Pit & Quarry articles from January 2004

Pit & Quarry archives from January 2004

Crushed stone.(Top News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * An estimated 451 million metric tons of crushed stone are produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the third quarter of 2003, an increase of 0.8 percent compared with the same period of 2002, according to the USGS.

Sand and gravel.(Top News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * The estimated U.S. output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption in the third quarter of 2003 is 346 million metric tons, an increase of 1.2 percent compared with the same period of 2002.

Caterpillar and Terex.(Top News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Caterpillar and Terex terminate discussions regarding the sale of Terex's mining truck business to Caterpillar.

Aggregate Industries acquires Southern Nevada Paving Co. in a $64.1 million deal.(Top News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Aggregate Industries acquires Southern Nevada Paving Co. in a $64.1 million deal.

NSSGA.(Top News; National Stone Sand and Gravel Association)
January 1, 2004... * NSSGA names its Capstone, Pantheon, About Face and Good Neighbors award winners.

Long-time Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Glen A. Barton retires.(Top News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Long-time Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Glen A. Barton retires, and the company names James W. Owens to succeed him.

The Transportation Equity Act: a legacy for users.(Top News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, a $375 billion highway funding bill, is introduced in the House of Representatives.

Aviation funding.(Top News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Aviation funding legislation is signed by the president, providing $60 billion for airport improvement projects, airport safety and more.

Washington wire.(Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics; mine whistleblowing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * The House Committee on Education and the Workforce is conducting its own investigation into the possibility that Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) officials are retaliating against former MSHA Mine Academy Superintendent Jack...

Red flags.(Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics; gravel industry cases)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * The U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of NSSGA and the Colorado Rock Products Association in a celebrated case. U.S. v. Hess pitted an owner of private property against the federal government's claim on minerals rights. At issue was...

Essential economics.(Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics; construction statistics)
January 1, 2004... Monthly Construction Contract Value Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, in Millions Oct. 2003 Sept. 2003 % Change Nonresidential Building $150,286 $129,797 +16 Residential Building ...

The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association.(Other Economic News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association reports that total new orders increased 3 percent and billed sales were up 22 percent for Bulk but down 11 percent for Unit Handling in the first half of 2003. The association estimates that...

Stock watch.(Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... STOCK WATCH (AT PRESS TIME) THIS MONTH LAST MONTH Cemex SA d 25.48 24.48 Centex Construction Prod. f 58.47 59.36 Florida Rock Industries f 56.01 57.73...

Hydrostatically driven loader.(Brand new: just released to the market)
January 1, 2004... Adding to its line of hydrostatically driven wheel loaders, Komatsu America Corp. introduces the new WA320-5. Outfitted with Komatsu's electronically controlled advanced technology hydrostatic transmission (HST), the WA320-5 is designed to...

Sandwich belt.(Brand new: just released to the market)
January 1, 2004... A patented dual-belt conveyor system from Eleveyor Manufacturing Division, NorthEast Fabricators LLC provides high-speed transportation of difficult bulk materials over any complex path: horizontal, steep slopes, true vertical, reverse slope,...

Unattended weighing terminal.(Brand new: just released to the market)
January 1, 2004... The Mettler Toledo unattended weighing terminal (UWT) is the company's newest vehicle-scale control solution. It is designed to bring fast, simple connections from isolated terminals to PCs for remote data retrieval. The full-featured,...

Caterpillar, Terex deal off table.(Manufacturer News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Terex Corp. and Caterpillar terminated discussions regarding the sale of Terex's mining truck business to Caterpillar, a deal in which Caterpillar was to acquire Terex's mining shovel intellectual property. Discussions ended owing to an...

Aggregate Industries increases market share with new acquisition.(A Closer Look; Southern Nevada Paving Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Aggregate Industries, a British company, announced the acquisition of Southern Nevada Paving Co. Inc., an aggregate, asphalt and contracting business in Las Vegas. The consideration, paid in cash, amounts to $64.1 million (U.S.) subject to...

Martin Marietta Materials elects Watterson as vice president, CIO.(Stockpile: the latest industry news; David S. Watterson )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The board of directors of Martin Marietta Materials Inc. announced the election of David S. Watterson as vice president and chief information officer for the corporation. Watterson joined Martin Marietta in 1999 as vice president,...

