Pit & Quarry, May 2013

Tier 4 basics M any aggregate producers have a love hate relationship with new technology On one hand they love when it increases production reduces downtime and simply makes their job easier On the other hand incorporating new technology into an operation involves upfront costs retraining of employees and the potential headaches of a learning curve New Tier 4 engines are one example The good news about Tier 4 emissions technology in addition to cleaner air is that the equipment manufacturers have sought solutions to make Tier 4 engines as easy as possible on the end user But there is still a learning curve According to the Diesel Technology Forum Technicians need to have a general familiarity with electronically controlled engines exhaust after treatment control devices the concept and practice of measuring back pressure along with general exhaust equipment maintenance and operation Also some Tier 4 machines use particulate filter technology that requires maintenance and cleaning and or removal In addition to the increased purchase price of Tier 4 equipped vehicles the Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average cost increase for the ultra low sulfur fuel used in Tier 4 engines is about 7 cents per gallon Offsetting this is the fact that Tier 4 engines are more fuel efficient Tier 4 requirements apply only to new engines and there is no federal requirement to upgrade an existing engine to Tier 4 However more states and localities are regulating the use of diesel engines This requires dealers and end users to keep up to date with state and local laws and regulations in regards to emissions idling times and fuel use And as they strive to capture bids contractors may be more apt to purchase material from an environmentally friendly aggregate producer See our special report on Tier 4 beginning on page 12 A brand new number Nearly a decade ago we developed the Pit Quarry Aggregates Industry Index but large swings in some of the monthly data used in the formula made for a choppy line graph that didnt properly reflect the longterm peaks and troughs of our industry Therefore weve reexamined the data completely readjusted the formula and built a revised index that offers a more precise representation See the new three year index on page 8 EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS HAVE SOUGHT SOLUTIONS TO MAKE TIER 4 ENGINES AS EASY AS POSSIBLE ON THE END USER Darren Constantino EDITOR IN CHIEF dconstantino@ northcoastmedia net www pitandquarry com www pitandquarry com North Coast Media LLC 1360 E Ninth St Suite 1070 Cleveland OH 44114 Phone 216 706 3700 Fax 216 706 3711 EDITOR IN CHIEF Darren Constantino 216 706 3747 dconstantino@ northcoastmedia net MANAGING EDITOR Kevin Yanik 216 706 3724 kyanik@ northcoastmedia net SAFETY EDITOR Carl R Metzgar cmetz46840@ aol com LAW EDITOR Michael T Heenan michael heenan@ odnss com AGGREGATES FORECASTER David Chereb dc@ davidcherebgroup com WESTERN U S CORRESPONDENT Loretta Sorensen MIDWEST U S CORRESPONDENT Bill Elverman PRINT ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING PUBLISHER Rob Fulop 216 706 3741 rfulop@ northcoastmedia net NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Dino Vitanza 216 706 3744 dvitanza@ northcoastmedia net CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Dino Vitanza 216 706 3744 dvitanza@ northcoastmedia net PRESIDENT AND CEO Kevin Stoltman 216 706 3740 kstoltman@ northcoastmedia net V P FINANCE AND OPERATIONS Steve Galperin 216 706 3705 sgalperin@ northcoastmedia net V P GRAPHIC DESIGN PRODUCTION Pete Seltzer 216 706 3737 pseltzer@ northcoastmedia net ART DIRECTOR Kim Traum PRODUCTION SERVICES MANAGER Debbie Parker 216 978 9622 dparker@ northcoastmedia net AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Antoinette Sanchez Perkins BUYERS GUIDE INQUIRIES Fry Communications Inc 800 334 1429 pitquarry@ frycomm com LIST RENTAL Antoinette Sanchez Perkins 216 706 3750 asanchez perkins@ northcoastmedia net REPRINTS Mike McSorley Wrights Media 281 419 5725 mmcsorley@ wrightsmedia com SUBSCRIPTIONS CUSTOMER SERVICE Phone 847 763 4942 Fax 847 763 9694 Web www pitandquarry com subscribe 2 PIT QUARRY May 2013 www pitandquarry com