But the budget proposal, which is about $300 million below the 2010 enacted level of $10.3 billion, would reduce spending for the superfund program by $13.4 million and for the clean water and drinking water state revolving funds by $200 million, according to the report.

The 2011 plan includes an increase of $43 million for regulations targeted at climate change and $60 million for state grants to address new and expanded national ambient air quality standards and air monitoring requirements, Jackson told the Senate Environment and Public Works committee during a hearing on the budget proposal, also according to the NSSGA report.

The fiscal 2011 budget calls for $300 million for the Great Lakes, focusing on contaminated sediments and toxics, nonpoint source pollution, habitat degradation and loss, and invasive species, including Asian carp. The administration also requested $63 million for the Chesapeake Bay program to reduce pollution, restore aquatic habitat and achieve water quality objectives, Jackson said, according to the report.

John Neuner is the managing director at Harris Williams & Co. He can be reached at 804-648-0072 or jneuner@harriswilliams.com.

As this is written, we are in an interesting valuation period for the sector. The public companies in the sector are in the midst of releasing their fourth quarter 2009 results, which, as expected, continue to reflect the pressures across all markets and segments. While the residential market should show some moderate increase in housing starts in 2010, the commercial market continues to decline and is expected to be under pressure for the foreseeable future. To offset these markets, many had hoped the public works segment with carryover stimulus dollars would provide some support in 2010. Unfortunately, this segment of the industry is also in a period of limbo as we wait to see if/how the politicians in Washington, D.C. can settle in on a long-term transportation bill that gives more visibility than the current month-to-month process. With these various factors at play, it is not a surprise that the AggMan Index encountered some turbulence throughout the past month and moved from 128.1 as of year-end 2009 to a monthly peak of 131.8 mid-month to a low at month end of 119.9. Given the “noise” in the industry, these fluctuations seem likely to continue in the near term as the industry looks for a clearer long-term picture, but the long-term trend will continue to show an increasing index.

Deals pick up and credit markets show improvement

George H. Reddin is a principal in FMI’s Investment Banking practice. He can be reached at 919-785-9286 or at greddin@fminet.com.

The fourth quarter of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 have seen signs of increased mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity in the construction materials sector, as well as overall increased lending activity. These events have many optimistic about overall deal activity for 2010.

Strategic buyers continue to dominate deal activity in the United States; however, distressed situations and sellers that waited out the last 18 months and have a compelling need to sell should also add to the activity.

Oldcastle Materials Inc. led the way in the fourth quarter with four transactions. Oldcastle’s APAC operations completed three acquisitions, two in Missouri and one in Texas, with combined annualized sales of $159 million. In November, Oldcastle acquired Hilty Quarries Inc., an integrated aggregate, asphalt, and construction business based in Clinton, Mo. In December, Oldcastle acquired selected aggregate and asphalt assets in central and eastern Missouri from Lafarge and acquired Wheeler Companies’ six asphalt plants and eight ready-mixed concrete plants in Texas. In December, Oldcastle’s Staker Parsons division acquired Burdick Paving Corp., an integrated aggregate and asphalt construction company.

In January, Summit Materials announced the acquisition of Hinkle Contracting Co. based in Paris, Ky. Hinkle Contracting is an aggregate, asphalt, paving, concrete block, and construction company operating 12 aggregate and 17 asphalt facilities. Summit Materials recently secured loans totaling $174.3 million for general corporate purposes and to help finance the $149 million acquisition of Hinkle Contracting.

Conditions in the loan markets improved considerably in the fourth quarter with new issuance reaching $25.8 billion, according to Thomson Reuters LPC. As shown in the accompanying chart, this is the highest level since the third quarter of 2008 and is up 37 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008. Additionally, there is an increased level of lending to support M&A activity, providing the fuel for both strategic and financial buyers to pursue acquisitions.

By Kerry Clines, Senior Editor

Dewatering screens increase production while removing water.

Linatex

The G4 dewatering screen from Linatex features a curved, sieve-like feed section and upward-inclined main deck for increased dewatering. The company says the use of centrifugal force allows a larger total screening area without increasing the size of the machine.

Derrick Corp.

Derrick Corp. says its new W56 dewatering screen features true-High G force linear motion coupled with a high-open-area urethane screen surface to allow water removal at up to 300 tons per hour. The unit is operated by two vibratory drives and can be outfitted with spray bars for a cleaner end product.

GreyStone

GreyStone, Inc. offers three dewatering screen models — the 4- by 8-foot DS-488, the 5- by 10-foot DS-6010, and the 6- by 12-foot DS-7212. The units produce a dense, compact cake that rides up the belt to form a pile with no runoff or water pools. The high-frequency separators have an adjustable bed depth, table tilt, and vibrator variables.

Metso

Metso Mining & Construction says the first section of its high-capacity dewatering screen is constructed with a sharp 45-degree slope to remove water during the initial screening process. The remaining reverse-incline sections retain material and compact particles into a “filter cake” where most of the remaining moisture is removed.

Sizetec

The reverse-angle deck, VDS dewater screens from Sizetec, Inc. are available in many sizes — 2 by 7 feet, 3 by 8 feet, 3 by 10 feet, 4 by 10 feet, 5 by 12 feet, 6 by 12 feet, and 7 by 14 feet. All screens are equipped with either 1,200- or 1,800-rpm motors; the largest screen can dewater sand at up to 300 tons per hour.

Screen and screw combinations offer double-duty dewatering.

Trio Engineered Products

Trio offers a range of dewatering screens that can work along or in series with screws to provide additional dewatering when lower moisture content is desired. The company also offers fine material washers and log washers.

McLanahan

McLanahan manufactures dewatering screens and screws that can be used in combination to supplement existing screw installations, depending on design criteria and particle size. A double-wash process can be performed by using the screw for de-silting and adding sprays on the screens.

GreyStone

GreyStone, Inc. says its Aggre-Dry Washer combines a fine material screw and dewatering screen to reduce moisture content in material to as low as 8 to 13 percent, while using only 30 horsepower to wash and dewater up to 100 tons per hour. The unit’s 0.25-mm screen opening allows material to build to a depth of 14 inches on the screen to squeeze out additional moisture.

From single to double and from fine to coarse, screws offer options that meet plant needs.

KPI-JCI

KPI-JCI’s fine material washers are engineered with high-efficiency drives, resulting in low-horsepower requirement and reduced operating costs, while increasing throughput.

KPI-JCI

KPI-JCI says its 500-ton-per-hour, coarse material washers are engineered to adapt to changing needs. Both single and twin-spiral designs can be reconfigured with numerous bolt-on paddle and flight arrangements to meet specifications.

