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When complete, the Acceleration Center will be a modern complex for advancing innovation where professionals utilize technology and modern design.
When complete, the Acceleration Center will be a modern complex for advancing innovation where professionals utilize technology and modern design.

Cerosky to Consult for Fairmont Specialty Programs

A new insurance program designed specifically for contract sweepers and pavement maintenance contractors is now available through Fairmont Specialty, part of Crum & Forster.

The program, designed and implemented with the guidance of Scott Cerosky, offers a variety of contractor coverage including general liability, commercial auto, property and umbrella coverage. Cerosky is a consultant for the new effort and Garry McVay is program manager.

Cerosky founded and developed the Clean Streets Insurance Program which has been in existence for 20 years. He sold the program five years ago and has been involved in producing insurance for the pavement maintenance industry for more than 20 years, including as a founding member of what is now the North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) and the World Sweeping Association.

Cerosky re-enters the sweeping/pavement maintenance insurance market as a consultant for Fairmont Specialty to assist in implementing what he describes as “a national program targeting customers in the power sweeping, porter service, catch basin cleaning, line striping, sealcoating, crack repair and pavement resurfacing industries.”

“The beauty of this program is that contractors can not only get the coverage they need at a fair price but they can access it through their own local independent agent, " Cerosky says. “This program enables contractors to maintain the relationship they already have with their local agent but the local agent is also able to affliate with a national insurer to gain access to a cutting-edge program designed specifically for pavement maintenance contractors.”

For more information contact Scott Cerosky at 914-714-0787 ([email protected]) or Garry McVay at 800-233-2398 x6817 ([email protected]) or visit http://programs.fairmontspecialty.com.

 

PCTC Petitions USGS, Pursues FOIA request

By Allan Heydorn

Two recent steps by the Pavement Coatings Technology Council (PCTC) continue the organization’s efforts to force an objective examination of claims concerning refined coal tar sealer (RFT) made by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

According to PCTC Executive Director Anne LeHuray, PCTC in March sent a letter to the USGS Office of Enterprise Information asking that the information PCTC requested two years ago through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) be provided by USGS.

PCTC continues to be disappointed in the response of the USGS to our Freedom of Information Act Request,” LeHuray said in May. “The USGS still has not produced much of the data supporting either the chemical mass balance model or the settled house dust study, nor has it produced more than a handful of requested documentation, reviews or correspondence.”

The PCTC letter delineates nine specific FOIA requests PCTC made in April 2011 that as of March 2013 had not been fulfilled. Included are requests for field data, communications among USGS officials involved in the RFT research as well as with the organizations conducting RFT studies, photographs related to studies, and lab notes and field data.

LeHuray said the information that has yet to be produced is crucial for evaluating the USGS finding. “The basic tenet of science is that findings must be based on reproducible experimental results,” LeHuray said. “Reproducibility requires transparency and that basic information about how the USGS conducted its studies be made available: As many have observed, transparency delayed is transparency denied."

In addition to pursuing its FOIA request, PCTC filed a Data Quality Act petition in May concerning an article, Coal Tar Sealant Largest Source of PAHs in Lakes, and a related press release, both available on the USGS website.

According to the letter, PCTC is requesting “correction of information disseminated by USGS.” The request is made pursuant to USGS Information Quality Guidelines and the U.S. Dept. of the Interior and Office of management and Budget (OMB).

PCTC writes that among other concerns, the article “represents yet another breach in USGS Guidelines, especially when it comes at the expense of ignoring contrary scientific research, thereby misleading the public into thinking that there is a consensus on this issue within the scientific community when there clearly is not.”

The PCTC petition points out that by ignoring and not citing related peer-reviewed research on the coal tar sealer topic, particularly research the contradicts USGS claims, the USGS violates its own mandate which requires “impartiality and non-advocacy.”

“It goes without saying,” the letter continues, “that a refusal to acknowledge or cite peer-reviewed articles that take a position contrary to the USGS’ own research is a form of advocacy that clearly lacks objectivity.”

PCTC writes that another way to determine “if any bias or advocacy exists in USGS” on RFT issues is for USGS to produce all data and correspondence related to the RFT issue. PCTC points out that USGS has responded selectively to the 2011 FOIA request, “withholding, at least up to now, certain correspondence and e-mail between the USGS staff and other individuals outside the agency who have made it their goal to ban coal tar sealants across the country.”

