Construction Bulletin articles from January 2008

Construction Bulletin archives from January 2008

2008 Economic Growth Slows.
January 7, 2008... Staff The Dakotas show signs of more growth while Minnesota retreats. Slower growth is projected for 2008 over 2007 in the Upper Midwest, according to economists at the Federal Reserve Bank, Ninth District, which covers Montana, North...

Joysticks And Their Applications.
January 7, 2008... By Jim Cooper, Product Manager, APEM Joysticks make or break the system whether they are part of a wheelchair or construction equipment. Joysticks have become the user interface of choice for many industrial and high-performance...

Project managers hired.(FlowSense LLC hired Ron Thomsen)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Staff FlowSense LLC, Maple Grove, Minnesota, hired Ron Thomsen as project manager and estimator and Spencer Knight as assistant project manager in its Building Services Group. Thomsen has over 20 years of experience in HVAC systems design,...

AGC presents scholarships.
January 7, 2008... Staff AGC of Minnesota's Education Foundation awarded 14 scholarships with a total of $16,300 for the 2007/2008 academic year. Students must be enrolled in Minnesota post-secondary institutions and have career interests in the construction...

ACPA recognizes Sheehan.(American Concrete Pavement Association)(Michael Sheehan)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Staff The American Concrete Pavement Association presented is 2007 Outstanding Government Official award to Michael Sheehan, P.E., county engineer in Olmstead County, Minnesota. The award recognizes Sheehan for his dedication and...

SRF receives award.(SRF engineering consultants)(American Association of State Highway and Transportation)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Staff SRF engineering consultants, Plymouth, Minnesota, received the Most Value Added Proposal award in the Project Delivery category of The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Value Engineering Technical...

Minnesota receives high honors.(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Staff The National Partnership for Highway Quality (NPHQ) presented Minnesota with its 2007 National Achievement Award for the Interstate 494 Design-Build reconstruction through the Minneapolis suburbs of Plymouth, Minnetonka and Eden...

Overall starts increase.(Reed Construction Data)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Staff According to Reed Construction Data, the value of construction starts from November 2006 to November 2007 was 12.9-percent higher and up from October. November starts were 20-percent below the June peak level and suggests more than...

Andrew Smith joins AET.(Andrew Smith joined as staff engineer of American Engineering Testing, Inc.)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Staff American Engineering Testing, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, hired Andrew Smith as staff engineer I in its construction services division. Smith earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering at the University of Minnesota in 2005 and was...

ECTC re-elects board.
January 14, 2008... Staff The Erosion Control Technology Council re-elected its board of directors at a December meeting. The 2008 board includes chair Tim Lancaster, North American Green; vice chair Chad Lipscomb, Western Excelsior; treasurer Mark Myrowich,...

Heil changes name.(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Staff Heil By TBEI, which manufactures truck bodies, hoists and related equipment, will now carry the DuraClass name on its line of premium dump bodies and hoists. The new name is recognizable because it was the patented design given to...

DOT snow reminders.(departments of transportation)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Staff The Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota departments of transportation remind people that it is illegal to shovel, blow or dump snow in state or local road right-of-ways. Instead, clear an area upstream from the driveway to form...

Wind projects receive funds.
January 14, 2008... Staff National Wind, Minneapolis, received funding from Harmony Equity, a South Dakota fund managed by McGowan Capital Group, to expand and develop wind energy. National Wind develops large-scale community-owned wind projects and expects...

US BioEnergy sells businesses.
January 14, 2008... Staff US BioEnergy Corp. sold UBE Services and United BioEnergy Ingredients, two of its businesses, to AgMotion Inc., a Twin Cities commodity trading and risk management firm for $6.4 million. AgMotion has agreed to make future payments to...

AGC elects officers.(Associated General Contractors of America)(Brief article)
January 21, 2008... Staff AGC of North Dakota elected 2008 officers at its 58th Annual Convention in Fargo. Drew Molstad, Molstad Excavating, Grand Forks, was elected the 2008 president of AGC of North Dakota board of directors. He is a member of the...

ASV predicts strong sales.
January 21, 2008... Staff ASV Inc., Grand Rapids, Minnesota, predicts strong sales in international markets for 2008 and is forecasting net sales of $220 million to $250 million. The manufacturer of track-driven equipment said that fallout from the U.S....

Vermeer acquires HRE.(Vermeer Manufacturing Co.)(Horizontal Rig & Equipment Inc.)(Brief article)
January 21, 2008... Staff Pella, Iowa, based Vermeer acquired all operating assets of Horizontal Rig & Equipment Inc. of Conroe, Texas, which manufactures horizontal directional drilling rigs. HRE is a prominent manufacture of three drills with pullback...

PCA begins competition.
January 21, 2008... Staff The Portland Cement Association and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture announce the 2008 "Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World" international student design competition. The contest challenges students to...

Editor's Report.(Report)
January 21, 2008... By Ivy Chang The recent succession of events at the Minnesota Department of Transportation would be enough for most states to rein in their commissioners (or directors or secretaries) and reorganize their state agencies to function in the...

Attachment Business Expands Production.
January 21, 2008... By Ivy Chang Attachments International, a small business, sees increases in its business every year, thanks to the ingenious owner who has a knack for design. It all started with a hobby of design and drawing. Now in the small town of...

ASV Saves the Wilderness.
January 21, 2008... By Brian Anderson The Ham Lake fire in Minnesota destroyed 40,000 acres in 2007; the ASV used in cleanup minimized further damage. Everyone working in construction is constantly faced with environmental restrictions. That's...

ARM hires Fennessy.
January 28, 2008... Staff The Aggregate & Ready Mix Association of Minnesota (ARM) hired David Fennessy to the newly created position of promotion director. Fennessy recently served on the association's board of directors and has over 20 years of experience...

New AGC officers elected.
January 28, 2008... Staff At its 2007 Annual Convention, AGC of North Dakota elected new officers for 2008. They are President Drew Molstad , Molstad Excavating, Inc.; Senior Vice President Tracy Tooz , Tooz Construction, Inc.; Building Division Vice...

DOT shows highway images.
January 28, 2008... Staff The South Dakota Department of Transportation will show camera images of Interstate highways on its traveler information website, www.SafeTravelUSA.com/sd. Travelers can use the camera images along with road reports and weather...

Malisch joins ASCC.(Ward R. Malisch joined the American Society of Concrete Contractors as technical director)(Brief article)
January 28, 2008... Staff Ward R. Malisch joined the American Society of Concrete Contractors as technical director. His duties include answering the hotline and producing Troubleshooting Newsletter, reviewing construction-related ACI documents, writing...

Doosan sets finance provider.(Doosan Infracore America)(Brief article)
January 28, 2008... Staff Doosan Infracore America established Doosan Global Finance to serve as a single global finance provider for its machine tool, forklift and construction equipment divisions. The company is committed to offering dealers and customers...