Pit & Quarry articles from February 2004

Pit & Quarry archives from February 2004

Centex spins off its construction materials division into a separate company called Eagle Materials.(Top News)
February 1, 2004... * Centex spins off its Construction Materials Division into a separate company called Eagle Materials. The move was effective January 30.

Caterpillar Inc.(Top News)
February 1, 2004... * Caterpillar Inc. joins other U.S. diesel engine manufacturers in announcing its intention to meet 2007 EPA emissions standards without the use of what the company calls costly and complex Selective Catalytic Reduction technology.

Florida Rock Industries Inc.(Top News)
February 1, 2004... * Florida Rock Industries Inc. elects Francis X. Knott and William H. Walton III to its board of directors.

AECI Ltd. of South Africa and Dyno Nobel ASA of Norway have agreed to form a 50/50 joint venture company, DetNet International.(Top News)
February 1, 2004... * AECI Ltd. of South Africa and Dyno Nobel ASA of Norway have agreed to form a 50/50 joint venture company, DetNet International.

MSHA.(Top News)(United States. Mine Safety and Health Administration)
February 1, 2004... * Mining fatalities in 2003 were at their lowest level since statistics were first recorded in 1910, according to preliminary numbers from MSHA. There were a record-low 26 fatalities in the metal/nonmetal sector, the third year that fatalities...

Associated Aggregates International Inc.(Top News)(Obituary)
February 1, 2004... * W. R. "Pat" Broaddus, Associated Aggregates International Inc., Dalton, Ga., passed away after a long bout with cancer.

Dick Bell.(Top News)
February 1, 2004... * Dick Bell joined Major Wire Industries Ltd. as western region product specialist. For more producer news, see the Stockpile section on page 10. For breaking news, visit our Web site at www.pitandquarry.com.

Washington wire.(Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics)(United States. Mine Safety and Health Administration)
February 1, 2004... * The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced $3.9 million in grants to 13 states to establish an electronic system of digitizing underground maps for abandoned mines. * MSHA recommends that all applicants for approval of...

Red flags.(Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics)(quarry blasting rules)
February 1, 2004... * St. Charles County, Mo., executive Joe Ortwerth says the county's quarry blasting rules should be tightened to reduce annoyance to nearby residents, not just to minimize the chance of damaging their homes, according to a story in The St....

Stock watch.(Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics)(construction industry)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... STOCK WATCH (AT PRESS TIME) THIS MONTH LAST MONTH Cemex SA d 26.94 25.48 Centex Construction Prod. f 55.12 58.47 Florida Rock Industries ...

Essential economics.(Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics)
February 1, 2004... * New construction starts in November 2003 increased 1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $549 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Nonbuilding construction in November 2003...

Portland Cement Association (PCA).(Other Economic News ...)
February 1, 2004... * The U.S. economy is set to move into high gear in 2004 according to the latest economic forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA). The optimistic outlook arrives courtesy of recent improvements in U.S. labor markets. However, PCA...

Banner year for safety.(Mark My Words)
February 1, 2004... In 1911, 883 miners lost their lives on the job in the metal/nonmetal sector. According to MSHA's just-released 2003 fatality statistics, 26 miners lost their lives in the metal/nonmetal sector. That's a decrease of 857 lives. What a difference...

On-the-go crushing.(Brand new: just released to the market)(from Kolberg-Pioneer Inc.)
February 1, 2004... Kolberg-Pioneer Inc.'s new track-mounted offering is the RT 4250 horizontal shaft impact crushing plant. The company says that operators can drive the plant off the transport trailer and begin crushing. The RT 4250 will crush on the go,...

DTH carbide bits.(Brand new: just released to the market)(from Rockmore International Inc.)
February 1, 2004... Rockmore International's new Multi-Dome carbide design for DTH drill bits is designed to provide faster bit penetration rates while ensuring greater overall insert life. The Multi-Dome's unique dual-diameter design enhances bit performance by...

