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Vol. 3, No. 11
The Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation has approved the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2007 (S. 1300), which would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from 2008 through 2011 and modernize the nation’s air traffic control system. In brief, the bill reauthorizes the FAA’s four major accounts — Operations; Facilities and Equipment; the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), and Research, Engineering and Development — at more than $65 billion. Of interest to the construction community, the AIP program is reauthorized at $3.8 billion for 2008 and increases $100 million per year to end at $4.1 billion in 2011 for a total of $15.8 billion throughout the life of the authorization. AIP pays for infrastructure development at airports that increases capacity and passenger access through new runways, gates, aprons and common areas needed to get passengers on or off planes. AIP funds cannot be used for restaurants and shopping areas. PFCs (Passenger Facility Charges), another method airports use to pay for expansion projects, have not been adjusted since 2000 and are not increased in this bill. It is estimated that the current charge of $4.50 per flight segment is only equal to $2.80 due to inflation. The underlying effort to find funds to modernize the air traffic control system was reached when the committee rejected an amendment to strip a new $25-per-flight fee on high-end general and business aviation flying within controlled airspace. The new fee is expected to raise about $400 million per year. The Senate Committee on Finance is expected to consider the tax provisions of the legislation before the two can be merged prior to floor action. The House has yet to consider a bill. (Source: National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association eDigest & Washington Watch)
THEODORE, Ala.—Sen. Ben Brooks (R-Mobile) presented the Holcim (US) Theodore Plant with a Senate Joint Resolution commending its outstanding achievements on May 14. The resolution recognizes the Theodore Plant for the positive impact it has made on the citizens of the State of Alabama. “The recent efforts of the Holcim Plant have shown the business to be an asset to the corporate community in south Mobile County,” Brooks said, according to a press release from Holcim. “On behalf of south Mobile County I thank the company for its support of our community.” The resolution — signed by Charles McDowell Lee, Secretary of the Senate — commended the Holcim (US) Theodore Plant for several awards and honors it had received in the past year, including:
In addition to the accolades received from the Alabama State Senate, U.S. Congressman Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) entered a statement into the Congressional Record on April 19, 2007 commending the Holcim (US) Theodore Plant.
An Atlanta state court judge has ordered a former Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) employee to pay $12,723 in restitution for the misuse for federal funds, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Jacqueline J. Hill-Brown was ordered on April 30 the pay this restitution after a jury convicted her on April 13 of theft. Hill-Brown was employed as an information analyst at the FHWA’s Atlanta Resource Center. According to the DOT investigation findings, Hill-Brown asked a co-worker to approve funds for graduate-level courses in health and bio-statistics at Emory University that were not related to her job. The co-worker, Vanessa B. Smith, approved the training for Hill-Brown in her capacity as an FHWA contracting officer. However, the OIG-FHWA investigation discovered that the request for and approval of these courses was done without “the knowledge, consent, or authorization of FHWA management,” according to the DOT. In addition to the $12,723 Hill-Brown has been ordered to pay, she almost must serve 90 days in prison, 10 years of probation, and 3,600 hours of community service. Smith was acquitted at trial. Both of the women have been fired from the FHWA.
ARLINGTON, Va.—The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued $440,000 in fines against Wabash Mine Holding Co. for safety violations found during a routine inspection of the company’s Wabash Mine in Wabash County, Ill. Two citations issued during MSHA’s inspection of the mine were cited as “flagrant violations” under the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act. A flagrant violation is defined as “a reckless or repeated failure to make reasonable efforts to eliminate a known violation of a mandatory safety and health standard that substantially and proximately caused, or reasonably could have been expected to cause, death or serious bodily injury.” Under the MINER Act, a civil penalty of up to $220,000 may be assessed for each flagrant violation. The two citations that were determined to be flagrant violations, and their penalties, are as follows:
