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MSHA says fatality, injury rates hit historic lows
Mining fatality and injury rates fell to an all-time low in 2011, according to data MSHA recently released. The fatal injury rate for mining as a whole was 0.0114 per 200,000 hours worked, and the all-injury rate was 2.73 per 200,000 hours worked, down from 0.0234 and 2.81, respectively, in 2010. In the metal and nonmetal mining sector, the fatal injury rate was 0.0084 per 200,000 hours worked, and the all-injury rate was 2.28 per 200,000 hours worked, down from 0.0129 and 2.37, respectively, in 2010. In the coal mining sector, the fatal injury rate was 0.0156 per 200,000 hours worked, and the all-injury rate was 3.38 per 200,000 hours worked, down from 0.0384 and 3.43, respectively, in 2010. MSHA also released a third-quarter summary of mining deaths across the country. From July through September 2012, 11 deaths occurred in work-related accidents – five in metal/nonmetal mining and six in coal mining. Of the five metal and nonmetal mining deaths, two miners died as a result of falls, one miner… Keep Reading
Terex CFO planning retirement
Terex CFO Phil Widman will retire next year, and the company has begun a search to find his replacement. Widman will remain Terex's CFO into the first half of next year. Keep Reading
Supplier expects equipment sales to increase in 2014, 2015
Bill Royce is all too familiar with the buying cycles of U.S. aggregate producers by now. Royce, now the Mid-Atlantic sales manager for KPI-JCI, has seen sales slow in crushing and screening equipment over the last few years. But Royce has reason to believe sales will pick up significantly in the next two or three years. "Producers have been putting off purchasing new equipment since 2006 and 2007," he says. "If houses aren't being built, quarries aren't firing up and machines are not being used at full capacity. If you go through a couple-year period [not buying], then you just put a couple more years onto an existing crusher." Royce adds that the buying lag can be seen across the industry, and because machine lifespans have been extended since the last big buying period he cites in 2006-2007, Joyce expects a wave of producers to come calling for new equipment in the next couple years. "What’s exciting from the manufacturer's vantage point is [buying] goes in cycles," Royce says. "The… Keep Reading
CalCIMA pays tribute to Vulcan Materials director
The California Construction & Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA) named Brian G. Anderson, director of legislative and public affairs for Vulcan Materials Co.'s West region, the winner of its 2012 President’s Award. The award recognizes an association member for dedication to the mission and goals of the association, and for a diligent commitment to the preservation of the industry. According to Gary Hambly, CalCIMA president and CEO, Anderson served as association chair during a critical transition period. “Most notable was his guidance and expertise in achieving legislative success with the governor signing into law seven of nine bills that CalCIMA sponsored the past two years," Hambly says. "And, at the same time, he led a strategic visioning plan for the association and adoption of new bylaws." Keep Reading
Terex striving to improve producer efficiency with service program
Terex Washing Systems has developed a new plant automation and control service that's intended to help customers improve plant efficiency. The service utilizes control systems for the range of Terex washing and water management equipment. The service begins with a simple questionnaire, followed by site meetings, requirements gathering and, eventually, the creation of functional design specifications. Once agreed to by all parties, control system designs are created, including all schematics, bills of material and full software files as required for all automation functions. Terex integrates existing plant controls to its systems, including crushing, screening and even 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 the electrical systems team at Terex Materials Processing. "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 crushing and… Keep Reading
Mack Trucks celebrates milestone for Bulldog hood ornament
The iconic Mack Bulldog hood ornament celebrated its 80th birthday earlier this month. The Bulldog first became associated with Mack Trucks during World War I. According to the company, British soldiers nicknamed the Mack AC models used in the war effort "Bulldog Macks" because of their tenacity. The Bulldog moniker stuck from that point on. Years later in 1932, Alfred Fellows Masury, a chief engineer at Mack Trucks, was in the hospital for surgery. Not one to sit still for long, Masury hand-carved the first model of the Bulldog hood ornament out of a bar of soap during his recovery. Once released from the hospital, Masury applied for a patent on his design. The patent was granted Oct. 11, 1932. Masury was killed in the crash of U.S. Navy airship Akron in 1933, the same year the Bulldog hood ornament began adorning Mack trucks. Keep Reading
Holcim facility achieves safety milestone
Holcim Inc.'s Devil's Slide facility in Morgan, Utah, surpassed the eight-year mark last week without a lost-time injury. Company President Bernard Terver commended the achievement, congratulating the facility's employees for their attention to safety. "Our employees have shown great commitment to implementing our universal safety measures," Terver says. "We're proud of what they have accomplished and look forward to continued excellence." Keep Reading
IRock adds Midwestern dealer
IRock Crushers continues to develop its dealer network, adding RTL Equipment Inc. as a dealer serving Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and northern Missouri. Last month, IRock announced the acquisition of Indy Equipment, a Northeast Ohio dealer for Takeuchi, E-Z Drill and other suppliers. RTL Equipment is headquartered in Grimes, Iowa. It has branches in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Gretna, Neb., as well as an equipment yard in East Moline, Ill. Keep Reading
Cemex wind turbine to produce 30 percent of quarry’s energy
Cemex is commissioning a 1-megawatt wind turbine at its quarry located in Madison, Calif. The turbine is one of three renewable energy projects Cemex plans to soon bring online in California. Cemex says the power generated from the wind turbine is equivalent to powering more than 200 average-sized U.S. households annually. The company expects the turbine to supply about 30 percent of the quarry’s energy. Cemex partnered with Foundation Windpower, a California-based distributed wind development company, for the development, construction, financing and operation of the wind turbine. Keep Reading
