The inside scoop on industry news, views, and products
|
Vol. 2, No. 23 |
|
Both chambers of Congress are struggling to find a way to pass the remaining spending bills before the Republicans turn out the lights, pack up their offices, and turn the keys over to the Democrats. With Congress officially in recess until Dec. 4, and a constitutional deadline of noon on Jan. 3 when the 109th Congress officially closes, there is scant time to finish the 11 remaining appropriation bills. The Senate started work on the remaining spending bills last week by passing the Military Construction - Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, but conservatives who believed the Republican leaders would use the appropriations bill as a vehicle for an omnibus bill with a long list of earmarks and policy riders stopped it procedurally. Senate conservatives also have placed holds on all remaining spending bills in the Senate, effectively preventing them from moving forward. At this juncture, it appears unlikely that the remaining spending bills can be passed individually, or grouped together in an omnibus package. Essentially the Republicans have two remaining choices: a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) lasting until sometime next year, or a long-term CR through the full fiscal year. The current CR funds transportation projects at last year’s levels, essentially placing the difference between what was authorized in SAFETEA-LU for the highway and transit programs in 2006 and 2007, equal to about $3.5 billion, in jeopardy. If Congress passes a short-or long-term CR without allocating the full amount authorized by SAFETEA-LU, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman, Don Young (R-Alaska), could raise a point of order against the legislation. However, House rules also allow leadership to waive points of order, to smooth passage of difficult legislation. There is no corresponding point of order procedural rule in the Senate, but Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) does have a number of options to slow or stop a CR that does not conform to the funding levels authorized by SAFETEA-LU. If a long-term CR is passed without specifically obligating transportation funds at the SAFETEA-LU levels, the $3.5 billion would essentially be lost, although future spending bills could reinstate the funds. A short-term CR would delay final approval until sometime next spring, but the incoming House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman, James Oberstar (D-Minn.), would be expected to prevail in a fight to ensure the total $39.1 billion for transportation is obligated. How quickly the next Congress can deal with the remaining spending bills is very uncertain. Several weeks will be necessary for committees to organize. It is possible Congress could include language in the CR specifically obligating the transportation funding for the year at the level authorized by SAFETEA-LU. This option will not be easy, as every other interest group will also be trying to get their funding obligated in a short- or long-term CR. (Source: National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association eDigest e-newsletter, Nov. 21, 2006, edition)
The metal and non-metal mining industries, at press time, have experienced 24 fatalities in 2006, with the death of 41 year-old equipment operator on Nov. 10 at a Minnesota construction sand and gravel operation, according to a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Fatalgram report. The equipment operator, who had four years of mining experience, was killed when the victim and a co-worker were standing underneath the head pulley section of a conveyor preparing to attach a chain that was to be used to move the conveyor, and the bolts connecting the conveyor truss sections in the conveyor’s frame failed — causing the head pulley section to fall and strike the victim. At press time for the Dec. 1 edition of Aggregates Manager e-News, this was the fourth falling material fatality in 2006, according to MSHA. There were 33 fatalities reported in the metal/non-metal mining industries, and three falling material fatalities as of the same date of this incident in 2005, according to MSHA. MSHA offers the following best practices to avoid future fatalities:
The report, “Non-fatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away from Work in 2005,” just released by announced by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), revealed another decline in the rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry that required recuperation away from work. The BLS released two new Web-based tools this past year for analyzing occupational injury and illness data. Profiles on the Web (http://data.bls.gov/GQT/servlet/InitialPage) provides access to injury and illness data by industry, demographic characteristics, and case characteristics, and will be updated soon to include prior years’ data. A second Web tool (http://data.bls.gov/IIRC/) allows employers to compute their own injury and illness incidence rate for safety management purposes and compare their rate to the rate for their industry. To view the full report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, including charts detailing where the construction industry falls in terms of occupational injuries and days away from work, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/osh.pdf.
