WORLD NEWS
Eaton’s Willie Harbert has been elected to the AEM CE Sector Board. Harbert, vice-president of
sales for Eaton’s hydraulics group, will fill an unexpired term.
“AEM benefits from the support of our member companies and the leadership talents of our
board members, who are selected to reflect an industry cross-section,” said AEM president Dennis
Slater. “Their dedication helps ensure association programmes continue to meet member and
industry needs, and we welcome Willie’s knowledge and participation.”
Harbert leads Eaton’s OEM sales, customer service, and sales support organisations in the
Americas. He has held various leadership roles within the company, including plant manager;
director: business development; director: sales; and product line business unit manager. Prior to
joining Eaton, Harbert served several years as a submarine officer in the US Navy.
Heavy equipment and machinery maker Caterpillar plans to
renovate existing facilities in the Lafayette, Indiana, area. The
(Lafayette) Journal & Courier reports that the plans by Deerfield,
Illinois-based Caterpillar would bring 125 new jobs to the
Lafayette area.
Documents submitted to the Lafayette Redevelopment
Commission say Caterpillar plans to invest USD73.6-million
through 2021 in building improvements, information technology
software, and equipment. The Lafayette facility currently employs
about 1 350 employees.
XCMG, construction machinery revenue growth of 72.46% that Nevertheless, the focus is on XCMG’s overseas sales will
manufacturer, has seen its the company said in its previous its strong overseas growth as continue to benefit from
earnings almost quadruple annual report. In 2018, XCMG it expands its global market China’s Belt & Road Initiative,
over the past year as the global forecasts sales of RMB36.8- share by targeting key regions, which is boosting infrastructure
economic recovery continued, billion, representing year-on-year stepping up investment in global investment in regions along the
and infrastructure investment growth of 26.3%. research and services, and seeking modern ‘Silk Road’, linking China
breakthroughs in top-end markets with Eurasian countries.
in China increased demand for
Chinese construction
in Europe and North America.
The company, the world’s
equipment, including excavators, machinery makers are benefiting loaders, and forklift trucks. The from a recovery following a five- company, China’s biggest exporter year downcycle, in 2011–2016, biggest exporter of construction and heavy-duty road rollers,
of construction machinery, is which saw the industry shrink by machinery to the Asia-Pacific will strengthen its core
predicting solid growth in 2018 on two-thirds from its peak. In 2017, region, with sales jumping 71%. competitiveness while also
the back of continued improvement China’s infrastructure investment Meanwhile, exports to eight exploring opportunities in new
in global markets despite rising accelerated while the economy countries in South America grew industries such as environmental
trade friction between the United stabilised, giving the industry a 1.6 times while localisation took protection. In addition, XCMG
States and China. boost. root in the continent, and the will invest heavily in the next
In 2017, XCMG became China’s
biggest maker of crane trucks
company began conducting R&D generation of information
389.31% to RMB1.02-billion, year was aided by industry on excavators locally. In Eu