Loading up on the Web – October Edition

Halloween has come to the CE offices early, as ghouls and witches haunt the office cubicles today. Everyone’s getting into the spirit, but we’re just happy to have a minute to catch our breath. It’s been a whirlwind month and it’s been especially busy for CE managing editor Keith Gribbins, who is currently at the GIE EXPO in Louisville, Ky. While the other mischief makers gear up for our spooktacular Halloween lunch this afternoon, we thought we’d catch you up on the big headlines you might have missed this month.

As always, you can follow us on Twitter @compactequip or shoot us an email of compliments, complaints or questions.

Kubota and Paladin Enter Strategic Marketing Alliance
Kubota Tractor Corp. and Paladin Construction Group have partnered up to make buying attachments a lot easier. The two companies have announced a strategic marketing alliance for the sale of performance-matched, allied-approved attachments for Kubota’s SVL compact track loader series.

Editor at Large: The 2011 Ford F-150 Powertrain Media Days
When Ford Motor Co. invited me down to Fort Worth in late September, I spent two days driving around the Texas countryside, kicking the tires, pushing the pedals and pulling out all the stops on Ford’s next generation F-150 trucks. The company released four new gas engines, standard six-speed transmissions and cool new technologies like EPAS and tow/haul at the event, touting its F-150 as the most popular truck for the last 33 years (and well, probably at least one more year with all these new powertrains). I hauled trailers, went drag racing, grilled engineers, talked with marketing experts and even took a few photos along the way.

Prices for Construction Materials Down in September
Construction materials prices were down slightly in September falling 0.1 percent, according to the October 14 producer price index (PPI) report by the U.S. Labor Department. Prices were also down 0.1 percent for the quarter, but up 3.8 percent from the same time last year.

Pre-Election Debate Rages Before Congress Leaves Town
Between the time they returned from a six-week summer recess and when they adjourned for four weeks of last minute campaigning before the November elections, Congress spent their time in a whirlwind debate over legislation aimed at helping American small businesses by extending some or all of the tax cuts enacted under the Bush Administration, which expire at the end of the year. As always, Democrats and Republicans displayed very different (and very strong) positions regarding all of this

Editor at Large: Visiting Doosan Headquarters and Discovering the LSC
The global construction giant Doosan (one of the top five manufacturers of equipment in the world) bought the utility and attachment business of IR back in 2007 for 4.9 million (along with subsidiary Bobcat Co.). I got the opportunity to visit Doosan Infracore Portable Power headquarters earlier this month with a group of editors at its (relatively) new Statesville’s facility, which it moved into in 2008 after the acquisition.

Construction Employment Declines in 31 States Between August and September
More and more workers are sitting on the sidelines as the construction industry continues to struggle in 2010. Construction employment declined in 31 states between August and September, while fewer people are working in construction compared to last year in 40 states, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data released on Oct. 22 by the Labor Department. Construction employment is likely to continue to worsen amid uncertainty about federal spending and tax rates for next year, association officials noted.

Editor at Large: Visiting CatUsed.com at the Charlotte Motor Speedway
Each year used equipment sales generate $17 to $20 billion worldwide, says Jim Johnson, president of Caterpillar Used Equipment Services (a corporate Cat division that helps dealers distribute used machinery). Johnson invited journalists down to the Charlotte Motor Speedway in October (during the Bank of America 500 NASCAR race) to discuss the used market and to visit an important CatUsed.com event, where about 40 pieces of pre-owned Cat equipment were for sale, ranging from skid steers to mining trucks.

We’ve got our beggar’s bags ready and our winter coats over our costumes. We’re ready for Trick or Treating and our horror movie marathon. If you’re looking for something terrifying, check out CE’s favorite horror movie – Maximum Overdrive.