Pit & Quarry articles from January 2002

Pit & Quarry archives from January 2002

It all Starts with Stone : Highway use and construction funding point to additional growth in the aggregate industry's primary markets.(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... The $200 billion-per-year U.S. transportation construction industry has built and maintains almost 4 million miles of public roads; 5,415 airports; 6,185 miles of urban transit; 200,000 miles of freight and passenger railway; and 3,750...

Ash Grove opens new cement plant.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... In September, Ash Grove Cement Co. celebrated the opening of its new $160 million, 1.5 million ton-per-year cement plant in Chanute, Kan. The plant replaced a 574,000 ton-per-year plant constructed in 1907 and last modernized in 1964. Chanute...

Advance Mixer files for Chapter 11.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Advance Mixer filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The Fort Wayne, Ind., manufacturer of front-discharge concrete trucks and pumps says it has every intention of "remaining a viable company." ...

Software for concrete pavement design.(United States Federal Highway Administration)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Hiperpav is a Windows-based program that provides guidance on the design and construction of concrete pavement. The program uses input parameters to evaluate the potential for uncontrolled cracking in new concrete pavements and for de-bonding...

Perpetual Pavement promotion tool.(Asphalt Pavement Alliance CD)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) produced an interactive, Windows-compatible CD that provides information on its current promotional program -- Perpetual Pavements. The APA defines a Perpetual Pavement as "a structure that was designed and...

Paving over rubble.(Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department fixing highways)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... In an effort to prevent reflection cracking and to provide a solid base for a new asphalt pavement, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) is rubblizing 276 miles of concrete highway and overlaying it with a Superpave...

ARTBA names top highway contractors.(American Road & Transportation Builders Association )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... APAC heads the list of the "Top 300 Federal Highway Contractors" compiled by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The company was awarded almost $337 million in federal highway work in 2000. Based on ARTBA...

Pavers are focus of September 11 memorial in Pennsylvania.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A public dedication ceremony was held in Washington, Pa., to officially open a memorial to victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The memorial features a 9-ft.-tall engraved monument rising from a platform of concrete pavers supplied...

Crushed stone production rises 7.2 percent.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... * Crushed stone production rises 7.2 percent, while sand and gravel production decreases 0.5 percent in the third quarter of 2001, according to the latest report from the U.S. Dept. of the Interior's geological division.

The highway construction market should grow 3 to 6 percent in 2002.(American Road & Transportation Builders Association forecast)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * The highway construction market should grow 3 to 6 percent in 2002, according to an economic forecast issued by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

Oglebay-Norton's new organizational structure.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Oglebay-Norton's new organizational structure will continue to operate and be reported as three segments, Great Lakes Minerals, Global Stone and Performance Minerals, according to the company.

The federal government agrees to pay $21 million to Florida Rock Industries.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * The federal government agrees to pay $21 million to Florida Rock Industries as just compensation for 1,560 acres of limestone-rich wetland in Dade County.

APAC Inc.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * APAC Inc., a wholly owned unit of Ashland Inc., and one of the nation's largest highway companies, realigns its regional boundaries and consolidates its divisions.

Roanoke Cement Inc.($100-million modernization project )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Roanoke Cement Inc. completes a five-year, $100-million modernization project that company officials say will help the company take customers from out-of-state competitors.

STOCK WATCH.(aggregates and mining industry stocks)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... STOCK WATCH (AT PRESS TIME) THIS MONTH LAST MONTH Centex Construction Prod. f 31.32 31.53 Florida Rock Industries d 34.95 30.51 Hanson Plc f 33.35...

WASHINGTON WIRE.(Department of Transportation Appropriations Bill approved)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Both Houses of Congress approved the $56.9 billion FY 2002 Department of Transportation Appropriations Bill, earmarking slightly less than $1 billion of the estimated $4.5 billion revenue aligned budget authority adjustment. . . . EPA no longer...

RED FLAGS.(Mine Safety and Health Administration regulations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... [C] At MSHA, 13 regulations on the books from previous regulatory calendars have been withdrawn. Of these, nine directly impact aggregates: confined spaces; metal/nonmetal impoundments; surface haulage; electrical grounding standards; training...

