Pit & Quarry, May 2010

O P E R A T I O N S cific orders with uniform aggregate sizes the company must always be conscious of the capabilities and limitations of each mine Livlite is most commonly used for concrete masonry structural concrete horticulture and manufactured stone masonry veneers Gravelite is most used for structural concrete asphalt paving geotechnical applications and wallboard And Arkalite is used in horticultural applications and filtration as well as concrete masonry and asphalt An added bonus to the way Big River Industries mines and processes its clay LWA products is the company follows best practices and standards that are considered environmentally friendly resulting in the manufacturing of products that support sustainable development and can be used in green building Speck says This added benefit allows Big River Industries customers to apply for LEED credits through the U S Green Building Council most often earning points for the use of recycled and regional materials Because of the trend toward sustainable development especially in architecture and building this aspect has become a good selling point Big River Industries has also determined education to be a key factor in rising above the competition For this the company has developed a new web site www bigriverind com with indepth information available for each customer base With quick and easy information f low and a unique sales proposition of customized orders the company has been able to keep sales steady Moving forward By anticipating changes in the market and even seeking entirely new customer bases the company is planning ahead for any changes that may be needed to its mining operations Big River Industries has been somewhat impacted in the area of sales volume mainly because our traditional markets are tied so closely to new construction he says We are being creative and pushing into nontraditional markets so we can smooth out some of the peaks and valleys we have seen in recent years While some companies choose to continue operating defensively Big River Industries has found the research of proactively exploring new markets to be worth the time and energy Already some potential markets have been uncovered and therefore anticipating mine and operation changes is helping advance upcoming transitions If a company cannot necessarily afford its own research many associations and institute studies are available to provide extremely valuable insight Big A subsidiary of Reef Services LLC Dirty Ponds Economic Solutions Dont spend BIG dollars on Expensive Equipment Our Patented Environmentally Friendly Process allows you to stack ultra fines where you want and recycle clear water Email or call for your solution patrick bair@ reefcorp com 254 396 2263 www chemicalandconsultingsolutionsllc com 28 PIT QUARRY May 2010 www pitandquarry com