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Lafarge sells six quarries, reportedly two to Vulcan
Lafarge North America Inc. has sold six Georgia quarries, four of which Bluegrass Materials is purchasing. There are unconfirmed reports that Vulcan Materials Co. is purchasing the other two. The six quarries were sold for a combined $160 million. According to Lafarge, they represent less than 1 percent of its North American sales. Joelle Lipski-Rockwood, Lafarge's director of communications, said through the Gainesville Times that the transactions would likely be completed within the next 90 days. Lipski-Rockwood also said she expects most Lafarge employees to remain with their respective quarries. The sites Vulcan is expected to acquire within Georgia are Flowery Branch and a Jackson County site. Four other locations – Cumming, Ball Ground, Douglasville and Clayton County – are being sold to Bluegrass. Keep Reading
Vulcan makes series of moves to boost liquidity
Vulcan Materials Co. recently completed a set of transactions that generated $149 million, including the sales of reclaimed and excess land in California, one small quarry in Virginia and a percentage of future production at four South Carolina quarries. The South Carolina transaction is with Plum Creek Timber Co. Inc., a large, publicly traded landowner and a manager of timberlands and other natural resources. According to Vulcan, the sale enables it to unlock long-term value in the four quarries tax efficiently while maintaining full ownership and operational and marketing control. With the transaction, Vulcan receives $75 million in exchange for an estimated 10.5 percent royalty interest in the sale of about 144 million tons of production over 25 years. In addition, Vulcan expects to strengthen its aggregates businesses in Texas and Georgia with the acquisition of two active quarries and additional reserves adjacent to two existing quarries. Keep Reading
Infrastructure investment necessary to avoid economic harm
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has released a report that states that unless the United States invests an additional $1.57 billion per year in infrastructure between now and 2020, the nation will lose $3.1 trillion in gross national product, $2.4 trillion in lost consumer spending and more than 3.1 million jobs. "The Impact of Current Infrastructure Investment on America's Economic Future," the fifth and final report in ASCE's Failure to Act series, concludes that there will be an estimated investment gap between now and 2020 of $846 billion in surface transportation. The report states that the deterioration of the nation’s infrastructure undermines the economy, jeopardizes public safety, threatens the quality of life and harms the U.S. economy. “Each of our proceeding [Failure to Act] reports on various infrastructure sectors demonstrated a common theme: deteriorating infrastructure has a cascading impact on the nation’s economy, negatively affecting business productivity, gross domestic product, employment, personal income and international competitiveness,” says Gregory DiLoreto, ASCE president. “The message is clear: if we do… Keep Reading
Mack launches overhaul program for legacy engines
Mack Trucks is now offering an engine overhaul program for its E7 engine owners. The program includes four packages – Basic, Plus, Premium and ReMack – that cover a range of parts and offer special extended warranties. The Basic overhaul package contains all Mack Genuine parts, filters and fluids needed for an in-frame engine overhaul. The Plus package includes all the benefits of the Basic package and adds ReMack cylinder heads. The Premium package includes all the benefits of the Plus package and adds a Mack Genuine turbo and injector set and a special extended warranty at no cost. The ReMack package combines a remanufactured three-quarter engine, Mack Genuine turbo and a set of six injectors, filters and fluids. The ReMack package also includes a special extended warranty at no cost. Keep Reading
Case equipment dealers under new ownership in West
Sonsray Machinery LLC is acquiring 11 Case Construction Equipment dealership branch office locations in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Sonsray Machinery will provide cmprehensive sales, as well as parts and service support for Case customers through branch offices in El Cajon, Fontana, Santa Fe Springs, Sacramento, Stockton and Redding, Calif.; Sparks, Nev.; Portland and Salem, Ore., and Auburn and Marysville, Wash. The entire line of Case, including loaders, excavators, motor graders, wheel loaders, vibratory compaction rollers, crawler dozers, skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, loader tool carriers and rough-terrain forklifts, is available at all 11 locations. Keep Reading
Rule allows MSHA to issue POV notice without potential POV notice
MSHA has developed a new rule to strengthen its pattern of violations (POV) program and ensure mine operators monitor and address the most hazardous safety problems in their mines. The rule allows MSHA to issue a pattern of violations notice without first issuing a potential POV notice. It also eliminates the existing requirement that MSHA can consider only final orders in its POV review; establishes general criteria and procedures that MSHA will use to identify mines with a pattern of S&S violations; and reinforces mine operators' responsibility for compliance with MSHA safety and health standards for monitoring their mines' compliance. "Over the last three years, the Labor Department has undergone a serious and comprehensive evaluation of mine safety practices, and that has led to reforms to protect America's miners," said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, who announced the new rule Jan. 17. "The rule we are announcing will hold mine operators accountable when they disregard life-saving safety measures." Joe Main, MSHA's assistant secretary of labor, also chimed in on the… Keep Reading
Volvo CE consolidating backhoe loader production for US
Volvo Construction Equipment is moving production of its backhoe loaders from Mexico to a recently enlarged facility in Brazil. The company says the investment in the Brazilian facility was $10 million. Among the components to be produced at the new site are dippers, lifting and boom arms, frames and cabs. The move to Brazil will take place throughout 2013, the company says. Keep Reading
Hydraulic fitting manufacturer celebrating milestone
Brennan Industries Inc., a hydraulic fitting and adaptor manufacturer, is marking its 60th anniversary this winter. Brennan is a third-generation, family-owned company headquartered in Solon, Ohio, but it has distribution centers throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and China. Keep Reading
Off-road equipment lubrication to be discussed at Toronto event
The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) is hosting a two-day educational course on best practices in lubrication in the mining and resource sector Feb. 26-27. The course will be held at the Sheraton Hotel Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The course is broken into two segments: off-road equipment and industrial lubricants for plants and mills in the resource industries. Representatives from Enrol Inc., Glide Oil Tech and Lubrizol are among those scheduled to appear Feb. 26 to discuss topics such as mobile hydraulic oils, mobile equipment lubricating grease and heavy-duty diesel engine oil. Keep Reading