Essential Economics.(contract construction)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Monthly Construction Contract Value Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, in Millions Oct. 2001 Sept. 2001 % Change Nonresidential Building $172,147 $155,250 +11 Residential Building ...

Builders broke ground in November 2001.(housing units)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Builders broke ground in November 2001 on housing units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.65 million units, an 8.2 percent increase over the October 2001 level, reports the Commerce Department.

Portland cement consumption.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Portland cement consumption is running 1.8 percent above last year's levels, according to the Portland Cement Association, even though August showed a decrease of 0.3 percent. The industry was operating at 93 percent capacity through the...

Starting with a bang.(crushed stone production)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... It's always good to start out a new year with a few positive signals. As 2001 becomes 2002, a flurry of statistics and economic projections offer undeniable encouragement that the aggregates industry is on sound footing for the foreseeable...

A huge shovel full.(Caterpillar's 5230B hydraulic shovel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The new Caterpillar 5230B hydraulic shovel and 5230B mass excavator are designed for high productivity and dependable performance in mining operations. A 5 percent increase in engine power and a 10 percent increase in hydraulic flow in the...

Custom crawler.(from Bron)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The new RWF Bron 250 custom crawler features a powerful Cat 3306 300-hp diesel powertrain, hydrostatic two-speed track drive, separate hydrostat loops, manual lock-in-low feature and a planetary gear box with variable speed drive. The 136-in....

Patented drilling automatics.(Tramac's CPA Rock Drill)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Tramac's CPA Rock Drill is a fully self-contained drill attachment for excavators. All the extended reach, increased articulation and mobility of an excavator are now available as a rock drill. The Montabert drifter features patented drilling...

It's all about equipment.(ConExpo-Con/Agg 2002)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ConExpo-Con/Agg 2002, to be held March 19-23 in Las Vegas, will feature equipment and technology from many of the industry's most prominent manufacturers. For a complete list of exhibitors, go to the show's Web site at...

Crusher.(IROCK Crushers LLC )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... IROCK Crushers LLC will show a redesigned Rapid Deployment System RDS-15 portable rock crusher, the company's most popular unit. This unit will be on display at ConExpo-Con/Agg in booth #S-972. The RDS-15 redesign is a one-truckload,...

Conveyors.(Continental Conveyor )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Continental Conveyor offers the Red LineField Conveyor Package, which it will feature at booth C-5751. The company says The Red Line is the easiest way to move material from point A to point B. It is designed to move aggregate -- sand, gravel,...

Buckets.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Bleijenberg b.v. manufactures all sorts of buckets for a variety of uses. A large diversity in the construction of buckets is the company's specialty, such as clamshell, cactus/orange peel, diaphragm-wall, dredging, digging, block clamps...

Concrete recycling plant.(from Grasan)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The KRH1 515, Grasan's largest road-portable concrete recycling system, will be displayed in booth C6649. The unit features a Hazemag APPH impact crusher with a fully automatic, hydraulic cylinder system that provides increased crusher capacity...

Submersible pump.(from Holland Pump)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Located in the Gold Lot, booth G-467, Holland Pump will be demonstrating its 4-in. hydraulically driven submersible pump system's ability to produce good pumping results with 20 ft. of vertical lift while being set a remote distance from the...

Impact crushing portability.(portable crusher from Eagle Crusher Co.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Eagle Crusher Co. rolls out the UltraMax 1400-45 portable crusher in the Central Hall, #6621. The crusher features an exclusive reverse plant configuration that optimizes weight distribution among the axles on the plant frame and the tractor....

Self-cleaning screen cloth.(from Major Wire Industries)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Major Wire Industries Ltd., manufacturer of Flex-Mat high-performance, self-cleaning screen cloth, invites all aggregate producers to bring their basic production cost numbers with them to Major Wire's exhibit (C-7622). Major Wire's sales...

Test sieves.(from CSC Scientific Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... CSC Scientific, booth C-7909, will be exhibiting four primary products. These products are the Endecotts certified test sieves, Octagon digital sieve shaker, EFL 2000/2 shaker, and Powermatic shaker. Endecotts test sieves provide accurate,...

Smart motor controllers.(from Rockwell Automation)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Rockwell Automation offers Allen-Bradley smart motor controllers -- the Bulletin 150 SMC-3 and SMC-Delta models. Providing integrated features and advanced functionality previously unavailable in a compact 45-mm housing, the SMC-3 and SMC-Delta...

