Pit & Quarry, March 2015

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT NSSGA names award winners The National Stone Sand Gravel Association NSSGA named the Gold Silver Bronze and Platinum Award winners of its Safety Environmental and Community Relations Excellence Awards NSSGA also recognized the winner of its top honor the National Stars of Excellence award which is given to operations that have accumulated gold awards over five year periods In addition the Platinum Award is new to the program and is awarded to the top winner in each of the Environment and Community Relations categories These winners will be announced at NSSGAs Annual Convention on March 16 The Stars of Excellence Award winners are the Balcones Aggregates Quarry of Cemex Construction Materials South the Pottsville Quarry of Rogers Group and the Rutherford Quarry of Rogers Group The Safety Excellence Award winners are Southington Sand and Pit of Tilcon Connecticut the Dubois Quarry of Martin Marietta Materials and the Kentucky Avenue Mine of Martin Marietta The Sterling Safety Award winners are Iddings Quarry Inc J F Allen Co and Luck Stone Corp The Environmental Excellence Award winners are the Bristol Sand Gravel Plant of Lehigh Hanson the Harding Street Quarry of Lehigh Hanson the Leesburg Plant of Luck Stone the Mallard Creek Quarry of Martin Marietta the Pottsville Quarry of Rogers Group the Servtex Quarry of Lehigh Hanson the Swampscott Quarry of Aggregate Industries and the Thornton Quarry of Lehigh Hanson Finally the Excellence in Community Relations Award winners are 100th Street of Stoneco of Michigan the Balcones Aggregates Quarry of Cemex Construction Materials South the Crabtree Quarry of Lehigh Hanson the Cross Plains Quarry of Rogers Group the McCook Quarry of Vulcan Materials Co the Pottsville Quarry of Rogers Group the Rutherford Quarry of Rogers Group and the South Limestone Quarry of Rogers Group In addition to these awards NSSGA chose Matthew Hinck environmental manager for Cal Portland as its 2014 Environmental Leadership Award recipient This award recognizes an individual who has contributed to the industrys environmental responsiveness is involved in NSSGAs environmental programs and has day today involvement with his or her companys environmental affairs On one of the most crucial regulatory issues facing our industry EPAs unwarranted expansion of the Clean Water Act Matt has led by example says Mike Johnson president and CEO of NSSGA His willingness to meet with members of Congress and testify at a House Science Committee Field hearing helped the entire industry by fostering congressional opposition to the Waters of the U S rule EYE ON THE BLOG Vulcan optimistic about prospects for 2015 Vulcan Materials Co experienced a very successful BY KEVIN YANIK fourth quarter of 2014 reporting an 11 percent increase in total revenues a 15 percent increase in shipments and a 45 percent increase in gross profit compared with the prior years fourth quarter According to Tom Hill Vulcan president and CEO the increases are a good sign for 2015 This strong momentum bodes well for 2015 Hill says a year in which we expect a continued recovery in demand for our products and importantly an improving pricing and margin environment Vulcan served markets continue to show favorable above average growth with Vulcan markets growing faster than U S markets as a whole Although aggregates demand remains well below normal levels this steady and gradual improvement is a further indication of construction activity recovery We continue to convert higher volumes into higher unit margins and are very well positioned for significant future earnings growth According to Vulcan it expects to generate an adjusted EBITDA earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization somewhere between 755 million and 825 million this year Vulcan is anticipating 180 million tons of aggregates shipments up 11 percent from 2014 In addition Vulcan expects its gross profit to increase more than 35 percent this year compared to 2014 We are excited about the volume growth pricing momentum and strong margin expansion we see across our markets Hill says As we continue to execute our sales and operating plans we remain focused on further improving the profitability of our businesses strategically expanding our asset base to serve the needs of our customers and continuing our disciplined management of capital Upcoming Events CEMA Annual Meeting March 6 10 Naples Fla Pit Quarry Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony March 15 Baltimore National Stone Sand Gravel Association Convention March 15 18 Baltimore AGG1 Aggregates Academy Expo March 17 19 Baltimore 12 PIT QUARRY March 2015 www pitandquarry com