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State of the Union takeaways
A comprehensive, well-funded, multi-year federal surface transportation program that gives aggregate producers the confidence to make long-term investments continues to elude the industry. But President Obama introduced an alternative surface transportation solution Tuesday night during his State of the Union address, proposing a "Fix-It-First" program that he says would put people back to work on the country's tens of thousands of structurally deficient bridges. In this proposal, Obama says taxpayers would not shoulder the entire burden. Instead, Obama seeks federal partnerships with private capital to fund improvements in U.S. infrastructure. Obama did not provide any additional details on "Fix-It-First" during his State of the Union, but he did reference comments from Siemens USA CEO Eric Spiegel, who said that if the U.S. upgrades its infrastructure, more jobs will be created. "Ask any CEO where they'd rather locate and hire, a country with deteriorating roads and bridges or one with high-speed rail and Internet, high-tech schools, self-healing power grids," Obama said Tuesday night. Göran Lindgren, the head of Volvo Construction Equipment’s… Keep Reading
Terex MPS facility unaffected by Roadbuilding sale
The recent announcement of certain Terex Roadbuilding product lines being sold to Fayat, and changes in the Roadbuilding line manufactured in Oklahoma City will not affect the Terex Minerals Processing Systems (MPS) products built there. The Oklahoma City plant remains a Terex facility and is not included in the Fayat transaction. Terex MPS includes a range of crushing equipment and wheeled plants that originally joined the Terex portfolio as part of the Cedarapids acquisition in 1999. These products have been fully integrated into the comprehensive MPS product line, and have been manufactured at the Terex facility in Oklahoma City for more than 2 1/2 years. The former Cedarapids businesses have been managed separately for several years, with crushing and screening equipment as part of the Terex Materials Processing segment, while Roadbuilding products have been part of the Terex Construction segment. Terex MPS will continue to build jaw crushers, cone crushers, impactors and wheeled plants in Oklahoma City, along with screens, feeders and vertical shaft impact crushers in Durand, Mich. Other… Keep Reading
Vulcan’s profitability increases despite fewer shipments
Vulcan Materials Co. released its fourth-quarter statement Thursday, highlighting fourth-quarter earnings of $90 million before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as well as a gross profit increase of $5 million. Including gains on the sale of real estate and businesses, restructuring charges and exchange offer costs, Vulcan's fourth-quarter EBITDA was $137 million. The company's aggregates segment gross profit increase $2 million from the prior year's fourth quarter, and gross profit margin expanded partly due to a 4 percent increase in pricing and despite a 3 percent decline in aggregates shipments. According to Vulcan, aggregates shipments in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina and Texas showed strength, as each increased more than 10 percent versus the prior year. Shipments in California, Georgia and the Midwest were lower, the company says, due in part to fewer large projects than the previous year. "Demand for aggregates in our markets is expected to grow by mid-single digits in 2013," says Don James, Vulcan chairman and CEO. "Aggregates demand from residential construction is expected to increase… Keep Reading
Brennan Industries expands capabilities in Canada
Hydraulic fittings and adapters supplier Brennan Industries Inc. has moved into a new distribution facility in Mississauga, Ontario. "By moving to a more efficient facility, Brennan will be able to streamline the distribution process and serve its customers in Canada even better," says David Carr, Brennan Industries president. Keep Reading
FMI’s latest index another good sign for nonresidential construction
FMI's nonresidential construction index climbed 2.6 points in the first quarter this year to reach the 58.1 mark. The 4.5 percent increase is the result of bright spots in the economy, including a positive outlook on hiring. According to FMI, 45 percent of those on its Nonresidential Construction Index (NRCI) panel expect to increase full-time direct employees by as much as 5 percent this year. Nine percent of panelists expect to decrease their number of full-time direct employees in 2013. In addition, NRCI panelists are slightly more optimistic than last year at this time for growth in nonresidential construction. Nearly 50 percent expect modest growth for 2013, with 18.4 percent predicting 5 percent industry growth is a possibility this year. Keep Reading
Terex Washing Systems launches automation and control initiative
Terex Washing Systems (TWS) has developed a new service, the Plant Automation & Controls Service (PACS), to help its customers improve plant efficiency by using control systems for the range of Terex washing and water management equipment. The service starts with a questionnaire and is followed by site meetings, requirements gathering and, eventually, the creation of functional design specifications. Once agreed by all parties, the full control system designs are created, including all schematics, bills of material and full software files as required for all automation functions. TWS also integrates existing plant controls to their systems, including crushing, screening and third-party wash plants. “Over the past eight years, Terex Materials Processing has established a strong team of electrical, electronic and software engineers employing some of the most experienced and skilled individuals in the marketplace," says Barry McMenamin, manager of Terex Materials Processing's electrical systems team. "This has allowed Terex to develop some of the most advanced and user-friendly control systems in the industry for our full range of mobile and stationary… Keep Reading
Heritage aggregates volume up at Martin Marietta
Martin Marietta Materials released its fourth-quarter results Tuesday, noting growth in heritage aggregates and an increase in average selling price. "Heritage volume growth in the fourth quarter was achieved in each of our reportable groups, leading to an overall increase of 5 percent," says Ward Nye, president and CEO of Martin Marietta. "Underlying this improvement was expansion in our nonresidential and residential end-use markets, continuing trends we have experienced throughout the year. Specifically, Nye says heritage aggregates volume growth reflects a 13 percent increase in shipments to both the nonresidential and residential markets. "The nonresidential market is our second-largest aggregates product line end use, comprising 31 percent of quarterly shipments," he says. "Volume growth was notable in the energy sector, as well as the commercial construction sector, which we believe is beginning to benefit from six consecutive quarters of improvement in the residential end-use market." Nye adds that the infrastructure market represents about half of Martin Marietta's aggregates volumes, and it increased 1.5 percent for the quarter. "We were encouraged… Keep Reading
Holcim, Aggregate Industries name new president and CEO
Holcim U.S. Inc. has named Filiberto Ruiz as the company's president and CEO. Ruiz will also serve aggregate industries U.S. in the same positions. Additionally, Bernard Terver, who is currently a member of the Holcim Ltd. executive committee and a former president and CEO of Holcim and Aggregate Industries, has been named chairman of the board. Keep Reading
Hall of Fame inaugural class announced
Pit & Quarry's inaugural class of Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a black-tie induction ceremony and dinner Sunday, March 17, at 7:00 p.m. CDT. The event follows the NSSGA Chairman's Reception at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, during AGG1. The seven inductees, detailed below in alphabetical order, were selected by a group of peers from a pool of nominees submitted by industry experts and you, our readers. For more information on tickets to the black-tie induction ceremony and dinner in the Lone Star AB ballroom, click here. Emil Deister, Deister Machine Co. Emil Deister, the founder of Deister Machine Co., served as the company's president and general manager from 1912 until his death in 1961. Under Deister's leadership, the company began manufacturing vibrating screens in 1926 for the separation of materials according to particle size. Seven years later, Deister introduced a special screen for sizing the aggregate used in hot-mix asphalt plants, and the company subsequently added vibrating feeders and foundry equipment. Photo: Deister Machine Co. LeRoy Hagenbuch,… Keep Reading
