August 7, 2023 – Vulcan Materials had a good second quarter to say the least. Aggregates shipments may have decreased 1% with variations across geographies, but shipment activity in California was particularly strong, following the weather-impacted first quarter. Certain markets in the Southeast benefited from healthy shipment activity to industrial projects. Meanwhile, pricing momentum and solid operational execution drove a 22% improvement in…
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Martin Marietta’s Nye Looks Ahead
Aug. 1, 2023 – With the momentum of its just-reported quarterly records for revenues, profitability and unit margins, Martin Marietta Chairman and CEO Ward Nye is looking ahead to a strong finish to the year and a positive 2024. He stated, “As record-setting public funds for infrastructure and manufacturing begin to enter the U.S. economy, we continue to expect that aggregates…
Read MoreThe AVP Pulse Index for July
July 24, 2023 – The AVP Pulse Index this month rose 3.1% month-over-month, while increasing 7.1% year-over-year. The proprietary AVP Pulse Index – a joint effort between mergers and acquisition advisors Allen-Villere Partners, and Rock Products – illustrates the health of the industry in one single trend line, using relevant data that is updated monthly or quarterly. “The previously flattened curve of…
Read MoreThe Rock Products Road Show
July 17, 2023 – The Rock Products Road Show – an “Economics + Equipment” informational session – will roll into Michigan on July 21 for the Michigan Aggregates Association’s summer meeting. Editor Mark Kuhar will head up an all-star cast of presenters including Pierre Villere, from Allen Villere, Mark Krause from McLanahan Corp., Vince Schlatter from Superior Industries and Matt Lepp from VDG. There will be…
Read MoreCrystalline Silica Rule Now in Federal Register
July 13, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Labor published a notice of proposed rulemaking by its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to amend existing Federal standards to better protect the nation’s miners from health hazards related to occupational exposure of respirable crystalline silica, or silica dust. The proposed rule change will ensure miners have at least the same…
Read MoreAll Hail The Top 100
July 5, 2023 – U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Specialist Jason Willett is back with another edition of his “Top 100” lists. Nine publicly traded and four privately held companies populate the upper ranks of Willett’s new “Top 100 Crushed Stone” and “Top 100 Sand & Gravel” surveys. Based on his analysis of 2021 shipments, the top 10 producers in…
Read MoreFrom Gravel to an RV Park
July 3, 2023 – A reclaimed Doan Companies sand and gravel operation has now become Hidden Lakes RV Park, according to a story on MLive. “It’s a little off the charts for a concrete and highway construction company,” said Dennis Doan, chairman of Doan Companies, the firm he founded with his father and a partner in 1970. His company took over the former Manchester Gravel and…
Read MoreVulcan Named One of the Best Companies to Work For
June 26, 2023 – A little recognition is always a good thing. Vulcan Materials Co. was named as one of the top 200 Best Companies to Work For by U.S. News and World Report. The company was also included in the 2023 Fortune 500 list of U.S. companies. The factors considered as part of the U.S. News review include: quality…
Read MoreFarm to Quarry to Farm
June 20, 2023 – Ten years ago John Edworthy made the difficult decision to turn his farm in North Dumfries, Ontario, Canada, into a gravel pit. Now he has won a Judges’ Choice Award from the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association for the work he’s done converting a large part of it back to farmland, according to an article…
Read MoreGlass Aggregates to the Rescue
June 1, 2023 – According to the Associated Press, Pennsylvania will truck in 2,000 tons of lightweight glass nuggets to help quickly rebuild a collapsed section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia and crews will work 24 hours a day until they can reopen the critical commercial artery. The company supplying the glass aggregate, AeroAggregates of North America, has a production site…
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