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MINExpo INTERNATIONAL, the world’s largest mining exposition, will take place September 27 to 30, 2004, in Las Vegas, NV. Some 35,000 mining executives, 1,300 exhibitors and leading government officials are expected to attend the quadrennial event featuring the most advanced mining equipment and machinery. For more information, visit www.minexpo.com.

The National Demolition Association (formerly the National Association of Demolition Contractors) has selected Rosemont, IL (Chicago area), as the site of its 10th annual Demolition Safety Summit. The dates for the meeting are October 28 and 29.

Topics to be discussed include accident investigation on a demolition jobsite, approaches to training demolition workers, personal protective equipment, identifying and planning for confined space work and personnel lift and forklift safety.

Registration forms are posted at www.demolitionassociation.com.

NEWSMAKERS

Gehl Co. announces the formation of a strategic alliance with Manitou, a major manufacturer of telescopic handlers. Beginning in 2005, the companies will distribute select models of each other’s telescopic handler product lines in the U.S. agricultural and construction markets through their respective dealer networks. Pursuant to a license agreement, Gehl will also begin to manufacture two series of Manitou compact telescopic handlers at its Yankton, SD, facility.

In conjunction with the new business relationship, Manitou has purchased 961,768 shares of newly issued Gehl common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $19.8 million or $20.60 per share. During the term of the alliance, Gehl has also agreed to recommend the nomination of Marcel Claude Braud, Manitou’s CEO, for election to the Gehl board of directors.

Cedarapids, Inc., the Iowa-based manufacturer of Terex crushing and screening equipment, has announced several management promotions: Greg Meng to general manager - Cedarapids Crushing and Screening; Dave McLaughlin to director of sales and marketing; Dave Schuchmann to crushing and screening sales manager; John Rodriguez to director of aftermarket; and Mark Krause to marketing and account management for Terex Materials Processing and Mining.

JCB Inc. recently formed a Compact and Utility Equipment Division in an effort to develop and grow the JCB compact equipment market in North America. Bob Wright has been named vice president of the new division. Wright was formerly vice president - sales and distribution.

Atlas Copco Construction Tools has opened regional service centers in Cleveland, OH, and Austin, TX. The service centers will act as extensions of the factory, offering stores in their dealer network access to factory-trained technicians, factory direct parts and product information and techniques directly from Atlas Copco.

ABS Pumps has acquired Pumpex. The two companies will merge their global operations in hopes of bringing cost effectiveness and efficiency to customers and distributors in the wastewater and dewatering market. All products will be marketed under the ABS name.

Thomas Baughman was recently named vice president and general manager of International Truck and Engine Corp.’s Heavy Vehicle Center. Baughman will manage a $300 million investment in a new line of Class 8 trucks and oversee the growth of all current heavy-duty products.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of McElroy Mfg., Inc. The company designed its first polyethylene fusion machine in 1969. Today, it is a leading fintube and fusion equipment manufacturer. The company continues to look to the future under the direction of Chip McElroy, president and CEO, and son of founder Art McElroy.

Eurotech Corp. has signed an agreement with Germany’s HGT to manufacture heavy-duty orange peel grapples, clamshell buckets, log grapples and sorting grabs for numerous applications. The attachments will be manufactured in Germany for U.S. distribution through Eurotech.

In July, the Environmental Protection Agency certified a full line of Caterpillar off-road engines as compliant with Tier III standards slated to go into effect in January 2005 and January 2006.

The EPA certification of seven engine models allows early production of cleaner Tier III diesel engines. It also enables Caterpillar to provide a full engine line featuring ACERT technology in the 175- to 750-hp range. Cat machines powered by Tier III-compliant engines will reach the market in October 2004.

In related news, the Intellectual Property Owners Association named Jim Weber and Scott Leman, two Caterpillar engineers, as National Inventors of the Year for their work on ACERT technology. They were recognized specifically for the invention of a new air management system combined with precise valve control to reduce emissions at the point of combustion.

The American Society of Agricultural Engineers has awarded Cyril and Louis Keller and the Bobcat Co. with a Historic Landmark award for the invention and development of the world’s first skid-steer loader. In 1957, the Keller brothers invented the first three-wheel loader. They sold the rights to this machine to Melroe Mfg. Co. (known today as Bobcat Co., a business unit of Ingersoll-Rand), where they continued their work to develop the world’s first skid-steer loader, which was introduced in 1960.

The recognition coincides with the announcement that Bobcat has manufactured its 600,000th skid steer just three years after reaching the 500,000 mark.