Japanese crane manufacturer Kato has dissolved its joint venture with Italian mobile crane maker Euro Rigo, blaming the effect of the subprime lending crisis`s impact on the European market. The business was originally a joint venture between Kato and Rigo, with Kato owning 80 percent of the equity.  

Terex Compact Equipment Line Terex Construction offers a dedicated compact equipment line, distributed throughout North America. The compact equipment line includes both Terex-branded compact track loaders, featuring the ASV Posi-Track undercarriage technology, and a portfolio of offerings from Terex, including compact excavators, compact wheel loaders, site dumpers, tractor loader backhoes, light towers, telehandlers, power buggies, and tandem asphalt rollers. The compact equipment line will focus exclusively on the needs of this key market segment.  

Gradall Handlers Become JLG JLG Industries is to rebrand its rear-pivot steer Gradall telehandlers under the JLG name by the end of the year. The company said the rebranding represented the completion of a plan begun in 2006 when JLG sold the Gradall excavator range to the Alamo Group. The Gradall name had become an icon in the telehandler market.  

Sennebogen New Production Facility German waste handler and crane manufacturer Sennebogen officially opened its new Euro 30 million (US$40 million) production facility in its home town of Straubing, attended by more than 3,500 dealers and customers from around the world. The facility covers an area of 125,000m2 (1,345,500 ft2)), with 15,000 m2 (160,000 ft2) being occupied by a new assembly hall that can accommodate the assembly of machines weighing up to 300 tones. 

New Holland Predicts Growth in Sales New Holland expects to increase sales by more than 20% this year despite a 12% fall in plant sales across the UK in the first seven months of the year. Steve Orr, business leader for Northern Europe at New Holland Construction said the compact end of the market has held up better than the heavy end, falling by 18% compared with 23% for the bigger equipment.  

Atlas Copco New Factory in Canada Atlas Copco inaugurates a new facility for manufacturing exploration products and rock reinforcement consumables in North Bay, Canada. The move increases capacity to serve customers in the mining industry, helping to meet strong demand. The operations, belonging to Atlas Copco’s Geotechnical Drilling and Exploration division, have been moved from the previous location in North Bay to the newly built factory. 

Kubota Tractor Australia New Office and Distribution Centre Kubota Tractor Australia opens a new office and distribution centre in Melbourne. With the opening of new purpose built office and distribution centre in Melbourne, Kubota Tractor Australia (KTA) has taken a historic step consolidating their position in Australia. At the official opening at Truganina in Melbourne 

Caterpillar and Trimble Joint Venture CATERPILLAR and machine guidance specialist Trimble have formed a new joint venture company designed to produce software that will help customers to manage their equipment fleets more efficiently and safely. The new company, VirtualSite Solutions, is intended to integrate the expertise of both parent companies in the areas of product design and software development in a bid to improve the way contractors manage their businesses.  

Manitowoc at Bauma China 2008 Manitowoc will launch three new Dongyue truck cranes, manufactured at its Manitowoc factory in Tai’an, China, at Bauma China 2008. The show takes place November 25-28 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Manitowoc created the joint venture with Tai’an Dongyue Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd.  

Genie in China Genie executives broke ground at laid the corner stone of its new manufacturing facility in Changzhou, China. The facility will manufacture a range of Genie products for the local Asian market. When production begins, sometime next year, the initial focus will be on a line of Genie AWP personnel lifts, but over time a full range of aerial work platform products is expected to be produced at the new plant. When the facility is ramped up with multiple product lines, it could employ up to 400.  

Doosan Infracore: Ambitious plans DIEU, Doosan subsidiary in Europe, has signed a contract to buy the manufacturer Moxy for €55 million to enter the global heavy construction equipment market. Moxy, based in Molde on Norway’s west coast, owns the source technology for 23–46 ton-class ADTs, and has networks for 61 dealers in Europe and North America, in addition to local sales corporations and research and development centres in the US and the UK. 

Link-Belt Expansion Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co. held ribbon cutting ceremonies to celebrate the completion of a 90,000-sq ft (8,361 sq m) expansion to its main telescopic-boom and lattice-boom crane factory in Lexington, Kentucky. Kensuke Shimizu, Director of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Link-Belt’s parent company, cut the ribbon to commemorate the opening.  

Caterpillar Major China Expansions Caterpillar is set to further increase its presence in China, with more investment in its China-based research and development operations, which in turn will support the manufacturer’s expanding manufacturing footprint in the region. Caterpillar has selected the city of Wuxi in the Jiangsu province as the location for a multi-functional R&D centre, which will serve the company’s ventures in China and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.  

New JCB Excavator Factory JCB has begun to shift UK production of its excavator range to a new UK£ 40 million (€ 50 million) factory. The first machines to be built at the new facility - zero tailswing tracked and wheeled excavators - will come off the production line by the end of August. Located close to its existing factories near the town of Uttoxeter, the new 42000 m2 production site will replace the restricted town-centre facility previously used by JCB`s Heavy Products division. 

Rises at Palfinger Knuckle boom crane manufacturer Palfinger Group revenue of €423.5 million (US$631 million) in the first half of 2008 was 24.3% above the €340.6 million ($508 million) in the same period of 2007. EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) rose to €59.6 million ($89 million), 16.9% greater than the €51.0 million ($76 million) of the same period of 2007.  

Bobcat to redesign its telehandler range Bobcat (USA) has completed a 24 month program to redesign its entire telehandler range comprising 12 models with maximum lifting heights of 5.2 to 17.4 m. The Tier III engine handlers are built on a common platforms, with the main components and control points situated in the same place on every model.  

Manitex Results Manitex has reported first half revenues of $50 million, five percent lower than for the same period in 2007. However thanks to lower interest costs and the absence of restructuring charges, pre tax profits increased by seven percent to $836,000. The company has also seen substantial demand for its 50 ton truck crane which has helped boost its crane order book by 22 percent.  

Terex Crushing & Screening Equipment in India Terex has started work on a new factory in Hosur, India where it will manufacture Terex Pegson and Powerscreen mobile crushing and screening equipment. The plant, which is due to start production in mid-2009, will be built on a 45 acre (18.2 Ha) "campus" site that will be home to other Terex facilities in the future.  

Hyundai Expansion Plans Hyundai will add backhoe loaders to its range next year and is actively seeking companies to acquire for sales and product support. The company also has firm plans to add articulated dump trucks (ADTs) to its range. Speaking at the opening of Hyundai`s new branch office in UK, the company would add two backhoe loader models - 90 hp (67 kW) and 100 hp (75 kW) variants - to its range in the second half of 2009.  

