Manufacturers moving the industry forward

The outdoor exhibit at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2014.

A healthy U.S. economy and a long-term highway bill have created the perfect environment for manufacturers to develop and market new products for the construction and aggregate industries. It is during these times that industry technology advances, that our industry moves forward.

As I write this, nearly 2,000 equipment manufacturers, including many that supply the aggregate mining industry, are gearing up for MINExpo International 2016. Hundreds of these companies will have unveiled new products at the show by the time you read this (learn about them in our November issue). We will see even more of this at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2017 next March. For as large as MINExpo International is, ConExpo-Con/Agg is even bigger, and the wealth of new equipment unveiled at that show will be impressive.

When it comes to technology, our industry is beginning to use tools earlier generations could not have even dreamed of. For a glimpse at what I mean, take a look at some of the suppliers’ article postings on the ConExpo-Con/Agg website.

Following are some of those headlines as of press time:
■ Hydrogen Will Power Cities and Infrastructure
■ Global Navigation Satellite Systems: The Next Generation
■ Drivers for Augmented Reality Growth
■ A Strategy for Drones
■ Apps to Enhance Fleets
■ Digital Transformation Coming

Pit & Quarry will bring you news on many of these new advancements before, during and after ConExpo.

Pink ribbon

What’s with the pink ribbon on our cover this month? Many of you may have noticed the pink Pit & Quarry logos on our cover each October for the past couple of years. Those logos and the pink ribbon this month symbolize North Coast Media’s commitment to charitable causes. Our parent company is once again donating a portion of October revenues to cancer charities. And Pit & Quarry continues to make donations to charitable organizations in both the United States and Canada.

We salute the aggregate producers, equipment manufacturers and industry associations who donate time, money and resources to a variety of needy causes.