Pit & Quarry articles from April 1999

Pit & Quarry archives from April 1999

Seeking success stories.
April 1, 1999... Pit & Quarry is once again accepting nominations for the Pit & Quarry "Success Story" awards. The awards program honors operations that exemplify outstanding commitment to the quarrying profession in the areas of operations, technology,...

Online education.
April 1, 1999... Pit & Quarry recently added "Pit & Quarry University" to its Web site at www.pitandquarry.com. Pit & Quarry University features online educational tutorials for industry beginners and pros. In cooperation with Virginia Tech University, Pit &...

Get a Web site FREE!
April 1, 1999... Stone producers who want to take advantage of the World Wide Web can get a FREE Web site at Quarry World: www.quarryworld.com. To sign up, a form is available right on the site, or contact Darren Constantino, managing editor, at 440-891-2693.

Heenan writes safety book.
April 1, 1999... Pit & Quarry legal editor Mike Heenan has written a book entitled Safety and Health at Mines: A Manual for Operators and Contractors. The book is designed to be a quick and easy guide to understanding MSHA requirements. Quarry operators can...

Reclaimed land benefits.
April 1, 1999... Tarmac America prides itself in its approach to environmental concerns in regards to reclaiming mine and quarry sites. "It's important that we all take responsibility for the environment," says Tarmac America CEO John D. Carr. "It's not...

Concrete without sand?
April 1, 1999... Using concrete made with ashes left behind when coal is burned, Southern Illinois University (SIU) researchers are helping build parking lots and a short road at an out-of-the-way Springfield, Ill., sports complex. If the test succeeds, it...

Pennsylvania reaches milestone.
April 1, 1999... Pennsylvania reached a major milestone in 1998 with no fatal mining accidents occurring in any underground bituminous coal or industrial minerals mining operations. This is only the second year in history no underground miners lost their lives....

Construction and cement consumption.
April 1, 1999... The most current Portland Cement Association (PCA) forecast of construction and cement consumption - released in March - shows an increase in portland cement by 3.5 percent in September on a year-over- year basis. It also shows that each of the...

Value of construction.
April 1, 1999... Construction put in place during December 1998 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $688.5 billion, two percent above the revised November estimate of $676.6 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The December figure...

Proposed 3809 changes.
April 1, 1999... The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has made a proposed rule that would revise the agency's 3809 surface mining regulations. The proposed rule is intended to prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of public land resources by mining...

Teaster meets NSA.
April 1, 1999... The National Stone Association hosted a "get-to-know" meeting between Earnie Teaster, MSHA's newly appointed administrator for metal/nonmetal, and NSA members and staff. Teaster, whose career in mining began at the Bureau of Mines in 1969,...

During the injury.(part 2 of 3)
April 1, 1999... This is the second in a three-part series on the causes of injury. - ed. In 1963, safety guru William Haddon Jr. proposed that injury or property damage could only occur when there is an energy transfer greater than the ability of the...

OSHA Inspections.
April 1, 1999... Many stone companies that are regulated by MSHA also have asphalt, ready mix, block and pipe operations or terminals that are under OSHA's jurisdiction. OSHA has detailed regulations that are too voluminous to be easily absorbed. OSHA...

Southeast report.
April 1, 1999... Strong local and national economies, good weather, increased government spending and bond issues have combined to provide remarkable business conditions for aggregates producers in the Southeast region of the United States. Nationally, an...

Has the Con-Expo-Con/Agg show grown too large for its own good?
April 1, 1999... I just returned from a week in Las Vegas at the massive ConExpo-Con/Agg construction and aggregates show. The show was more than a show - it was an industry event without parallel. A spectacle by any measuring stick you might use. Prior to the...

Producer hailed as hero.
April 1, 1999... Joshua Billig (below)of Rockers Stone and Supply, Miami is being hailed as a hero for declining a high-paying job that would have involved removing a 2,000-year-old monument that sits on a controversial development site. Billig was...

Equipment Financing:Manufacturers are responding to customers' needs with highly competitive financial products and terms.
April 1, 1999... One of the last things equipment manufacturers want is for potential customers to find it difficult to lease or buy equipment for their pit and quarry operations. Manufacturers emphasize they will walk far beyond the extra mile to ensure that...

Put yourself in good hands.
April 1, 1999... Essentially all manufacturers require their customers to obtain some form of property and casualty insurance in order to secure financing for equipment purchases. But threats to the financial health of pit and quarry operations don't just...

Urethane compound solves drilling problem.
April 1, 1999... Coastal Drilling & Blasting uses a hydraulic rock drill in a majority of its business ventures. When a component of the drill was not working properly, a solution had to be found - fast. Coastal's dust-collection system was encountering a...

Improved oil targeted to off-highway.
April 1, 1999... After decades of base stock research, Mobil scientists have created Mobil Delvac 1300 Super to offer the highest level of engine performance to the equipment user. By combining high-quality base stock with a carefully balanced additive system...