TOTAL FLAGRANT PENALTIES: $440,000 (Source: Mine Safety and Health Administration) Speculation was mounting on [May 4] that CRH, Ireland’s largest corporation, is being circled by a private equity “shark.” The rumors were generated after shares in construction materials giant soared some 15pc in the past week with some big names in the Irish business community snapping up the stock. The afternoon of May 4, CRH shares jumped another 2.1 percent or 75 cents to E36.50 after racing magnates, JP McManus and John Magnier were identified as buying up large amounts of shares. The week’s rise in share value saw the value or market capitation of the Irish company with a global reach rise to a massive E19.7 billion. Market speculation is that, while the McManus and Magnier duo’s purchases have been significant, they cannot account for all of the gains in share prices and that, with consolidation in the sector worldwide growing, CRH could be in the sights of a major global equity house. One Dublin analyst said that, from the point of view of a potential buyer, CRH represents the chance of making a “quick profit.” Robert Eason of Goodbody Stockbrokers said that any such predator would be attracted to CRH with a view to breaking it up and selling it off again. He said that one way a buyer could make money quickly from a purchase would be to sell off its divisions and units across the globe one at a time. “There’s no doubt that the sum of its (CRH’s) parts are greater than its whole and that value could be released from a break-up,” he said. “However, I think that, while it is not impossible, it is unlikely as its current investors are more than happy with CRH’s profile and prospects for the future,” he said. CRH had no comment to make on the rumors but did earlier this week remind the market that individuals or organizations who own 5 percent or more of any company are obliged to notify the stock market and that no new investors have reached this point yet. The speculation was sparked by a spike in mergers and acquisitions activity in the sector in the US and Europe this week. In the US Vulcan Materials has agreed a bid for Florida Rock worth USD4.6 billion and Cemex is looking to acquire Rinker for USD15.3 billion. In Europe, Germany’s Heidelberg Cement said it was looking to acquire British building materials firm, Hanson. (Source: Business World, May 4, 2007) Everything you need to know about operations, equipment, and management can be found in Aggregates Manager. To sign up for a free subscription (for aggregates industry professionals), go to www.Aggman.com/circulation/subform.htmPolaris releases images of Richmond Terminal Canada-based Polaris Minerals Corp. has released pictures of the recent construction progress at the Richmond Terminal in San Francisco Bay on its online photo gallery. The images may be viewed by going to www.polarmin.com/photogallery/richmond_may07/richmond_may07.php. Stevens Creek Quarry honored as area ‘Business of the Year’ CUPERTINO, Calif.—The Cupertino Chamber of Commerce for being the top large-sized Business of the Year recently honored Stevens Creek Quarry with a STAR award. The “Service, Teamwork, Achievement, Recognition” (STAR) Award’s purpose is to recognize a local business or citizen whose contributions have made a significant and beneficial impact on the Cupertino community. Selection is based on achievements and contributions in areas such as civic and community service, education, and governmental affairs. Stevens Creek Quarry is owned by the Voss family, the 4th generation to operate the quarry since its founding in the 1940s. At the same time as the quarry has helped build Silicon Valley by supplying aggregates for the area’s roads, highways, and construction projects, the Voss family has been dedicated to supporting the community and its schools, nonprofits, and many other civic organizations by volunteering, giving, and partnering. Among the quarry’s countless contributions, one of its most enduring commitments has been to helping mentally and physically disabled children. “Giving back to the community is a priority for us,” said Rich Voss. “We look forward to continuing our service in the future.” Vicat to clarify Heidelberg stake sale PARIS—Vicat said on May 23 it plans to announce on May 30 the terms under which Germany’s largest cement maker, HeidelbergCement, plans to sell its 35 percent stake in its smaller French rival, according to a Reuters report. HeidelbergCement announced plans to sell its stake in Vicat in March, according to the May 23 report, and at the time Vicat said it and the family holding companies intended to acquire 12 percent at most of Vicat’s share capital. HeidelbergCement in the meantime sealed an agreed 8 billion pound takeover bid on Britain’s Hanson. The sale would be made via a private placement to institutional investors inside and outside France, as well as a public offering in France. (Source: Reuters, May 23, 2007) NSSGA Young Leaders Council invited to tour Vulcan’s Sac Tun Quarry Vulcan Materials Co. Chairman and CEO and National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) Immediate Past Chairman Don James has invited the association’s Young Leaders Council (YLC) to tour Vulcan’s Sac Tun Quarry in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, as part of the YLC Annual Meeting in 2008. The Sac Tun Quarry is a recent winner of the 2006 About Face Program Showplace Award for its diligent work in dust control entrance appearance, erosion control, mining area appearance, screening, and other key criteria. In addition to the quarry tour, YLC attendees will be given the opportunity to tour Vulcan’s Sac Tun Marine Terminal, as well. The NSSGA Executive Committee unanimously endorsed Mexico as the location for the 2008 YLC Annual Meeting. YLC Chairman Fred C. Perkinson, Jr., Tennessee Aggregate Company, said, “We are looking forward to incorporating the Vulcan plant tours with the content-rich training and educational sessions of the YLC program.” The 2008 YLC Annual Meeting will be held April 25 -27. For additional information on the NSSGA Young Leaders Council, contact NSSGA’s Andrew Dougherty at adoughtery@nssga.org or YLC Chairman Fred C. Perkinson, Jr. of Tennessee Aggregate Co. at fredp@tnagg.com.