Eagle Iron Works

Both single and double screws are available from Eagle Iron Works. Single-screw sizes range from 20 inches by 22 feet to 72 inches by 38 feet; double-screw washers range from 36 inches by 25 feet to 72 inches by 38 feet.

By Kerry Clines, Senior Editor

Aggregate producers — particularly sand and gravel operators — are being flooded by regulatory scrutiny over their storm water management processes. Why? Because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in the third year of a three-year enforcement initiative, has found that almost 40 percent of inspected sites are out of compliance. As a result, the EPA is extending its timetable and will continue inspections to make sure that operators have developed and maintained effective Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) at their sites.

If you haven’t had the EPA or state Department of Environmental Quality knock on your door yet, be prepared. The agency’s focus on ready-mixed concrete and aggregate operations has resulted in numerous fines to producers throughout the nation, including one company that paid a whopping $2.75 million civil penalty.

To avoid forking over unnecessary fines, make sure you know your compliance obligations. If you produce construction sand and gravel, crushed or broken stone, or rip rap, and discharge storm water from an industrial activity into the waters of the United States or a municipal sewer system, you must have a storm water permit. In addition, a site-specific SWPPP should be developed, signed, implemented, and located on site for regulatory review.

A common problem spotted during inspections is not having a local employee who is familiar with the SWPPP, particularly with companies experiencing high turnover or staff reductions. At least one on-site employee must be familiar with the storm water program and have access to pertinent paperwork. Proper filing is also a concern because inspection and monitoring records are not always kept with the SWPPP. Records of routine site inspections, visual assessments, or monitoring results should be kept with the SWPPP and be available for review, and employees — including contractors — should be trained on all aspects of the storm water management plan.

Steps also can be taken to avoid the need for the permit. For example, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency addressed the issue of wash water discharges in sand and gravel operations and noted, “Often, operators can recycle their wash water and/or allow it to infiltrate the pit floor, and avoid the need for wash water overflows and other discharges. This may change their requirement to have a permit.” Another best management practice is to use good sump management to prevent the accumulation of dirty water in quarry pits, and even using the pit water for dust control on haul roads. Good housekeeping also goes a long way toward eliminating storm water concerns.

Before a regulator shows up at your site, do a self inspection. Review your SWPPP and get all records in order. Make sure your staff knows its responsibilities. By investing some time and energy, you can save yourself unnecessary aggravation when Uncle Sam comes knocking.

With 2008 statistics, producers reported a second consecutive year of decreased production results.

By Jason Christopher Willett

U.S. production of construction aggregates in 2008 was 2.48 billion metric tons (2.73 billion short tons) valued at $21.2 billion, free on board (f.o.b.) at plant. Construction aggregates production decreased 7 percent, and the associated value increased 55 percent compared with the quantity and values reported in 2000. In 2008, construction aggregates production decreased for the second consecutive time owing to a

16-percent decrease in the production of construction sand and gravel and a 13-percent decrease in the production of crushed stone. The average unit value (price of a metric ton of material f.o.b. plant) has increased every year since 2000.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) defines the construction aggregates industry as those companies that mine and process crushed stone and construction sand and gravel. The construction aggregates industry is present in all 50 states and consists of about 5,400 mining companies that manage more than 10,000 operations. In 2008, the 10 leading construction aggregates-producing states were, in descending order of tonnage, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Arizona, New York, and Indiana. These 10 states accounted for 45 percent of the national total production of construction aggregates, or 1.11 billion metric tons (1.23 billion short tons).

The 25 leading companies, in order of construction aggregates production in 2008, are listed below. These companies controlled 2,075 active operations throughout the 50 states and accounted for 43 percent of the total production and 46 percent of the total value of construction aggregates in the United States. Of the 2,075 active operations, 238 operations did not report their production or sales to the USGS, and their total production was estimated by using employment data provided by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The 100 largest construction aggregates operations produced 13 percent of the total production of construction aggregates.

