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Power Transmission Solutions produces app for digital catalogs
Power Transmission Solutions has launched a fourth app that’s now available for use on iPhones and iPads. The Power Transmission Solutions free bookshelf app is downloadable on iTunes and allows users to browse digital versions of the company’s product catalogs and interact with the content. “The new bookshelf app enables customers to create a customized shelf on their iPhone, iPad or desktop computer and ensures users have the most up-to-date product information,” says Mike Suter, vice president of marketing for Power Transmission Solutions. This latest Power Transmission Solutions app joins the company’s HVAC Browning Energy Efficiency Calculator app, the HVAC Toolbox Technician app and the System Plast Food and Beverage Conveyor Solutions Calculator app. Keep Reading
Martin Marietta-Vulcan ruling explained further
Bloomberg reports that the Delaware Supreme Court has expanded on a May 31 ruling, concluding in a 42-page explanatory opinion that a lower court properly found Martin Marietta Materials Inc. could not proceed with a hostile takeover of Vulcan Materials Co. The justices wrote in the opinion released Tuesday that, “It is undisputed that the confidentiality agreements in this case were true confidentiality agreements [violated by Martin Marietta Materials].” As Bloomberg reports, the justices further write that the agreements “did not categorically preclude Martin from making a hostile takeover bid for Vulcan. What they did was preclude Martin from using and disclosing Vulcan’s confidential, nonpublic information.” Martin Marietta and Vulcan Materials sued each other over the hostile bid, and in a May 4 opinion after a non-jury trial, Delaware Chancery Court Judge Leo Strine Jr. decided Martin Marietta did not comply with confidentiality provisions and said it could not pursue Vulcan for four months. Martin Marietta eventually appealed, and the Delaware Supreme Court agreed with Strine after a May 31… Keep Reading
Transportation bill funding generated from variety of sources
Since Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed the transportation bill, NSSGA indicates a number of people have asked how the bill is being funded at $52 billion per year when that amount is significantly more than the total amount gasoline and other transportation user fees generate. The Senate Finance Committee, as reported by NSSGA, says the $52 billion per year is being funded by a highway authorization and revenue transfer to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which entails an extension of HTF expenditure authority, an extension of highway-related taxes, a transfer of general fund monies into the HTF and by Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums. Multiple items are reportedly offsetting the new funds in the federal budget, including roll-your-own cigarette machines and PBGC premium increases. Keep Reading
Two-year transportation bill a win, albeit a short one
Lost in the shadow of the Supreme Court’s decision last week to uphold President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law was the surprising, bipartisan passage of a transportation bill that will fuel more than $100 billion into America’s roads through 2014. Considering the presidential election, as well as the 33 Senate elections that will determine whether Congress remains split along party lines or the Republicans take over both chambers, it is surprising Congress managed to get a deal done. Neither party seems to be budging on any issue considering the political change that both parties long for this November, so the fact a surface transportation bill is sitting on the president’s desk for approval this week is a plus for the aggregates industry. Some transportation bill advocates wanted more than a two-year bill, but considering the do-nothing Congress’ inability to compromise over the last couple years, a two-year bill is better than yet another extension of two or three months. Since 2009, when the previous transportation bill expired, the bill… Keep Reading
Transportation bill passed in nick of time
With the transportation bill just hours away from expiring, Congress passed a $105 billion bill Friday that keeps transportation funding at current levels for another two years. Because the bill passed the House, 373-52, and the Senate approved it, 74-19, the bill moves to the White House for President Barack Obama’s approval. White House spokesman Jay Carney told Reuters the transportation funding would help put Americans to work fixing the crumbling U.S. infrastructure, an indication that President Obama will sign the bill into law. The bill is expected to create or save about 3 million jobs. According to Reuters, the federal government spends more than $50 billion annually on road, bridge and transit construction projects. The last transportation bill expired in 2009. Construction programs have survived since then through short-term funding extensions like the one passed Friday. The last extension expired Saturday. Keep Reading
Cement supplier marks centennial with service initiative
The Holcim facility in Dundee, Mich., is participating in a year-long community service initiative to mark the 100th anniversary of its parent company, Holcim Ltd. The initiative, Together for Communities, gives Holcim employees the opportunity to lead local volunteer projects. Employees recently assisted a local Ann Arbor, Mich., senior with exterior trim painting and yard maintenance. They’ve also volunteered in the Village of Dundee Mayfly Music Festival and planted a community garden on the facility property. Keep Reading
Vig elected chairman of NSSGA division
Joe Vig, group vice president of KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens, has been appointed chairman of NSSGA’s Manufacturers & Services Division. As chairman, Vig will lead the division as it provides NSSGA producer members with information about equipment, services, supplies and operating procedures. Vig replaces Dredging Supply Co. Inc. CEO Bill Wetta. Keep Reading
Slight gain for construction starts expected through 2012
McGraw-Hill Construction, as part of its 2012 Dodge Construction Outlook Midyear Update, is predicting total construction starts in the United States to increase 2 percent this year. McGraw-Hill Construction revised its forecast from last October, when it predicted total construction starts to be slightly better than flat for the year. “The construction industry has yet to move from a hesitant up-and-down pattern to more sustained expansion,” says Robert Murray, McGraw-Hill Construction’s vice president of economic affairs. “After plunging 23 percent in 2009, new construction starts edged up only 1 percent in 2010 and were unchanged in 2011, so the modest 2-percent increase predicted for 2012 is really more of the same.” McGraw-Hill Construction also predicts commercial building to grow 10 percent this year, following the 12-percent gain in 2011. The institutional building market, however, is expected to fall an additional 10 percent, after sliding 11 percent in 2011. Public works construction will also slide further in 2012 (6 percent) after last year’s 14-percent decline, McGraw-Hill Construction predicts. Keep Reading
Processing alliance formed between global companies
As first reported by Pit & Quarry in March, Brazilian-based Haver & Boecker, German-based Haver Niagara and Canadian-based W. Tyler Ltd. have formed an alliance and named it Haver & Tyler to share with each other their knowledge of particle analysis, screen media technology, vibrating screens, washing equipment, pelletizing technology, and parts and service support. According to Reinhold Festge, managing partner of the Haver & Boecker Group, the three companies will share their innovations with the goal of providing “productive, reliable products” in areas like particle analysis and screen media. Keep Reading
