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The I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota focused the nation’s attention on our deteriorating bridges, but highway engineers have long been working to reduce the percentage of structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges.

A new study reveals that despite increased efforts, little progress has been made over the past year. An exclusive survey conducted by Better Roads magazine and sponsored by CONTECH Bridge Solutions Inc., shows that across the nation the percentage of structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges improved by just 4 percent during the past year to 24.1 percent. The findings, based on a survey among highway professionals within all 50 State Departments of Transportation and the District of Columbia, represent the most current data available on bridge conditions.

“The gain is very slight,” warns Ruth Stidger Editor-in-Chief of Better Roads, a sister publication to Aggregates Manager. “Our 2007 survey counts 1,682 fewer structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges than in 2006, which means that only 1 percent of the 145,996 bridges classified as substandard a year ago, were improved.”

Since 2004, more than 6,700 bridges have been taken off the substandard count, but even that small progress has come at a price. “Bridge repair and replacement is enormously expensive,” Stidger notes, “and as agencies have spent more of their money on bridges, they have had less to invest in pavement quality and highway capacity improvements.”

Funding represents the greatest challenge for agencies. Just 41 percent of responding agencies feel they will be able to lower the percentage of deficient bridges next year. “The spike in construction materials and diesel fuel has eroded the spending power of our state and local road agencies, and the pace of bridge improvements seems to be slowing,” Stidger adds.

The study provides further insight into the decaying bridge inventory by breaking out structurally deficient bridges from those that are functionally obsolete. Structurally deficient bridges are considered more serious, since they have structural problems that require limiting weight or more frequent inspections. Some must be closed.

About 54 percent of the substandard bridges fall into this category, compared to 46 percent, which are functionally obsolete. Functionally obsolete bridges may be in good condition, but don’t meet the needs of current traffic. Responding agencies use a standard sufficiency rating system developed by the Federal Highway Administration, to rate each bridge. Federal law mandates that all bridges must be inspected every two years.

States with the highest percentage of structurally deficient/functionally obsolete bridges include Rhode Island (53 percent); Hawaii (40 percent); New York (38 percent); West Virginia (37 percent); Massachusetts, Vermont (36 percent); Connecticut (33 percent); Missouri, North Carolina (31 percent); Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire (30 percent).

States with the lowest percentage of structurally deficient/functionally obsolete bridges include the following: Nevada (4 percent); Arizona (6 percent); Wyoming (12 percent); Minnesota (13 percent); Wisconsin (15 percent); Delaware and Florida (18 percent); and Tennessee (19 percent).

Only four states were able to reduce their deficient bridge population by more than one percentage point over the past year: Kentucky (-2 percent), Michigan (-2 percent), Oklahoma (-2 percent), and Utah (-2 percent).

The complete bridge inventory appeared in the November 2007 issue of Better Roads and is also available at http://betterroads.gcnpublishing.com/content/Issue-Story.45.0.html?&no_cache=1&tx_magissue_pi1[showUid]=967.  For a summary of bridge conditions in your state visit: http://obr.gcnpublishing.com/articles/downloads/StateByStateSummary.pdf.

Real Men at Pennsy Wear Pink

Pennsy Supply employees on Oct. 15 paraded four pink cement mixer trucks from City Island, Pa. to downtown Harrisburg, Pa., to raise awareness and show support of breast cancer. October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The ceremonial parade ended with the presentation of a $5,000 pink check to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC), money that was raised by Pennsy Supply employees.

“We hope this unprecedented approach of pink trucks will raise more awareness and support for what the coalition is doing,” Randy Lake, president of the Mid-Atlantic Division of Oldcastle Materials, of which Pennsy Supply is a part, said in a written statement from the company. “Breast cancer affects all of us, either through our own personal experience or throughout the experience of someone we know and love. Pennsy wants to get as many people involved as possible in supporting survivors and their families.”

