Pit & Quarry articles from October 2001

Pit & Quarry archives from October 2001

STOCK WATCH.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... STOCK WATCH (at press time) THIS Month LAST Month Centex Construction Prod. f 29.20 31.50 Florida Rock Industries f 26.92 52.78 Hanson Plc f 31.60 38.65...

The aggregates industry.(Responds to terrorist attacks)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * The aggregates industry responds with manpower, machines and expertise when unprecedented terrorist attacks hit New York and the Washington, D.C., area.

For the first half of this year, crushed stone production was up 2.6 percent (747 million metric tons) over 2000.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... * For the first half of this year, crushed stone production was up 2.6 percent (747 million metric tons) over 2000, and sand and gravel production was up by 2.3 percent (530 million metric tons), according to the U.S. Dept. of the Interior's...

A new study released by the Construction Materials Association of California.(Looming sand and gravel shortages)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * A new study released by the Construction Materials Association of California indicates that looming sand and gravel shortages threaten California's future.

MDU Resources Group Inc.(Acquires the Metro Rock & Construction Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * MDU Resources Group Inc. subsidiary Knife River Corp. acquires the Metro Rock & Construction Co., near Eugene, Ore.

Terex Corp.(Thys De Beer becomes president of Terex Mining)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Terex Corp. appoints Thys De Beer president of Terex Mining. De Beer will report to Terex's chairman and CEO, Ronald M. DeFeo. De Beer joins Terex from Metso Minerals Inc.

Authorities grant approval for Metso Corp.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Authorities grant approval for Metso Corp. of Finland to complete its acquisition of Svedala. As previously announced, this means that Sandvik is acquiring the operations of Svedala's crushing and screening unit in Sweden and France.

WASHINGTON WIRE.(United States. Mine Safety and Health Administration's grace period ends)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The one-year grace period MSHA had granted operators who fall under the agency's new Part 46 safety- and health-training regulation expired on Sept. 30. During the grace period, financial penalties had been waived for violations of the Part 46...

RED FLAGS.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [C] MSHA will delay the effective date of its interim final HazCom (Hazardous Communication) Rule that was scheduled to go into effect Oct. 3. [C] NSSGA has filed extensive technical and legal comments on EPA's criteria document and staff...

Essential Economics.(Monthly Construction Contract Value)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Monthly Construction Contract Value Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, in Millions July 2001 June 2001 % Change Nonresidential Building $156,064 $162,478 -4 Residential Building ...

Shipments of construction equipment continued to decline in the second quarter of 2001.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... * Shipments of construction equipment continued to decline in the second quarter of 2001, according to data from CIMA. Business volume was down 9.2 points from the previous quarter, continuing a year-long decline.

Construction put in place during June 2001 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $861.6 billion.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... * Construction put in place during June 2001 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $861.6 billion, a 1 percent decline from the month previous, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Portland Cement Consumption increased 2.3 percent in May on a year-to-year basis.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Portland Cement Consumption increased 2.3 percent in May on a year-to-year basis, according to PCA.

Rushing in to help.(The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association resopnds to the terroist attacks)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Like every American, I watched the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th with disbelief. This egregious act against the United States, and, ultimately, against the entire world, must be answered by every civilized nation with nothing less than a...

Track-mounted plant offers 300-tph production.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Kolberg-Pioneer Inc.'s new track-mounted crushing plant -- the RT 2649 Series -- is called Rocky Trax. With tubular design and special high-strength-steel features, the unit weighs 105,000 lb. It is powered by a 250-hp diesel with hydraulic...

Diesel engine designed for underground mining.(from Cummings Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Cummins Inc. announces the recent certification of its B3.9 116-hp engine by CANMET and MSHA for use in underground mining. This is the second in a series of Cummins engines approved for underground mining. The company says the B3.9 provides...

Motorized wheel system hauls more than its weight.(From GE Transportation Systems)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The wheels of progress are in motion at an Alabama quarry, with the introduction of the world's first AC drive system for 150-ton payload trucks. The GE150AC motorized wheel systems on four new Unit Rig MT-3300 trucks represent the first...

High-tech products and services : The latest computer hardware and software targeted to the construction and construction materials industries will be on display.(At ConExpo-Con/Agg 2002)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... At ConExpo-Con/Agg 2002, an Information Technology Pavilion sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) will be an integral part of the show. "AGC felt it was important to sponsor the Information Technology Pavilion because...

Aggregate sales up in second quarter, first half of year.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... The U.S. Department of the Interior's Geological Division reports crushed stone production was up five percent (457 million metric tons) in the second quarter of 2001 compared to the same period last year. Sand and gravel production was up 2.2...