The U.S. transportation construction industry has a bold new vision to help address America’s surface transportation challenges and the federal government must continue to play a key role in ensuring a safe and efficient national road network in the post-Interstate Highway System era. That’s the message the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) delivered Nov. 16 to the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. 2006 ARTBA Chairman Mike Walton, the Ernest H. Cockrell “Centennial Chair in Engineering” at the University of Texas, testified on ARTBA’s behalf at a commission hearing in New York City called to discuss the current conditions, future needs and financing alternatives for the nation’s transportation system. The commission was established under provisions in the 2005 highway and transit law, known as SAFETEA-LU. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. population is expected to reach 400 million people by 2043. This reality will have serious consequences for the future mobility of motorists, ARTBA testified. “Between now and 2043 based on current highway investment and usage trends, U.S. highway capacity will only grow nine percent, but traffic levels will balloon by 135 percent to more than seven trillion vehicle miles traveled annually,” Walton says. “As a result, the average motorist can expect to spend 160 hours stuck in traffic delays, or the equivalent of four weeks each year—a 112-hour-per-year increase in lost time from the current level.” The movement of freight also will be greatly impeded by inadequate transportation capacity. Walton cited a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) report showing that bottlenecks are causing trucks more than 243 million hours of delay annually, at a cost of nearly $8 billion. “If the U.S. economy grows at a conservative annual rate of 2.5 to 3 percent over the next 20 years, domestic freight tonnage will almost double and the volume of freight moving through the largest international gateways may triple or quadruple,” the FHWA report says. “Without new strategies to increase capacity, congestion at freight bottlenecks on highways may impose an unacceptably high cost on the nation’s economy and productivity.” In the short-term, the federal Highway Trust Fund is facing a severe cash crisis and maintaining surface transportation investment levels in the future is in serious doubt, Walton told the commission. To address these needs now and ensure there are sufficient resources to maintain current conditions, Congress should be looking seriously at all options to generate new revenues for highway, bridge and transit improvements, including an increase in the federal motor fuels tax, the ARTBA chairman said. In the long-term, America needs a new national vision to help strategy to facilitate the efficient and secure movement of people and freight, Walton said. He shared with the commission a plan approved last Sept. by the ARTBA Board of Directors that recommends revising the structure of the federal surface transportation program to consist of two separate, but equally important components:
The complete text of ARTBA’s testimony is available at www.artba.org. (Source: American Road & Transportation Builders Association) Swiss-based Holcim, the world’s second-biggest cement producer, is poised to go it alone with a black economic empowerment (BEE) partner in a R6.82 billion transaction that is intended to result in Holcim South Africa getting a black controlling shareholder. However, Aveng, which has a 46 percent stake in Holcim SA, appears to be preparing to exercise its pre-emptive rights and acquire 100 percent of the cement company. Apparently the JSE-listed Aveng, South Africa’s largest construction and engineering company, was initially asked to waive its rights to acquire the shareholding Holcim intends to sell to empowerment group AfriSam Consortium (ASC), which is headed by Eltie Links, the former trade negotiator and South African ambassador to the EU. However, Carl Grim, Aveng’s chief executive, on Nov. 25 denied that Aveng had taken a decision to waive its pre-emptive rights and take up the offer to acquire a shareholding in ASC. Grim said the company would inform the market of any decision related to the transaction as soon as it was taken. Grim said it would be “absolutely no problem at all” for Aveng to raise the R6.8 billion funding to exercise its pre-emptive rights and obtain shareholder approval within 30 days of a valid offer being tabled. However, at the weekend Links said this condition was there as a “courtesy” to Aveng. “We understand that Aveng have since made clear that they do not intend to waive their pre-emption rights and so, from ASC’s perspective, we are quite happy to waive this condition precedent and simply proceed. “We see this deal as being in the best interests of Holcim SA, this industry and the country. I made clear to Aveng when we last met that we intended to see this transaction completed as anticipated, with or without their support.” Links