Pennsy Supply employees paraded four pink cement mixer trucks to raise awareness and show support of breast cancer. Following the parade, the company presented a $5,000 pink check to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

The ceremonial parade was part of the first-ever “Paving PA Pink” campaign, which Pennsy created to benefit the PBCC. The campaign began with a grand kick-off on Sept. 1 before the Senators vs. Reading game at Commerce Bank Park. Since then, Pennsy featured the pink trucks at various company events to garner additional support from employees and clients.

The company created the campaign Web site, www.pavingPApink.com to provide information on the campaign, including stories of courage from Pennsy employees, as well as detailed instructions on how to make a donation to the cause.

Randall-Reilly buys Aggregates Manager, Better Roads magazines

Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based Randall-Reilly Publishing Co., the nation’s leading business-to-business media company serving the transportation and construction markets, acquired Aggregates Manager and its sister publication, Better Roads, from Des Plaines, Ill.-based James Informational Media Inc. The acquisition was publicly announced on Nov. 5.

“These acquisitions are a natural fit for our Construction Media Group,” says Mike Reilly, president and CEO of Randall-Reilly Publishing Co.. “Better Roads has distinguished itself as the leading magazine for highway professionals for 76 years, and Aggregates Manager is the voice of operations pros in the aggregates field,” he says.

Randall-Reilly’s other construction properties include Equipment World and Total Landscape Care magazines, EquipmentWorld.com, the Top Bid and TopBid.com used-equipment reference guides and Equipment Data Associates, the industry’s most complete source of equipment ownership data.

Randall-Reilly inherits an accomplished management team, including James’ four co-partners, Editorial Director Kirk Landers, Publisher Mike Porcaro, and Managing Partners James Moriarty and James Morrissey.

“I’ve known the James partners as fellow construction industry association members as well as competitors for years,” says Dan Tidwell, vice president and group publisher of Randall-Reilly’s Construction Media Group. “Being on the same team with these gentlemen is a partnership one can only dream of — but now it’s a reality.”

Tidwell also points out that the acquisition brings together some of the top editorial talent in the construction industry: Marcia Gruver, Equipment World’s editorial director, James’ Editorial Director Kirk Landers, who served as chief editor of Construction Equipment magazine for several years, and Randall-Reilly’s Vice President of Editorial Linda Longton, who previously served as editor of Equipment Today magazine.

From James’ perspective, the goal of the sale was to take the magazines to the next level, Porcaro says. “We chose Randall-Reilly after evaluating everyone in the market and felt we could serve our industries even better from within the Randall-Reilly group,” he says.

Reilly says of Better Roads and Aggregates Manager: “We’re ready to take these magazines to new heights. With the need to build and maintain North America’s highways and bridges reaching critical levels, and the subsequent need for aggregate in those markets and others, we’re poised for the magazines to continue their upward trend,” he says.”

Founded in 1934, Randall-Reilly Publishing is the premier business-to-business media company focused on the trucking, construction, and industrial markets. The company’s construction division covers the highway and heavy construction, landscaping, aggregates, and used-equipment markets.

Randall-Reilly’s trucking division serves the fleet, owner-operator, recruitment, truck stop, used truck and trailer, dealer and heavy-duty aftermarket segments.

The company also operates a company-sponsored publication division serving Fortune 500 companies and a UCC-filing database and research group. Randall-Reilly has offices in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Atlanta; Chicago; Charlotte, N.C.; and New Berlin, Wis.

EPA Changes Discharge Rules, Affects Aggregates Industry

In a final rule published recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) categorical exclusion that would allow EPA to reissue water permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for new sources of pollution without first conducting an environmental analysis, according to a report from the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association.

This change in EPA policy applies to industrial discharges, including aggregates operations, in the five states (Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Mexico) where EPA issues NPDES permits, as opposed to state-issued permits under delegated authority by EPA, according to the report.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to analyze the effects of proposed activities but also allows categorical exclusions for types of activities that routinely do not have a significant impact on the environment, according to NSSGA. Such actions do not have to undergo an environmental assessment or a more lengthy environmental impact statement. It has been EPA’s practice to conduct NEPA reviews for first-time NPDES permits covering new sources of pollution, according to the report. The new rule became effective Oct. 19.

