August 29, 2013 – Domestic production levels for construction materials (cement, construction sand and gravel, crushed stone, and gypsum) in the second quarter of 2013 increased substantially compared with levels in the first quarter of 2013, according to preliminary results released by USGS, due to seasonal fluctuations influenced by weather conditions.
Read MoreMonth: August 2013
Baltimore and More
August 28, 2013 – I am blogging live this week from Baltimore, where I am attending a special AGG1 2015 planning meeting hosted by NSSGA. It was great to sit around a table and swap ideas and share concerns with representatives of many U.S. manufacturers of aggregates equipment, and a select group of high-level stone producers, not to mention a…
Read MoreAsphalt Industry Ready for New PEL
August 26, 2013 – Aggregates operations with an adjacent asphalt plant can take note of this: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a proposed permissible exposure level (PEL) for silica dust, according to the National Asphalt Pavement Association.
Read MoreJuly Construction Recedes 2 Percent
New construction starts in July decreased 2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $479.1 billion, according to McGraw Hill Construction, a division of McGraw Hill Financial. The nonbuilding construction sector, comprised of public works and electric utilities, pulled back in July after being lifted in June by several very large projects. At the same time, nonresidential building strengthened…
Read MoreCat Dealers Support Cleanup Following Oklahoma Tornado
It has been almost four months since Moore, Okla., was hit with an EF5 tornado on May 20 that flattened buildings and left many homeless. Cat dealer Warren Cat was onsite assisting first responders with rescue operations quickly following the disaster.
Read MoreMSHA Offers Half-Year Fatality Analysis
From Jan. 1, 2013, to June 30, 2013, 18 miners died in accidents in the mining industry, according to MSHA. Nine died in coal mining accidents and nine in metal and nonmetal mining accidents. In both coal and metal and nonmetal mining, one of the miners killed was a contractor.
Read MoreCase Launches New Equipment at Public Works Show
CASE Construction Equipment introduced new equipment and technologies for public works professionals at the 2013 International Public Works Congress & Exposition, held Aug. 25-28 at McCormick Place in Chicago, including: The CASE 621F wheel loader. The 621F provides up to a 10-percent increase in fuel economy over the previous model, while delivering faster acceleration, quicker cycle times and higher travel…
Read MoreKerry Shapiro Named CalCIMA General Counsel
The California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA) announced that Kerry Shapiro of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, LLP was selected to represent CalCIMA as General Counsel.
Read MoreU.S. Construction Machinery Exports Down 21 Percent
U.S. construction machinery exports dropped 21 percent during the first half of 2013, with $10.8 billion shipped to global markets compared to $13.7 billion at midyear 2012, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). The AEM off-road equipment manufacturing trade group consolidates U.S. Commerce Dept. data with other sources into global trend reports for members.
Read MoreThis Week’s Market Buzz
Frac sand mining in Minnesota now has its own website. Six state agencies created a portal to their frac sand activities and rule-making around the industry. Officials said the site is geared toward easy navigation of the regulatory landscape. In particular, it will help people interested in what the state is doing to develop new rules for managing and permitting…
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