320-ton truck.(Brand new: just released to the market)(from Komatsu America Corp.)
February 1, 2004... Komatsu America Corp. introduced the newest member of its ultra class truck family, the 2,700-hp, 930E-3 AC electric drive truck with a 320-ton capacity. Designed to provide increased productivity, lower cost per ton hauled and improved speed...

Centex Corp. to spin off Centex Construction Products.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)
February 1, 2004... Centex Corp. announced that Laurence E. Hirsch, Centex's CEO since 1988 and its chairman of the board since 1991, will retire from both positions effective March 31, 2004--the end of the company's current fiscal year. Hirsch will continue...

Caterpillar will meet regulations without SCR technology.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)
February 1, 2004... Caterpillar Inc. joined other U.S. diesel engine manufacturers in announcing its intention to meet 2007 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards without the use of what the company calls costly and complex Selective...

Caterpillar completes EPA 2004 certification for on-highway line.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)
February 1, 2004... Caterpillar Inc. says it is the first engine manufacturer to offer a complete line of 2004 model year clean diesel engines that are fully compliant and certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The 2004 regulations are more...

Florida Rock Industries elects new board members.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)
February 1, 2004... Florida Rock Industries Inc. announced that Francis X. Knott and William H. Walton III have been elected to its board of directors. Knott is chairman of Partners Management Co. LLC and Partners Realty Trust Inc., real estate management firms....

Aggregate industry veteran joins Major Wire Industries.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)
February 1, 2004... Aggregate-equipment-industry veteran Dick Bell joined Montreal-based Major Wire Industries Ltd. as western region product specialist. Bell brings significant experience, having spent the past 12 years serving aggregate dealers and producers for...

Dyno Nobel, AECI to form electronic detonator joint venture.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)(DetNet International)
February 1, 2004... AECI Ltd. of South Africa and Dyno Nobel ASA of Norway have agreed to form a 50/50 joint venture company, DetNet International. Christopher Whitehouse, the current managing director of DetNet Solutions Ltd., will be named the CEO for the new...

Aggregates industry loses strong supporter.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)(Associated Aggregates International Inc.)
February 1, 2004... W. R. "Pat" Broaddus, Associated Aggregates International Inc., Dalton, Ga., passed away after a long bout with cancer. Broaddus was a member of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association's (NSSGA) Manufacturers Service Division. He was...

Rock art.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A 10-ft.-tall chunk of limestone has become a large and imposing work of art at Iowa-based Schildberg Construction Inc.'s Jefferson Quarry. For many years, the rock was a target for spray-painting vandals, according to the company's Greg...

Onboard computer.(Tech watch: cutting-edge solutions)(Command Alkon Inc.)
February 1, 2004... The CommandFleet Vehicle Status Computer Version 3 (CF-VSC3) from Command Alkon Inc. is a mobile, truck-mounted computer, which exchanges important vehicle data and events between a fleet truck and the CommandSeries truck tracking system. ...

Keeping the roads clean.(Tech watch: cutting-edge solutions)(InterClean Equipment Inc.)
February 1, 2004... A recently completed year-long study by InterClean Equipment Inc. uncovered startling data regarding the effect of dirt tracked by trucks onto public roads. A tire wash system installed at a Midwest coal transport operation found that an...

Idler selection: consider business forecast.(Tech watch: cutting-edge solutions)
February 1, 2004... A familiarity with the idler-selection process, as well as knowledge of the factors that affect idler life, will greatly aid in choosing the best idlers for your operation. But it's also important to add good business forecasting to the...

New site launched.(Software Solutions)(Parramatta Group L.L.C.)
February 1, 2004... Parramatta Group has developed a new Web site to provide comprehensive information on its products and services, which include engineered conveyor belts. The easy-to-navigate site, www.parramattagroup.com, contains technical information on...

Seismograph calibration--what you should know: performance is important, but there are also good legal reasons to keep your seismograph functioning properly.(E&T Blasting)
February 1, 2004... The dictionary definition of calibration is; "to determine by measurement or comparison with a standard, the correct value for each scale reading on a device." As a consultant or blast contractor, you assess risk every day. But, have you...