1. Vulcan Materials Co.

1200 Urban Center Drive

Birmingham, AL 35242-2545

Phone: 205-298-3000

Web site: www.vulcanmaterials.com

2. Martin Marietta Aggregates

2710 Wycliff Road

Raleigh, NC 27607-3033

Phone: 919-781-4550

Web site: www.martinmarietta.com

3. Oldcastle Materials, Inc.

900 Ashwood Parkway, Suite 700

Atlanta, GA 30338-4780

Phone: 770-522-5600

Web site: www.oldcastlematerials.com

4. Lehigh Hanson, Inc.

7660 Imperial Way

Allentown, PA 18195-1016

Phone: 800-523-5488

Web site: www.lehighcement.com

5. Cemex S.A.B. de C.V.

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 100

Houston, TX 77024-2649

Phone: 713-650-6200

Web site: www.cemexusa.com

6. Lafarge North America, Inc.

12950 Worldgate Drive, Suite 500

Herndon, VA 20170-6000

Phone: 703-480-3600

Web site: www.lafarge-na.com

7. Holcim Group/Aggregate Industries Management, Inc.

7529 Standish Place, Suite 200

Rockville, MD 20855-2783

Phone: 301-284-3600

Web site: www.aggregate-us.com

8. Rogers Group, Inc.

421 Great Circle Road

Nashville, TN 37228-1407

Phone: 615-242-0585

Web site: www.rogersgroupinc.com

9. MDU Resources Group, Inc./Knife River Corp.

1150 West Century Ave.

Bismarck, ND 58506-5568

Phone: 701-530-1400

Web site: www.kniferiver.com

10. Carmeuse Lime & Stone

11 Stanwix St., 21st Floor

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1312

Phone: 412-995-5500

Web site: www.carmeusena.com

11. Texas Industries, Inc. (TXI)

1341 West Mockingbird Lane

Dallas, TX 75247-6913

Phone: 972-647-6700

Web site: www.txi.com

12. New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc.

3912 Brumbaugh Road

New Enterprise, PA 16664-9137

Phone: 814-766-2211

Web site: www.nesl.com

13. Chemical Lime Co.

3700 Hulen St.

Ft. Worth, TX 76107-6816

Phone: 817-732-8164

Web site: www.chemicallime.com

14. Granite Construction Inc.

585 West Beach St.

Watsonville, CA 95076-5123

Phone: 831-724-1011

Web site: www.graniteconstruction.com

15. Luck Stone Corp.

515 Stone Mill Drive

Manakin Sabot, VA 23103-3261

Phone: 800-898-5825

Web site: www.luckstone.com

16. CalPortland Co.

2025 East Financial Way, Suite 200

Glendora, CA 91741-4603

Phone: 626-852-6200

Web site: www.calportland.com

17. Dolese Bros. Co.

20 N.W. 13th St.

Oklahoma City, OK 73101-4806

Phone: 405-235-2311

Web site: www.dolese.com

18. Ready Mix USA Holding Co.

2570 Ruffner Road

Birmingham, AL 35210-3914

Phone: 205-986-4800

Web site: www.readymixusa.com

19. Ash Grove Cement Co.

11011 Cody St.

Overland Park, KS 66210-1313

Phone: 800-545-1882

Web site: www.ashgrove.com

20. Colas Inc.

163 Madison Ave., Suite 500

Morristown, NJ 07960-7303

Phone: 973-290-9082

Web site: www.colas.com

21. Fisher Industries

3020 Energy Drive

Dickinson, ND 58601-7184

Phone: 800-932-8740

Web site: www.fisherind.com

22. Mulzer Crushed Stone, Inc.

534 Mozart St.

Tell City, IN 47586-2446

Phone: 812-547-7921

Web site: www.mulzer.com

23. Fred Weber, Inc.

2320 Creve Coeur Mill Road

Maryland Heights, MO 63043-8501

Phone: 314-344-0070

Web site: www.fredweberinc.com

24. DeAtley Crushing Co.

4307 Snake River Ave.

Lewiston, ID 83501-0759

Phone: 208-743-6550

Web site: www.deatleycrushing.com

25. Buzzi Unicem USA, Inc.

100 Brodhead Road

Bethlehem, PA 18017-8935

Phone: 610-882-5000

Web site: www.buzziunicemusa.com

In 2008, a total of 1,591 companies produced or sold crushed stone in the United States from 3,816 operations with 3,912 quarries and 199 sales and/or distribution sites. A total of 1.44 billion metric tons (1.59 billion short tons) of crushed stone was produced for consumption from surface and underground mines, nearly 13 percent less than the total production of 2007 and 19 percent less than that of 2006. This was the lowest level of crushed stone produced for consumption in the United States since 1997. The value of the total crushed stone produced was $13.4 billion, a decrease of 5 percent compared with the 2007 total. The average unit price for crushed stone increased 9 percent. The increase in unit prices partially offset the impacts of the large decrease in production, so that the total value of the crushed stone produced in 2008 was still greater than the value in 2005.

The 10 leading crushed stone producing states were, in descending order of tonnage, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. The combined production of the 10 leading states decreased by 14 percent compared with that of 2007, but was more than half of the national total production of crushed stone in 2008.

In 2008, underground production, totaling 80 million metric tons (88 million short tons), accounted for 6 percent of the total U.S. production of crushed stone. Crushed stone was produced in 91 underground mines located in 17 states. The five leading states were, in descending order of underground production, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. Production from these five states represented 71 percent of the total U.S. crushed stone produced from underground mines.

The 10 leading companies, in descending order of crushed stone production in 2008, are listed below. These companies, with 668 active quarries and 183 sales and/or distribution yards, accounted for 46 percent of the total production of crushed stone in the United States.

1. Vulcan Materials Co.

2. Martin Marietta Aggregates

3. Lehigh Hanson, Inc.

4. Oldcastle Materials, Inc.

5. Cemex S.A.B. de C.V.

6. Lafarge North America, Inc.

7. Rogers Group, Inc.

8. Holcim Group/Aggregate Industries Management, Inc.

9. Carmeuse Lime & Stone

10. New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc.

The five leading crushed stone quarries, in descending order of 2008 production, are listed below. These five quarries produced 32 million metric tons (36 million short tons) of crushed stone, valued at $283 million.

1. Texas Crushed Stone Co., Inc., Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas

2. Lafarge North America Inc., Calera Quarry, Shelby County, Ala.

3. Martin Marietta Aggregates, Beckmann Quarry, Bexar County, Texas

4. Vecellio & Grogan, Inc., White Rock, Miami-Dade County, Fla.

5. Cemex S.A.B. de C.V., Balcones Quarry, Comal County, Texas

A total of 1.04 billion metric tons (1.15 billion short tons) of construction sand and gravel, valued at $7.8 billion, f.o.b. plant, was reported produced in the United States in 2008 by 3,832 companies with 6,192 active operations and 77 sales and/or distribution yards. This benchmarks as a 16-percent decrease from 2007’s total sand and gravel production of 1.23 billion metric tons, with a corresponding value of $8.6 billion, f.o.b. plant.

The 10 leading states, in descending order of production, were California, Texas, Arizona, Michigan, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York. Their combined output of construction sand and gravel accounted for approximately 50 percent of the total U.S. construction sand and gravel production.

The 10 leading producing companies, in descending order of tonnage in 2008, are listed below. These companies, with 692 active operations, accounted for 22 percent of the total output of construction sand and gravel in the United States. In addition, these companies operated 35 sales and/or distribution yards.

1. Oldcastle Materials, Inc.

2. Cemex S.A.B. de C.V.

3. Vulcan Materials Co.

4. Lehigh Hanson, Inc.

5. Holcim Group/Aggregate Industries Management, Inc.

6. MDU Resources Group, Inc./Knife River Corp.

7. Granite Construction Inc.

8. Martin Marietta Aggregates

9. Fisher Industries

10. Lafarge North America, Inc.

The five leading construction sand and gravel pits/plants, in descending order of 2008 production, are listed below. These five pits/plants produced 17 million metric tons (19 million short tons) of construction sand and gravel, valued at $116 million.

1. Clyde Companies, Inc., South Hansen Pit, Salt Lake County, Utah

2. CalPortland Co., Dupont Pit, Pierce County, Wash.

3. Nevada Ready Mix, Lone Mountain Pit, Clark County, Nev.

4. Gila River Indian Community, Maricopa Pit, Pinal County, Ariz.

5. Robertson Ready Mix, Inc., Rialto Pit, San Bernardino County, Calif.

Domestic production data for crushed stone and construction sand and gravel are derived by the USGS from voluntary surveys of U.S. producers. In 2008, 11,732 aggregates operations were surveyed and 85 percent were active. Of the aggregates operations surveyed, 4,083 operations, or 41 percent, reported their production/sales and dollar value to the USGS. Their total production was 1.27 billion metric tons (1.40 billion short tons). Slightly less than one-fifth of the operations that reported their 2008 production tonnages did not report a corresponding dollar value for their production.

Production of the non-responding quarries was estimated using employment data provided by MSHA. The estimated production of 4,210 non-respondent operations was 651 million metric tons (718 million short tons), or 26 percent of total U.S. construction aggregates production.

