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TCC launches radio campaign for highway funding
The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) launched a radio advertising campaign aimed at encouraging members of the House of Representatives to pass a multi-year highway and public transit investment bill. According to TCC, the 30-second radio spot will run this week and next on the hometown radio stations of 16 members of the House of Representatives’ Ways & Means Committee and Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. The ad highlights the importance of a long-term funding solution for the states, saying, “About 55 percent of Wisconsin’s annual capital investment in highways and bridges depends on federal funding. But Congress has not yet passed a long-term highway bill. That puts our funding at risk and hurts our state’s ability to plan mobility and safety improvements. Tell Congressman Paul Ryan it’s time for the House of Representatives to get a long-term highway bill passed now! Wisconsin depends on it.” The ad also will run in the districts of Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.); Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.); Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.); Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.); Rep.… Keep Reading
MSHA impact inspection citations increased in July
The U.S Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) issued 225 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 15 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines during the month of July. These numbers increased from June, when the administration issued 139 citations, three orders and one safeguard. The monthly inspections are conducted at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history or other compliance concerns. During July, MSHA conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. During MSHA’s inspection of Ulrich Gravel’s Ulrich Pit in Valley County, Neb., it found hazards similar to those identified after a mining fatality occurred at the operation five months beforehand. This fatality occurred when a 44-year-old miner was maneuvering a haul truck along an elevated roadway next to a dredge pond, and the vehicle drifted into the water. This operation received 13 citations for violations of various health and safety standards, as well as two orders… Keep Reading
Summit acquires LeGrand Johnson Construction
Summit Materials acquired LeGrand Johnson Construction Co., a construction materials company in Utah that services markets in northern and central Utah, western Wyoming and southern Idaho. LeGrand operates five sand and gravel pits, four ready-mix concrete plants and five asphalt plants. It will become a part of Summit’s Kilgore Cos. business in Utah. “This acquisition is consistent with our materials-based growth strategy and is a great fit with our Kilgore business in Utah and the surrounding states,” says Tom Hill, CEO of Summit. “LeGrand has established many strong customer relationships and an excellent reputation for high-quality products and services over its long history. We are very pleased to welcome Legrand and its employees to Summit Materials.” Summit Materials is a vertically integrated construction materials company that supplies aggregates, cement, ready-mix concrete and asphalt in the United States and British Columbia, Canada. The company has completed more than 35 acquisitions since its founding. Keep Reading
New construction starts hold steady in July
According to Dodge Data & Analytics, new construction starts in July remained unchanged from June at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $629.4 billion. The Dodge Momentum Index also remained at 133. In July, nonresidential building rose 2 percent to $194 billion. The commercial categories fell 12 percent, while office construction rose 7 percent, store construction increased 6 percent and warehouse construction improved 28 percent. The institutional building group fell 1 percent in July, with educational facilities dropping 20 percent and healthcare facilities decreasing 15 percent. Transportation-related buildings jumped 120 percent, the amusement and recreational building category increased 49 percent, the public buildings category rose 58 percent and church construction increased 32 percent. Residential building advanced 4 percent in July to $288.5 billion, with multifamily housing increasing 21 percent. The increase was due to 16 multifamily projects valued at $100 million or more beginning in July. Finally, nonbuilding construction in July dropped 9 percent to $146.9 billion. The decline came as a result of diminished activity for more of the… Keep Reading
McLanahan to host water management school
Due to the strict regulations faced by many mineral and aggregate processing facilities, McLanahan Corp. is hosting a Water Management School in Ontario, Calif., on Sept. 24 to educate members of the industry. According to McLanahan, those in attendance will learn about water management, fines recovery, thickeners/clarifiers and filter presses from its process design team. The event will also include presentations on maximizing and updating existing systems, as well as new installations. The event will be held at the Radisson Ontario Airport Hotel, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 24. There is no registration fee to attend; however, attendees will need to cover their own room and transportation costs. Click here to view a PDF with full details and contact information. Keep Reading
Metso to close manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania
Metso will close manufacturing operations at its York, Pa., plant, on March 31, 2016. The decision affects about 80 employees, and the company’s other business operations out of the York offices will not be affected. According to Metso, the market outlook in the mining industry remains unchanged, but the company continues to transform its mining business operations by implementing a leaner business model and employing a light assets and sourcing concept to meet customer demands and maintain improved operating results. "The mining industry is changing their business model to cope with the current market outlook,” says João Ney Colagrossi, president of the minerals business area for Metso. “This is a permanent change in the mining industry and we need to find new and more efficient ways to run our business. After careful evaluation of our supply chain model, as well as the current and future workload, we did not see any other option than to close the York manufacturing plant. This is a very unpleasant but necessary action for us.”… Keep Reading
Construction recovery continues, though at slower pace
FMI Corp.’s Nonresidential Construction Index (NRCI) Report for the third quarter of 2015 shows the nonresidential construction sector slightly declining from 64.9 points in the second quarter of 2015 to 63.6 points. According to FMI, the index reflects the observations and sentiments of a sampling of construction industry executives nationwide. Despite the decrease in the nonresidential building construction market, the NRCI component remains in the optimistic range. Additionally, the report noted the measure of expected change in backlog dropped 3.1 points to reach 68.8, with current backlog remaining at 10 months. It also reported the cost of labor rose at 12.5, with materials costs still high but lower than last quarter. The report says both labor and material costs act to hold down the overall NRCI as costs increase. Finally, the productivity component stands at 47.6, the lowest its been since 2008, reports FMI. Those surveyed expressed difficulties in maintaining productivity with rising material and labor costs. “The construction industry continues to proceed on the recovery track, although it is… Keep Reading
Superior appoints dealer in Southern California
Superior Industries appointed Aggregate Crusher Specialists (ACS), headquartered in Lake Elsinore, Calif., as its new washing equipment dealer in Southern California. ACS will market, sell and service Superior’s full line of washing equipment, including its classifying systems, materials washers and dewatering screens. “ACS has been a strong participant in the market for more than a decade and we’re excited to have them as a new partner,” says Brad Critchfild, sales territory manager in the southwest United States for Superior. “Owner Mike Murphy and his team share many of the same goals we do at Superior, and we’re looking forward to increasing our business and identity together in Southern California.” ACS is a full-service dealer for material handling and processing equipment, including solutions for crushing, washing, conveying and aftermarket parts related to the machinery. Superior, headquartered in Morris, Minn., manufactures bulk material processing and handling equipment, including bulk crushing, screening, washing and conveying systems for a variety of industries. Keep Reading
Research firm forecasts rise in asphalt demand
The Freedonia Group released a study, “Asphalt,” that forecasts U.S. demand for asphalt to increase 3.3 percent annually to 26.8 million tons in 2019. According to the study, asphalt demand will be ignited by a rebound in building construction expenditures, as well as efforts of state and local governments to maintain the nation’s infrastructure. The study expects demand for asphalt in paving applications to rise 3.1 percent per year to 19.6 million tons through 2019. In 2014, paving accounted for the largest end use for asphalt with 74 percent in consumption, according to the Freedonia Group. However, this number is far below the demand for asphalt in paving applications in 2004, due to the Great Recession. The Freedonia Group expects the increased demand for asphalt to be supported by improving economic conditions and the need to fix and repair older roads and highways. According to the Freedonia Group, among asphalt paving products, asphalt emulsions will exhibit the fastest growth in demand through 2019, boosted by increasing interest in in-place recycling.… Keep Reading
