The inside scoop on industry news, views, and products
Vol. 2, No. 3
On Jan. 23, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services chaired by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) held an oversight hearing on the Mine Safety and Health Administration and its regulatory and enforcement programs, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association reports in its e-Digest newsletter. This hearing follows the recent mine accidents in West Virginia and signals close congressional scrutiny of the mining industry in general. Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health David Dye; Bob Friend, deputy assistant secretary of labor of Mine Safety and Health; and Edward Claire, associate solicitor, Division of Mine Safety and Health, testified. The NSSGA submitted a statement on the aggregates industry’s safety program, the decline in incidents, and positive benefits of the NSSGA/MSHA Alliance. The NSSGA statement makes the point that the safety record of the aggregates industry has shown continuous improvement through the development and implementation of more effective safety and health programs by the industry. These improvement programs have come about because the aggregates industry’s first priority in the safety and health of its employees. Joint efforts between MSHA and NSSGA have resulted in model safety initiatives and better-trained workers—both critical to improved safety. To read the full statement from NSSGA, go to www.nssga.org/pdf/Senate_Oversight_MSHA_1232006.pdf on the Web.
Industrial production (IP) at mines, utilities, and factories rose 0.6 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, and 2.8 percent since December 2004, the Federal Reserve Board announced this morning. Output of construction supplies dropped 0.9 percent for the month but rose 5.2 percent for the year. Manufacturing IP climbed 0.2 percent for the month and 3.8 percent for the year, while capacity utilization in manufacturing reached 79.6 percent of capacity in November and December, up from 78.3 percent in December 2004. Together, rising output and capacity utilization in manufacturing imply further demand for factory construction. The producer price index (PPI) for finished goods rose 0.9 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, and 5.4 percent for the year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday. The monthly and annual gains were driven largely by energy costs. In contrast, the “core” index, which omits food and energy, rose 0.1 percent for the month and 1.7 percent for the year. The PPI for materials and components for construction (not seasonally adjusted) rose 0.5 percent for the month, 2.7 percent over the past three months, and 6.1 percent over 12 months. Among construction segments, the PPI for inputs for highway and street construction went up 14.1 percent over the year; other heavy construction, 8.8 percent; multi-unit residential, 7.6 percent; single-unit residential, 6.9 percent; and nonresidential buildings, 7.4 percent. The only PPI for finished buildings, covering new warehouses, rose 7.6 percent. PPIs for specific construction materials showed large variation between three- and 12-month figures and among various materials. For instance, the price of #2 diesel fuel rose 46 percent during 12 months despite a 7 percent decline from September to December. At the other extreme, steel mill product prices fell 3.6 percent last year but moved up 5.5 percent in the past three months. The largest three-month increases were for rubber and plastic plumbing products, +30 percent, and copper and brass mill shapes, +16 percent. Cement prices, which rose 0.7 percent from September to December and 11.7 percent throughout 12 months, may moderate as a result of recent developments. The International Trade Administration of the Commerce Dept. announced (www.ita.doc.gov/media/FactSheet/0106/cement_011206.html) as the result of an annual review that it was lowering the antidumping duty on Mexican cement from 54.91 percent to 42.26 percent, retroactive to August 1, 2003.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration will give more than $4 million in grants to provide mine safety and health training for miners in 20 states. The grants announced today are part of more than $7.9 million in health and safety training grants issued by MSHA for fiscal year 2006. “The recent tragedy in West Virginia is a reminder to all Americans that mine safety must always be a top priority,” says MSHA Acting Assistant Secretary David Dye. “These grants are part of MSHA’s ongoing commitment to advance miner safety and health through funds for state-of-the-art mine rescue equipment and strong safety training.” One of the grantees, West Virginia’s Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, will receive over half a million dollars to fund training for mine rescue team members, safety