Unit values are determined by the average annual f.o.b. plant prices, usually at the first point of sale or captive use, as reported by the construction aggregates producing companies. This value does not include transportation from the plant or yard to the consumer. It does, however, include all costs of mining, processing, in-plant transportation, overhead costs, and profit. In 2008, 70 percent of the operations that responded to the annual survey reported the value of their production. For those operations that reported production only, the unit values of total production or specific end uses were estimated based on other reporting operations within the same state. The average unit value for specific end uses within a state was used in the estimation of value for operations reporting the same specific end uses. The state average was used in the estimation for operations reporting a total production, but not total value. AM

Jason Christopher Willett is a crushed stone commodity specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

More minerals information

The USGS produces a set of publications on construction aggregates and other mineral commodities, including the Minerals Yearbook, Crushed Stone and Sand and Gravel Mineral Industry Surveys, and Mineral Commodity Summaries.

The Minerals Yearbook is an annual publication that contains statistical data on crushed stone and construction sand and gravel as separate chapters. The Minerals Yearbook series includes chapters on approximately 90 mineral commodities and 175 countries.

Crushed Stone and Sand and Gravel Mineral Industry Surveys are quarterly, Web-based publications designed to provide timely statistical data on domestic production of crushed stone, construction sand and gravel, and aggregates at the national, state, and regional levels. The quarterly survey is a sample survey that generates production-for-consumption estimates by quarter, based on information reported voluntarily by a limited number of producing companies.

The Mineral Commodity Summaries is published on an annual basis and is the earliest annual government publication to furnish estimates regarding prior year construction aggregates industry data. Mineral Commodity Summaries 2010 currently provides preliminary data on 2009 production. A directory of producers is published annually for the crushed stone industry and for the construction sand and gravel industry. These directories rank the leading companies based on their production-for-consumption for the previous year.

All publications are available on the USGS Mineral Resources Program Web site, http://minerals.usgs.gov/, by selecting the Quick Link for “Minerals Information.”

Getting Wear-Resistance Right: Reality vs. Myth

Extending equipment life with the right wear materials is imperative. And today, getting wear-resistance right requires careful analysis, trusted consultation, and an ability to separate reality from myth. Consider that abrasion-resistance technologies have advanced significantly, yet much myth remains regarding customized wear solutions versus cookie-cutter conventional alternatives. The bottom line is that wear materials must be targeted to each specific piece of equipment and each application, while delivering the desired results cost effectively. The choice isn’t always easy. With that said, let’s take a look at several realities of wear resistance.

#1: Harder materials do not always wear better than softer materials.

“It’s a misconception that materials such as steel, polyurethane, tungsten carbide, and ceramics will always wear better than softer materials such as natural rubbers, which provide energy absorption and will better withstand impact and sliding abrasion,” says Andrew Philp, vice president of sales, Linatex. He explains that raw natural rubber, when vulcanized, delivers greater strength, resilience, and resistance to abrasion. For example, manufacturing technology can retain the long molecular rubber chains inherent in natural rubber, and this helps ensure energy absorption and maximum wear performance. “Conventional rubber products access dry processing, which is based on shearing the rubber during mixing. This leads to a significant drop-off in performance,” Philp says, likening conventional processing to cutting up a good coil of elastic string. “If it’s cut in 10 spots, the elastic will sit very flat and will not absorb the energy of any impact,” he says.

#2: As rubber wear-resistance products vary greatly, work closely with an expert supplier.

For many, it’s difficult to distinguish between synthetic and natural rubber, or between all the products within a range of natural rubber compounds — hence the extreme importance of close consultation with an expert supplier who collects and examines all the required data for a given application.

For example, superior rubber products comprise premium pre-cured or uncured natural rubbers, carbon black and/or silica reinforcements, and numerous compound bases such as nitrile, Bromo Butyl, and neoprene. “The supplier may recommend customized formulations, which means that compositions can be enhanced by adding or removing specific fillers or chemicals, which will then deliver the optimal wear in a specific application,” Philp says. “Also, entire wear systems can be custom-engineered with varying specifications, such as a higher-durometer rubber in a high-impact zone and a lower-durometer rubber in a zone where sliding abrasion may occur,” he adds.

Remember, superior wear resistance technology is not an off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all approach. Products should be specifically designed for each application, from wet or dry, highly abrasive, or heavy duty and high impact — and for each piece of equipment, from feeders, screens, chutes, and conveyors to pumps, valves, classifiers, clarifiers, cyclones, and more.

#3: Look at the lowest cost of ownership, not the lowest price.

Amid a number of bids, producers often choose the lowest price option, but Philp stresses that you get what you pay for. Although initial upfront costs of the right wear-resistance products may be higher, their superior performance results in a lower cost of ownership. Philp cites an example: A hydrocyclone lined with 10 millimeter premium quality natural rubber delivers an 80-percent savings by maximizing equipment service life between changeouts; dropping the cost of ownership to 20 percent of that of equipment lined with conventional rubber. “The right wear materials will pay for themselves over and over again,” he says.

Get Real

When examining new field-proven wear-resistance technologies versus conventional choices, those who merely cling to “what has always been done in the past,” may arguably see lesser results. Those who choose the optimum wear materials for a given application will likely reap the returns — and that is indeed a reality of wear resistance.

— Information supplied by Linatex.

Linatex Pump

Hydraulic pumps increase efficiency

Featuring high-quality, abrasion-resistant compounds, easy serviceability, and an interchangeable design, the Linatex G4 pump range includes both rubber and hard metal pumps. The G4 rubber pump is specifically designed for use in abrasive slurry and chemical applications, while the G4 hard metal pump is engineered for coarse particle size and high-head applications. Each features hydraulic designs which reduce internal turbulence and minimize power draw for greater efficiency — and each offers reduced downtime via easy access to all internal parts and components. Plus, all wear components are manufactured from natural Linatex premium rubber.

Linatex Valve

Flow control for abrasive environments

Unlike conventional valves, Linatex valve products feature Linatex premium rubber liners for maximum wear life in abrasive flow applications. Designed and customized to meet the demands of tough minerals processing applications, the Linatex valve range offers a choice of heavy-duty steel operating mechanisms and robust steel, iron, or aluminum bodies. Ideal for flow control in grinding and milling circuits, isolation and control in hydrocyclones and separation equipment, slurry and chemical additive control, and a number of specialized process applications, Linatex valve products can be supplied with complete automation packages.

