Pit & Quarry articles from July 2003

Pit & Quarry archives from July 2003

USGS. (Top News).(estimated 267 million metric tons of crushed stone were produced and shipped in the U.S. in the first quarter, 2003)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * An estimated 267 million metric tons of crushed stone are produced and shipped in the U.S. in the first quarter, a decrease of 4.9 percent compared with the same period of 2002, according to USGS. The output of construction sand and gravel is...

The leadership of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. (Top News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * The leadership of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee says the Bush Administra-tion's new, six-year highway and transit funding proposal is "inadequate" and won't sufficiently address America's growing surface...

National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. (Top News).(hosts its 2003 Midyear Plant Operators Conference)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association hosts its 2003 Midyear Plant Operators Conference in Atlanta. Attendance is light for the event.

CRH PLC, the international building materials group, announces that its Oldcastle Materials Group has acquired the stock of S.E. Johnson. (Top News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * CRH PLC, the international building materials group, announces that its Oldcastle Materials Group has acquired the stock of S.E. Johnson, Toledo, Ohio.

ConExpo-Con/Agg. (Top News).(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 1, 2003... * "One Source, Infinite Opportunities" is the theme for the next ConExpo-Con/Agg, to be held March 15-19, 2005 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

International Center for Aggregates Research. (Top News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * More than 130 registrants attend the International Center for Aggregates Research 11th Annual Symposium in Austin, Texas.

Washington wire. (Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * MSHA's plans to issue an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on focused inspections and a proposed rule on asbestos remain unchanged. The ANPRM on focused inspections will seek comment on how best to maximize the effectiveness of...

Red flags. (Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) is attempting to organize opposition to increasing the motor fuels user fee in TEA-21 reauthorization, including indexing the user fee to inflation. She has already received support from more than 20...

Essential economics. (Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
July 1, 2003... Monthly Construction Contract Value Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, in Millions Apr 2003 Mar. 2003 % Change Nonresidential Building $150,535 $140,321 7 Residential Building ...

Construction put in place. (Other Economic News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Construction put in place during April 2003 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $862.6 billion, 0.3 percent below the revised March estimate of $864.8 billion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The...

Stockwatch. (Out in front: this month's critical trends and topics).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
July 1, 2003... STOCKWATCH (AT PRESS TIME) THIS MONTH LAST MONTH Cemex SA d 22.50 21.39 Centex Construction Prod. d 41.14 38.90 Florida Rock Industries d 44.23 39.90...

Dear Congressman. (Mark My Words).
July 1, 2003... If there is one thing you must do for your business this year, it's let your congressmen and senators know that your business has a vested interest in passage of a sufficiently funded TEA-21 reauthorization bill. SAFETEA, the $247-billion,...

Updated loader. (Brand new: just released to the market).
July 1, 2003... The 992G wheel loader from Caterpillar incorporates several new features that improve durability, operator comfort and ease of service, according to the company. Key improvements include design changes that enhance the linkage, increase...

Rubber-topped fastener. (Brand new: just released to the market).
July 1, 2003... A new, patent-pending, rubber-topped version of Flexco bolt solid plate conveyor-belt fasteners adds longer life, faster installation and reduced noise to this heavy-duty belt splicing method, says the company. Designated 190VP, this new...

Mobile plant. (Brand new: just released to the market).
July 1, 2003... The Nordberg ST171 mobile screen from Metso Minerals is a self-propelled, track-mounted, conveyor-equipped mobile screening plant that is designed for high production. The patented convertible shakerhead of the ST171 can accommodate either...

Oldcastle Materials acquires S.E. Johnson. (Stockpile: the latest industry news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CRH PLC, the international building materials group, announced that its Materials Division in the Americas, Oldcastle Materials Group, has acquired the stock of S.E. Johnson for a cash consideration, including debt assumed, of $217 million. ...

Some RockPAC-endorsed legislators oppose increasing gas tax to fund TEA-21 reauthorization. (A Closer Look).
July 1, 2003... Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) is attempting to organize opposition to increasing the motor fuels user fee in TEA-21 reauthorization, including indexing the user fee to inflation. Rep. Musgrave, who is appealing to conservative members of...

Martin Marietta elects Anne Lloyd vp, controller, CAO. (Stockpile: the latest industry news).(Martin Marietta Materials Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The board of directors of Martin Marietta Materials Inc. announced the election of Anne H. Lloyd as vice president, controller and chief accounting officer of the corporation. Lloyd joined the company in 1998 as vice president and...

Vulcan Materials to sell performance chemicals assets. (Stockpile: the latest industry news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Vulcan Materials Co. says that its subsidiary, Callaway Chemical Co., which operates under the name Vulcan Performance Chemicals, has entered into an agreement to sell its industrial water treatment and pulp and paper businesses to Kemira Oy,...

