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Institute of Quarrying partners with NSSGA on education
The Institute of Quarrying is working with the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) on new training and development courses launching in October. The Institute, based in the UK, is an international professional body for the aggregate and construction materials industries, with more than 6,000 members in 50 countries. Its objective is to support improvements in all aspects of operational performance through better education and training. The Institute and NSSGA have discussed education; shared information and expertise; and the development of a comprehensive training and career development program for the aggregate industry in the United States. Results of the joint venture include a junior management program, which aims to improve the technical skills of those needing greater academic qualifications, as well as a graduate conversion program, which aims to attract degree-level recruits into the industry. The Institute says dozens of candidates have already signed on, and says it hopes to push its message that improved skills development is a key tool in attracting and retaining workers to the industry.… Keep Reading
Sandvik showcases jaw crusher, Doublescreen at Hillhead 2016
Sandvik Construction showcases its QJ241 compact jaw crusher working with the company's QA335 Doublescreen at Hillhead 2016. Keep Reading
Attendees brave rain, wind to attend Hillhead 2016
Attendees to the Hillhead 2016 trade show near Buxton, England braved rain, wind and chilly temperatures to view nearly 500 exhibits, as well as live equipment demonstrations. The three-day event, which took place at Tarmac’s Hillhead Quarry, attracted 18,655 visitors, a 7 percent increase over the previous show in 2014. This year's event included more working demonstrations than ever before, creating some of the busiest live action ever seen at Hillhead, including no fewer than 14 excavators in a new-look quarry face area. Other demonstration areas featured several portable plants at work. Hillhead 2016 also recorded the show’s largest ever number of exhibitors (470) who occupied the biggest area of exhibition space to date. According to show organizers, the newly extended area of the showground worked extremely well and is already oversubscribed for 2018, while the extended registration pavilion also proved successful, prompting plans for a further significant increase in size in 2018. Pit & Quarry was at the show, so be sure to check out our August issue for… Keep Reading
You say ‘tomato’ …
Maybe it was a day I had too much time on my hands. Not sure. But at some point in my 20-plus years at this magazine, I started to wonder about the word “aggregate.” Whenever used in reference to crushed stone, sand and gravel, we see the term written and hear it spoken sometimes as “aggregate” and sometimes as “aggregates.” The two seem to be used interchangeably. But which is correct? I posed the question to Gus Edwards, former president and CEO of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, and now part owner of a group of newspapers in Virginia. Gus replies, “That same discussion occurred when I joined the National Stone Association (NSA) about 20 years ago. In those days, ‘crushed stone’ was distinct from ‘sand and gravel’ as a construction material, all the more so since each had its own trade association. More often than not,” Gus says, “crushed stone was referred to as ‘aggregate’ and sand and gravel as ‘aggregates,’ but, confusingly, also frequently as ‘aggregate.’”… Keep Reading
Hillhead site prepped with two blasts
Two blasts have been conducted at the quarry site hosting Hillhead 2016 later this month. A section of the quarry face at the north end of the site was drilled and blasted to produce about 14,000 tons of shotrock to be used by exhibitors for demonstrating equipment live at the event. Show organizers say more than 30 pieces of equipment will be put through their paces in the quarry face area, including: • Excavators – Caterpillar 325F XE, Hyundai HX250L, Liebherr R956, Komatsu PC490LC, Doosan DL550-5, Case CX500D, Hyundai HX520L and Volvo EC480E • Wheel loaders – Komatsu WA470, Liebherr L586 XPower, Caterpillar 982M, Case 1121F, Doosan DX380LC-5, Hitachi ZW370-5 and Hyundai HL980 • Articulated haul trucks – Bell B60E, Caterpillar 745C, Doosan DA30, Komatsu HM400, Terex TA300 and Volvo A40G • Dozers – Caterpillar D69 and Komatsu D61PXI-23 • Loading shovels – Volvo L150H and Doosan DX380LC-5 • Hydraulic breakers and buckets – Miller, Remu and Worsley Plant • Dust cannons – Corgin • Jaw crusher – Terex Finlay… Keep Reading
A century of coverage
Founded by Harry W. Baumgartner in Chicago, Pit & Quarry is reported to be the first magazine specifically for nonmetallic minerals producers. Keep Reading
MSHA proposes rule on workplace examinations
MSHA announced today the publication of a proposed rule to enhance the quality of workplace examinations in metal and nonmetal mines around the United States. Keep Reading
An active approach to community relations
In this industry, the best approach to community relations is an active approach. Keep Reading
Hillhead equipment demonstrations
The Hillhead trade show just outside the town of Buxton (near Manchester, England) is a unique event for the aggregates industry. Unlike AGG1 or even ConExpo-Con/Agg in the United States, Hillhead offers live equipment demonstrations during the event. The trade show's setting inside a quarry allows for demonstrations around the perimeter of the trade show grounds, and there are four demonstration areas at the upcoming Hillhead 2016, which takes place June 28-30. Quarry face The quarry face demonstration area will host large excavators and face shovels, large wheel loaders, rigid and articulated haul trucks, hydraulic breakers and crusher buckets. A section of the face at the north end of the site will be drilled and blasted to produce about 10,000 tons of shot rock for demonstration purposes. For long-term safety reasons this face is in the process of being split to create a bench that will lower the height of the working face to less than 10 meters, and some of the companies demonstrating in this area include Volvo and… Keep Reading