certifications for miners, and its Comprehensive Mine Safety Program. Part of the grant will be used to contract with West Virginia University, which conducts the certification process for mine electricians and new miner training classes. Grantees will use the funds to provide federally mandated training to miners. The grants cover training and retraining of miners working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines, including miners who engage in shell dredging or are employed at surface stone and sand and gravel mining operations. Other states receiving grants at this time are: California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania (includes money for Delaware, as Pennsylvania conducts the training for Delaware), Tennessee, Washington,and Wyoming. States apply for the grants, which are administered by state mine inspectors’ offices, state departments of labor or state-supported colleges and universities. Each recipient tailors the program to its state miners’ individual needs and provides technical assistance. The Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969 authorized the state grant program. States first received funding in 1971 to provide health and safety training to miners. MSHA’s primary mission as a federal agency is to ensure worker safety and health in the nation’s mines. (Source: U.S. Newswire)
Acting Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner Greg Whirley announced on Jan. 13 that VDOT, along with its private sector partner Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), moved to advance the Coalfields Expressway project with Pioneer Group, Inc. and Alpha Natural Resources LLC, a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resource, Inc. Both companies, which are Southwest Virginia natural resource companies, have agreed to step forward to advance the project under the Public Private Transportation Act (PPTA). “VDOT’s agreement with Pioneer and Alpha begins the next chapter in the development of the Coalfields Expressway,” Whirley says in a written statement. “Building on the effective development and engineering work by KBR, Pioneer and Alpha will use coal recovery opportunities to significantly lower the cost of building the base roadbed for the project.” Under the agreement, Pioneer and Alpha will assume all the obligations and responsibilities for the next phase of development of the Coalfields Expressway project under the PPTA. KBR recently completed preliminary design and engineering for Section A of the corridor through the PPTA process. VDOT, Pioneer and Alpha will work to modify the comprehensive agreement to reflect the highway being built in conjunction with the development of Pioneer and Alpha coal reserves. In addition, the parties will seek to work with the Federal Highway Administration for the use of federal funds on the project. “This brings the Coalfields Expressway an important step closer to reality, which is critical to the economic development of Southwest Virginia,” says Gov. Mark R. Warner. “I want to specifically acknowledge the bi-partisan efforts of the entire southwestern legislative delegation – the strong support of Senators Wampler and Puckett and Delegates Kilgore, Phillips, Johnson, and Bowling, along with former Delegate Stump. Their dedication to this project has helped keep it moving forward.” Clyde Stacy, representing Pioneer Group, Inc., adds, “We are pleased to become a vital participant in the development of the Coalfields Expressway and excited about the opportunity to help lower the construction costs in conjunction with removal of the coal reserves throughout the counties.” J. Quillen, president and CEO of Alpha Natural Resources Inc., says in a press release that, “Utilizing our expertise in the construction of the King Coal Highway in West Virginia and as a major employer in Southwest Virginia, the company is pleased to participate in the Coalfields Expressway project. “We understand the importance of building this highway system and opening up the coalfield region for successful economic development for years to come,” he continues. “KBR is proud of the role we have played on this very important transportation project,” Bruce Stanski, executive vice president, KBR, Government and Infrastructure, says in a written statement. “The Coalfields Expressway is important to the region and it is off to a good, solid start. We remain committed to the success of the project and stand ready to support VDOT and the people of Southwest Virginia in any way we can as it moves forward.” The Coalfields Expressway will be a new four-lane highway stretching 51 miles from Pound in Wise County, through Dickenson and Buchanan counties. It will link with the West Virginia Coalfields Expressway near Paynesville, West Virginia. The cost estimate to build the project is $2.3 billion. For more background on the Coalfields Expressway go to www.VirginiaDOT.org.