Manitowoc Tower Crane Factory in Slovakia Manitowoc has officially opened its newest manufacturing plant in Velky Saris, Slovakia with an open day for customers, dealers and senior company management. The new plant builds tower cranes from Manitowoc`s Potain brand for customers in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe. The new factory would improve customer service in more than one way. 

Kobelco Expands Georgia Plant Kobelco Construction Machinery America LLC, a manufacturer of compact, mid-size and full-size excavators, announced that it is investing approximately $10.5 million in its Calhoun, Ga. operations. The company said $5 million has been appropriated for production expansion into a new 52,000 sq. ft. 

Alimak Hek Operation in India Hoist, lift and work platform manufacturer Alimak Hek has established an operation in India. The establishment of an operation in India is an important step in global strategy, which entails securing a strong presence in all major regions and countries. The new operation comes on the back of very high growth in demand for construction equipment in India.  

New Holland Construction Moves Manufacturing New Holland Construction announced that starting in September; it will begin production of backhoe loaders at its Burlington, Iowa, plant. This shift will transfer backhoe loader production for the North American market from the company’s Imola, Italy, facility. The Burlington plant, which spans 156 acres and employs over 400 people, already manufactures New Holland Construction tractor loaders.  

Flat Sales for Manitou Despite an overall, first quarter growth in sales of 7.4%, Manitou reported “flat sales” for access platforms. While overall sales in the company’s home market of France grew 12.3%, from ?126.4 million to ?142 million, over the first quarter of last year, sales in other European Union countries remained fairly stable, growing only 0.7% to ?166 million.  

Palfinger Growth Palfinger has announced first quarter results for 2008. Sales revenue at the Palfinger Group rose by 28.7%, from US$252.8 million in the first quarter of 2007 US$325.1 million. Earnings before interest and tax rose to US$46 million and exceeded the previous year’s figure by 23.7%. The EBIT margin amounted to 14.2% compared to 14.8% in the first quarter of the previous year. 

Manitowoc Crane Major Rise The Manitowoc crane group has reported another major rise in revenues, with sales up 29.5 percent to $884.4 million. Operating profits increased 40 percent to $134 million and the divisions backlog increased a further 15 percent during the quarter to $3.3 billion – 72 percent higher than at the same time last year.  

Jungheinrich Record Year The year 2007 was the best financial year in Jungheinrich AG’s corporate history as it saw demand for all its products and services rise significantly. Earnings before interest and taxes rose 19% to EUR140 million compared to EUR118 million in 2006.  

Terex Crane First Quarter Rise First quarter revenues at Terex Cranes jumped by 26.2 percent compared to the same period in 2007, to $632.2 million. The increase came from a 15.4 percent rise in sales. Strong global demand for large crawler cranes and mobile telescopics, continued to drive the company’s upturn in sales and order activity. 

Caterpillar Intensive Growth Caterpillar’s sales for the first quarter of the year were US$ 11.8 billion, a +18% increase on the first three months of 2007. Its net profit for the period was US$ 922 million, a +13% increase on 2007.  

Volvo Buses Order in UK Volvo Buses has received its largest single order so far in Europe. Jointly with the bodybuilder Wrightbus, the company will deliver buses in the coming years in the UK valued at SEK 1.5 billion. Volvo’s share of the order value is about 35-40%. 

Caterpillar to expand its global business Caterpillar Inc. (USA) enters the fast-growing tunnel boring machine market and acquires Lovat Inc. (Canada). Lovat, established in 1972, is a world leader in the manufacture of a complete line of tunnelling equipment used in the construction of metro, railway, sewer, water main, penstock and telecommunications tunnels.  

TIEM Tow Tractors Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc (TIEM) will begin manufacturing the company’s line of diesel tow tractors in Columbus, Indiana. Demand for Toyota’s tow tractors has grown steadily in the North American market.  

Cummins JV with Forton Motor Cummins has tied up with China`s Forton Motor to build China`s largest engine producer with an investment of USD384m. The 50-50 joint venture will have a capacity of 400,000 light diesel engines a year. Forton would install its engines in its high-end light trucks to help sell up to 200,000 units overseas in 2010. 

Hyundai Luxury Bus in India Hyundai Motor Co. will supply 5,100 luxury bus assembly kits to an Indian auto parts maker, marking its entry into the country`s rapidly growing market for premium buses. Hyundai cited increasing demand for luxury tour buses as India builds new highways and travel demand increases due to a growing middle class. 

JCB Coverage of the North American Market JCB announced that it will double its dealer network in North America within a three year timeframe. By 2010, the company plans to increase its American and Canadian dealers from 130 to more than 250. This growth will occur through the expansion of existing dealerships and the addition of new partners to the company. 

Linde Heavy Forklift Business Over the next three years Linde Material Handling (Great Britain) is investing USD33.1 million to boost the competitiveness of its heavy forklift business in the global marketplace. About USD26.8 million will be diverted to research and development while USD6.3 million will be used to optimize production at the plant. 

Manitowoc Crane Group and TaiAn Dongyue Joint Venture Manitowoc Crane Group has formed a joint venture with the shareholders of TaiAn Dongyue Heavy Machinery for the production of truck-mounted hydraulic cranes. TaiAn Dongyue was founded in 1972 and has a 57,000 square meter purpose-built facility. The facility is located in a modern industrial park with over 900 employees, experienced in the manufacture and assembly of hydraulic truck mounted cranes for the Chinese market. 

John Deere to expand its business in China Deere & Co. (USA) will expand its presence in China through a joint venture with Xuzhou Xuwa Excavator Machinery Co., Ltd. (XCG), a subsidiary of Xuzhou Bohui Science and Technology Development CO. Ltd. (Bohui). 

Volvo Sales and Income VOLVO Buses reports higher sales in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006. But operating income has fallen, in part because of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. During 2007, the city bus market remained steady and demand for hybrids rose, with Nova Bus securing new orders. 

Bobcat Opens New Plant for Europe Bobcat (USA) has opened the company`s first newly-built manufacturing plant outside the USA at Dobris, about 35 km southwest of Prague, to serve markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Covering an area of more than 20 000 m?, the new plant is used for the fabrication, welding, painting and assembly of Bobcat small and mid-size compact loaders, mini-excavators up to 2 tonne in operating weight and a variety of attachments. 

Daimler Trucks Light Commercial Vehicle Group Daimler Trucks North America announced that it has established a new Light Commercial Vehicle group, combining the resources of Sterling Truck Corp.’s Class 3 through Class 5 lines and Mitsubishi Fuso brand low cab-over engine (LCOE) operations in North America. This operation will be based in Redford, Mich. and will focus on the sales, marketing, product strategy and distribution of the Sterling 360, the Sterling Bullet and Mitsubishi Fuso Class 3 through Class 7 LCOE trucks. 

