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Two is better than one
April 1, 2007 By: Rodney E. Garrett Pit & QuarryLeo Journagan Construction Co. found that adding the right equipment can pay off in increased productivity.
There are a variety of reasons to increase the hourly production rate of a rock crushing-screening plant. One reason is to maintain or increase the daily production output while eliminating the overtime labor costs. Further, extensive long workdays are fatiguing for the work crew, which results in work inefficiency. Justifying a second shift may not be warranted, so the challenge is to increase the production rate efficiently and cost-effectively to eliminate the overtime; in turn, this reduces the labor costs per ton of aggregates produced.
Meeting this challenge successfully might require a significant capital investment in terms of new equipment needed for the crushing-screening plant. But choosing the most cost-effective equipment can be a challenge.
 Challenge; Solution; Tip |
Leo Journagan Construction Co. Inc. successfully met the challenge recently by increasing the production rate of one of the crushing-screening plants it operates. All overtime labor costs have been eliminated as a result.
Founded in 1952 by Leo Journagan, the company serviced cattle farmers in northwest Arkansas who needed cattle watering ponds built on their ranches. As the company grew, Journagan added land-clearing services for farmers, building contractors and utility companies.
Diversified services
By the 1960s, the company became more involved with construction projects in Missouri and subsequently relocated its headquarters in Springfield, Mo. During this period, the company added asphalt paving services to its list. The paving business was so good, it bought a hot mix asphalt (HMA) plant.
 Leo Journagan Construction Co. has been growing since the 1980s owing to an aggressive road-building program. |
In 1968, Leo's son, Allen Journagan, joined the company on a part-time basis, and in 1972 he was onboard as a full-time employee. For the past 10 years, the younger Journagan has been president of the company.
"I had lots of experience in all phases of the operation, from highway and heavy construction to quarrying rock," he said. "My experiences are serving me well now as president of the company."
Since the 1980s, the company has been growing steadily, a growth pattern that in part can be directly correlated to an aggressive road-building program carried out by MODOT. Specifically, much of the company's expansion can be indirectly attributed to the rapid tourist-trade growth experienced in Branson, Mo. For the past 15 years, Branson has become a major U.S. tourist center, featuring star-studded shows with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Last year, 7.2 million people visited Branson — and an even greater number are expected to visit this year.
What this phenomenon has created are major streets, roads and highway building activities in order to meet the ever-increasing traffic demands. An extensive roads network is important, because most of the visitors travel to Branson either by auto or tourist buses.
 Leo Journagan Construction's use of KPI-JCI crushers and screens has helped bring the company's crushing capacities to the wanted production levels. |
"In recent years, Branson's growth has been significant for our company's road-building activities. We have been playing a major role in new highway construction and the repaving of existing roads," Journagan said. "However, it is not just the business we are getting from the public sector; 40 percent of our construction and asphalt-paving business has been coming from the private sector."
Today, the company's annual income is $110 million and it employs 350 people. This past year, it produced 3 million tons of aggregates, most of it for its own paving and construction projects.
Multiple facilities
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