Major Wire

Solves blinding, pegging, and clogging problems

Flex-Mat 3 screen media from Major Wire Industries Limited features vibrating wires that increase product throughput by up to 40 percent over traditional woven wire or polyurethane panels by eliminating blinding, pegging, and clogging. Because there are no cross wires with high-wear spots, wear life exceeds that of woven wire by up to three times. The screen media also has up to 30 percent more open area than woven wire for increased material throughput. Properly sized and installed, Flex-Mat 3 puts more spec product on the ground due to less downtime for cleaning or replacing screens, providing a greater return on investment.

Eagle Iron Works

Wear shoes offer guaranteed fit

Eagle Iron Works provides lifetime wear parts for both its new and previously owned machines. Wear shoes are cast with heavy-duty, long-lasting Ni-Hard iron at the factory, which ensures quality control. If preferred, premium polyurethane shoes are also available. Eagle Iron Works shoes are guaranteed to properly fit its equipment, and its wear parts are said to offer unmatched longevity, resistance, and value.

Excel Foundry

Specialized and custom wear parts

Excel not only manufactures original equipment, but also specialized replacement parts. The company offers multiple options for replacement components, including a variety of alloys. Examples include spider bushings, socket liners, and main shaft sleeves. Excel can also make application-specific designs for wear parts including an array of feed plates and feed distributors for many cone crushers; offers countershaft boxes made from steel; and performs contact testing on its pinion and gear drives to ensure they are perfectly in sync. Main frames, bowls, adjustment rings, and parts for vintage crusher models are also available.

Stedman

Designed for maximum efficiency

Stedman offers a primary horizontal shaft impactor rotor that is contoured and computer designed for maximum efficiency for various applications. A proven-positive breaker bar holding device with buried wedges minimizes wear and breaker bar installation, removal, and indexing time. The solid rotor weldment is stress-relieved, balanced, and magnetic particle tested. Interchangeable breaker bars are available in manganese, alloy steel, and hi-chrome. Stedman also offers horizontal shaft impactor rotor rebuilds, including rotors for other manufacturers. Open disk secondary rotors are also available from Stedman.

Dews Foundry

Wear parts can be Blanchard ground

Dews Foundry castings include gray iron and high-chrome iron produced from chemically bonded sand bolds. Castings can be furnished as rough cast, rough machined, fully machined, heat treated, and painted. The company specializes in blow bars, HSI liners, impellers, anvils, feed discs, flights, paddles, tips, as well as edge and table liners. Parts can be Blanchard ground for a registered fit.

By Donna Vetrano Pryor

From 2000 to 2008, the total amount of elevated enforcement actions taken by the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for both coal and metal/non-metal increased 67 percent from 3,222 actions in 2000 to 5,393 in 2008. Anyone operating a mine last year is likely to expect yet another increase with 2009 numbers. Allegations of unwarrantable failures and 104(d) paper are on the rise; hence, operators are seeing more and more special investigators at their door seeking to conduct 110(c) investigations to determine whether an agent of an operator knowingly ordered, authorized, or carried out a violation of a mandatory safety or health standard. Under section 110(c) of the Act, criminal and civil penalties may be issued against an agent if there are positive findings of a violation being knowing or willful in nature.

Of course, the best way to reduce the risk of a manager being found to have made a knowing or willful violation is to prevent the violation. If paper is written, the operator should attempt to get the citation or order reduced before it is referred to Special Investigations. A recent decision issued by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission helps clarify what is required to establish an unwarrantable failure and, thus, what operators can argue when they are seeking to have citations reduced.

In Secretary of Labor v. IO Coal Co., Inc., the operator was issued a 104(d)(1) order alleging that a section of the mine contained adverse roof conditions in the form of inadequately supported and unsupported surface cracks and kettle bottoms. The operator contested the order and the administrative law judge (ALJ) found that, while the Secretary established the existence of an S&S violation, the operator’s lack of care was not a result of unwarrantable failure. The ALJ found, since some kettle bottoms in the cited area were adequately supported, he could infer that there was not a widespread and reckless disregard of the requirements of the roof control plan.

Upon review of the ALJ’s decision, the Commission stated that, whether conduct is “aggravated” in the context of an unwarrantable failure is determined by considering the facts and circumstances of each case to determine if any aggravating or mitigating circumstances exist. “Aggravating factors” include the following:

• The length of time that the violation existed;

• The extent of the violative condition;

• Whether the operator has been placed on notice that greater efforts were necessary for compliance (including past violations and past discussions with MSHA about the alleged problem);

• The operator’s efforts in abating the violative condition (prior to the citation or order being issued);

• Whether the violation was obvious or posed a high degree of danger (including whether miners worked and traveled in the cited area and were exposed to hazardous conditions); and

• The operator’s knowledge of the existence of the violation (including what an operator “had reason to know” or “should have known”).

In its holding, the Commission found that the ALJ did not address all of the elements of the unwarrantable failure analysis listed above and remanded the finding for a “fuller discussion that identifies and incorporates all the relevant elements and explains how each element affects his unwarrantable failure determination.”

Of course, each case is different and all factors need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. That said, these listed factors are important ones that can be used as a guideline in making your case to get a 104(d) order or citation reduced. Additionally, when appropriate, operators can argue an agent acted on the good faith belief that his/her conduct was in compliance with applicable law and that this belief was objectively reasonable under the circumstances. Best efforts should be made to reduce the citation or order as early on in the process as possible. Begin this analysis and begin collecting evidence to support your case immediately after receiving the citation/order. Even if your efforts are not successful at the close-out or conference, you will at least have collected the material close in time to the event and will have saved a record to support your argument should the matter proceed to litigation.

Last, but not least, remind your managers that they have the right to not talk with MSHA. When faced with questions from an inspector that is attempting to box in a miner for an aggravated conduct citation (i.e., “How long have you known about this condition?”), tell the truth (if you can without admitting knowledge) or say nothing. A simple, “I don’t want to talk about this” is perfectly acceptable. AM

Donna Vetrano Pryor is an associate in the Denver office of Patton Boggs LLP. She assists a diverse range of clients in complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts, as well as during alternative dispute resolutions. Vetrano Pryor may be reached via phone at 303-894-6145 or via e-mail at dvetrano@pattonboggs.com.

Although long-term transportation funding is still up in the air, industry experts indicate that stimulus funds will aid industry in 2010.

By Therese Dunphy, Editor in Chief

During some of the toughest economic times since the Great Depression, federal stimulus funds have had a significant impact on many aggregates companies. At an economics and financial roundtable session held on Feb. 17 during the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) annual meeting held in Cincinnati, Ohio, nearly half of audience members indicated that their companies benefited from stimulus-related projects. “It has made a difference, but it hasn’t lifted all boats,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). “Stimulus has worked, but it’s not a panacea.”

