Liebherr’s L 566 XPower wheel loader offers “impressive levels of productivity and versatility that equip operators to successfully handle aggregate, asphalt and pavement projects. The XPower machine concept combines performance, fuel efficiency, robustness, and comfort. With capabilities that provide two types of drives inside a unique machine design, hydrostatic and mechanical, operators are able to have faster work cycles, carry…
Read MoreDay: April 17, 2025
Volvo Brings Hydraulic Hybrid Technology to New-Gen Excavators
Volvo Construction Equipment is bringing its proven, industry-leading hydraulic hybrid technology to the newest generation of excavators with the EC260 Hybrid, EC300 Hybrid, EC370 Hybrid, EC400 Hybrid and EC500 Hybrid. Not only do these 26- to 50-ton crawlers represent the future of excavator design, but the EC400 Hybrid and EC500 Hybrid also become the biggest models in Volvo’s hybrid portfolio.…
Read MoreMREL Offers Velocity of Detonation Tools
Velocity of detonation (VOD) is cited as the performance specification for explosives. If you are not measuring VOD then you cannot be sure that your explosives are performing properly, according to MREL. If you want to profile the VOD continuously along a sample of explosives or along an explosives column in a single blasthole, the world’s most affordable and easiest…
Read MoreIVO Systems Offers TimeVO TimeCard Solution
IVO Systems offers TimeVO, a “groundbreaking timecard solution for heavy civil construction companies built specifically to handle their unique operational needs.” This innovative module helps further close the information gap between the field, office, and shop by adding time tracking to IVO’s existing suite of equipment and employee management capabilities. IVO Systems CEO Eric Christensen said, “When we started IVO…
Read MoreBig Rocks, Small Excavator
Guelph, Ontario-Based Cox Construction Is Successfully Breaking Big Rocks With A Small Electric Excavator. Edited by Mark S. Kuhar A couple of hours west of Toronto, Canada, in a town affectionately nicknamed The Royal City, a family-owned-and-operated company called Cox Construction is approaching its 80th year in business. “In 1946, my father started our business,” said Regan Cox, who now…
Read MoreLoading & Hauling
When It Comes To Loading And Hauling, New Ideas Are Always On Tap From Industry Manufacturers. By Mark S. Kuhar What new or enhanced ideas and innovations are coming on the market from industry manufacturers in the area of loading and hauling? Here are three to consider. RokbakArticulated hauler manufacturer Rokbak notes that due to their robust, off-road performance, articulated…
Read MoreAn Interview With Richard Luck
As He Takes The Helm Of Luck Companies As The Fourth-Generation Of Family Leadership, Richard Luck Reflects On The Mission Ahead. By Mark S. Kuhar This is the first in a two-part feature. The second part will appear in the May issue of Rock Products. RP: Richard, congratulations on being named president of Luck Companies. Can you share a bit…
Read MoreWhen Rocks Get Pricey
How Tariffs And Market Volatility Shake Up Construction. By Barry Hudson and Chris Summers The world of construction is built on a foundation of, well, rocks. Specifically, construction aggregates: crushed stone, sand and gravel. These seemingly humble materials form the backbone of everything from roads and bridges to homes and skyscrapers. But what happens when the cost of these essential…
Read MoreA Black Swan?
I wrote about the most recent Black Swan event in this and our sister publication in the spring of 2020. I first wrote about the fear that was gripping Milan, Italy, as ground zero in the West for the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic, and I worried about how rapidly and how far it could spread. As we know, it turned…
Read MorePublic Companies Are Reporting a Mixed Bag
The publicly traded aggregates companies reported results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2024. Here are some of the highlights: Vulcan Materials reported that fourth quarter Aggregates segment gross profit increased 15% to $486 million ($9.02 per ton). Aggregates shipments decreased 3%, reflecting underlying demand as well as the benefit of favorable weather in most markets throughout the quarter. Martin…
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