Pit & Quarry articles from August 2001

Pit & Quarry archives from August 2001

Florida Rock Industries.(purchases U.S. Aggregates Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... * Florida Rock Industries has agreed to purchase the assets of U.S. Aggregates Inc. located in the southeastern U.S. Included are seven operating stone quarries, two sand operations, one ready-mix operation and certain other stone quarry sites....

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Assn.
August 1, 2001... * The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Assn. (NSSGA) has asked Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao for reconsideration and a stay of the MSHA's interim final HazCom Rule set to go into effect Oct. 3. NSSGA says the rule is unnecessary for the...

The NSSGA and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Assn.(infrastructure investment promotion)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... * The NSSGA and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Assn. joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the launch of a coalition to promote public investment in the nation's transportation infrastructure. The coalition -- Americans for Transportation...

The American Road & Transportation Builders Assn.
August 1, 2001... * The American Road & Transportation Builders Assn. and the National Asphalt Pavement Assn. have pledged a combined $2 million to support a permanent exhibition called "America on the Move" at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American...

WASHINGTON WIRE.(diesel particulate matter in mines)(United States. Department of Labor)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced that her department has reached a partial settlement of the legal challenges to the final rule on diesel particulate matter levels in underground metal and nonmetal mines. Among numerous protections, the...

RED FLAGS.(mining industry accident rates)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... [C] Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao challenged the mining community to reduce accident rates. Fatal-injury rates in the industry dipped in the first quarter of 2001 compared with the same period in 2000. [C] In a fight that would have...

STOCK WATCH.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... STOCK WATCH (AT PRESS TIME) THIS MONTH LAST MONTH Centex Construction Prod. d 32.85 30.36 Florida Rock Industries d 53.16 ...

Essential Economics.(Monthly Construction Contract Value)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... Monthly Construction Contract Value Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, in Millions May 2001 Apr. 2001 % Change Nonresidential Building $151,371 $166,047 -9 Residential Building ...

The House voted to approve the FY 2002 transportation spending bill.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... * The House voted to approve the FY 2002 transportation spending bill, and the Senate version was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Senate bill is $686 million (4.6 percent) larger than the House bill.

USG Corp.(files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... * USG Corp. has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to manage the growing asbestos litigation costs of its United States Gypsum Co. subsidiary and to resolve asbestos claims in a fair and...

The best is in the West.(Aggregate Industries' plant in Brighton, CO, is named Pit & Quarry Producer of the Year)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This issue features the winners of our annual Pit & Quarry "Success Story Awards" contest, which includes the Producer of the Year and our Web Site Awards. This year's Producer of the Year is Aggregate Industries' Tucson Plant in Brighton,...

WEG motor now lighter, more corrosion-resistant.(WEG Electric Motors Corp. has redesigned its 56 frame ODP motor)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... WEG Electric Motors Corp. has redesigned its 56 frame ODP motor. WEG has improved a number of features in the unit, making it lighter and more corrosion resistant. Some features of the new design include an improved opposite drive end-shield. A...

Excavator improves productivity.(New from Caterpillar Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... Caterpillar has upgraded its 97,940-lb. 345B L hydraulic excavator with several enhancements that increase productivity. The 345B L Series II offers increased horsepower, improved maximum hydraulic flow, greater swing torque, increased drawbar...

A nozzle for fast refueling.(From the AdelWiggins Group)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... Wiggins' redesigned fast refueling nozzle combines lightweight, aerospace, impact-resistant composites and cast aluminum construction with fail-safe, dry-break, no-spill technology. As the major supplier of mobile and fixed refueling equipment...

Florida Rock buys southeastern operations.(assets of U.S. Aggregates Inc. located in the southeastern United States)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Florida Rock Industries Inc. has agreed to purchase the assets of U.S. Aggregates Inc. located in the southeastern United States for approximately $105 million cash, plus the assumption of certain external debt and equipment operating leases,...

Martin Marietta Materials acquires Oklahoma quarry.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Martin Marietta Materials Inc. has purchased Material Producers Inc. (MPI). MPI operates a limestone quarry near Davis, Okla., which serves the Norman and Oklahoma City areas. The quarry has annual capacity of about 1.6 million tons, with...