Two of the nation’s top aggregate producers highlighted the impact of stimulus funding as they outlined how streamlined costs and reduced capital expenditures have improved their overall financial health and helped them weather the current downturn in demand.

On Feb. 8, Vulcan Materials Co. announced its unaudited fourth quarter results. Aggregates shipments declined 23 percent while aggregates pricing increased 5 percent. For 2009 as a whole, shipments were down 26 percent and pricing was up 3 percent.

“Continued weakness in private construction activity, uncertainty surrounding the timing and amount of either a formal extension or reauthorization of the multi-year federal highway program, and extremely wet weather suppressed momentum gained from stimulus-related construction,” reported Don James, Vulcan’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Nonetheless, we finished the year with strong cash generation. For the full year 2009, free cash flow was $343 million, an increase of $261 million from the prior year, and cash earnings per ton of aggregates remained in line with the prior year.”

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. released its fourth quarter 2009 results and preliminary outlook for 2010 on Feb. 9. Its heritage aggregates product line volume was down 24 percent with pricing down 1 percent for the fourth quarter. For the year, production was down 23 percent and pricing was up 2 percent.

“In 2009, Martin Marietta successfully navigated the most difficult economic environment we have seen in our industry since the Great Depression,” announced Ward Nye, president and CEO. “However, because of our ability to achieve positive pricing growth and maintaining our discipline and focusing on controlling the corporation’s costs, we were able to remain profitable and generate significant cash flows despite the 15th consecutive quarter of declining shipment volume.” He noted that aggregate production volumes have declined 40 percent since the peak of the cycle in 2006.

“We continue to believe that 2010 will be the biggest year for stimulus-related highway construction,” says Don James, Vulcan Materials Co. chairman and CEO.

“With respect to cost containment, our consolidated cost of sales decreased 13.4 percent, or $41.4 million, for the quarter, and 16.6 percent, or $230.3 million, for the year,” Nye added. “While a $74.0 million reduction in energy costs for the year was the single largest variance contributor, we reduced our cost of sales in every significant category, with the exception of fixed costs related to depreciation and pension. These reduced costs are particularly compelling considering our aggregates business continues to operate significantly below capacity, which restricts our ability to capitalize certain costs into inventory.”

Both companies reduced investments in capital expenditures during 2009. Vulcan reported that its full-year capital spending was $110 million, compared with $353 million in 2008. It anticipates capital spending of approximately $125 million this year. Martin Marietta invested $139.2 million in capital expenditures, a $119-million reduction compared to 2008 spending levels. This year, it forecasts capital expenditures of $160 million.

Looking forward, executives of both companies predict small increases in terms of both production volumes and price increases.

“Overall, our outlook for aggregates demand in 2010 reflects an increase in highway and other infrastructure-related construction activity due primarily to stimulus-related funding. While we have assumed that regular federal funding will remain at an annualized level consistent with fiscal year 2009 under SAFETEA-LU, Congress will need to act quickly to restore fiscal year 2010 funding levels and contract authority prior to the start of the construction season,” said Vulcan’s James, noting that concerns regarding long-term highway funding, weakness in private non-residential construction, and increases in residential construction all impact the company’s forecast. “As a result, aggregates volumes are expected to be flat to up 5 percent from the 2009 levels,” he added. “For the full year 2010, we expect aggregates pricing to improve 2 to 3 percent.”

Nye predicted Martin Marietta aggregate volumes to increase by 2 to 4 percent, unless commercial construction declines more than anticipated. “Aggregates pricing for 2010 is also dependent on stability in overall aggregates demand. However, pricing increases will be more difficult to obtain due to the unprecedented decline in volume during this recession,” he said. “We currently expect flat to 2-percent increased aggregates pricing in 2010; however, geographic and/or product mix, as well as competitive dynamics, could further pressure pricing.”

“We continue to believe that 2010 will be the biggest year for stimulus-related highway construction,” says Don James, Vulcan Materials Co. chairman and CEO.

As with Vulcan, stimulus funding also plays a major factor in Martin Marietta’s 2010 outlook. “Our current view of 2010 is framed by the expectation of stability in overall aggregates demand in the corporation’s markets,” Nye said. “In particular, we expect volumes sold to the infrastructure construction market to increase since over 80 percent of infrastructure stimulus money in our top five states was obligated in 2009, but less than 15 percent was actually spent during the year.

“We believe federal highway authorization, and other jobs creations legislation, will restore state-level confidence, reduce budget pressures, and allow state Departments of Transportation to progress multi-year construction projects to the bid-and-award stage,” he added. “However, we expect that the federal highway bill reauthorization will likely occur too late in the year to meaningfully affect 2010 aggregates demand.”

A key point from both executives is the need for long-term infrastructure funding. AGC’s Simonson echoed that sentiment at the NSSGA roundtable. “Stimulus alone isn’t enough,” he said. “It has to be the opening act.” AM

Vulcan at a Glance

Cash earnings were $369 million from continuing operations and $12 million from discontinued operations.

Aggregates shipments declined 26 percent.

Aggregates pricing increased by 3 percent.

Capital spending was $110 million compared with $353 million in 2008.

Martin Marietta at a Glance

Annual net sales of $1.497 billion, compared with $1.860 for 2008.

Heritage aggregates product line volume decreased 23 percent.

Aggregates pricing increased by 2 percent.

Capital spending was $139.2 million, compared with $258 million in 2008.

By Kerry Clines, Senior Editor

In January, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced that recently released data reported an all-time low in the number of mining fatalities for 2009 (see “AggBeat” in the February issue of Aggregates Manager). On the heels of that announcement, at a meeting chaired by Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, MSHA announced the launch of a new outreach and enforcement initiative. The program, Rules to Live By, was designed to strengthen efforts to prevent mining fatalities.

According to an MSHA press release, the agency conducted an analysis of the 589 mining fatalities that occurred between 2000 and 2008 in order to identify the most common conditions and practices that contributed to mining deaths, as well as the most common violations of safety standards and root causes associated with these fatal accidents. The analysis identified 13 metal/non-metal safety and health standards frequently cited in fatal accident investigations. According to @IMA-NA, the e-newsletter for the Industrial Minerals Association–North America, the standards include the following:

• Operating speeds and control of equipment – 56.9101.

• Work on power circuits – 56.12017.

• Brake performance – 56.14101(a).

• Procedures during repairs or maintenance – 56.14105.

• Seat belts shall be worn by equipment operators – 56.14130(g).

