• ConExpo-Con/Agg sets attendance mark: ConExpo-Con/Agg 2008 and the co-located IFPE 2008 expositions set records for attendance, exhibit space and number of exhibiting companies. More than 144,600 industry professionals from around the world attended the shows during their five-day run March 11-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. ConExpo-Con/Agg 2008 covered more than 2.28 million net sq. ft. of exhibits, taken by 2,182 exhibitors, and was 21 percent bigger than the last show, held in 2005. IFPE 2008 was also the largest in its history with more than 129,000 net sq. ft. of exhibit space used by 469 exhibitors – a 16 percent increase in space compared to 2005. In addition, a record number of international industry professionals visited the shows – more than 28,000, which is more than 19 percent of total attendance and represents more than 30 percent growth compared to the last edition of the shows. International attendance increased by more than 50 percent from the Latin America and Caribbean marketplace, and doubled from China, India and Turkey.
• NSSGA holds annual convention: NSSGA’s annual convention was held last week at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2008 in Las Vegas, with hundreds of aggregates industry leaders from around the United States registered. In addition to recognizing the Stars of Excellence for community involvement, NSSGA’s chairmanship passed from Louis Griesemer of Springfield Underground, Springfield, Mo., to Steve Sloan of Midwest Materials Inc., Pittsburg, Kan. A highlight of the convention was the rollout of plans for the first-ever all aggregates industry event, “AGG 1,” to be held in Orlando, Fla., beginning on March 9, 2009. Scheduled speakers at this year’s NSSGA convention included Chad Hymas, president of Chad Hymas Communications Inc.; Jack L. Schenendorf, vice chairman of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission; Robert L. Friend, deputy assistant secretary of labor for MSHA; and William M. Wilkins, The Road Information Program's executive director. The Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award was presented to Ronald W. Kruse of National Lime & Stone, Findlay, Ohio, and the NSSGA State Association Executive of the Year Award went to Bruce T. Chattin of the Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association.
• NIOSH launches survey for miners: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting a national survey of the mining population. The survey is scheduled to begin April 1, and data collection will continue through June. The survey is mailed to a randomized sample of mines in five commodities. NIOSH plans to mail questionnaires to coal, underground mines; coal, surface; metal, underground; metal, surface; nonmetal, underground; nonmetal, surface; stone, underground; stone, surface; and sand and gravel mines. More information about the survey can be found online.
• Oldcastle plans facility in Georgia: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has announced that Oldcastle Materials Inc. plans to begin the approvals process to build a state-of-the-art facility in Warren County. Pending successful approvals, the paving materials company will invest more than $50 million and create about 30 jobs. Oldcastle Materials Inc., which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., acquired a 1,800-acre site near Interstate 20 and Camak in Warren County. The company plans to build a state-of-the-art facility to extract stone for use in road construction.
