Pit & Quarry - April 2009

AGG1 launches in Orlando with strong attendance

The AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo and co-located World of Asphalt Show & Conference posted strong attendance numbers despite a down economy and travel restrictions by many companies.

The shows were held March 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

With final registration numbers of 5,800, including 16 percent international, the co-location meant a big attendance

boost for World of Asphalt, which had attracted about 3,650 to its last show, held in 2007. And it provided a strong start for the inaugural AGG1, NSSGA’s new event in which it combined its annual convention.

Nearly 400 exhibitors used 85,900 net sq. ft. of exhibit space to showcase their equipment. In addition, 5,700 tickets were sold to the educational sessions.

AGG1 and World of Asphalt will again co-locate Feb. 15-18, 2010, in Cincinnati.

Upcoming Events

Young Leaders Annual
Meeting
April 30 - May 3
Tucson, Ariz.

Siemens Regional User Conference May 5 King of Prussia, Pa.

Congress optimistic about addressing highway bill

Ogletree Deakins’
2009 Workplace
Strategies Seminar
May 7-8
Miami

Members of the House and Senate continue to express optimism that the highway bill will be on the House floor later this year, despite the apparent funding problem facing the program.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., put a price tag of $450 billion to $500 billion on the bill and said he wanted to pass it out of committee in early June.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told NSSGA staff that the committee was asking for floor time in July.

In the Senate, NSSGA has learned Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., is working closely with senior Republican Jim Inhofe (Okla.) on the reauthorization bill, despite their decidedly different views on other issues.

Siemens Regional User Conference May 11-12 Park City, Utah

Advanced Supervisory
Training Course
May 18-20
Pittsburgh

Industry briefs

State award: Jim Rodriguez, executive director of the Oklahoma Aggregates Association, was named NSSGA’s 2008 State Aggregates Association Executive of the Year. Safety honor: MSHA awarded Staker Parson Companies Ina Pit with the 2007 Safe Mine Achievement Award in the sand and gravel category. Exports increase: U.S. construction equipment exports totaled more than $20.7 billion for 2008, a 20 percent gain over the previous year, AEM said. Death: Ralph Cobey, Eagle Crusher’s long-time chairman of the board, died on Jan. 16 at age 99.

Eye on the Blog

Aggregates production tanks in 2008

Well, the numbers are in, and they aren’t pretty. USGS has released full-year 2008 production statistics. The estimated annual output of aggregates produced for consumption in 2008 was 2. 34 billion metric tons, a 17 percent decrease compared with 2007. The estimated annual output of crushed stone produced for consumption in 2008 was 1. 34 billion metric tons, a 16 percent decrease compared with 2007. The estimated annual output of construction sand and gravel produced for consumption in 2008 was 978 million metric tons, a 21 percent decrease compared 2007. Fourth quarter 2008 numbers were brutal, with total aggregates production down 23 percent year-over-year. Crushed stone dipped 21 percent, while construction sand and gravel plummeted 28 percent. Read other Pit & Quarry blog entries at www.pitandquarry.com/blog.