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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.htm

Birmingham, Ala.-based Vulcan Materials Co. on Nov. 16 publicly announced the completion of its acquisition of Florida Rock Industries, Inc., a leading producer of construction aggregates, cement, concrete, and concrete products in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, for total consideration to Florida Rock shareholders of approximately $4.2 billion based on the closing price of Vulcan stock on Nov. 15, 2007.

The acquisition further diversifies the geographic scope of Vulcan’s operations, providing the company with an enhanced presence in attractive Florida markets and in other high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states while also bringing Vulcan more than 2 billion tons of aggregates reserves in markets where reserves are increasingly scarce.

“We are very pleased to announce the closing of our acquisition of Florida Rock,” Don James, Vulcan chairman and CEO, says in a press release. “We can now begin pursuing the synergies from our combination and opportunities from our broadened regional footprint and expanded presence in some of the most attractive construction materials markets in the U.S. The addition of Florida Rock will enhance our strategic position and long-term growth opportunities.

“We are particularly pleased to welcome Florida Rock — a company we have respected for many years and know to share our values and management philosophy — into the Vulcan family,” James continues. “We look forward to our collaboration and entering the next chapter of our history together.”

Florida Rock President and CEO John Baker adds, “We are extremely pleased to have completed the combination of our organization with Vulcan Materials. We have great respect for Vulcan Materials’ team and believe they offer an ideal business fit and a highly compatible culture to Florida Rock’s.

“This is good for our shareholders as well as our employees who will enjoy enhanced opportunities as part of an even stronger and more geographically diversified organization that has operations in key high-growth markets nationwide,” Baker notes.

Under the terms of the agreement announced on Feb. 19, 2007, Vulcan Materials Co. stockholders are to receive one share of common stock in a new holding company (whose subsidiaries will be Vulcan Materials Co. and Florida Rock) for each Vulcan Materials Co. share.

Former Florida Rock stockholders will receive either 0.63 shares of the new holding company or $67 in cash, without interest, for each Florida Rock share, subject to pro-ration, to ensure that in the aggregate 70 percent of Florida Rock shares will be converted into cash and 30 percent of Florida Rock shares will be converted into stock. The pro rata allocation of cash and stock payable to the electing holders will be announced following receipt of the final election results, which are expected to be available on or about November 21, 2007. In connection with the completion of the transaction, Florida Rock’s shares will no longer be traded on the NYSE.

Further details about the transaction are available on the Web at www.vulcanfloridarock.com.

In addition, the quarterly dividend of 46 cents per share announced by Vulcan on Oct. 16, 2007 will be payable Dec. 10, 2007 to shareholders of record on November 26, 2007 of the new holding company’s common stock.

Water Infrastructure Bill Passes Senate

The Senate passed the $23 billion Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes a wide range of projects for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, on an 81-to-12 vote and now heads to the president for signature, reports the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association in its Washington Watch & eDigest e-newsletter.

The House passed the conference report, 381 to 40 on Aug. 1 — with both the House and Senate overwhelming voting in favor of the bill. However, it still remains unclear if President Bush will follow through on his threat to veto the bill, NSSGA says.

The 560 new projects for the Corps of Engineers authorized by this bill are of interest to the construction industry, NSSGA points out. These projects include the following: navigation, flood control, environmental restoration, and recreational and multi-purpose projects. Specifically, the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Waterways Systems are allowed $2 billion for construction of seven new 1,200-foot locks, NSSGA reports.

Final “Chemicals of Interest” List, Rule Issued

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released its final list of about 300 “Chemicals of Interest” that would require risk assessments to protect against terrorism. The list, known as Appendix A, contains chemicals that if possessed by a facility or operation at or above the listed screening threshold quantity, would require completion of a Top-Screen, an online consequence assessment tool.

This final index is different than the preliminary one issued in April because it does not trigger reporting obligations based on possession of a screening threshold quantity of any amount. Notable to the aggregates industry is that DHS has developed a specialized approach for ammonium nitrate, chlorine, and propane.

