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In comments filed Jan. 18 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) asked for additional clarity in how the agencies’ field guidance for wetland determinations is applied to aggregate operations.

NSSGA filed extensive technical and legal comments with the agencies on joint guidance issued in June 2007 regarding Clean Water Act jurisdiction after the Supreme Court’s Rapanos decision and the memorandum of coordination between the agencies.

In its decision, the Supreme Court in Rapanos articulated two tests to determine whether waters and wetlands fall within federal jurisdiction. Justice Anton Scalia stated that jurisdiction applies to permanent flowing or standing bodies of water that are connected to traditionally navigable waters. Justice Anthony Kennedy said, however, that no permanent connection is required, only a significant nexus between a wetland and a traditional water of the U.S. This fractured decision has caused havoc in the field for aggregate producers seeking permits for activities in waters or wetlands.

NSSGA’s comments (click here for link to downloadable PDF of the comments) asked the agencies to exclude from federal jurisdiction waters of wetlands incidentally created in upland areas on aggregate properties as part of the normal mining and reclamation process. NSSGA recommends, in light of the split decisions, the guidance should ensure federal agency field personnel apply the controlling Supreme Court interpretation based on the particular geographic area and particular circumstances that the industry request in made. 

Further, NSSGA recommends the agencies strengthen the definition of specific activities that significantly affects traditionally navigable waters rather than the current application of any activity that might affect these waters. Finally, NSSGA requests the agencies proceed with formal rulemaking rather than relying on informal field guidance. 

(Source: National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association)

Shipping Index Plunges to Six-Month Low

Worries that the global economy is following the U.S. into a slowdown have increased after an early warning indicator — an index that tracks global shipping rates for bulk commodities — plunged to a six-month low.

The Baltic Dry Index fell to a reading of 6,462 on Jan .17, down nearly 30 percent since the start of the year and 42 percent from an all-time high reached Nov. 13, according to the Baltic Exchange in London.

The gauge, which tracks freight rates on the mammoth vessels that carry tons of soybeans, corn, coal, and metals across the globe, is used by economists to get an early read on global trade and growth trends. When demand for those basic materials shrinks, freight rates drop and the index tumbles. The trend provides an early snapshot of trade volumes before governments compute reports.

“It's fallen quite significantly,” said Bernard Baumohl, managing director at The Economic Outlook Group in Princeton, N.J. “It points to a slowing in the global economy.”

Some analysts suggest extraordinary factors may be contributing to the severity of the decline. They include a drop in iron-ore cargo volumes from Brazil, perhaps influenced by merger talks between BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and rival producer Rio Tinto Ltd. (RTP); weather conditions in Australia interfering with shipments; and suspected efforts by Chinese buyers to reduce imports to get better raw materials prices in upcoming contract talks, analysts say.

Though the decline is “probably consistent with some slowing in global growth,” wrote Bank of America analyst Robert Sinche, “the dire economic scenario that some are suggesting is signaled by the BDI correction overstates the case.”

As Wall Street waits for more trade data to confirm or refute the Baltic Dry Index’s signals, analysts have plenty of evidence that U.S. shipping activity already has dropped off.

U.S. truck tonnage and rail volumes fell last year, hitting profits at trucking companies Ryder System, Inc. (R) and YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW), as well as railcar suppliers American Railcar Industries Inc. (ARII) and FreightCar America Inc. (RAIL). Freight rail operator Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) said the “ongoing economic uncertainty” made it difficult to forecast volumes when it cut its fourth-quarter profit estimates because of bad weather and high fuel prices.

Fearing the worse from a U.S. downturn, investors unloaded shares of industrial bellwethers FedEx Corp. (FDX), down 24 percent in the last year, and UPS off 10 percent, as well as the shares of most major trucking firms.

U.S. rail freight volume slipped 2.5 percent in 2007 on diminished demand for housing and automotive materials such as lumber, crushed stone and gravel, and steel, says the Association of American Railroads.

As of Jan. 12, U.S. rail volumes had inched up 0.2 percent, estimates Deutsche Bank.

“Freight has been in a recession since late 2006,” said Bear Stearns analyst Edward Wolfe in a report Friday. Demand has yet to improve. Still, he predicted the sector, which often leads the bottom of the economy by six to eight quarters, would rebound this year.