Enhancing excavator performance.
April 1, 1999... Komatsu America has enhanced its Power Up feature on Dash-6 excavators with a new Active Mode feature. The Active Mode feature enhances the performance of the excavators' five working modes - heavy duty, general, finishing, lifting and breaker...

Spreadsheets provide solutions.
April 1, 1999... Computers and modern software can provide answers and solutions, reduce man-hours and streamline operations. Maptek is providing this technology for aggregate producers with its Chronos software. Chronos uses object-oriented spreadsheets...

Going to the dump.
April 1, 1999... Recognizing the need for a straightforward, cost-competitive dump truck, Kenworth Truck Co. has developed the WorkCab. The Class 8 dump truck is lightweight and maneuverable, allowing dump-truck operators to carry more payload in tight delivery...

Electronics aid peak performance.
April 1, 1999... In a world of increasing environmental legislation and fluctuating gas prices, aggregate operators need technology to keep up with these demands. The Caterpillar Truck Engine Division continues to work towards making these ever changing...

White Wash: A Florida building contractor turns his "borrow pit" into a profitable beach sand operation.
April 1, 1999... When Hurricane Opal smashed into the Florida Panhandle, it devastated the barrier islands, washing into the Gulf the white sand for which Florida's beaches are so popular. The contractors - and especially their suppliers - who won the original...

Aggregates production sets record.
April 1, 1999... It was a record year for aggregates production in 1998, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Geological Survey. Fourth quarter and year-end statistics indicate major increases in both crushed stone, and sand and gravel production...

New construction contracts slip 4 percent in January.
April 1, 1999... New construction activity in January retreated 4 percent from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $370.8 billion, according to F.W. Dodge. Reduced contracting was reported for housing and nonbuilding construction...

Mid-Atlantic conference held.
April 1, 1999... More than 350 people attended the Mid-Atlantic Concrete and Aggregate Forum Feb. 23-24 in Atlantic City. The event - sponsored by the New Jersey Concrete and Aggregates Association (NJCAA) - featured exhibits, seminars and programs for a wide...

CIMA reports growth in equipment shipments.
April 1, 1999... The construction equipment manufacturing industry continued to expand in 1998, with machinery shipments increasing 15.4 percent over the previous year, according to a quarterly business report released by the Construction Industry Manufacturers...

Hanson positioned for growth.
April 1, 1999... Hanson Building Materials America is poised to increase its presence in the U.S. market. It has unified its corporate structure in the United States and admits it is looking to grow even bigger. "We unified our corporate structure to...

Luck Stone acquires operations to serve Virginia.
April 1, 1999... Luck Stone acquired its second sand and gravel operation in recent months. Smith Sand and Gravel of Caroline County, Va., was acquired in December, and the assets of King William Sand and Gravel Co. were purchased in February. The Smith...

Oglebay Norton announces formation of holding company.
April 1, 1999... Oglebay Norton Company announced the completion of its earlier announced corporate restructuring to become a holding company. According to John N. Lauer, chairman, president and CEO of the company, the change in structure was accomplished...

Explosives industry professionals gather.
April 1, 1999... The International Society of Explosives Engineers sponsored its 25th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique and Exhibition at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Participation at the February event was strong as more than 1,400...

Rumbaugh named recipient.
April 1, 1999... Roy F. Rumbaugh, chairman of McLanahan Corp., Hollidaysburg, Pa., was named as the recipient of the second annual Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award. The award was presented last month at the National Stone Association and National...

Martin Marietta Materials responds to Vulcan lawsuit.
April 1, 1999... Martin Marietta Materials Inc. stated that its wholly owned subsidiary, Martin Marietta Southwest Inc. (formerly know as Redland Stone Products Co.), has been sued by Vulcan Materials Co. A spokesperson for Vulcan Materials Co. confirms...

Vulcan changes management.
April 1, 1999... Vulcan Materials Co. has changed its management by appointing Guy M. Badgett III to senior vice president, Construction Materials East, and Ejaz A. Khan to vice president and controller of the company. Badgett will have responsibility for...

Bridgestone/Firestone celebrates anniversary.
April 1, 1999... The Bridgestone/Firestone Off Road Tire Co. (BFOR) is celebrating five years of business and growth. Created in 1994 from the off-road division for Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Sales Co., the company has seen revenues rise 300 percent. It...

People in the News.
April 1, 1999... Bruce Viau was put in charge of Special Projects for Kolberg-Pioneer Inc. William Reid was named vice president and regional manager for the southern region of Global Stone Corp. and Joseph Ferrell was promoted to the position of general...

Digging Deeper: An Iowa producer uses a special underground mining method to access a hard-to-reach deposit.
April 1, 1999... In North America, for well over a century, the method of excavating rock to produce aggregate is still the open-pit method. There is good reason: the method can be economical. There are, nevertheless, some limitations to using this method. For...