Cummins Records Cummins Inc. has released results for 2007, completing a year of record sales and earnings. Cummins` sales rose 15 percent to $13.05 billion, from $11.36 billion in 2006. Net income rose to $739 million compared to $715 million.  

Volvo Extends Cummins ISX Volvo Trucks North America announced it will offer the 15 L Cummins ISX engine certified for 2010 emissions standards in the Volvo VN. This is an extension of an existing agreement between Volvo and Cummins Inc. Customers want to have both the Cummins ISX and the Volvo engine family available in 2010. 

Strike at Volvo Trucks New River Valley Plant World number-two truck maker Volvo production at its New River Valley plant in Virginia had been halted after 2,600 workers at the U.S. factory went out on strike. The two sides were in negotiations for a new contract since Jan. 8, but when the existing contract ended on Jan. 31 with no agreement reached, the union called the job action. 

Cummins Filtration With Nanotechnology Cummins Filtration announced that it has entered into a cooperation agreement with Elmarco, a Czech nanotechnology designer. The strategic objective of the agreement is to develop nanofiber media technologies that will to allow Cummins Filtration to better serve global application needs in motor vehicle and related filtration systems. 

Caterpillar to expand Service Parts Distribution Caterpillar (USA) has announced the beginning of a long-term enhancement of its service parts distribution network throughout North America. First of all, Caterpillar Logistics Services, Inc. plans to open a new parts distribution center in Waco, Texas.  

Komatsu machine to demine anti-personnel landmines Komatsu Ltd. and Japan Mine Action Service have signed an agreement to jointly demine anti-personnel landmines in the contaminated regions and reconstruct local communities after demining. Based on this agreement, the first reconstruction project is scheduled to be launched in Cambodia in May 2008. Komatsu demining equipment will be rented at no cost to JMAS. The company also will take part in the safe development of agricultural land, digging of wells, building of schools, and repair and building of roadways and bridges. Komatsu will pay the operating expenses and transportation cost to Cambodia. 

Advanced Technician Competition to begin in February Komatsu America Corp. will hold the twelfth annual Advanced Technician Competition at their Training and Demonstration Facility in February, 2008. Komatsu Equipment Distributors across North America send their top field and service technicians there. They will compete in a series of individual and team tests to check their technical and troubleshooting skills on Komatsu’s compact, construction and mining equipment.  

Volvo CE: Special Award for Innovations Volvo Construction Equipment has won a Special Award for Innovation of Significant Merit for its new PL range of pipelayers. Volvo CE was presented with the BP award for its significant contribution to innovation related to cross-country onshore pipeline construction.  

Caterpillar Remote Tracking and Management System Caterpillar will equip most of its new mining and industrial machines with EquipmentManager and Product Link. The remote tracking and management system will be a standard feature in the United States and Canadian markets. Caterpillar has provided remote asset management capabilities as an option since 1998. Now Cat will deliver them on most core Caterpillar machines.  

Hino Motors and Guangzhou Automobile Group Joint Venture Japan`s Hino Motors Ltd. and China`s Guangzhou Automobile Group announced the formation of a joint venture in China that will result in a new factory in Guangzhou in mid-2009. Hino, the truck unit of Toyota Motor Corp. and Guangzhou Auto earlier this year won regulatory approval to make trucks and buses in China, and to restructure two existing automakers in which Hino and Guangzhou Auto have equity. 

Komatsu Ltd. to manufacture construction equipment in Russia Komatsu Ltd. has conventionally exported its products to Russia from Japan. Anticipating that the Russian market will continue to expand into the future, the company decided to respond an increase in demand. In the Board of Directors` meeting Komatsu Ltd. made a decision to establish a company to manufacture construction equipment and compact machines, including forklift trucks, in leading industrial city of Russia - Yaroslavl. 

Hitachi ZAXIS-3: Large Size Construction Machine of the Year 2007 On the annual event of the Austrian BBB (Baumaschine Bauger?te Baustelle) magazine`s industry meeting, the Hitachi`s agent company in Austria received the BBB Award for the category “Large Size Construction Machine of the Year 2007”. 

Komatsu compact equipment to fit Komtrax system Komatsu Utility Europe, which makes compact equipment, is to fit the Komtrax satellite tracking system as standard to its entire range of machines above 1,5 t. The system, which has been available on Komatsu’s larger construction range in Europe for several years, will be fitted as standard on backhoe loaders from January 2008, with telehandlers to follow and then mini and midi excavators.  

New Hyundai Training Centre in Belgium Hyundai Heavy Industries Europe, the construction equipment and forklift truck division of the Korean industrial giant, has opened an extensive new training centre close to its European headquarters in Geel, Belgium. The new Hyundai Training Centre is already fully equipped and operational. Now, with more space and fully modernized facilities and equipment, more trainees can be accommodated and a broader range of operator and technical training courses can be given. 

Volvo Group to establish a new Indian joint-venture company The Volvo Group has signed a letter of intent with the Indian vehicle manufacturer Eicher Motors Limited concerning the establishment of a new Indian joint-venture company. The Indian market for heavy trucks is the fourth largest in the world and it is strategically important for the Volvo Group to have a presence there.  

Hitachi to establish India Business Support Center Hitachi, Ltd. has announced its plans to establish an India Business Support Center in Delhi due to business expansion in India. India`s economy grew by 8.6% on average in terms of GDP from 2003 to 2006, driven by the booming outsourcing industry, buoyant capital investment in the manufacturing sector, most notably in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals and automotive industries, and strong investment in road, airport construction and other infrastructure projects.  

Komatsu Ltd to strengthen business alliance with Fuji Technica Inc Komatsu Ltd. has decided to make an equity investment in Fuji Technica Inc. by acquiring all of the shares (643,473 shares) issued by Fuji Technica in a third party share allotment in order to further strengthen their business alliance. As a result of this investment, Komatsu shall own eight percent of the total shares issued and outstanding of Fuji Technica. 

Biofuels for Farm Equipment Models Case IH has extended its recommendations on the use of biofuels to include B100 biodiesel on more of its farm equipment models. B100 can now be used on nearly all Case IH tractors, combines, windrowers, and most self-propelled sprayers and cotton pickers. 

The acquisition of Bobcat is completed Doosan Infracore has completed the acquisition of the Bobcat, Utility Equipment and Attachments businesses from Ingersoll Rand Company, Ltd. As previously announced, Doosan Infracore paid $4.9 billion for Bobcat, Utility Equipment and Attachments businesses in the largest overseas acquisition in Korea’s history. 