In with the new: Mulzer crushed stone finds that using a hydraulic material handler is more efficient than the cable cranes of old.(E&T Material Handling)(Mulzer Crushed Stone Co.)
February 1, 2004... The third generation of Mulzers aren't really so different from their founding fathers--with the help of more than 500 dedicated employees, they oversee quarries, look after a river fleet that crosses the Ohio and Kanawaha Rivers and monitor a...

Saving money from the start: a look at the effects of blasting on crushing and grinding efficiency and energy consumption.(E&T Blasting)
February 1, 2004... In recent years there has been increasing attention paid to the effect of blasting on subsequent operations. In the past, the primary focus was on the ability of the excavation equipment to productively dig the blasted rock, and on the amount...

Looking to buy? Contact these advertisers for your equipment and service needs.(Directory)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Associations/Shows/Auctions Coal Prep Show 800-927-5007 www.coalprepshow.com Intl. Society of Explosives Eng. 440-349-4004 www.isee.org Messe-Munchen 89-949-2 ...

Fast product information.
February 1, 2004... Please support these advertisers and mention you read about them in Pit & Quarry. To send a request for information to any of these companies, simply log on to: www.pitandquarry.com/info This index is provided as an additional service....

Discovering the lost aggregate opportunity: this 12th and last segment of our 12-part series examines how new technology makes digital imaging analysis of product samples a more accurate science.(E&T Technical Session--Part 12)
February 1, 2004... Measuring particle size with digital imaging is not a new concept. My first exposure to the principle and the opportunity to see an instrument in operation was during the late 80s while attending an American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical...

Defining and executing excellence in lubrication.(E&T Maintenance)
February 1, 2004... When it comes to oil analysis and lubrication, it goes without saying that execution beats brilliance. Execution does not mean a single, high-impact feat. Instead, it is a continuous value-building activity, beginning with perhaps a marked...

Wheel excavators.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Caterpillar's M313C and M315C wheel excavators feature an electronically controlled engine that provides more power, improved fuel economy and reduced emissions. Increased lifting and digging performance boost productivity, the company says,...

Portable jaw plants.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Grasan road-portable and pit-portable jaw crushing plants are available in a full range of sizes with various crusher brands and diesel or electric power. Or customers can supply a new or used jaw for chassis installation. Plants can be...

Idlers.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Superior Industries has expanded its components line with its new 40 Series idlers. The new series is designed as a direct interchange with Universal-style rolls, giving producers a high-quality, yet cost-effective option, the company says....

Shaft locking device.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(Lovejoy Inc.)
February 1, 2004... Lovejoy SLD, a new division of Lovejoy Inc., offers shaft locking devices, which allow for easy attachment of shaft to hub without machining or extra assembly labor. Simple axial and angular adjustments are possible to allow for equipment...

Machine monitoring tools.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... In its continuing effort to supply manufacturers with cost-effective predictive maintenance tools, Rockwell Automation is expanding its XM Series distributed protection and monitoring product line. The addition of modules for EtherNet/IP...

Weigh feeders.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(from Siemens Energy and Automation Inc.)
February 1, 2004... The 1200/3600 Series of high-capacity weigh feeders from Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. are designed to provide solid performance in rugged operating environments. The weigh bridge has a patented dual-idler, stainless-steel, torque shaft...

Dredge.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(from Ellicott Dredges)
February 1, 2004... The newest dredge from Ellicott Dredges is the high-production SandMiner. Equipped with four diesel engines totaling 1,515 hp, the SandMiner can produce more than 600 tph, even at its maximum dredging depth of 80 ft., the company says. To get...

Training video.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Vista Training Inc.'s new video is devoted to reducing injuries and workers compensation costs related to mounting and dismounting heavy equipment. Operation of any equipment without training can be dangerous and unproductive. The company says...

Ticketing printer.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(from Printek Inc.)
February 1, 2004... The Printek PrintMaster 850 printer is a heavy-duty impact printer designed for reliable printing in tough environments. The Printek 850 is designed for aggregate, cement, ready-mix and asphalt companies for printing delivery tickets and...

