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Construction starts up 3 percent in May
According to Dodge Data & Analytics, new construction starts in May rose 3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $729.7 billion and a Dodge Index of 154. The rise mainly can be attributed to a liquefied natural gas export terminal project in the electric power and gas plant category of the nonbuilding construction sector. Nonbuilding construction in May rose 59 percent to $262.7 billion, with the electric power and gas plant category jumping 229 percent. The public works category fell 3 percent, highway and bridge construction slipped 1 percent, and the miscellaneous public works category dropped 38 percent in May. Despite these decreases, the environmental public works category improved, with water supply construction rising 28 percent, river and harbor development advancing 26 percent, and sewer construction increasing 23 percent. Residential building rose 2 percent in May to $258.9 billion, reports Dodge Data & Analytics. In this sector, multifamily housing rose 7 percent and single-family housing remained unchanged from its April pace. The month of May featured the start… Keep Reading
Cardinal Scale elects new president
Cardinal Scale, headquartered in Webb City, Mo., elected Matthew Stovern as its new president. Stovern will take over the position from David Perry, who will retire at the end of June. Perry served more than 50 years at the company. Stovern currently serves on the board of directors for the Scale Manufacturers Association and Webb City Bright Futures, a non-profit organization that helps local school children. He began his career at Cardinal in 1998 working in the customer service department. Since then, he served a variety of positions in product management and also served as a plant manager. In 2011, he was elected vice president and has worked in that position until now. “I am pleased to announce that Matt Stovern will take over my role as president of Cardinal Scale,” says Perry. “This transition will go smoothly, since Matt and I have been working together to assure that end result. I am confident that as I leave, Cardinal Scale will remain in good hands with Matt’s guidance and the… Keep Reading
John Deere rolls out E-Series ADTs
John Deere launched its new 370E, 410E and 460E articulated dump trucks (ADTs), which feature Tier 4 Final John Deere PowerTech diesel engines. The machines feature ZF transmissions that include eight forward gears and four reverse gears, as well as high-capacity retarders to increase service brake life. The trucks’ hauler axles include on-the-fly differential locks and outboard planetaries, and they have internal wet disc brakes that use independent cooling circuits. One of the biggest changes of the ADTs is the updated cab, reports John Deere. According to the company, the quiet, redesigned cab is sealed and pressurized to keep out dust and noise, which helps enhance operator concentration and efficiency. The new cabs feature push-button starts, low-effort push-button controls, air-suspension heated high-back seats, tilt/telescoping steering wheels, and radios with Bluetooth auxiliary input and satellite radio capacity. The new models also come equipped with 7-in. high-resolution LCD monitors for monitoring diagnostics, digital gauges and system indicators. They have integrated tire-pressure/temperature monitoring systems, optional, onboarding weighing systems and ground-level servicing. In addition,… Keep Reading
EPA releases updated stormwater permit
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its updated multisector general permit for industrial storm water discharges, reports the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA). The permit only applies directly to states where EPA is the lead permitting authority – Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Mexico – but informs other state permitting requirements for aggregate operations. According to NSSGA, the new permit has more prescriptive and specific requirements, such as procedures for corrective action and more electronic data submission. In addition, EPA added a provision to allow for longer than 45 days for corrective action as long as it’s informed. “While we feel the new MSGP is more onerous on permittees than necessary,” says Emily Coyner, environmental director at NSSGA. “We are happy EPA responded to our comment by allowing more than 45 days for corrective action when required.” Keep Reading
Senate committee passes legislation that could halt waters rule
The Senate Environment and Public Works committee marked up the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, S. 1140, reports the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA). If passed by Congress, the legislation will halt the water rule and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be forced to start over with the rule. According to NSSGA, during the markup, Democrats and Republicans discussed what they considered to be the true implications of this rule. Senator Boxer (D-Calif.) said S. 1140 “would create more confusion for businesses and landowners by taking away new exemptions and sending EPA and the Corps back to square one,” while Chairman Inhofe (R-Okla.) said the rule would “set up the right process and the right principles to make sure that the agencies can protect water quality without taking control over huge swaths of private property.” Mike Johnson, NSSGA president and CEO, also commented on the effect the rule would have on the aggregates industry. “This legislation is incredibly important for our industry and our country –… Keep Reading