Florida Rock announces 3-for-2 stock split.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Florida Rock Industries Inc. announced that the board of directors approved a 3-for-2 common stock split. Shareholders of record on January 2 will receive one additional share for each two shares held. The stock split will be effected in...

Glacier Northwest buys Reddi-Mix.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Glacier Northwest of Seattle has acquired Central Reddi-Mix, a ready-mixed concrete and building material supplier. Central Reddi-Mix was founded in 1960 and has Washington operations in Tumwater, Yelm, Centralia, Chehalis and Morton. It...

Lafarge applies for de-listing from London, German markets.(Stockpile: the latest industry news; Lafarge SA )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... According to Dow Jones Business News, French building material maker Lafarge SA says it has filed applications to de-list its shares from the London, Duesseldorf and Frankfurt stock exchanges, where the liquidity of its stock is weak. ...

NSSGA's 2003 Capstone, Pantheon winners named.(Association News; National Stone Sand and Gravel Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Milton Quarry (Dufferin Aggregates, Ont.) and REOStone LLC (Rogers Group Inc.) received top honors in the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association's 2003 Capstone Awards program for market development. Milton Quarry received a Gold...

About Face, Good Neighbors winners for 2003 announced.(Association News; sand and gravel industry)
January 1, 2004... Seventeen NSSGA-member aggregates operations earned the Showplace award in the 2003 About Face competition and 11 more received the Good Neighbors Gold Medallion for Excellence in Community Relations. "The 2003 entries were really...

Mining permit focus of Endangered Species Act case.(Stockpile: the latest industry news; J.L. Storedahl and Sons)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Two Vancouver, Wash.-area conservation groups have asked for more time to comment on a permit that would exempt producer J.L. Storedahl and Sons from the Endangered Species Act if it resumes gravel mining near the East Fork of the Lewis River,...

New Oldcastle plant approved by Dekalb, Ga., county commissioners.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Oldcastle Materials Southeast, which plans to open a rock quarry on 144 acres in DeKalb County, Ga., got the green light from country commissioners, who approved Oldcastle's application, an important first step to operating on the site. ...

Utah gravel pits task force disbands without taking action.(Stockpile: the latest industry news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A Utah state task force examining regulation of gravel pits disbanded after deciding to maintain the status quo, according to the Associated Press. The state Legislature had created the Gravel Pits Task Force in response to complaints from...

Events.(sand and gravel industry)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... January 18-21, 2004 National Asphalt Pavement Association Convention Phoenix 301-731-4748 www.hotmix.org January 18-21, 2004 Blasting Vibration Technology Conference Key West, Fla. 800-992-9395 ...

Terex announces personnel changes.(Manufacturer News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Fil Filipov, currently president and CEO of Terex Cranes, will retire from full time employment with the company. Filipov will continue, through a newly formed consulting company focused on restructuring activities, to serve Terex as a...

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has signed a new agreement to make its commercial truck tires the standard equipment used on all Volvo trucks produced for North America over the next three years.(Manufacturer News Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has signed a new agreement to make its commercial truck tires the standard equipment used on all Volvo trucks produced for North America over the next three years. "We are extremely pleased to have been...

J. H. Fletcher & Co., a designer and manufacturer of custom-drilling and roof-control equipment for underground mines, has completed its purchase of equipment designs, drawings and goodwill from WDM Technologies LLC of Claremont, N.H.(Manufacturer News Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * J. H. Fletcher & Co., a designer and manufacturer of custom-drilling and roof-control equipment for underground mines, has completed its purchase of equipment designs, drawings and goodwill from WDM Technologies LLC of Claremont, N.H. ...

Caterpillar Chairman, CEO Barton to retire; successor named.(Manufacturer News; Glen A. Barton)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Caterpillar Inc. board of directors appointed James W. Owens vice chairman and named him the next chairman and CEO of Caterpillar. He will replace Glen A. Barton, who has elected to retire Jan. 31, after nearly 43 years of Caterpillar...

Lindgren named vice president, customer support, for Volvo.(Manufacturer News; Goran Lindgren; Volvo Construction Equipment North America Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Goran Lindgren has been appointed vice president, customer support, for Volvo Construction Equipment North America Inc., Asheville, N.C., the sales, marketing and product support subsidiary of Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), Brussels,...