Circuit breaker/fuse blocks.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(from Cole Hersee Co.)
February 1, 2004... Cole Hersee Co. offers new circuit breaker/fuse blocks with grounding plates designed to provide a cost-effective solution that protects wiring, equipment and subsystems. They accept plug-in fuses (ATC and ATO) and other circuit breakers. The...

Jaw crushers.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(from Pennsylvania Crusher Corp.)
February 1, 2004... The 18 jaw crusher sizes offered by Pennsylvania Crusher Corp. handle a wide range of materials at capacities ranging from 5 tph to 1,000 tph. Unlike ordinary jaw crushers, these models crush by compression applied in a straight line, with...

Digital recording device.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)(from Safety Vision)
February 1, 2004... Safety Vision's RoadRecorder 6000 digital recording device is the company's latest onboard surveillance product. The 6000 Series accommodates up to 10 cameras, records at 24 frames per second, and offers options including dual audio and...

Dual delay.(Product Highlight)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Shock-Star Dual-Delay from Austin Powder Co. combines a specialized surface detonator and high-strength, in-hole detonator in one assembly. Therefore, users have one unit to store, inventory and transport. Fewer connections are required for...

Highway, bridge construction advances 25 percent in November.(National affairs: key issues)
February 1, 2004... At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $549.0 billion, new construction starts in November 2003 were up 1 percent from October, according to McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Improved contracting was...

OSHA, MSHA set regulatory actions for 2004.(National affairs: key issues)(United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(United States. Mining Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Asbestos, diesel particulate matter and crystalline silica are in the regulatory crosshairs of OSHA and MSHA in 2004. In its semi-annual regulatory agenda, released in the Federal Register Dec. 22, 2003, MSHA says it will issue its long-awaited...

MSHA announces grants to digitize abandoned mine maps.(National affairs: key issues)(Mine Safety and Health Administration)
February 1, 2004... The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced $3.9 million in grants to 13 states to establish an electronic system of digitizing underground maps for abandoned mines, helping to ensure miner safety...

MSHA reports mining industry sets best safety record since 1910.(National affairs: key issues)(Mine Safety and Health Administration)
February 1, 2004... Mining fatalities in 2003 were at their lowest level since statistics were first recorded in 1910, according to preliminary numbers from the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). In 2003, mining-related...

Orica.(Corporate Capabilities)(Orica USA Inc.)
February 1, 2004... Products Orica offers one of the most complete lines of packaged products, bulk explosives and initiation systems in the industry. Our products and systems are designed to work in a variety of applications and under the most demanding...

Mechanical energy 101.(Safety: key issues)
February 1, 2004... The transfer of mechanical energy from an infinite combination of sources causes a limited number of particular injuries to the human body. The seriousness of the injuries is proportional to the amount of energy transferred and the ability of...

Criminal prosecutions for untrained employees.(Law: key issues)
February 1, 2004... It was a crime for Ronald Bretson, Frank Hopf and the pipeline companies that they worked for to not train, and not have records that they trained, employees as required by regulations under the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act. Each of...

Company pays MSHA reduced penalty to settle case.(Legal highlights: key issues)(Powley Sand & Gravel Inc)(Mine Safety and Health Administration)
February 1, 2004... A sand and gravel company has agreed to pay MSHA a civil penalty reduced from $14,000 to $9,000 to settle a case arising from a fatal ground control accident. Review Commission Administrative Law Judge Jacqueline R. Bulluck approved the...

National economic report.(Economics: key issues)
February 1, 2004... The 2004 presidential campaign is in full swing amid economic news favorable to the Bush camp. Inflation is in check, construction spending and manufacturing are up, interest rates are at 45-year lows, Wall Street finally likes what it sees and...

PCA: construction activity rebound in 2005.(Supply chain: news from affiliated industries)(Portland Cement Association )
February 1, 2004... The U.S. economy is set to move into high gear in 2004 according to the latest economic forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA). The optimistic outlook arrives courtesy of recent improvements in U.S. labor markets, however, PCA does...

Coming in March.
February 1, 2004... * Market Reference Guide * Crushing * Material Handling * Off-Highway Tires