New Multifamily = New Private Multifamily + New Public Multifamily – Public Improvements (estimated by Reed Economics) (2) New Residential = New Single-family + New Multifamily (3) Residential Improvements include remodeling, renovation and replacement work. Number also includes RCD estimate of improvements to public housing. (4) Total Residential = New Single-family + New Multifamily + Residential Improvements. (5) Total may not equal the sum of its components due to rounding. Source: Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Economy
The United States economy continues to grow at a moderate pace despite facing various hurdles, many of them created by the politicians in our nation’s capital. The most immediate hurdle to overcome is the March 1 sequestration (an across-the-board reduction in spending for most areas of federal government) unless an agreement is reached over the federal budget. There is already a drag on economic growth as various federal agencies adjust their spending in anticipation of sequestration. The negative effects of threatened spending cuts will be limited if an agreement over the budget appears near.

The other major politically created risk is the federal debt ceiling. Legislation temporarily increased the debt ceiling until May 18 when it expires. Hitting the debt ceiling would mean that the Treasury would have to delay various federal payments, including Social Security and Medicare, federal payrolls, reimbursements to contractors, tax refunds, and debt payments. Not meeting debt payments would be a technical default of U.S. government debt and undoubtedly mean a downgrade of the U.S. debt rating, with negative fallout for many U.S. companies — most notably financial institutions.

Other, though lesser risks include possible sovereign debt default by one or more European countries, one or more countries abandoning the euro or total dissolution of the euro, and a significant and prolonged increase in energy prices. In spite of all these challenges, we expect the economy to continue to grow at an acceptable, if unspectacular, rate.

On the positive side, low interest rates and the reviving housing market are providing a much needed lift to the economy.

Risks to the Economy and the Forecast
As just noted, major risks to the economy include the following:

• Sequestration
• Allowing the temporary increase in the federal debt ceiling to expire without a more permanent solution or another temporary increase in the ceiling (a less desirable outcome)
• Sharp cutbacks in government spending over the near term rather than phasing them in over a few years (possibly a result of a budget agreement to prevent sequestration or an agreement to raise the debt ceiling)
• Sovereign debt default by one or more European governments
• One or more European governments abandoning the euro
• A sudden, significant jump in oil prices (50% or more) for a prolonged period (two months or more)

If one or more of these risks occur then economic growth will be lower than forecasted with negative fallout for commercial construction and would increase the possibility of a recession.

The Forecast
The Reed Construction Data forecast assumes that the outlined risks do not occur. Total construction spending is forecasted to grow 8.5% this year and 9.3% in 2014.

U.S. Total Construction Spending (billions of U.S. current dollars)
Actual				Forecast
2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
New Single-family	105.3	112.6	108.2	129.2	156.5	181.1
Year-over-year % Change	-43.3%	6.9%	-3.9%	19.4%	21.2%	15.7%
New Multifamily (1)	35.9	24.1	22.6	27.2	34.4	39.3
	-30.0%	-32.9%	-6.0%	20.3%	26.5%	14.1%
New Residential (2)	141.2	136.7	130.8	156.4	191.0	220.3
-40.4%	-3.2%	-4.3%	19.6%	22.1%	15.4%
Residential Improvements (3)	112.7	112.5	114.9	127.0	143.7	155.2
	-6.6%	-0.2%	2.2%	10.5%	13.2%	8.0%
Total Residential (4) (5)	253.9	249.1	245.7	283.4	334.7	375.5
	-29.0%	-1.9%	-1.4%	15.4%	18.1%	12.2%
Nonresidential Building	375.7	290.4	283.1	298.9	311.1	337.2
	-14.2%	-22.7%	-2.5%	5.6%	4.1%	8.4%
Heavy Engineering (Non-Building)	273.5	265.0	249.4	267.9	276.6	295.1
0.5%	-3.1%	-5.9%	7.4%	3.2%	6.7%
Total (5)	903.2	804.6	778.2	850.2	922.4	1,007.9
	-15.4%	-10.9%	-3.3%	9.2%	8.5%	9.3%
(1) New Multifamily = New Private Multifamily + New Public Multifamily – Public Improvements (estimated by Reed Economics) (2) New Residential = New Single-family + New Multifamily (3) Residential Improvements include remodeling, renovation and replacement work. Number also includes RCD estimate of improvements to public housing. (4) Total Residential = New Single-family + New Multifamily + Residential Improvements. (5) Total may not equal the sum of its components due to rounding. Source: Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. Forecast: Reed Construction Data.

