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Olsen named chief executive of Holcim, Lafarge merger
Eric Olsen was chosen to be the chief executive of the Holcim and Lafarge merger, reports Reuters. Olsen, a French American, has worked at Lafarge for 16 years. He currently works as its vice president for operations, responsible for Frank, the United States, Brazil and Egypt. Olsen expressed confidence as leader of the $1.5 billion merger. "I see my role not only as the operational leader but also as the integrator of cultures," he said at a press conference on Thursday. Since Olsen’s appointment, shares in Holcim rose 3.6 percent and shares in Lafarge rose 4.7 percent, says Reuters. In addition, Holcim and Lafarge agreed that Bruno Lafont, Lafarge CEO, will become the merger’s co-chairman with Holcim’s Wolfgang Reitzle. Related: Holcim and Lafarge confident merger to occur this summer Keep Reading
JCB adds Hlavinka as equipment dealer
JCB added Hlavinka Equipment Co., based in East Bernard, Texas, as a new dealer. Hlavinka will now be opening a new division, Hlavinka JCB, in Victoria, Texas. The Hlavinka JCB division will sell new and used JCB agricultural and construction equipment, as well as provide equipment, rental, service, support and financing. In addition, the new location will feature JCB-trained construction, ag equipment parts and service personnel. A JCB operations manager will also be on site at the Victoria, Texas, location. Keep Reading
James Boyd’s sculpture added to National Mining Hall of Fame
On April 9, James Boyd’s bronze sculpture of a single jack miner was installed at the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum. The sculpture, which was created by Gary Prazen, will be on display at Hennebach Wing in the museum, honoring James Boyd’s legacy in the mining industry. Boyd, a founding member of the National Mining Hall of Fame, held a number of distinguished positions throughout his career, including dean of the Colorado School of Mines, director of the Bureau of Mines, defense minerals administrator and director of the National Commission on Materials Policy, also known as the “Boyd Commission.” Boyd also played a role in the development of the National Minerals and Minerals Policy Research and Development Act of 1890 and wrote a number of articles on mining and metals. He received many mining awards, including a Distinguished Service Award from the Colorado School of Mines, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Hoover Medal. He was also inducted into the National Mining Hall of… Keep Reading
SME-sponsored summit report, toolkit available
The final report and toolkit from the first Diversity in the Minerals, Metals and Materials Professions Summit, co-sponsored by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, is now available for use. The summit, which was held July 2014 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., keyed in on five themes: mentorship, work-life balance, community, awareness and vigilance. The report focuses on each of these themes, while the toolkit includes information and interactive links to tools learned at the summit. Download the report and toolkit here. Keep Reading
Volvo rolls out H-Series wheel loaders
Volvo Construction Equipment released its new H-Series wheel loaders, which includes the L60H, L70H and L90H. The machines are powered by Volvo 6-liter diesel Tier 4 engines. They are built with Torque Parallel (TP) linkage for enhanced versatility and visibility, says the company. The wheel loaders feature counter shaft transmissions, 100 percent differential lock on the front axle and eco pedals. In addition, they come equipped with load-sensing hydraulics, effective climate control and intelligent Human Machine Interface systems. According to the company, these machines offer more flexibility with a wide range of Volvo’s attachments, including its general purpose bucket and light material bucket. Keep Reading
Olsen set to become chief executive of Lafarge-Holcim
French-American Eric Olsen is set to become the chief executive of combined cement groups Holcim and Lafarge, reports fastFT. Olsen has worked at Lafarge since 1999 and has served as executive vice president of operations for the company since 2013. He is the preferred candidate for the job, reports Michael Stothard, but he still needs to be approved by the Holcim and Lafarge boards. According to fastFT, the appointment could be announced as early as tomorrow. Keep Reading
GCAA appoints Wansley as executive director
The Georgia Construction Aggregate Association (GCAA) appointed long-term Georgia public affairs executive Jeff Wansley to serve as its executive director. Prior to this role, Wansley worked as vice president of government affairs for the Metro Atlanta Chamber and as assistant vice president of government relations at Equifax. While VP for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Wansley was responsible for the development and execution of the organization’s legislative and political strategy. While at Equifax, he oversaw legislative matters in 25 states. “I look forward to working with our board and staff to ensure that the Georgia Construction Aggregate Association is not only a strong resource for our members, but also an effective advocate for an industry that is literally the foundation of our economy,” says Wansley. Wansley succeeds John Cardosa, who retired earlier this year. Keep Reading
NSSGA presents safety discussion at MSHA summit
A member of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) gave a safety presentation at MSHA’s South Central District’s Summit on Fatalities in Dallas April 7. At the event, Joseph Casper, vice president of NSSGA, discussed effective management systems for safety as well as mining safety practices. Casper also helped kick off a three-hour panel discussion at the event, which featured a variety of presentations from NSSGA member companies including Martin Marietta, U.S. Silica, Alcoa, Lhoist, Eagle Mine Safety, Intrepid, Aqua Matrix and Explosive Contractors. Keep Reading
Dodge Momentum Index drops slightly in March
According to Dodge Data & Analytics, the Dodge Momentum Index dropped 2.1 percent in the month of March to 122.3. Planning activity in the commercial sector dropped 1.9 percent, while planning activity in the institutional sector fell 2.4 percent. A total of 10 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning during March, with seven being commercial projects and three being institutional projects. Despite the slight fall in March, the Index in the first three months of 2015 averaged 122.5, a 12 percent increase over the first three months in 2014. Keep Reading