Lafarge to manage Blue Circle's North American assets.(Lafarge S.A. to acquire Blue Circle Industries PLC)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... In a move that will create the largest combined cement operation in the United States, the board of directors of Lafarge Corp. approved an agreement in principle with the company's majority shareholder, Lafarge S.A., to manage and operate...

A Closer Look : Granite Construction builds backlog.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... Granite Construction is recognized as one of the largest builders of roads, dams, bridges and other infrastructure systems in the country. But it also produces a significant volume of crushed stone, sand and gravel at operations in California,...

New Jersey Concrete and Aggregate Assn. boosting forum.
August 1, 2001... Look for more attendees next year at the Mid-Atlantic Concrete, Construction and Aggregate Forum 2002 now that the Mid-Atlantic region's largest construction materials tradeshow will host the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's (NRMCA)...

MAA holds summer meeting.(Michigan Aggregates Association)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Michigan Aggregates Assn. (MAA) held its Summer Meeting in July at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse, City, Mich. Included in the business side of the meeting was an association finance report and legal update. Topics of the meeting...

The Murdock Group Holding Corp.(reports Clear Capital Holdings Inc.'s acquisition of Larson Limestone Company Inc.)(Larson Limestone Co. Inc.,)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... The Murdock Group Holding Corp. says its wholly owned subsidiary, Clear Capital Holdings Inc., has acquired Larson Limestone Co. Inc., a Utah corporation doing business as Pelican Point Inc. in a cash and stock deal valued at $7 million....

Atlas Mining Co.(to purchase Dragon Mine, Juab County, UT)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... Atlas Mining Co. has signed a lease purchase agreement to acquire the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah. The Dragon Mine consists of 38 patented claims of high-grade halloysite clay including a reserve of approximately 300,000 tons and a...

Oglebay Norton Co. and U.S. Concrete Inc.(Added to Russell 2000 index)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Oglebay Norton Co. and U.S. Concrete Inc. each have been added to the Russell 2000 index. The Russell 2000 Index is comprised of the smallest 2,000 companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The annual reconstitution of the Russell 3000 Index...

Friday clean.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... By quitting time Friday the shop is hosed down and "squeegee" clean. That's not all. No switchgear is blocked, no fire extinguisher is blocked, no inspection tag is out of date, no tool is out of place (that includes jacks, chain falls, drop...

25 years and counting.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Luck Stone Corp.'s Augusta Plant in Staunton, Va., achieved a major safety milestone: 25 years without a lost-time accident. Charles Luck IV, president and CEO, celebrated the event with a special luncheon for plant employees. The plant...

HazCom compliance.(identifying hazardous chemicals)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... This is the second in a two-part series on HazCom compliance - Ed. HazCom is a program that requires all mine operators to survey their mines and identify all hazardous chemicals on the property. The program further requires mine operators...

Class action lawsuit commenced against U.S. Aggregates Inc.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... A class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of purchasers of U.S. Aggregates Inc. publicly traded securities during the period between April 25, 2000 and April 2, 2001...

TXI, Cemex settle Southdown CemStar litigation.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... TXI announced the settlement of its litigation with Southdown Inc., now a subsidiary of Cemex, regarding alleged patent infringement of TXI's CemStar process. TXI filed suit against Southdown in 1999 to resolve questions of infringement...

South Central report.
August 1, 2001... Stone producers in the South Central region of the United States report steady market conditions, though market conditions in Texas -- the region's biggest producer by far -- are softening somewhat after a tremendous surge in the late 1990s....

Grassroots growth.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... According to Amy Showalter, president of The Showalter Group, a legislative and grassroots programs consultant, the public's knowledge and curiosity about the political system have never been higher. Showalter says it pays to educate your...

A talk with MSHA's Dave Lauriski.(Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration)
August 1, 2001... Pit & Quarry conducts the first major interview with new MSHA chief Dave Lauriski. This is the second in a two-part series. You can read the entire interview online at www.pitandquarry.com - Ed. P&Q: Before drafting the changes in MSHA's...

ICAR addresses highway needs.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Researchers focus on aggregate characteristics and automated analyzers in quest for performance-based specifications. Part two in a three-part series. Researchers and industry appear to agree on the need to learn more about aggregates used...

