Redland Goes Extra Mile for Texas Community When Redland Stone Products Co., San Antonio, opened its 30-acre aggregate distribution yard in Fort Bend County, it went to great lengths to make it pleasing in nearby Rosenberg, Texas. Redland produces crushed stone, with nearly all its production used in Texas.

Zig Vitols, Redland vice president and general manager, said the company spent about $38,000 for extensive landscaping outside the facility. It was part of Redland's effort to forge a partnership with the community, Vitols said. The landscaping includes a water recycling system where rainwater is collected and used for irrigation. The pond also supplies a water fountain.

Although the yard is several miles from Rosenberg, a Houston suburb, it is located on Highway 36, a main thoroughfare to and from the town. There is a tremendous amount of traffic, he said. To Vitols' surprise, passersby have sent cards and letters complimenting the landscaping.

The yard can handle a 60-car train, which is loaded about once a week. It will supply the Fort Bend area with about 500,000 tpy of aggregate. The yard is one of seven that Redland operates in the Houston area.

In addition to the yard, Redland also installed an asphalt hot mix plant and a base and sand stabilizing plant. The new facility meets Redland's goal of having baghouses in all its plants, Vitols said.First-Quarter Constructio n Costs Drop The Federal Highway Administration said highway construction costs dropped 13.5% in the first quarter of 1998 compared with the last quarter of 1997 and 10.5% compared with the first quarter of 1997. The composite index for highway construction costs dropped to 119.6 (1987=100).

Decreases in unit prices for portland cement concrete, bituminous concrete, structural concrete and structural steel reduced the index. There was an increase in the unit prices for common excavation and reinforced steel.

Trends in highway construction costs are measured by an index of average contract prices compiled from reported state highway contract awards for federal-aid contracts greater than $500,000. Since 1991, the index reflects federal-aid contracts on the national highway system.

Construction Contract Value Holds Steady The value of new construction contracts held steady in April at an adjusted annual rate of $339.4 billion, according to F.W. Dodge, a unit of McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group. While housing continued to retreat from its elevated pace of 1998's first two months, total construction activity was supported by a slight improvement for nonresidential building as well as a substantial increase for public works and utilities construction.

April's Dodge Index was at 135 (1992=100), same as the revised figure for March. Geographically for the year, the South Central is up 6%, the South Atlantic is up 4%, the West is down 4%, the Midwest is down 3% and the Northeast is down 8%.

Levy Awaits ISO Nod Edw. C. Levy Co., Detroit, was recommended for registration for its Canton, Ohio slag operation in accordance with International Organization for Standardization 9002 standard. The Canton work team serves the Faircrest and Harrison steel plants of The Timken Co.

Levy worked for a year to achieve the certification, which it said will be the first for a steel mill service facility. The company processes slag into aggregates for construction. It also recovers more than 1 million tons of scrap annually from mill operations for remelting.

NSA Names Winners The National Stone Association named the winners of its 7th annual Environmental Eagle Award Program. The program recognizes aggregate producers that meet and exceed technical environmental and regulatory requirements.

For 1998, 61 producers participated in the contest. NSA handed out six gold awards, 14 silver awards and 15 bronze awards.

"The number of companies applying for the award continues to increase each year," said Steve McKeel, chairman of NSA's environmental committee. "This is a clear indication of the aggregate industry's commitment to corporate environmental stewardship."

Gold winners for 1998 are:

* Vulcan Materials Co., Gold Hill Quarry, Gold Hill, N.C.;

* Luck Stone Corp., Rockville Plant, Rockville, Va.;

* Luck Stone Corp., Greene Plant, Ruckersville, Va.;

* Luck Stone Corp., Bealeton Plant, Bealeton, Va.; and

* Wake Stone Corp., Triangle Quarry, Cary, N.C.

Vulcan to Make Topsoil Waste News reported Vulcan Materials Co. is working out a deal with Bedminster Bioconversion Corp. to manufacture topsoil.