Theme announced for ConExpo-Con/Agg 2005. (Stockpile: the latest industry news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... "One Source, Infinite Opportunities" is the theme for the co-located ConExpo-Con/Agg 2005 and IFPE 2005 expositions, to be held March 15-19, 2005 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The triennial ConExpo-Con/Agg and IFPE expositions were...

NSSGA holds Midyear Plant Operators Conference. (Stockpile: the latest industry news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) hosted its 2003 Midyear Plant Operators Conference and Expo May 31-June 4 in Atlanta. Attendance was light for the event, which included learning sessions, plant tours and manufacturer...

Events.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... July 18-22, 2003 NSSGA Summer Board of Directors Meeting Blaine, Wash. 800-342-1415 July 29-31, 2003 NSSGA Noise & Dust Monitoring Workshop Golden, Colo. 800-342-1415 Aug. 24-26, 2003 NSSGA Aglime...

Bridgestone/Firestone announces realignment. (Stockpile: the latest industry news).(Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC announced a realignment of its business units that is designed to better serve its customers and to give those who have the responsibility for the individual parts of the business the tools and...

The Components Division of Superior Industries has added a new Texas-based components warehouse.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * The Components Division of Superior Industries has added a new Texas-based components warehouse--a recently-acquired distribution center that allows expedited shipping, just-in-time delivery and minimized freight costs for the shipment of...

Donaldson Co. Inc. announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality has approved Donaldson's Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) muffler and Spiracle crankcase ventilation filter.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Donaldson Co. Inc. announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality has approved Donaldson's Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) muffler and Spiracle crankcase ventilation filter. The...

Florida Contractors Rentals Inc., St. Augustine, Fla., has opened another Volvo Rents equipment rental facility in Florida.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Florida Contractors Rentals Inc., St. Augustine, Fla., has opened another Volvo Rents equipment rental facility in Florida. The new rental center is the third independently owned and operated rental franchise under the Volvo name for Florida...

Executive report: national and state association executives sound off on the transportation funding debate. (Special Report).
July 1, 2003... State association executives across the United States are less than enthusiastic about President Bush's $247 billion proposal to fund the federal transportation program over the next six years. Touted by the administration as a prudent...

Valuation trends in the aggregates industry: understanding how an aggregates company might improve its bottom line can be as simple as understanding valuation trends and the factors that affect value. (Special Report).
July 1, 2003... Forget the struggling economy. You can't control that. What you can control is your own company. and the decisions you make will impact its value. Making value-added business decisions requires a fundamental knowledge of business...

Breaker on board. (TechWatch: cutting-edge solutions).
July 1, 2003... Unlike conventional boom systems that must be removed from the crushing plant or permanently mounted on a separate trailer, the new MBS line of portable rock breaker systems is designed as a permanent on-plant solution for road transport and...

Off-highway emissions control. (TechWatch: cutting-edge solutions).
July 1, 2003... Caterpillar has introduced the new C18, its first off-highway engine with ACERT technology. This 18.1-liter engine is available in five ratings from 575 hp to 765 hp. It is designed to provide Caterpillar power for a wide variety of off-highway...

Linking production, maintenance. (Software Solutions).
July 1, 2003... An underestimated opportunity exists to drive more value from plants and equipment. In the year 2000, more than 52 percent of asset-intensive companies reported lower profitability and reduced return on operating assets. This problem exists due...

Idler lubrication. (E&T TechWatch).
July 1, 2003... Lubrication is one of the most vital factors affecting idler life. A well-timed, well-designed idler lubrication program protects the bearings from corrosion, wear, contamination and rising temperatures. Up to 30 percent of all bearing failures...

Going from dry to wet: this large, twin-tank-classifier operation can blend and change product mix with one mouse click. (E&T Classifying).
July 1, 2003... When the partners in Roanoke Sand & Gravel, Middle Island, Long Island, N.Y., received permits for expansion of their sand and gravel operation, they never envisioned that they'd be blazing new trails as they shifted from a dry sand production...

The right truck for maintenance: producers turn to customized preventive maintenance trucks to boost productivity and avoid costly mistakes. (E&T Maintenance).
July 1, 2003... Trucks customized to a contractor's specific application can help crews and equipment work at full capacity while avoiding missed deadlines, voided warranties and unnecessary capital outlays. A decade or two ago, pit and quarry operators...

