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Bad news for frac sand
Two recent reports paint a negative picture of the frac sand market for the foreseeable future. The first, from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), says the number of man-made earthquakes is on the rise owing to the boom in oil and gas drilling. Citing the USGS report, CBS News says, "The spike in seismic activity is mainly caused by the oil and gas industry injecting wastewater deep underground, which can activate dormant faults. A few instances stem from hydraulic fracturing, in which large volumes of water, sand and chemicals are pumped into rock formations to free oil or gas." CBS News says that while many studies have linked the rise in small quakes to the injection of wastewater into disposal wells, the USGS report takes the first comprehensive look at where the man-made quakes are occurring -- and the hazard is high in these areas. The man-made quakes are rocking many states, especially Oklahoma, which is experiencing more magnitude-3 quakes than California. The report could lead to stricter regulations on… Keep Reading
Haver & Boecker holds Pennsylvania demos
Haver & Boecker (formerly W.S. Tyler) and Kemper Equipment demonstrated the Hydro-Clean washing system to potential customers at events in Slippery Rock and Annville, Pa. Pit & Quarry was on hand for the Slippery Rock demo, which was hosted by Glacial Sand & Gravel in unseasonably cold temperatures that included wind chills in the 20s. In addition to the Haver & Boecker and Kemper Equipment personnel, 17 producers were in attendance at Slippery Rock and 23 at Annville. The Hydro-Clean washing unit cleans deleterious material from aggregate and recycled materials while reducing water consumption by as much as 75 percent compared to traditional log washers, according to the company. Unlike traditional washing systems that can require as many as three screens along with a log washer or screw, the producer only needs an additional wash screen for the Hydro-Clean’s discharged material. The washer comes in three model sizes that process 18 to 360 tons per hour, depending on the application: the HC350, HC1000 and HC2000. “The Haver and Kemper partnership… Keep Reading
Unfamiliar roles
From the Mine Safety & Health Administration comes news that operator-reported injuries reached historic lows last year. That is great news for an industry that continues to place a high priority on safety. The bad news is that there are still too many fatalities, which are not only devastating to the families involved, but also a black eye for an industry trying to secure operating permits and recruit young workers. A recent headline in The Charlotte Observer read: "Death near Charlotte highlights danger in quarries." The story focused on the death of an aggregates worker at an operation southeast of the city, and noted that the death "illustrates a trend that has alarmed federal regulators: a rise in fatal accidents in quarries and other non-coal mines that produce stone, sand, gravel and other minerals. Last year, 28 miners in this segment died, the most since 2007 when there were 33, leading officials to step up education and enforcement efforts." The article brought the dangers of the job to the attention… Keep Reading
Lafarge/Holcim back on track, but a long process
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that the Lafarge/Holcim merger, an estimated $44 billion deal, is back on track after the appointment of a new chief executive for the combined group. Eric Olsen, who currently serves as Lafarge’s executive vice president of operations, has been chosen to run LafargeHolcim when the union is completed in July. The newspaper reports Olsen has the backing of some of the most important shareholders. But, says WSJ, "there remains some lingering investor discontent, which could yet make the vote on the deal at Holcim’s shareholder meeting, slated for May 8, a tense one." Reuters news agency quotes Olsen as saying Lafarge and Holcim will need from 12 to 18 months to complete the integration of the two companies following closure of the deal. These reports suggest that after some signs the deal could be following apart, the hiring of Olsen has the merger back on track. And, yet, it may be a year or more before a clear picture of the new company emerges. Keep Reading
Free rocks in California?
