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IMT names new customer support manager
Iowa Mold Tooling Co. Inc. has promoted Laurie Johnson to customer support manager. Johnson has served as the company’s manager of global procurement and supply chain and has worked at IMT for more than 13 years. In her new role, Johnson will be responsible for overseeing the company’s customer support team, which will comprise of customer service, order entry and master scheduling. Keep Reading
Report: Aggregates production up slightly in 2012
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released its final 2012 statistics related to aggregates production, noting that the estimated annual output of crushed stone produced for consumption in 2012 was 1.16 billion metric tons (Gt) – a slight increase compared with that of 2011. An estimated 282 million metric tons (Mt) of crushed stone were produced and shipped for consumption in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2012 alone – a slight decrease compared with that of the same 2011 period. Also, the estimated production for consumption of crushed stone in the fourth quarter of 2012 increased over the fourth quarter of 2011 in four of the nine geographic divisions USGS measures. Pit & Quarry published USGS's preliminary 2012 estimates in late January for the full year and final quarter. The estimated annual output of construction sand and gravel produced for consumption in 2012, meanwhile, was 823 Mt. That is a slight increase compared with 2011. The estimated output of construction sand and gravel produced and shipped for consumption… Keep Reading
Vulcan economist offers forecast at GCAA event
Baron Worthington, manager of economic analysis at Vulcan Materials Co., shared his outlook on the various construction sectors Feb. 27 during a short session at the Georgia Construction Aggregate Association's 2013 Management Workshop in Atlanta. According to Worthington, housing starts is the category providing the biggest reason for optimism among Georgia aggregate producers. "We're coming off some really low numbers," he says. "Still, this is a great sign. Housing tends to lead construction. In Georgia, this is happening all over the state." Worthington is also optimistic about Georgia highway awards. Short-term growth is somewhat negative, he says, but his long-term forecast is positive. Georgia infrastructure awards, meanwhile, are negative for both the short and long term. The nonresidential building trend Worthington sees developing in Georgia is another concern. "The short-term momentum has dropped off," he says. Construction of schools in Georgia has declined 59 percent since 2008, Worthington adds, but he sees growth in this area because the demographics within the state dictate a need for new facilities. "Demand is… Keep Reading
Holcim, Aggregate Industries mark centennial with service
Holcim U.S. and Aggregate Industries U.S. launched an employee volunteer initiative to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its parent company, Holcim Ltd. To mark the milestone, the company launched Together for Communities, an initiative in which employees led local volunteer projects. Over the course of a year, employees contributed more than 34,600 volunteer hours through a variety of projects. A combined 4,194 employees completed 263 projects. Holcim U.S. employees volunteered more than 17,800 hours of time and participated in 134 projects. Many projects focused on needs specific to the plants' locations, such as the United Way Day of Caring, Washington County's Homeless Resource Day and work at local food pantries. Other activities focused on the environment, including work with the Pathfinder Regional Park, the Mississippi River Clean Up, Antietam Creek Rubbish Roundup and the Million Trees project. Aggregate Industries U.S. employees contributed more than 16,800 hours of service to 129 projects. Many projects focused on education within the community like Touch-a-Truck events, quarry tours and an ongoing relationship forged with… Keep Reading
RDO to sell Maptek long-range laser scanners
Maptek has signed an agreement with RDO Integrated Controls (RDOIC) to resell Maptek I-Site survey systems. RDOIC is RDO Equipment Co.’s positioning technology division, supplying equipment for mobile mapping and terrestrial scanning into various industries, including mining. Maptek and RDOIC started discussing the partnership shortly after MINExpo 2012, where Maptek was showcasing its I-Site 8400 and 8810 laser scanners. Keep Reading
Edwards, Nye among Young Leaders speakers
Details on the next Young Leaders Annual Meeting, to be held May 14-18 in New Orleans, have been released. Among this year's featured speakers are Ward Nye, president and CEO of Martin Marietta Materials; William J. Sandbrook, president and CEO of U.S. Concrete Inc.; Randy Lake, CEO of Oldcastle Materials Inc.; Mark S. Fernandes, chief leadership officer at Luck Cos.; and Gus Edwards, NSSGA president and CEO. The operations segment of the conference will be held at various sites around New Orleans. Attendees will tour the levee systems protecting the low-lying city and visit the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Tulane University’s Stephen A. Nelson will guide the tour and explain what happened to precipitate this natural disaster and the measures taken to improve the levee system’s design. Visit http://youngleaders.nssga.org for additional details. Keep Reading
Groundbreaking transportation bill passed in Virginia
Virginia's House of Delegates and State Senate passed a comprehensive, long-term transportation bill Feb. 23. Now, the state legislature awaits Gov. Bob McDonnell's (R-Va.) signature. The bill will be covered by a few different sources according to the Washington Post, which reports that McDonnell convinced Democrats to move $200 million of general funds toward this bill. Federal online sales tax money and an additional 0.3 percent on sales tax, as well as a new taxing authority from the most congested parts of the state, will provide the rest of the funding needed to meet Virginia's increased transportation needs, McDonnell says. If McDonnell signs the bill, which he is expected to, a 17.5-cents-per-gallon gas tax would be eliminated and a 3.5 percent wholesale tax would be imposed in the state. "With this bill, gas prices will be reduced, and we will reduce our historic reliance on the gas tax which is in a long-term decline," McDonnell says. "Today we have stated unequivocally that transportation is a core function of government, by… Keep Reading
Two metal/nonmetal deaths occur in January
According to MSHA, two miners were killed in the metal and nonmetal sector in January 2013. One person died when a large rock fell and struck him while in a manlift taking samples from a highwall. The other person was killed when caught between moving parts while repairing a leaking hydraulic cylinder on a lime preheater. The coal sector, meanwhile, had six people killed over 25 days between Jan. 26 and Feb. 19. Two of the six were related to machinery while another two occurred in power haulage accidents. Photo: MSHA Keep Reading
Two metal/nonmetal deaths occur in January
According to MSHA, two miners were killed in the metal and nonmetal sector in January 2013. One person died when a large rock fell and struck him while in a manlift taking samples from a highwall. The other person was killed when caught between moving parts while repairing a leaking hydraulic cylinder on a lime preheater. The coal sector, meanwhile, had six people killed over 25 days between Jan. 26 and Feb. 19. Two of the six were related to machinery while another two occurred in power haulage accidents. Keep Reading
