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Gorman-Rupp names new rental sales manager
The Gorman-Rupp Co., a pump manufacturer based in Mansfield, Ohio, announced the promotion of Jamie Schoenian to the position of rental sales manager. Schoenian will be responsible for sales, service, aftermarket, technical support and product forecasting between Gorman-Rupp and National Rental Accounts. Schoenian has more than 15 years of service within the Gorman-Rupp organization. Prior to this promotion, he held the position of application engineer in the company's Engineered Systems group. Keep Reading
Metso Corp.’s demerger process proceeds
Metso’s board of directors has appointed Pasi Laine as president and CEO of the new company to be demerged from Metso's Automation and Mining & Construction divisions. The board has signed a demerger plan to separate Metso’s Pulp, Paper and Power business into a separate listed company to be named Valmet Corp. The demerger will require the approval of Metso’s Extraordinary General Meeting. If approved, the planned registration date of the demerger will be December 31, 2013. Laine is currently president of Metso’s Pulp, Paper and Power business, and he will continue in this position until assuming the duties of president and CEO of the new company. He has been a member of the Metso executive team since 2006. Metso plans to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on or about Oct. 1. Matti Kähkönen will continue as president and CEO of Metso Corp. Keep Reading
W.S. Tyler expands with new Rocky Mountains facility
W.S. Tyler has opened Haver & Tyler Rocky Mountains (HTRM), a new sales and service center in Chilliwack, British Columbia, just outside Vancouver. HTRM serves aggregate, mining and industrial mineral producers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, as well as British Columbia, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. It offers 24-hour delivery of parts and screen media within British Columbia and slightly longer delivery times to all other locations. “The location of HTRM allows us to efficiently serve customers in the region,” said General Manager Markus Kopper. “It also allows us to work more closely with our customers through site visits where we can create solutions to their unique situations.” Keep Reading
Caterpillar team responds to Oklahoma tornadoes
After devastating tornadoes struck parts of Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas, Caterpillar, Cat dealers and the Caterpillar Foundation-supported organizations sprang into action. The city of Moore, Okla., was devastated by an EF5 tornado May 20, leaving homes, schools and hospitals in rubble. Cat dealer Warren Cat, located in Oklahoma and Texas, reported no employees were injured from the tornado, however several employees suffered damage to their homes. Warren Cat mobilized a team and began relocating equipment and needed resources immediately. A number of other Cat dealers also jumped into action, including Foley and Holt, who sent power modules at the request of Warren Cat to help reopen the Water Treatment Facility near Moore. Warren also shipped light towers, excavators, generator sets and compact construction equipment units to the area. Cat skid steers are in action, and 44 Cat loaders are being used to clear roads. "We are well organized and well supported by Caterpillar and the dealer network," said Jim Nelson, dealer principal at Warren Cat. "We are grateful… Keep Reading
Martin Marietta reports first-quarter results
Martin Marietta Materials Inc. released its first-quarter report today, noting that the company's results were in line with management's expectations for the winter months. “Due to a more normal winter weather pattern, and in fact, more severe and extended in some parts of the country, aggregates shipments declined 8.8 percent compared with the prior-year quarter," says Ward Nye, Martin Marietta's president and CEO. "The prior year benefitted from an unseasonably warm winter, accelerating the start of construction projects in many of our markets into the first quarter." Nye adds that Martin Marietta's decline in aggregates volumes directly correlated to the company's gross profit reduction. "Notably, however, our aggregates business continues to experience pricing growth in each reportable segment and in each product line," Nye says. "This trend bodes well for the future performance of this business as shipments pick up during the remainder of the year. Our specialty products business benefitted from the new lime kiln completed in the fourth quarter of 2012 and established new records for net sales… Keep Reading
Tier 4 basics
Many aggregate producers have a love/hate relationship with new technology. On one hand, they love when it increases production, reduces downtime and simply makes their job easier. On the other hand, incorporating new technology into an operation involves upfront costs, retraining of employees and the potential headaches of a learning curve. New Tier 4 engines are one example. The good news about Tier 4 emissions technology (in addition to cleaner air) is that the equipment manufacturers have sought solutions to make Tier 4 engines as easy as possible on the end user. But there is still a learning curve. According to the Diesel Technology Forum, “Technicians need to have a general familiarity with electronically controlled engines, exhaust aftertreatment control devices, the concept and practice of measuring backpressure, along with general exhaust equipment maintenance and operation.” Also, some Tier 4 machines use particulate filter technology that requires maintenance and cleaning and/or removal. In addition to the increased purchase price of Tier 4-equipped vehicles, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average… Keep Reading
Metso announces Screening & Conveying Solutions
Metso Corp. has announced a new business unit within the company – Screening & Conveying Solutions (SCS), a joining of the company's screen media and conveying units. David Quail serves as SCS's director of sales support. The new SCS product group is designed to give Metso better opportunities to package its products for serving a broader range of customers and applications. Metso featured key equipment from this new line at AGG1 2013, including Poly-Clean wire screen media, LS synthetic screen media, Poly-Cer wear lining and a range of conveyor components. Adrian Quigg, Metso's vice president of distributor sales for the Americas, stressed at an AGG1 press conference that the services business "is our top strategic priority." Quigg also noted that Metso's net sales increased 13 percent in 2012, while sales in its mining/construction sector increased 17.6 percent. Keep Reading
W.S. Tyler opens Atlanta-area sales office
W.S. Tyler expanded its footprint to the southeastern United States by opening Haver & Tyler Appalachians, a new sales and service center and warehouse 20 miles east of Atlanta. By establishing a direct commercial and technical link between Haver & Tyler Appalachians and its headquarters in St. Catharines, Ontario, W.S. Tyler is now able to provide customers in the southeast local access to directly supported services of the factory. Haver & Tyler Appalachians is one of three new offices being opened in 2013 as part of W.S. Tyler’s ongoing effort to localize sales, parts and service through regional offices and workshops in North America. It also follows the company’s overall goal of keeping flexibility and customer service a top priority. “Located in the heart of the southeast, Atlanta offers the best opportunity to service Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee quickly and effectively,” said Markus Lackmann, sales manager at Haver & Tyler Appalachians. The site will stock customer-specific parts and screen media, focusing primarily on vibrating screens and… Keep Reading
Pit & Quarry inducts inaugural class into Hall of Fame
Seven men whose work and dedication made them pioneering leaders within the aggregates industry were honored March 17 as the inaugural class of the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame. The seven were honored at a black-tie recognition dinner and induction ceremony at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio before the AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo. The inaugural class includes: Emil Deister Sr., Deister Machine Co. LeRoy Hagenbuch, Philippi-Hagenbuch Charles W. Ireland, Vulcan Materials Co. Charles Luck Jr., Luck Stone Samuel Calvin McLanahan, McLanahan Corp. Paul C. Mellott Jr., Mellott Co. Arthur Taggart, Columbia and Yale Universities The staff of Pit & Quarry launched the Hall of Fame in September 2012 with the intention of making the induction ceremony an annual tradition that recognizes the pioneers, icons and leaders – past and present – and creates a permanent legacy for their contributions to the industry. To nominate a deserving candidate for the second Hall of Fame class to be enshrined in 2014, visit stage.pitandquarry.com/hall-of-fame. Keep Reading