Cemex ups stake in Rinker to 36.74 percent Mexico’s Cemex SA said it has raised its stake in Rinker Group Ltd to 36.74 percent from 35.62 percent, after its revised offer of US$15.85 per share was recommended to shareholders by Rinker’s board in April. The Australian-listed construction materials group earns most of its income in the United States, which is also a major market for Cemex. At 1:18 pm Sydney time (0318 GMT), Rinker shares were up 0.01 AUD at 19.37 while the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 26.4 at 6,277.8. (1 USD = 1.22 AUD) (Source: AFX News Limited, May 29, 2007) Lafarge launches self-compacting concrete in South Africa CAPE TOWN, South Africa—Lafarge
Aggregates & Readymix last month launched its Lafarge Ultra Series
SCC, a new range of innovative self-compacting concrete. MSHA publishes emergency temporary standard The Mine Safety and Health Administration published an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to increase strength of seals used in underground coal mines in the May 22 Federal Register. The ETS includes requirements to strengthen the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of seals, as well as requirements for sampling and controlling atmospheres behind seals. The ETS, effective immediately, implements the requirements of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006. The government agency will hold 4 public hearings on the ETS at the following locations:
To read the Federal Register report, go to www.msha.gov/REGS/FEDREG/FINAL/2007finl/07-2535.pdf. Equipment manufacturing publication group chooses Aggregates Manager contributor as PR Person of the Year
Zettler is a frequent editorial contributor to both Aggregates Manager and its sister publication, Better Roads. His agency is the smallest ever to win this award. Senior editors at PICA publications choose the Public Relations Person of the Year as an outstanding example of “best practices” in media relations. The criteria the group uses to rank nominees include reliability, accuracy, quality of information provided, trustworthiness, integrity and level of experience about their company, products and industry. PICA recognized Zettler at AEM’s annual Marketing Council Seminar, held in mid-May in Las Vegas. Polaris reports first quarter results and conference call VANCOUVER, B.C., Canada—Polaris Minerals Corp. on May 16 reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007. (All financial results are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.) Effective Jan. 1, 2007, the company changed its reporting currency to the U.S. dollar (USD). The change in reporting currency is to better reflect the company’s principal operating currency, as Polaris incurs the majority of its operating revenues and costs in USD. Prior to Jan. 1, 2007, the company reported its annual and quarterly consolidated financial statements in Canadian dollars. All comparative figures have been restated into USD. As of March 31, 2007, the company had working capital of $44.0 million, including cash of $76.0 million, compared to working capital of $32.6 million and cash of $42.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. Financial Results Polaris’ operating revenues for the first quarter ending March 31, 2007 were $49,751. During the corresponding period in 2006, the principal assets were under construction and, therefore, the company had no operating revenues in the period. A loss of $4.3 million ($0.14 per share) was incurred for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, compared to a loss of $1.9 million ($0.07 per share) for the period ended March 31, 2006. During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, the company capitalized $6.0 million to property, plant, and equipment, compared with $7.1 million in the corresponding period ended March 31, 2006. This financial summary should be read in conjunction with the company’s March 31, 2007 unaudited consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis, both of which will be available on www.sedar.com. First-quarter highlights The company began production at the Orca Quarry on Feb. 20, 2007, paving the way for the first barge shipments to the Vancouver area on March 22, 2007 and the first Panamax freighter shipment to California on April 1, 2007. Construction at the Richmond Terminal is proceeding well and is anticipated to be complete around the end of the third quarter 2007. The Mitigated Negative Declaration application for the proposed Redwood City Terminal received unanimous support from the Redwood City Port Commissioners, a significant step forward in the permitting process. On March 5, 2007, Polaris received the 2007 e3 Environmental Excellence in Exploration Award from the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada for industry-leading social and environmental sustainability practices. Additionally, on April 16, 2007, Polaris’ subsidiary Company, Orca Sand and Gravel Ltd., received the Stewart O’Brian Safety Award for its exemplary safety record from the Government of British Columbia. The Orca Quarry had zero lost-time accidents in 2006 during its construction while accumulating more than 100,000 worker hours. Images of the Orca Quarry, the loading of barges and Panamax freighters, as well as construction progress at the Richmond Terminal, can be viewed at www.polarmin.com/orcasand/photogallery.php. Holcim offers St. Lawrence Cement shareholders CAD$40.25 per share St. Lawrence Cement Group Inc. announced on May 25 that its board of directors has declared a dividend of $0.15 per Class A Subordinate Voting Share, Class B Multiple Voting Share, and Class 1 Special Share. The dividend will be payable on Aug. 1, 2007 to shareholders of record on June 22, 2007. On May 14, 2007, Holcim Group and the St. Lawrence Cement Group announced that they had entered into a support