This is Rock Products’ Outlook/Forecast Issue, and as is par for the course, we take a look back and take a look ahead. Our “state-of-the-industry” feature does a solid job of that, touching on economics, politics and more. In addition, our latest pricing feature looks back to 2024 to glean some important market insights, while the latest installment of The Pulse, our quarterly economic report, drills down on some of the data points that define the construction materials industry.
Speaking of looking back, it was a banner year for SEMCO Publishing, parent company of Rock Products:
SEMCO debuted the inaugural AggNexus Digital Innovation Conference, attended by almost 100 industry professionals. The event – held Sept. 9-10 on the University of Texas, Austin campus, engaged representatives of technology-savvy multinational or independent cement, aggregate, concrete and asphalt producers plus allied software developers or service providers. Look for details about the 2025 edition of the show, to be announced soon.
SEMCO also acquired Minería Pan-Americana from Route One Publishing. Minería Pan-Americana is the leading Spanish-language magazine, news service and digital resource platform serving the Latin American mining sector. This acquisition strengthens SEMCO Publishing’s portfolio of mining publications, which includes North American Mining magazine, The Asia Miner and Miner’s News Global. The addition of Minería Pan-Americana expands SEMCO’s reach and offers advertisers enhanced opportunities to connect with key decision-makers in this vital market.
A new media partnership between Rock Products; sister publications Concrete Products and Cement Optimized; and the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), will highlight the important role recycling aggregate materials plays in the sustainability of the natural aggregate, concrete and cement industries.
A central part of the partnership is that CDRA will provide SEMCO publications regular updates, including articles and columns, on what is going on in recycling and recovery for concrete, asphalt and other construction materials, and how that supports the sustainability of the aggregates, concrete and cement industries.
While other publishing companies remain stagnant and flounder in the new information universe, SEMCO – and by extension, Rock Products – continues to evolve, grow and succeed.
There are more developments coming in 2025. Stay tuned.
Mark S. Kuhar, editor
[email protected]
(330) 722‐4081
X: @editormarkkuhar