LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

It’s that time of year again: The air’s getting cooler, the leaves are turning yellow and Construction Business Owner is publishing our annual equipment edition. It’s my favorite issue of the year, and an excellent way to kick off my favorite season.

Construction equipment has made a few appearances in the news lately, and I’ve gathered some of my favorite stories:

• Sue steals the show — In July, a crew at Ohio’s RiverReach Construction found a small kitten lodged in a Komatsu excavator. Workers removed the skid plate, and out tumbled an orange ball of fluff now named Sue (short for Komatsu). Today, she has a branded vest and hard hat, merch in her likeness and, most importantly, a home. This story warmed the hearts of many, but it also serves as an important reminder: Always be aware of your surroundings. You never know when a new friend has wandered on-site. (instagram.com/riverreachconstruction)
• Reach for the stars — Vermeer and Interlune recently announced their expanded partnership. Last year, the companies unveiled a lunar excavator prototype, designed to harvest resources from the moon. Vermeer and Interlune aim to have “mission-ready” lunar equipment by 2028 — just two short years from now. Interlune’s CEO Rob Meyerson said, “Reliable, autonomous mobility and heavy-duty excavation are the backbones of any permanent settlement on the moon.” Space isn’t my first thought when I see a boom and bucket, but we’re living in the future. (constructionbusinessowner.com/lunarconstruction)
• Last chance for a limited-edition loader — CASE Construction Equipment partnered with Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), to auction off a limited- edition machine. Last year, CASE released 25 “Heavy Metal” Hetfield Limited Edition TV450B compact track loaders, commissioned by Metallica frontman James Hetfield as part of an agreement with CNH. This is the final machine from the line, and it’s up for grabs at purplewave.com until Dec. 17. Proceeds will go to an AWMH initiative that supports education in the trades. What’s more metal than that? (constructionbusinessowner.com/hetfieldloader)

Whether your fall projects take you to the moon or deeper into the earth, I hope your fuel tanks stay full, your crews stay motivated and your business stays booming.

Until next time,