agreement under which an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Holcim will offer CAD $40.25 cash per share for all outstanding Class A Subordinate Voting Shares that Holcim does not already own and CAD $40.25 cash per share for all outstanding Class 1 special shares. Holcim raises bid for Canadian unit to win approval Holcim Ltd., the world’s second- biggest cement maker, won the backing of St. Lawrence Cement Group Inc. for a planned buyout of the Canadian subsidiary after raising its offer by 10 percent to C$630 million. Shareholders owning 21 percent of the Canadian company will be offered C$40.25 a share ($36.23), Montreal-based St. Lawrence said in an e-mail. Holcim previously offered C$36.5 a share. The board of directors of St. Lawrence recommends shareholders accept the offer, the company said. Holcim and its next biggest rivals, France’s Lafarge SA and Cemex SA of Mexico, are racing to expand globally through acquisitions in both emerging and mature markets, where they can cut costs to improve efficiency. St. Lawrence plans to lift sales by shipping more surplus Canadian cement to U.S. markets to undercut higher-cost supplies imported from outside the region. Shares of Holcim have climbed 18 percent this year, giving the company a market value of 34 billion Swiss francs. Chief Executive Officer Markus Akermann is seeking to raise the company’s stake at other producers around the world. In January, Holcim increased its share in India’s Gujarat Ambuja Cements to more than 20 percent. Holcim entered North America in the 1950s with the construction of a cement plant in Beauport, near Quebec City. Revenue at St. Lawrence, which employs 3,300 people, increased 4.9 percent to C$386 million in the fourth quarter, driven by improved prices. (Source: Bloomberg, May 14, 2007. By Christian Baumgaertel in Zurich (cbaumgaertel@bloomberg.net) and Joao Lima in Madrid (jlima1@bloomberg.net). Florida East Coast Industries to be acquired in $3.5 billion transaction JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (FECI) has agreed to merge with certain private equity funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC under which Fortress will acquire FECI. FECI will pay a special dividend of $21.50 per share in cash and in the merger shareholders will receive $62.50 in cash for each share of FECI common stock they hold. The combined dividend and merger consideration equal $84.00 per share and represent a 13.3-percent premium to the NYSE closing price of $74.13 on May 7, 2007 and a 31-percent premium to the average closing price during the last 60 trading days. The total value of the transaction, including FECI’s existing debt and the special dividend, is approximately $3.5 billion. FECI’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the merger agreement. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals and the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of FECI common stock. The parties presently anticipate consummating the transaction during the third quarter of 2007. Upon completion of the transaction, FECI will become a privately held company, and its common stock will no longer be publicly traded. Texas Industries shareholder may buy the company Nassef Sawiris, chief executive officer of Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries Co., has taken a 9.9 percent stake in Texas Industries Inc. and may seek to acquire control of the building-materials company.Shares of Dallas-based Texas Industries rose 6.3 percent. Sawiris may also ask for board representation, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Texas Industries is a prime acquisition candidate in a U.S. building-materials market that is consolidating, said Trey Grooms, an analyst at the Little Rock, Arkansas, brokerage Stephens Inc. The company posted a 13-percent increase in sales to $943.9 million in 2006, according to Bloomberg data. Consolidation in the U.S. building-materials market is accelerating. Australia’s Rinker Group Ltd., which gets about 80 percent of sales from the U.S., agreed in April to be bought by Monterrey, Mexico-based Cemex for $14.2 billion in cash. Vulcan Materials Co. agreed in February to pay $4.6 billion for Florida Rock Industries Inc. Texas Industries, the largest cement producer in Texas, could fetch a purchase price of more than $100 a share because of its size and its concentration on concrete and aggregates, said Grooms. The number of desirable targets in concrete operations is dwindling, he said. Expand Capacity The company plans to expand capacity by a million tons a year in both California and Texas — its two main markets — as cement demand in the U.S. outstrips local production. Sawiris purchased the stake in Texas Industries through NNS Holding, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands that holds stakes in Sawiris business interests, including Orascom. Cairo- based Orascom is the largest cement producer in the Middle East and North Africa. The company earlier this month said it plans to spend $440 million to build a plant in Syria. Sawiris, who studied economics at the University of Chicago, paid $147.7 million for the Texas Industries stake, according to the filing. The stock at current prices “is undervalued and represents an attractive investment opportunity,” the filing said. (Source: Bloomberg, May 21, 2007)
Applications Rock and Resourcefulness
Being an independent producer can have its advantages and its disadvantages. While large aggregate producers might have access to greater resources, small aggregate producers often have the advantage of their resourcefulness. Vendor mandates with national accounts are often the norm for large companies, but smaller companies still have the freedom to look for solutions to their challenges — and to try new equipment or parts — without running into a lot of “red tape.”