“Most transport stocks will outperform the broader market this year,” he said.

(Source: Dow Jones, Jan. 20, 2008)

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Quarry Expansion Effort Heads Back to Court

Pennsy Supply Inc., the owner of the Small Mountain Quarry, filed a 38-page brief requesting that the county’s Court of Common Pleas overturn a township zoning hearing board ruling and approve a proposal to expand and eventually relocate the quarry onto a 189-acre property on the south side of Small Mountain Road.

In the brief, Pennsy Supply contends there was no legal basis for the five-member zoning hearing board to unanimously deny the company’s application last July.

According to Patrick Bartorillo, the general manager of the quarry, the zoning hearing board denied the application because of reservations it had about a conveyor Pennsy Supply planned to build over Small Mountain Road.

The conveyor, which was intended to transport raw stone excavated from the south side of the road to crushing equipment on the north side, would have required a special exemption to the township’s zoning ordinances.

The rest of the proposal was compliant without the need for an exemption and should have been approved, Bartorillo said.

“This is our only recourse,” said Bartorillo.

Under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, the Court of Common Pleas has power to overrule the zoning hearing board, taking the final decision-making power out of the township on zoning and land use matters.

According to Article X-A, Section 1006-A of the code, “The court shall have power to declare any ordinance or map invalid and set aside or modify any action, decision or order of the governing body, agency or officer of the municipality brought up on appeal.”

Since the zoning board’s initial denial, Pennsy Supply has pursued its proposed quarry expansion on two fronts: in court, and with a revised proposal that is currently being considered by the Dorrance Township board of supervisors.

A board of supervisors hearing on the revised proposal began Dec. 18 and is scheduled to continue, after several postponements, on Jan. 31.

The revised proposal would eliminate the need for the conveyor by moving crushing equipment to the south side of the road.

The original proposal called for mining on approximately 128 acres of the 189-acre property. The revised proposal called for mining on 132.62 acres, according to Rick Caranfa, geologist and project management consultant hired by Pennsy Supply. In both cases, operations would expand westward incrementally over a projected 40-year life of the expanded quarry.

Under the original plan, the proposed excavation would be conducted 1,295 feet from the nearest home. In he revised proposal, the nearest residence would be located 1,100 feet from the mining zone and 1,500 feet from the grinding equipment used to process stones, Caranfa said.

Bartorillo said the company is pressing both plans because the current 60-acre quarry, which employs about 150 people, is expected to run out of usable stone within two years.

“We are taking the two-track approach because the project is really important to us and time is of the essence,” said Bartorillo. “We can’t wait and sit on our hands, so to speak, and wait for the outcome.”

William Higgs, an attorney who represents opponents of the expansion, said he would file a response to the brief. George Asimos, the attorney for Pennsy Supply, did not return a call for comment.

(Source: Citizens Voice, Jan. 23, 2008. By Michael R. Sisak, Staff Writer)

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National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission Issues Final Report

Congress created The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission in 2005 as a segment of SAFETEA-LU because “it is in the national interest to preserve and enhance the surface transportation system to meet the needs of the United States for the 21st century.” Its final report, “Transportation for Tomorrow,” has been released and includes detailed recommendations for creating and sustaining a pre-eminent surface transportation system in the United States. For a downloadable PDF of the full report, click here.

Holcim Awards Application Deadline is Feb. 29

The closing deadline for award submissions for The Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction will be accepted through Feb. 29. The Holcim Awards are an international competition to recognize designs that meet current needs for housing and infrastructure, as well as create innovative, future-oriented, and tangible sustainable construction projects around the world. The competition is an initiative of the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction and is supported in the North American region by the Holcim Ltd Group companies Holcim (US) Inc., St. Lawrence Cement, and Aggregate Industries.

There is a total of $2 million in prize money for the 2008-2009 competition. Regional prizes range from $10,000 to $100,000, with the Global Holcim Awards ranging from $50,000 to $300,000. Nominations and entries will be accepted until Feb. 29 at www.holcimawards.org. Comprehensive information on the competition requirements and eligibility are also available online. All entries must be submitted online and in English only.

Winners of the Holcim Awards five regional competitions (except Next Generation), selected in 2008, will advance to the global competition to be held in 2009.