Highway and street construction material prices continued to outpace inflation in December, with contractors paying approximately 14.4 percent more for materials in December 2005 then in December 2004, according to Allison Premo Black, a research economist the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. There were also double digit increases in the cost for asphalt felts and coatings, cement, and ready-mix concrete, with inflation — as measured by the consumer price index — rose 3.4 percent, Black notes. For 2005 as a whole, prices were up 12.6 percent compared to 2004, compared to an inflation rate of 3.4 percent, she says. Between 1998 and 2005, material prices for highway and street construction increased 35.1 percent – while inflation was up 15.9 percent. Black says that fact that changes in material prices are greater in the highway and street construction industry is notable. The annual indices for other types of construction show increases in material prices, but not to the same level as highway and streets. Material prices for non residential construction were up 7.6 percent in 2005, maintenance and repair construction material prices were up 8.7 percent, and residential construction material prices increased 7.9 percent, she report. These differences are due to the different types of materials used in the construction process. Also, for some types of construction it is possible to switch from a higher price input, such as steel, to a different building material — which is not usually the case with highway and street construction, Black points out.
Vulcan Materials acquires Penrose Quarry in western North Carolina Birmingham, Ala.-based Vulcan Materials Company announced on Jan. 6 that it acquired the Penrose Quarry from Macon Construction, Inc. The quarry is in Transylvania County, near Brevard, N.C., and is now part of Vulcan’s Mideast Division. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Don James, Vulcan’s chairman and CEO said in a written statement, “This acquisition expands our Mideast Division’s operations and presence in western North Carolina. It enables Vulcan to enter and serve a new, attractive market that includes some of the most desirable vacation and retirement locations in North Carolina. Vulcan’s extensive geographic footprint across higher growth regions of the United States provides continuing opportunities for bolt-on acquisitions that extend our markets.” Vulcan’s Mideast Division is a leading producer of aggregates in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and eastern South Carolina. The division operates 65 crushing and sales facilities and employs approximately 1,300 people. Oglebay Norton Co. to sell vessels Cleveland-based Oglebay Norton Company announced on Jan. 19 that its wholly owned subsidiary, Oglebay Norton Marine Services Company LLC, has executed 30-day exclusivity agreements with two undisclosed parties related to acquisition of its fleet of self-unloading Great Lakes freight vessels. Exclusivity was granted in order to allow the bidders to conduct customary due diligence and permit the parties to negotiate and execute definitive purchase agreements and long-term contracts of affreightment for the carriage of company stone. Closing is anticipated prior to the start of the 2006 shipping season in March. The transactions are subject to approval by the company’s lenders, board of directors, and certain regulators. (Source: Oglebay Norton Co.) U.S. Commerce Department confirms continued dumping of Mexican cement The U.S. Commerce Department its final results in the fourteenth administrative review of the antidumping order on gray portland cement from Mexico, calculating that there was a dumping margin of 42 percent on imports of cement from August 2003 through July 2004. “What this means is that the Mexican producers charged prices to its customers in Mexico that were 42 percent higher than it charged its customers in the United States,” Joe Dorn, spokesman for the Southern Tier Cement Committee, says in a written statement. The U.S. Commerce Department issued the antidumping order in August 1990, following findings that cement from Mexico was being sold at dumped prices in the southern tier of the United States and by the U.S. International Trade Commission that the dumped imports had materially injured U.S. cement producers and their workers. In each year since the antidumping order, U.S. Commerce Department has conducted an administrative review to update the dumping margin calculation. The government entity has completed fourteen administrative reviews, in which it has determined dumping margins ranging from a high of 109 percent to a low of 37 percent. The root cause of the long-lived dumping problem is the closed Mexican cement market, according to