Base Rock Minerals, in Bonne Terre, Mo., known as the “Minerals Area” about 70 miles south of St. Louis, was established in 1998 — on the site of an older quarry that had opened in 1927. “This site was designed originally to satisfy a lime kiln operation on an adjacent property,” says Mitch Tedder, quarry superintendent at Base Rock Minerals. “The quarry did a little bit of outside sales, but mainly it was a self-serving quarry for the kiln.” The kiln processed high-magnesium dolomitic material for the steel industry. (Steel mills use lime and limestone to remove impurities from the iron as it is smelted.) According to Kerry Bauman, Base Rock Minerals’ quarry manager, its parent company, Vern Bauman Contracting, virtually walked into the quarry purchase opportunity in 1997. The company had a contracting job in the area and approached the quarry to purchase fines for the project. At the same time Vern Bauman discussed purchasing material, he was asked if he wanted to purchase the entire quarry. Bauman also owned a small pit in Bloomsdale. “He bought the property because construction aggregate has a bigger market in this area than steel,” says Kerry Bauman, Vern Bauman’s son. “It was a great opportunity.” The younger Bauman had quarry experience from working at a quarry near Barnhart, Mo. He became the quarry manager at Base Rock Minerals, and with Tedder, has helped the quarry to grow to its current size; this year Bauman estimates the quarry will produce at least 800,000 tons. Base Rock Minerals’ main products are stone for ready-mixed concrete, from 7/8 to 3/8 inch, and asphalt chips, from 5/8 to 3/16 inch. The company also continues to produce stone for the steel industry — with the neighboring lime kiln still in operation as a steady customer, in addition to steel mills across the country. Material for the steel industry includes 1/2 by 2 inches and 1 by 3 inches. Using stone from three separate areas of the quarry, the company produces about 25 separate products. With a partially owned asphalt plant on site, about 20 percent of Base Rock Minerals products are internal sales to the asphalt operation, with the remainder sold to outside customers. Bauman and Tedder are proud of the fact that the plant circuit at Base Rock Minerals is entirely employee-designed and built. Employee pride shows, as well, in the clean operation. “The quarry was a mess when we started,” Tedder notes. “We have been reclaiming as part of cleanup from the old kiln, adding cover and planting vegetation. We’ve got a good MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) record, and the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) is pleased with us, too.” The company blasts about once a week during peak season, with approximately 30,000 tons dropped in a shot. The pit encompasses 100 acres, and material is currently removed from three separate areas within the pit, based on its makeup and market needs. A Cat 992C feeds a Pioneer 3042 jaw that is fitted with a Deister 4- by 26-foot vibrating grizzly feeder. Material is conveyed from the jaw to a Symons 5-1/2-foot standard cone. A Simplicity 8- by 20-foot three-deck screen stockpiles or sends material to a Symons 5-1/2-foot shorthead cone, with that material returning to the Simplicity screen. A Tyler 6- by 16-foot two-deck finish screen, and a Smico 3- by 8-foot scalping screen to handle oversize material, complete the circuit. All of the equipment at Base Rock Minerals was purchased used. Bauman and Tedder designed the circuit, and employees fabricated and erected the supports that keep all but the jaw crusher off the ground. The circuit can run with a stockpile truck driver and loader operator keeping tabs on production, with the loader operator having control over the feed. “We can make up to eight products at a time, and we get about 500 to 550 tons per hour production,” Tedder says. But a little over a year ago, production numbers were lower for the quarry — with the bottleneck occurring at the 8- by 20-foot screen. “Our bottom deck on the screen was blinding; we had too many rejects, and we couldn’t keep the material clean,” Tedder said. “We were getting 1/2-inch minus, rather than 1/2-inch chip that we needed. We didn’t shut down to clean it — because we couldn’t. It blinded too fast. We just made bad product and had to sell it as base.” Still, Tedder and Bauman knew the quarry could produce better material — if they could stop the blinding problem on the screen. After consulting with their equipment dealer, The G.W. Van Keppel Co., Bauman and Tedder decided to take Van Keppel’s suggestion and use