Komatsu to build new plant in Japan Komatsu Ltd. has reached an agreement with Ishikawa Prefectural Government and Kanazawa City Government concerning industrial-use land on which the company is going to build a new plant to produce 400-ton class, PC4000 super-large hydraulic excavators with a plan for start-up in August 2009. The PC4000 model is the largest hydraulic excavator produced by Komatsu in Japan.  

Large Orders for Konecranes Konecranes (Finland) has received an order for 173 industrial cranes from a wind turbine manufacturer in India. Besides supplying the cranes to Suzlon Energy Ltd, the company will get a five-year maintenance contract. 

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems: Record sales to shipyards Marintec China 2007 will probably set another record in visitor attendance and Caterpillar Marine Power Systems (CMPS) is looking forward to presenting its portfolio of products and services to experts from around the world. Even ahead of the exhibition, CMPS has record sales to shipyards in China.  

John Deere: Financial Highlights Sales at John Deere’s (USA) construction and forestry division were down -13% for the financial year ending October 31. Overall though, the company saw revenues climb + 9% to US$ 24.1 billion, due to growth in its agricultural, commercial and consumer equipment businesses. The construction and forestry division saw its operating profits slip - 29% in 2007 to US$ 571 million. A year ago profits for this business line stood at US$ 802 million.  

New Customer for Hitachi Construction Machinery in Thailand Hitachi Construction Machinery (Thailand) Co., Ltd received the order of 4 units of EX2500-5, electric motor-driven large hydraulic excavators and 14 units of EH1700, rigid dump truck from Sahakol Equipment Co., Ltd., who contacted to operate a big project of "80 Million BCM" in Mae Moh Mine of EGAT(Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand).  

Scania to enter new markets “We are beginning our venture by entering a segment where there is a growing demand for robust vehicles with high quality and performance,” says Martin Lundstedt, Group Vice President and Head of Franchise and Factory Sales, when Scania has made its debut in India. 

Tadano: Substantial Growth in Domestic and Export Sales Japan-based Tadano has seen substantial growth in its domestic and export sales in the first half of the current financial year. Rises came despite a tough season in the truck loader crane market. 

Palfinger new joint venture Star Palfinger is a new joint venture in India. Partnering Austria-based Palfinger is Western Auto LLC. The highly flexible truck mounted crane models from Palfinger will be a huge success in India. The Palfinger range offers better flexibility in deployment and also higher return on investment with cost savings on capital expenditure and maintenance. 

Komatsu America to distribute Slide Sledge Tools Komatsu America has entered into an agreement to distribute the full line of Slide Sledge Tools: Hammers and accessories. Slide Sledge, LLC is a manufacturer of tools for the heavy construction, military, mining and automotive industries. These unique and innovative tools enable faster, easier and safer repairs and maintenance. 

Caterpillar to acquire the assets of Blount`s Forestry Division Caterpillar Inc. and Blount International, Inc. have announced that Caterpillar is acquiring the assets of Blount`s Forestry Division. Under the agreement between Caterpillar and Blount, Caterpillar will acquire two Blount manufacturing facilities— a sales office and a service parts warehouse and product support operation in North America as well as an assembly operation in Sweden.  

Cummins to meet Tier 4 regulations Cummins is planning to meet Tier 4 interim, based on a foundation of high pressure common rail fuel systems, cooled exhaust gas recirculation, Cummins VG turbochargers, advanced electronic controls and Cummins Particulate Filters.  

Caterpillar to boost component sales in Asia Caterpillar has announced an agreement with India’s Automotive Robotics Inc., a specialist in vehicle engineering, systems and software, prototype development and powertrain testing and validation to support Caterpillar’s OEM customers and augment its penetration into emerging Asian markets beyond China. 

Komatsu to develop particulate filters Japan’s media reported Komatsu Ltd. will develop diesel particulate filters (DPFs) for use in the equipment it makes, with production to start production in 2010. Komatsu considers DPF devices to be the linchpin of its efforts to meet the new emissions standards. The company reportedly will purchase ceramic parts and catalysts for DPFs from outside sources and develop control technology enabling efficient use of the catalysts 

Eaton Corporation opens a new regional office Eaton Corp. said it has opened a regional office in Mexico City to support the company’s Latin American and Caribbean operations. “Having a regional team in place to work with Eaton’s operating groups ensures quicker response to market opportunities in this growing region,” said James E. Sweetnam, Eaton senior vice president and president – Truck Group.  

Cummins Inc. Record Revenues Cummins Inc. (USA) has reported record revenues and higher earnings for the third quarter. Sales grew 20 percent to $3.37 billion, from $2.81 billion during the same period in 2006. Net income for the third quarter increased 7.6 percent to $184 million from $171 million. 

Best Isuzu Trucks Isuzu Commercial Truck of America has announced the availability of the industry`s first gas-powered, low cab forward crew cab truck. The new model features a 6.0L V8 engine with 325 horsepower and a Hydra-Matic 4-speed automatic transmission. GVW ratings are 12,000 pounds and 14,500 pounds, with payload allowances ranging from 6,251 to 8,821 pounds. 

Regional Parts Depots to Satisfy Customers Needs Komatsu America Corp. announces completion of opening eight Regional Parts Depots throughout the United States and Canada as part of their ongoing commitment to better serve their customers. These eight depots, in addition to Komatsu’s Master Parts Distribution Center, are part of Komatsu’s mission to expedite parts orders, improve operational productivity and efficiency and minimize customer downtime.  

Caterpillar New Division Continuing the restructuring that began last month, Caterpillar Inc. announced that its board of directors has approved the formation of a new division, Electronics & Connected Worksite Division. The Electronics & Connected Worksite Division will have enterprise responsibility for hardware and software technology development and Caterpillar`s global electronics strategy.  

Bright Prospects for Terex Cranes Sales at Terex Cranes were US$ 527 million for the third quarter of the year – a US$ 98 million, or 23% increase on the same period in 2006. Global demand for the large crawler and mobile telescopic crane products remained at record levels, while the North American market was strong in the rough terrain and larger truck crane product categories.  

Increase in Production Capacities Kobelco (Japan) has announced plans to build an excavator factory in Thailand in order to meet growing demand. The facility will manufacture 20 tonne class excavators for sale throughout Southeast Asia, and production is expected to start in April next year. 