Safe, not expensive.
April 1, 1999... An objective with any underground construction project is to build a quality structure with the safest yet least expensive method available. In the United States, the NATM system has been proven on some notable highway and subway tunnel...

How to Choose a Truck Scale: There are many factors to consider when choosing weighing technology for your pit or quarry.
April 1, 1999... Truck scales are an integral part of a quarry operation. Controlling inventory, knowing the value of the transaction and the ability to ship the maximum possible load without exceeding highway weight limits are all benefits of a good scale....

Vehicle scale check list.
April 1, 1999... A vehicle scale is a major investment and probably represents one of the most expensive weighing systems you will ever buy. With that expense in mind, the decision must be founded in long-range planning that takes into account all present and,...

Aggregate Machinery Inc.
April 1, 1999... Make an impact on your bottom line with the Thunderbird II horizontal shaft impact crushing plant. The impact crusher is fed with a vibrating grizzly feeder and the plant is mounted for travel with a fifth wheel towing plate and triple-axle...

American Vulkan Corp.
April 1, 1999... With a variety of designs and materials, American VULKAN can supply a coupling for new or existing applications. Flexomax Jaw Couplings feature rubber or urethane elements and handle up to 428,000 lb.-ft. torque. Shaft-to-shaft and...

TerraSource Software.
April 1, 1999... TerraSource Software, formerly EarthView Software, offers modeling and planning software for the aggregates industry. The software, Quarry, is a low-cost, fully functional modeling and planning software system. The GPS software is based on data...

Major Wire Industries Ltd.
April 1, 1999... Flex-Mat(r) self-cleaning screens eliminate pegging and clogging. The top picture shows a pegged woven-wire screen (11/48-in. openings) pegged after four hours of operation, versus Flex-Mat(r) D screen (11/48-in. openings) after two weeks of...

CAPpro.
April 1, 1999... Capital Procurement Ltd., or CAPpro, offers financing solutions for aggregates producers. The company offers special financing options for both new and used equipment, for either lease or purchase.

Simple Test.
April 1, 1999... A University of Maryland (UM) team of researchers is now working on finding a simple performance test procedure that will provide a quick, effective and economical way to assess the performance of Superpave mixes. The UM team is evaluating...

A show full of help.
April 1, 1999... Much of the equipment aggregate producers will need to meet Superpave requirements will be on display at ConExpo-Con/Agg '99. One example is the UltraMax 69 impact crusher from Eagle Crusher Co. Featuring the industry's largest solid steel...

Smart Conveyors: Online monitoring of bearings and gear reducers can help producers increase productivity.
April 1, 1999... By monitoring the vital parameters of bearings and gearboxes it is possible to substantially increase the up time of your equipment. These parameters include temperature, vibration, speed and pressure. New technology has been developed to...

Portable rip-rap plant.
April 1, 1999... Simplicity offers a self-contained, high-production screening and scalping system for rip-rap. The plant features Simplicity's 45-in.- wide heavy-duty grizzly feeder. It handles up to 42-in. material and makes three product separations....

Weighfeeders.
April 1, 1999... Milltronics offers a complete line of weighfeeder solutions with its AutoWeigh series. Models in the AutoWeigh series have feed rate capabilities from less than 100 lb./hr. to more than 800 tph. Options available include a full range of...

Cone crusher.
April 1, 1999... Svedala offers the H-6000 Hydrocone crusher. Features include Svedala's Hydroset system that allows setting adjustments via a heavy-duty hydraulic cylinder that shifts and adjusts the position of the mainshaft and provides automatic overload...

Oval motion screens.
April 1, 1999... Johnson Crushers International (JCI) offers double and triple-deck oval motion screens in sizes ranging from 5-ft. x 14-ft. to 7-ft. x 20-ft. The oval stroke shed length and timing angle can be quickly changed to accommodate a wide variety of...

Excavator.
April 1, 1999... Hitachi offers the upgraded Super EX270-5 excavator. The biggest upgrade to the unit is the addition of Hitachi's Dash-5 computerized engine horsepower and pump oil flow control system. Compared to the replaced EX270, the EX270-5 has 11 percent...

Crushing system.
April 1, 1999... Eagle Crusher Co.'s portable Stealth 2 UltraMax 05 crushing system is capable of producing two cubical products simultaneously. Eagle Crusher has added an Eagle stacker and a double-deck screen to process 150 tph while maintaining the mobility...

Floodlights.
April 1, 1999... Allmand Bros. Inc. offers a line of portable, high-intensity floodlights that feature Allmand's SHO (super high output) fixtures. The Port-A-Lite (PAL) 1000W4 features one 1,000-watt, 120-volt SHO lamp and fixture as standard equipment, while...

Flowback nozzle system.
April 1, 1999... Spraying Systems Co. offers a Flowback Nozzle System to provide gas cooling while reducing water usage and maintenance. According to the company, a unique design allows the system to maintain a consistent drop size over a wide range of flow...