said Aveng’s management was not the type of partner ASC could have a long relationship with “given clearly differing perspectives on the fundamentals of black economic empowerment”. Lawyers close to the transaction have confirmed Holcim and ASC can waive the Aveng condition together. Mofasi Lekota, the chief executive of ASC, said the group understood that Aveng also did not intend to stay in the business if the consortium took control of Holcim SA. President Thabo Mbeki last week discussed the transaction with a delegation including Tom Clough, a member of the executive committee of Holcim; Edward Chadwick of Fenix Partner, the transaction advisers to Holcim; and Links and Lekota. This led to Mbeki devoting his weekly ANC newsletter to the proposed deal and black empowerment. (Source: Business Report online, Nov. 26, 2006. By Roy Cokayne)
Oldcastle Materials, a division of the Irish construction-materials company CRH, recently bought its second aggregate company in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Oldcastle bought Egge Sand & Gravel in Eugene, Ore., in November, adding to its roster, which includes Klamath Pacific in Klamath Falls and River Bend Sand & Gravel in Salem, Ore. “Oldcastle’s a very, very good company,” said Richard Angstrom, the president of the Salem-based Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Organization. “They’re well-respected in the industry. They do a good job in the communities they’re in.” Oldcastle has more than 13,000 employees in 30 states. It made more than $3.5 billion in revenues in 2004 offering aggregate, asphalt, ready-mix concrete and construction services. (Source: StatesmanJournal.com, staff and wire reports, Nov. 23, 2006)
PARIS—Lafarge announces that it is providing an unconditional guarantee on all outstanding bonds issued by its subsidiary Lafarge North America Inc. under an Indenture for debt securities dated Oct. 1, 1989 (as amended) with Citibank NA as Trustee. Following the acquisition in May 2006 of all the shares of Lafarge North America by Lafarge, the Board of Directors of Lafarge has decided to provide its unconditional guarantee on the outstanding debt securities of Lafarge North America. Lafarge North America’s outstanding bonds currently stand for an amount of 400 million U.S. dollars, half of it maturing on July 1, 2008 with the balance maturing on July 1, 2013. This guarantee will allow Lafarge to leverage Lafarge North America’s balance sheet while providing Lafarge North America bondholders with Lafarge credit. Lafarge long-term ratings, as publicly released by Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s, are respectively BBB/ Baa2. The supplemental indenture embodying this guarantee is effective since Nov. 15, 2006. (Source: Aggregate Research Industries/Lafarge, Nov. 23, 2006)
Plunging water levels, lack of dredging take toll; Great Lakes’ limestone tradeoff 4.5 percent in October CLEVELAND—Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 4.1 million net tons in October, a decrease of 4.5 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings were more than 10 percent behind the month’s 5-year average. Although water levels on the Great Lakes usually begin their seasonal decline in the fall, the drop is occurring faster than normal this year, and so further amplifying the lack of adequate dredging in many ports and waterways. Cargo totals are being negatively impacted. Vessels in the limestone trade, for example, forfeit anywhere from 80 to 125 net tons for each 1-inch reduction in loaded draft. For the year, the Lakes limestone trade stands at 31.5 million net tons, a decrease of 2 percent compared to the same point in 2005. Shipments are, however, slightly ahead of the 5-year average for the January-October timeframe. To view a PDF of tables with a breakdown of Great Lakes Limestone Trade: Oct. 2001-2006 and the five-year average, click here. (Source: Lake Carriers’ Association) Shortage of rock in New Zealand adding to road costs AUCKLAND, New Zealand—A shortage of rock in Auckland could be adding tens of millions of dollars to roading costs and the aggregate industry blames local authorities for restricting the development of quarries in the region. Aggregate comes from quarries but the industry says local government is allowing subdivisions to creep too close. “We’re just as important as water, we’re just as important as electricity, you need aggregates,” says Bruce Taylor from the Aggregate and Quarry Association. “We want them to understand they can’t just shut the door on us.” Chris Ellis from Winstone Aggregates says three major quarries have closed in the last five years. “We’ve really lost a third of the aggregate production in the Auckland region,” says Ellis. The industry has been forced to truck in 60,000 trailer loads a year — adding millions of dollars to the cost of roads. “You’ve got a hundred million dollars of
additional cost or potentially a hundred million dollars less