Discovering the lost aggregate opportunity: some tests attempt to characterize aggregate particle shape. (E&T Technical Session--Part Eight).
July 1, 2003... Aggregates make up 80 percent of the volume of concrete, yet aggregates producers know very little about how aggregates influence their concrete clients' business--either positively or negatively. Only through understanding how aggregates work...

Dewatering/classifying. (Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace).
July 1, 2003... Finlay 152E and 252E Hydrasander dewatering/classifying systems from Finlay Hydrascreens feature a unique, dual-flow spiral action for segregating and collecting specified and secondary sands, with little or no fines going to a settling pond....

Load sensing valve. (Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace).
July 1, 2003... Either with the Rexroth RC family of electronic control units or with the on-board electronic interfaces with CAN controller, the M4 load sensing valve brings open- and closed-loop control options to a variety of mobile applications. Matching...

Recycling systems. (Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace).
July 1, 2003... Recycling construction and demolition (C&D) debris requires all the equipment normally needed for recycling concrete and asphalt rubble, plus other specialized elements in the system to handle such incoming items as wood, asphalt shingles,...

Air cleaners. (Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace).
July 1, 2003... Donaldson Co. offers a free air cleaner and intake accessories catalog (No. F110027) to manufacturers and customers in the aftermarket. Designed as a guide to help customers select the correct air cleaners and accessories for diesel engines,...

Crushing plant. (Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace).
July 1, 2003... The new, closed-circuit Pegson 4242 SR horizontal impact crusher plant from BL-Pegson includes a screen and stockpiling conveyor with magnetic separator on one self-contained chassis. The new unit is built around the field-proven design of the...

Air classifiers. (Equipment showcase: your productivity marketplace).
July 1, 2003... Sturtevant air classifiers are capable of separating materials from 100 mesh to 5 microns. Three models are available. The Superfine air classifier is a high-accuracy separator for particles from 44 to 5 microns. The Whirlwind and Side Draft...

Classifying and blending. (Product Highlight).
July 1, 2003... Kolman's expanding line of wash equipment now includes sand classifying and blending systems. With portable, semi-portable and stationary designs, these systems are capable of blending up to three sand products simultaneously to yield two...

Conveyor belts. (Product Highlight).
July 1, 2003... With its unique, patented Triple-Warp center ply plus two rugged outer plies, Goodyear Conquest conveyor belts are engineered to be a leap forward over traditional multi-ply and straight-warp belt constructions. Designed for the most torturous...

Blasting seismograph. (Product Highlight).
July 1, 2003... The GeoSonics/Vibra-Tech SSU 3000LCP Plus seismograph combines convenience with durability. Its features include a full-sized keyboard for easy data entry, an 80-character LCD for immediate display of results and a large thermal printer that...

MSHA allegedly locks out whistle-blower. (National affairs: key issues).(Mine Safety and Health Administration)
July 1, 2003... Mine Safety and Health News reports that Jack Spadaro, the superintendent of the Mine Academy located in Beckley, W.Va., was locked out of his office as of June 4. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) officials came into the Academy and...

Administration's 'inadequate' highway proposal criticized by congressional panel. (National affairs: key issues).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The leadership of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee told the Secretary of Transportation that the Bush Administration's new six-year highway and transit funding proposal was "inadequate" and wouldn't sufficiently...

In a repeat of past years, Members of Congress who disagree with how Highway Trust Fund (HTF) dollars are apportioned to the states will introduce legislation that provides equity to their states.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * In a repeat of past years, Members of Congress who disagree with how Highway Trust Fund (HTF) dollars are apportioned to the states will introduce legislation that provides equity to their states. Senators George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and Carl...

House Transportation & Infrastructure Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-Wis.), T&I Ranking Member Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) and other committee leaders launched a transportation "road show" to raise awareness of the need to increase funding for the federal highway program and combat growing opposition to the plan from anti-tax advocates.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * House Transportation & Infrastructure Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-Wis.), T&I Ranking Member Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) and other committee leaders launched a transportation "road show" to raise awareness of the need to...

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee passed "The Flight 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act"--legislation that reauthorizes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for $59 billion over four years.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee passed "The Flight 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act" --legislation that reauthorizes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for $59 billion over four years. The House bill...

Senators Jim Talent (R-Miss.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced legislation that would establish a one-time.($50 billion federal bonding program as a way of boosting the economy)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Senators Jim Talent (R-Miss.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced legislation that would establish a one-time, $50 billion federal bonding program as a way of boosting the economy and giving state and local governments a chance to complete...

New York. (Northeast).(Dalrymple Gravel and Contracting Co. expansion on hold; Tri-City Aggregates asphalt plant criticized)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Erwin Town Board approved a temporary halt to the expansion of Dalrymple Gravel and Contracting Co.'s mining operations, says the Star-Gazette, possibly setting the stage for more legal action. The unanimous vote came about an hour after...