As Good as Gold.(Aggregate Industries' Tucson Plant in Brighton, CO, is named Pit & Quarry Producer of the Year)
August 1, 2001... 2001 Producer of the Year Aggregate Industries' Tucson Plant Brighton, Colo. For the fifth year, Pit & Quarry selects a Producer of the Year -- an operation that displays exemplary performance in operations, training, safety,...

Following footprints.(Michelin tires)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The footprint, or contact patch, of a tire is an important component in tire performance. Simply defined, the tire footprint is the area of tire tread that contacts the ground. The larger the footprint, the more contact with the ground, the...

Sand-screw alternative.(Classification and Flotation Systems' High-intensity dewatering screens)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... High-intensity dewatering screens from Classification and Flotation Systems Inc. (CFS) use a high-speed, high g-force and inclined, uphill polyurethane deck at 5 degrees to reduce moisture by almost half that of sand screws. Typically,...

A Pennsylvania steel castings manufacturer.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... * A Pennsylvania steel castings manufacturer has developed a long-wearing manganese material for the crushing industry. The Frog Switch & Manufacturing Co. launched its new WearWolf brand wear parts after a year and a half of field testing. ...

In an effort to meet industry demands.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... * In an effort to meet industry demands for decreased consumption costs and to meet new MSHA noise standards, Furukawa Rock Drill has developed two new drill rig series, which offer low cost of operation and a quiet, dust-free operator...

Equipment of Tomorrow : Interference-free excavator.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Experienced excavator operators rarely smack the arm of the machine into unintended objects. But, accidents do happen, and experience sometimes is the result of years of trial and error. Unfortunately, one of the prime candidates for impact...

Fountain of Youth.(targeting young job seekers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Ask any aggregate producer to name his biggest challenge, and you can bet the answer will have something to do with his inability to find qualified workers. The labor shortage is widespread throughout the construction trades as young people are...

Producer garage sale.(EarthKing launches online marketplace for Martin Marietta Materials)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Producer garage sale -- EarthKing launched a comprehensive surplus used-equipment marketplace for Martin Marietta Materials. The Web-based marketplace replaces Martin Marietta's current paper-based process of sending out quarterly surplus and...

More used equipment.(from JCB web site)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... More used equipment -- JCB e.zone provides JCB customers with seamless access to construction equipment services. It is accessible through the company's Web site at JCBna.com. Contractors and dealers who are looking for used equipment will have...

Faster glass.(fiber glass lines and Internet speed)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Faster glass -- Purdue University engineers have discovered that a device commonly used to untangle signals sent over fiber optic lines might ultimately be used to make the Internet faster and more powerful. "This is the first time that anybody...

Lease transfer.(LeaseTrading.com)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Lease transfer -- LeaseTrading.com has created an online marketplace for the transferring of equipment leases from a current to a new lessee. The service enables each party involved in the lease transfer process to communicate with all other...

Web of welding.(Miller Electric Mfg. Co. web site)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Web of welding -- Miller Electric Mfg. Co.'s Web site at MillerWelds.com features online buying and list prices for all products. Online resources also include access to the company's welding experts, the ability to download owner's manuals, a...

Information management.(Trinity Consultants, EMSoft)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Trinity Consultants has partnered with Australian-based EMSoft, a provider of innovative information management solutions, to become the exclusive distributor of Integrum software in North America. Integrum enables organizations of all sizes to...

Project management.(Dexter + Chaney software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Dexter + Chaney has released enhanced Project Management software as a part of its Forefront Construction Management Software for materials and construction companies. Project Management, a fully integrated component of Forefront, is designed...

Impact vs. Jaw : The impact crusher might be an underutilized tool in the search for efficient crushing.(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... In today's market, squeezing every ton of efficiency out of the plant can make the difference. An area that is getting more and more attention is the selection or upgrade of the primary crusher. I would like to offer some thoughts on the...

Wet-Belt Blues : At TXI's Bridgeport Quarry, wet-belt splice life has been tripled by a special bolted-plate belt fastener.
August 1, 2001... Aggregate producers usually find that producing clean crushed stone leads to faster wear-out and more frequent replacement of mechanical conveyor-belt splicing, especially on those conveyors carrying stone that is still wet from scrubbers and...

Oils & Lubes SPEC SHEET.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 1, 2001... Castrol Dieselall Plus 800-777-1466 www.castrolhdl.com Exceeds API CH-4 specifications. Blended with high-quality Group II base stocks. Severely refined to provide maximum oxidation and deposit control. Additive package...

