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Report: Construction starts to increase further
McGraw-Hill Construction is predicting total U.S. construction starts for 2013 to rise 6 percent to $483.7 billion, a mark that's slightly higher than the 5 percent increase to $458 billion estimated for this year. McGraw-Hill Construction made the prediction in its 2013 Dodge Construction Outlook. "This still leaves the volume of total construction starts 32 percent below the 2005 peak on a current dollar basis, and down about 50 percent when viewed on a constant dollar basis," says Robert Murray, McGraw-Hill Construction's vice president of economic affairs. "The modest gains experienced during the past two years have in effect produced an extended bottom for construction starts, in which the process of recovery is being stretched out." Other developments noted in McGraw-Hill Construction's outlook are that single-family housing will grow 24 percent in dollars, corresponding to a 21 percent increase in units to 615,000; multifamily housing will rise 16 percent in dollars and 14 percent in units, marking healthy percentage gains yet slower growth than what took place during 2011 and 2012;… Keep Reading
Martin Marietta worker death under investigation
A Martin Marietta Materials Inc. worker died recently at the company's mine in Weeping Water, Neb. Details of the worker death have not yet been released as the incident is currently under investigation. "It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of our employee at our Weeping Water mine in Nebraska," the company said in a statement. "The details surrounding this incident are under investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and fellow employees who have been affected by this tragic event." Keep Reading
Portable jaw plant among Metso event highlights
Metso hosted a new product expo for distributors and producers Oct. 24-25 at its facility in Columbia, S.C., where new and improved products like the Lokotrack LT106 portable jaw plant, the C120 jaw crusher and the HP3 cone crusher were highlighted. Metso representatives also led best-practice seminars on crusher wear part selection, maintenance practices for mobile equipment and safety. Metso's LT106, built around the company's C106 jaw and pictured at right, was redesigned with a number of enhanced features. According to Metso, the new model is more reliable than its predecessor because of a robust crusher drive and a heavy-duty air filtration system that requires less maintenance. Jouni Hulttinen, a Metso product manager, says the plant can be fitted with a Cat C9.3 Tier 4 engine or a C9 Tier 3 model, and that fuel consumption can been reduced by as much as 30 percent. "The lowest fuel consumption is achieved at 1,800 rpms," says Hulttinen, who adds that the LT106 uses about 6 gallons per hour. The LT106's crushing… Keep Reading
Aggregates suppliers find golden opportunity on TV
Two aggregates industry suppliers are touting their roles this season on the TV show "Gold Rush," which premiered Oct. 26 on Discovery Channel. KPI-JCI and Polydeck Screen Corp. both had the opportunity to work with the show's famed Hoffman crew. KPI-JCI manufactured a washing plant for crew's gold mining operation near Dawson City in the Yukon Territory, and Polydeck manufactured screen media to size and separate gold-bearing rock for the crew. “The top deck takes a lot of abuse from jagged bedrock,” says Todd Hoffman, the crew boss, referring to Polydeck's screen media. “This media wears better than steel. We’ve put more than 100,000 yards across it, and we expect it to last another season." Keep Reading
Construction-put-in-place expected to top $1 trillion in 2014
With construction put in place (CPIP) at the end of 2012 expected to be between $826 and $884 billion, researchers at FMI are predicting CPIP growth rates to be slightly ahead of GDP in 2013 and 2014. This would place the CPIP at more than $1 trillion by the end of 2014, nearly 6 percent of GDP. FMI is predicting residential CPIP to return to double-digit growth next year, as well. The firm also expects transportation and health care CPIP to reach record levels by 2013. At the same time, FMI expects commercial buildings, offices, manufacturing facilities, communications systems and lodging CPIP to continue to underperform in 2013 at an average of 60 percent of 2008 levels. By 2016, FMI expects these sectors to reach 70 percent of 2008 CPIP. Keep Reading
MSHA says fatality, injury rates hit historic lows
Mining fatality and injury rates fell to an all-time low in 2011, according to data MSHA recently released. The fatal injury rate for mining as a whole was 0.0114 per 200,000 hours worked, and the all-injury rate was 2.73 per 200,000 hours worked, down from 0.0234 and 2.81, respectively, in 2010. In the metal and nonmetal mining sector, the fatal injury rate was 0.0084 per 200,000 hours worked, and the all-injury rate was 2.28 per 200,000 hours worked, down from 0.0129 and 2.37, respectively, in 2010. In the coal mining sector, the fatal injury rate was 0.0156 per 200,000 hours worked, and the all-injury rate was 3.38 per 200,000 hours worked, down from 0.0384 and 3.43, respectively, in 2010. MSHA also released a third-quarter summary of mining deaths across the country. From July through September 2012, 11 deaths occurred in work-related accidents – five in metal/nonmetal mining and six in coal mining. Of the five metal and nonmetal mining deaths, two miners died as a result of falls, one miner… Keep Reading
Terex CFO planning retirement
Terex CFO Phil Widman will retire next year, and the company has begun a search to find his replacement. Widman will remain Terex's CFO into the first half of next year. Keep Reading
Supplier expects equipment sales to increase in 2014, 2015
Bill Royce is all too familiar with the buying cycles of U.S. aggregate producers by now. Royce, now the Mid-Atlantic sales manager for KPI-JCI, has seen sales slow in crushing and screening equipment over the last few years. But Royce has reason to believe sales will pick up significantly in the next two or three years. "Producers have been putting off purchasing new equipment since 2006 and 2007," he says. "If houses aren't being built, quarries aren't firing up and machines are not being used at full capacity. If you go through a couple-year period [not buying], then you just put a couple more years onto an existing crusher." Royce adds that the buying lag can be seen across the industry, and because machine lifespans have been extended since the last big buying period he cites in 2006-2007, Joyce expects a wave of producers to come calling for new equipment in the next couple years. "What’s exciting from the manufacturer's vantage point is [buying] goes in cycles," Royce says. "The… Keep Reading
CalCIMA pays tribute to Vulcan Materials director
The California Construction & Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA) named Brian G. Anderson, director of legislative and public affairs for Vulcan Materials Co.'s West region, the winner of its 2012 President’s Award. The award recognizes an association member for dedication to the mission and goals of the association, and for a diligent commitment to the preservation of the industry. According to Gary Hambly, CalCIMA president and CEO, Anderson served as association chair during a critical transition period. “Most notable was his guidance and expertise in achieving legislative success with the governor signing into law seven of nine bills that CalCIMA sponsored the past two years," Hambly says. "And, at the same time, he led a strategic visioning plan for the association and adoption of new bylaws." Keep Reading
