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Major Wire announces distributor for Alabama
Major Wire Industries Ltd. has named Industrial Mining Supply its new dealer for aggregate operations in Alabama. The dealership will offer all of Major Wire’s screen media products. Keep Reading
Cat rolls out Tier 4 Final wheel loader
Caterpillar is debuting its new 988K wheel loader at Bauma 2013 in Germany and planning to make it commercially available in August. According to Cat, the 988K features redesigned loader linkage, drive train modifications, a redesigned cab and enhancements in safety and serviceability. A Cat C18 engine powers the wheel loader and is available in Tier 4 Final and Tier 2 versions. Z-bar loader linkage replaces the 988H mono-boom design and expands the 988K's versatility in smaller quarries and underground applications. Additionally, Cats says the new design, which uses solid steel lift arms in either a standard or high-lift configuration, reduces machine height at maximum lift yet increases dump clearance. The design also shortens machine length for greater maneuverability. Keep Reading
Safety, dust management among NSA meeting topics
The National Slag Association (NSA) held its regional meeting March 19-20 at the new Caterpillar Visitor Center in Peoria, Ill. Attendees represented a cross-section of steel producers, slag processors, equipment manufacturers and service providers who gathered to discuss safety innovations, environmental issues, regulatory trends and new equipment. Among the topics discussed were industry governing bodies, best practices, a review of EPA legislation and fugitive dust management. Most discussions were dominated by safety and environmental content. The event was attended by more than 50 active and allied NSA members, including organizations that are actively engaged in iron and steel slag processing, refining and the marketing of these slags, as well as those involved in related activities, such as manufacturers and users of iron and steel slags. “The steel industry doesn’t have a governing body such as the mining industry has in MSHA,” says Aaron Valencic, Dust Control Technology's vice president. “And OSHA really isn’t comprehensive enough to cover all steel industry activity. For that reason, NSA considers part of its mission… Keep Reading
Cat showcasing hydraulic mining shovel at Bauma
Caterpillar's 6020B hydraulic mining shovel, on display at Bauma 2013 in Germany, is a new model with a 24-ton payload and 240-ton operating weight. Cat is positioning the 6020B with its 777G off-highway truck for loading and hauling. According to Cat, the 6020B hydraulic mining shovel was designed for simplicity and reliability without compromising safety. Unrestricted lines of sight to the crawler tracks and pit floor aid operators when repositioning the shovel and when loading trucks. The cab design includes two additional seats for a trainer and an observer. A 1,043-hp Cat engine powers the hydraulics. The 6020B will be available commercially in the fourth quarter of this year. Keep Reading
Atlas Copco names parts and service VP
Dave Pietrzykowski has been appointed vice president of parts and service for Atlas Copco. In his new role, Pietrzykowski will retain responsibility for all parts and service operations, including customer service, inventory control, logistics and procurement, warranty, service administration, training initiatives, store parts and service development, distributor business management and the technical management team. Pietrzykowski started with Atlas Copco as business line manager for rental fleet and used equipment. He later served as business line manager for rock drilling tools. He's also been a sales engineer, worldwide marketing manager and vice president of sales and marketing. Keep Reading
Report: Record-low fatality, injury rates established
MSHA released preliminary data earlier this week that indicates 2012 had the lowest fatality and injury rates in the history of U.S. mining. The fatality rate last year was 0.0107 deaths per 200,000 hours worked. The rate of reported injuries was 2.56 per 200,000 hours worked. These reductions replace the previous year’s record historical-low rates, respectively. Although the number of mines in the U.S. decreased slightly, the number of miners increased from 381,209 to 387,671. Thirty-five miners died on the job in 2012, tying the record-low number of deaths in mining set in 2009. The number of citations and orders MSHA issued fell from 157,052 in 2011 to 140,007 in 2012 – an 11 percent decrease. In metal and nonmetal mining, the record-low fatality rate was 0.0080 deaths per 200,000 hours worked. Sixteen miners died in on-the-job accidents, equaling the record low set in 2011. The reported injury rate of 2.19 per 200,000 hours worked also was a record low. Citations and orders issued dropped from 63,601 in 2011 to… Keep Reading
Lehigh Hanson plant achieves an industry first
Lehigh Hanson Inc.'s Mission Valley Rock plant in Sunol, Calif., recently became the first aggregates production site to achieve the EPA’s Energy Star Challenge for Industry. The Mission Valley Rock plant reduced its energy intensity by 12.2 percent within one year, according to Lehigh Hanson. Under the Energy Star Challenge for Industry, EPA is working with individual manufacturing sites and their parent companies to fight climate change through improvements in energy efficiency. The program's goal is to improve energy efficiency by 10 percent or more. Lehigh Hanson says its own accomplishment is equivalent to 28,987 mmBtus of annual source energy avoided and 817 metric tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions avoided. The Mission Valley Rock plant was able to reduce its energy intensity by taking a holistic approach to reducing energy consumption. Plant management, with support from personnel at the company’s technical competency center in Irving, Texas, completed a comprehensive review of the major systems at the plant, including crushers, conveyors, pumps, screens, feeders, fans, heating, air compressors and other… Keep Reading
Cat showcases track drills, hybrid excavator in Peoria
Caterpillar hosted a special event April 3-5 at the Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center in Peoria, Ill., showing off a few new products for the trade press. Among the products Cat covered were its track drills and the 336E H hybrid excavator. The 450F backhoe loader was also discussed and demonstrated. One track drill Caterpillar's Matt Jacobs and Jeff Dudley discussed is the MD5090, a non-cabbed unit that can drill more than one hole before needing to be moved to another location. Jacobs and Dudley also showed off the MD5075, which has a hydraulically operated rod changer. The next track drill Cat is taking to market is the MD5150, which has a hole diameter of up to 6 in. The ability to service the MD5150 has improved, Dudley says, because all service can be done at ground level. The unit, which Cat says is an improvement over the MD5125, eliminated about 30 lubrication points with pins and bushings. The drill itself also has remarkably fewer parts – 78 in all… Keep Reading
Crusher manufacturer expanding into U.S.
Portable crusher manufacturer Elrus Aggregates Systems, a Canadian-based company, is expanding into the United States with the opening of operations in Eloy, Ariz. The coming months will entail facility expansion, hiring and training employees with a grand opening scheduled for late summer 2013. Establishing the Eloy site is the second step of a larger expansion into the United States, according to Elrus. The manufacturing capacity in Eloy will serve demand from the U.S. and provide extra capacity to meet continued demand in Canada. Elrus is also in the process of establishing sales and service offices, and it recently acquired and opened a facility in Sumner, Wash. Keep Reading
