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HeidelbergCement purchases Italcementi
German cement maker HeidelbergCement agreed to buy control of Italcementi for 6.7 billion euros, or $7.4 billion, reports Reuters. Italcementi serves customers in more than 20 countries and is a market leader in Egypt. Last month, HeidelbergCement said it would be disciplined about acquisitions and focus on returning cash to shareholders. However, company representatives say the offer was too good to pass up, especially with the recovering economy in southern Europe. "The saying is there are no cheap assets in this industry,” says Chief Executive Bernd Scheifele. “There are, and I think we have found some of them." The company says the acquisition of Italcementi will give it access to new markets in Egypt, Morocco and Thailand, as well as reduce Italcementi’s dependence on Italy, France and Morocco. According to Reuters, HeidelbergCement said it would make a mandatory offer for the rest of Italcementi as long as its 1.67 billion-euro cash-and-shares bid for 45 percent stake went through as planned in 2016. In addition, the company will pay Italmobiliare, Italcementi’s… Keep Reading
MSHA releases June impact inspection results
The Mine Safety & Health Administration’s (MSHA) June impact inspection results show that federal inspectors issued 139 citations, three orders and one safeguard during inspections at 10 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines. The administration conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. “Recent impact inspections have resulted in fewer citations and orders,” says Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “While this is a sign of improved industry compliance with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, there are still mines that require these specially targeted inspections.” MSHA’s monthly impact inspections began in April 2010. MSHA inspectors target mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns. Since the inspections began, inspectors have conducted 966 impact inspections and issued 14,561 citations, 1,250 orders and 57 safeguards. Read MSHA’s June 2015 impact inspection list here. Keep Reading
Cat to begin independently manufacturing vocational truck line
Caterpillar will begin independently designing and manufacturing its vocational truck line at its plant in Victoria, Texas. The plant currently produces hydraulic excavators, and it will continue to produce them in addition to the trucks. “The on-highway vocational truck product family is important to our product line; customers like our trucks and want to include them in their fleets in a variety of heavy duty applications such as dump trucks, mixers, haulers or one of the other configurations we offer,” says Chris Chadwick, director of the Global On-Highway Truck Group. “To continue to provide the best solution for our customers, we will bring the design and manufacturing of this product into Caterpillar, and the production specifically to Victoria.” Caterpillar launched its first vocational truck, the CT660, in the North American market in 2011. Since then, the company added the CT680 and CT681 models to the product line. Until this point, Caterpillar has worked with Navistar for the trucks’ design and build. “We appreciate the collaboration we have had with Navistar,”… Keep Reading
MSHA creates online training tool to report injuries
The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) created an interactive, online training tool to help mine operators and contractors comply with federal regulations by reporting injuries, illnesses and accidents. The tool is aimed at helping operators understand Part 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which requires mine operators to notify MSHA of accidents, illnesses and injuries as well as report quarterly employment and production data. “Accidents, injuries and illnesses are key indicators of the effectiveness of a mine operator’s health and safety program,” says Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “This new tool helps clarify reporting requirements for mine operators so they can better document injuries and illnesses.” The tool will help operators determine where they’re having trouble, as well as provide them with a better understanding of the Part 50 requirements, Main adds. The training program contains all available information on Part 50. Available resources in the tool include the Part 50 Program Policy Manual, as well as information on how to report… Keep Reading
Syntron hires vice president of sales
Syntron Material Handling hired Kevin Hambrice as its vice president of sales. Hambrice will be reporting to Syntron CEO Andy Blanchard. Hambrice has more than 20 years of global experience with manufacturing companies. Prior to this position, he served as global sales and marketing manager for K-Tek Products, a division of ABB. He also worked as director of sales for SMI Companies and as the Southeast division sales manager for Enertech. Hambrice has a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Arkansas. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration for operation management from Louisiana State University. Syntron Material Handling, established in 2014, formed through the merger of Link-Belt Co. and Syntron Co. It provides material handling solutions for conveying, feeding, screening, elevating, vibratory flow aids and mining controls of bulk product. Keep Reading
Senator says Senate could take up highway bill this week
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the Senate could consider a highway bill as early as this week, reports the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA). McConnell also said the Senate would not recommend increasing the fuel user fee to fund the bill. NSSGA reports Senate Republicans, as well as the Obama Administration, are hoping for a multiyear highway bill. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx hinted at a presidential veto for another short-term highway bill extension, saying, “I think we’re quickly getting to the point where the value of another extension may be less than the value of breaking the cycle.” Foxx added the delay in Congressional action to deal with highway funding has resulted in delays for transportation projects in Georgia, Vermont, Tennessee, Delaware and Arkansas. The Highway Trust Fund is expected to have a balance of just over $3 billion at the end of July, reports NSSGA, which is not enough to cover commitments. In addition, the Senate Community Development and Infrastructure Group recently recommended funding the highway program… Keep Reading
Weir Minerals acquires Delta Industrial Valves
The Weir Group acquired Delta Industrial Valves, a Niles, Mich.-based U.S. manufacturer of knife gate valves for the mining and oil sands markets, as well as other related industries. The acquisition expands Weir Minerals’ presence in the mining and oil sand markets with Delta’s portfolio of valve products for the transportation of slurry. According to Weir, the transaction will be immediately earnings accretive, and post-tax returns are anticipated to exceed its cost of capital in the first year of ownership. “Weir is a global leader in process critical products in the mining and oil sands markets and the acquisition of Delta further strengthens our comprehensive offering to customers,” says Keith Cochrane, chief executive of the Weir Group. “Delta’s strong brand and reputation, together with Weir’s global capability, mean we will be able to offer our customers new ways to increase efficiency at a time when the industry is focused on reducing costs and increasing productivity.” Mark Johnson, vice president of Delta, looks forward to a wider distribution of Delta’s products.… Keep Reading
Dodge Momentum Index falls in June
The Dodge Momentum Index dropped to 118.3 in June, down 1.3 percent from 119.9 in May, reports Dodge Data & Analytics. The Dodge Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first, or initial, report for nonresidential building projects in planning. In June, commercial building decreased 2.6 percent. According to Dodge Data, the economic weakness in the first quarter has likely played a role in the lack of performance for this sector. Despite this, the institutional building sector rose .6 percent during the same time period. In the commercial building sector, there were three projects that exceeded $100 million, including the $128 million Alexander Court office addition and renovation in Washington, D.C.; the $110 million Wharf InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C.; and a $108 million warehouse in Boiling Springs, Penn. The Dodge Momentum Index in June 2015 reads 2.2 percent higher than the June 2014 Index. Dodge Data & Analytics is a provider of data, analytics, news and intelligence serving the North American construction industry. The company’s information helps industry… Keep Reading
JCB raises $100,000 for charity through Mudfest
JCB hosted its first ever Mudfest – a combination of the company’s Mud Run and Dig the Ride races – and raised $100,000 for The Lady Bamford Center, which provides education and social skills development to children from six weeks to four years of age that are either homeless or come from low-income families. Hosted at JCB’s headquarters in Savannah, Ga., the event is a part of the new Savannah Mud Run Charity Series that raises money for local children and youth non-profit organizations in Chatham County, Ga., and surrounding areas. JCB equipment was used to build the course over 1,000 acres of the company’s campus. Backhoes, skid-steers, compact track loaders and excavators created trails and obstacles, and participants could choose to tackle them on foot or bike. Nearly 1,400 runners and 50 cyclists attended the event. “JCB is always proud to open our campus to the community, and what better way to do that than to host an event created by our equipment,” says Thom Peebles, vice president of… Keep Reading