• Seat belts shall be provided and worn in haul trucks – 56.14131(a).

• Machinery, equipment, and tools used beyond design – 56.14205.

• Parking procedures for unattended equipment – 56.14207.

• Safety belts and lines – 56.15005.

• Bins, hoppers, silos, tanks, and surge piles – 56.16002©.

• Persons shall stay clear of suspended loads – 56.16009.

• Barricades and warning signs – 56.20011.

• Ground support use – 57.3360.

A more detailed list of the standards is available at

http://images.magnetmail.net/images/clients/IMA_NA/attach/MNMStdandconditionsfinal.pdf.

The new program formally kicked off on Feb. 11 in Austin, Texas, and Feb. 12 in Charleston, W.Va. According to the press release, the initiative will roll out in two phases: industry outreach and focused inspections. During the first phase, MSHA will provide information about the causes of the targeted fatal accidents to every mine operator, labor organization, and state training grantee, as well as other stakeholders. The agency’s Web site (www.msha.gov) will provide compliance assistance materials, such as engineering suggestions and packages of safety target materials, to miners and mine operators to ensure that they have the necessary resources to address and eliminate workplace hazards.

The initiative then goes into full enforcement swing on March 15. MSHA will begin focused inspections on the 13 standards, reminding mine inspectors to carefully evaluate gravity and negligence when citing violations of those standards. According to MSHA, all mine inspectors will receive online training on inspector laptop applications specific to this initiative, enforcement summaries, and inspector tip sheets.

“While the mining community marked a record low number of mining deaths last year and has seen a significant decline in fatal mining accidents during the past 10 years, too many miners still lose their lives in preventable accidents,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in the agency’s press release. “MSHA and its stakeholders must remain committed to working together toward the ultimate goal of zero mining fatalities.”

“With the full support of the mining industry,” added Main, “Rules to Live By should make great strides in preventing fatal accidents.”

Infrastructure Investment = JOBS

Demand for aggregates was down for the fourth quarter of 2009, and the vitality of the aggregates industry remains clouded by the uncertainty created by delays surrounding reauthorization of the federal highway bill.

An Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) survey for the construction equipment manufacturing industry reinforced the outlook of a continued industry slump. According to the survey, overall business is expected to turn around slightly in 2010. Survey respondents then anticipate stronger growth going into 2011, but not enough to erase the severe business and job losses of 2009. Business in 2012 is then expected to level off.

In an association press release, AEM President Dennis Slater said he wasn’t surprised at the survey results “given the continued instability of the housing market and no long-term commitment to America’s roads, rail, airports, water distribution, and ports to move people and goods efficiently and safely, and to compete effectively in the global marketplace.”

At a press conference following an invitation-only meeting of 19 key U.S. senators, Slater relayed the direct connection between infrastructure and job creation for the construction and manufacturing industries. In a second AEM press release, Slater stated that “the single best way to bring back hundreds of thousands of good-paying, sustainable manufacturing jobs in the U.S. is to pass major long-term investments in our critical national infrastructure.”

Slater noted that senators present at the meeting are working on a new jobs creation package of legislation and recognize that rebuilding America’s infrastructure will create jobs, grow the economy, and maintain and improve our nation’s safety, environment, and international competitiveness.

“What we heard today was not only a commitment to a near-term jobs creation package, but a commitment from Senator Boxer to write a multi-year highway bill this year, and to start that process in March,” Slater stated in the press release. “We know many thorny policy issues have to be resolved before the House and Senate can come to agreement on a new multi-year highway bill, and that in the meantime — right now — Congress needs to pass some measures that can help to create jobs for Americans in the nearer term. …But as soon as that work is done, we hope that our lawmakers will turn to our nation’s long-term infrastructure investment needs. We must have a multi-year funding commitment to provide market certainty, so planners can plan and business can invest. This is how the private sector creates jobs.”

Slater added that the timely passage of a multi-year federal transportation legislation was critical for the construction equipment industry, and that without that long-term funding certainty, state and local governments wouldn’t be able to plan projects and that U.S. competitiveness against other nations was at stake.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) said it is contacting Congressional and Administration leaders to urge them to invest in new construction activity. “If they [Congress] act now, they can save taxpayers millions on construction costs while immediately boosting employment and economic activity,” Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC’s chief executive officer, stated in an association press release.

According to Sandherr, one of the relatively few bright spots for the construction industry was the federal stimulus. “The stimulus is finally beginning to have a measurable, but limited, impact on the construction industry,” he noted. “The full impact of those investments has sadly been tempered by the inability of Congress to put a host of multi-year infrastructure funding plans in place.”

Lafarge receives conservation awards

Bird boxes were erected at Specification Aggregate Quarry in Golden, Colo.

Nine of Lafarge’s aggregates sites in the Western United States recently gained international recognition from the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation. WHC President Robert Johnson congratulated Lafarge “for their commitment to a healthy natural world and connected communities.”

Six of the sites recognized are located across Colorado in Golden, Rifle, Fort Lupton, Lafayette, and two in Longmont. The other three sites are located in Sun City, Ariz.; Colgate, Wis.; and Defiance, Mo. Each site received its award in acknowledgement of its commitment to environmental stewardship and to increasing native biodiversity.

An active pollinator garden was built at Cottonwood Pit in Longmont, Colo.

Wetland rehabilitation is in progress at Mamm Creek Pit in Rifle, Colo.

“Being chosen for environmental awards like these from the WHC is incredibly gratifying for Lafarge,” stated Sabine Hillenmeyer, vice president and general manager for Lafarge’s West US Aggregates Business Unit, in a company press release. “Lafarge takes its commitment to the environment, and to the health and safety of our employees, very seriously. We are dedicated to returning the land where we work back to the community in the same or better condition upon which it was ‘loaned’ to us. We appreciate the WHC’s acknowledgement of our efforts.”

Briefs

The Holcim Portland cement plant near Penrose, Colo., has gone solar, reports CoolerPlanet.com. The plant’s 528 solar panels, rated at 100.32 kilowatts, provide about 156,200 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, or enough to run the plant’s administrative offices. This amounts to enough energy to power 14 average homes, and also enough to prevent 112 metric tons of carbon dioxide being generated by the local utility company. The panels are arranged in four units, jointly covering an area 190 feet long by 150 feet wide. Each unit contains 24 conventional solar panels made with polycrystalline silicon cells under glass inside an aluminum frame. Concrete footers support the units.

