Strong export growth led Manitou`s first-half 2006 net sales of €584.4 million, a 10% year-on-year rise. Operating profit rose 12.8% to €75.0 million for the period.

The French company said sales outside the EU rose 29.5%, reflecting efforts to “…increase its involvement in those markets [with] great potential.” Sales in the EU, excluding France, rose 15.3%, whilst performance in its home market remained "steady".

Manitou said it hoped 

JCB tries to keep pace with India`s growth Construction equipment manufacturer JCB has opened a new $28 million component factory in the Indian region of Pune to support the country`s increasing demand for JCB earthmoving equipment.

The company said the new JCB Manufacturing plant in the Talegaon Dabhade district of Pune, which officially opened last week, would employ more than 200 people and produce components for JCB machines including backhoes, skid steers 

Atlas Copco to acquire Chinese compressor company Atlas Copco Investment Co. Ltd. has signed a contract to acquire the Shanghai Bolaite Compressor Co., Ltd. The company has a turnover of approximately 14.7 mln euros and 309 employees. The acquisition is expected to close within a month.

Bolaite, headquartered in Shanghai, China, manufactures and distributes piston compressors and oil-injected screw compressors below 450 kW, and dryers. Bolaite was established in 1999. 

Caterpillar will raise machinery and engine prices Caterpillar Inc. said on Tuesday that it plans to raise prices in 2007, a fresh sign of the company"s confidence that its end markets remain strong.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Caterpillar said it will raise machinery prices as much as 5 percent and engine prices as much as 7 percent.

The US company said the increases were "in line with expected general economic conditions and industry factors."

A 

KAMAZ sold 5,000 engines in August In August 2006 KAMAZ-Diesel, a subsidiary of Russian truck giant KAMAZ, manufactured and delivered to its customers 5,000 engines.

Such a high volume of engine output in one month period has been reached for the first time since fire of April 1993. That fire disabled almost all technological equipment of engine plant, today known as KAMAZ-Diesel. During 2002-2003 the company completed general modernization of its equipment, due to the