The estimated annual output of construction aggregates produced for consumption slightly decreased from 2.50 billion metric tons (Gt) in 2022 to 2.47 Gt in 2023, according to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Commodity Specialist Jason Willett.
Read MoreMonth: February 2024
Coal-Based Product Could Replace Sand in Concrete
A study by Rice University researchers found that graphene derived from metallurgical coke, a coal-based product, could serve not only as a reinforcing additive in cement but also as a replacement for sand in concrete. “This could have a major impact on one of the biggest industries in the world,” said James Tour, Rice’s T. T. and W. F. Chao…
Read MoreShow Me Your Badge!
Here’s A Story About An Operator Who Called Local Law Enforcement On A Field Office Supervisor Who Refused To Present His Credentials. By Brian Hendrix A reader in the industry recently asked me for my take on his practice of asking MSHA inspectors for their credentials. He explained that he asks for an inspector’s credentials, either an authorized representative (AR)…
Read MoreThe Making of a Media Release
Mass Media Are Still The Best Channels For Reaching The General Public. By Thomas J. Roach When it comes to free public communication, mass media are still the best channels for reaching the general public. Social media and web pages are best used for targeted communication. Important networking publics interface on social media, and websites are visited by costumers researching…
Read MoreDeveloping the Next Generation
At ARPA, Future Leaders Program Participants Learn The Importance Of Community Relations. By Therese Dunphy The Arizona Rock Products Association (ARPA) is cultivating the next generation of industry leadership through a year-long training program called Future Leaders. It began in 2017 and allows participants to learn skills they need to succeed in the industry and as individuals. “The purpose of…
Read MoreNews from Virginia
According to the News Leader, how far away from a quarry would a house have to be for you to consider living in it? Would that change if you worked for the quarry? That’s the question at the core of an ordinance considered by the Augusta County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 24. The debate is not over – the…
Read MorePermitting from South Carolina
According to the Times and Democrat, the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates has applied for permits to establish a limestone quarry and processing plant on Addidas Road, less than four miles southeast of the town of Eutawville, S.C. A subsidiary, Vulcan Construction Materials LLC, proposes to lease multiple tracts totaling 693 acres from a sister subsidiary called Vulcan Lands…
Read MoreSolidia, CTS Complete First Low-Carbon Cement Production Campaign
CTS Cement Manufacturing Corp., California-based producer of Rapid Set and Komponent specialty concrete binders, recently completed the first of a series of planned Solidia Cement production campaigns. A low limestone binder that gains strength through exposure to carbon dioxide and the attendant carbonation process, Solidia Cement is made with the same raw materials as portland cement but exhibits significantly eased…
Read MoreRenewable Lubricants’ Bio-Process Oils for Safe, Sustainable Dust Control
Renewable Lubricants introduced Bio-Process Oils, a family of blended, highly refined biosynthetic base oils (Biobased) that are a safe and sustainable means of controlling dust on nonpaved roadways. Their extremely low volatility increases the flash and fire safety features, and there are no VOCs), make Bio-Process Oils safer for employees. They are available in viscosity grades (SUS) of 50, 70,…
Read MoreCan Accessibility Help Tackle the Industry’s Driver Gap?
By Diego Larrea-Puemape The driver shortage isn’t new. The need to fill idle trucks has dominated industry discussions, especially in the heavy building materials space. Beyond an aging workforce, the industry now competes against simpler routes and more predictable work schedules offered by small parcels and food delivery jobs. The high demand for drivers won’t settle tomorrow. But by positioning…
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