PCA to Recognize Public Officials for Sustainable Concrete Thinking, Development

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has announced an initiative to recognize public officials who take the lead in “green” building. The annual “Sustainable Leadership Awards” will honor government leaders who advance sustainable development in their communities through the use of concrete and cement-based products. PCA encourages all members of the concrete industry to submit nominations.

The PCA Sustainable Leadership Awards will showcase these and other benefits of concrete construction. Four categories will be recognized. The Leadership in Sustainability Policy Award honors public officials who advance policies that promote the concept of sustainable development by advocating for and promoting the use of concrete and cement-based products in their communities.

Additionally, three award categories honor specific projects in the following three areas: Homes and Residential Building, Non-Residential Building and Infrastructure. These Awards honor public officials who utilize cement or cement-based products to achieve sustainable benefits for projects in each of these categories. Buildings and activities must have occurred between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007 to be eligible. The deadline to submit final entries is May 30, 2008.

Granite Construction Named to Fortune’s 2008 List of “100 Best Companies to Work For”

Watsonville, Calif.-based Granite Construction Inc. has been named to Fortune’s eleventh annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.

Granite ranked No.74 on the overall list of 100 companies. The full list and related stories were slated to run in the Feb. 4 issue of Fortune.

A driving factor for the list this year is that these companies excel in creating jobs. The 100 companies on the 2008 list added 67,000 employees to their payrolls in the past year and employ a total of nearly 1.6 million employees; up 16 percent from the number employed by companies comprising last year’s list.

Vulcan Employees Build Habitat for Humanity House

Vulcan Materials Co. employees celebrated the company’s 50th anniversary by building a Habitat for Humanity House in Winston-Salem, N.C.

About 65 Vulcan employees volunteered their time and skills along with the staff of Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County to build a house on Richard Allen Lane in the Glenn Oaks subdivision off Northwest Boulevard.

(Source: Journalnow.com, online partner of the Winston-Salem Journal. Jan. 26, 2008. By Journal staff and wire reports)

MSHA to Provide One-Day Training Workshops for Mine Safety Instructors

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will conduct one-day workshops for all qualified MSHA instructors and independent contractor instructors who provide mandatory new miner and annual refresher training for coal miners. Workshops will take place on Feb. 20, 21, and 22 at the West Virginia Mining Extension Services Academy for Mine Training and Energy Technologies, 2870 Little Indian Creek Road, Core, W.Va.

Tarmac Maintains No. 1 Position in U.K. Aggregates

Tarmac remains as the largest aggregates company in Great Britain with an estimated share of 22 percent. It is the largest producer in the midlands, Yorkshire, Northern England, and Wales. These are some of the conclusions of the annual report published in October by BDS Marketing Research that estimates the outputs and shares of all sand and gravel pits, crushed rock quarries and marine wharves in Great Britain, by location and company.

Tarmac’s share is similar to the two previous years. Aggregate Industries has now moved up to second place, having acquired Foster Yeoman since the last BDS report was published. It is also the largest aggregates producer in the southwest and Scotland. Hanson is the third largest nationally, and is also the largest producer in East Anglia. Cemex and Lafarge make up the top five. These companies together now represent an estimated 72 percent of total production.

The report lists all known sand and gravel pits, crushed rock quarries and marine wharves, by individual location and company. The estimated output of each site is included, with company market shares shown by county, region and nationally, by each type of aggregate.

(Source: Hub Digital Media, Jan. 20, 2008)

NSSGA Announces Final Legal Symposium Program on March 10 in Las Vegas

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) Council of Counsel has announced the final program for the NSSGA Legal Symposium on March 10, in Las Vegas. The symposium is the only industry-specific legal program dedicated to the interests of the aggregate industry.

Topics to be presented at the Legal Symposium, which is being sponsored by the law firm Holland & Knight, LLP, include the Environmental Protection Agency and appellate practices for strategic business decisions. There also will be a special critical issues panel on the Mine Act, which will include the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) new civil penalty policy, pattern of violations, S-MINER Act, highwall enforcement, rulemaking developments with ACGIH, and evidence collection in preparation of a defense.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits will be available for qualified attendees. For a downloadable PDF of the NSSGA Legal Symposium program, click here. For more information or details, contact John Hayden jhayden@nssga.org or at 800-345-1415.