Pennsylvania. (Northeast).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Lafarge North America has named Michael Klenk the new operations manager of its Whitehall Cement Plant. He offers the plant 15 years of experience in several positions and locations within the company. Dennis Luke is the new quarry and raw...

Georgia. (Southeast).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Fifty-seven people have filed a lawsuit against Vulcan Materials Co. to stop blasting at the company's Bellwood Quarry operation and to pay for alleged damages to their homes. Vulcan is leasing the quarry from Fulton County. Officials with...

West Virginia. (Southeast).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Waco Oil and Gas Inc. is asking Kanawha Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib to either order the State Department of Environmental Protection to issue a permit or provide specific standards the company can meet to overcome aesthetic objections to a quarry...

Illinois. (North Central).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Residents of Monroe Center packed an Ogle County, Ill., courtroom to register their opposition to a proposed quarry in their community. The session was the first of four public hearings on a request for a special-use permit to establish the...

Indiana. (North Central).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Central Indiana Aggregates was featured in an article in The Indianapolis Star which highlighted the complaints of neighbors and suggested the mine's permit-approval hearing was virtually a closed-door proposition. The article balanced the...

Ohio. (North Central).(Marblehead quarry division of Lafarge wins parent corporation's highest environmental award)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... For the second time in 10 years, the Marblehead quarry division of Lafarge won the parent corporation's highest environmental award, according to the News Herald, Port Clinton, Ohio. Marblehead quarry officials received a flag, signifying its...

New Mexico. (South Central).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A New Mexico man is facing 196 felony charges, including racketeering, fraud and embezzlement, in an alleged scheme to bilk his company out of more than $600,000. Curtis Slade, co-owner of NewCo Aggregate, is accused of enlisting the aid of a...

Colorado. (Mountain).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Early this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the EPA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in order to obtain early comment on issues associated with the scope of waters that are subject to the Clean Water Act...

Missouri. (Mountain).(proposed amendments to Senate Bill 36 called "horrible" in Springfield News-Leader editorial)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... An editorial in the Springfield News-Leader called new proposed amendments to Senate Bill 36, "horrible amendments... a nightmarish collection of the worst environmental-protection rollbacks dreamed up by polluting industries in the past...

California. (Pacific).(judge rules that an analysis of traffic by a Cemex Inc. sand and gravel mine in Soledad Canyon is adequate and does not need to be reviewed again by officials or the public; Navcom Technology in strategic alliance with Bridge Technology)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A federal judge determined that an analysis of traffic that would be created by a Cemex Inc. sand and gravel mine in Soledad Canyon is adequate and does not need to be reviewed again by Los Angeles County officials or the public, according to...

Utah. (Pacific).(task force is trying to figure out how to deal with impact of gravel pits on communities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... An article in the Desert News, Salt Lake City, detailed the efforts of a legislative task force dealing with gravel pits and their impact on communities. The task force is trying to figure out how to deal with gravel pits' noise, pollution,...

The four-hour minimum. (Safety: key issues).(new-hire miner must have a minimum of four hours of training)
July 1, 2003... Part 46 requires that before a new-hire miner does the first productive work, that miner has to have a minimum of four hours of training. A newly employed, experienced miner also has a pre-work training requirement. A miner with no experience...

Safe Explosives Act in full force. (Law: key issues).
July 1, 2003... As of May 24, 2003, everyone who manufactures, purchases, receives or possesses explosives is now required to have either a permit (for possession) or a license (to manufacture) from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives...

Lack of judgment harms case. (Legal highlights: key issues).(discrimination complaint dismissed)
July 1, 2003... Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission Judge Richard Manning dismissed a discrimination complaint filed by MSHA on behalf of a former quarry superintendent who claimed he was fired for refusing to sign a form he feared would eliminate...

Aggregates production down for first quarter. (Economics: key issues).
July 1, 2003... An estimated 267 million metric tons of crushed stone were produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the first quarter of 2003, a decrease of 4.9 percent compared with the same period of 2002, according to the U.S. Geological...

April construction holds steady. (Economics: key issues).
July 1, 2003... At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $477.0 billion, new construction starts in April were essentially unchanged from March, according to McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Nonresidential building...

Interest renews in stone matrix asphalt. (Supply chain: news from affiliated industries).
July 1, 2003... Highway agencies are showing renewed interest these days in stone matrix asphalt (SMA). Designed primarily as a surface mix for high volume roadways, SMA is a rut-resistant, gap-graded hot mix asphalt. SMA relies on stone-on-stone contact...