Twenty major upcoming California and Florida construction projects – February 2013

02/21/2013

The accompanying tables show 20 of the largest upcoming California and Florida construction projects. They are all in the planning stage and are mainly new projects, but may also involve additions and/or alterations.

Shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, medical buildings, educational buildings, libraries and museums, sports and entertainment complexes, industrial projects and government buildings will all be covered on a rotating basis.

There are several reasons for highlighting upcoming large projects. Such jobs have often received a fair amount of media coverage. Therefore, people in the industry are on the lookout for when job-site work actually gets underway. And, as showcase projects, they highlight geographically where major construction projects are proceeding.

Finally, total construction activity is comprised of many small- and medium-sized projects and a limited number of large developments. But the largest projects, simply by their nature, can dramatically affect total dollar volumes. In other words, the timing and size of these projects have an exaggerated influence on market forecasts.

Ten of the largest upcoming California construction projects

Project Title and Owner/Developer	Location	Current Stage	Project Value U.S. $ millions
FSP TRANSBAY TRANSIT CENTER PHASE 1
San Francisco Transbay Joint Powers Authority	San Francisco, CA	Working Drawings	$4,000
SAN DIEGO USD PROPOSITION Z
San Diego Unified School District	San Diego, CA	Proposal	$2,800
BOYLE HEIGHTS (WYVERNWOOD APARTMENTS) PHASE 1
Fifteen Group	Los Angeles, CA	Masterplanning	$2,000
HYATT REGENCY CENTRURY PLAZA HOTEL REDEVELOPMENT & MIXED USE
Woodridge Capital LLC	Los Angeles, CA	Conceptual Drawings	$1,500
HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO
Hollywood Park Inc	Inglewood, CA	Working Drawings	$1,000
MILLENNIUM HOLLYWOOD
Community Redevelpment Agency Los Angeles	Hollywood, CA	Conceptual Drawings	$1,000
CHAFFEY JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT MEASURE P
Chaffey Joint Union High School District	Ontario, CA	Proposal	$848
WEST LA VA MEDICAL CENTER ESSENTAIL CARE TOWER & SEISMIC
US – Veterans Affairs Facilities Dept	Los Angeles, CA	Masterplanning	$800
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS STADIUM
San Diego Chargers	San Diego, CA	Proposal	$800
UC LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY SECOND CAMPUS
University of California	Richmond, CA	Proposal	$718

Ten of the largest upcoming Florida construction projects

Project Title and Owner/Developer	Location	Current Stage	Project Value U.S. $ millions
RESORTS WORLD MIAMI MIXED USE
Genting New York LLC (Resorts World Casino NYC)	Miami, FL	Masterplanning	$3,000
FRUITVILLE RD MIXED USE
Sarasota Co-Commissioners	Sarasota, FL	Proposal	$1,000
FRANCHISE HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER
City of Miami Beach	Miami Beach, FL	Masterplanning	$650
PALM BEACH COUNTY SOLID WASTE ENERGY FACILITY
Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority	West Palm Beach, FL	Design Development	$650
ZENA TIME SHARE RESORT
Northern Stary Realty	Orlando, FL	Masterplanning	$500
GOAA SOUTH AIRPORT APM COMPLEX
Greater Orlando Airport Authority	Orlando, FL	Proposal	$470
RAYS BALLPARK
Tampa Bay Rays	St Petersburg, FL	Proposal	$450
MIAMI DADE WEST WTP DORAL
Miami Dade Water & Sewer Authority	Doral, FL	Schematics	$400
CRAWFORD DIAMOND INDUSTRIAL PARK
TerraPointe LLC	Nassau County, FL	Proposal	$400
SOUTHGATE OFFICE TOWER & HOTEL
Trammell Crow Co	Tampa, FL	Masterplanning	$300