Polaris Provides 2007 Update, Guidance for 2008

Vancouver, B.C., Canada—Polaris Minerals Corp. announced on Jan. 23 that it shipped 1.18 million tons from the Orca Quarry to customers in California, Vancouver and Hawaii in calendar 2007.

The company expects shipments of between 0.50 and 0.60 million tons during the first quarter of 2008 for a total of 1.68 to 1.78 million tons in the first 12 months of operations. Total shipments for calendar 2008 are expected to be between 2.9 and 3.2 million tons based on current customer expectations.

In 2007, the company provided guidance that it expected to exceed the Orca Quarry feasibility study target sales of 1.54 million tons in the first 12 months of operations ending on March 31, 2008. The feasibility study also provided estimated sales of 2.53 million tons in the second 12 months of operations.

Texas Industries Upgraded to “Buy”

Analysts at KeyBanc Capital Markets have upgraded Texas Industries Inc. from “hold” to “buy.” The 12-month target price is set to $65.

In a research note published this on Jan. 9, the analysts mention that the recent pressure on the company’s share price appears unjustified. Texas Industries has 1 million tons of sold-out capacity coming online in June, the analysts say. The pricing/execution in all three of Texas Industries’ segments has improved and the supply/demand balance for cement in California and Texas continues to be favorable, KeyBanc Capital Markets adds.

(Source: newratings.com, Jan. 9, 2008)

Granite Construction Declares Quarterly Dividend

Granite Construction Inc.’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.13 per common share. The dividend is payable April 15, 2008 for stockholders of record March 31, 2008.

Anglo American Postpones Plants to Sell Tarmac

Anglo American has postponed plans to sell its £3-billion (R50-billion) Tarmac business until credit markets return to normal, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

The mining group first flagged the sale of the heavy building materials producer in August last year, saying the business was not core to the group’s repositioning as a focused mining company.

 Releasing the group’s interim results for the six months to the end of June 2007, Anglo American chief executive Cynthia Carroll said the group had received several expressions of interest.

(The Times, Jan. 8, 2008, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa)

Lafarge Malayan Cement to Buy Granite Indah for $10.4 Million

KUALA LUMPUR, Malayasia—Lafarge Malayan Cement Bhd on Jan. 11 said its wholly owned subsidiary, Lafarge Aggregates Sdn Bhd, has agreed to buy the entire stake of granite quarry operator Granite Indah Sdn Bhd) for RM34 million (US$10.4 million).

With the proposed acquisition, LASB will be acquiring two wholly owned subsidiaries of GISB, Granite Indah Premix Sdn Bhd and Laksana Murni Sdn Bhd, Lafarge said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia on Jan 11.

Granite Indah currently operates a premix business and owns leasehold quarry land both in Kinta in the state of Perak. LASB is involved in quarrying and the supply of aggregates or crushed stones.

(Source: Business in Asia Today, Jan. 14, 2008. Published by Asia Pulse)

Polaris to Acquire Land in Port of Long Beach

Polaris Minerals Corp. has announced that Eagle Rock Aggregates, Inc., (ERA) a 70-percent owned subsidiary company, has entered into an Agreement of Purchase and Sale to acquire a 12.6 acre site within Pier B in the Port of Long Beach, Calif.

The Pier B land is situated close to the 710 Freeway and will receive sand and gravel from the existing Orca Quarry. The site is well suited to also handle crushed granite aggregate from the proposed Eagle Rock Quarry, when production commences at this facility.

Under the terms of the Agreement, ERA has 120 days to conduct due diligence before closing the acquisition, during which ERA will evaluate the suitability of the site to support ready-mix concrete and asphalt plants to enable a full range of construction materials to be supplied into the heart of this very important market. This land is the site of a former industrial facility that will likely require some remediation.

New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc. Acquires Stabler Companies Inc.

On Jan. 14, New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc. of Pennsylvania announced the acquisition of Stabler Companies Inc., a producer of construction materials and a highway contractor in Pennsylvania and supplier of construction-related safety services throughout the U.S.

Stabler, based in Harrisburg and founded 67 years ago, has approximately 1,200 employees. There are no plans for work force reductions as a result of the acquisition. The acquisition price was not disclosed.

Case Study

Vibratory Screener the Answer for One of San Antonio’s Oldest Sand And Clay Operations

Times have certainly changed since 1935 when Freddie and Herff Harris grabbed shovels and raced to see how fast they could load a 1-yard truck — but the principle at Harris Sand & Gravel hasn’t changed.