the Southern Tier Cement Committee. “Mexico imports virtually no cement,” the committee notes. “This allows Mexican producers to receive among the highest prices in the world for cement sold in Mexico, where per capita income ranks 80th in the world. “They use the high prices and profits received on sales in Mexico to subsidize their exports to the United States and to undersell U.S. producers, threatening domestic production and thousands of American jobs,” the committee says. The Mary Nour, a vessel that was prevented from offloading a single shipment of cement from Russia into Mexico, attempted for a year to obtain authority from the Mexican government to offload at two Mexican ports. After its attempts were unsuccessful, the ship was forced instead to sail for Africa. While Mexico blocks cement imports, the United States has the most open cement market in the world, according to the Southern Tier Cement Committee. In 2004, the United States received more than 26 million metric tons of cement imports from more than 30 countries. The STCC has been working with the U.S. government to determine whether an acceptable settlement of the cement dispute can be negotiated with Mexico. A major issue is whether the Mexican government will give U.S. and other foreign producers meaningful access to the closed Mexican market. (Source: Southern Tier Cement Committee) Terex announces operating structure and management changes Westport, Ct.-based Terex Corp. announced on Jan. 10 that, effective at the start of the first quarter of 2006, it has realigned certain of its operations in an effort to strengthen its ability to service customers and to recognize certain organizational efficiencies. The Mobile Crushing and Screening Group, consisting of Powerscreen, TEREX Finlay, and TEREX Pegson and formerly part of the TEREX Construction Segment, will now be consolidated within the TEREX Materials Processing & Mining Segment. Additionally, the European telehandlers business of TEREXLift, formerly part of the TEREX Construction Segment, will now become part of the TEREX Aerial Work Platforms Segment. “The purpose of these changes is to strengthen TEREX’s ability to service our customers in these product categories, and to ultimately provide a better return to our shareholders,” Ronald M. DeFeo, TEREX’s chairman and CEO, says in a press release from Terex announcing the changes. “The new organizational structure not only aligns us more closely with how our customers buy our equipment, but also puts manufacturing and sales for each product group under focused leadership. “Genie already manages the North American telehandlers product, which has done quite well under their oversight,” he continues. “As for the crushing and screening businesses, not only will we gain consolidated exposure to all customers, but we expect to better coordinate supply and design issues across products that share many of the same attributes. I am confident that the new structure will allow us to better focus on servicing our customers and markets and provide products which generate greater value for our customers.” As part of the reorganization, Kieran Hegarty, formerly vice president – TEREX Construction Crushing and Screening Division, has been named vice president – TEREX Materials Processing, and will head TEREX’s consolidated materials processing group. Hegarty will continue to be based in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, and will report to Rick Nichols, President – TEREX Materials Processing & Mining. In this leadership role, Hegarty will assume the responsibility for the businesses of TEREX Cedarapids, TEREX Simplicity, TEREX Jacques and TEREX Canica, along with his existing role in the leadership of the TEREX Finlay, TEREX Pegson, and Powerscreen businesses. As for TEREX Construction, following the move by Colin Robertson, formerly president – TEREX Construction, to his new position of executive vice president – Operations for TEREX, Fergus Baillie, President – TEREX Heavy Equipment group, has been appointed interim leader of the TEREX Construction segment while a search for a full time replacement is conducted. Additionally, Roger Brown, currently vice president – North American Sales for the TEREX Aerial Work Platforms Segment, has been assigned the additional responsibility of overseeing the Strategic Accounts Group for TEREX. This group is charged with leading and managing activities with large international accounts, providing one face to the customer and coordinating activities for sales, production, aftermarket support and billing. Brown will continue to have reporting responsibility for North American sales of both the Genie and the TEREX Construction product lines, although day-to-day a team under his direction will manage responsibilities.
