As we mull over the prospect of a recession, which I am still convinced will not happen, it is significant to note there are some financial forces at play over the next several years that will have a huge, and positive, impact on our economy. As I have said in prior columns and to state and national association presentations for…
Read MoreDay: June 1, 2023
The Price is Right
One of the key storylines in the aggregates industry over the past 12 months is the price of aggregates. Like almost every other construction material out there, the price of aggregates has gone up in keeping with the same inflationary pressures felt by other industries. This is very apparent in the recently released first-quarter reports of the industry’s publicly traded…
Read MoreFirst Look – June 2023
TOP NEWS Vulcan MaterialsVulcan Materials Co. announced results for the quarter ended March 31, reporting total revenues of $1.649 billion, versus total revenues of $1.541 billion in the first quarter of 2022, about a 7% increase. Summit Materials Summit Materials Inc. announced results for the first quarter ended April 1, reporting net revenue of $407.3 million, versus $392.5 million in the…
Read MoreConstruction Spending Healthy in April; Highways Rise Again
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending during April 2023 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,908.4 billion, 1.2% (±0.7%) above the revised March estimate of $1,885.0 billion. The April figure is 7.2% (±1.2%) above the April 2022 estimate of $1,780.9 billion. During the first four months of this year, construction spending amounted to $566.7 billion,…
Read MoreWelding Alloys Asks If Technology is the Answer to Reducing the Skills Gap
The skills gap in industries across the world is of great concern with almost 90% of companies saying they are aware that they are facing one. What role can technology play, and how can we as humans use this to our advantage as we work alongside it to reduce the skills gap in many industries? David Marshall, Intergra marketing manager…
Read MoreVirginia Tech Researchers Use Autonomous Technologies to Make Mines Safer
How do you use drones and robots to make underground mining less risky for workers? Virginia Tech researcher Richard Bishop and his West Virginia University collaborators are working to answer this question. A recent two-year, $569,149 Alpha Foundation grant will allow the team to study ways to use autonomous drones to predict and prevent roof collapses underground. It’s urgent work.…
Read MoreHere’s to Knife River
June 1, 2023 – MDU Resources announced on Aug. 4, 2022, its intent to separate its construction materials subsidiary, Knife River Corp., into an independent, publicly traded company. Brian R. Gray was named president and CEO on March 1 of this year. Gray has 29 years of experience at Knife River. Prior to being named company president, he was president…
Read MoreCDE: Turning Dirt Into Dollars
From customer presentations to equipment demonstrations, virtual reality demos to a “Recycling Rocks” party, CDE delivered something for everyone at ConExpo-Con/Agg.
Read MoreEpiroc, SSAB to Explore Sustainable Options for Manufacturing Spare Parts
Earlier this year Epiroc and SSAB announced a further expansion of their partnership to secure fossil-free steel for use in the production of Epiroc’s mining equipment. Since then, the two companies have expanded their collaboration into also exploring the possibilities to use fossil-free steel when manufacturing spare parts and components with additive technology. The initial step in the process has…
Read MoreSelect Sands Reports Results for First Quarter 2023
Select Sands Corp. announced operational and financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The company: Sold 83,027 tons of frac and industrial sand during the first quarter of 2023 compared to 81,451 tons in the three months ended Dec. 31, 2022 and 107,428 tons in the three months ended March 31, 2022. Recorded revenue of $5.1 million…
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