Ingersoll Rand: Future Planning As Ingersoll Rand readies itself to close the deal for its Bobcat and Utility Equipment groups with Doosan within the next few weeks, additional terms of the purchase agreement have come to light as well as future planning for the company. According to IR, Doosan has rights to the Ingersoll Rand and Bobcat names for the next five years. 

Case & Hyundai Form Strategic Alliance Case Construction Equipment Inc. has announced the formation of a strategic alliance with the Construction Equipment Division of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Hyundai will build larger wheel loaders for Case. The first new model will debut at ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas in March, 2008. 

Sany Heavy Industry: Wide Ambitions in the US Sany Heavy Industry, one of China’s largest construction equipment manufacturers, has started to build a new factory in Georgia, US. The company plans to invest US$ 60 million in the facility, the first construction equipment factory in the US under Chinese ownership.  

Ford Motor Selecting the Buyer for Jaguar and Land Rover Ford Motor is expected to select the buyer for Jaguar and Land Rover early next year. In September Ford Executive Vice President Lewis Booth said the automaker needs the money and the relief that a sale would bring.  

DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo launch cargo airline DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo have announced that they are indeed founding a 50-50 joint venture cargo airline, with operations scheduled to begin in April 2009. Based in Leipzig, the new company will initially operate with eleven new Boeing 777-200LRF aircraft.  

Palfinger established a joint venture in India Austrian loader crane manufacturer Palfinger has established a distribution joint venture with a leading automobile trading company active in India, Western Auto L.L.C. Dubai owned by the ETA-Ascon Group. ETA-Ascon-Group is domiciled in Dubai and currently records annual sales of around USD 4 billion with a staff of more than 40,000. In India, the Group is active in the business segments of construction, transport, real estate and automotives. 

Kubota Tractor and Land Pride announce a strategic alliance Kubota Tractor Corporation and Land Pride, announce a strategic alliance to market Land Pride implements that are performance-matched to Kubota tractors. Participating Kubota dealerships in the U.S. will offer Land Pride implements to sell with Kubota tractors – such as Land Pride rotary cutters, grooming mowers, rotary tillers, rear blades and more.  

GM starts Malaysian joint venture GM has announced plans to start a joint venture with Malaysia`s DRB-Hicom to sell a range of Chevrolets in the country and possibly set-up a manufacturing base for cars and parts for sale in southeast Asian region. Following the breakdown in talks with state-owned Proton earlier in the year, GM then turned to DRB-Hicom to help take advantage of the country`s cheap labor and free trade agreements. 

Great Chinese alliance The parent companies of Shanghai Automotive Co., China`s biggest vehicle manufacturer, and Shanghai Diesel are reportedly in talks on a possible business alliance, according to press reports in China.  

Meet the old new Chrysler With the historic sale of Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management concluding last Friday, the born again US carmaker will be reverting to its classic Pentastar logo and also gets a new CEO in the process. Stepping in as the new Chief and Chairman is former Home Depot boss Bob Nardelli, who replaces current CEO Tom LaSorda 

Isuzu ceases partnership with GM Japan’s Isuzu Motors Ltd has ended its on-highway truck manufacturing joint venture with General Motors. Isuzu will now handle distribution and sales in North America directly through its U.S., Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Cerritos, Calif. Subsidiary. The two companies established the GM-Isuzu Commercial Truck LLC, joint venture in 2000.  

Can Jaguar possibly be Russian? It has been recently reported that Group GAZ is showing some interest in purchasing Land Rover and Jaguar brands from Ford. 

Chrysler threatens to shut down dealers Chrysler Group has warned some of its dealers that it may attempt to shut them down if they don`t improve sales within six months 

BMW and Nissan fight over the letter “M.” BMW uses the letter “M” to denote its high performance models, and thereby to increase substantially its per car profit margins. 

Jaguar and Land Rover will go to India? Indian carmaker Tata Motors and tractor manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra are reportedly considering a bid for Jaguar and Land Rover in a deal estimated at roughly $1.5 billion.  

Ford voiced $8 billion for the sticker price of its Volvo division According to British sources, Ford has set the price for Volvo.  

DaimlerChrysler says goodbye to Chrysler German-American DaimlerChrysler AG, the world"s second-largest maker of luxury cars, said there"s no delay in the sale of the unprofitable Chrysler division. The carmaker still expects to complete the sale to Cerberus Capital Management LP in the third quarter, as scheduled.  

Aston Martin goes to the East According to Arabian media, the Kuwaiti investors who purchased Aston Martin from Ford are now mortgaging the assets to fund expansion of the brand into the Chinese, Russian, and Indian markets. 

Magna: eager to buy Land Rover and Volvo Canada based automotive supplier, manufacturer and component maker Magna is said to be considering purchasing Land Rover and Volvo. Parent company Ford confirmed that Land Rover was up for sale in June, and it would be open to offers for its Swedish subsidiary, too. 

Fiat shakes hands with DaimlerChrysler In June the Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT) concluded a cooperation agreement with the DaimlerChrysler Truck Group. According to this agreement FPT will supply about 80,000 F1C engines per year to Mitsubishi Fuso Bus & Truck Corporation (MFTBC) that is an integral part of the DaimlerChrysler Truck Group.  

Bobcat is awaiting its buyer Bobcat Co. has several potential buyers, a month after the equipment manufacturer was put on the block, a spokesman for its parent company says.  

Volvo to leave NASDAQ AB Volvo`s Board of Directors has decided to apply for delisting of the Volvo share from the NASDAQ stock exchange in the United States and for deregistration of the Class B share from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC.  

Sany settles in US Chinese machinery maker Sany Heavy Industry Co. will complete the construction of its first assembly plant in the United States next year at a cost of roughly $60 million, its executive president said on Wednesday.  

Navistar and Ford are back to court Navistar International Corp. said it has filed a lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. for breach of contract relating to a diesel engine contract involving the Ford F-150 pickup truck and is seeking damages. 

Doosan guarantees operation stability Doosan Infracore America announces its new 48-Hour Parts Guarantee for their wheel loader and excavator customers. The program guarantees that Doosan heavy equipment machine owners will receive their “machine debilitating” replacement part, in hand, within two business days or Doosan will pay for a replacement machine rental.  

CAT wins healthcare award The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recognizes Caterpillar`s outstanding achievements in employee health, safety, environment and management. 

Bobcat welcomes its workers back Bobcat Co. is rehiring nearly all the employees who lost their jobs due to forced layoffs in January. The company said most of the 78 who were involuntarily released were back at work by May 1. A few more will return by June 4. 

Ingersoll-Rand says goodbye to Bobcat Ingersoll-Rand reported plans to sell its Bobcat and construction-related businesses, including the Utility Equipment and Attachments operations.  