Keeping your crawler drill healthy The sophistication and complexity of today’s crawler drills calls for good maintenance, despite the often-overlooked procedures. by Matt Willeford Modern-day drills for aggregate operations are sophisticated pieces of equipment and need to be treated with care, but proper drill maintenance is often one of the most overlooked practices in a producer’s facility. Keeping the drilled-off area and broken muck inventory, or BMI, well ahead of the loader provides an important cushion to protect the operation against unforeseen downtime. When paired with proper drill maintenance, unexpected downtime can be reduced — if not eliminated. Adhering to suggested intervals Crawler drills are unique among the mobile aggregate equipment fleet because they have additional power systems that require maintenance. It’s particularly important to ensure drill maintenance is performed because many times no back-up units are available. The majority of the power generated on a drill goes into pulverizing rock, and the remainder — about 20 percent — is used to run cooling fans, dust collectors, air conditioners, and other mechanical functions. Energy used to drill the rock is mostly dissipated in the fracturing of the rock. However, a portion is reflected back into the drill to be absorbed by the machine components in the form of vibrations. Components other than the drill bit, such as the steel and hammer, are designed to absorb these vibrations but require regular preventive maintenance to eliminate unplanned downtime. The on-board compressor is used to generate high-pressure air to clear cuttings from the hole and to power a down-the-hole (DTH) drill. Top hammer machines equipped with a hydraulically powered drill require routine inspections and reseals to ensure proper performance and eliminate catastrophic failures. Each operation is different, and preventive maintenance plans have to be modified to take into account rock and terrain conditions, drill use, and the resulting wear patterns on the machine parts in order to reduce drilling costs and to achieve high drill availability. Drill manufacturers publish recommended maintenance intervals for all systems. These can be found in the drill instruction manual, or sometimes, posted as a decal on the engine enclosure door. The OEM recommendations should be taken as the maximum allowable service interval for inspections and oils. These intervals should also be adjusted for site-specific conditions and to optimize safety and lower drill costs where possible. Controlling costs Controlling and optimizing drill costs requires proper attention to drilling performance and maintenance. When it comes to maintenance, there are two areas that are most critical — service and parts — and there are many options available, so there is no excuse for not taking proper care of a drill. Typically, staff technicians carry out routine maintenance such as oil and filter changes. More advanced maintenance, such as rebuilding the top hammer rock drill, pump replacement, or hydraulic tune-ups, should be undertaken by the local representatives of the manufacturer or the manufacturer’s distributor. A benefit to using the services of the machine supplier is that its technicians are trained and certified and the technicians perform repairs using OEM parts. Dealers also will usually work with a customer to provide any level of maintenance that is needed. The quarry operator must find the balance value between the costs of the maintenance program, drill availability, production, and life of the equipment. Pre-shift inspections Safety must be first in mind when doing routine inspections and maintenance. Every drill comes with a safety manual located in the cab, as well as decals containing safety information strategically placed on the machine. Daily or pre-shift inspection of the air-filter hose connections, engine fluid levels, hydraulic, and compressor oil levels are standard and should be explained in the owner’s manual. Other critical areas that must be inspected include frayed hoses, loose nuts/bolts, and attachment pins. The best practice is to lay the drill mast horizontally to the ground, where close inspection of all parts can be made to ensure that none are damaged, missing, or loose. Parts that are not securely attached may work free during operation and could cause injury to anyone standing near the drill mast. A well-trained and conscientious operator is key to a safe operation, well-maintained equipment, and maximum production. Operators that are given the opportunity to take ownership of the drill, will do so when rewarded for uptime as well as production, resulting in lower operating costs and greater productivity. In compliance with federal and local safety requirements, drills are equipped with many safety features, some of which require regular testing and inspection to ensure proper operation. Routine testing of all safety shutdown switches must be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Scheduled routine maintenance Scheduled preventive maintenance is typically viewed as oil and filter changes every 250 to 500 machine hours, as recommended by the manufacturer. While this is critical to ensure uninterrupted operation of the equipment, it also provides an excellent opportunity to perform a general machine audit that includes inspection of all wear components such as the drill mounting plate and undercarriage track tension, and to make adjustments where needed. Certified technician: Having a manufacturer’s trained service technician perform these tasks may increase the initial cost of the service when compared to using on-staff personnel. But using a certified technician means that not only is the job done correctly but that he or she will also identify components getting close to failure, which can be replaced to avoid downtime and damage to other parts. This will reduce repair costs throughout the life of the equipment and result in savings far greater than the initial cost of the service call. Drill cleanliness: Drill cleanliness affects the overall life of a drill. Because a drill operates in a very dusty and dirty environment, it is important to understand the effects this can have