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Historic quarry thrives at in-town location
The pink hue pops even in the blackest asphalt around Sioux Falls, S.D., deriving from the region’s rich quartzite deposits. The vibrant color traces back to several area quarries, including Concrete Materials’ Sioux Falls Quarry, which has provided construction materials to the surrounding area since the early 20th century. The quarry is uniquely located beside Interstate 29 – just a few miles southwest of the Sioux Falls Regional Airport – and its presence among developed commercial and residential areas is a sight to see. “We’re essentially an in-town quarry,” says Patrick Sweetman, Concrete Materials CEO. “You rarely find that today. A number of locations have developed on top of their potential reserves, so you’re having to truck [many] miles just to get rock to service the community. Having an in-town quarry that can keep transportation costs low is a real benefit to the community.” The quarry’s proximity to the community is also an opportunity to locally promote the value Concrete Materials provides, Sweetman says. Concrete Materials once kept a low… Keep Reading
Report offers presidential candidate breakdown on transportation
Are you curious about where the six remaining presidential candidates stand on transportation infrastructure? The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) offers some useful details about the candidates in a report titled "The Presidential Candidates on Transportation." ARTBA constructed its report from debate transcripts, public statements, legislative votes, writings, candidate websites and social media posts from recent years. Read ARTBA's full report here. Keep Reading
OAIMA wins award for public outreach efforts
The Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC) named the Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association (OAIMA) a recipient of one of its annual Mineral Education Awards. OAIMA received an award in IMCC's Public Outreach category for developing an innovative and multifaceted minerals education program that promotes awareness of the need for aggregate, rock and mineral resources. “The members of the Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association are extremely honored to be recognized by the IMCC for our education and outreach activities," says Pat Jacomet, OAIMA executive director. "The members of the OAIMA are passionate about education, and it is important to continue these efforts in order to maintain our vital operations." According to IMCC, OAIMA embarked on a partnership in 2012 with the Miami County (Ohio) Park District. The project initially provided backpacks and educational rock box kits to children in area schools as a reward for completing the Family Quest Nature program. Later, OAIMA helped to develop and participated in the park district's annual weeklong Hug the Earth program. The… Keep Reading
Drone enhances producer’s inventory control, safety
Tracking construction material inventories on a widespread aggregate site can be a daunting proposition – and a dangerous one. Just ask Jon Layne, business development manager at Sully-Miller Contracting Co. "[Before], somebody would physically walk the pile with a GPS backpack," says Layne, who shared insights about Sully-Miller's drone use during a National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) webinar. "The result is a bunch of points that can then be tied together to build a rough 3-D model. This is good but not great. It takes a lot of time, and there's a very large safety risk in terms of having someone physically walk the pile. Plus, there are areas of the stockpile you can't access because it's unsafe." Drones have quickly changed how safely and efficiently aggregate producers like Sully-Miller can track their inventories, as well as perform other tasks. Layne began exploring drones for commercial use at Sully-Miller in the first quarter of 2015. Now, Sully-Miller regularly flies a drone at the company's Victorville, Calif., site. "It was… Keep Reading
New chief accounting officer at MDU Resources
MDU Resources Group Inc. named Jason Vollmer vice president and chief accounting officer, effective March 19. Vollmer also serves MDU Resources as treasurer. He replaces Nathan Ring, who plans to resign March 18. "Through his role as treasurer, Jason has demonstrated successful leadership capabilities and has developed strong relationships with external and internal stakeholders," says David Goodin, president and CEO of MDU Resources. "He has a thorough understanding of our financial reporting and planning processes. His strong analytical and managerial skills make him the right candidate to lead the accounting team at MDU Resources." Vollmer joined MDU Resources in 2005 as a financial analyst. He was named manager of the company's treasury, cash and risk management department in 2011. Vollmer was named treasurer and director of cash, risk management and general accounting in 2014. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Minot State University in North Dakota and is a certified public accountant. Keep Reading
SME conference draws thousands to Phoenix
The 2016 Annual Conference & Expo of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. (SME) was held at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, uniting mining industry professionals from around the world. More than 38 countries were represented during SME's four-day event, which featured 751 professional papers presented in 121 technical sessions and four professional short courses. Attendees received USB flash drives containing 171 preprint manuscripts. “Despite the current weakened economic climate for the mining industry, the demand for mineral products will continue to grow worldwide,” says David Kanagy, SME executive director. “The future for the mining industry is bright and hinges on keeping up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies. The 2016 SME Conference & Expo was the perfect showcase for the latest opportunities, innovations and developments in our industry.” According to SME, 6,309 people attended the event in Phoenix. The conference began with a keynote session titled “Guarding Against a Normalization of Deviance,” bringing Col. Mike Mullane into the spotlight with his evaluation of the phenomenon of… Keep Reading
Tool quantifies telematics ROI for customers
John Deere announced that its JDLink return-on-investment (ROI) estimator quantifies the value of keeping machines connected using JDLink. According to Deere, the ROI estimator is part of a bigger effort to continuously educate customers on technology and its benefits in improving productivity, uptime and lowering daily operating costs. Using the new tool is easy, the company says. Customers visit roicalculator.deere.com and fill in customer operational input functions, including average fuel cost, estimated idle time percentage, and desired idle time percentage. From there, a final value percentage is calculated. Customers then enter their specific fleet information, including models, number of units and estimated working hours per day. Once all information is entered, a calculate function quantifies the return that can be realized by making changes in the way a customer’s machines are operated. “Renewing JDLink licenses and upgrading the hardware can be a significant expense depending on the size of your machine fleet,” says Paul Garcia, product manager of John Deere WorkSight. “The return on investment calculation is intended to demonstrate… Keep Reading
Construction equipment exports down significantly
Exports of U.S.-made construction equipment ended 2015 with a 19 percent decrease compared with 2014, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which cites U.S. Department of Commerce data it uses in global market reports for its members. The decline represents a $13.9 billion year-over-year decrease. Among the countries buying the most U.S.-made construction machinery in 2015 by dollar volume were Canada ($5.5 billion), Mexico ($1.2 billion), Australia ($829 million) and Belgium ($334 million). Construction equipment exports to all world regions declined, though. Africa and South America led the way, AEM says. Africa decreased 37 percent compared with year-end 2014 for a total drop of $777 million. South America experienced a 33 percent decline for a $1.7 billion drop. Canada also experienced a significant decline in U.S. construction equipment exports, dropping 18 percent for a $5.5 billion setback. Asia decreased 10 percent and experienced a $1.8 billion setback. Europe dropped 12 percent for a $1.7 billion hit, and Central America fell 23 percent for a total of $1.5 billion.… Keep Reading
AGG1 2016: Around Nashville: Country Music Hall of Fame
One of Nashville's top draws, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in downtown Nashville has plenty to offer the diehard country music fan and the casual listener. A special exhibit opens this month in honor of award-winning singer and songwriter Dierks Bentley. The exhibit remains open into September 2016 and will feature stage wear, guitars, song manuscripts, photos and more from Bentley’s personal collection. Exhibits to country music superstar Keith Urban and Sun Music Records founder Sam Phillips are also active in the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Tickets to the hall of fame are $24.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for those ages 5 and under. Senior tickets are $22.50, and tickets for those in the military are $21.50. Keep Reading
