June 11, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Labor released its long awaited Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) which targets healthcare and does not cover other workplaces under the jurisdiction of OSHA or MSHA. “We appreciate the administration’s review and thorough decision making to exclude the aggregates industry from the COVID-19 ETS,” said National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) Vice President of Government…
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Ed Sullivan Speaks
June 8, 2021 – Today at World of Concrete, Portland Cement Association Chief Economist Ed Sullivan gave the industry three scenarios for cement consumption based on 1) the chances of no infrastructure bill; 2) the American jobs plan at face value; and 3) the American Jobs Plan with a compromise. He then presented a weighted average. The weighted average is 2021:…
Read MoreVulcan Strikes Back
June 7, 2021 – In a blockbuster deal that has tongues wagging all over the industry, Vulcan Materials announced it has acquired U.S. Concrete. The stunning move comes on the heels of Martin Marietta’s acquisition of Lehigh Hanson Inc.’s West Region business – two huge industry acquisitions back-to-back. With 27 aggregates operations serving California, Texas and the Northeast that shipped 12.6 million tons in 2020,…
Read MoreIt’s Electric
June 3, 2021 – Developments in the area of electric vehicles are coming fast and furious. Caterpillar just announced that at this year’s MINExpo, it will show the new Cat R1700 XE LHD electric vehicle for underground mining. With its 15-tonne payload and 24,190-kg lift and tilt breakout, it features a battery electric design that delivers superior productivity in underground applications with the…
Read MoreInfrastructure Talks at Crossroads
June 2, 2021 – President Biden will sit down with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today as his infrastructure negotiations with Republicans enter a critical and potentially final week. Administration officials have signaled this is a make-or-break week on bipartisan negotiations, with Biden hoping to pass an infrastructure bill with or without Republicans by the end of the summer. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg…
Read MorePatterns of Production
June 1, 2021 – The U.S. Geological Survey released its first-quarter 2021 production data, which saw sand and gravel production out-performing crushed stone production, a trend that has been evident for the past few quarters. Overall, the estimated U.S. output of construction aggregates produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2021 was 464 million metric tons (Mt), a slight increase…
Read MoreLehigh Hanson Encourages Participation in Quarry Life Award
May 27, 2021 – Lehigh Hanson Inc., a North American subsidiary of HeidelbergCement, is encouraging students, researchers and interested others to participate in the fifth edition of the Quarry Life Award, HeidelbergCement’s international research and education competition. The Quarry Life Award program focuses on mining sites and seeks to raise awareness about the biological value of mineral extraction sites worldwide.
Read MoreWho’s Number One?
May 24, 2021 – Martin Marietta Materials Inc. opened everyone’s eyes like a strong cup of coffee this morning by announcing a blockbuster deal to acquire Lehigh Hanson Inc.’s West Region business from HeidelbergCement for $2.3 billion. Speculation has already begun in earnest about whether the transaction would make Martin Marietta the nation’s number-one aggregates producer. With help from Jason Willett, crushed-stone commodity specialist…
Read MoreMaterials Costs Rise at Record Pace
May 18, 2021 – According to Associated General Contractors Chief Economist Ken Simonson, the producer price index (PPI) for nonresidential building construction – a measure of the price that contractors say they would charge to build a fixed set of buildings – increased 1.2% from March and 2.3% year-over-year (y/y) since April 2020, while the PPI for material and service inputs to…
Read MoreConstruction School Could Build Opportunity
May 14, 2021 – Well, it seems like a good idea on the surface. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson announced plans to build an inner city construction school that includes a working concrete and asphalt plant. The project would be built around East 79th Street along the “Opportunity Corridor” that connects Interstates 490 and 77 to University Circle. The school would include a…
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