on the drill — all of which emphasize the importance of routine maintenance. Coolers can become clogged, creating higher machine operating temperatures that will reduce oil life. This, in turn, will eventually affect component life, even though the systems are guarded with safety shutdown switches. During routine cleaning, it is recommended to flush grease points. Steam cleaning will also keep openings and orifices clean, preventing contaminants from entering the system and causing premature failure of fluids and the parts they are lubricating. Newer drills typically have pressurized hydraulic tanks to prevent contamination from entering the system. However, all fluid reservoir breathers must be cleaned or replaced according to the recommended intervals. Performance audits Another activity that ensures drill longevity and performance is a comprehensive performance audit carried out by the local dealer or manufacturer’s aftermarket support representative. This audit typically takes six to eight hours and is accompanied by a detailed report and parts list to be used to maintain optimal performance. A comprehensive performance audit inspects every system component for operation and performance, and ensures the drill is operating within the OEM’s parameters. This comprehensive audit is recommended every six to nine months. Crawler drills have three main power systems that require routine oil sampling: engine, compressor, and hydraulics. Oil trending will help optimize oil life and identify components prior to failure. Trending is done by charting samples to identify abnormalities, oil quality, and possible contaminants. Oil changes are recommended every 250 hours or 100 hours if your machine is operating in heavy dust conditions. Trending will help optimize oil life and ensure machine longevity. It is also important to follow OEM recommended sampling procedures and to perform the procedures consistently every time. Compressor oil life is dependent upon the operating temperature and relative humidity. Oil samples are analyzed for suspended iron particles, total acid number (TAN), and other contaminants. Rust, varnish, and oxidation will also increase the rate of breakdown of the oil. An increase in iron particles suspended in the oil can indicate an impending catastrophic failure of a bearing or other moving part. An increased TAN number indicates that the oil is nearing the end of its operating life and needs to be replaced. Oil change intervals may need to be reduced from OEM recommendations in order to prevent oil oxidation. During operations in humid conditions, water will pass harmlessly through the compressor system when it is operating at optimum operating temperatures. The proper balance keeps the operating temperature high enough to prevent water accumulation yet low enough to prevent oil degradation. To ensure this balance is met, operate the compressor at the manufacturer-recommended operation temperature. Draining water daily from the compressor’s receiver system will also help to prolong oil life and keep the system healthy. A demand for greater production and more power has meant hydraulic top hammers have replaced old style pneumatic drifters. The hammer is the heart of the machine and the most expensive component in the system. It is also the component that is subjected the most punishment during drilling. Focus hydraulic oil sampling around the hydraulic hammer. To achieve the output performance required, hydraulic top hammers are manufactured with tighter tolerances and higher internal striking forces. Contaminate-free oils and the correct viscosity are the key factors required to ensure long drill life. Monitor the oil viscosity and water contamination consistently, and conduct top hammer drill teardown and inspections regularly as per the manufacturer’s recommendation. Replacing worn seals and energy absorption components during this procedure will prevent catastrophic and expensive failures. Performance adjustments The least understood maintenance practice when discussing top hammer drills relates to performance adjustments. There are a large variety of ground conditions that may be encountered, ranging from rock type and hardness to clay seams and bed strike angles — all of which must be drilled through. Drilling pressures, anti-jam features, and multiple-bit types are designed to adjust to accommodate varying ground conditions, however finding the best combination of these can be difficult. Drill power settings must be matched to the ground conditions. For example, in hard granite, the drifter can be set near to maximum pressure, as all the strike energy can be transferred to the rock through the buttons on the bit. Using the same settings in soft limestone will cause a large portion of that energy to be reflected back into the drill. While hammers are designed to absorb a level of reflex energy without sustaining damage, excessive amounts will lead to reduced hammer and rod life and higher wear on other drill parts. Optimal performance is found by reducing hammer pressure while monitoring pure penetration. The match will be found at the point where penetration no longer remains constant and starts to drop with the reduction in drifter pressure. Training and technology Rapid technological changes have made crawler drills highly sophisticated and productive pieces of equipment. Each new improvement has meant that the equipment becomes more productive and the cost of drill is reduced. This also means that the systems have become more complex and expensive requiring greater attention to maintenance and training. Equipment manufacturers have realized this need and are staffed to help meet these needs. Aftermarket representatives are in place to assist producers with extensive training options available either through dealers or directly from manufacturers. Courses range from operator training and general maintenance to specific disciplines. Suppliers can also help producers develop systems and site-specific programs. The future will continue to bring advances aimed at getting the highest production at the lowest cost. Implementing a solid maintenance program will help producers leverage these advances and ensure a profitable business.
