All Financial results Articles

Lafarge recorded first-half sales of € 9,07 billion, up +8% on the same period in 2007. Increased sales were matched by an improved operating income of € 1,61 billion, an +18% increase on the comparable period one year ago. The company also reported a strong improvement in its 2008 first half operating margin to +17,8% from +16,2% in the first six months of 2007.

Finnish manufacturer Bronto Skylift has reported a 17.3% rise in orders compared to the same quarter last year. The company's backlog order book is now worth $181.7 million which is 58% higher than the same time last year.

Haulotte's equipment sales for the first half of the year are down 14% compared to 2007. The company has felt the effects of a weak European market and the "wait and see approach" of a number of rental companies' response to the current economic climate.

Net sales at Terex Cranes increased 48.7% in the second quarter of 2008, compared to the same period of 2007, to $809.8 million.

Buoyant sales of telehandlers to farmers and of industrial warehousing equipment helped grow Manitou’s second quarter sales by 8.8% to €368 million. Manitou reported mixed fortunes in its main European markets, with falling sales in Spain and the UK offset by growth in Germany, Benelux and eastern and central Europe.

Terex Corp’s aerial work platform division reported almost level sales in the three months to 30 June, and the division’s backlog was down 46.8% to US$419.4 million. Terex said the slower growth rate and reduction in backlog were due mainly to softening demand in Western Europe.

A “marked slowing” in demand and the rescheduling and cancellation of orders by powered access customers has prompted Tanfield Group to postpone its aggressive expansion plans and adopt a more “prudent and conservative” approach.

The latest IRN-100 list of the world's largest rental companies reveals a dual-speed rental market in 2007, with European firms growing at a considerably faster rate than their US or Japanese counterparts.

Canadian rental company 4-Way Equipment Rentals has been ranked one of Canada's 200 fastest growing companies after reporting 54% revenue growth to C$15.7 million (€9.8 million) in 2007.

UK power and lighting rental company Power4 doubled its turnover to £5.8 million (€7.3 million) in its 2007/8 fiscal year. Operating profits almost tripled to £1 million (€1.25 million).

Access rental specialist, the Lavendon Group, was able to announce encouraging results in a pre-close trading update. The Group's revenues for the five months ending 31 May 2008 have increased by 37% compared to the same period last year with operating margins continuing to improve.

Ashtead Group has reported strong results for its US and UK rental businesses and confirmed the sales of its specialist equipment division, Ashtead Technology, to a management buy-out team backed by private equity firm Phoenix Equity Partners.

Aggreko forecast a 25% growth in revenues and 40% higher pre-tax profits for its first half of the year to 30 June in a trading statement before it entered its close period for the period.

Cemex had revenues of US$ 11.8 billion for the first half of the year, and achieved earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITA) of US$ 2.3 billion.

Speedy Hire is focused on expanding its business beyond pure rental of equipment by adding additional services such as training, technical advice, fuel management, and by reaching more outsourcing agreements with major customers where Speedy owns, maintains and delivers equipment.

Heijmans' executive chairman, Guus Hoefsloot has announced his resignation following a profits warning. Van Herk Groep, which controls some 10% of voting rights in the Dutch contract has also called for the resignation of the Supervisory Board's chairman Joep Brentjens.

Over 100 employees have been laid off from Skyjack's Guelph plant. Both office and production employees who work on the Canadian company's rough terrain scissor line are affected.

H&E Equipment Services said demand for its rental equipment remained solid, except for weakness in the West Coast, Florida and mid-Atlantic markets. The company said the softness in these markets was now stabilizing.

First quarter sales of the Fire Rescue business of US company, Federal Signal, which now comprises solely of Bronto truck mounted, articulated aerial devices, rose 18% to $24 million.

Despite an overall, first quarter sales growth of 7.4%, Manitou reported "flat sales" for access platforms.