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Coco Group’s purchase of Russell Group now complete
Coco Group, a Canadian aggregate producer, acquired Russell Redi-Mix Concrete, Langenburg Redi-Mix Ltd., and the Russell Group (RRMC), which provides heavy civil contracting, aggregates production, supply and hauling, excavation grading and site-preparation services. “Our heavy civil construction expertise now spans from Alberta to Quebec, and with this purchase we are able to service a new diversified client base ranging from the potash industry, municipal and provincial governments, expanding our country’s transportation infrastructure network,” says Rocky Coco, president of Coco Group. Keep Reading
PCA economist says cement consumption growth is coming
An unusually wet spring and early summer dampened cement consumption for the first quarter of 2013, according to the Portland Cement Association (PCA), but its chief economist is still optimistic for strong growth in the construction sector in 2014 and beyond. According to PCA's latest forecast, cement consumption will increase 4 percent in 2013. Cement consumption will approach double-digit growth in 2014 and 2015, though, with 9.7-percent consumption increases in both years. “Nearly two-thirds of the anticipated growth in 2013 cement consumption will be caused by gains in the residential construction market,” says Ed Sullivan, PCA chief economist. “Home inventories are declining, signaling that it is time to start building, while the lingering effects of damaged credit due to foreclosure activity have created a robust apartment demand." Sullivan predicts an increase in local spending on public construction beginning in 2016. This is key to cement consumption recovery as road construction accounts for the largest area of public cement consumption, he says. An 11 percent consumption gain is forecasted for 2016. Keep Reading
Report: Asphalt demand to rise each year through 2017
Demand for asphalt in the United States is forecasted to increase 3.7 percent annually to 27.9 million tons in 2017, according to a Freedonia Group Inc. report. Demand is expected to advance from its low 2012 base, spurred by growth in highway and road construction spending and building construction expenditures. Still, the Freedonia Group reports that asphalt demand in 2017 will not reach the level seen in 2007. Rising use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and increasing interest in rehabilitating and repairing older or worn surfaces – instead of building new roads – will serve as a check on asphalt demand advances, the Freedonia Group says. According to the Freedonia Group, paving products accounted for 71 percent of asphalt consumption in 2012. They will remain the leading application for asphalt going forward, increasing 3.9 percent per year to 20.2 million tons in 2017. The Freedonia Group also says paving products demand will be suppressed by increasing use of in-place recycling road construction methods, such as those that use RAP. These… Keep Reading
Cemex forming joint venture company with Concrete Supply
Cemex and Concrete Supply Co. entered into an agreement to form a joint venture company, which will be called Concrete Supply Co. LLC. The transaction is expected to close later this year. The joint venture, which will have a production capacity of 2 million cu. yd., will produce concrete in North Carolina and South Carolina. Concrete Supply will be the majority owner and managing member. "The joint venture with Concrete Supply Co. will create a regionally focused company with strong local management that will be able to service every facet of the market from the largest to smallest projects," says Karl Watson, Jr., Cemex president, in a press release. "The new joint venture will have the ability to apply best practices from Cemex's global operations yet operate as a local, Carolina concrete company." Keep Reading
Trimble acquires Actronic Technologies
Trimble acquired privately held New Zealand-based Actronic Holdings Ltd., which provides weighing technology and payload information systems for the aggregates industry. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Actronic Technologies produces the Loadrite weighing system for wheel loaders, excavators, conveyors and waste-collection vehicles. According to Trimble, Loadrite extends its Connected Site portfolio by adding weight as an element of information collected at the machine. This capability will enable contractors to use Trimble Connected Site to achieve improved comprehensive real-time intelligence on asset and site productivity for the contractors mixed fleet. Keep Reading
New ARTBA chairman outlines plans for association
Doug Black, president and COO of Oldcastle Inc., was elected 2013-14 chairman of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The election was announced during the association’s national convention Sept. 8-10 in Milwaukee. According to a press release, Black has been a key ARTBA leader for years, serving as senior vice chair, first vice chair, vice chair at-large, president of the Materials & Services Division and co-chair of ARTBA's Strategic Planning Committee. In a Sept. 10 speech, Black outlined several key objectives for the year ahead. First, he said ARTBA will advocate for a significant boost in federal funding for transportation infrastructure as part of the 2014 reauthorization of MAP-21. In addition, Black said ARTBA will be an advocate of facilitating state and local transportation-funding initiatives. Also, as part of the implementation of MAP-21, the association will push for improved policy reforms that affect the industry’s ability to build and maintain America’s infrastructure. Another objective is to improve the safety of workers involved in transportation infrastructure construction projects. “This… Keep Reading
Superior appoints two territory sales managers
Superior Industries Inc. named Terin Louis and Matt Wulf conveyor components territory managers in the Northeast and Midwest, respectively. Louis joins outside sales after serving five years in Superior's engineering department. Wulf, who most recently worked for Superior in customer service and sales estimating in the company's conveyor components division, replaces Ryan Loge. Keep Reading
TBEI names vice president of sales and marketing
Truck Bodies and Equipment International Inc. (TBEI) hired Henry Bell as vice president of sales and marketing, representing the company's Crysteel, DuraClass, J-Craft Inc., Ox Bodies and Rugby Manufacturing brands. Bell has more than 23 years of industry experience, according to a press release. He was most recently president of Fontaine Fifth Wheel Co. Prior to joining Fontaine, Bell was with Heil Environmental Industries for 15 years. Keep Reading
Aggregates-industry suppliers on Forbes list
Four companies supplying the aggregates industry have made the Forbes magazine list of the world's 100 most-innovative companies. The suppliers include FMC Technologies (17), Sandvik (74), Rockwell Automation (83) and Atlas Copco (94). Atlas Copco, which has made the list three years in a row, says its inclusion was based on the company’s market capitalization when compared to anticipated cash flows. According to the magazine, this calculation serves as an indicator of the expected return on investment in coming years as a result of the company’s current innovations. “Innovation has been the driving force behind Atlas Copco’s growth for more than 140 years,” says Jim Levitt, president, Atlas Copco North America LLC. “We are continually looking for ways to be more productive and more sustainable in order to create value for all of our stakeholders, as well as make a positive impact on society through our innovations.” Keep Reading