Highway, bridge construction climbs 12 percent, new construction starts down 5 percent.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... The value of new construction starts retreated 5 percent in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $470.0 billion, according to the F.W. Dodge Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Compared to the prior month, moderate declines were...

Association says looming sand and gravel shortages threaten California's future.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Policymakers and planners have failed to consider whether local supplies of construction aggregates will be available to meet the state's urgent need of upgrading, maintaining and building new infrastructure. This planning lapse is one of the...

A Closer Look : MDU Resources continues four-year growth spurt.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... In 1992, MDU Resources' Knife River Corp. (KRC) began diversifying its coal mining business by buying its first construction materials company. With the purchase of Oregon-based Morse Bros. in 1998, KRC's pace of diversification into aggregate,...

Lafarge Corp.(changes name to Lafarge North America Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Lafarge Corp. has changed its name to Lafarge North America Inc. "In view of the significant growth the company has experienced in the last year, most recently the management agreement covering the former Blue Circle assets, we felt a new...

MDU Resources Group Inc.(Knife River Corp. subsidiary acquires Metro Rock and Construction Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * MDU Resources Group Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Knife River Corp., has acquired the Metro Rock & Construction Co., near Eugene, Ore. The company will become a part of Morse Bros. Inc. (MBI), a wholly owned subsidiary of...

Building on six years of success working together.(Caterpillar Inc., Trimble joint venture)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Building on six years of success working together, Caterpillar Inc. and Trimble announced their intention to form a new joint venture to develop and manufacture advanced electronic guidance and control products for earthmoving machines in the...

The competition authorities have granted approval for Metso Corp. of Finland to complete its acquisition of Svedala.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * The competition authorities have granted approval for Metso Corp. of Finland to complete its acquisition of Svedala. As previously announced, this means that Sandvik is acquiring the operations of Svedala's crushing and screening unit in...

Terex Corp.(Thys De Beer named president of Terex Mining)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Terex Corp. appointed Thys De Beer president of Terex Mining. De Beer will report to Terex's chairman and CEO, Ronald M. DeFeo. De Beer joins Terex from Metso Minerals Inc., formerly known as Nordberg Inc., where he was president and CEO from...

Deere & Company.(to restructure construction and forestry divisions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Deere & Company will restructure its construction and forestry division and exit the Homelite consumer-products business as part of a sweeping effort to improve financial and operating performance. David M. Purvis was named senior vice...

Attack on America.(Effect on the aggregates industry)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... What economic impact will the infamous terror strikes of Sept. 11 have on the aggregates industry? Producers speak out. By the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, it was apparent that the world had changed. The worst terrorist attacks in U.S....

No hammer, no hurt.(Safety procedures)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... In the summer of 1957, I had a job on the "yard gang" in a cement plant. It was a good job. The foreman was very watchful and he had made the old PCA and plant safety program part of his life. As I remember it, his job instructions were...

NSSGA names top safety achievers.(National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association)
October 1, 2001... Robert C. Dailey of H. B. Mellott Estate Inc. is NSSGA's James M. Christie Safety & Health Professional of the Year 2000. In NSSGA's Sterling Safety Award contest, which recognizes top company performers, the winners were Material Service...

Sentinels of Safety.(Mine Safety and Health Administration)
October 1, 2001... MSHA's Sentinels of Safety Awards first-place winners and their number of consecutive employee-hours recorded in each of the sponsored mining categories are as follows: * Quarry Group Thornton Quarry, Material Service Corp., Thornton,...

Protecting lives.(World Trade Center recovery mission health risks)
October 1, 2001... Everything about our world changed on September 11, 2001 when terrorists took so many lives in hijacking aircraft to crash into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. During recovery operations, multiple physical hazards threatened the safety...

Partnership results in high-tech quarry.(Astec Industries)
October 1, 2001... Chattanooga may now be home to one of the most technologically advanced quarries in the world. "Not only is the equipment state-of-the art, but the plant we built is the first of its kind in the world," says Dr. Don Brock, president and CEO of...

Sure hit.(Surestrike International Inc.'s hammers)
October 1, 2001... Surestrike International Inc. offers a variety of models of impact hammers ranging from the Model 1100 to the massive Model 6000. All Surestrike hammers can be mounted to a front-end loader or an excavator. Kafka Granite, Stratford, Wis.,...

Miracle manganese.(Frog Switch & Manufacturing Co.)
October 1, 2001... Frog Switch & Manufacturing Co. says it has developed what might be the longest-wearing manganese material for use in crushing and grinding. The revolutionary alloy -- developed by its engineers and metallurgists -- is called WearWolf. The...

Close to the source.(New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. uses Metso Minerals machinery)
October 1, 2001... When the Contract Division of New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. was awarded a $25 million contract at the end of 1999 for the first phase of a mile-and-a-half expansion of U.S. Route 220, it was looking at excavating approximately 1.9 million cu....