a specific self-cleaning screen media. In 2005, working with Van Keppel and Major Wire’s territory manager, Hank Stindt, they installed Flex-Mat 3 High-Performance, Self-Cleaning Screen Media, by Major Wire Industries Ltd., on the Simplicity screen’s bottom deck. The flex-mat-type screen media was more expensive than the woven wire the company had been using, so Tedder says the company wanted to check out a polyurethane screen cloth option as well. He installed both media side-by-side on the screen to test it. “The polyurethane did okay, but it had fewer openings than the Flex-Mat,” Tedder points out. “Anytime you got heat near it — from hot iron, or a blow torch — it melted. The Flex-Mat stopped the blinding for us — and it cleaned up our product,” he adds. Bauman and Tedder were so pleased with the quality of the product that they produced using the new screen media that in the spring of 2006, they asked Van Keppel what a flex-mat-type screen cloth could do on the other screen decks. “Our top and middle decks were pegging 25 to 30 percent,” Bauman says. “The middle deck was really bad; it would first peg, and then blind over because of the pegged rock. We were losing some production because we would have to beat on the deck to break the material loose.” He adds that they had to hammer through pegged material on the top deck as well. Since the flex-mat-type screen cloth worked well on the bottom deck, they decided to try it on all three decks to see if it would eliminate the pegging problem. “Van Keppel didn’t push it with us — we pushed it with them,” Tedder says. “We asked if it could be done; they said it could, and we ordered 30 panels of Flex-Mat in one shot.” Shortly after installing the new screen media, Tedder and Bauman discovered that their timing was impeccable. “About that time, we got hammered with a need for asphalt chip,” Bauman says. “The asphalt market just took off in this area.” Base Rock Minerals was able to meet the market’s need with more saleable asphalt chip. “Before, if the chip didn’t clean up enough for us, we had to just throw it on the ground as waste material,” Tedder says. “We increased by half or better what we were previously making in chip, and it’s running clean,” he adds.
The managers also discovered that the flex-mat-type screen media allowed the quarry to produce in wet conditions. “We run year-round,” Tedder says. “Before we started using Flex-Mat on all the decks, we had to use dry shot if we were going to run the asphalt chip. If it was wet, from snow or rain, we’d have to run base instead.” In addition, one ledge from which Base Rock Minerals digs material with an excavator actually rests under several feet of water. “We can dig it out and run it wet either at the end of the day or the next day without a problem,” Tedder says. “We couldn’t do that with woven wire. It’d be too sticky.” Other producers in the area aren’t able to crush any wet rock, Bauman points out. “We can crush in heavy rain, unless the rain stops our belts, and our equipment isn’t covered,” he says. “It’s got to be a heavy rain for us not to crush.” Base Rock Minerals runs its Simplicity screen with 2-inch and 1-1/8-inch openings in six sections of Flex-Mat 3 on the top deck, depending on the material being produced. The middle deck uses 15/16-inch and 7/8-inch media; the bottom deck uses media with 3/8-inch and 3/16-inch openings, depending on the product. Base Rock Minerals continues to work with Van Keppel’s Pat Mueller and Major Wire’s Stindt to fine-tune the screening operation — although screen cloth wear has not been an issue. The quarry has only had to replace its new screen media approximately once a year from wear. “We’re definitely able to feed more material to the screen. Two years ago, we were running the entire plant at about 400 tons per hour. Today, we’re running at 550 tons per hour,” Bauman says. “With the return flow, the Simplicity screen sees at least 750 tons per hour now without a problem. For a compression crushing operation, Flex-Mat is definitely the answer.” This article is courtesy of Major Wire Industries Ltd. A multi-deck solution to blinding and pegging Since its introduction, flex-mat-type screen media has primarily been used on bottom screen decks to prevent the common problem of blinding in fines removal. But as a result of continuous research and development, it is now manufactured in a large range of wire diameters and opening sizes that can accommodate all material sizes. The screen cloth can be used on all decks — top to bottom — and it solves a variety of problems for producers and contractors.