roading that you can build,” Ellis says. Good aggregate undergoes stringent tests and needs to be both durable and weather resistant. The nation’s highway manager, Transit New Zealand, says there is
surprisingly little quarryable rock of good quality left in the
country. (Source: http://tvnz.co.nz via Aggregate Research Industries) Investor site says Cemex ‘Best International Stock for 2007’ Mexico-based cement company Cemex is being touted as one of the best international stocks for 2007, according to a Nov. 24, 2006, report from Selena Maranjian on investor Web site The Motley Fool.com. U.S. Concrete acquires Breckenridge Ready-Mix Texas-based U.S. Concrete Inc. announced that it completed the acquisition of Breckenridge Ready-Mix Inc. for $3.0 million in cash, and the assumption of approximately $400,000 in interest-bearing debt. The company used its existing line of credit to
fund the purchase price. Breckenridge operates two ready-mixed
concrete plants, a limestone quarry and sand pit in west Texas, and
generated revenues of approximately $3.6 million in 2005.
Breckenridge will add to the company’s existing Ingram operations in
west Texas. Lafarge sells assets for Carlsbad and Artesia, N.M., operations Lafarge has sold all of its assets in Carlsbad and Artesia, N.M., to Constructors N.S.L., Inc., according to a recent Aggregate Research Industries report. As of Nov. 10, Lafarge ceased its operations in these areas, which included aggregates, ready mix concrete, and asphalt operations. No other Lafarge operations are affected in New Mexico, according to the report. Holcim (US) introduces Envirocore family of environmentally friendly products Holcim (US) has launched the Envirocore family of environmentally friendly products and the Web site envirocore.us, a portal for sustainability, green building and environmental issues, as part of its plan for supporting sustainable development. “As an employer, supplier and neighbor we are
committed to sustainable development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs,” states Patrick Dolberg, president and CEO of
Holcim. “To keep this commitment requires a thoughtful balance of
economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social
responsibility.” (Source: Holcim (US) )
Polaris Minerals Corp. announces 2006 third-quarter results Vancouver, B.C., Canada-based Polaris Minerals Corp. has reported its financial results for the period ended Sept. 30, 2006. As of Sept. 30, 2006, the company had working capital of $38 million, including cash of $42 million, compared to working capital of $0.19 million and cash of $1.2 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005. Financial Results Polaris’ principal assets are under construction and, therefore, the company had no operating revenues in the period. A loss of $2.5 million, ($0.08 per share) was incurred for the nine month period ended Sept. 30, 2006, compared to a loss of $2.8 million ($0.21 per share) for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2005. During the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2006, the company capitalized $42.8 million to the Orca Sand & Gravel Quarry and $2.7 million to the Richmond Terminal, compared with $2.3 million and $0.36 million respectively in the corresponding nine months ended Sept. 30, 2005. Costs capitalized to the Eagle Rock Quarry Project during the period ended Sept. 30, 2006 were $9,000 compared with $Nil for the same period in 2005. This financial summary should be read in conjunction with the company’s Sept. 30, 2006 unaudited, consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis, both of which are available on www.sedar.com. Third-quarter 2006 highlights The company continued to make substantial construction progress at the Orca Quarry. The critical marine piling work has been completed and the quadrant beam shiploader was to be installed in November, according to the Nov. 9 announcement from Polaris of the company’s 2006 third-quarter results. The processing plant assembly has progressed well and, together with ancillary structures, will be commissioned before the end of the year. The large mobile equipment, including two CAT 637G wheeled tractor scrapers, is now onsite and ready to commence the extraction of the sand and gravel. The first shipment of products is anticipated to occur during the first quarter of 2007. At the Richmond Terminal, ground preparation and foundation work is underway in anticipation of the commencement of construction of the terminal facilities. Construction is expected to be completed in the summer of 2007. The redesign of the terminal is anticipated to result in the saving of US$9.1 million, compared with original estimates. The new Orca Quarry video is available at www.polarmin.com/orcasand/video.php. This five minute computer generated animation follows the movement of aggregates from the Orca Quarry to San Francisco Bay, Calif., demonstrating the company’s low-cost transportation strategy. Additionally, images of construction activity at the Orca Quarry site are being updated regularly at www.polarmin.com/orcasand/photogallery.php.
