This rolling-news story will be updated regularly with information from around the world. 

 

US construction unemployment still below pre-pandemic levels (21 Dec)

US construction employment in November remained below pre-pandemic levels in 35 states and the District of Columbia even though 31 states and D.C. added construction jobs from October to November, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data. Read the full story here.

 

Intermat Paris 2021 cancelled (17 Dec)

Intermat 2021 in Paris has been cancelled because of uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Organiser Comexposium said that ongoing public health concerns had made cancelling the event unavoidable. Read the full story here.

 

Haulotte Africa delivers remote training (17 Dec) 

Haulotte Africa has held three videoconference training sessions for its authorised regional distributor Premium Group (Le Groupe Premium en Afrique). Read the full story here.

 

Manitou to close plant in Texas, USA (16 Dec)

Manitou Group has announced it will cease operations at its Waco, Texas facility in March 2021. The shutdown will see 148 employees laid off. More here.

 

Keestrack turnover resilient in face of Covid-19 (16 Dec) 

Equipment manufacturer Keestrack is expecting to report positive growth for 2020, despite the impact of the Coronavirus on the demolition, recycling and construction industries. The company, which had previously expected sales to grow by 20% on its 2019 of €119 million (US$159 million), said that it is now forecasting a 7% increase in global sales for the year. Read the full story here.

 

Upbeat Balfour Beatty anticipates dividend payout (14 Dec)

The forecast figure marks a stark reversal of fortune for the UK's largest construction company, which reported a half-year loss in August, citing measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Read the full story here.

 

Ashtead results boosted by Covid-19 sales in UK (11 Dec)

Ashtead Group reported a 7% increase in revenues for the half year to 31 October at its UK Sunbelt Rentals business, buoyed by Covid-19 related sales to the UK’s Department of Health, which accounted for almost 20% of UK revenues in the period. More here.

 

AGC sues two US federal agencies over PPP loan rules (10 December)

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has filed lawsuits against the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and the US Office of Management and Budget seeking a revision of a questionnaire being used to reassess whether companies were eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Read the full story here.

 

Construction key to recovery, says 2050 Alliance (8 December)

A virtual conference, held by the newly-formed Construction 2050 Alliance, saw MEPs and government representatives from a number of European Union (EU) member states discuss post-Covid plans for the built environment – and a new €672.5 billion recovery package. Read the full story here.

 

Bauma China reports 80,000 visitors (1 December)

Around 80,000 visitors attended last week’s Buama China exhibition in Shanghai. It was a reduction of 62% from the 212,500 in 2018, but organiser Messe München said it was a positive outcome given the pandemic. More here.

 

Sales down for Deere (27 November)

John Deere has released its financial results for the fourth quarter of the year and for the 2020 as a whole, revealing the impact of Covid-19 on the company's bottom line. Full story here.

 

Euroconstruct issues forecasts for 2021-23 (26 November)

European construction forecasting body Euroconstruct said Europe’s construction market will shrink by 7.8% this year and will not recover fully until 2023, with forecast growth of 4.1% in 2021, 3.4% in 2022 and 2.4% in 2023. More here.

 

Global market set for rebound in 2021 (26 November)

Global construction equipment sales will grow in 2021, according to specialist market research and forecasting company, Off-Highway Research (OHR). Although this will be from a relatively low base because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rebound is expected to be strong thanks to stimulus spending plans. More here.

 

Engine maker deutz pospones financial targets (24 November)

German engine manufacturer Deutz AG said it is postponing its medium-term financial targets from 2022 to 2023/2024. More here.

 

Bauma Conexpo India postponed (23 November)

The show has been pushed back for a second time and will now take place 20 – 23 April 2021 at the India Expo Centre (IEC), Greater Noida, Delhi NCR. More here.

 

SC&RA events to be rescheduled (19 November)

Rising numbers of Covid-19 cases have precipitated a decision from the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association (SC&RA) Board to move some of its crane and rigging events in the USA to later in 2021. See the full story here.