Conveyor rollers.(from Interroll Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Interroll Corp. is now offering its Taperhex Gold conveyor rollers with a 10-year performance guarantee. Taperhex's spring-loaded design allows the tapered hexagonal shaft to fit snuggly into side frame mounting holes, regardless of size or...

Belt conveyors.(Creative Engineering)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Creative Engineering (USA) offers a Belt Conveyor Design & Estimating Program that includes an Optimization Action Plan. The company reports this plan has reduced failure and maintenance causes while achieving lower purchase prices for many of...

Multi-port check valves.(from Industrial Specialties Manufacturing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Plumbing has been simplified with a choice of multi-port check valves from Industrial Specialties Mfg. Inc. Used to control flow in the lines of vacuum or pressure by permitting flow in one direction and preventing flow in the opposite...

Explosion proof point level sensor.(from Bindicator)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Bindicator's RF (radio frequency) level controls include the RF 9200 and RF 11000/ 12000 Series, which offer true explosion-proof ratings because the cover does not need to be removed for calibration. All calibration is accomplished through a...

Tipper trailer.(from J and J Truck Bodies and Trailers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers offers a high-polished aluminum trailer that has a capacity of 104 cu. yd., is 40 ft. long, 8 ft. wide, 13 ft. 10 in. high, and features a possum belly style bottom. In addition to top loading the trailer, the...

Vibration monitoring.(from Instantel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Instantel is a world leader in vibration-monitoring technology. In more than 85 countries around the world, Instantel products are trusted by a diverse group of users that includes vibration consultants, blast engineers, quarry and mining...

Oglebay Norton defines restructuring plans.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Oglebay Norton Co. provided the details of its previously announced restructuring plan. After implementation of the plan, the company anticipates 2002 results will include cash savings of $1 to $1.5 million after netting out all cash costs and...

Federal government agrees to compensate Florida Rock.(Florida Rock Industries)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... After almost 20 years of litigation, the federal government has agreed to pay $21 million to Florida Rock Industries, Jacksonville, as just compensation for 1,560 acres of limestone-rich wetland in Dade County. This settlement brings to an end...

Encompass' Joe Ivey to keynote NSSGA convention.(Encompass Services Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Joseph M. Ivey, chairman and CEO of Houston-based Encompass Services Corp. has been tapped to keynote the General Session at NSSGA's annual convention in Las Vegas on March 21. A founding trustee and past chairman of the National Center for...

Maine.(cease-and-desist order against Dwight L. Overlock concerning gravel pit)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The city of Bangor zoning board unanimously supported a code-enforcement officer's Oct. 15 cease-and-desist order against Dwight L. Overlock creating a quarry at his Beechwood Street gravel pit, according to a report in the Bangor Daily News....

New Jersey.(St. Lawrence Cement Group case)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Allowing a cement plant to operate in a minority neighborhood in Camden does not amount to intentional discrimination by the state Department of Environmental Protection, a federal appeals court panel ruled. The decision by a three-judge panel...

Pennsylvania.(industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) recently completed its 20th annual meeting at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pa. Pennsy Supply Inc., Harrisburg, Pa., won the association's 2001 Recognition Award. Don Eshleman,...

Illinois.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * On August 12-14, 2002, the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration will put on its sixth annual Workshop for Science Teachers (K-12). This workshop is designed to inform Illinois...

Indiana.(limestone for repair of Pentagon)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Bybee Stone Co. of Ellettsville and Independent Limestone Co. Of rural Bloomington are preparing to send loads of limestone to the nation's capital for the repair of the outer wall of the Pentagon that was damaged in the Sept. 11 terrorist...

Iowa.(Iowa Limestone Producers Assn)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Generous contributions by producers, M&S members and individuals have helped increase the Iowa Limestone Producers Assn. (ILPA) Scholarships Forever Inc. balance in 2001. In recognition of this growth, the Scholarships Forever Committee...

Michigan.(Michigan Aggregates Association's Winter Workshop)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Michigan Aggregates Association (MAA) is holding its 16th annual Winter Workshop February 20, 2002 in Lansing, Mich. The title, Providing the Building Blocks for a Safer Aggregate Industry, will be supported by topics covering: Integrating...

