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Ten U.S. dealers certified into Michelin repairs program
Michelin Earthmover has certified 10 U.S. dealers into the Michelin Earthmover Performance Repairs program since its inception earlier this year. The dealers went through a process of certifying their repair locations through a comprehensive audit, according to a press release. According to Michelin, the program is designed to develop validated repair shops throughout the industry. This includes training, inventory control systems, traceability methods and a quality repair process. Thus far, Michelin has certified five TCI Tire Centers locations (Mulberry, Fla.; Saginaw, Mich.; York, Pa.; Decatur, Ala.; and San Antonio); A&E Tire in Denver; Meekoff Tire in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Purcell Tire in Potosi, Mo., and Phoenix; Ziegler Tire in Massillon, Ohio. Keep Reading
July construction recedes
New construction starts in July decreased 2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $479.1 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. July statistics lowered the Dodge Index to 101, down from a revised 103 for June. The nonbuilding construction sector, comprised of public works and electric utilities, pulled back 18 percent in July after several large projects lifted the category in June. At the same time, nonresidential building strengthened by 8 percent, regaining some of the upward momentum that began to take hold in April and May. Residential building showed 3 percent growth. For the first seven months of 2013, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were reported at $281.7 billion – up 1 percent from the same period a year ago. The year-to-date amount for total construction was restrained by a steep decline for new electric utility starts. If electric utilities are excluded, total construction starts for this year’s January-through-July period would be up 11 percent. “Aside from the public works shortfall, the July statistics provided evidence that… Keep Reading
Shapiro named CalCIMA general counsel
Kerry Shapiro of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP was selected as general counsel for the California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA). The association's general counsel advises the association on legislative, regulatory and judicial policies, including policy issues at the federal, state and local levels. In addition, the position provides legal advice on association management. CalCIMA's board of directors unanimously selected Shapiro after a solicitation of CalCIMA member law firms. A new general counsel was sought after Jim Good retired in March. Keep Reading
ACG Materials acquires pits in Eagle Ford shale region
ACG Materials acquired the assets of Pinnacle Materials LLC’s Eagle Ford Division in south Texas. ACG Materials will now operate five pits – located in Dilley, Pearsall, Eagle Pass and the Three Rivers area – that Pinnacle Materials previously managed. ACG Materials' headquarters will remain in Dilley, Texas. According to a press release, ACG Materials will sell screened and crushed hard stone aggregate and arrange transportation from mine to job site. ACG Materials will also provide all ancillary hardware items such as fencing, cattle guards and weir gates required for new drilling locations, as well as other bulk materials to support site work for producers and contractors in the Eagle Ford shale area. Keep Reading
A $100 billion company without a finance department
Accounting. Finance. Human resources. Information technology. All four of these areas are vital for multimillion-dollar companies to function, but Cemex, as Fast Company reports, outsourced those functions last year to IBM as part of a 10-year, $1 billion contract. "What were once just outsourcing firms are now increasingly able to serve as business partners and collaborators who are able to take entire functions off your hands so you can specialize further on what really gives you an advantage," writes Fast Company's Kaihan Krippendorff. "[Cemex] is becoming a radically different kind of organization, carving out what does not contribute directly to its competitive advantage, freeing itself to focus more fully on what makes it competitive. Imagine, a $100 billion company that doesn’t run a finance department!" Learn more about Cemex's deal at www.fastcompany.com. Keep Reading
Three Cat vice presidents to retire; others shift roles
Three long-time Caterpillar vice presidents – Steve Fisher, Steve Larson and Bill Rohner – announced their plans to retire Feb. 1, 2014. Fisher, vice president of the Large Power Systems & Growth Markets Division, joined Caterpillar in 1978 and was instrumental in the company's mergers and acquisitions activities, according to a press release. Larson, vice president of the Parts Distribution & Diversified Products Division, spent more than 34 years with Caterpillar. Rohner, vice president of Cat's Electric Power Division, spent more than 41 years with the company. Tana Utley, vice president of the Industrial Power Systems & Growth Markets Division, will replace Fisher as vice president of Large Power Systems & Growth Markets. Ramin Younessi will take Utley's place as vice president with responsibility for the Industrial Power Systems & Growth Markets Division. To replace Larson, Caterpillar is realigning its Parts Distribution & Diversified Products Division and its Customer Services Support Division. As part of the realignment, Cat's Parts Distribution business will be integrated into the Customer Services Support Division.… Keep Reading
Holt Cat taking on massive expansion project
Holt Cat is undergoing a $77 million expansion due to increased demand from the Eagle Ford shale and other oil-and-gas plays, according to the San Antonio Business Journal. Among the upgrades is a new, 40,000-sq.-ft. repair shop that's due for completion next spring at its headquarters. Holt will convert its existing 25,000-sq.-ft. shop into a component-repair and warehouse extension. Keep Reading
W.S. Tyler offering ‘The Rock Book’ in additional languages
W.S. Tyler released "The Rock Book" in Chinese, French and Spanish. The book was first released in 2012 in English. According to W.S. Tyler, the new language editions include the latest technologies, definitions and specification tables for screening, washing and pelletizing operations. "The Rock Book" includes full-color images, detailed 3D schematic drawings and specific descriptions throughout its five sections: screens, components, equipment, services and resources. "The Rock Book" is free and available in print, online or as a downloadable PDF. Visit www.tylerrockbook.com to request a printed copy or get instant access to the digital version. Keep Reading
OSHA proposes new standards to limit crystalline silica exposure
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed a rule to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in American workers. OSHA seeks to lower worker exposure to crystalline silica, which, according to a press release, kills hundreds of workers and sickens thousands more each year. After the proposal is published, the public will have 90 days to submit written comments. Public hearings will follow. The proposed rule includes two separate standards: one for general industry and maritime employment, and one for construction. According to OSHA, it currently enforces 40-year-old permissible exposure limits for crystalline silica in general industry, construction and shipyards. OSHA says the limits are outdated, inconsistent between industries and do not adequately protect worker health. OSHA's proposed rule includes a new exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica and details widely used methods for controlling worker exposure, conducting medical surveillance, training workers about silica-related hazards and recordkeeping measures. OSHA estimates that the proposed rule will result in saving nearly 700 lives per year and prevent… Keep Reading
