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Liebherr creates marketing parts manager position
Mike Balella has joined Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. as manager of parts marketing. In the new role, Balella will work closely with the Liebherr dealer organization to enhance opportunities to increase sales and improve customer service for after-market repair parts. Balella will coordinate parts pricing on competitive items and add additional product offerings to support Liebherr’s market presence in the United States. Keep Reading
Nonresidential building scene showing improvement
The Dodge Momentum Index, a monthly measure of the first report for nonresidential building projects in planning, climbed 8.1 percent in July after retreating a revised 2.4 percent in June, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. The momentum index for July came in at 98.8, up from June’s 91.4 revised level. According to McGraw-Hill, the month’s improvement is consistent with last week’s employment report, which showed a stronger-than-expected increase of 163,000 jobs. Although further increases in the index would be needed to suggest a true rebound in construction, July's gain could be considered a first step in that direction. Both the commercial and institutional components of the momentum index rose in July. The institutional building segment advanced 9.0 percent after an 11.2 percent decline in June. A 5.8 percent increase in new planning projects for education buildings aided the gain in institutional building. The commercial building segment climbed 7.3 percent in June, even stronger than last month’s revised 6.7 percent improvement. Commercial building was helped by a small 2.5 percent gain in… Keep Reading
Cement consumption expected to exceed earlier expectations
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has nearly doubled its expected 2012 cement consumption figures in a revised forecast that reflects the favorable weather much of the United States has had, gains in residential and nonresidential construction activity, and gains in cement intensities. PCA revised its spring forecast upward, anticipating a 6.9 percent increase in 2012 from 2011 levels, followed by a 5.8 percent jump in 2013 and a 10.9 percent increase in 2014. “In addition to great construction weather during the first half of the year, real put-in-place construction activity is up 4.2 percent compared to 2011 levels,” says Ed Sullivan, PCA chief economist. “We expect to see a 5.5 percent gain on real construction activity this year after seven consecutive years of decline.” Beyond 2012, Sullivan says the near-term economic outlook is uncertain. The uncertainty will inhibit stronger growth conditions from materializing, he says. “If Congress fails to address the fiscal cliff issue during the first or second quarter of 2013, there is the potential for severe adverse economic… Keep Reading
Fairmount Minerals recognized for community outreach again
Fairmount Minerals’ Best Sand mining facility earned an honorable mention for public outreach at the Interstate Mining Compact Commission’s 2012 Mineral Education Awards. Best Sand’s employees have made public outreach and education a priority in their day-to-day operations. Sixteen hundred members of the local community attended Best Sand’s “Party in the Pit” mine open house and zero-waste event. Also, 65 fifth graders from Grant Elementary in Willoughby, Ohio, were granted a tour and learned about sand mining. Fairmount Minerals’ Wedron Silica sand-mining facility earned a community relations award earlier this summer from the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers for outstanding community involvement. Keep Reading
Webinar to outline transportation bill details rescheduled
Jack Schenendorf, an attorney with the law firm Covington & Burling LLP and a staff member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will lead an NSSGA webinar Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. EDT that outlines what’s in the transportation bill for your business these next two years. The webinar was originally scheduled for July 30. Schenendorf, who has served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for nearly 25 years, will focus on the bill’s funding, program reforms and streamlining provisions. Keep Reading
Main to meet with aggregates operators in Seattle
MSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor Joe Main will speak and take questions in Seattle next month as part of MSHA’s planned outreach to the aggregates sector this summer, NSSGA reports. Main will conduct the stakeholder meeting Sept. 10-12, and Bruce Chattin, the executive director of the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association, will serve as host. Keep Reading
West Virginia senator introducing mine safety bill
NSSGA reports Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has introduced new mine safety legislation that includes a number of items seen in previous mine safety bills. Last week, NSSGA reported that Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) was developing new mine safety legislation, and he indeed is, but as a co-sponsor along with Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). According to NSSGA, the Rockefeller bill would increase civil and criminal penalties for operators, while subjecting officers, directors and agents to liability for knowing violations of the Mine Act or its regulations. The bill would also redefine a significant and substantial (S&S) violation to mean a violation that could "contribute to the cause and effect of a safety or health hazard if there is reasonable possibility that such violation could result in injury or death.” A new maximum penalty of $150,000 would also be imposed for an S&S violation. The new bill would also adopt a strong new pattern-of-violations system that codifies several aspects of the proposed rule put forward by MSHA last… Keep Reading
Construction spending at highest level in 36 months
Construction spending in June rose to a 2 ½-year high as double-digit percentage increases in private residential and nonresidential construction offset an ongoing downturn in public construction, according to an analysis of new federal data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials say the disparity between private and public construction is likely to persist, and they are urging policymakers to put more funding into infrastructure projects. “The June spending gains come on top of upward revisions to May and April totals, reinforcing the notion that private construction is now growing consistently,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Even more encouraging, the improvement is showing up in a wide range of residential and nonresidential categories.” Simonson says total construction spending gained 0.4 percent for June and 7.0 percent year-over-year. Private nonresidential spending climbed for the fourth consecutive month and was 14 percent higher than in June 2011. Residential construction increased 1.3 percent for the month and 12 percent year-over-year, with new multifamily construction up 3.4 percent and… Keep Reading
GE Mining acquires underground mine vehicles manufacturer
GE Mining has acquired Fairchild International, an underground mine vehicles manufacturer based in Glen Lyn, Va. The new business name for the entity acquired is GE-Fairchild LLC. GE-Fairchild will employ about 140 people and manufacture equipment like diesel- and battery-powered scoops, continuous miners, haulage systems, shield haulers and maintenance vehicles. Keep Reading