While watching a television news report about the California drought, I learned of the state's plans to cut water usage. The report discussed an initiative to replace 50 million sq. ft. of lawns throughout the state with drought-tolerant landscaping in partnership with local governments. And the video showed landscapers dumping wheelbarrows full of rocks onto a property. Free aggregate. Free to the homeowner. Paid for by some municipalities in the state. Palm Springs is one area helping homeowners in this way. The city has ordered 50 percent cuts in water use by city agencies, and plans to replace the lawns and annual flowers around city buildings with native landscapes. It is paying residents to replace their lawns with rocks and desert plants, and offering rebates to people who install low-flow toilets. Following the lowest snowpack ever recorded and with no end to the drought in sight, Governor Jerry Brown announced the state's actions, which are designed to save water, increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use, streamline the state's drought… Keep Reading
Lehigh Hanson’s Stanczak receives top NSSGA honor
The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) named retired Lehigh Hanson executive Michael Stanczak recipient of the association’s highest honor for his dedication to the construction aggregates industry, his family and his community. The annual Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award was created and is judged by the Manufacturers and Services (M&S) Division of NSSGA, a group of companies that manufacture equipment or provide services to the aggregates industry. Stanczak recently retired as senior vice president and general manager for Lehigh Hanson’s Midwest Materials area in the company’s North Region. Jennifer Hise, chair of NSSGA’s M&S Division, said, “With his 40 years in the industry, Mike’s leadership, knowledge and business acumen have been invaluable.” Stanczak’s career began in 1974 with Material Service Corp. After holding a number of finance and sales management positions, he was promoted to vice president of sales in 1992, a position held until he was appointed company president and CEO in 1999. Following Hanson’s acquisition of Material Service Corp. in 2006, Stanczak was named regional… Keep Reading
MSHA’s Main speaks at NSSGA convention
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main told members at the annual convention of the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association in Baltimore that mining industry improvements in the past five years have laid the foundation for better protections for miners. “We are seeing significant reductions in chronic violators, improved industry compliance, and successful implementation of standards in metal and nonmetal mining,” he said. Main was quick to add that, while metal and nonmetal mining had historically low fatality and injury rates in 2011, 2012 and FY 2013, increases in metal and nonmetal deaths since October 2013 are a matter of great concern. MSHA is working closely with the industry to reverse this trend. “The most important measure of our progress is how many miners go home at the end of each shift safe and healthy,” he said. Main noted that 42 miners died in mining accidents in 2014, with 16 deaths at coal mines, the lowest number ever recorded. At the same time, there… Keep Reading
W.S. Tyler announces transition to Haver & Boecker name
W.S. Tyler announced at AGG1 that it is expanding to offer the full line of technology provided by its parent company, Haver & Boecker. To better align the company’s name with its new strategy and product offerings, the W.S. Tyler Screening Group will be known as Haver & Boecker. The company says that, for period of transition, it will use the name Haver & Tyler. By the MINExpo International trade show in September 2016, the full transition to Haver & Boecker will be complete. “Haver & Boecker has a long, established history of servicing not only the mining, aggregate and industrial minerals industries, but also the cement, chemical, building materials and food industries worldwide,” said Karen Thompson, president of W.S. Tyler. “In addition to our screening, washing and pelletizing equipment, the new portfolio also will include packing, liquid filling, palletizing, loading and storage technology. The move to the Haver & Boecker name represents growth here in North America, and most importantly more value to our customers.” The W.S. Tyler Industrial… Keep Reading
Stedman promotes ‘Expect More’ HSI crusher line
Stedman's Eric Marcotte explained the company's "Expect More" HSI crusher line to at group of journalists at an AGG1 press conference on Tuesday. The Horizontal Shaft Impactor’s (HSI) versatile crusher design is engineered to solve many size-reduction problems. Stedman is promoting its Expect More line by re-educating process engineers about the unique design aspects of impactors. HSIs are capable of high ratio size reduction with no decrease in quality of the product even after long periods of operation. High size reduction ratios offer cost savings in handling, maintenance and wear parts. Reduction ratios of up to 30:1 are achievable in a single stage. Product size is varied by changing rotor speed and the clearances between rotor breaker bars and apron breaker plates. The size reduction takes place along short fracture lines, producing a more cubical product to meet aggregate specifications. The company says this fast impact fracture is different from the slow compression breaking in cone or jaw crushers. Keep Reading