Performance tracking improves productivity.(TechWatch: cutting-edge solutions; John Deere Construction Equipment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... John Deere's new Machine Information Center (MIC) on-board data logger provides excavator owners with the most data of any system on the market, the company says. Available on John Deere excavators from the 80C to the 800C, MIC helps fleet...

A better motorbase for Granite Construction.(TechWatch: cutting-edge solutions; separator screens)
January 1, 2004... The on-board data logger captures and stores up to 10,000 hours of data. User-friendly software quickly translates the data into charts, graphs and reports. In the high desert of Arizona, a problem was plaguing the plant superintendent at...

Conveyors and components: standardization is key.(E&T TechWatch)
January 1, 2004... Regarding conveyors and components, standardization is the key to savings and ease of maintenance. As each brand is not the same as the next, simply choosing the current, lowest-priced conveyor, idler or pulley will no doubt cost you more in...

StoneSummit 2003--Part 2.(E&T Roundtable; sand and gravel industry conference)(Panel Discussion)(Transcript)
January 1, 2004... Pit & Quarry's Eighth-Annual Equipment & Technology Supplier Roundtable in San Antonio included not only manufacturer representatives, but producers, distributors and association officials. Because of the diversification of the group and the...

From the ground up: a South Dakota producer decided to start from scratch when building a larger, more efficient sand plant.(E&T Washing & Classifying; Concrete Materials)
January 1, 2004... Concrete Materials, based in Sioux Falls, S.D., found that two isn't always better than one. The company's new concrete sand plant replaced two old plants while doubling capacity. The new Corson Sand Plant was built from the ground up, and will...

NRMCA Environmental Course covers key issues: producers learn successful management strategies.(Supply chain: news from affiliated industries; National Ready Mixed Concrete Association )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) held its Environmental Course for the ready mixed concrete industry in suburban Phoenix. The course has gained a reputation as a premier offering for ready mixed concrete producers that want...

Paving, roofing to drive asphalt market through 2007.(Supply chain: news from affiliated industries)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... According to The Freedonia Group Inc., U.S. demand for asphalt is projected to expand 1.5 percent per year through 2007 to more than 37 million tons, generating demand for 206 million barrels of primary asphalt. The value of asphalt-containing...

PCA honored with award in Associations Advance America program.(Supply chain: news from affiliated industries; Portland Cement Association )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Portland Cement Association (PCA) was honored for Team Concrete: Building Community, a program to raise the profile of the concrete industry--and concrete products--by participating in low-income housing initiatives. PCA was one of 12...

EPA technology converts dredged material into 'cement'.(Supply chain: news from affiliated industries)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a technology that turns dredged material into a substance that can be used to make construction-grade cement. The technology, called Cement-Lock, reuses dredged material by destroying...

Riding piggyback: replacing haul trucks with portable conveyors nets big savings for a South Carolina producer.(E&T Material Handling; B&T Sand)
January 1, 2004... That's the way we've always done it," say many plant operators as they refer to the the use of haul trucks for moving aggregate from the pit to the plant. It's been the traditionally accepted method and they are comfortable with it. But...

Looking to buy? Contact these advertisers for your equipment and services needs.(sand and gravel industry)(Directory)
January 1, 2004... Associations/Shows Coal Prep Show 800-927-5007 www.coalprepshow.com Intl. Society of Explosives Eng. 440-349-4004 www.isee.org Messe-Munchen +49-89-949-2 www.baumamining.de World...

Maximizing engine life: quality lubricants play a major role in a successful preventive maintenance program.(E&T Maintenance; mining)
January 1, 2004... Stating the obvious, mining operations take a tremendous toll on equipment, dishing out grueling conditions day after day. Owners/operators can't make the job any easier, but they can certainly give their equipment a clear advantage. ...

Recycling plant.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)
January 1, 2004... The new, emission-free KMA 200 portable cold mixing plant from Wirtgen America Inc. is a recycling plant that comes to your site and operates without emissions permits. The KMA 200 will mix 200 tph of cold mix asphalt without emissions and,...