Maintenance Top Tank Tune-Up Tips
by John Bennington Here’s some good news: Your classifying system is designed to run trouble-free — a great “problem” to have. For six months, a year, or even two years, your classifying tank might run without a glitch before developing a problem. And at that point, you simply fix the broken piece, and then go on, right? Unfortunately, that’s not exactly the case. And it doesn’t mean that a classifying system is maintenance-free. The problem is that because classifiers run so well day-in and day-out, producers tend to overlook routine, preventive maintenance until something wears out. But simple, routine maintenance will keep your tank running at its best. The adage, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” is indeed not the best rule of thumb with any piece of mechanical equipment. Because while it seems your tank may be running well, your stockpile may tell a different story — especially when it proves to be contaminated or out of spec. Overlooked proceduresThe most commonly overlooked routine procedure for classifying plants may be maintenance of the hydraulic system. Producers should change the hydraulic oil at least once a year, but this recommendation is oftentimes dismissed. In northern climates, it’s convenient to handle the hydraulic oil change during a shutdown. In southern climates, where the tank is run year-round, the hydraulic fluid should be changed as frequently as every 10 months. Failure to change this fluid can result in contaminated and/or overused fluid, which can plug the hydraulic system — ultimately causing one or more cylinders in your tank to stop working. While your classifier operator/service manual will give you the proper procedure for changing your tank’s oil, don’t fall into a common practice of dumping the hydraulic oil into the open reservoir; instead, use a filling tube. This tube has a strainer that keeps foreign matter out of the reservoir, while it simultaneously regulates the flow of oil. Dumping tends to stir up the unavoidable clumped oil that resides at the bottom of the reservoir. Foreign matter and oil clumps then pump through the hydraulic system, clogging the system and causing sporadic valve operation or even complete shutdown, taking your material out of spec. Another frequently skipped maintenance procedure is checking the connectors between the valve rods, the bindicators (sensing paddles), and the hydraulic cylinders. These connectors are nothing more than cotter pins that can wear and rust, so if they are not checked regularly, you won’t know if you have sand at each station in your tank. If a valve actually falls off from rust or wear, the cylinder will actuate, but the valve won’t open. In either of these situations, you will be producing non-spec material because the controllers won’t be able to mechanically make the tank do what it’s designed to do. These connectors should be checked monthly. What’s the source?A problem that seems to occur frequently with classifying tanks is the need to regularly replace blown fuses. This procedure isn’t difficult; it’s just a hassle. But the key is that fuses should not blow, so the best practice is to look for the cause of the problem. If your fuses are blowing regularly, you could have solenoid damage or a short in the system. Locate and repair the cause to stop this problem from occurring. Valve leakage is another common complaint from producers operating this equipment. Often, valves in the bottom of the tank are allowed to leak or even gush material and water from the tank. This practice changes the material split point in the tank, and can contaminate your stockpiles. The valve rods must be “snugged down” to the floor of the tank. But don’t worry — as long as the rod is not bending or forcing the valve bridge up, the rod should be long enough to seal the valve into the valve seat. If you keep all these tips in mind and remember that while your classifying tank is designed to work trouble-free, it’s still a machine with moving parts — and therefore requires routine maintenance — you can maximize production and performance, and minimize unplanned shutdowns. By performing these simple tasks, you’ll see that a little TLC will ensure your classifying tank truly does operate without a problem.
