ForConstructionPros.com

In the asphalt industry, as in most endeavors, good business decisions are almost always the result of solid research. Knowing what equipment to purchase — and when — can dramatically impact a firm's overall productivity and success.

For Conway, SC-based Palmetto Paving Corp., research into which geographic areas were being overlooked by both their company and their competitors, led to the purchase of a new 325 tons per hour (tph) asphalt plant from ADM. While still in its early stages of production, indications are that the new plant will positively impact service and product availability in the area for decades to come, solidifying the company's position as a regional leader in asphalt production.

Increasing capabilities

Established in 1987, Palmetto Paving is today one of the Carolina Coast's busiest asphalt contractors and suppliers. According to Shawn Godwin, vice president and son of company founder Marshall Godwin, the firm has grown steadily, broadening both its range of services and its capabilities.

"We started out with 10 trucks and a single 350-tph plant in Conway," he says. "In 1999, we added a second 350-tph facility in Florence to meet the area's growing demand. This part of the state has seen a huge upswing in development to accommodate the steady rise in population. We've met those demands with a workforce that has increased almost yearly; today we have over 300 employees and operate a fleet of nearly 80 trucks."

With the first two plants, Palmetto's annual volume was approximately 400,000 tons in support of services that include some work for private contractors, but is focused primarily on paving for DOT projects.