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The Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) is to meet European Commission vice president Günter Verheugen before Christmas to discuss the European Union’s proposed €200 billion economic stimulus plan.

US-based John Deere recorded fourth quarter sales of US$ 7 billion, up +21% on the previous year's results. The company also saw an increase of +18% to US$ 28 billion for the full year.

The Locorail consortium, which consists of BAM PPP (50%), CFE (25%) and Vinci Concessions (25%), has won the contract to construct the Liefkenshoek Rail Link in Antwerp, Belgium for rail network infrastructure manager Infrabel.

The Al Habtoor Leighton Group has won a US$ 2.4billion contract to construct the mixed-used Dubai Pearl development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Netherlands scissor lift manufacturer Holland Lift has expanded its production capacity and said its outlook for 2009 remained good, with revenues expected to grow by around 10% to €20 million despite the much-reported slowdown in demand from rental companies in western Europe.

Sweden’s Peab Group recorded third quarter sales of SEK 7,8 billion (€ 765 million), up +5,5% on the SEK 7,4 billion (€ 726 million) reported for the same period last year.

Revenues of Speedy Hire in the UK for the six months ending 30 September rose 22.3% to £256.2 million (€302 million) from £209.5 million (€247 million) in the same period last year. Although earnings and profit were both up year-on-year as well, the company's operating margin fell 1.2 points, from 14.0% to 12.8%.

System scaffolding manufacturer Wilhelm Layher GmbH & Co. KG broke ground in November for a new plant in Güglingen near Stuttgart, Germany. It will make all the company's aluminium and wooden components.

Loader crane and access equipment manufacturer Palfinger has announced 91 job cuts and a reduction in working hours in response to market conditions.

Loxam has moved its headquarters to a new 11000 m2 office close to the Champs-Elysées in Paris. The new office consolidates the several buildings that Loxam occupied at the previous Châtenay-Malabry location in the South of Paris.

South America promises to be a fantastic rental market in the decades to come. But for now, where are the market opportunities, and who is grasping them? Murray Pollok reports.

Lafarge has announced plans to sell its businesses in Italy to the Sacci group for € 290 million.

Aggreko plc plans to purchase the rental power business and assets of Cummins India Ltd (CIL) for €4.6 million in cash. The deal is subject to approval by CIL's shareholders.

Atlas Copco bought the European oil-free air (OFA) compressor rental business of UK-based Aggreko plc for €14.6 million. The purchase closed on 20 November and expanded the Atlas Copco Specialty Rental division.

Third quarter revenues at Ahern Rentals increased 13% to $89.0 million despite a 5% fall in rental prices compared to the same period in 2007.

Global construction equipment sales are expected to rise +8.5% this year and a further +5.4% in 2009 according the latest ‘outlook' survey from the US-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

Skyjack has confirmed that this year's scheduled Christmas shut down at its scissor producing Guelph plant will be extended to four weeks due to reduced demand. However, market share across all product ranges holds up.

While Western Europe faces a slowdown, much of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is experiencing a boom across all sectors of construction activity. Steve Skinner looks at demand in the region and what the issues and expectations are for the future.

Bilfinger Berger has seen its third quarter pre-tax profits increase by +33% to € 88 million compared to € 66 million recorded during the same period in 2007.

Sentiment on the European construction industry slipped lower in November, with results of the month's CE Barometer survey indicating stronger signs of a recession.