 

Speedy Hire recovery continues (18 September)

Speedy Hire has reported a 20.5% fall in revenues for the six months to 30 September but has remained in profit. Customer demand continues to improve, said the company, and the second lockdown in the UK as not had a material impact on its business, with construction and infrastructure markets continuing to operate. More here.

 

ARA forecasts 13% fall in 2020 and flat 2021 (16 September)

The American Rental Association (ARA) is forecasting a 13% decline in equipment and event rental revenue this year compared to 2019, dropping to US$48.7 billion in the US. Full story.

 

First orders of SiteZone worker distancing device (12 November)

ESS Safeforce has pre-ordered 150 second-generation wearable distancing devices from SiteZone Safety, ahead of the product’s launch this month. The new, more compact version of the wearable personnel distancing systems (PDS) helps workers social distance. More here

 

Covid drags down Deutz results (10 November)

Deutz recorded a “sharp overall decline” in business performance in the first nine months of 2020, primarily due, said the company, to the impact of Covid-19. Read the full story here.

 

Palfinger sales down 15% (9 November)

In the first three quarters of 2020 sales at Palfinger, at €1.1 billion, was down by €198.2 million, or 15.2 percent, from the €1.3 billion of the same period in 2019. The decline in sales for the Austrian crane and access platform manufacturer was attributed to the impact of the coronavirus Covid-19. Read the full story here.

 

World of Asphalt cancelled (6 November)

The organisers of World of Asphalt, due to be held in Atlanta, US, in March 2021 have announced that the show has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more here.

 

Wacker Neuson hit hard by pandemic (5 November)

Group's financial results for the third quarter of the year, show a 16.5% fall in revenue. The group admits it is “clearly feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”, but adds "customers have become much more open to the possibilities of digitalization". Read the full story here.

 

New lockdowns currently exclude construction (3 November)

Europe and the UK face a new wave of lockdowns in response to surging cases of Covid-19, forcing millions to once again stay at home in an effort to stem the spread of the virus. Other regions, including North America, India and Brazil, are currently less restrictive. Read the full story here. 

 

Encouraging forecast from Bauer (3 November)

Ahead of its quarterly statement, German OEM and contractor, Bauer AG – a specialist in foundation drilling and drilling rigs – has published an earnings forecast for the year, showing its resilience in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full story here.

 

French construction sector pulls together (3 November)

French rental association DLR is one of 20 organisations in the French construction industry that have signed a statement to say they will do everything in their power to support the industry through France’s second national lockdown. Full story here.

 

Kiloutou adapts services to support customers (2 November)

French rental firm offers two-hour delivery and home delivery during second national lockdown. Full story here.

 

French association cancels Trade Days event (29 October)

Cancellation of DLR's annual event follows news of second national lockdown in France. Full story here.

 

RentalTracker: lingering uncertainty (29 October)

Pandemic challenges persist, but there are signs of hope in the Q3 2020 ERA/IRN RentalTracker. Full story here.

 

H&E sees signs of hope (29 October)

H&E Equipment Services saw market conditions improving in the third quarter, but revenues remain well below prior year levels. Full story here.

 

Construction to continue in France (29 October)

Despite President Emmanuel Macron's announcement on 28 October that the country will go back into a general lockdown, the construction and building sectors will continue to operate.

 

Webinar aims to navigate Covid-19 (28 October)

US companies Sage and Fieldflo combine to host discussion with demolition industry experts on 18 November. More here

 

Sales decline for Cummins (28 October)

Cummins has reported that sales for the third quarter of 2020 fell 18% from the same period of a year ago. For the full story, click here.

 

Caterpillar sees sales fall (27 October)

Caterpillar’s third quarter financial results have revealed that the company’s construction industries segment saw total sales decrease 23% compared to the third quarter of 2019. Full story here.

 

US economy recovering from 'sharpest recession in history' (26 October)

The US construction and industrial outlook is certainly challenged as a result of the global pandemic, but there are bright spots including residential construction, as well as a general expectation for some sectors to see improvement as soon as next year. Read the full story here.

 

GAM reports 17.7% first half drop, but back at 90% of activity (22 October)

Spanish rental company GAM Alquiler said its activity levels had returned to around 90% of normal by September/October, having recovered from a low point of 55% at the height of the pandemic lockdown. The company's revenues were 17.7% down in the first six months of 2020, year-on-year. More here.

