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A sure thing
A little year-end tax planning can lead to certain tax savings for aggregate producers. Year-end tax planning can be quite simple: merely accelerate tax-deductible expense payments before the end of the tax year to reduce taxable income. To be really effective not only for the current tax year, but for years down the road, there is obviously more to it than that. However, now is the best time to begin thinking about, and planning for, a reduced tax bill for your aggregate operation’s tax bill. The best guarantee of consistently low tax bills is tax planning. Tax planning is easy: the more tax deductions taken, the lower the crushed stone, sand and gravel producer’s taxable income will be – at least for the current tax year. Or, perhaps, ignoring potential tax deductions this year might mean significant savings in later years when profits – and tax bills – are higher. But how do you make the moves necessary for lower tax bills before the end of the tax year and… Keep Reading
Investigations and prosecutions
An MSHA inspector insists on talking to employees privately. Supervisors are also questioned. An MSHA representative asks to meet with all employees on the night shift. A team of inspectors interviews employees and supervisors individually regarding an anonymous hazard complaint. A letter gives notice of an investigation into a mine employee charge of discrimination. MSHA inspectors request company documents while making an inquiry. These are ways MSHA investigations begin. Some investigations are announced – accident and discrimination investigations, for example. Some are initiated more subtly and may initially appear to be routine inspections. The first notice of many investigations, notably special investigations, is when an investigator arrives at the mine. Too often, companies fail to distinguish special investigations from inspections. Important legal rights are at stake. When a mine operator notices MSHA activities are out of the ordinary, the mine may be experiencing something other than a routine inspection. Inspections In a routine inspection, inspectors look for physical evidence of safety or health violations. To prove such violations in court,… Keep Reading
Assessing higher-risk workers
Evaluating employees gives aggregate producers a tool to better prevent accidents and improve performance. According to a study by Liberty Mutual Insurance, the direct cost of incidents in industrial workplaces is an average of $38,000 per incident. And indirect costs can add up, too. These may include training replacement employees, accident investigation, implementing corrective measures, lost productivity, repairing damaged equipment and property, and costs associated with absenteeism and lower employee morale. Then there is human error, which may result in up to 90 percent of workplace accidents. Vancouver-based TalentClick monitors various industrial sectors and the percentages at which human factors make up overall accident totals. Operating as a business unit of a larger company from 2010 to 2012, TalentClick was incorporated as a separate company in late 2012. It works in vertical markets, including construction, manufacturing, transportation, natural resources and mining. Stephen Race, who co-founded TalentClick and specializes in occupational psychology, notes that for half a century social scientists have been researching personality. More recently, research has expanded into how… Keep Reading
GKN Wheels: Bigfoot
GKN Wheels developed a system to allow a 63-in. rim assembly to be adapted to a 57-in. hub for the Unit Rig MT4400 haul truck. The system, called Bigfoot, allows mining operations to retrofit the larger, more available 63-in. tire on haul trucks that would normally only use standard 57-in. rims and tires. The concept was also created to alleviate the risk of short supply in the standard tire size for the 240-ton haul truck. Other advantages of Bigfoot are increased productivity and tire life, and a reduction in potential tire stress and mechanical heat-separation events. www.gknwheels.com Keep Reading
Kawasaki: 115Z7
Kawasaki's 115Z7 wheel loader was redesigned to meet all Tier 4 Interim emissions standards and improve operating efficiency and productivity, the company says. The 115Z7 is equipped with an 8.3-cu.-yd. general-purpose bucket that can load 12.5 tons in a pass. The wheel loader has a 16-liter Isuzu engine that offers 531 net hp. Dual Z linkage provides great breakout force, the company says, as well as visibility to the bucket. It also spreads out the load on the torque tube to reduce stress. Operators can make the 115Z7 fit a specific application through the LCD multi-function monitor in the dash, including power levels, kick-outs, a de-clutch function and more. Standard traction control limits wheel spin, and the AutoBrake protects the transmission from over-speeding and improper shifting. www.kawasakiloaders.com Photo: Kawasaki Keep Reading
DuraClass: Alumax
The Alumax heavy-duty aluminum dump body offers high strength and low body weight for long life and maximum payloads, DuraClass says. According to the company, aluminum bodies and their decreased bodyweight increase payload capacity, minimize fuel consumption and improve truck life. The Alumax features a heavy-duty 8-in. extruded top rail that resists bowing from heavy internal loads. The heavy-duty bottom rail, which includes an inside radius for faster and cleaner dumping, ties the deck, sides, cross members, vertical posts and outside dirt shedders together. Aluminum I-beam long members have an integrated rubber track and rubber riser to reduce shock and noise. In addition, 4-in.-stacked U-shaped cross members provide extra load-bearing vertical walls. www.duraclass.com Keep Reading
Komatsu America Corp.: WA500-7
Komatsu America Corp.'s WA500-7 wheel loader has a 353-hp engine and is Tier 4 Interim emission certified. The WA500-7 comes standard with the company's Care program, which provides complimentary factory scheduled maintenance for 2,000 hours or the first three years. Komatsu Care also includes two complimentary diesel particulate filter exchanges within the first five years. The WA500-7 has an operating weight of 76,611 lbs. when equipped with a 7.3-cu.-yd. general-purpose bucket, and it runs at a max speed of 22.1 mph. Enhanced operating performance, lower fuel consumption, improved operator comfort and easier serviceability are other features that provide increased productivity and lower operating costs, according to Komatsu. www.komatsuamerica.com Keep Reading
Shur-Co LLC: DuraPull
The DuraPull semi-automatic pull-tarp system from Shur-Co LLC is for dump bodies, belly dumps, landscape boxes and end dumps up to 24 ft. Twelve-gauge galvanized steel tarp housing protects the tarp and spring-loaded spool from falling materials. The spring-loaded tarp spool is made of aluminum and has an extruded groove that allows for easy installation or removal of the tarp, Shur-Co says. Tension ratchet allows the tarp spool to be easily pre-loaded for operation, and it is adjustable to increase or decrease spring tension. DuraPull comes fully assembled. Users simply need to mount the assembled tarp housing, slide the tarp onto the tarp spool and adjust the spring tension to properly fit a box. Shur-Co says the tarp can be removed and reinstalled or replaced without removing the tarp spool or removing the spring tension. www.shurco.com Keep Reading
Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc.: HL770-9A and HL780-9A
The HL770-9A and the HL780-9A wheel loaders from Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc. are part of the company's 9A product line that's designed to meet Tier 4 Interim emissions standards. The HL770-9A has a 297-hp QSL9 engine, while the HL780-9A features a 351-hp QSX11.9 engine. Both loaders have three engine modes – a power mode for heavy-duty work, a standard mode for general work and an economy mode for light-duty work. Both loaders are equipped with a fully automatic transmission that's designed for minimum power loss, improved travel speed and low noise, the company adds. In addition, both are equipped with a long-life cooling system that includes a relocated cooling fan and a radiator designed to resist thermal shock, impulse and vibration. www.hceamericas.com Photo: Hyundai Construction Equipment Keep Reading
