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McLanahan Corp. achieves safety milestone
McLanahan Corp. says it achieved one million man hours without a lost work-time accident last month. Safety is not just a set of rules and regulations to be followed, but a promise that the corporation makes to its employees, according to the company. “It is considered a successful day at McLanahan when our employees return home at the end of each of their shifts,” says Joe Adams, McLanahan's director of safety. “I speak for the entire company when I say I am extremely proud of the effort each employee puts into safety and identifying safer ways to work and do business. This is a tremendous accomplishment.” A lost-time accident is measured as an incident where an employee is required to miss a day of work due to an injury other than the day of injury. It's the second time in recent years the company reached this safety milestone, according to the company. Keep Reading
Thompson Pump and Manufacturing
The Thompson JSC Series Solids Handling Enviroprime pumps are designed for the transfer of fluids containing solids and are ideal for pit dewatering and other mining applications. The portable JSC Series features pumps that range in size from 3 to 18-in., are designed for high flows to 11,000 gallons per minute, maximum heads to 660 ft., and up to 255 PSI. These end-suction centrifugal pumps can handle solids up to 4 in. and are available coupled to the latest EPA Tier-compliant engines or premium efficiency electric motors. www.thompsonpump.com Keep Reading
Testing a new screening system amid intense market pressures
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a story that began in last month’s issue of Pit & Quarry about sand-and-gravel producer Nels Ostero Ltd. in Taylor, British Columbia, Canada. The first installment discussed Nels Ostero’s need to beef up screening efficiency and the first stages of working with W.S. Tyler to implement its Pro-Deck approach to screen media optimization. Nels Ostero, an aggregate operation near Taylor, British Columbia, Canada, had a problem. Development of the oil and natural gas fields of the Peace River Region in northeastern British Columbia was moving quickly, and demand for aggregates was skyrocketing. While that sounds like an opportunity – and it was – Nels Ostero was unable to capitalize because it was burning through screens too quickly. The company’s crews had to change out screen media – on the feed end of the washing screens in particular – up to four or five times per year per machine. It was taking too much time, and time was money. Add in lost revenue… Keep Reading
Oldcastle Materials site receives special award for improving biodiversity
Reclaiming a spent sand-and-gravel mining facility is one thing. Having Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) recognize your efforts to partner with company employees, community organizations, youth groups and environmental education leaders in the process is quite another. WHC is a national organization that was established for the purpose of involving people in managing lands to provide enhanced habitat for wildlife. The WHC Corporate Lands for Learning program selected The Shelly Co.’s 96-acre former aggregate mining facility, Dresden Wildlife Habitat, as the winner of the 2013 Corporate Lands for Learning of the Year Award. WHC selects a single wildlife management project each year from a group of applicants in order to recognize outstanding environmental education, stewardship and voluntary employee efforts. Dresden Wildlife Habitat is adjacent to the Muskingum River in eastern Ohio. Previous mining practices there resulted in the creation of several lakes and ponds that are interspersed with riparian flood plain forest and seasonally wet meadows. Riparian zones, forests and grasslands provide habitats for a number of native Ohio species, including… Keep Reading
How to use tax breaks to reduce employee education costs
Education is an excellent fringe benefit producers can employ to attract and retain employees – and tax breaks can help to reduce the cost. One of the major assets for all aggregate producers is their employees. As is the case with most business assets, producers usually have quite a bit of money invested in hiring and training workers. Smart producers realize that improving a business asset can reap rewards that far exceed the cost of any improvements made to that asset. When it comes to making smarter workers, everyone benefits thanks in large part to our tax laws. The pit or quarry operation prospers with smarter, better-trained employees – and a tax deduction if they foot the bill for employee education or training costs. Smarter employees can often avoid a tax bill for the value of education provided by an employer and reap a tax deduction for their own educational expenses. Plus, they are often rewarded with higher pay, promotions or more opportunities. Regardless of whether an employer or the operation’s suppliers… Keep Reading
Vulcan offers free product calculator app for Android users
Vulcan Materials Co. now offers a free product calculator app for users of Android phones, tablets and other Android devices. The Vulcan Materials Product Calculator makes it possible to estimate the construction materials needed for building and paving projects. It estimates needed quantities of different aggregate, asphalt and concrete products when the user enters length, width and thickness, and material properties such as density. To assist with calculations, users can choose from menus and select typical density values for different aggregate types. The free app is available for download from the Google Play Store. Keep Reading
Vortex Valves
The Vortex Titan Series TSG gate handles dry material in gravity flow applications where positive material shut-off and dust tight sealing are required. Available in a wide variety of configurations with rectangular sizes and customer-specific hole patterns, the gate has "live-loaded" bonnet seals that extend service life by compensating for wear and provide an exceptional material seal across the gate and to atmosphere. These seals can be swapped while the valve is still in-service vastly reducing downtime. To extend its life, the gate has replaceable, abrasion-resistant liners and uses easily accessible, hardened steel cam-adjustable rollers and polymer blade guides. www.vortexvalves.com/tsg Photo: Vortex Valves Keep Reading
ISCO Industries
ISCO Industries is more than just an internationally recognized name – we are a world leader in HDPE pipe and fusion services. The mining products division is dedicated to providing high-quality wear-resistant products for the abrasive applications associated with the mining, mineral processing and aggregate industry. Our technical service skills with system design, supply and installation for pumping and piping water and slurry lines have benefited many of our customers in permanent and temporary situations. From fresh water to the most extreme solids transport, ISCO can handle it all. For support in solving existing operational problems or new facility construction, please call 1-800-345-ISCO or visit our website. www.isco-pipe.com Keep Reading
Mack Trucks appoints vice president for central region
Mack Trucks appointed Martin Kleker regional vice president for the central portion of the United States. He will be responsible for driving sales, market share and profitability in the area. “Martin’s experience in sales and the trucking industry will be very helpful to Mack customers,” says Stephen Roy, president of North American Sales and Marketing, Mack Trucks. “We’re enthusiastic about Martin joining the Mack family.” Kleker has more than 25 years of experience in the transportation industry, with expertise in sales, finance and parts and service. He also brings extensive product knowledge to the position, including aerodynamic vehicle technologies focused on fuel efficiency and alternative fuels, the company says. He most recently served as vice president of sales for national accounts at Navistar and previously led sales and service teams as regional manager and national fleet sales manager for Peterbilt Motors Co. Kleker received his bachelor’s degree from Roosevelt University and an associate’s degree from Harper College. He will work out of Mack Truck’s Central Region office in Woodbridge, Ill. Keep Reading
