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Nonresidential building growth takes a sudden dip
The Dodge Momentum Index, a monthly measure of the first report for nonresidential building projects in planning, slipped 0.9 percent in October compared with the previous month, according to McGraw Hill Construction. October’s decline brought the momentum index to 115.3 – down from September’s 116.4. According to McGraw Hill Construction, this retreat may simply be a brief departure from the steady improvement nonresidential building projects in planning have shown since December 2012. At the same time, McGraw Hill Construction indicates that this dip may be a sign of renewed caution on the part of developers. The firm cites uncertainty about the political and economic environment stemming from the October government shutdown, as well as debt ceiling deliberations, as potential sources impacting nonresidential building. Specifically, commercial building plans dropped 2.1 percent while institutional building plans held steady. On the commercial side, a large decline in plans for new offices and stores outweighed gains for new hotel development, according to McGraw Hill Construction. Keep Reading
Talbert Manufacturing adds sales manager
Talbert Manufacturing hired Jennifer Koepke as its sales manager for the west region. Koepke will work directly with Talbert dealers in the western United States and Canada to help them market and sell Talbert trailers. According to a press release, Koepke was most recently the general manager at Sidump’r Trailer in Plainview, Neb., where she was responsible for rebranding and restructuring the company. Keep Reading
WEG Electric expanding in Mexico, China
WEG Electric plans to invest $345 million over the next five years to expand and increase production in Mexico and China, the company announced in a press release. According to WEG, its existing manufacturing complex in Mexico will benefit from expanded production capacity, as well as increased vertical integration, making it similar to WEG’s largest industrial complex in Brazil. The expansion will include the construction of a cast iron foundry that the company says will be capable of supplying all the needs for cast iron components in industrial electric motor frame sizes manufactured in Mexico and delivered to North American markets. The total investment is expected to be close to $210 million over the next five years, the company says. In China, WEG will build a new industrial electric motor manufacturing plant. In addition to this investment, WEG will expand an existing plant in China. Investments will total about $135 million through the year 2020. Both plants will help to meet the increased demand of the Asian market. Keep Reading
Xylem appoints national accounts manager for Godwin brand
Xylem Dewatering Solutions, which represents Xylem's Godwin brand, appointed Gregg Leslie as national accounts manager. Leslie will focus on national accounts customers, including government organizations and co-op services. According to a press release, Leslie has been in the pumping industry for 18 years. He previously worked with the Godwin brand as area sales manager for the Southeast. Keep Reading
Tradestar opens new facility, reaches milestone
Tradestar Corp. opened a new truck facility as part of its 45th anniversary celebration. The facility, which Tradestar says was necessary because it is projected to double in size over the next five years, spans more than 100,000 sq. ft. According to a press release, Tradestar expects the facility to help it shorten the time to make deliveries. Keep Reading
Mining societies unite to form technical partnership
Four global mining organizations, including the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. (SME), entered into a memorandum of understanding to establish the Global Mineral Professionals Alliance (GMPA). The organizations, which include the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, and Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, will share education and public information. Services and benefits will include technical workshops and meetings, access to print and online libraries, print and online publications and host member registration rates for conferences. Over time, the GMPA intends to invite all professional and technical mining organizations from around the world to consider membership in the alliance. Keep Reading
Eagle Crusher names regional sales manager
Eagle Crusher Co. Inc. added Timothy Saine as regional sales manager. According to a press release, Saine has experience with manufacturers and distributors in the heavy equipment, crushing and screening industries. Keep Reading
IRock names eastern regional sales manager
IRock Crushers hired Thomas Jordan as its eastern regional sales manager. Jordan is tasked with strengthening IRock's dealer network along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. According to a press release, Jordan is originally from Northern Ireland. He moved to the United States in 1999 and has worked as a dealer manager and sales manager for the past 17 years in the crushing and screening industry. Keep Reading
Ongoing recovery drives Vulcan’s third-quarter growth
Vulcan Materials Co.'s third-quarter net sales increased 13 percent versus the prior year's third quarter, the company announced upon releasing its results for the third quarter. In addition, the company's gross profit increased 25 percent from the prior year as each of Vulcan's major product lines grew in unit shipments from the prior year. The company's aggregates shipments increased 9 percent; volumes in ready-mixed concrete and cement increased 17 percent and 10 percent respectively; and asphalt mix volumes increased 4 percent. "Our third quarter results reflect the continued recovery of our markets and the benefits of the company's powerful earnings leverage," says Don James, Vulcan's chairman and CEO, in a press release. "A 9 percent increase in aggregates volume helped drive a 20 percent increase in aggregates gross profit." In the third quarter, cash gross profit per ton of aggregates increased to $4.83 per ton – Vulcan's highest quarterly unit profitability in more than four years, according to James. "As a result, cash gross profit per ton on a trailing… Keep Reading