Ohio.(Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Assn)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Assn. had a busy fourth quarter 2001, and the first quarter of 2002 is not slowing. Activities included its 2001 Annual Meeting held in November, a series of seven Ohio Level I aggregate technician...

Wisconsin.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Aggregate Producers of Wisconsin (APW) have selected a new association management business, Public Affairs Strategies Inc. to take over its operations. The associations previous management company, Hough, Fassbender, Osbourne & Associates,...

Florida.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A Palm Beach Aggregates quarry located west of West Palm was flooded with water diverted from the nearby L-8 canal as a test to see if it could become a water depot for Palm Beach County, according to the Sun-Sentinel. The event drew 100...

Kentucky.(APAC Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... APAC Inc. a wholly owned unit of Ashland Inc. and the nation's largest highway company, announced a realignment of its regional boundaries and a consolidation of its divisions, to promote coordination, standardization and utilization of its...

South Carolina.(Dam project at Lake Murray, near Columbia,)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A huge dam project at Lake Murray, near Columbia, will require tons of stone, according to The State. The dam, designed to protect the Midlands from the flooding that could follow an earthquake, will be a pyramid of rock and concrete as tall as...

Virginia.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * The state's only cement manufacturer completed a five-year, $100 million modernization project that company officials say will help the company take customers from out-of-state competitors. Roanoke Cement Inc. celebrated the finish of its...

Texas.(Cemex, S.A. de C.V. will sell its aggregates operations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Cemex, S.A. de C.V. has agreed to sell its aggregates operations in Kentucky and Missouri to Rinker Materials Corp. The sale price is $42 million plus working capital, and the sale is expected to close on December 28. With an annual production...

Colorado.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Colorado Rock Products Assn. and Colorado Ready-Mix Concrete Assn. held its annual convention at the Adams Mark Hotel in Grand Junction, Colo. According to Paul Schauer, managing director, the 2001 annual convention was "one of the best."...

California.(Construction Materials Association of California)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * The Construction Materials Association of California is holding its 2002 annual conference, Working Together: Industry, Government and the Public, January 23-24, 2002 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento, Calif. Pit & Quarry editors have...

Nevada.(Oil-Dri Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Washoe County planners scratched plans by the world's largest maker of cat litter to build a mine and processing plant north of Reno. The County Planning Commission denied the special-use permit officials say Chicago-based Oil-Dri Corp. needs...

New Mexico.(Legislation regulaing new gravel mines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A state task force has drafted legislation that would require operators of new gravel mines across the state to post bonds to ensure eventual reclamation, according to a report in the The Santa Fe New Mexican. However, members say the measure...

Washington.(Spokane citizens oppose asphalt plant)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Opponents of an asphalt plant planned at an old gravel pit in Spokane asked for help this week to stop the business from moving into their neighborhood. About a dozen people attended a town hall meeting at the Washington State University...

A closer look : Rinker Materials Builds Solid U.S. Foundation for CSR.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... In 1996, CSR America -- now known nationwide as Rinker Materials Corp.-- was the fourth largest aggregates operation in the United States in the production of crushed stone, and third in sand and gravel. The next year, after the sale to Martin...

Signs of attention.(stone industry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The stop sign in the picture says three things. First, the sign says, "Ignore my message because not a soul cares enough to keep me up-to-date." It wouldn't cost much. A new standard sign would cost about $48.00 and a highly reflective sign...

OSHA's top 10.(safety violations)
January 1, 2002... In prior articles, I have discussed the most frequently cited MSHA violations. In this article, OSHA's top 10 violations are reviewed and compared to MSHA enforcement. While MSHA's and OSHA's priorities are often significantly different, there...

Stone up in third quarter, sand and gravel down.(production)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Crushed stone production rose, while sand and gravel production decreased slightly in the third quarter of 2001, according to the latest report from the U.S. Dept. of the Interior's geological division. The estimated output of crushed stone...

Construction activity slips 1 percent in Oct.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Contracting for new construction dropped one percent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $490.1 billion, according to the F.W. Dodge Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Residential building continued its gradual retreat of...

Northeast report.(Stone producers)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Stone producers in the Northeast region of the United States are apt to face challenging market conditions in 2002, even though generally favorable winter weather in the region has permitted some operators to stay online weeks longer than...