The son of founder Freddie Harris, Leon notes, “Producing a quality finished material efficiently is key and getting material from ground to truck in the most effective and efficient way is critical to our success.”

In addition to the right choice of loading equipment and experienced operators, Leon explains how his operation relies on the most cost-effective and efficient portable screening plant that will deliver a viable solution to his identified three main challenges:

• Efficient production capacities
• Quality-finished product
• Removing oversize material — roots, logs, etc.

According to Leon, focusing on efficient production is easier thanks to a long-standing relationship with McCourt & Sons Equipment, Inc., the region’s leading specialist in portable plant systems.

“We continually need and use a portable screening plant that can provide a solution to these challenges, Leon continues. “We have done business with the McCourt family for the past three decades. They have continually been creative and flexible in keeping our operation updated with the most modern screening equipment. At all times, the equipment we used has exceeded our production requirements, always produced quality finished screened sand and always prevented oversize material from contaminating our finished product. It has also been very comforting that McCourt & Sons always maintains a continuous stock of wear items and parts for their equipment.”

“Most recently, the McCourt’s have upgraded our operation with the addition of the new McCloskey S130 Screener. It is refreshing to see a portable screener with a Caterpillar engine powering the unit. I make no reservations that I am a Cat fan and believe it or not, this was one of the key selling points for me. I have looked at other screeners from other suppliers before in the past and I did not like the fact that I may have to wait on parts coming in from overseas or from out of state. Now, I can go to the local Cat shop and if I need something, it is right there.” 

Growing the Family Business

The Harris’ have seen the processing and transport of sand come a long way. Leon describes how his grandparents originally raised cattle on this sandy plot of south central Texas land. Every month, they would travel to San Antonio to buy groceries and visit with relatives.

“One evening when my grandparents had gone to San Antonio, someone knocked at the front door and asked my father and uncle if they could buy some sand. When my grandparents returned and saw the large hole in the front yard, they were extremely angry.” The boys said, ‘Look at the money we made,’ but this still didn’t impress their father. After a stern whipping, the boys, using a mule and sled, had to haul sand from the back acreage to fill the hole. But as the boys retold the story during the years to come, they were more impressed with the money they made that evening than with the whipping it cost them!

Parts of that back acreage are now some 70 feet lower than they were when Freddie and Herff first dug that front-yard hole. Today, sand and clay leaves the site at a rate of up to 10,000 tons a week. Leon and his two sisters, Beverly and Dorothy still live on the property and run the operation.

Today, the Harris’ produce and supply sand and clay to several different markets throughout the San Antonio area. Leon comments, “White screened sand is in popular demand with the asphalt contractors, while utility contractors use our material for bedding. We sell our red clay to cities that use the material on baseball diamonds because it packs harder. We also custom mix materials for anyone. A popular item is our 50-50 top soil and red sand mix for residential yards and golf courses.”

Portable Screening Solution

The new McCloskey screener is helping the firm keep pace with demand. Leon explains “Production on this new plant exceeds 325 tph. This is very impressive, especially with a 5x14 screenbox. Even in the rain, we still screen away. That hydraulic adjustment feature on the screenbox is very useful especially if we need to flatten the screenbox out to allow for a little more screen retention of material. Our customers continually comment on how good the quality of our finished product is and my loader operator loves the way the remote control raising and lowering of the hopper grizzly makes his job easy, keeping the roots and logs out of the screen, so he doesn’t have to get out of the loader.”

“Changing screens is easy with the way the fines conveyor and screenbox lower to the ground. That new ‘High Energy’ McCloskey screenbox has got a hell of an aggressive throw. It is a very accessible machine from a maintenance perspective and if we need to move the machine to another part of the site, well the tracks speak for themselves.”

Next Generation

Leon has already begun training the next generation in the family how to run the operation. His nephew, William Saunders, aged 18, is one of Leon’s helping hands over the busy season anticipated through the summer months. Leon comments, “Keeping it in the family and using the right experienced people will keep our now legendary local business around for years to come. Using the most efficient, effective and modern equipment is critical, too, for the future success of the business, I look forward to what McCloskey and the McCourt’s will upgrade us to next.”

