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Read MoreCategory: Mark's Blog
Happy 40th Anniversary
Nov. 29, 2018 – I am blogging live this week from South Carolina, where I met with representatives from Polydeck Corp. to talk turkey, industry issues and the company’s 40th anniversary. What began in 1959 in Johannesburg, South Africa, is today a thriving family-owned business with a leading industry image and a unique timeline of growth and revolutionary thinking. Thanks to Dennis Zeiger for…
Read MoreElection Thoughts
Nov. 7, 2018 – The prevailing industry opinion in the aftermath of the midterm elections is that this may be a good opportunity to finally move infrastructure to the front of the list as a Washington priority. A Democratic House of Representatives and Republican Senate may find very few things they agree on, but infrastructure is certainly one of them. “An…
Read MoreElevate!
Oct. 31, 2018 – I am blogging live this week from Command Alkon’s Elevate Conference in Austin, Texas. The conference features keynote addresses, solutions labs, breakout sessions, industry awards, networking and an expo. Both Rock Products and sister publication Concrete Products are participating in the event. And let me tell you, Austin is a great place for an event like this. #WeElevateTogether.
Read MoreLooking Ahead With Caution
Oct. 16, 2018 – At the Intercem Americas conference in Miami, Colin Sutherland, president of SC Market Analytics, talked about infrastructure market dynamics that will impact both the cement and aggregates industries. Chief among these are a rising fed funds rate, full employment, super-stimulative fiscal policy, rising minimum wage, rising oil prices and tariff driven materials price increases. The industries may…
Read MoreHappy 40th Anniversary, Polydeck!
Oct. 11, 2018 – Spartanburg, S.C.-based Polydeck Screen Corp. celebrated its 40th anniversary, with an evening reception at the Spartanburg Marriott, as well as tours and a special luncheon at its manufacturing facility. Polydeck is a family owned, family operated business. Since its incorporation in America in 1978 by founders Manfred Freissle, Helmut Rosenbusch and Dieter Egler, the company is recognized as…
Read MoreRemembering Bill Ford
Sept. 19, 2018 – It is with great sadness that the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) shares the news that William “Bill” Ford passed away on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, due to complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. I have been around the aggregates industry for almost 25 years, and I can tell you, Bill was a fine man, always willing to help…
Read MoreHere Comes Florence
Sept. 12, 2018 – Here comes Hurricane Florence, barreling its way toward the Carolinas. I asked Jasper (Jay) G. Stem Jr. P.E., executive director of the North Carolina Aggregates Association what was happening on his home turf. “I was visiting one of my members in the western part of the state yesterday,” he said. “They were focused on shipping ABC so the contractors…
Read MoreDrones and Aggregates Operations
Sept. 6, 2018 – At this year’s InterDrone show in Las Vegas, aggregates operations are in the spotlight. Industry experts on a panel discussed how data from drones is being used; how aggregates plants can optimize this data; and how plants are doing it. Rather than just capturing data, they’re seeing the data being used for accounting purposes to help drive…
Read MoreSuperior Industries Holds Dealer Open House
Aug. 28, 2018 – Superior Industries is holding its first dealer open house, called Ignite18, at its corporate headquarters in Morris, Minn. The aggregates equipment manufacturer has invited the trade press, and I am proud to take part. The event includes a keynote address by company President Jarrod Felton, special sessions on washing, screening and conveying, an equipment expo and a tour…
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