Happy New Year

On behalf of all of us here at Pit & Quarry, we wish you a happy and prosperous new year. We hope 2007 will be another great year for the aggregates industry. Your comment?

Changes at Lafarge

Chaanges are in the offing at Lafarge North America. Lafarge announced the restructuring of its North American business units in Aggregates, Concrete and Asphalt. The company will merge its Eastern U.S. business unit with its Southeastern U.S. business unit. Ken MacLean has been named President of the new U.S. business unit, and will work out of Alpharetta, Ga. Fred Kemph will assume responsibility for the fast-growing aggregates business. The decision to merge the two business units was based on revenues, geography and markets, according to the company. Your comment?

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone in the aggregates industry. The P&Q Editor's Blog will be back next week.

Price fluctuations

Materials costs continue to make construction projects tough to get a handle on. "Construction materials costs took a pleasing plunge in November, while other producer prices rose," says Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for The Associated General Contractors of America. But Simonson saya the next 12 months are still likely to show higher costs for construction than for the economy as a whole. "There were price declines in November for diesel fuel and asphalt, plastic construction products, lumber and plywood, gypsum products and steel and copper products. But there were continuing increases in the prices of most concrete products, brick, and aluminum mill shapes," he says. Your comment?

Senior shake-up

Vulcan Materials just shook up its senor management judging by several personnel announcements. G. M. (Mac) Badgett, III (57) who will continue his service to the Company as Senior Vice President, Construction Materials Group, with responsibilities for the group's key support functions, which include marketing, procurement, safety, health, environmental, technical, geological, and operations and engineering services, will now serve as senior advisor to all of the Company's Construction Materials divisions as well, and will promote the sharing of best practices among the divisions. Mr. Badgett will succeed James W. Smack (63), who has elected to retire. Ronald G. McAbee (59), currently President of the Company's Western Division, has been named Senior Vice President, West. McAbee will oversee the management of Vulcan's Western, Midsouth and Midwest Divisions. Mr. Shepherd will oversee management of the Company's Mideast, Southeast, Southern-Gulf Coast and Southwest Divisions. Alan D. Wessel (48) has been named President of Vulcan's Western Division. Wessel joined Vulcan in 1992 and most recently served as Vice President and General Manager for the Southern California region of the Company's Western Division. Michael R. Mills (46) has been named President of the Company's Southeast Division. Mills joined Vulcan in 1991 and most recently served as Vice President and General Manager, West, for Vulcan's Midsouth Division. Your comment?

The Big Switch

As control of Congress switches over to Democratic control, two friends of the industry have been named as committee heads. The House Democratic Caucus selected Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) to chair the all-important Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W. Va.) was selected to lead the Resources Committee for the Democrats, and will changes the name back to the Natural Resources Committee, as it was known until the Republicans altered it in 1994. As the Democratic agenda unfolds, stay tuned for signals that will indicate support for or a weakening of, national infrastructure initiatives. Your comment?

Oldcastle: new acquisition

Oldcastle Materials has opened up its wallet. The company, a division of the Irish construction-materials company CRH, has bought its second aggregate company in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Oldcastle bought Egge Sand & Gravel in Eugene this month, adding to its roster, which includes Klamath Pacific in Klamath Falls and River Bend Sand & Gravel in Salem. "Oldcastle's a very, very good company," said Richard Angstrom, the president of the Salem-based Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Organization. "They're well-respected in the industry. They do a good job in the communities they're in." Oldcastle boasts more than 13,000 employees in 30 states. It generated more than $3.5 billion in revenues in 2004. Your comment?

Third-quarter production

I have it on good authority that USGS will release its third-quarter report next week, indicating that crushed stone production will be down in the 3rd quarter compared to last year, and also down for first 9 months of the year. Sand & Gravel will also be down in the 3rd quarter compared to last year, but up slightly for first 9 months of 2006. Aggregates production will be down in 32 of the 45 States that were estimated. Your comment?