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Miller consolidates Smith Equipment Products under brand
Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. consolidated the Smith Equipment oxy-fuel cutting equipment product line under the Miller brand. The consolidation expands the current Miller metal cutting offering, which includes a variety of portable plasma cutting packages. The oxy-fuel product line will continue to be manufactured in Watertown, S.D., to the same standards, the company says. The only difference is that the name on the product is now Miller. Keep Reading
Report: Sand to remain in high demand as proppant
Demand for proppants, which are key to North America's expansion of oil and gas production, is expected to increase over the next four years and surpass $9 billion, according to a Cleveland market research firm. Raw sand will continue to account for the majority of proppant demand, the firm adds. According to The Freedonia Group Inc., which produced a study called "Proppants in North America," North American proppant demand has risen sharply since 2002, rising from $250 million to nearly $5 billion in 2012. While the firm expects growth to slow from earlier years, it still expects double-digit annual gains and overall demand to reach more than 100 billion pounds in 2017. The demand is expected to be valued at $9.4 billion. Last year, sand accounted for 90 percent of proppant demand. The Freedonia Group expects sand to account for 91 percent of demand in 2017. Overall, proppant demand is expected to nearly double by 2017. Keep Reading
Transportation bill fails to pass before congressional recess
Several senators blocked a proposed $54 billion measure to fund highways and other 2014 transportation projects, and House of Representatives members canceled a vote on a lesser $44 billion proposal before Congress embarked on its five-week summer recess. Bloomberg News reports Senate Republicans rejected the $54 billion bill because it exceeded spending limits previously agreed to by both Democrats and Republicans. House Republicans called off a vote on the $44 billion measure because they likely did not have the support needed to pass it. Congress returns in September, but Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said in a statement that passing a transportation bill then is bleak at best. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) added that Congress will have to extend current federal funding for a short period starting Oct. 1 when the government's next fiscal year begins. Keep Reading
Kaman acquires Western Fluid Components
The distribution segment for Kaman Corp. acquired Western Fluid Components Inc., a distributor of hydraulic pneumatic and industrial hose, tubing, fittings and related accessories. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Western, a Parker Hannifin distributor, operates from four locations in Washington with a team of 20 employees. The addition expands Kaman’s Parker Store network to 17. Keep Reading
Vulcan experiences second-quarter increases
Vulcan Materials Co.'s net sales and gross profit both increased in the second quarter of this year, the company said upon releasing its quarterly performance results to the public. Vulcan's net sales increased 7 percent versus the prior year, and its gross profit went up 25 percent compared with the second quarter of 2012. Aggregates shipments increased 2 percent from the prior year, the company said, and pricing went up 4 percent versus 2012. "Each of our operating segments reported solid growth in second quarter earnings, contributing to improved gross profit margin and earnings per share," says Don James, Vulcan chairman and CEO. "We achieved these results despite challenging, wet weather conditions that sharply reduced June shipments in many markets." James added that Vulcan continues to benefit from recovery in private construction activity, particularly residential construction, in many of the company's key markets. "We realized strong increases in second-quarter aggregates shipments in key states – driven mostly by housing demand," he says. "Growth in residential construction activity, and its traditional… Keep Reading
NSSGA seeks to hire operations and engineering executive
NSSGA is actively searching for a person to fill an operations and engineering executive role. The individual in this position will direct all operations and engineering functions of the organization, as well as provide industry oversight, technical guidance and information dissemination on plant and quarry matters affecting the aggregates industry across the U.S. A Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, preferably materials, mining or construction management, is required. A minimum of seven years' experience with aggregates production, materials science, industry economics or regulatory compliance is also required. Applicants are asked to provide their salary history and expectations along with a letter of interest and résumé. Applications can be submitted to jobs@nssga.org. They will be accepted through Aug. 20, 2013. Keep Reading
Weather slows Martin Marietta but quarterly net sales still up
Martin Marietta Materials Inc. reported a 4-percent net sales increase Tuesday, when the company released its second-quarter performance results. Pricing growth of all aggregates products and a quarterly net sales record the company's Specialty Products business established drove Martin Marietta's growth. Still, Martin Marietta says wet weather constrained sales in certain regions, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast. The company estimates that precipitation reduced shipment volumes between 1.5 million and 1.7 million tons. “The second-quarter results show our ability to manage through weather-related disruptions, which did not prevent us from performing well," says Ward Nye, president and CEO. "More importantly and for the longer term, we are well positioned to leverage a strengthening business environment for our products. "To that end, we continue to see positive indicators of construction activity, including double-digit growth on a year-to-date basis in the private-sector construction market. Historically, increases in private-sector construction have led to growth in public-sector construction. We anticipate this trend will continue and remain well-positioned to serve these opportunities." The nonresidential market,… Keep Reading
MSHA shares results of June impact inspections
MSHA issued 157 citations, 10 orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at four metal/nonmetal mines and nine coal mines in June. In metal/nonmetal mines between April 2010 and June 2013, total violations decreased 18 percent; significant and substantial (S&S) violations decreased 37 percent; unwarrantable failure violations decreased 65 percent; and operator-reported lost-time injuries per 200,000 hours worked decreased 26 percent. Keep Reading
Senators press for action on Highway Trust Fund
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, called on Congress to act to preserve 3 million jobs that are reportedly in jeopardy due to funding shortfalls once MAP-21 expires. Boxer held a press conference with Sen. John Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) to stress the matter's urgency. According to NSSGA, the senators explain the transportation fiscal cliff the U.S. faces upon MAP-21's expiration in a letter to their colleagues. The three senators also released a state-by-state breakdown of the jobs that would be lost to make their point. “We applaud Chairman Boxer for making the case for Congress to take steps now to assure the future of the Highway Trust Fund before it becomes insolvent in 2015," says Ward Nye, president and CEO of Martin Marietta Materials and NSSGA chairman of the board of directors. "We support the chairman and will continue our grassroots efforts to grow the coalition calling for action.” NSSGA is pushing a similar effort with 19 new members… Keep Reading