Liebherr salesman arrested on suspicion of embezzlement A Liebherr Nenzing offshore crane sales manager was arrested in early May on suspicion of embezzlement. Neither Liebherr nor the Vorarlberg public prosecutor"s office released the name of the arrested man. 

Caterpillar: first China, then Russia As part of a long-term strategic plan to support manufacturing growth in China and at its operations around the world, executives with Caterpillar Inc. celebrated the grand opening of new manufacturing operations in Wuxi, China. 

Palfinger expands at Niagara Falls A $3.9-million expansion at Palfinger`s Niagara Falls headquarters will better position the crane maker to sell its products across North America, company officials said.  

IR to build roads under Volvo brand Volvo concluded the acquisition of US-based Ingersoll-Rand`s road development equipment division other than operations in India which will follow shortly. The division was consolidated in the Volvo Group from May 1, 2007.  

Hitachi`s profits up owing to Chinese growth Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. said its profit jumped 51 percent in the past business year and forecast growth of 18 percent as strong demand for excavators in Europe and Asia offsets a slowdown in the U.S. 

Wacker is planning IPO Wacker Construction Equipment which recently announced plans to merge with Neuson Kramer Baumaschinen of Austria, has announced plans for an Initial Public Offering of its stock later this spring 

BKT invests $3.75 mln in first UAE plant German tower crane manufacturer BKT is to set up a new tower crane manufacturing company in the UAE, and the emirates` first tower crane plant.  

Yokohama raises prices Persistent increases in the costs of raw material and transportation have caused Yokohama Tire Corporation to adjust prices to coincide with market changes, effective May 1.  

Komatsu doubles its presence in India Komatsu Ltd. held an opening ceremony at Komatsu India Private Limited for its second production base in India. Komatsu India began operation in January this year, producing large dump trucks for mines in India. 

Kubota and Australia: 30 years together It has been three decades since Kubota Tractor Australia became the Australian distributor of Kubota and Krone equipment. 

Bobcat and Wacker: single-year friendship Bobcat Europe, a business unit of the Ingersoll Rand Compact Vehicle Technologies Sector in the European-Served Area, and Wacker Construction Equipment AG announce that their long-standing strategic partnership in Germany, Austria and Switzerland will cease at the end of 2007. 

Carlyle`s interest in Xugong shrinks again U.S. private equity company, the Carlyle Group, continues to attempt to buy less and less of Chinese construction equipment manufacturer Xugong Group Construction Machinery Co. 

Chinese trucks will be produced in Texas Specialty truck maker Tiger Truck has purchased a manufacturing plant in Texas to build Chinese-designed trucks, the company said. Tiger Truck has been distributing light-duty trucks in the United States for China`s ChangAn Automobile Group since 1999. 

Navistar resolved its dispute with Ford Navistar International Corp. announced late Thursday that it has entered into a consent injunction with Ford Motor Co. in which Navistar`s operating company will continue shipping 6.4L Power Stroke diesel engines and Ford will pay, without deductions, for each engine. 

Isuzu is expanding in ex-USSR Isuzu Motors Limited has agreed by signing a protocol that the three companies, that is, Isuzu, Severstal-Avto (SSA) and Sojitz Corporation will make their best efforts and cooperate with each other in conducting a study of truck manufacturing and sales businesses that is currently being performed in Russia. 

JCB to expand in the Middle East JCB, a leading construction, mining and heavy equipment manufacturing company, is set to expand its equipment range in the UAE market to tap the on-going boom in the construction industry. 

Volvo to swallow the rest of Nissan AB Volvo`s Board of Directors has decided to make a public offer to acquire the Japanese truck manufacturer Nissan Diesel.  

Caterpillar to take over shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Caterpillar has signed a memorandum of understanding along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd.for a plan that would result in a new ownership structure for SCM, which is currently split 50-50.  

JCB wins top industry award JCB has been named overall winner in the first-ever Best of British Industry Awards. The world`s 4th largest manufacturer of construction equipment was named Industrial Company of the Year at the ceremony in London.  

CNH to launch production in Ukraine Case-New Holland, one of world`s leading manufacturers of agricultural equipment (CNH), made a proposal to Ukrainian national joint stock company Ukragrolizing to commence production of New Holland equipment in Ukraine. 

Manitowoc reports increase in profit Manitowoc Crane Group`s earnings soared in the October-December 2006 period to a revenue of $605 mln, up 38% compared with the same period of 2005.  

Hitachi and Komatsu fight for Russia Hitachi Construction Machinery, one of Japan`s biggest hydraulic excavator manufacturer, plans to build several plants in Russia. The intention was expressed by Yasuhiko Nakaura, HCM`s vice president.  

Cummins will produce generators in Africa Cummins Inc. has signed a joint-venture agreement to establish a new company, Cummins West Africa, in partnership with Nigerian company A.G. Leventis. 

KAMAZ organized a Siberian tour Today an auto rally KAMAZ – Chaika – Service, started on January 29, 2007, in Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia, was finished. 

Construction equipment provided Hitachi with high profits Hitachi Ltd. said on Monday its quarterly profit rose 57 percent after brisk demand for its construction machinery offset a sluggish performance by its consumer electronics unit, and it kept its annual outlook unchanged. 

CAT to star at Bauma 2007 Under the theme of “Your Success. Our Commitment.” Caterpillar together with its German dealer Zeppelin will display their industry leading products and services over a total of 11,000 square meters at the Bauma 2007 fair. 

CAT celebrates an extraordinary year Marking the fourth straight year of double-digit profit growth and the third consecutive year of record sales and profit, Caterpillar Inc. reported 2006 sales and revenues of $41.517 billion and profit of $3.537 billion, or $5.17 per share, up 28 percent from a year ago.  

Liebherr will display over 75 exhibits at Bauma At Bauma 2007, to be held in Munich from 23 to 29 April, the Liebherr Group will present over 75 exhibits from all areas of its extensive construction machinery range on what is once again the largest stand at the fair.  

Komatsu introduces a new plant Komatsu Ltd. has just completed the construction of its new Ibaraki Plant for wheeled large equipment. Against the backdrop of expanding development of natural resources, such as iron ore, coal and copper, around the world, Komatsu anticipates that orders for its large equipment for mining use will remain at a high level into the future.  

The most successful year for KRAZ Ukrainian holding company KRAZ finished 2006 with best results in output and sales of heavy-duty trucks in recent 10 years.  

GAZ Group plans IPO Russian automotive manufacturer GAZ Group will be ready for IPO in October-December, 2007. It was reported by GAZ chairman Eric Eberhardson. 

