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Belt Tech opens new branch in Kentucky
Belt Tech Industrial opened a fourth office in Madisonville, Ky. The branch plans to serve industrial customers in the Madisonville and Hopkins County area, including mining operations, power plants and aggregate stone producers. “There’s a huge potential to serve customers in the Madisonville area, and our new branch location will allow us to be close at hand so that we can do that to the very best of our ability,” says Jordan Russell, the company’s CEO. Belt Tech is headquartered in Washington, Ind., and its two other offices are located in Du Quoin, Ill., and Clarksville, Tenn. Keep Reading
Major Wire names new VP of international sales
Major Wire named Alain Durand as vice president of international sales. Durand has worked as a global market development consultant at the company since May 2013. Durand previously worked at Rio Tinto and Xstrata, where he was involved with strategic planning, operations management, finance, procurement, logistics and information technology. Keep Reading
Vulcan acquires operations from Martin Marietta
Vulcan Materials Co. has completed the acquisition of one quarry in southern Oklahoma and two distribution yards in Dallas from Martin Marietta Materials, says a press release. According to an additional press release, Martin Marietta was required to sell the properties by a consent decree that was a condition of the Department of Justice’s clearance of the company’s acquisition of Texas Industries Inc., which closed on July 1. "Texas is a strategic market for us,” says Tom Hill, chief executive officer of Vulcan Materials. “This acquisition provides an important complement to our other aggregates sources and distribution facilities across the state. These facilities enhance our aggregates supply capabilities in Texas and provide additional opportunities to better serve our customers." Keep Reading
House sends Highway Trust Fund patch back to the Senate
According to an article in Roll Call, the House voted 272-145 to send its original $10.8 billion bill back to the Senate. Earlier this week, the Senate voted on a revised bill that would extend the measure from May to December in an effort to force Congress to find a more permanent solution to the funding issue. House democrats are dissatisfied with the House’s decision to retain the original bill, the article continues. In the vote for the House’s version, 227 Republicans and only 46 Democrats were in support of the measure. “They are going to slide into the next Congress,” says Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. “We are going to duck all the tough issues. We haven’t heard anything that deals with how we are going to move forward.” With a shortage of the Highway Trust Fund coming up on August 1, the Senate must now make a decision. Keep Reading
Kaman names Warfield as SVP, GM of Fluid Power platform
Kaman Distribution named Tribby Warfield as senior vice president and general manager for the Fluid Power platform of its Distribution Segment, effective August 15. Warfield's most recent position was president at North America Commercial, Gates Corporation. She also served as president of North America Power Transmission, vice president of Gates Industrial Power Transmission operations, global business director for Gates Automotive Original Equipment division, and sales and marketing director for Gates Fluid Power operations. Keep Reading
SME to host conference on data science and technologies
The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. (SME) of New York is partnering with SME to host a conference on data science in the mining industry. The conference, called “Big Data: Smarter Use of Data in Mining,” is aimed at educating attendees about data science developments and leading technologies in the industry. “Our goal is to spark interest and discussion about the latest developments in data science that are helping mining companies manage and optimize exploration and operations data, and reduce risks,” says Tim Alch, SME NY section vice chairman and conference co-chair. The conference will also showcase companies that utilize innovative technology in the mining industry. Discussion topics include artificial intelligence, successful applications of big data and risk modeling, and the future of the industry with these high-tech innovations. The conference will take place on October 14 at the Princeton Club in New York City. Click here for registration and for more information on the event. Keep Reading
Spurgeon named Product Manager of Metal Detection at Eriez
Ray Spurgeon has been named the new Product Manager of Metal Detection at Eriez. He is now responsible for overseeing and handling metal detection inquiries, OEM and major account growth, product development and other aspects of the department. Spurgeon has worked at Eriez since 1995, where he has served roles as Assistant Product Manager of Metal Detection and Accounts Manager of Inspection Systems. Keep Reading
Senate passes its own version of Highway Trust Fund patch
With the Highway Trust Fund’s upcoming money shortage on August 1, the Senate surprised many by passing its own version of the Highway Trust Fund patch instead of agreeing on the House’s short-term fix. According to an article by CNN, the Senate’s ultimate plan came from two different votes. First, the Senate voted 71-26 on a plan that was similar to the House’s bill, but altered the way it divvied up funding sources. The final vote confirmed a more dramatic change in the House’s plan. CNN reports that this measure, proposed by Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of California, Tom Carper of Delaware and Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, passed by a vote of 66-31 and would dramatically shorten the time frame for highway money, extending funding through December rather than May. This bill would also do away with “pension smoothing,” a controversial funding measure that allows corporations to contribute less to employee pensions. The Senate then sent the bill back to the House, where it could potentially be revised… Keep Reading
MSHA to publish rule to amend civil penalty regulations
In order to emphasize the importance of safe working conditions in mines, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is going to publish a proposed rule to amend existing civil penalty regulations. The rule, which will be published in the Federal Register on July 31, will simplify assessment criteria for health and safety violations and place greater emphasis on safe working conditions. “This proposed rule would simplify the process and increase consistency, objectivity and efficiency in the citations and orders that inspectors issue,” says Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Furthermore, it would facilitate improved compliance and early resolution of enforcement issues.” Under the rule, the penalty price will remain generally the same; however, the prices for small metal and nonmetal mines will decrease. Minimum penalties for unwarrantable failure violations will increase. By doing this, MSHA hopes that mine owners will become more accountable for safety hazards and more proactive about running safe operations. Keep Reading