“These efforts by the USGS to withhold certain documents are not only at odds with [USGS] policies, but also are contrary to the need for transparency that is emphasized throughout the USGS Guidelines.”

Following specific examples of purported USGS bias, PCTC asks that USGS remove the “Coal Tar Sealant Largest Source of PAHs in Lakes” article and related press release from its NAWQA website.

“Any failure to do so will adversely affect those members of the PCTC who distribute or apply coal tar sealants since consumers and legislators who are asked to consider the merits of proposed sealant bans are being misled by unproven hypotheses and flawed ‘conclusions’ offered by the USGS in these website publications.”

PCTC adds that at the very least USGS should include citations to peer-reviewed articles and publications that have “respectfully and scientifically challenged the findings” of the USGS “coal tar sealant” articles.

“An alternative solution is to delete the website altogether so the public does not mistakenly believe that it reflects an impartial and complete collection of all relevant scientific literature regarding coal tar sealcoating. Clearly the USGS website has failed in that regard.”

 

Letter to the Editor

WSA Focuses on Sweeping Education

PAVEMENT magazine has long been a leader at providing sound information for those throughout the sweeping and related industries. However, I must take exception with what I read in your recent NAPSA column (page 47, May issue). The article starts out "Did you know that NAPSA is the only trade organization for the power sweeping industry?"

The fact is, NAPSA is most decidedly NOT the only trade association for power sweeping. The World Sweeping Association (WSA), founded as an affiliate of WorldSweeper.com, began operations on January 1st of this year. Although it already offers a number of other benefits, one of WSA's primary goals is to provide a true educational association for the power sweeping industry. To that end, WSA offers its members exclusive access to over 250 articles and 70 audio podcasts, which were produced and tailored just for power sweeping contractors. We have also spearheaded efforts to investigate and report on the many 'third party vendors' now becoming prevalent throughout the exterior maintenance industry. As a result, WSA members now can see ratings, average length of payments and ongoing comments on 23 such vendors that operate across the U.S. 

WSA offers many other membership benefits, including bi-weekly member updates, 15% off on Schwarze Supervac parts and 20% off on Victory Sweepers' parts. WSA has also founded the first-ever sweeping industry scholarship program, which will provide tuition assistance this year to several worthy students whose parents are employees of sweeping companies.

Another strong advantage is that—unlike many associations, including NAPSA—the World Sweeping Association is not run by a commercial association management company. Rather, WSA is managed in-house as a WorldSweeper affiliate; thus, members benefit immediately from the 30+ years of combined experience within the power sweeping industry our management team offers. On behalf of our nearly 100 WSA Members, thank you for printing this important correction information. I invite anyone wanting to know more about WSA, its benefits or its scholarship program, to visit our association website located at www.worldsweepingpros.org.

Sincerely,

Ranger Kidwell-Ross, M.A.

Editor, WorldSweeper.com

Executive Director, World Sweeping Association

 

Crafco's Manning to Retire after 37 years

 

Mark Manning, vice president of marketing for Crafco Inc., Chandler, AZ, will retire July 1 after 37 years with Crafco.

According to the company Manning was one of Crafco's first employees, helping to start the company and was instrumental in growing the business to where it is today.

In a press release Crafco noted that Manning was an integral part in the inception and subsequent growth of Crafco, and the successful promotion of crack sealing and affiliated technology. According to the press release, Manning's knowledge, insight and passion for pavement preservation have led to innovative contributions for products and equipment that have become standard in the industry today."

 

“We’d like to thank Mark Manning for his service and dedication to Crafco over the past 37 years,” said Don Brooks, president of Crafco. “His expertise and passion on all business matters throughout his tenure have been invaluable to Crafco and the pavement preservation industry.”

 

 

Atlas Copco ties Dynapac line more closely to parent company

Atlas Copco, Commerce City, CO, has begun to align the visual identity of Dynapac rollers and pavers to be consistent with Atlas Copco branded equipment.

According to the company, the Dynapac name will continue to be prominently featured along with the Atlas Copco nomenclature. The color scheme will now be yellow and grey, matching all Atlas Copco’s product lines.

