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Lafarge relocates facility to redeveloped quarry
Lafarge Canada Inc. has moved its western Canada headquarters to a rehabilitated gravel pit in Calgary. One hundred Lafarge employees will be based there. "This is really a full lifecycle story," says René Thibault, CEO of Lafarge in western Canada. "We were able to extract the aggregates from the site, put them to use in Calgary's roads and buildings and then repurpose the land to be valuable to a developer. Randy Remington, CEO of Remington Development, saw the potential and has built a world-class community which we are proud to call home once again." Keep Reading
Three metal/nonmetal miners killed in year’s first quarter
Eleven miners died in accidents in both coal mining and metal and nonmetal mining during the first quarter of this year, according to MSHA. Three of the 11 fatal accidents occurred in metal and nonmetal mines. One metal/nonmetal miner died as a result of a highway fall; another was killed in a machinery accident; and the third died in an explosives and breaking-agents accident. MSHA reports that coal six miners were killed in less than a month's span this year, including four in West Virginia. "While we have made progress, it is clear there is more to be done," writes Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for MSHA, in his first quarter fatality analysis. "In order to prevent mine deaths, operators must have in place effective safety and health management programs that are constantly evaluated, find-and-fix programs to identify and eliminate mine hazards, and training for all mining personnel." Keep Reading
Hillhead now on YouTube
The Hillhead show has launched its own YouTube channel, offering videos commissioned by organizers, as well as videos exhibitors and visitors can post. All aspects of the show are covered there, including footage of the blasts that have taken place in the main quarry face demonstration area before the last two shows. Currently, about 60 other Hillhead videos can be found on YouTube. The videos entail demonstrations, products, general show views, heavy haulage and helicopter landings. The next event, Hillhead 2014, will take place at Hillhead Quarry in Buxton, England, from June 24-26. Keep Reading
Atlas Copco appoints rock-drilling tools manager
Peter Redaelli has been named product manager for Atlas Copco Construction Mining Technique USA’s rock-drilling tools line. Redaelli's first project is the launch of Atlas Copco’s specialty drilling consumables, such as its line of polycrystalline diamond compact products and workover bits to the oil and gas sector. Other responsibilities will be to spearhead marketing and sales strategies for all U.S. markets; provide guidance to support representatives, store personnel and independent distributors; ensure product availability; and coordinate marketplace exposure, such as at trade shows and industry expos. Redaelli has been with Atlas Copco for eight years. Keep Reading
Aggregate Industries plants achieve safety milestone
Three Aggregate Industries U.S. facilities have received safety achievement awards from the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals. The facilities were recognized for accomplishing a zero-lost-time accident rate in 2012. The accomplishment is based on a company's lost-time-injuries record, which is defined as an accident that requires the employee to take time off for recovery. The three facilities to receive the awards are Dyer Lake Pit in Burlington, Wis.; Algonquin Pit in Algonquin, Ill.; and McHenry West Pit in McHenry, Ill. Keep Reading
Cemex at odds with proposed bill
Cemex says that a bill introduced April 18 to block a proposed sand-and-gravel mine in Santa Clarita, Calif., is not a viable resolution to a long-running dispute between the approved open-pit operation and local residents, reports the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., introduced the Soledad Canyon Settlement Act in a bill last week that proposes a land-swap deal in exchange for Cemex’s contracts for the mine, which would extract 56 million tons of sand and gravel over 20 years. But a company spokeswoman says the bill doesn’t go far enough. “The bill introduced by (Boxer) today does not fully take into account the compensation that Cemex is legally entitled to in the event its contracts with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management are canceled,” says Cemex's Sara Engdahl. “As a result, Cemex does not view this newly introduced legislation in its current form to be a viable resolution.” According to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, the bill would direct the federal Bureau of Land Management to cancel… Keep Reading
Bell returns to U.S. market with new dealer network
Articulated dump truck (ADT) manufacturer Bell Equipment is returning to the U.S. market after more than a decade, with a new distribution network and the forthcoming launch of its new E-series range. A joint venture between Bell and several U.S. construction investors will see the creation of a new business: Bell Trucks America (BTA). The business will provide a foundation for the re-entry to North America of the next generation of Bell's ADTs. The return of Bell to the U.S. comes after the ending of a licensing arrangement with John Deere, which saw Bell providing ADT technology to the U.S. market under the Deere brand. Through BTA, the range of Bell ADTs will now be developed throughout the U.S. The range BTA is launching includes its four largest ADTs: the B35D, B40D, B45D and B50D. The B50D has a 50-ton capacity. In addition, Bell will be introducing a new E-series range. The first machines in the E-series – the B25E and B35E – will be introduced in North America in… Keep Reading
Bauma 2013 sets multiple records
A record-breaking 530,000 attendees from more than 200 countries converged on the Messe München exhibition center April 15-21 for Bauma 2013 in Munich, Germany. More than 200,000 of those 530,000 attended from outside of Germany – the largest international representation in the event's history. "This is very good for our industry in these turbulent times and it will certainly give it a boost," says Johann Sailer, chairman of the Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinery Association of VDMA and president of the Committee for the European Construction Equipment Industry. The countries with the most representation were, in this order, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Sweden and Poland. In total, a record-breaking 3,420 exhibitors – 1,346 from Germany and 2,074 from abroad – from 57 countries presented their latest products and innovations on a record 6.14 million sq. ft. of exhibition space. The next Bauma takes place April 11-17, 2016 in Munich. Keep Reading
Atlas Copco names VP for four stores
Ed Tanner has been named vice president for Atlas Copco store operations related to mining. He will oversee stores in Elko, Nev., Tucson and Phoenix, Ariz., and Denver. Tanner has been serving as the business line manager for Atlas Copco’s underground rock excavation division for the past seven years. He also was a product line manager for the division in 2005 and has a total of 34 years of experience in the mining industry. Keep Reading
