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Dodge Momentum Index rises in 2015
The Dodge Momentum Index rose 4.1 percent in December to 125.2, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The December numbers reversed a 3.6 percent decline that took place in November. A 4.7 percent increase in institutional projects and a 3.6 percent increase in commercial projects took place in December. Institutional projects at the planning stage rose 15.8 percent in December 2015 compared with December 2014. Ten key projects entered planning in December, each with a value exceeding $100 million. The leading projects in the commercial building sector were a $176 million warehouse in Shoemakersville, Pa., and a $160 million office project in Washington, D.C. The leading projects in the institutional sector were a $500 million renovation project at Lincoln Center in New York and a $300 million hospital project in St. George, Utah. The index finished up 2.4 percent at the end of 2015 compared with 2014. Despite this, commercial projects fell 6.7 percent from 2014. According to Dodge Data, renewed growth in planning for the commercial sector is expected… Keep Reading
Workplace exams to be covered in NSSGA webinar
The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) will host a Jan. 26 webinar covering the Mine Safety & Health Administration’s (MSHA) emphasis on workplace examinations. The webinar, presented by Arthur Wolfson of Jackson Kelly PLLC, will address points of confusion between the requirements of the workplace examination standard and MSHA’s recent guidance. Wolfson will offer solutions to manage workplace examinations, as well as discuss what’s to come for the aggregates industry if MSHA’s rulemaking efforts come to fruition. The webinar is $49 for members and $99 for nonmembers per location. NSSGA also offers discounted webinar packages. Register for the webinar here. Keep Reading
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens hires sales engineer
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens hired Tim Harms as senior sales engineer for the crushing and screening products at its Kolberg-Pioneer manufacturing facility. In this role, Harms will act as a resource for the sales engineering staff. He will guide equipment selection for potential customers and manage sales opportunities in conjunction with the company’s production management group and field sales force. Harms will also be responsible for assisting other sales personnel in the development of production and operation cost data, product pricing, sales tools and training materials. Harms began working at KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens in 1989 as engineering draft designer. He also served as project designer, product application specialist and sales engineer for the company. In 2009, he left the company to work on his family’s farm. “We are thrilled to have Tim Harms return to the company to help grow our crushing and screening business,” says Ron Griess, product manager for KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens. “Tim has more than 20 years of product knowledge in the… Keep Reading
Mack Trucks approves use of renewable fuel in engines
Mack Trucks approved the use of renewable diesel fuel in all Mack engines. According to the company, renewable diesel fuel delivers similar performance to diesel refined from petroleum yet helps to reduce greenhouse gas and particulate emissions. A life cycle analysis of renewable diesel fuel conducted by the California Air Resources Board demonstrated reductions in greenhouse gases by 15 to 80 percent, depending on the feedstock source used. Renewable diesel fuel is derived from biomass feedstocks. It’s produced using a different process from petroleum biodiesel yet maintains similar physical properties and performance of biodiesel. It also meets the same ASTM D975 standard. Additionally, using renewable diesel fuel helps to decrease maintenance costs, according to Mack Trucks. “As the availability and customer requests for renewable diesel fuel increase, we worked to ensure its compatibility with our engines,” says Stu Russoli, Mack highway and powertrain products marketing manager. “This approval gives Mack customers who seek to reduce their environmental footprint an additional choice when it comes to alternative fuels.” Keep Reading
NSSGA opening ceremony to include country artist performances
The opening ceremony for the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) Annual Convention will feature country artists Phil Vassar and Maggie Rose. Vassar has released eight albums throughout his career and has won two “Songwriter of the Year” trophies from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. His music has reached the Top 5 of Billboard country music charts seven times. Rose, an Emmy award-winning singer, songwriter and producer, will open for Vassar. She has had two songs make Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. “We are excited to have country legends and artists join us in the Music City and know that our members, exhibitors and attendees will enjoy hearing their stories and songs as an exciting start to what we expect will be an exciting week,” says Pamala Bouchard, NSSGA vice president of membership and meetings. The NSSGA Annual Convention will take place March 20-23 in Nashville, Tenn. All attendees are welcome to the opening ceremony. Keep Reading
Construction employment grows in metro areas
Construction employment increased in 190 of 358 metro areas, reports the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA) in a new analysis. Firms appear to be having an easier time finding workers to hire, according to AGCA. Additionally, AGCA reports construction employment remained unchanged in 64 metro areas and declined in 104 between November 2014 and December 2015. According to the study, New York City added the most construction jobs during the past year. Other metro areas adding a large number of construction jobs were Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo. (8,300 jobs, 9 percent); Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, Calif. (8,200 jobs, 10 percent); and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (7,900 jobs, 8 percent). Also, the largest percentage gains occurred in Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio (50 percent, 800 jobs); Boise, Idaho (19 percent, 3,300 jobs); Coeur d’Alene (18 percent, 700 jobs); and Huntsville, Ala. (18 percent, 1,400 jobs). The largest job losses were in Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (-5,400 jobs, -7 percent); Raleigh, N.C. (-1,800 jobs, -5 percent); Bergen-Hudson-Passaic, N.J. (-1,500 jobs, -5 percent); Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss. (-1,400 jobs, -16 percent); and New Orleans-Metairie,… Keep Reading
MSHA releases November impact inspection results
The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) released its November impact inspection results, revealing that federal inspectors issued 189 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 17 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines. MSHA conducted its impact inspections at mines in Alabama, California, Illinois, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. One of these inspections took place at St. Mary’s Cement-Dixon Mine in Lee County, Ill. MSHA reports that enforcement personnel issued 53 citations and five orders. Inspectors discovered nine guarding violations that exposed miners to moving machine parts and entanglement hazards; nine electrical violations that exposed miners to electrical shock hazards; and one violation for failure to conduct an adequate workplace examination. These monthly inspections began in April 2010 as a way of increasing mine safety. They involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement because of poor compliance history or other compliance concerns. Since the inspections began, MSHA has conducted 1,064 inspections and issued 15,532 citations, 1,294 orders… Keep Reading
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens announce sales changes
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens announced a number of sales changes. Read about them below. KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens names sales, marketing VP KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens hires sales development engineer Keep Reading
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens hires sales development engineer
KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens named Nate Hicks as its new parts sales development engineer. In this position, Hicks is responsible for increasing customer uptime and reducing overhead costs through improved parts design. Prior to this position, Hicks served as project engineer for Springs Fabrication in Colorado. He also previously worked for KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens as design drafter intern for its South Dakota manufacturing facility. “We are thrilled to have Nate on our team,” says Ryan Newman, director of parts for KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens. “The combination of his education, prior work experience and his exceptional personality will make him a valuable team member. I am confident he will be an extraordinary asset to our team as we expand our parts offering.” Keep Reading