The Next Step in GPS automation
When Galileo is fully operational, Topcon users will have access to more than 80 positioning satellites, further reducing problems with lost signals caused by canyon affects and improving accuracy and precision. The chip is said to be much faster than current chips, about 75 percent smaller, and uses less power. New book blasts off The Third Edition of Rock Blasting and Overbreak Control, formerly published by the Federal Highway Administration, has been issued by Precision Blasting Services of Montville, Ohio. The new edition has been updated by Calvin Konya, Ph.D., to show current technology on blasting, new blast design methods, and new, revised specifications for surface blast design projects.
Ingersoll Rand has made a “ major financial contribution” to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) Young Executive Development Program (YEDP), according to the company. The amount of the contribution was not disclosed. The YEDP, held each spring in the Nation’s Capital, offers the industry’s “rising stars” an intensive three-day introduction to the federal legislative and regulatory processes that affect the transportation construction industry. Participants learn about the role of trade associations in the policy-making process and how leadership in their national association cannot only benefit their industry but also their own careers. Sessions cover the annual transportation appropriations and federal regulatory rulemaking processes, and environmental, health, and roadway safety issues. YEDP participants also have the opportunity to meet with their congressional delegations to discuss transportation development issues. Ingersoll Rand’s contribution will be used to help expand the program’s scope and support scholarships for public agencies or industry organizations that might not otherwise be able to participate. Westport, Ct.-based Terex Corp. announced on Jan. 10 that, effective at the start of the first quarter of 2006, it has realigned certain of its operations in an effort to strengthen its ability to service customers and to recognize certain organizational efficiencies. The Mobile Crushing and Screening Group, consisting of Powerscreen, TEREX Finlay, and TEREX Pegson and formerly part of the TEREX Construction Segment, will now be consolidated within the TEREX Materials Processing & Mining Segment. Additionally, the European telehandlers business of TEREXLift, formerly part of the TEREX Construction Segment, will now become part of the TEREX Aerial Work Platforms Segment.
TEREX Corp., based in Westport, Ct., named Kevin Barr as Senior Vice President of Human Resources of TEREX Corporation on Jan. 3. Barr previously had been Vice President, human resources of TEREX. Barr joined TEREX as the company’s top human resources officer in September 2000. In other company news, Katia Fatchetti has been named as senior vice president and chief marketing officer for TEREX Corp.
Watanabe will continue to serve Bridgestone as the board member and advisor to the board.
Sponsored by:
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Topcon used the World of Concrete show in Las
Vegas last month to unveil its Paradigm G3 chip which can track all
signals from all three satellite positioning systems, including the
European Union’s brand new Galileo system launched in December. 
Shoshi Arakwa, presently executive vice president for the
company, will be Watanabe’s successor, effective immediately after
the general meeting of shareholders on March 30.