For a fact sheet on Appendix A, go to www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_119397130736.shtm. For a downloadable PDF of the Appendix A final rule, click here. For a list of the “Chemicals of Interest,” click here.

Producers, Manufacturers Gather for Intensive Training

Dyno Nobel and Sandvik Mining and Construction held a joint three-day Quarry Academy Oct. 2-4 at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo., as an intensive training on all the major topics within the aggregates industry. This was the second official Quarry Academy.

Topics covered in the academy, which was attended by Aggregates Manager, included the following: drilling and blasting; crushing, including feed arrangements and cone dynamics and yield; mine planning; loading and hauling; fleet management; screening; safety; and several case studies. The courses were structured to help individuals understand the basics of aggregates operations, including process improvement — using daily work and behavior — to achieve economic efficiency.

Attendees of the academy also earned continuing education credits for their participation.

Trouble Surrounds Teichert Aggregates’ Plans to Expand Production

Trouble is surrounding Teichert Aggregates’ attempt to expand production as residents on the southern side of the plant are looking to challenge an environmental impact report.

Kathy Barnholdt, a stay-at-home mother of two who lives on Hammonton-Smartville Road, says that higher production will increase truck traffic and safety hazards on the heavily traveled road.

“I would like the (environmental impact report) going before the Planning Commission to not be certified,” she said. “I believe it is inadequate and there are not enough alternatives looked at and concerns are not addressed.”  

Teichert representatives were not available for comment.

Teichert has been producing building materials, including aggregate, at its plant off Hammonton-Smartville Road for more than 50 years.

Barnholdt said the county is aware of the problems that could arise from the expansion.

“(In their report) it says the (damage to) air quality is significant and unavoidable,” she said. “This project would increase traffic by 80,000 trucks each year. It’s not safe.”

Barnholdt listed safety hazards such as morning fog, school bus stops, and speed on residential roads as some of her concerns. She also said noise and additional traffic where there is no proper bypass around cities as potential problems.

Barnholdt said she is seeking legal advice on the project.

(Source: Appeal-Democrat, Oct. 14, 2007. By Andrea Koskey)

House Consideration of S-Miner Bill Postponed Until After Thanksgiving Recess

It now appears that full House consideration of the S-MINER bill will not take place until after the Thanksgiving recess. Originally expected to occur on Nov. 14, the crowded pre-recess House floor schedule pushed out S-MINER. However, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) has been promised floor time for consideration of the bill after the recess.

NSSGA continues its advocacy effort for safety, but against the S-MINER bill, and asks NSSGA members to contact their representatives over the recess to urge opposition.  The goal of NSSGA and its coalition partners is a strong House vote in opposition that will provide the Senate more ammunition for delaying action on the legislation in that chamber.

(Source: National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association)

Vulcan Contributes $5,000 to South Carolina School

Vulcan Materials Co. has contributed $5,000 for the second year in a row to the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Foundation toward the school’s Summer Science Program.

Established in 1990, the program is a residential summer science camp for rising eighth-, ninth- and 10th-grade students from across the state. The program is designed for students interested in scientific principles, hands-on lab experiences and one-of-a-kind field trips. Students choose from three, one-week learning sessions, in which they live on the school campus and attend full-day classes.

Located in Hartsville, S.C., the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics is a public, residential high school for academically talented juniors and seniors.

Martin Marietta’s Profits Jump

Martin Marietta Materials posted record earnings in the third quarter despite lower demand for aggregates such as crushed stone, the company reported.

Profits jumped 18.5 percent to $90.3 million compared to a year ago. Profits on a per-share basis rose 28 percent to $2.12.

Higher prices offset the decline in sales volume.

In addition, a lower overall tax rate added 12 cents per share to profits, versus a six-cents-per-share impact a year earlier.

Net sales totaled $548.9 million, up 4 percent.