For a screen to do its job, material must pass from one deck to the next. A flex-mat-type screen cloth on all screen decks can help producers with problems from pegging and blinding: Top deck: Because of its independently vibrating wires, a flex-mat-type screen cloth reduces pegging on the top deck, thus reducing or eliminating the need to shut down for cleaning, or to clean the deck after the shift. The material penetrates the screen cloth as it is meant to do, passing through to the middle deck. Middle deck: Again, the independent vibration of the flex-mat-type screen cloth’s wires reduces or eliminates pegging and clogging (which often results in blinding, as Base Rock Minerals experienced). The passing material penetrates the cloth to get to the bottom deck better than with woven wire. Production increases, because more material passes per hour than with woven wire. The product is cleaner because the vibrating action of the wires causes the fines to vibrate off of the rock, sending both through the cloth. Bottom deck: With more aggregate material getting through to the bottom deck, the combination of rock and screen cloth wire vibration on the bottom deck causes the fines to pass through the screen cloth, with clean, sized material coming off the bottom deck as a spec product. More power, less fuel
New-generation belt
Fuel-saving trucks Freightliner announced that two of its 2008 over-the-road truck models — the Columbia and the Century Class S/T — have been selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as fuel-saving vehicles worthy of the EPA’s SmartWay designation. The company is also rolling out two new spec packages that will allow operators to take advantage of the fuel and emission savings laid out by the SmartWay program. New 24-ton excavator debuts Kobelco says its new 47,800-pound SK210LC Acera Mark 8 excavator has industry-leading buck and arm digging forces as well as unmatched precision control. The 150-horsepower machine has a new Tier 3 engine that delivers 14 percent more torque, which contributes to a 10-percent increase in swing torque. A power boost feature provides 10 percent more power on command for increased bucket breakout force, without time limitations. Other new features include an ergonomically improved cab and faster, simpler maintenance.
For more new products for the industry, check out
the
RollOuts
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Publications in Construction and Agriculture
(PICA), a subgroup of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM),
has named Rick Zettler, president of Z-Comm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
as its “Public Relations Person of the Year.” 
Hitachi says the new 37,900-pound ZX160LC-3
gets 10 percent more horsepower from its Tier 3 engine than the
preceding model had, but uses less fuel thanks to a three-mode
operating system. The company says the dash-3 can use up to 13
percent less fuel in Economy mode than the single-mode model it
replaces. The extra horsepower feeds across the board performance
improvements: 6 percent more swing torque, 39 percent more hydraulic
flow, 20 percent faster arm roll-in, and 15 percent faster boom
lower/arm movement. The new model also has 2,400 pounds more
operating weight for better stability and lift capacity, and
strengthened undercarriage, X-beam, side frames, idler attachment,
and front attachment for longer service life.
Optibelt says its new Kraftband Super KBX-POWER
employs advanced production processes, improved materials, and
optimized molded cogs to achieve a new level in belt quality.
Compared to the conventional Optibelt KBX Kraftband, the new belt is
said to offer up to 15 percent better performance. Its very
low-stretch polyester cord construction makes it a low-maintenance
belt. Optibelt says the new product makes possible space-saving
designs and economic solutions, even with extremely high-drive
requirements.A federal judge rejected Caterpillar Inc.’s request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by retired workers who say the company overcharged retirees and spouses for health benefits promised in their union contract. Caterpillar filed to have the case dismissed in September. However, Caterpillar has recently won an award from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) for having an outstanding health program. (See next item.)
Caterpillar Inc. is the 2007 recipient of the Corporate Health Achievement Award given by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
The award recognizes outstanding dedication to environmental quality and product safety in the communities where Caterpillar operates. It also highlights Caterpillar’s commitment to creating healthy, safe, and productive workplace environments for its more than 95,000 employees around the world.
The ACOEM award also acknowledges Caterpillar’s Healthy Balance(R) health promotion program, which identifies modifiable health risks and provides lifestyle recommendations that decrease risk. This, in turn, helps workers make wise lifestyle and healthcare decisions.
New Holland Construction has donated construction equipment and clothing to the Kansas National Guard to support the humanitarian relief and restoration work in Greensburg, Kan., in the wake of the powerful F5 tornado that demolished most of the community.
New Holland Construction has already dispatched six Super Boom L190 skid steer loaders and pallet fork attachments, brush grapples and grapple buckets from the company’s Wichita plant to the area for use in clearing and removing tons of debris and moving emergency supplies and materials.To further assist in the massive cleanup effort underway, New Holland Construction and its local Wichita dealer, Wichita Tractor Co., have also offered to supply the Kansas National Guard with a W110 full-sized wheel loader and — through the company’s joint venture arrangement with Kobelco Construction Machinery America Co. Ltd. — a Kobelco SK210LC hydraulic excavator.
Samscreen Inc., which is headquartered in Johnson City, N.Y., has moved to a larger complex in the Broome County Business Park. According to the company, this move was necessary to accommodate its high demand and growing production lines.
