Deer & Co. (NYSE: DE), the world’s leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery, has confirmed they will expand the manufacturing capabilities at their Des Moines facility.

The company, commonly referred to by its brand name John Deere, announced they will move ahead with a $113 million expansion after receiving approximately $10 million in tax incentives for the project from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the City of Ankeny.

According to the Associated Press, Deere will invest $35 million into facility improvements, $33 million in new equipment and $45 million toward further research and development.  Currently, John Deere Des Moines Works employs 1,900 people and  primarily produces machines used during cotton production.  Construction will commence in early 2012 and is expected to be finished by Spring 2013.

“John Deere has many options when considering where to locate its manufacturing work force, and we are pleased to work with the IEDA and the city of Ankeny to ensure these jobs remain here in the Des Moines area,” said the factory manager for John Deere Des Moines Works, John Teeple. “Today’s announcement certainly positions this facility for a strong long-term future.”

In Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Caterpillar sales were up 32% during October and November. In the same regions, sales rose 41% in September.  Europe’s ongoing debt crisis will likely slow growth in these three markets in the near future as businesses and consumers look to curb their spending.

In North America, Caterpillar’s most profitable market, sales rose 41% in November which is an increase from the 38% increase in October and 28% in September.  Though the construction industry has slowed in the U.S., Caterpillar has experienced flourishing sales numbers due to dealers purchasing equipment for rental operations and customers replacing worn out machinery, according to a MarketWatch release. In Asia, sales rose 31% in the three months through the end of November, compared with a 33% increase and a 27% increase in October and September, respectively.

Latin America had been one of Caterpillar’s better performing sales regions thanks to mining and construction activity in developing nations like Brazil, however the region has experienced a pronounced drop-off from September to November.  November-period sales in the region rose 8% from 2010, however that is down from the 16% increase during October and a 33% increase in September.

United’s $18 per share offer is a 58% increase on RSC’s closing price from December 15.  RSC shares climbed 55.3%, or $6.30, to $17.67 in afternoon trading. United Rental shares rose 3.5%, or 92 cents, to $27.95. According to the Associated Press, the deal has been approved by both companies’ boards and is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2012.

“This transaction marks a transformative moment in our company’s history,” said United Rentals Chief Executive Officer Michael Kneeland in the statement. “We have a tremendous opportunity to become the supplier of choice for customers throughout North America.”

RSC provides heavy equipment rental services to clients in a variety of sectors including the construction, petrochemical and manufacturing across the United States and Canada. United Rentals are based in Connecticut and operate an integrated network of more than 550 rental locations in the United States and Canada, making them the largest equipment rental company in the world.

Sime Darby is a leading Malaysian multinational based in Kuala Lumpur and are involved in various sectors including plantations, property, motors, industrial equipment, energy and utilities. The company is also distributes Caterpillar products in Asia.

“The addition of former Bucyrus product line is a unique and exciting opportunity to grow Sime Darby Industrial’s presence in the region and offer mining customers an unparalleled range of products and services,” said Scott Cameron, Sime Darby’s executive vice-president, who heads Sime Darby Industrial Cat.

Reports indicate the multi-million dollar deal encompasses the Sime Darby Industrial Cat dealership located in Queensland and Northern Territory of Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. This transaction marks the first of several expected to take place that will transition product distribution and support of former Bucyrus equipment to CAT dealers that support mining customers around the world. Caterpillar also intends to begin selling former Bucyrus mining products through Sime Darby’s other CAT dealerships.

The biometric drowsiness system will be built into the steering wheel and driver seat of mining vehicles. The system will monitor the driver’s skin temperature, ECG (electrocardiogram), galvanic skin response and torque when the vehicle is moving.   Once a driver begins to exhibit signs of fatigue, the system will automatically notify a central dispatch center.

Though heavy equipment can greatly increase the efficiency and ease of work-related tasks, they can also pose a significant threat of injury or death if used improperly. Exmovere’s biosensor technology will help prevent heavy equipment related accidents and ensure injuries and death are kept to a minimum.

