Pit and Quarry

Quarry field trip comes to the students

Pennsylvania fourth-grade science curriculum includes the study of rocks and minerals, their uses, and the resulting impact on the economy and the environment. With a quarry located in Washington Township, Pa., Martin Stone Quarries Inc. has partnered for many years with Washington Elementary School to enhance the students' learning experience by hosting a specially designed field trip to their site.

When budget cuts to Pennsylvania schools forced the cancellation of the 2011 field trip, the company offered to come to the students. Programs were presented to the school's fourth-graders. Rod Martin spoke about the quarry and the production of stone, while Eric Gehman presented an introductory program about wetlands and the huge project undertaken by Martin Stone Quarries when they created a large wetlands area adjacent to one of their operations. -Darren Constantino

Optimizing the “rock factory”

Optimizing the “rock factory” was the common thread running throughout the 2011 Quarry Academy in San Antonio. The three-day program, operated by Sandvik Mining and Construction and Dyno Nobel, brought the latest concepts and technologies of each phase of quarry operations into an interactive series of more than 30 classes. More than 100 people attended sessions covering the blasting, crushing and material handling functions within a modern operation.

This year’s program included hands-on sessions with simulators for Sandvik’s drills and Volvo’s wheel loaders. Cemex’s New Braunfels Texas operation opened its Balcones Quarry for a tour and several demonstrations by the Sandvik and Dyno Nobel teams.

The theme of this year’s program was “Lighten Your Energy Footprint.” In line with that theme, a presentation on lean process set the tone for many of the programs’ sessions, which demonstrated how quarry processes can be analyzed, providing the raw information needed to make improvements.

The issue of safety was touched on throughout the event and was capped by a presentation by former astronaut Mike Mullane. Mullane related his experiences with the NASA space program to demonstrate the importance of documenting safety issues and keeping them at the forefront of ongoing planning.

Jeff Heinemann of Sandvik and E.J. Burke of Dyno Nobel served as hosts for the event. Heinemann said, “We were pleased to see the continued interest from the quarry community." The next Quarry Academy will take place Nov. 13-15, 2012, in San Antonio. –Darren Constantino
 

Stating its case

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is stating its case. The trade association of the construction industry released a report that makes "a strong and compelling case for continued federal investments in infrastructure, even in this new era of austerity," says Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's CEO. In "The Case for Infrastructure and Reform," the AGC outlines reasons the federal government should continue to invest in infrastructure, flaws in the current approach and essential reforms to vital infrastructure programs. The AGC detailed how federally funded flood control infrastructure – locks, levies and spillways – has been vital along the Mississippi River during recent severe southern flooding. This flooding would have been much worse had this flood-control network not been in place, Sandherr notes. For more about AGC's plan, click here. – Brian Richesson