Article and photos courtesy of McCloskey International Ltd., a company that designs and manufactures innovative trommel screeners, vibrating screeners, stacking conveyors, and picking stations.

Live bottom bin discharger

Metso BEST has designed a Live Bottom Bin Discharger for a company that needs to hopper- and control-feed 1-inch-long, needle-shaped material used as reinforcement in its ad mix.

The new discharger has a 10-cubic-foot storage hopper. It eliminated all bridging and provided even flow to the 8- by 48-inch vibratory feeder. The system is supplied with dust-tight covers and dust boots and can be made portable.

Improved underground loaders

Sandvik has upgraded its underground loaders with the new LH series, which replaces the Toro and EJC brands.

Focal point of the upgrades is the electrical and hydraulics systems, both of which have been engineered for longer life and more reliable service.

In addition, the operator cabin has been redesigned for improved visibility, efficient air conditioning, and lower noise levels.

The images for these products were incorrectly identified in the original transmission of this newsletter. The editors of Aggregates Manager regret the error.

Impact beds protect belts

Flexco will roll out its new line of DRX Impact Beds at ConExpo-Con/Agg. Carefully engineered to maximize belt protection while offering ease of installation and maintenance, these impact beds incorporate Velocity Reduction Technology in the structure design. The multi-level support is used to effectively absorb impact energy and minimize transmission to the belt. The DRX’s Slide-Out Service feature allows direct access to the bars and bolts for easy inspection and quick, safe maintenance when required — reducing downtime. The four-model lineup meets or exceeds CEMA standards and are said to be able to handle everything from light-duty sand and gravel applications to heavy-duty and extreme applications that combine large material and a severe drop height.

Automated wheel wash system

Innovative Equipment Solutions will introduce its new Neptune Series of fully automated, drive-through wheel wash systems, which can be configured with one-, two-, or three-tire revolutions of cleaning to eliminate job site trackout. Featuring concrete or galvanized steel sidewall construction, the system can be used in either permanent or temporary installations. All models are engineered with a fully automated, closed-loop water recycling and solids separation process. The series is said to feature a high-volume, low-pressure water design to prevent overspray and the knocking of oil and grease from the truck chassis. Its extra-wide, 42-inch wash elements flex the tire tread open to allow the high water volume flow to flush the tires clean while a highly focused spray is easily achieved with adjustable nozzle assemblies.

Screen stringer system

Polydeck Screen Corp. will debut its PipeTop II Stringer System, a new design that maximizes versatility from a single frame. Available in three forms — bundled rails for a new screen deck, jigged conversions for changing out an existing frame, or a complete screen deck frame to retrofit an older shaker — PipeTop II is said to offer a variety of production benefits. Its 1/2-inch rails, when coupled with Polydeck’s Maxi screen panel designs, provide high open area that may match wire cloth in many cases. It also offers multiple fastening options from a single frame including PolySnap and traditional pin-style versions. The fastener heads are polyurethane and screw into steel ferrules on the frame rails. If a fastener head becomes worn, it can be removed and replaced individually rather than replacing an entire frame. For applications requiring a changeover to wire cloth, crown adapters fit both fastener head types and offer the ability to change between screen media with a minimal investment of time and money.

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

Caterpillar will equip most of its new core, mining and industrial machines with EquipmentManager and Product Link — the remote asset management solution developed by the company.

The remote tracking and management system will be a standard feature in the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Indiana Phoenix, Inc. will continue to offer the Standard Glider Program along with two new glider programs featuring a one-year guarantee. With the Standard Glider Program customers furnish a donor truck and Indiana Phoenix will disassemble the truck and retrieve all usable components to build a Front Discharge Glider Truck. The donor parts are then steam cleaned, sand blasted and painted before assembly and all parts are inspected for defects. The Glider Truck also features a unique, ergonomic cab and heat-treated frame rails.

As one of the new additions, Indiana Phoenix now introduces the Certified Glider™ Program, where customers purchase a donor truck from another company (Indiana Phoenix has donor resources) so they can keep their own trucks in service.  Indiana Phoenix will take apart the donor truck and recondition the engine, transmission, rear tandem axle, front steer axle, transfer case, drum drive and hydrostatic pump and motor.  The Certified Glider is then built using those certified components and customers receive a like-new truck that is fully warranted for one year at a savings of up to 30 percent of the cost of a new mixer truck.           