(Source: Raleigh News and Observer. By David Ranii, Staff Writer)

Sales Down, Earnings Flat at Vulcan

The difficult housing market continued to take a toll on Vulcan Materials Co.’s revenue, with the Birmingham company reporting a $24.4 million decrease in sales in the third quarter of 2007 compared to the same period last year.

The industrial materials company brought in 2.6 percent less revenue the third quarter at $904.8 million, compared to $929.3 million the same period in 2006. Net income was flat at $135 million.

Also costing the company was a $9 million court settlement to a California that claimed the company’s former chemicals business unit released contaminants into the groundwater.

The company also paid $3 million during the third quarter in expenses related to the purchase of Florida Rock Industries in Jacksonville, Fla.

CEO Don James said Vulcan has been resilient despite the “sharp downturn” in residential construction and he is optimistic that the company’s geographic expansion will help the bottom line in the long term.

(Source: Birmingham (Alabama) Business Journal, Oct. 30, 2007. By Cindy F. Crawford, Staff.)

Lafarge Acquires Quarry Firm To Boost Production Capacity

Cement manufacturer Lafarge South Africa on Nov. 12 said that it had bought Mpumalanga-based quarry company Stonetech for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition was effective on Nov. 1, and brought two hard rock quarries that would boost production to Lafarge’s aggregate capacity to more than 900, 000 tons per year.

One of the quarries used to be owned by State rail utility Transnet Freight Rail, formerly Spoornet, and was rail linked, with a strong supply capacity for rail ballast, Lafarge stated.

Lafarge declined to say how much it paid for Stonetech.

(Source: Engineering News Online, Nov. 12, 2007. By Matthew Hill.)

MDU Resources Buys Star Aggregates

MDU Resources Group Inc. of Bismarck, N.D., announced it has acquired Star Aggregates Inc., a Cheyenne, Wy.-based aggregate producer in Cheyenne.

Star Aggregates will become part of Knife River Corp., the construction materials and mining subsidiary of MDU Resources. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Star Aggregates has permitted aggregate reserves in the Cheyenne market. Its services include earthwork, highway construction, and asphalt paving. In addition, it supplies aggregate and asphalt to third-party customers. The company employs approximately 85 individuals.

Star will operate as part of Knife River’s Mountain Region, which includes operations in Casper as well as Billings, Belgrade, Kalispell, Missoula, and Polson, Mont.

(Source: Rocky Mountain Construction)

Maintenance

Making Haul Truck Maintenance Routine

To keep your off-highway haul trucks on the go, practice routine maintenance while also increasing truck reliability and productivity.

by Terry L. Miller

From the platform of the truck, the operator should check engine oil level during the pre-shift inspection. Photo courtesy of Caterpillar Inc.

Keeping trucks rolling at an aggregates operation is largely a routine job a routine maintenance job, that is. Following the inspection guidelines and maintenance intervals detailed in your truck’s operation and maintenance manual is the way to keep operating costs down, and it’s the main way to avoid mechanical failures that result in costly unplanned downtime and lost production.

Making maintenance routine

Proper routine maintenance coupled with good operating practices delivers the lowest cost per ton. It’s hard to beat the haulage costs of rigid-frame mining trucks loaded and operated properly on well-designed and maintained haul roads.

Routine maintenance is a shared responsibility of maintenance technicians and truck operators. The pre-shift truck inspection conducted by the operator is both a safety inspection and a maintenance inspection. Ideally, the operator should use a checklist for the walk around inspection. (For a downloadable PDF checklist, please click here.)

The problems that the operator detects and reports during the walk-around inspection and during the operating shift often can avert costly mechanical failures. Regardless of who is conducting inspections, monitoring machine health, or performing routine maintenance, the operation and maintenance manual for your truck provides details that can guide those actions. When you have questions, refer to the operations and maintenance (O&M) manual first for answers.

