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Second quarter aggregate production up considerably
Preliminary numbers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) suggest aggregate production rose sharply in the second quarter. Increases in domestic production for crushed stone, sand and gravel were substantial compared to production in the first quarter of 2012, primarily owing to seasonal variations. USGS says crushed stone production was up 47 percent over the first quarter, and construction sand and gravel was up 63 percent. Construction materials showed much more modest increases when compared to the second quarter of last year, with crushed stone and construction sand and gravel each up 5 percent. The increase in construction materials production compared to production in the second quarter of 2011 could be the continuing effects of the unusually warm winter weather in the eastern half of the United States. The increase may also reflect specific increases in construction after several years of decline. Total construction spending during the first half of 2012 was up 9 percent over the corresponding period of 2011. Keep Reading
Mack Trucks expands U.S. manufacturing presence
Mack Trucks Inc. has moved production of its mDrive automated manual transmission from Sweden to Hagerstown, Md. More than one-third of the highway trucks currently rolling off the assembly line at Mack's truck plant in Macungie, Pa., feature the automated manual transmission, which is available on Mack Pinnacle-model highway tractors. U.S. production of the transmission was possible because of an $8 million investment in the Hagerstown manufacturing plant to create a new assembly line, install the necessary equipment and train personnel. Mack says the investment also created 50 new jobs at the facility. Keep Reading
Hildestad retiring, Goodin to assume role at MDU Resources
Terry Hildestad, president and CEO of MDU Resources, has announced plans to retire come January after a 38-year career with the company. David Goodin, who is currently president and CEO of the company's four utility businesses, has been chosen to succeed Hildestad as president and CEO. Hildestad began his career with the company in 1974 at Knife River Corp., where he served in several positions before becoming its president in 1991. He was named president and CEO of Knife River in 1993. He became president and COO of MDU Resources in 2005 and was named to his current position in 2006. Keep Reading
Huibers named president of Volvo Penta Americas
Ron Huibers has been appointed president of Volvo Penta of the Americas. He succeeds Clint Moore, who has announced plans to retire. Huibers, who currently serves Volvo Truck Americas as president of sales and marketing for North America, will assume the new position on Sept. 1. He has been with Volvo Group for 20 years. Keep Reading
Dynatek chooses distributor for Mid-Atlantic states
Dynatek Articulated Loading Systems has chosen PennQuip Inc. to distribute its loading systems in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. PennQuip operates from offices in Maple Glen and Muncy, Pa. Keep Reading
Atlas Copco appoints line manager for top hammer equipment
Ross Gjerde has been named product line manager for Atlas Copco Construction Mining Technique USA's top hammer equipment. Gjerde previously served as a product and business development manager for Atlas Copco’s parts and service division. His new duties include developing sales and marketing strategies, supporting sales channels and driving product development to meet customer requirements for top hammer equipment. Keep Reading
Sany appoints Frank as chairman
Sany America has appointed Tim Frank to the newly created position of chairman. Frank will be responsible for manufacturing, sales, marketing and support for all Sany equipment products in North and Central America. Frank was most recently a consultant working on global strategic planning for the Sany's board of directors in Shanghai, China. He has also served as vice president of retail distribution, operations strategy and marketing at Volvo Construction Equipment. Keep Reading
Kaman Industrial Technologies acquires Zeller
Kaman Industrial Technologies Corp. has acquired the assets of Zeller Corp., a distributor of electrical and automation components. The acquisition extends and expands Kaman's automation and motion control product segment to include electrical controls and power distribution. Zeller, which also represents Kollmorgen, Phoenix Contact, Rittal and Sick, distributes products related to motion control, programmable logic controller-based automation, machine vision and power distribution. Zeller employs 240 people and has operations across New York state and in Massachusetts and North Carolina. According to Kaman CEO Neal Keating, the company will add Zeller President Gary Haseley to the Kaman executive team. Haseley will serve as Zeller’s vice president and general manager. Keep Reading
Metso adds H.O. Penn to distributor network
Metso has named H.O. Penn Machinery Co. Inc. a crushing and screening distributor for its contractor and recycling customer segments. The distribution territory for H.O. Penn, which is headquartered in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., covers the lower 13 counties of New York for mobile crushers and screens. H.O. Penn also distributes mobile screens to Connecticut, and it operates out of six locations. Keep Reading