The second new program is the Super Glider Program.  Similar to the Certified Glider, the Super Glider Program adds factory warranted re-manufactured Cummins pre-emission engines with factory warranted re-manufactured Allison transmissions.

Another new-to-industry offering from Indiana Phoenix is the willingness to take trade-ins on trucks or gliders.

Volvo Rents’ franchise owners named Wacker Neuson their Vendor of the Year during the annual Volvo Rents’ Franchise Convention held Jan. 17-20 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Wacker Neuson is a leading global manufacturer of light and compact equipment for the construction industry.

The Vendor of the Year award is given based on quality of the company’s national account program (financing options and overall program); quality/reliability of products; availability and lead times; parts pricing; warranty/aftersales service; local sales and service support; and marketing support.

United Drilling of Plumsteadville, Pa., has improved its DOT Safe Stat rating significantly using Arsenault’s Dossier fleet maintenance management software to direct and document vehicle maintenance. The company’s rating has gone from above 75 to near and often below 50 according to Tim Weaver, United Drilling’s fleet safety director.

Safe Stat, short for Motor Carrier Safety Status Measurement System, evaluates and saves data on crashes, roadside inspections, on-site compliance reviews and enforcement history. The system, administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, quantifies the safety status of carriers. The goal is to focus enforcement resources on carriers with the greatest potential safety risk.

The Dossier system provides on-site inspectors with documentation of preventive maintenance, repair histories and the like, but its impact on fleet safety is more than merely statistical.

Paul Bullock and family, owners of Volvo Rents stores in West Monroe, Alexandria, and Bossier City, La., were named Volvo Rents’ 2007 Franchise of the Year during Volvo Rents’ Circle of Excellence Awards. The Awards were part of Volvo Rents’ annual franchise convention held Jan. 17-20 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

The Franchise of the Year Award is given to the franchise that demonstrates strong store growth, dollar utilization, DSO management, training attendance, “clean” financial status, marketing, branding and appearance.

The Bullock family opened its first Volvo Rents franchise in West Monroe, La., in 2003. They added stores in 2004 and 2007 in Alexandria, La., and Bossier City, La.

The award for New Franchise of the Year went to Jackie, Duwayne and Aaron Eoff and Rob Barnica, owners of the Volvo Rents stores in Springfield and Hollister, Mo.

In addition to recognizing the Franchise and New Franchise of the Year winners, the top 10 performing franchises for 2007 received Circle of Excellence Awards. The winners were the following:

• Stacy and Troy Peterson, of Post Falls, Idaho.
• Todd Miceli and Matt Carretero, of Haverhill, Mass.
• Jeff Bleecker and Lance Evic, owners of stores Tucson, Thatcher and Miami, Ariz.
• Cathy and Geoff Shorten and Ehor and Sandy Babij, owners of a store in Calgary, Canada.
• Sara, Bruce, Martin, Brian, and Paula Zender, owners of a store in Ferndale, Wash.
• Helder Garcia and Brian Silvera, owners of stores in Merced and Salida, Calif.
• Merrill and Jared Robinson, owners of stores in Albuquerque and Peralta, N.M.
• Doug and Deanna Baumann, Lance and Twyla Gardiner, Bob and Donna Dunn, owners of stores in Edmonton, Edson, Ft. Saskatchewan and Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada.
• Bill Ellis and Pat Lackey, owners of stores in Langhorne, Pa. and Somerset, N.J.
• Chris Cole and Randy Hrabe, of Riverside, Calif.

Jeff Bleecker, Bill Ellis, and Kelly Ryan were elected to serve on the Volvo Rents Franchise Advisory Council. Outgoing members — Larry Kirkpatrick, Pete Post, and Paul Bullock — were honored for serving their terms.

Candax Energy Inc. reports that W. Adrian Loader, until recently president of Shell Canada Limited, has joined the board of Candax and has been appointed as non-executive chairman.

Loader has more than 35 years experience in the international oil industry, the majority of which has been spent with the Royal Dutch Shell Group, where he held numerous senior executive positions before retiring on Dec. 31, 2007. He also serves as a non-executive director of Holcim (Schweiz) AG, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cement and aggregates, and is a member of the European advisory board of Air Products and of the international advisory board of Garda World.