Breaking down the steps

Truck systems and components require regular routine maintenance to work optimally and to achieve their design lives. An overview of maintenance recommendations for key systems follows:

Tires — Perform tire inspections daily and check tire inflation every 50 operating hours or at least weekly. Always obtain the proper tire inflation pressure from your tire supplier. Low tire pressure can be hazardous because it affects truck handling and braking. Additionally, low inflation pressure reduces load-carrying capability, allows the tire to heat up quickly, and increases rolling resistance. The result is accelerated tire wear and higher haulage costs.

The operator should check the fuel water separator before each operating shift and should drain water if necessary. Photo courtesy of Caterpillar Inc.

Use dry nitrogen gas for tire inflation and for tire pressure adjustments. Nitrogen is an inert gas that will not aid combustion inside the tire. In addition to reducing the risk of explosion, nitrogen reduces the slow oxidation and deterioration of rubber and reduces corrosion of rim components.

The tires in a dual-tire configuration should be the same brand, the same type, and the same construction. The tires also should be the same designated size and have the same amount of wear to minimize overloading of a single tire and undue stresses on the drive train.

Oils and scheduled sampling — Conduct regular sampling and analysis of oils in major truck systems, such as the engine crankcase, torque converter and transmission, differential and final drives, steering system, and front wheels. Monitoring the condition of these oils helps to establish appropriate change intervals and helps identify problems before they lead to mechanical failures. Fluids analysis is an integral part of machine health monitoring and machine management. Such a program can lower operating costs significantly and increase mechanical availability of your trucks.

The recommended oil sampling intervals for the systems noted is 500 service hours for one manufacturer’s trucks. Of course, those oil levels should be checked every operating day as part of the pre-shift inspection, and trucks have a number of bearings that must be lubricated every 50 operating hours or weekly at the least. Recommended oil change intervals for different systems are available in the O&M manual and can be adjusted based on results of oil analyses.

The truck pre-shift inspection includes checking tire condition and checking the oil tank sight gauge. Photo courtesy of Caterpillar Inc.

Using clean oil and keeping it clean through proper maintenance procedures is another key to getting long, reliable life from truck components. Similarly, clean fuel improves the life and efficiency of engine fuel systems, and clean hydraulic oil adds life and helps maintain efficiency of hydraulic components. Data from mines around the world have shown that thorough contamination control procedures result in lower costs. It’s worth taking a look at the way your maintenance department handles oils, fuel, and maintenance procedures. Cleaning up the shop and the lube and fuel trucks, and adding appropriate filters and tank breathers may provide a big return on a low investment.

Coolant — A coolant level check should be performed daily or as part of the walk-around inspection before operation. A sight gauge enables the operator to check coolant levels on most trucks. If the coolant level is low, follow the directions for adding coolant in the O&M manual. Always add the same coolant type that is in the truck. Mixing different types can reduce effectiveness of the coolant and can shorten the coolant life.

Pressure washing removes mud and dirt that can mask cracks, leaks, and loose parts. Washing also reduces fluids contamination during maintenance. Photo courtesy of Caterpillar Inc.

Coolant sampling and analysis every 500 operating hours is recommended to help maintain appropriate levels of coolant additives. In addition to freeze protection, the antifreeze additives protect against corrosion and effectively raise the boiling point of the coolant, which reduces cylinder liner pitting. Extended operation of diesel engines without antifreeze has resulted in cylinder liner pitting to perforation.

Struts — The suspension cylinders, or struts, are charged with oil and nitrogen. Strut pressure should be checked at least every 500 hours or every three months. Improperly charged struts will result in reduced tire life, uncomfortable ride, and poor handling, and even reduced frame life and accelerated component wear. See the O&M manual for proper checking procedures.

When installing new struts or assembling a new truck, remember that some manufacturers ship suspension cylinders from the factory with a preliminary charge of nitrogen and a preliminary charge of oil. During field assembly, the suspension cylinders must be charged properly.

Frame and body — Thorough frame and body inspections should be performed at least every 1,000 hours or six months. Thoroughly washing the truck is the first step to enable an inspector to see cracks. If repairs are needed, consult your dealer for repair procedures. Proper weld repairs may be needed to stop further cracking and to avoid high-cost failures.

