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April 17, 2013 • Vol. XXV • No. 8 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910
Inside
San Antonio Hosts World of Asphalt…8
Industry Job Gains Continue Winning Streak Construction industry employment climbed for the tenth consecutive month in March, as the sector added 18,000 jobs and surpassed 5.8 million employees for the first time since September 2009, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the industry may soon experience both layoffs for some skilled trades and short-
ages of others, unless policy makers boost infrastructure investment and allow importation of needed workers. “The nearly steady expansion of construction payrolls since hitting bottom in January 2011 brought the industry’s unemployment rate down to 14.7 percent last month, the lowest March rate since 2008,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “Unfortunately, the
decline is less a result of the 370,000 construction hires than because more than a million and a half experienced workers have left the industry since its peak by taking other jobs, retiring or leaving the workforce. That makes shortages of skilled workers increasingly likely in highdemand crafts such as pipefitting, welding and some residential activities.” see JOBS page 85
Crews Wrap Up Largest Solar Park in Tenn. By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
Volvo Opens New $100m Pa. Facility…16
Cat Sh owcases Hyb rid Exca vator …2 2
Table of Contents ................4 Paving Section..............33-45 Skid Steers, Compact Track Loaders & Attachments Section ..........................47-60
Construction teams have put the finishing touches on what is now the largest solar park in the state of Tennessee. Volkswagen Chattanooga also becomes home to the largest solar installation at a United States auto manufacturing facility. “We are proud to power up the biggest solar park of any car manufacturer in North America today,” said Frank Fischer, CEO and chairman of Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations LLC. “The solar park is another proof point of Volkswagen’s worldwide commitment to environmental protection under its ‘Think Blue Factory’ philosophy.” During a recent dedication ceremony, a giant light switch was turned on to mark the official opening of Volkswagen Chattanooga Solar Park, built on Volkswagen’s compound in Hamilton County. Silicon Ranch and Phoenix Solar partnered to build and operate the
The Volkswagen Chattanooga Solar Park encompasses half of the 66-acre land parcel adjacent to VW’s manufacturing plant.
solar park, which has made international headlines. The Chattanooga facility has been described by the U.S Green Building Council as “the world’s greenest auto plant” and the only auto plant to earn the LEED Platinum certification. “Approximately 115,000 cubic yards of earth were moved to prepare the site,” said Simon Decker, business development and market-
ing manager USA of Phoenix Solar Inc. Founded in 1999, Phoenix Solar is a global leader in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic power plants, having installed or sold more than one gigawatt of capacity. Phoenix Solar Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix Solar AG, headquartered in Sulzemoos near Munich,
Germany. “Equipment used to prepare the site included large machines such as Caterpillar motorgraders, Caterpillar track-type tractors, Caterpillar ejector articulated trucks, off-highway trucks and excavators of various sizes,” said Decker. “To install a PV system, Phoenix Solar Inc. used hydraulic rams and drills, telescopic handlers, power generators and sometime large cranes to get heavy equipment in place.” A total of 33,600 solar panels were used from JA Solar. The weight of one module is approximately 49.6 lbs (22.5 kg). The modules were intensively tested and certified by various institutions, and must have the ability to withstand wind and snow loads. The panels, about 3 by 6 ft. (1 by 1.8 m) in size, were manufactured in China and Mexico. Each panel is rated at 285 watts, with the system using a fixed angle array system at 25 degrees tilt. There are 3,360 panels per inverter made up see SOLAR page 30
Parts Section ................62-64 Business Calendar ............80 Auction Section............81-95 Advertisers Index ..............94
Can’t be at bauma 2013 in Munich, Germany, from April 15 to 21? Well, Construction Equipment Guide (CEG) has you covered. Beginning Friday, April 5, CEG’s Web site, www.constructionequipmentguide.com will have a dedicated page to all the news that breaks at the big show. There, you’ll find all the lat-
est equipment unveilings, trade show happenings, breaking business news and much more. Also on this page you’ll be able to watch ongoing video coverage of bauma 2013 as it unfolds. And getting to the bauma 2013 coverage is easy: simply click on the bauma 2013 logo at the top of CEG’s Web site.