Economic indicators: a mixed bag.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... With 18 months remaining in the federal TEA-21 authorization and preliminary discussions under way to hammer out a new transportation bill, the U.S. economy is in recession. Manufacturing has been in a slump for better than a year. Although...

ARTBA forecasts 3-6 percent growth in 2002 highway construction market.(American Road & Transportation Builders Association )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Spurred by continued increases in federal funding, the highway construction market should grow 3 to 6 percent in 2002, according to an economic forecast issued by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). ARTBA Vice...

Acquisitions in an uncertain economy : The real impact of economic conditions on middle market acquisition pricing.
January 1, 2002... After 20-plus years of transacting middle market acquisitions, I know the factors that affect the attainment of premium prices. By middle market acquisitions, I refer to transactions in a price range from a couple of million to $200 million,...

Extended intervals mean extended profits.(Bloomsdale Excavating)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Unearthing clever ways to maximize profits is a priority for Bloomsdale Excavating, based in the southeast Missouri town that gave the company its name. The family owned and managed excavating contractor turned to Mobil technical experts to...

Off-highway truck redesigned.(Terex Equipment Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Terex Equipment Ltd. offers the latest TR35 off-highway, rigid-frame truck, which the company says incorporates a selection of power-enhancing and cost-saving features. The new TR35 is powered by the Cummins QSM11, an 11-liter, four-cycle,...

First-class secondary breakers.(Breaker Technology Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * The Rammer G Series line is designed for carriers with weight limits from 55,000 lb. to 220,000 lb. and features hammers with working weights from 5,200 lb. to 14,500 lb. The G Series hammers provide high productivity in oversize rock,...

Lube truck features nine-product system.(J&J Truck Equipment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... J&J Truck Equipment offers a new lube truck with a specially designed, heavy-duty body structure that is built to withstand harsh, off-the-road worksite conditions. The truck is equipped with a 1,000-gallon diesel fuel tank, five 100-gallon oil...

On-the-fly depth control.(excavation machines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Some people view large excavation machines as cumbersome and unwieldy objects for the course removal of random amounts of material. The fact of the matter is that in many applications excavators are required to operate with a great deal of...

Sight unseen.(Iron Planet sells more than $10 million worth of equipment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... One of the topics kicked around at Pit & Quarry's Aggregate Producers Forum last August was whether producers are willing to use the Internet to purchase heavy equipment. Opinions varied, but one thing is now clear -- somebody is buying heavy...

Web of weighing.(Schenck Weighing Systems' Web site)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Web of weighing -- Schenck Weighing Systems' new Web site at schenckamericas.com is designed to provide existing and potential customers useful information, quickly and easily, using "product," "industry" and "application" menus. It also...

Paperless.(National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association ends paper newsletter)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Paperless -- The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) is reminding its members that the group will no longer create a printed version of its "Digest" newsletter. Members may sign up for the electronic version of the newsletter --...

Online catalog.(Lincoln Electric Co. improves its web site)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Online catalog -- The Lincoln Electric Co. announced several significant improvements to its Web site at lincolnelectric.com. The site, which presents a new look and feel, offers visitors easier access to needed information, including the...

Secure communication.(Mincom Ltd. releases Mincom Axis)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Secure communication -- Mincom (mincom.com) released Mincom Axis, a hosted business-to-business service that enables organizations and their strategic trading partners to collaborate securely and reliably over the Internet. The company says...

Density separator.(Classification and Flotation Systems Inc. launches a Web site)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Density separator -- Classification and Flotation Systems Inc. has launched a Web site at cfs-usa.com. The site emphasizes the CFS density separator -- its uses and successes in sand and mining operations around the world. Sections include...

Pelletized limestone.(Mars Mineral creates Web site)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Pelletized limestone -- Mars Mineral, developer of agitation pelletizing technology for various materials, has created pelletizedlimestone.com, a specialized Web site for quarry operators and agricultural producers that is devoted to the...

Weather-display system.(Meteorlogix offers WeatherSentry weather-display system)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Meteorlogix, a commercial weather services provider, offers WeatherSentry, a powerful, new, weather-display system to help maximize personal safety and minimize financial loss. WeatherSentry is a subscription-based service that allows...