Caterpillar forecasts growth Caterpillar Inc. is expected to post a 9% sales rise in the fourth quarter, despite forecasting a pause in demand for industrial machinery. 

Komatsu wins contracts with China and Mexico Komatsu Ltd. has won orders for large mining equipment from Mexico and China. The total amount of these contracts will reach $ 280 million.  

Hitachi plans a triumph at Bauma The impressive Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) stand will measure almost 5,000m? and has been organised together with German Hitachi dealer Kiesel. 

Ford sues International Ford Motor Co. has filed a lawsuit accusing International Truck and Engine Corp. of violating their long-standing engine supply contract. Pricing of International’s new 6.4 liter engine appears to be one issue.  

Russia`s GAZ to change its board During a special meeting on March 28, 2007, shareholders of GAZ Group will consider pre-schedule abdication of directors` board and election of a new board.  

PACCAR announces new facility PACCAR Inc unveiled plans for a new $400 million powertrain manufacturing and assembly facility in the Southeast United States. The 400,000-square-foot facility will strengthen PACCAR`s global manufacturing and assembly capability and positions PACCAR to capitalize on growing opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia. 

Belarusian MAZ reports output growth In 2006, Minsk automotive plant (MAZ), Belarus, produced 20,963 trucks, i.e. 103,6% to the figures of 2005. According to information from MAZ public relations center, in 2006 MAZ manufactured its first 4 Euro IV certified truck tractors with diesel engines 

ESCO will provide Chinese machinery industry with spare parts In order to further ESCO`s goal of expanding into the Asian market and efficiently reaching regional customers, the corporation recently opened its state-of-the-art Chinese manufacturing facility in the heavy machinery industrial zone of Xuzhou. 

Caterpillar fights "mini-tenders" Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. warned shareholders last week to reject an unsolicited offer from a private investment firm trying to purchase Caterpillar shares at below-market prices. 

Uzbekistan and Belarus to form engine alliance Uzbek-Belarusian joint company UzBelDizel commenced the assembly of diesel engines in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, said Vladimir Adulov, general director of the company. According to him, by the end of this year, near 300 engines will be assembled for Tashkent tractor plant. 

Kurganmashzavod feels confident about its future According to executive director of Russia`s Kurganmashzavod Vladimir Eremeev, in 2006 company`s sales will exeed $100 mln. In the next year, the growth will reach 15%. 

Deutz will provide China with engines DEUTZ AG and FAW Jiefang Automotive Co., Ltd., which is based in Changchun, China (FAW), a wholly-owned subsidiary of China First Automobile Works Group Corp. (FAW Group), have signed a contract to set up a joint venture to manufacture and sell diesel engines.  

KAMAZ continues its way to the top Yesterday in Moscow, Russia, KAMAZ`s Board of Directors has held its last meeting in this year. The management of the company put corrections in previously accepted strategy of company`s development by 2010 and approved the business plan for 2007.  

Scania to select best driver Scania, the Swedish-based manufacturer of trucks and buses, will soon kick off its selection process in 40 countries on five continents, aimed at identifying the world`s best truck drivers. 

Bankrupt Delphi will be bought out by a Chinese company According to a variety of press outlets, Chinese diesel engine maker Weichai Power Co. Ltd. is interested in buying assets of the bankrupt Delphi Corp. , Weichai`s executive director said. 

DaimlerChrysler is pessimistic in its forecasts US and Japanese truck markets are threatened by a considerable slowdown in 2007, says a statement from global automotive giant DaimlerChrysler. 

Scania purchases MAN? Why not! Lief Ostling, Executive director of Sweden`s Scania AB, does not exclude possibility of counter offer to purchase German truck corporation MAN. "We are preparing to various scenarios, and counter buyout bid is one of them", said Ostling. He refused to specify the cost of probable deal. 

DaimlerChrysler is enthusiastic about China Looking to expand in the world`s fastest-growing vehicle market, DaimlerChrysler said it will pay $104 million for a 24% stake in Chinese truck manufacturer Beiqi Foton Motor Co. becoming its second largest shareholder.  

Belarusian company to open a plant in Azerbaijan Gyandj automotive plant, Azerbaijan, and Minsk tractor plant (MTZ), Belarus, have signed a cooperation protocol. According to the document, in a short period, production of Belarusian tractors will be commenced in Gyanj. 

DAF Trucks is leading in standard race DAF Trucks N.V. became the world`s first manufacturer of trucks compliant with new quality standard, ISO/TS 16949 mainly focused on continuous perfection and reduction of pollution of environment with waste gases. 

Mitsubishi Electric expands production Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has increased its heavy-duty manufacturing capacity with a major investment in the expansion of its existing manufacturing facilities. This expansion will support continued growth of its North American heavy duty starter and alternator business.  

Bauma China displays record attendance The Bauma China 2006 exhibition has been a major success, with records set for both attendance figures and exhibitor numbers. Despite poor weather, over 80,000 visitors flocked to the Shanghai-based show, an increase of 60% over the previous event.  

US manufacturers choose rental In 2006, only 38 percent of US earthmoving equipment manufacturers sell 100 percent of their production through their independent authorized dealers, and those manufacturers expect that to decline to just 31 percent in 2007, according to AED"s just released 2006 Construction Equipment Market Study. 

Scania rejects MAN again Swedish truck producer Scania AB again rejected merge proposal from German automotive corporation MAN. Scania`s Board of Directors rejected the bid due to protest from company`s major shareholders - Investor AB and Wallenberg Foundations.  

John Deere gets richer Deere & Company announced worldwide net income of $277.3 million, or $1.20 per share, for the fourth quarter ended October 31, compared with $232.8 million, or $0.96 per share, for the same period last year.  

KAMAZ to establish a plant in Pakistan Russian truck manufacturer KAMAZ plans to establish an assembly facility in Pakistan. This was reported to press by KAMAZ`s deputy general director Akhat Urmanov at conference “Competition on strategic markets”. 

Bridgestone to open a plant in Russia Japanese Tyre maker Bridgestone, world`s leading manufacturer of automotive tyres, intends to established a plant in Russia. If the company manages to quickly find a site for facility and guarantee the acquisition of qualified personnel, commencement of industrial production will be possible by 2010. 

MAN and Scania: the fight goes on German truck manufacturer MAN AG, third major truck producer in Europe, yesterday made an official proposal to purchase Swedish truck producer Scania, representatives of the German company reported. 

Carlyle has reached a compromise with China US private equity group Carlyle has passed an important step in its controversial effort to acquire a stake in Chinese construction equipment company Xugong Construction Machinery after a key government agency gave its approval to the deal. 