Oil Upgrade : Evaluating the quality of oil being used may help reduce downtime.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Equipment uptime is increasingly important at a time when bottom-line profitability is paramount. The relationship between generating maximum revenue and profits is clear. However, what is not so clear is the relationship between higher priced...

Vocational vehicles.(Mack Granite series)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Mack Trucks Inc. offers the Mack Granite series of vehicles. With a variety of configurations available, the Granite product offers improved comfort, visibility and easy cab entry/exit. Additional features include the Body-Link electrical...

AC drive systems.(Eriez Magnetics)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Eriez Magnetics' patented AC operated electromagnetic drive systems can reduce power consumption by more than 60 percent compared to competitive drive systems. The watch-like precision of the variable speed AC drive has no moving or rotating...

AC motor.(from Rockwell Automation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Rockwell Automation offers a brochure featuring the Reliance Liberator large AC motor. The four-page, four-color brochure features six color photographs, as well as detailed listings of product features, design elements, and available...

Road weigher plates.(Totalcomp Scales & Components CAS RW-P)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Totalcomp Scales & Components offers CAS RW-P Road Weigher Plates. According to the company, these weighing plates are a fraction of the cost of full electronic truck scales and are light enough to accommodate portability yet large enough for...

Jaw crusher.(Lippman-Milwaukee Inc. model 3650)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Lippmann-Milwaukee Inc. offers the model 3650 Jaw Crusher for aggregate processing applications requiring maximum capacity. The Lippmann Jaw features a unique chamber design, a larger eccentric throw and a toggle plate set at an optimum angle...

Protective eyewear.(from Uvex Safety)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Uvex Safety offers the Uvex Cool 2 protective eyewear. The frameless eyewear features a 7-base unilens construction that provides outstanding peripheral protection from side impacts along with a continuous field of view. The lightweight eyewear...

Hammers.(Sandvik Tamrock's Rammer 20 Series)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Rammer 20 Series hammers from Sandvik Tamrock are designed to provide maximum breaking power at all blows regardless of engine speed, says the company. The 20 Series features six basic models with ratings from the 200 to 1,600-ft.-lb impact...

Demolition grapples.(Breaker Technology Inc., products)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... BTI (Breaker Technology Inc.) offers the HG Series demolition grapples. Designed for installation on medium to large excavators, these BTI grapples are high strength and wear resistant for sorting and loading demolition debris. The BTI HG...

Excavator (carryover from July issue).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... LBX Co. adds the 330 LX to the Link-Belt LX Series. The 330 LX has an operating weight of 78,000 lb. and features an Isuzu AA-6HK1XQB engine with 247 hp. The 330 LX is configured with a 21-ft. 2-in. boom and has three available arm lengths. The...

Radar transmitter (carryover from July issue).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Bindicator offers a patented continuous level radar transmitter utilizing a new radar technology. Twin axial transmission and variable gain amplification allow an increased signal-to-noise ratio and compensation for loss in signal strength....

Diesel engine oils (carryover from July issue).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The 76 Lubricants Co. offers an upgraded line of monograde heavy-duty diesel engine oils. The T5X monogrades (SAE 30, 40 and 50) have been reformulated to 1.0 wt. percent sulfated ash, 8.0 TBN products that meet API CF-2, CF and SJ...

Idlers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Superior Industries manufactures a full line of CEMA conveyor belt idlers. The styles available include troughing, self aligning, channel mount, unequal troughing, impact, return, disk return, return aligner and flat carrier idlers. This wide...

Linings.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Rhino Linings manufactures sprayed-on, polyurethane linings that protect vehicles, equipment and facilities from damage caused by wear and tear in demanding work environments. Rhino forms an airtight, non-skid barrier that protects virtually...

Portable plant.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Grasan KRH1515 primary impact crusher plant with hydraulic controls provides ratios of as much as 30 to 1 in closed circuit with 15 to 20 percent greater production than a same-size conventional impactor. The company says it also offers...

Sandvik to acquire part of Svedala.(Svedala Industri)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... Sandvik, the Swedish engineering group, agreed to acquire part of Svedala Industri, the Swedish industrial group, through the Sandvik mining and construction unit. The Svedala unit will be acquired from Metso Corp., the Finnish manufacturer of...