Skyonic Corp. of Austin won a $3 million grant from the Department of Energy for an industrial carbon capture plant. The statesman.com reports that the first phase of Skyonic’s Capitol SkyMine project will be located at the Capitol Aggregates Ltd. cement plant in San Antonio. The plant is targeted to capture 75,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the flue gas emitted by the cement plant and then mineralize it as baking soda, offsetting an additional 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in the manufacture of benign chemical byproducts. Skyonic President Joe Jones told the newspaper that he plans to operate at a profit through the sale of the byproducts and generate more than 200 jobs in Texas.

Vulcan Materials’ Dolcito Quarry in Tarrant, Ala., received the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) Three-Star Award, the association’s highest possible recognition in the Stars of Excellence Awards program. This award recognizes facilities that received multiple, highest-level safety, community relations, and environmental awards from the NSSGA over a five-year period. Dolcito’s three stars acknowledge receipt of two community relations excellence awards and an environmental excellence award.

By Kerry Clines Senior Editor

40-ton articulated truck enters the market

Terex says its new TA400 articulated truck offers a combination of high torque, high horsepower, high capacity, and the highest top speed in the class, making it a leader in productivity.

Standard features include a Tier 3-compliant, fuel-efficient, 450-horsepower diesel engine; maximum rim-pull and gradeability for negotiating inclines; and a large body capacity with low body weight to maximize load size and retention. The truck is equipped with three axles that are locked in permanent all-wheel drive and oil-cooled, wet disc brakes on all six wheels.

The truck’s computerized systems communicate with each other through a CAN-bus system which helps ensure that the truck is running at peak efficiency. The system allows truck data to be transmitted via satellite to almost any location.

A unique four-bar trailing arm suspension system allows operators to travel faster and more comfortably on difficult terrain. Instruments in the cab are positioned in logical groups to assist with drivability and functionality, providing operators with more comfort and total control.

Maintenance is made easy and simple with an electric opening hood, ground-level access to major components, and wide platforms on both sides of the engine.

Truck specifications

Maximum payload 41.9 tons

Heaped capacity 30.3 cubic yards

Gross power 450 horsepower

Engine Detroit Diesel Series 60

Forward speed 3.4 to 37.3 miles per hour

Reverse speed 3 to 4.6 miles per hour

Steering angle to either side 45 degrees

Fuel tank capacity 127 gallons

Vehicle weight 67,804 pounds

Vehicle height 12 feet, 11 inches

Vehicle width 11 feet, 3 inches

Vehicle length 36 feet, 3 inches

Bed dump height 22 feet, 9 inches

Ground clearance 2 feet

Comfort, efficiency, and performance

The new R380LC-9 excavator offers hydraulic technologies and standard features that increase comfort, efficiency, and performance, according to Hyundai Construction Equipment U.S.A., Inc. The unit has an operating weight of 84,220 pounds and comes equipped with a 21-foot, 4-inch boom; 10-foot, 6-inch arm; and 1.89-cubic yard, heavy-duty bucket. Other features include a large operator’s cab with additional sound-proofing insulation for quiet operation and Tier III Cummins engine technology for electronic control with maximum horsepower and torque.

Versatile modular screen

The new Sandvik SC screen is an inclined screen with circular motion. The modular deck design enables the use of various screen media for flexibility of use. The rubber modules can be used in feed and discharge areas and feature a removable mechanism for ease of maintenance. Other features include apertures for water spraying devices, modular dust encapsulation, and an adjustable spring suspension.

Single-toggle jaw crusher

Terex Finlay says its new J-1480 tracked jaw crusher features the company’s Jaques single-toggle jaw crusher with increased throughput capacity. The machine is available with direct drive for fuel efficiency and power, or hydrostatic drive which offers reversible operation. The large 10-cubic meter hopper has hydraulically folding sides and a hydraulic wedge clamp system to provide a safe working environment and fast machine set up. The crusher features a vibrating pan feeder linked to an independently driven prescreen which provides separation of dirt, fines, and difficult materials.

Multi-purpose mobile screen

The Powerscreen Warrior 2400 is a multi-purpose unit capable of handling large feed sizes. It features a heavy-duty incline screen with a high-amplitude, triple-shaft drive mechanism, enabling screening, scalping, and two- or three-way splitting and stockpiling of aggregates. Set-up time and ease of operation are aided by hydraulic folding tail and side conveyors, two-speed tracks, a slide-out tail conveyor facility, and a load-sensing collection conveyor circuit. The electrical control system allows operators to monitor and diagnose the machine on site via LCD display.

Track-mounted impact crusher

KPI-JCI says its new FT5260 track-mounted horizontal shaft impact crusher has the ability to be hauled and relocated in one piece. The machine opens hydraulically over center for safe and easy maintenance. The overload protection system prevents costly downtime caused by excessive feeds. The unit’s stealth tappet redesign provides vibrators with good serviceability, performance, and durability; its wear liners have a bolt-on design to eliminate downtime.

Electric-powered loader

Sandvik Mining and Construction says its new electric-powered loader, the LHD, offers higher production while lowering operating costs and environmental impact. The 14-ton machine features an upgraded cabin design and vehicle control and management system. The loader is easy to service and maintain, resulting in less downtime. Other features include 30,865 pounds of tramming capacity and buckets ranging from 4.6 to 7.0 cubic meters.

Direct-drive tracked cone crusher

The Terex Finlay C-1550 incorporates the company’s 1300 cone crusher with direct drive. The unit features a pre-screen system with a single-deck 8- by 5-foot screen and 1,200-millimeter belt to remove fines. The cone offers variable speed, tramp relief system, and on-the-fly closed-side setting. The hopper/feeder has an automatic metal detection and purge system to protect the cone.

Portable tower structure

TCI Manufacturing says its portable tower structure plant is available with side-discharge conveyors and a high-frequency or dual-frequency screen. The gas/hydraulic-powered unit features a 13-horsepower, Honda four-stroke engine with electric start and direct-coupled, variable-volume pressure compensated pump. The engine allows the screen to be raised without electricity.

Angled-edge excavator bucket

According to Leading Edge Attachments, Inc., its patent-pending Stag bucket is a high-penetration excavator bucket that uses “staggered tooth” technology, allowing operators to focus the excavator’s full breakout force on one tooth at a time. The bucket is manufactured using T1 alloy steel and is available to fit on any excavator from 22,000 to 200,000 pounds.

Portable, compact wheel wash

Innovative Equipment Solutions says its new compact and portable wheel wash solution, the Tracinator, is a one-tire revolution dirt removal system for use where a complete, heavy-duty wheel wash system is not practical. The unit is designed to flush itself clear of debris by attaching a 2-inch hose from a water truck or fire hydrant and placing the clean-out valve in the open position. Debris is then flushed out through the open ports.