GAZ triumphed in Cuba Russia`s GAZ Group took part in 24th Havana international fair, which is one of the three largest shows of this type in Latin America. For the first time, all GAZ Group products were represented in Cuba on one stand which become the largest in Russian pavilion. 

Volvo enters Saraevo The Swedish truck manufacturer Volvo Truck Corporation has through its subsidiary Volvo d.o.o. Sarajevo opened a Volvo Truck Center in Blazuj-Sarajevo. Volvo Trucks is now in the position of being an optimal business partner for transport companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Russia held a machinery show in Beijing November 10, a Russian National Exposition was held in Beijing as a part of Year of Russia in China. The aim of the exhibition was development of trade and financial relationship between Russia and China.  

Ingersoll-Rand is disappointed at its financial results Despite revenue growth and earnings in four business segments, Ingersoll-Rand`s Chairman says the third quarter results were disappointing by the company standards. Third-quarter revenues and net earnings from operations for 2006 increased compared with the third quarter of 2005. 

Toyota to enter diesel alliance with Isuzu Toyota Motor Corp. has formed an alliance with Isuzu Motors Ltd., with diesel engines at the center of the deal. The alliance will push Toyota and Isuzu aim to commercialize new small diesel engines within three years. 

Ingersoll-Rand expands its presence in Czech Republic Diversified manufacturer Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd. plans to invest $31.96 million to build a new plant in the Czech Republic.

The U.S. company would employ up to 300 workers at the factory, its second in the town of Dobris, about 35 km south of the capital Prague.

Ingersoll-Rand has manufactured Bobcat excavators and loaders in Dobris since taking over a local company in 2001.

It wanted to launch production at the second plant in May 

Ingersoll Rand: a century on NYSE Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd. celebrates 100 years of continuous listing and trading of its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange. To commemorate the anniversary, Herbert L. Henkel, CEO, rang The Closing Bell on the NYSE on Nov. 1.  

John Deere celebrates 50th anniversary It was 50 years ago when John Deere created its Industrial Equipment Division to provide a springboard for the company to enter the construction and forestry market. Today, the John Deere Construction & Forestry Division—so named in 2000—distributes its construction, forestry and worksite products through a network of more than 1,300 dealer locations worldwide. 

Atlas Copco continues is way to the top Atlas Copco reported that 2006 third quarter revenue increased by 15 percent or $1.7 billion. Orders received for the third quarter increased by 21 percent over third quarter 2005.  

Privatization of KAMAZ is inevitable KAMAZ truck factory will be privatized no later than 2008, said Mintimer Shaymiev, president of Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. “KAMAZ will be privatized", he announced at a press conference in London. “The farthest date is 2008. Possibly, it may happen in 2007” 

Bobcat workers are getting back to work Workers at the Bobcat Co. construction equipment factory here have voted to end their two-week strike, the company said. The plant"s Bismarck employees will begin returning to work Saturday, with full operations resuming by Tuesday, the company"s statement said.  

JCB will forget about Jaguar British engineering group JCB rejected idea of purchasing Jaguar after negotiations with Ford Motor Co. Sir Anthony Bamford , JCB president, reported that the main obstacle was tight cooperation between Jaguar and Land Rover, and he was not interested in acquiring both companies. 

Import in Russia tends to grow In January-August, import of agricultural equipment in Russia grew in by 43% and is registered at the level of $958.5 mln. The leading importer is Germany (31.8%), followed by US (17.8%). 

A Swiss surprise for Atlas Copco Atlas Copco has received a large order from Alstom Switzerland for the power generation market. The order comprises several fuel gas booster compressors, with the overall contract value at MEUR 9. 

Caterpillar begins realignment Caterpillar Inc. announced it will realign its manufacturing divisions to better align common manufacturing processes. 

Scania and MAN failed again to come to compromise The Board of Scania, having consulted its financial advisers, rejects MAN`s modified offer.

As in the case of MAN`s initial offer, the modified offer substantially undervalues Scania, in particular in two principal respects:

- the earnings outlook for the standalone company is significantly above current market consensus;

- MAN`s announced synergies materially underestimate the true 

KAMAZ begins to reject imported components KAMAZ released first samples of medium-duty trucks KAMAZ-4308 equipped with locally produced hypoid axle designed specifically for this class of trucks.

KAMAZ has been using hypoid axles in its products for a long time, but until now they have been bought from abroad. KAMAZ-4308 truck has won customers` recognition, and the demand for this product is constantly growing. Hypoid axle will allow to improve such an important 

Cummins to work under DaimlerChrysler`s wing Light-duty automotive engine for DaimlerChrysler to bring as many as 800 new jobs to company"s oldest production facility.

Cummins Inc. has answered two big questions concerning its previously announced light-duty diesel engine program. The company has announced that it will build the new engines at its Columbus Engine Plant (CEP) in Columbus, Ind., where production is scheduled to begin no later than 2010.

And perhaps even 

Chinese company to open a plant in the USA Sany Corp., a manufacturer of machines and related components for the building and construction industry, has won Chinese government approval to build a plant in the United States, potentially becoming the first Chinese machinery maker to assemble equipment in the U.S. Sany will initially invest $9 million in the U.S. plant, rising to $50 million three years later, the company"s executive president Xiang Wenbo said.

Headquartered in Changsha, Hunan Province, the People"s 

Bobcat workers are protesting Unionized workers at the Bobcat Co. plant in North Dakota went on strike Saturday after the company and the union negotiators failed to agree on a new labor contract.

Steve Chmielewski, president of Local 566 of the United Steelworkers union, said the labor contract expired on Saturday at 7 a.m. He said workers began walking the picket line early Saturday afternoon.

Chmielewski said the union represents about 780 employees.

Bobcat, 

Customers choose Caterpillar For the sixth consecutive year, a heavy-duty truck engine from Caterpillar has received a prestigious award for customer satisfaction in the 2006 Heavy Duty Truck Engine and Transmission Customer Satisfaction Survey.

International marketing information firm J.D. Power and Associates awarded Caterpillar`s C-12 clean power engine its highest levels of customer satisfaction, saying that Caterpillar has done an excellent job in meeting the 

Terex to get rid of Tatra Terex Corp. said Tuesday that it completed the sale of its 80.5 percent ownership stake in Czech truck maker Tatra AS to Blue River s.r.o. for roughly $26.2 million in cash.

The deal also calls for the repayment of all inter-company debt owed to Terex by Tatra of about $31.6 million. Additionally, Blue River will assume Tatra`s debt, which totals about $22 million.

Blue