Hyundai Construction appoints Lopez as service manager
Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas (HCEA) appointed Ernesto Lopez as its service manager for construction equipment. In this role, Lopez will manage the HCEA service, warranty and training teams that support the company’s dealers and customers. Prior to this role, Lopez served as director of product support operations for a construction equipment manufacturer. He has had more than 20 years of experience in a variety of management positions in the industry. He also has nearly 15 years of experience as an officer in the U.S. military. “Ernesto Lopez is a valuable addition to our team at Hyundai,” says M.S. Kang, president of HCEA. “His combination of industry experience and military leadership makes him a strong asset to our organization, our dealers and our customers.” HCEA, headquartered in Norcross, Ga., offers a variety of earthmoving and material handling equipment, including hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, and electric and diesel forklifts. Photo: Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Keep Reading
Dodge Momentum Index holds steady in May
The Dodge Momentum Index remained unchanged in May at 122.3, reports Dodge Data & Analytics. The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first report for nonresidential building projects in planning. In May, institutional building rose 3.1 percent while commercial building fell 2.2 percent. Eight projects in the institutional sector exceeded $100 million, including the $466 million Vassar Brothers Medical Center Pavilion in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and the $400 million Covenant Medical Center Tower in Lubbock, Texas. In addition, six commercial projects in May valued at over $100 million, including a $300 million warehouse in distribution center in Kearny, N.J., and a $113 million retail center in Sarasota, Fla. So far in 2015, the Index has been flat. However, the Index in May of 2015 is up 6.1 percent compared to May of 2014. According to Dodge Data & Analytics, several factors are expected to help the Index move beyond its current plateau and continue to move upward, including further improvement by market fundamentals for commercial real estate and increased… Keep Reading
Haver & Boecker Rocky Mountains expands, relocates
Haver & Boecker Rocky Mountains relocated its service center from Chilliwack to Kamloops, British Columbia. The company also added Darcy Fredrickson as an additional sales manager to better serve its customers in the western U.S. and Canada. Fredrickson brings more than 17 years of sales experience to Haver & Boecker. “The addition of Darcy, as our sales manager, will provide our customers and sales team with a wide variety of support, from equipment servicing to parts availability,” says Markus Kopper, Haver & Boecker Rocky Mountains general manager. “This allows us to provide new and current customers continued fast response and yet it positions us for additional growth in the region’s mining industry.” In addition, Haver & Boecker Rocky Mountains is now the exclusive distributor for Major Wire Flex-Mat 3 in British Columbia. The company now serves aggregate, mining and industrial mineral producers in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, as well as British Columbia, Northwest Territories and the Yukon. According to the company, the new location will continue to provide the… Keep Reading
Superior Industries hires territory sales manager
Superior Industries appointed Patrice Briand as its territory sales manager throughout Eastern Canada. In this role, Briand will be working alongside Superior’s dealers in the region, bringing solutions to bulk material handling customers in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Kevin Beyer, the existing Canadian sales manager for Superior, will continue to serve dealers from Ontario to British Columbia. Prior to this role, Briand worked as environmental and recycler manager at Voghel, a manufacturer of shredders, grinders, crushers and screens for the recycling industry. Before Voghel, he served as vice president of sales and development for Manuquip Equipment. Briand has been involved in a number of industry-related organizations, including the Quebec Heavy Machinery Owners Association, the Canadian Association of Equipment Distributors, the Association des constructeurs de routes et grand travaux de Québec, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, the Canadian Institute of Mining and the Regroupement des récupérateurs et des recycleurs de matériaux de construction et de démolition du Québec.… Keep Reading