 

BPH Plant grows fleet to meet demand (22 October)

UK-based equipment rental firm BPH Plant has invested £600,000 to grow its fleet to meet increased demand over recent months, which the company says has reached pre-Covid levels in the English counties of Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Kent. Full story here.

 

Executive Hire Show postponed (21 October)

The Executive Hire Show (EHS) has been rescheduled to take place in April 2021, due to continuing uncertainty associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Full story here.

 

ERA estimates 10.4% rental drop in 2020 (21 October)

The European Rental Association (ERA) is estimating an overall decrease of 10.4% in rental revenues in 2020 - caused by the Covid-19 pandemic - followed by a forecast rebound of 4.8% in 2021. Full story here.

 

Vinci revenues down, orders up (21 October)

Vinci’s latest financial results show revenue down 12% (to €30.8 billion) for the first nine months of 2020, but the company stressed that most of its divisions are seeing a return to normal business in the third quarter, in spite of the continuing pandemic. Read the full story here.

 

2021 Berlin Demolition Conference cancelled

The 2021 Berlin Demolition Conference, also known as Fachtagung Abbruch, has been cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Full story here.

 

FIEC forecasts 8.5% construction decline in Europe this year (19 October)

European contractors’ federation FIEC has forecast an 8.5% fall in EU construction activity in 2020 and warned that the situation could worsen in 2021. More here.

 

Cost of UK's HS2 rail project soars...again (16 October)

The estimated cost for phase one of the UK’s High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project has risen by £800 million (€881 million), even before new figures are published, detailing additional costs associated with the impact of Covid-19. Read the full story here.

 

Volvo CE posts improved Q3 figures (16 October)

Swedish OEM's financial results for the third quarter of 2020, show that, while the coronavirus pandemic continues to restrict growth in European and North American markets, a strong rebound in China has helped the company with sales, orders and machine deliveries during the reported period. Read the full story here.

 

Italian hospital 'must follow Genoa bridge example' (15 October)

At a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 715-bed hospital in Taranto in southern Italy, the country’s Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, said the contractors on the project “must hurry”. The start of construction on the €162 million project comes as Italy reports record numbers of positive tests for Covid-19. Read the full story here.

 

Video podcast: Global rental industry (14 October)

Growth of rental revenues predicted to continue growing strongly over coming years despite Covid-19 pandemic, according to Off Highway Research's Managing Director Chris Sleight. Watch the video interview here.

 

Digital InterGeo event launches (13 October)

Geodesy and geoinformation technology show goes virtual in the face of Covid-19 restrictions. Read the full story here.

 

Speedy making a recovery (9 October)

Revenues improving and staff no longer furloughed, but trading remains below prior year levels. Full story here.

 

HSS to close 134 depots in digital shift (8 October)

HSS Hire has been prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic to accelerate its digital strategy, which will lead to the closure of 134 of its 240 depots and the redundancy of 300 staff. Full story here.

 

Tadano initiates restructuring (8 October)

Crane manufacturer Tadano Group has started Protective Shield Proceedings in a bid to restructure its Tadano Demag and Tadano Faun operations in Germany. Full story here.

 

Arabtec files for liquidation (7 October)

The shareholders of one of the Middle East’s largest contractors, Arabtec, have voted to pursue liquidation following a loss over US$200 million in the first half of 2020 which has been partly caused by the impact of Covid-19. Read the full story here.

 

IMF puts spotlight on infrastructure (6 October)

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) report has recommended that governments invest in infrastructure spending as a response to Covid-19. Full story here.

 

Vp plc going steady (6 October)

Group remains cautious as its revenues reach approximately 85% of pre-Covid levels. Full story here

 

The ARA Show postponed to Oct. 2021 (1 October)

The American Rental Association will push its annual show back eight months from February to October 2021 and move to Las Vegas. Full store here.

 

Restructuring for BAM (1 October)

Royal BAM Group has announced a major restructuring programme in order to mitigate lower revenue caused by Covid-19 and selective tendering. Full story here