The company said that numeric model designations will not change within the new identity but will be used together with the Dynapac name –Atlas Copco Dynapac F1000W, Atlas Copco Dynapac CA2500 etc.

“The change supports Atlas Copco Construction Technique’s overall goal to be the world leader in road construction equipment,” said Shawn Cheney, vice president of Atlas Copco Road Construction Equipment USA. “Presenting a consistently uniform identity to the global market fundamentally supports this goal.”

Cheney noted that although Dynapac has been part of Atlas Copco since 2007, few end users knew Atlas Copco was behind new products developed specifically for the North American market and the upgrades within its distribution network.

"The most important aspect of this new look is the message it sends to customers– that Atlas Copco is determined to continue Dynapac's rapid growth in the U.S. and make investments accordingly,” Cheney said. “The change in visual identity is a statement of commitment, a statement of accountability."

Existing Dynapac dealers will be identified as Atlas Copco Road Construction Equipment dealers, Cheney said. The visual identity transitional period will differ from product to product and depend on new product introductions, but full integration should be complete by 2014.


 

JCB Hits Million Mark

Hundreds of JCB employees at the company’s world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, UK, marked the production of the company’s one millionth machine – enough diggers to stretch from the UK to Australia, according to the company.

JCB recognized the achievement by wrapping the glass front of the building in 9,700 sq. ft. (207 windows) of a graphic wrap marking the milestone. Nestled behind the glass in the reception area is the actual one millionth machine, a 22-ton JS220 tracked excavator in shimmering silver.

JCB Chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said it’s taken JCB more than 67 years to produce its millionth machine. “Incredibly, one third of those machines has been produced in the last six years,” he said.

As JCB worldwide celebrates the one millionth machine, JCB’s North American headquarters reached a milestone of its own on April 5 when the Savannah, GA facility produced the 6,000th JCB skid steer loader. 

 

Bobcat Breaks Ground on $20 Million Testing Facility Expansion

Bobcat Co. has officially broken ground on its $20 million renovation and expansion to create the Acceleration Center in Bismarck, ND. The project includes expansion of an existing building as well as development of a new test track and indoor testing facility — all at the Northern Plains Commerce Centre in Bismarck.

The expansion of the existing building will include a two-story office building and provide a total of 160,000 square feet of modern workspace. Additionally, a 35,000-square-foot indoor testing arena will be constructed next to a 22-acre outdoor testing and track area. Construction is expected to be complete by summer 2014.

The Acceleration Center will initially house 135 employees tasked with innovating and advancing designs, testing, prototype engineering and the computer simulation of ideas and concepts. These efforts will be accelerated thanks to the collaborative open environment and modern technology built into the facility.

The Acceleration Center will also serve as a center for excellence and a learning institute for employees. The facility features an open space and high-tech design to encourage collaboration and discussion. Bobcat dealers and customers will be brought to the complex for training and hands-on experience operating the newest innovations from Bobcat.

 

Stoikes Joins Pavement

Jessica Stoikes has joined Pavement Maintenance and Reconstruction as the assistant editor. Stoikes comes to the publication with a journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and five years of web writing under her belt. As assistant editor she is looking forward to continuing the magazine’s mission of bringing quality “how to” information to pavement maintenance contractors through a variety of media, including the publication, Blacktop Update (the magazine’s monthly e-newsletter), the website (www.pavementonline.com) and various social media including Facebook and Twitter. In addition to managing product information for the magazine Stoikes will handle the Contractor Snapshot department and write feature-length job stories and contractor profiles.

 

Industry Appointments

Tim Stephens joins Rose Paving Company, Bridgeview, IL, as director of satellite offices. Prior to joining Rose Paving, Stephens was franchise director for InFrasys Inc. / SealMaster.

Bill Rieken joins Bomag Americas, Kewanee, IL, as road building specialist for the Midwest territory and Tom Kiselica joins Bomag as road building specialist for the northeastern U.S.…At Blacklidge Emulsions Inc., Gulfport, MS, John Barrington is chief marketing officer…

At Chicago Pneumatic Greg Petherbridge is product line manager for compaction equipment and Gus Armbruster is manager of handheld construction tools…

 

 

 

 

 

 

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