“We spent a long time researching the best and most cost effective solution for our clients. Exmovere ticked all the boxes. The key feature is that the system is able to detect drowsiness levels more granularly than external biometric sensors such as eye movement; earlier detection enables the driver to maintain themselves in an alert state rather than keeping them awake. The system price point is low enough for the mine to invest in all of its vehicle fleet and not just the trucks,” said Gencom’s John Park.

“Our partnership with CPEC makes Kubota available to an entirely new customer base of rental users,” said Kubota’s National Accounts Manager, Tim Bauer. “During these uncertain economic times, the rental option serves customers who are hesitant to invest in equipment ownership, conserving their cash flow and lines of credit.”

Kubota Corporation was incorporated in 1890 and is based in Osaka, Japan.  The company has become a prominent international name in the construction and agriculture industries. Presently, Kubota has subsidiaries and affiliates who manufacture and market their products in over 130 countries.  Kubota Tractor Corporation is headquartered in Torrance, California and continues to expand their line of products which includes four lines of tractors, compact construction equipment, compact track loaders and utility vehicles.

“The Wright Tool product is recognized for its quality and Wright is recognized as a company that is focused on safety. We look forward to making this product available to our customers,” said SMS Equipment, Inc.’s Vice President of Parts and Service, Lindon Petty Jr. “It’s a perfect partnership,” Wright Tool’s Director of Business Development, Ty Smith. “The values of both companies align and we’ll both benefit.”

SMS is a Canadian company who provides heavy equipment services and solutions across the country in various industries including construction, forestry and mining.  Currently, the company is one of the largest Komatsu dealers in the world and boasts over 40 locations across Canada. Wright Tool is based in Barberton, Ohio and manufactures  heavy-duty performance tools for the industrial, contractor and MRO markets.  All of their products are manufactured in the United States.

According to a MarketWatch release, Titan’s profit for the quarter ending October 31 reached $12.8 billion, or 61 cents per share.  For the third quarter of 2010, Titan’s profit was $7.71 million, or 42 cents per share. The company also raised its full-year earnings estimate by 20 cents to $1.76 to $1.86 a share and increased its revenue forecast by $95 million to a range of $1.43 billion to $1.5 billion.

“We are pleased with our year-to-date results, as we are positioned to deliver another record year of revenue and net income for Titan Machinery. Our strong financial performance in the third quarter was driven by solid execution on all fronts. Our Agriculture segment continues to benefit from the strong agriculture market due to an overall successful harvest in our region and a tight global supply of grain. Our Construction segment grew significantly compared to the year-ago period; a $3.4 million pre-tax income improvement. Industry and internal operating improvements positively impacted this segment, as well as our initiative to expand the rental business,” said David Meyer, Titan’s Chairman and CEO.

Titan is know for its sale of tractors, backhoes and other equipment used by builders and farmers. The company is headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota and has 90 dealerships located in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

“Selling $1 billion of equipment over the internet in one year puts Ritchie Bros. in the realm of household names like Toys ‘R’ Us and Zappos,” said Ritchie Bros. CEO Peter Blake. “This milestone reminds us that our customers — the world’s builders — embrace the use of technology, much like the rest of the world, to do what they do every day. We’re proud to offer a world-class service that makes it easy for our customers to buy the equipment they need, when they need it, from anywhere in the world,” he continued.

Sany, who specializes in making construction and hoisting machines, will expand their production facilities by building 10 plants in foreign nations. While China’s domestic demand for heavy equipment continues to experience a decline, the company has indicated targeting emerging markets and resource-rich nations is the most logical step towards boosting their equipment sales. Sany seeks to complete this project within five years.

“We’d like to make Sany a big global brand,” said former Komatsu Ltd. engineer, Nobuhiko Oku, who joined the company in 2009. Oku is one of about 70 foreigners, primarily engineers, who were hired by Sany to help improve quality and accelerate overseas sales. “It makes sense for Sany to accelerate its international expansion given weakness in the home market,” said Bloomberg Industries construction-equipment analyst, Karen Ubelhart, “success won’t be easy,” she continued.

According to Bloomberg data, Sany’s concrete equipment sales have undergone a 13-fold increase in the past five years. In 2010 alone, concrete equipment sales eclipsed the $5 billion mark.