Author
Aggregate Industries donates rock to Smithsonian
Aggregate Industries U.S. has partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History as it embarks on hosting a festival designed to educate the public about geology. Aggregate Industries' contribution is its donation of a unique rock, rodingite, which is found in one of its local quarries. The Rock On! Family Festival in Washington D.C., is free and open to the public. Visitors can participate in events such as one that teaches them how cement becomes a rock. NSSGA is sponsoring the event, which takes place Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Keep Reading
Pit & Quarry establishes aggregates industry Hall of Fame
Pit & Quarry is paying tribute to the pioneers of the past and present-day industry leaders with the establishment of an industry Hall of Fame. The inaugural class of the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame will be inducted in March 2013 at the AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo in San Antonio, Texas, where Pit & Quarry will host a black-tie dinner with video presentations and an award ceremony honoring the inductees. "This is the first and only Hall of Fame dedicated to the pioneers who have made significant contributions to our industry," says Rob Fulop, Pit & Quarry publisher. Aggregates producers, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, associations and allied trade representatives are all eligible for induction to the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame. Individual nominations will be accepted online at stage.pitandquarry.com during a period to be determined at a future date. A neutral board comprised of various industry segments will review all nominations and determine which individuals earn induction to the Hall of Fame. Keep Reading
Vitanza named Pit & Quarry national sales manager
Dino Vitanza has been promoted to national sales manager for Pit & Quarry, North Coast Media's flagship magazine, and sister magazine PP&E (Portable Plants & Equipment). Vitanza, who started with Pit & Quarry in 2006, will be handling accounts throughout the United States and Canada for both print and digital media. "Dino has done an incredible job covering our industry," says Rob Fulop, publisher of Pit & Quarry and PP&E. "His work ethic, persistence and organizational skills are invaluable to our publication." Keep Reading
Iowa Mold Tooling names director of sales
Don Daniels has joined Iowa Mold Tooling (IMT) as director of sales. He will be responsible for leading the IMT sales team and helping direct business strategy for the company’s line of material-handling equipment and commercial vehicles. Daniels will also work to strengthen the IMT distributor network, customer service and after-market support efforts. Most recently, he served as the director of sales for Alternative Design Manufacturing and Supply, a manufacturer of custom stainless steel products for the poultry and research industries. Keep Reading
Eriez bringing sales team together for conference
Eriez, which specializes in technology for magnetic, vibratory, inspection and flotation applications, will host its International Business Conference Oct. 1-2 at the Erie Bayfront Sheraton Hotel in Erie, Pa. Eriez expects to attract about 150 attendees from the company's field sales offices and global affiliate plants. Highlights of the conference are expected to be speeches from two keynotes: Charles Cohon, president and CEO of the Manufacturers’ Agents National Association; and Chester Elton, author of “The Orange Revolution.” Daytime activities will include breakout sessions in which participants discuss sales strategies and challenges. “We are excited that we can bring the extended Eriez family together again to commemorate our 70th anniversary, celebrate our success and learn from one another’s challenges and triumphs,” says Tim Shuttleworth, Eriez president and CEO. Keep Reading
Next dates announced for Hillhead
The next Hillhead Quarry Exhibition for quarrying, recycling and heavy construction industries will take place June 24-26, 2014 at Tarmac's Hillhead Quarry in Buxton, England. More details about the exhibition will be announced at a later date, but those with questions about the 2014 show can contact Penny Lewin at penny.lewin@qmj.co.uk. Hillhead 2012 took place June 19-21 in Buxton. Keep Reading
Kleemann showcases equipment, facilities at Technology Days
Wirtgen Group hosted its Mineral Technology Days event last Thursday and Friday in Windhagen, Germany, where Kleemann's latest crushers were among the equipment demonstrated for U.S. invitees and more than 1,000 invitees from around the world. Three specific Kleemann systems were demonstrated, including one involving the Mobicat MC 125 Z jaw crusher, the Mobicone MCO 11 cone crusher, a Mobicone MCO 11 SX cone crusher and a Mobiscreen MS 20 D screening plant. The system crushed and screened greywacke, a variety of sandstone, and Kleemann showed how the equipment can be interlocked so production is fluid from start to finish. Kleemann also crushed concrete in another demo and recycled natural raw materials like mixed rubble, concrete and asphalt in a third, exhibiting the strength of a magnet that removes debris. In addition to the Kleemann equipment demos, invitees also saw Wirtgen's new 4200 SM surface miner in action. Invitees also had the opportunity to sit in on lectures from experts like Bramco-MPS' Lee Heffley, who talked to a global audience… Keep Reading
NSSGA applauds MSHA outreach at stakeholder meeting
Ron Summers, NSSGA chairman of the board of directors, gave MSHA's Joe Main credit for his commitment to stakeholder outreach at a Sept. 10 meeting in Seattle with representatives from the aggregates industry. NSSGA has long urged MSHA to conduct a meaningful dialogue with aggregates stakeholders. Bruce Chattin, executive director of the Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association, organized this particular meeting primarily for aggregates producers to serve as yet another means to connect MSHA and producers. In his comments, Main reminded the group of his efforts to make MSHA a more functional agency in properly evaluating risk and penalizing operators that violate standards. Main also reminded attendees of his commitment to enforcement consistency and said he is considering an evaluation of the current inspector training manual for the metal/non-metal sector, with a goal being to improve inspector consistency. Keep Reading
Making MSHA a partner and not an adversary
Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), sat down with Pit & Quarry by phone late last month to reflect on his three years at MSHA. We asked Main how aggregate producers, manufacturers and MSHA can work better together to make relationships, which sometimes seem so adversarial, more like partnerships. "I've tried to bring a philosophy of working with people to achieve safer mines," Main says. "From the outset, I began to have a lot of discussions with folks in the mining community; folks at the national level; the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA); and other key players. But I branched out pretty quickly, meeting with the state aggregate associations. We've been doing that since I arrived here." Main says communication is at the core of his approach as MSHA's assistant secretary of labor. He believes having open exchanges with producers, sharing what MSHA is doing and exactly why it is implementing something has brought more accountability to an agency that… Keep Reading
