IPAF adopts new PAL Card categories
Starting Jan. 1, the International Powered Access Federation will be adopting new MEWP Powered Access License card categories. The category change does not affect the training previously received. Existing PAL card holders will not need to get their cards changed. Current PAL card holders who need to replace lost cards will be issued duplicate cards with the original categories they have been trained in. Those who re-train or do upgrades from Jan. 1 and on will be issued with the new categories.

“More than a quarter of a million people worldwide hold a valid PAL card,” said Tim Whiteman, IPAF managing director. “Details on the new categories can be found at the training section of www.ipaf.org. Posters showing the categories are also available from IPAF and we are happy to send these out to people who want them.”

Through revising PAL card categories, IPAF is moving to align with the international standards prEN 280 and ISO DIS 16368, standards that regulate the design and manufacture of access platforms worldwide.

Southern Industrial Constructors/Southern Crane celebrate accident-free year
Southern Industrial Constructors and its wholly owned subsidiary, Southern Crane, recently achieved another safety milestone when their Wilmington branch office celebrated one year without any recordable injury or illness.

“At Southern Industrial, our policy says it all - safety is our number one priority,” said Phil Hooper, vice president of safety and risk management.

The company’s 166 Wilmington-area employees worked 346,077 hours between November 2006 and November 2007 without a single recordable incident as defined by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Because of their exemplary safety records, both Southern Industrial and Southern Crane are among the few companies in the state recognized as STAR contractors by the N.C. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division.

“That’s why we go above and beyond what is required by law to implement our own high safety standards and guidelines,” Hooper added. “We do it not just for the security of our workers, but the security of the general public as well. This milestone is a perfect example of how our employees demonstrate their strong commitment to following our safety policy day in, day out.”

Gantrex new ownership creates worldwide presence
On Jan. 1, the Gantry Group will assume ownership of the operations of Gantrex in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Central and South America.

This purchase will complete the pursuit of Gantry to become a fully international organization. The Gantrex brand will be united worldwide for the first time since its creation in the mid-1970s’. The goal of the new organization will be to focus on its primary business of design and supply of overhead and ground-supported crane runaways. The products are also complemented by girder-column tieback assemblies, Oleo hydraulic bumpers and field services such as rail welding and installation supervision.

The Gantry Group is the largest worldwide designer and manufacturer of crane runaway-related products and services. This new venture provides unit responsibility and a more complete package of products and services for its customers.

ALL Erection & Crane Rental welding technicians receive Manitowoc certification
Ten qualified welders from ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. were chosen to attend an exclusive Manitowoc Crane CARE Program training course recently. The course included both classroom and hands-on welding training, through which Manitowoc instructors examined test pieces for defects and quality before sending sample weldments from each student to the Manitowoc facility for final destructive testing.

After earning certification in Manitowoc boom inspection and repair through hands-on welding courses and written tests, the 10 technicians are now recognized as having the necessary skills to do factory-authorization welding repairs on Manitowoc lattice boom sections.

WireCo WorldGroup acquires U.S. Reel Corp.
WireCo WorldGroup completed the acquisition of U.S. Reel Corp. based in Carrollton, MO.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to turn over U.S. Reel to such a dynamic, growing company,” stated Roger Moore, former manager of U.S. Reel. “With this change, U.S. Reel will have access to additional capital which can spur more growth and provide security for my valued employees.”

U.S. Reel produces wood reels serving key customers in the Midwestern U.S. The firm has been the primary supplier of wood reels to WireCo for many years and has an outstanding reputation for excellent service and superior quality for nailed wood and plywood reels with its customers. WireCo plans to grow the business while assuring itself of a long term cost competitive source for its primary packaging method.

“US Reel has been a valued supplier to us for many years and we wanted to facilitate an orderly transition for the company,” stated Ira Glazer, WireCo WorldGroup CEO. “Roger Moore has been a good friend and this acquisition met his personal needs as well as our corporate objectives.”

AlturnaMats acquires Mobile Matts
AlturnaMats, Inc. announced Dec. 14 that it acquired of one of its major competitors, Mobile Matts, Green Bay, WI. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to Michael Gierlach, president of AlturnaMats, the integration of AlturnaMats with Mobile Matts comprises the largest ground protection mat manufacturing group in the nation and enables dealers worldwide to offer customers a broad selection of mats.

These ground protection mats are used to eliminate damage to lawns and soft terrain due to vehicle traffic in such markets as landscape, construction, tree care, cemetery, well drilling and others. The mats are used to keep heavy vehicles from getting bogged down in mud.

Under terms of the new arrangement, Phil Schounard will continue to head up Mobile Matts and operate from the Green Bay facility; however, as of Jan. 1, 2008, Mobile Matts will now be available through AlturnaMatsí extensive dealer network. Both firms also market one-piece plastic outrigger pads in a large variety of sizes.

Economic U.S. corporate profits fell to an annual rate of $19.3 billion in the third quarter from the second, as domestic earnings dropped by $41.2 billion.
 – www.bloomberg.com

Real gross domestic product is expected to grow 2.7 percent in 2008, down from a June forecast for 3.1 percent growth.
 – www.washingtonpost.com

The U.S. unemployment rate is expected to average 4.9 percent in 2008, an increase from the 4.7 percent June forecast.
 – www.washingtonpost.com

By the year 2030, commercial buildings – offices, institutional and public service facilities, hospitality, entertainment, retail and wholesale trade spaces – can achieve a 50 percent energy reduction over their lifecycles.
 – www.businessedge.ca

The world consumed $1.7 billion worth of biodiesel in 2006. That should grow to $26 billion by 2020.
 – ENR.Construction.com

One in 10 homes will be built “green” by the end of the decade.
 – McGraw Hill Construction

85 percent of new “green-built” homeowners were happier with their more energy- and resource-efficient dwellings.
 – McGraw Hill Construction