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Astec Industries celebrating anniversary
Astec Industries Inc., which grew from a local manufacturer of asphalt mixing plants and equipment into a family of 19 subsidiaries, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Aggregate processing and mining equipment is just one segment Astec's operations are divided into. The company also specializes in production equipment, mobile asphalt paving equipment, and underground boring, directional drilling and trenching equipment. Keep Reading
ISCO Industries certified for quality management system
ISCO Industries, a high-density polyethylene piping manufacturer, recently received ISO 9001:2008 certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its quality management system. ISO 9001:2008 applies to the management processes that influence product or service quality. The certificate of registration was issued by FM Approvals LLC, an organization that independently audited and confirmed that ISCO Industries is in conformity with ISO 9001:2008. “ISO 9001:2008 is the natural progression of our total quality system," says Lee Mizell, ISCO COO. "Back in the late 1990s, ISCO was one of the first to achieve FM approvals. Now, ISCO has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification to cover the scope of sourcing, delivery, manufacturing and equipment rental of piping solutions." Keep Reading
Superior draws 2,000 to employee appreciation event
Superior Industries hosted its annual employee appreciation event earlier this week. Employees and their family members were invited to a free evening that included a meal and private access to amusement rides at the local county fairgrounds in Morris, Minn. “We are blessed with a growing group of very loyal, hard-working employees,” says Scott Arndt, Superior’s director or human resources. “The night gave us an opportunity to remind our workforce that we care for them, acknowledge their commitment to our core values and appreciate their extra hard work.” Keep Reading
Vulcan recognized for safety achievement, land reclamation
MSHA has recognized Vulcan Materials Co.'s Calera Quarry for outstanding safety achievement. Vulcan's Calera employees have worked since February 2006 – more than 1.2 million man-hours – without a lost-time injury, and more than 500,000 man-hours without a medical case. In a letter to Calera Plant Manager Terry Cummins, MSHA's Southeast District Manager Michael Davis writes, "I want to thank each of you for the personal effort you make toward a safe and healthful work environment. To achieve this notable safety and health record is quite an accomplishment." In other Vulcan news, two of the company's Virginia sites were recently recognized for innovative reclamation practices. The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance presented the awards to Vulcan for its Skippers Quarry and Curles Neck Sand & Gravel operations. The 747-acre Skippers Quarry, located just south of Emporia, Va., supplies the coastal plains of Virginia and North Carolina with granite aggregates ranging in size from sand to armor stone. The quarry is somewhat unique given… Keep Reading
Liebherr creates marketing parts manager position
Mike Balella has joined Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. as manager of parts marketing. In the new role, Balella will work closely with the Liebherr dealer organization to enhance opportunities to increase sales and improve customer service for after-market repair parts. Balella will coordinate parts pricing on competitive items and add additional product offerings to support Liebherr’s market presence in the United States. Keep Reading
Nonresidential building scene showing improvement
The Dodge Momentum Index, a monthly measure of the first report for nonresidential building projects in planning, climbed 8.1 percent in July after retreating a revised 2.4 percent in June, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. The momentum index for July came in at 98.8, up from June’s 91.4 revised level. According to McGraw-Hill, the month’s improvement is consistent with last week’s employment report, which showed a stronger-than-expected increase of 163,000 jobs. Although further increases in the index would be needed to suggest a true rebound in construction, July's gain could be considered a first step in that direction. Both the commercial and institutional components of the momentum index rose in July. The institutional building segment advanced 9.0 percent after an 11.2 percent decline in June. A 5.8 percent increase in new planning projects for education buildings aided the gain in institutional building. The commercial building segment climbed 7.3 percent in June, even stronger than last month’s revised 6.7 percent improvement. Commercial building was helped by a small 2.5 percent gain in… Keep Reading
Cement consumption expected to exceed earlier expectations
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has nearly doubled its expected 2012 cement consumption figures in a revised forecast that reflects the favorable weather much of the United States has had, gains in residential and nonresidential construction activity, and gains in cement intensities. PCA revised its spring forecast upward, anticipating a 6.9 percent increase in 2012 from 2011 levels, followed by a 5.8 percent jump in 2013 and a 10.9 percent increase in 2014. “In addition to great construction weather during the first half of the year, real put-in-place construction activity is up 4.2 percent compared to 2011 levels,” says Ed Sullivan, PCA chief economist. “We expect to see a 5.5 percent gain on real construction activity this year after seven consecutive years of decline.” Beyond 2012, Sullivan says the near-term economic outlook is uncertain. The uncertainty will inhibit stronger growth conditions from materializing, he says. “If Congress fails to address the fiscal cliff issue during the first or second quarter of 2013, there is the potential for severe adverse economic… Keep Reading
Fairmount Minerals recognized for community outreach again
Fairmount Minerals’ Best Sand mining facility earned an honorable mention for public outreach at the Interstate Mining Compact Commission’s 2012 Mineral Education Awards. Best Sand’s employees have made public outreach and education a priority in their day-to-day operations. Sixteen hundred members of the local community attended Best Sand’s “Party in the Pit” mine open house and zero-waste event. Also, 65 fifth graders from Grant Elementary in Willoughby, Ohio, were granted a tour and learned about sand mining. Fairmount Minerals’ Wedron Silica sand-mining facility earned a community relations award earlier this summer from the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers for outstanding community involvement. Keep Reading
Webinar to outline transportation bill details rescheduled
Jack Schenendorf, an attorney with the law firm Covington & Burling LLP and a staff member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will lead an NSSGA webinar Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. EDT that outlines what’s in the transportation bill for your business these next two years. The webinar was originally scheduled for July 30. Schenendorf, who has served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for nearly 25 years, will focus on the bill’s funding, program reforms and streamlining provisions. Keep Reading