Caterpillar Inc. recognized for tech innovation.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Caterpillar's Electronic and Electrical Systems Business Unit accepted two Mentor Graphics Awards in the category of Transportation/Automotive Design and Best Design Overall for the Cat Electronics' ABL2CS electronic control module. The module...

Terex Corp. to acquire CMI Corp.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... Terex Corp. signed a definitive merger agreement with CMI Corp. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions including CMI shareholder and regulatory approval, is expected to close during the third quarter of 2001. CMI...

Marketing alliance formed for IDD system.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The J.F. Brennan Co. and Phoenix Process Equipment have formed a marketing alliance to promote their Integrated Dredging & Dewatering system (IDD). The IDD process provides for simultaneous dredging and dewatering of sediment while...

At Breaker Technology Inc.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... * At Breaker Technology Inc., Robert McArthur becomes director of international sales; Pat Hoggatt becomes regional sales manager for the Mideast region, Debra Ferguson becomes controller and Sharon Johnston is now marketing manager.

Mark Riso.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... * Mark Riso, former National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association staffer, joins the Plexus Consulting Group LLC in Washington, D.C., as a senior advisor. He can be reached at 202-785-8940.

Caterpillar Inc.(executives changes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... * Caterpillar Inc. Controller Robert R. Gallagher retires following 31 years of service to the company. Kenneth J. Zika takes over that position, while Kevin E. Colgan becomes corporate treasurer.

Kolberg-Pioneer.(staffing changes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... * Kolberg-Pioneer appoints Greg Stach to engineering manager and Rick Hutmacher to project engineer --research and development.

Off-Highway Congress to convene : The 2002 event will also feature cyber cafes with free e-mail access for attendees and exhibitors.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... ConExpo-Con/Agg 2002 and IFPE 2002 show management has announced the co-location of the International Off-Highway Congress of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), bringing an expanded engineering segment to the shows, which will be held...

TxDOT program promotes recycling : GIS INVENTORY OF RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS HELPS INCREASE USE IN PROJECTS STATEWIDE.(Texas Department of Transportation, geographic information system)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... A statewide initiative by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to increase the amount of recycled materials used in road construction is meeting with success. Seven years into the program, TxDOT is spending $200 million a year on...

Update: Michigan DOT to grind noisy interstate.(Department of Transportation, experimental texture on concrete pavement)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Michigan State Transportation Commission decided in late June to grind off an experimental texture that is blamed for higher-than-expected noise from a new section of concrete pavement on I-275 near Detroit (see Supply Chain, Pit & Quarry,...

Pervious parking lots premiere in California.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... California's first pervious concrete parking lot was recently completed at a park in Fair Oaks, near Sacramento. In addition to pollution prevention and stormwater-management benefits, the light-colored pavement is expected to be 20 to 40...

Koch introduces paving products.(Strata, ReFlex)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... Koch Materials Co. added two products -- ReFlex and Strata -- to its Pavement Solutions brand to improve asphalt pavement performance. ReFlex is a solventless, water-based emulsion for cold in-place recycling. It is designed to improve...

Asphalt Institute schedules maintenance seminars.
August 1, 2001... The Asphalt Institute's one-day seminar on routine and preventive maintenance of asphalt pavements is being offered at 13 locations throughout the Southeast U.S. this fall. Between August 28 and October 4, the seminar will be held in Florida,...

CSR America.(purchases Mid-Coast Concrete Co.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... CSR America acquired Mid-Coast Concrete Co., the leading producer of concrete block and the number two ready-mix supplier in the northern Tampa Bay, Fla., area, including Pasco and Citrus counties. CSR did not have facilities in these counties....

U.S. Concrete.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... U.S. Concrete acquired L.H. Lacy Co. in Texas; and Central Concrete Corp. and Central Industries Red Bank in New Jersey. Lacy's ready-mix operation increases U.S. Concrete's fleet utilization by expanding its market into the North Dallas/Ft....

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the National Safety Council (NSC) have teamed up to develop and distribute a new program, OSHA 10-Hour Training Exclusively for the Roadway Construction Industry. The...

Granite Construction Inc.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... Granite Construction Inc. signed an agreement to purchase 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Halmar Builders of New York Inc. Halmar is one of the largest heavy civil construction firms operating in the metropolitan New York City area,...