Espanola Transit Mix.(production increase)
October 1, 2001... * Espanola Transit Mix increased production 80 tons per hour by switching to Flex-Mat self-cleaning screen cloth on the bottom decks of its six 6-ft. x 20-ft. triple-deck screens. Flex-Mat eliminated screen blinding and the need for the...

Express Scale's automated systems.(Renaissance Systems Inc)
October 1, 2001... * Express Scale's automated systems are designed for vehicle identification, weighing, data tracking and reporting. By automating the weighing process, multiple scale lanes may be supervised by one employee. A radio frequency identification...

Production Engineered Products Inc.(4030 CF 2512 screening plant)
October 1, 2001... * Production Engineered Products Inc. offers the 4030 CF 2512 screening plant. The portable unit is a turn key plant that handles production rates up to 650 tph on sand and gravel, recycled materials, coal and topsoil. A variable-speed...

Fast forward.(aggregates industry turns more to Internet after Sept. 11th attacks)
October 1, 2001... Forty years ago, futurists imagined 21st century business people zooming around cities in flying cars, traversing from skyscraper to skyscraper. Fortunately for the aggregates industry, cars still roll across roads made from sand and stone....

Tough tech.(RuggedNotebooks.com's new computer)
October 1, 2001... Tough tech -- RuggedNotebooks.com has developed a notebook computer designed for harsh, unstable environments. The company's laptops and notebook computers are extremely rugged, shock resistant and waterproof. They can be dropped on concrete,...

Request line.(Rentmaker inc.'s report on industrial equipment rentals)
October 1, 2001... Request line -- Rentmaker's report of the top 100 most requested equipment rental items for the first half of 2001 suggests that online rental trends are mirroring offline trends. Earthmoving and material handling equipment, which are the most...

Think green.(John Deere launches environmental Web site)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Think green -- Underscoring John Deere's strong tie to the land and long-standing commitment of sustainable growth through stewardship, the company has launched an environmental Web site called Running Green (RunningGreen.com). The site...

Highest bidder.(IronPlanet.com sells used construction equipment)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... Highest bidder -- IronPlanet.com sold 61 pieces units for nearly $2.8 million on Sept. 6 during what it called the industry's largest auction of inspected, used construction equipment. The average sale price was nearly $46,000 for these pieces....

Surplus parts.(Terex Corp. introduces web site)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Surplus parts -- Terex Corp. has launched TerexMiningParts.com for surplus and discontinued parts. It's an online marketplace where buyers can access Terex Mining products and services while allowing the company to better manage surplus and...

Drill 'em, Fill 'em & Bill 'em : C.S. Garber & Sons Inc. demonstrates that an effective blast begins when you hire the right drilling contractor.
October 1, 2001... Drilling and blasting is a costly program for most quarry operations. If anything, it is becoming more costly because of the rising costs of explosives. These increased costs for explosives might persuade a quarry manager to reassess his...

Making Material on the Move : CSR Associated stays productive with a mobile plant that sets up fast.
October 1, 2001... Maintaining a competitive edge in aggregate processing -- particularly in a mobile operation -- is predicated as much on how steadily one's equipment performs as it is on how productive that equipment can be. For Everett, Wash.-based CSR...

Bearing Mounting Options May Affect Productivity.(spherical roller bearings)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Several manufacturers offer mounted spherical roller bearings that are used in many aggregate industry applications, including belt conveyors, radial stacking conveyors and feeder conveyors. Typically, these bearings are mounted onto the shaft...

Could new concrete system have prevented World Trade Center buildings from collapsing?(high-performance, fiber-reinforced concrete system)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Could new concrete construction techniques have kept a building like the World Trade Center towers from collapsing, or at least delayed or controlled their failure? Possibly no design or material could have prevented the catastrophic failure of...

Alliance to honor Perpetual Pavements.(Asphalt Pavement Alliance has created the Perpetual Pavement Award)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA), an industry coalition of the Asphalt Institute, the National Asphalt Pavement Association and state asphalt pavement associations, is accepting nominations for its newly created Perpetual Pavement Award. The...

READY MIX.(Portland Cement Assocition research reports)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Market research reports on the use of cement and concrete are available on the Portland Cement Association's Web site -- www.portcement.org/mkt. Users can pay for the reports online by credit card and download the data as Excel files. Available...

ASPHALT.(American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials hands out its 2000 team Recognition Award)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) gave its 2000 Team Recognition Award to the Saving Superpave team. The team was formed in 1999 to advance Superpave implementation by seeking continued federal...

ROAD BUILDING.(American Road & Transportation Builders Association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) announced several new initiatives during its mid-year conference in September, including: * An AIR-21 Reauthorization Task Force to develop the association's legislative...