Classifer tank maintenance ‘cheat sheet’ Some of the best practices for regular classifying system maintenance on a daily, monthly, and annual basis are the following: Daily
Monthly
Yearly
Controllers: Basic Daily Electrical Maintenance
Photo courtesy of GreyStone Inc.
Photo courtesy of GreyStone Inc.
New dispatching software
New cone crusher
HP4 features include dual acting hydraulic tramp release cylinders that allow the unit to pass tramp iron that Metso says would stall or damage other crushers. An advanced fastening system for the mantle and bowl liner eliminates the need for backing material and makes liner changes quicker. The unit has thicker liners for longer life and Nordberg has greatly simplified the replacement procedure. Scale monitoring software PC Scale has developed a Scale Monitoring Module that helps producers audit scale activity by logging ticketed and non-ticketed weighments, ensuring that all traffic crossing the scale is legitimate, and that no vehicles cross the scale without a weighment being captured.
The HP4 was introduced to the European market earlier this year. Metso also introduced to the North American market its Lokotrack LT3054, LT1315, and LT1415 mobile crushing plants, the ST458 mobile screening plant, and the Barmac portable crushing plant. The facility, which was the result of a $10 million investment, officially came online on Aug. 1. Metso told Aggregates Manager at the open house that it has plans to produce 200 Lokotrack machines in 2007. PC Scale, Inc., which develops and providing scale house software, announced its acquisition of TransComp Systems, Inc. of Orange, Calif. TransComp is best known as the publisher of Tower 6.0 software, and is a leading provider of route management software with hundreds of customers throughout the United States and Canada. TransComp’s David Navarro will lead the new TransComp Systems Division of PC Scale as its president. PC Scale, Inc. and its TransComp Systems Division have offices in Pennsylvania, Maine, Arizona, California, and Washington. They specialize in design, development, installation, and training of their SMART Solution data management software for the industries that use truck, floor, and rail scales and of their Tower software for route management Chevron’s Lubricants University, an educational website, is introducing two new courses, “Automotive Grease” (which covers off-road vehicles) and “Industrial Grease” as part of its course catalog. The two modules are self-study, Web-based programs designed for maintenance professionals and industrial end users interested in expanding their knowledge of proper grease use and formulations. The “Automotive Grease” course provides information on how grease products differ in terms of performance, base oil, additives and thickener types. In addition, the module offers an overview of automotive grease, examines lubrication performance specifications and looks at automotive grease products currently in use. The course increases awareness of the specialized automotive greases designed to meet the requirements of highway automobiles and trucks, as well as off-road wheel and track vehicles. The “Industrial Grease” course covers the appropriate quantity, re-greasing intervals, and product selection for proper lubrication in industrial applications. The course also describes how to successfully implement industrial greasing programs in such applications as electric motors, pumps and conveyors, and pins and bushings found in cranes and other manufacturing equipment. “Industrial Greases” addresses these issues and also provides an understanding of what grease is, performance specifications, industrial grease products and the correct application of industrial lubrication. Courses are available to the general public. To purchase a course by credit card, call the Chevron Fulfillment Center at 1-866-7LUBESU (866-758-2378). A subscription program is available for companies interested in offering training to multiple employees. The subscription fee is dependent on the number of employees taking courses and the number of courses a company chooses to take. For further details regarding the subscription program please contact: lublearn@chevron.com or contactus@lubricantsuniversity.com. All Lubricants University courses offer a certificate of completion once a student has successfully completed the training. (Source: Chevron Lubricants University) Command Alkon, which provides integrated solutions for the construction materials industry, has reached a definitive agreement with JWS Corp. to become a division of Command Alkon. According to a Command Alkon press release, the joining of the two companies will add more depth and breadth to the array of products and services available to concrete, ready-mixed, aggregate, asphalt, cement, and block producers worldwide. Columbus, Neb.