The latest people news on who’s who and who has moved where within the industry. |
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and Dave Watts, chairman of the board for Watsonville, Calif.-based Granite Construction Co. are the recipients of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) highest honor — the 2006 “ARTBA Award.” The awards were presented May 8, during the ARTBA Federal Issues Program held in the nation’s capital.
Established 46 years ago, the “ARTBA Award” recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions that have advanced the broad goals of the association. Since 1972, the “ARTBA Award” has been presented annually to at least two individuals, one from the public sector and one from the private sector. Previous “ARTBA Award” recipients have included two governors, more than two dozen U.S. senators or representatives, two U.S. secretaries of transportation and dozens of other top leaders and executives from government and the private sector of the transportation construction industry.
The ARTBA selection committee cited Gov. Schwarzenegger’s outstanding leadership in persuading the California legislature to place Proposition 1B on the November 2006 ballot and in building overwhelming public support for its passage. The nearly $20 billion bond package will provide significant new revenue to help California make important highway maintenance and safety improvements as well as expand the state’s transportation network to meet the economic and quality of life challenges for the 21st century.
Dave Watts was also recognized for his leadership role in building construction industry and general public support for Proposition 1B. The Award Committee cited Watts’ long-standing financial support of ARTBA’s advocacy programs and his commitment over many years to “lending the intellectual capital” of Granite’s top executives to help build a stronger transportation construction industry. Joe McGowan, Yale Lyman, Kent Marshall, Jim McGowan, Robert Dugan and Bill Mackey are among the Granite officials who have served as distinguished ARTBA volunteer leaders throughout many years.
N.Y.-based Samscreen has hired Crystal Boyer as an accountant, Susan Mazur as assistant to the CEO, and David Briggs as an engineering assistant.
U.S. Concrete, Inc. has appointed Michael W. Harlan, the company’s executive vice president and COO, as its new president and CEO.
Harlan, 46, served as the company’s senior vice president and CFO from its initial public offering in 1999 through October 2004. In April 2003, he assumed the additional role of executive vice president and COO and currently serves on the company’s board of directors.
Prior to joining the company, Harlan held various senior executive management positions with several publicly traded companies. In addition, he currently serves on the Board of directors of Waste Connections, Inc., where he is chairman of the Audit Committee. Harlan also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA).
AURORA, Ind.—Stedman announces the promotion of
Doug Weber to assistant manager, parts department. Weber will be
responsible for customer support for all crusher parts and spares,
including breaker bars, bearings, electrical components and shafts.
Before being named assistant manager, Weber began at Stedman in 1991 as a drafter in the engineering department. He then became a parts sales associate in 1995.
Stedman, in business since 1834, is a leader in size reduction equipment. Based in Aurora, Ind., Stedman has a full line of crushing equipment, full-scale test plant and the ability to improve size reduction processes in a wide range of industries.
Oshkosh Truck Corp. announced that Craig E. Paylor, 51, has been named president of JLG Industries, Inc., its access equipment subsidiary and newest acquisition, effective immediately.
Most recently, Paylor served as senior vice president of marketing for JLG with global responsibility for business development, sales, marketing, customer service and aftermarket.
Since joining JLG in 1978 as a district manager, Paylor has held increasingly responsible, customer-focused roles primarily in the areas of sales, marketing and business development. In 1996, Paylor became an officer of JLG and was appointed Sr. Vice President of Sales and Market Development in 1999. During his nearly 30 years with JLG, the company has grown from annual revenues of $40 million to $2.3 billion in fiscal 2006.
Paylor succeeds Charlie Szews, Oshkosh’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, in the position. Szews had been acting president since Oshkosh’s acquisition of JLG in December 2006 and now returns full time to his corporate responsibilities.
JLG Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corp. a producer of access equipment, announced key leadership changes.
Charlie Szews, president of JLG and executive vice president and CFO for Oshkosh Truck Corporation announced that Wayne Lawson, Mike Rafi, Joe Dixon and Kirsten Skyba will each expand their roles with JLG.
Joe Dixon, 49, to the position of vice president and general manager of ServicePlus.
Kirsten Skyba, 38, has accepted the position of vice president of global marketing for JLG. Previously, Kirsten was the vice president of marketing communications for Oshkosh Truck Corporation.
Mike Rafi, 38, has been promoted to the position of vice president and general manager for the Caterpillar Alliance Group.
Wayne Lawson, 54, vice president of sales and customer support for EAME, will assume expanded responsibility in which he will take an even more prominent role in leading the development and implementation of our EAME market development and sales strategies while continuing to provide leadership for the sales and service operations and customer support functions.
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Compiled by Tina Grady Barbaccia, Aggregates Manager Senior Editor.
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