Regularly washing quarry trucks pays other benefits, too. In addition to spotting cracks, inspectors can more easily identify leaks, loose fasteners, and other problems. And, a clean truck won’t carry the dead weight of dirt and mud that burns more fuel as it is transported around the quarry. Also, accumulations of mud can contribute to overloading, which prematurely wears all components.

Performing truck maintenance is a matter of routine, but the challenge is making good practices part of that routine. Start with the practices recommended in the operation and maintenance manual and build on them. Higher productivity and lower costs will result.

Photo courtesy of Caterpillar Inc.

Terry Miller is a Caterpillar Inc. product support supervisor in Decatur, Ill.

Environmental promotion

Cyclonaire has announced that its “eco-friendly” components and systems are now easily identifiable by the company’s “445 Technology” designation. Products bearing the 445 Technology classification are said to variously reduce contamination and air pollution, create less noise, eliminate harmful spillage, and conserve energy without sacrificing production efficiency.

New V-shaped wing pulley

Superior Industries is rolling out a V-shaped wing pulley that it claims deflects rocks and fugitive material away from belts more efficiently than other designs. In addition to extending belt life, the company claims its new Chevron Wing Pulley reduces vibration and noise by at least 50 decibels.

For more new products for the industry, check out the RollOuts section
in each month’s print edition of Aggregates Manager.
 

John Deere Construction & Forestry Division has tapped Des Plaines, Illinois-based Fergus/Peters Group as its public relations and advertising agency of record for its construction business after a comprehensive search of integrated, business-to-business marketing communications firms.

John Deere’s partnership with Fergus/Peters Group officially began on Nov. 1, 2007.

Douglas S. Goldsmith, President and COO of Rock of Ages Corp.’s Quarry Division, will be leaving the on or about Nov. 30, 2007 to become CFO of NRG Systems, a privately held manufacturer of wind assessment and turbine control equipment headquartered in Hinesburg, Vt.

Boca Raton. Fla. philanthropist Sam W. Klein was a saloonkeeper’s son who amassed a fortune in the gambling business, then founded a Loxahatchee quarry that mined rock and political influence for big profits. He died on Oct. 25 at age 93.

During his lifetime, Klein donated millions to charities and politics. Though he often described himself as a retiree, he was nearing 80 when he founded the mining company that became Palm Beach Aggregates, which has come to play significant roles in building roads, storing water and restoring the Everglades.

The Sam W. Klein Charitable Foundation alone donated $100,000 a year to his favored causes, which included the Donna Klein Jewish Academy, the suburban Boca Raton school named for his late wife. He also made major donations to the Cleveland Clinic and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among many others.

Thousands of dollars more were contributed to political campaigns. Since 1995, Mr. Klein and his second wife, Jayne, have donated more than $380,000 to local, state and federal candidates, political action committees and the two major political parties. Recipients included County Commissioners Aaronson, Karen Marcus, Jeff Koons, and Addie Greene.

(Source: Palm Beach Post)

The International Erosion Control Association’s membership voted to retain all three incumbents in this year’s election for the 2008 Board of Directors.  Michael Chase, CPESC, CPSWQ; Julie Etra, CPESC; and Tom Williams, MA, CPESC will begin their new terms in February 2008.

Chase, Etra, and Williams will continue their service to the association and its members alongside fellow Board members Ron Faucher, CPESC; Becky Gauthier; Mark Hunter, PE; Lee Johnson, CPESC; John McCullah, CPESC; and Doug Wimble.

The IECA Board of Directors is made up of nine members, each serving a three-year term. Board positions will be decided at the board meeting to be held at Environmental Connection EC08, IECA’s annual conference and expo, Feb. 18-22, 2008, in Orlando, Fla.

Leo A. Vecellio, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Vecellio Group, Inc., has been elected 2007-08 chairman of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). He received the gavel at the association’s national convention earlier this month in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Compiled by Tina Grady Barbaccia, Aggregates Manager Senior Editor.
To contact Tina about the newsletter content, send e-mail to e-news@aggman.com or call (630) 364-2306.

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