Lew Batchelor has assumed the newly created position of group manager product support for Liebherr Construction Equipment Co., which includes overall responsibility for all Liebherr’s district service representatives, including the technical support department, service training department, and in-house shop repair group.

Batchelor has been an employee with Liebherr since 1973.

Thomas T. Coenen now heads up the technical support department for Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. He will manage Liebherr’s team of service technicians who specialize in excavators, material handlers, track dozers, and wheel loaders.

A native of Straubing, Germany, Coenen was hired in 2004 as a service manager. In his previous position, he worked for Dynapac in Bavaria.

Catherine Kurchinski has recently joined Liebherr Construction Equipment Co.’s marketing department as a marketing communications specialist.

A graduate of Christopher Newport University, Kurchinski will plan and implement marketing strategies including advertising campaigns, public relations, and tradeshow exhibits.

David W. Boyce joins Liebherr Construction Equipment Co.’straining department as a service training instructor responsible for training dealers in the safety, maintenance, and repair of earthmoving equipment. Boyce, who retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, will also serve as technical advisor. Prior to his employment with Liebherr, he worked for Goodrich Aerospace

HeidelbergCement has completed the management reshuffle of its U.K. operations after last year’s acquisition of Hanson.

Patrick O’Shea, who steps up from managing director of Hanson Aggregates to become CEO, will run Hanson UK, a £1.8 billion turnover business. He will work with four managing directors: Mike Eberlin (cementitious division), David Szymanski (building products), Phil Schacht (aggregate and asphalt), and Jon Morrish (ready-mix concrete).

(Source: Contract Journal – UK, Jan. 9, 2008. By James Stagg)

Bob Vaughn, president and chief operating officer of LTM, Inc. and Southern Oregon Region president for Knife River Corp., retired effective Jan. 15. Mike Crennen, assistant president of Knife River’s Southern Oregon Region Office and president of LTM, has been named to succeed Vaughn.

Vaughn’s career spanned 33 years with LTM and its predecessor, Tru-Mix Construction Co. He started with Tru-Mix in 1974 as an estimator, held positions of increasing responsibility and in 1996 was named senior vice president and chief operating officer.

In 2001, he was named president. Under Vaughn’s leadership, LTM has grown from a Medford, Ore.-based construction materials and contracting business to a Southern Oregon regional business and nearly tripled its revenue. LTM’s operations now range far beyond the Rogue Valley, spanning from Coos Bay to Roseburg and most recently to Klamath Falls.

Crennen joined LTM in February 2001 as general manager of Roseburg Operations. On Jan. 1, 2002, he was promoted to vice president and in January 2005 he assumed the additional responsibility for LTM’s Coast Operations.

Sokolis Group, which develops strategic fuel management programs, has named McKenzie D. Egender as senior account manager/consultant (megender@sokolisgroup.com). Formerly with a key product-services affiliate of Morgan Stanley, McKenzie’s supply chain, procurement and fuel logistics experience will be an asset to Sokolis Group and its clients.

Knife River Corp. has named Rich Allison as president of the company’s Mountain Region. In November 2007, Allison was named interim president for the Mountain Region.  Previously, he had served as the vice president of operations for the JTL Group, now doing business as Knife River.

Allison has a long career in the construction materials industry working as a laborer, equipment operator, driver, foreman and superintendent. He was the general manager of the company’s operations in Belgrade, Mont. for 20 years before being selected as the vice president of operations of JTL Group.  

Granite Construction Inc. has named Peg Wynn as vice president, director of human resources and assistant secretary, effective immediately. Wynn will report directly to William G. Dorey, president and CEO of Granite.

Bruce T. Chattin, executive director of the Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association (WACA) in Des Moines, Wash., has been named the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s 2007 State Aggregates Association Executive of the Year. 

Each year, NSSGA recognizes one of its state counterparts for exemplary service to the aggregates industry. The award is bestowed to recognize the work of the state association that has had a significant beneficial impact on the aggregates industry at the regional or national levels.

President Bush has named Richard Stickler as acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health as he continues his leadership at the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA. Stickler has been at the agency since September 2005 and received a recess appointment as assistant secretary of labor from President Bush in October 2006. 

On Dec. 31, Stickler’s recess appointment ended, however, and John Pallasch, a deputy assistant secretary at MSHA, assumed leadership until Pres. Bush’s announcement Jan. 4.

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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