-based GreyStone, Inc., which manufactures sand washing and aggregate processing equipment, has signed on Berry Tractor & Equipment Co. as a new dealer covering the state of Kansas. Berry Tractor has branch offices in Kansas and Missouri. GreyStone also has signed on McClung-Logan Equipment Co., Inc., as a new dealer covering Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware, and Canton, Ohio-based Stone Products, Inc. as a new dealer covering the state of Ohio. Sandvik has reached an agreement with Finnish Metso Oy Group for its acquisition of Metso Powdermet AB, according to a Sandvik AB. The acquisition is expected to be complete before the end of the year, according to Sandvik. Opportunity International, an organization committed to solving global poverty, announced a philanthropic grant of $1.2 million from Caterpillar Inc. through the Caterpillar Foundation. Caterpillar has provided a dozen moderate-sized grants to Opportunity International since 1994, and this latest donation represents the largest gift ever by Caterpillar to a microfinance organization. The grant will assist Opportunity International in expanding initiatives in China and six African nations. A pioneer in microfinance since 1971, and today one of the largest microfinance organizations, Opportunity International offers small business loans, insurance, banking services and business training to the poorest of the working poor in 28 countries worldwide. The grant comes as Opportunity International
expands its presence in Asia and Africa. Approximately $750,000 of
the Caterpillar Inc. funding is allocated to support Opportunity
International’s programs in China. The new funding is expected to
create about 5,000 new jobs in the city of Hefei in Anhui province
over the next three years, providing the capital to benefit about
25,000 people. The Caterpillar grant is the largest gift received by
Opportunity International for its operations in China, where the
organization opened an office in 2003. The Africa portion of the grant will help more than 28,000 poor people, bringing the total expected impact of the Caterpillar grant to benefit more than 53,000 workers, entrepreneurs and their family members. (Source: Aggregate Research Industries)
Jeffrey Kupfer has been named by U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman as his new chief of staff. Sponsored by:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
John
Bennington is vice president and general manager for Columbus,
Neb.-based GreyStone Inc., a manufacturer of sand washing and
classifying systems. He also is chairman of the National Stone, Sand
& Gravel Association’s Manufacturers and Services division.
Bennington has more than 12 years in the aggregate industry. He may
be reached at 888-346-9274.
(left) Pictured are the toggle switch box, solenoid valves, level
sensor and hydraulic cylinders for one settling station on the
bridge of a classifying tank. Failure to change hydraulic oil can
result in contaminated and/or overused fluid, which can plug the
system — ultimately causing one or more cylinders in your tank to
stop working.
(right)
If you allow your valves to leak or to gush material and water from
the tank, it will cause the material split point in the tank to
change, resulting in your product to be out-of-spec and/or
contaminated. “Snug down” your valve rods to the floor of the tank.
BMG
Seltec has released version 2 of its Central Dispatching software
system. It is fully integrated with the company's asphalt and
aggregate enterprise and site automation systems for seamless
management of the order-to-delivery cycle. The company recommends
the system for small and large producers alike. The new software is
said to feature extensive graphic views and real-time refreshment of
the data utilized at production sites, as well as many enhancements
for faster, simpler usage.
Metso
Minerals has officially introduced the new Nordberg HP4 cone crusher
to the North American market, after unveiling it in Europe last
spring. The first in Nordberg’s line of high-performance cone
crushers, the HP4 is said to produce much finer products with fewer
crushing stages than competing units. Metso claims it combines
optimized speed with a large throw to provide the highest reduction
ratios of any cone crusher on the market today.
Metso
Minerals hosted an open house Nov. 14-15 at its new
300,000-square-foot Columbia, S.C., facility, for more than 300
people, including press, distributors, and other invited guests. At
the open house, which was attended by Aggregates Manager,
Metso officially introduced its HP4 cone crusher to the North
American production and began its production here.