Rear eject body.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)
January 1, 2004... Philippi-Hagenbuch Inc. offers rear eject bodies for John Deere articulated trucks. Designed to tackle the challenges of faster dumping, hard-to-handle sticky material, dumping on the go, or in situations where head height is limited,...

Ground penetrating radar.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)
January 1, 2004... Geophysical Survey Systems Inc.'s StructureScan Optical is the newest member of the StructureScan family of products for the nondestructive evaluation of concrete structures. The StructureScan Optical system automatically records line positions...

Safety helmet.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)
January 1, 2004... American Allsafe has designed a new safety helmet called the Quickslide. Quickslide changes quickly and easily to provide just the right fit, and the company says it's a cost-effective ratchet alternative. The Quickslide is designed to be light...

Obstacle detection system.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)
January 1, 2004... Grote Industries has created an ultrasonic obstacle detection system to provide drivers with increased awareness while driving in reverse. With the Grote system, ultrasonic waves are sent out eight times within one second to detect obstacles...

Grease.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)
January 1, 2004... Citgo's Lithoplex CM grease is designed to provide consistent stability, oxidation and rust resistance, and reliable lubrication for a wide range of metal components. Lithoplex CM contains additional moly--3 percent--as extra defense against...

High power connectors.(Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace)
January 1, 2004... Duraline's 518 Series of high power single pole connectors feature a 360-degree, non-specific locking collet design, which allows the connector pairs to be mated and locked at any orientation. Once engaged, a locking ring provides the...

Site monitoring.(Product Highlight)
January 1, 2004... Remote Monitoring Technologies and Hoss Equipment Co. jointly developed the SiteWatch camera tower system, which provides a long-range wireless network video surveillance umbrella for remote site monitoring and security surveillance at large...

$375 billion highway funding bill introduced in U.S. House.(National affairs: key issues)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Bipartisan legislation that will significantly increase highway and transit funding in all 50 states over the next six years and create 1.7 million new jobs was officially introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Transportation...

Fate of omnibus appropriations uncertain.(National affairs: key issues)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The U.S. House approved a $328 billion omnibus appropriations bill that combined seven FY 2004 appropriations bills that Congress failed to clear individually, including the agriculture bill that served as the vehicle for the omnibus. The...

Aviation funding legislation signed by president.(National affairs: key issues; Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act)
January 1, 2004... After months of delays, legislation that provides $60 billion for aviation safety, security and capacity enhancement programs and airport improvement projects finally went to the president, who signed it into law. "The Century of Aviation...

House education committee probes whistleblower retaliation against Spadaro.(National affairs: key issues; Jack Spadaro )
January 1, 2004... The House Committee on Education and the Workforce is conducting its own investigation into the possibility that Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) officials are retaliating against former MSHA Mine Academy Superintendent Jack Spadaro...

Court upholds dismissal of women miners' civil rights lawsuit.(National affairs: key issues)
January 1, 2004... A federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against Vulcan Materials Co. by four women miners who alleged sex discrimination in training opportunities and promotions. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that the...

CO again.(Safety: key issues; carbon monoxide )
January 1, 2004... Carbon monoxide (CO) is not responsible for many mining fatalities. A significant reason is that there are miners and operators looking for CO and protecting against it in the mines. Off the job, the sources of CO around the house are the...

Discrimination against drug user?(Law: key issues; employment law)
January 1, 2004... In an article entitled Ordering a Drug User Back to Work (April 2002), I reviewed two U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). One of these, Eastern Associated Coal Corp. v. UMWA was a...

ALJ dismisses Colorado Lava's request for legal fees.(Legal highlights: key issues; administrative law judge)
January 1, 2004... A Review Commission judge rejected Colorado Lava Inc.'s application for more than $49,500 in attorneys' fees and expenses from MSHA under the Equal Access to Justice Act. After litigation, the operator successfully defended against a Mine...

Positive indications for market.(Economics: key issues; sand and gravel industry)
January 1, 2004... The U.S. economy grew at a rate of more than 8 percent in the third quarter of 2003, fueling stone producers' hopes that the dramatic surge will mean more and better business for them. Although the employment picture nationally still is...

Coming in February.
January 1, 2004... * Screening/Sizing * Secondary Breaking * Drilling/Blasting * Manufactured Sand