Vulcan will contribute granite dust and nonhazardous waste from its Birmingham, Ala. quarry. The dust will be mixed with Bedminster's compost to make a nutrient-rich topsoil. The companies plan to market the topsoil to local landscape companies.

Online ASTM

Standards Forum The American Society for Testing and Materials has an online standards-development forum available to all technical committee members. ASTM's system is designed to speed the standards-development process, increase participation and accommodate those who cannot attend meetings.

The forums are available to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ASTM members can view a standard or download it. Both versions can be edited and posted to the forum.

Gypsum Board Named The Gypsum Association elected the following officers to serve in 1998-99: chairman, James McNeer, Temple-Inland Forest Products Corp.; past chairman, John Haarlander, U.S. Gypsum Co.; first vice chairman, Gerard Carroll, National Gypsum Co.; second vice chairman, David House, American Gypsum; treasurer, David Fleiner, G-P Gypsum Corp.; executive committee member-at-large, Alfred Mueller, Pacific Coast Building Products; and secretary, Jerry Walker, Gypsum Association.

Newsmakers George Gilmore Jr. was elected president and COO of CalMat Co. Gilmore has more than 20 years of operating experience. He previously served as president of Moore Document Solutions and as president of AM Multigraphics.

Lafarge Corp. appointed Donald Bowman president of the newly formed Eastern U.S. Region of Lafarge Construction Materials Group. Bowman most recently served as president of Redland Genstar. Patrick Walker was apponted president of the newly formed Western U.S. Region. Walker most recently served as president and CEO of Western Mobile. Tom Jansen was named vice president/general manager of the newly formed Northern Division. Jansen was most recently general manager of Redland Quarries.

Long-time aggregate industry leader Morris Bishop Sr. died May 16, 1998 in Franklin, Tenn. His son, Bishop Jr. is president and COO of U.S. Aggregates Inc.

Hanson Plc named Alan Murray chairman and CEO of Cornerstone. Murray had been Hanson's financial director. He replaces Craig Sergeant, who left the company. Jonathan Nicholls, Hanson Group treasurer, replaced Murray as financial director.

Manufacturer News Briefs Goodman Conveyor Co. formed a rapid-response customer support team to handle production, delivery, installation and replacement issues for all its mining conveyors and components.

Nalco Chemical Co. acquired Polo Citus Corp., a dust-control products and applications company.

The Construction Industry Manufactures Association presented a Gold Service Award to The CIT Group/Equipment Financing for its 50 years of membership.

Besser Appco Division appointed Bob Bandas as national sales engineer specializing in aggregate equipment.

Michelin North America made its first set of giant radial earthmover tires at its new facility in Lexington, S.C.

Volvo Construction Equipment and Samsung Heavy Industries concluded an agreement where Volvo will acquire Samsung's construction equipment business for $572 million. Volvo will own about 90% of the business, while Samsung will retain 10%.

Fred Thimmel, president of Bryant Products, was appointed to the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association board of directors.

Bruce Smith was named national account manager, construction equipment division of Daewoo Heavy Industries America Corp. He has been with the company since 1983, serving in different management positions.

Indeco, hydraulic breakers manufacturer, appointed Columbus Equipment its authorized Ohio dealer.

Charles Gaiser was named president of Castrol Industrial North America Inc. Castrol was previously organized into four geographic regions. It is now organized globally by business streams: consumer, commercial, industrial and marine.

Goodyear Engineered Products is establishing six worldwide technical manager positions for: conveyor belts, air springs, power transmission products, molded products, industrial hose and transportation hose.

FMI's Quality & Productivity Improvement Group added Cecilia Swanson as a consultant and Thomas Quinn. The company also hired Jay Bowman as a market analyst for its Strategic Research Group.

Terex Corp. created Terex Mining Group to market Unit Rig and O&K products in the Untied States. The business moved to Tulsa, Okla. in June.

MDL Technologies promoted Meredith Rhodes to sales manager. She is responsible for the company's marine and mining products in North and South America.