National Pavement Expo West offers seven new paving opportunities National Pavement Expo West’s (NPE West) expert-led conferences offer the most comprehensive educational resource and purchasing tool for paving professionals in the Western part of the United States. The industry’s only event designed specifically for the Western paving and pavement maintenance professionals, NPE West will take place November 17-19, 2005 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. With five workshops, five free roundtable sessions, 25 seminars and a packed exhibit floor, NPE West provides opportunities to discover new products, network with peers and enhance jobsite efficiency. Attendees will master new trends and business developments in six new paving seminars and one new paving workshop. The conference seminars include: Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing for Pavement Preservation; Pavement Milling: An Affordable, Profitable Service; Improve Your Asphalt Paver Operations; Effective Compaction of Hot Mix Asphalt; Solving Mix Segregation in the Field; and Troubleshooting HMA Joint Construction. The new workshop is Applying “Best Practices” to Your Paving Operation. Effective Compaction of Hot Mix Asphalt is one of the new 90-minute seminars featured at the event. Jim Scherocman, P.E., an industry recognized consulting engineer will help paving crews understand the basic elements of compaction, the various types of rollers, and teach contractors how to perform effective compaction for both stiff and tender HMA mixtures. Applying “Best Practices” to Your Paving Operation is a special three-hour workshop presented by nationally recognized paving jobsite specialist, John S. Ball III, of Top Quality Paving. Relying on his patented video discussion, Ball will take contractors through a “best practices” program that focuses on paving techniques, efficient crew and equipment management, and jobsite troubleshooting to help crews construct high-quality asphalt pavements. Just like its national sister event, National Pavement Expo, NPE West is sponsored by Asphalt Contractor and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction. Exhibit hall passes for the show are $10 prior to November 10, workshop sessions are $119, and conference seminars are $55 each prior to November 10. For more information, visit www.nationalpavementexpo.com, or call 877-250-8268. |
JCB acquires Vibromax
JCB, a global manufacturer of construction equipment, has acquired German-based Vibromax Compaction Equipment GmbH. The company will be known as JCB Vibromax and will be managed as part of the JCB Group with local management retained in Germany and North America.
Products will be marketed as JCB Vibromax and will carry the JCB logo. Production will continue at the existing factory in Gatersleben near Leipzig. The acquisition will be completed in early September, subject to regulatory approvals.
“There is a great deal of synergy between JCB and Vibromax,” says John Patterson, managing director and CEO of the JCB Group. “The Vibromax products expand JCB’s all-important construction equipment range and we are very excited about the growth potential for the future.
“Vibromax has been privately owned with a culture very similar to JCB and an understanding of our values,” continues Patterson. “The Vibromax product range is extremely complementary to JCB’s machine line-up.”
I-R Road Institute announces schedule
The Ingersoll-Rand Road Institute announces the 2005-2006 asphalt paving class schedule. Courses are held in Chambersburg, PA and Phoenix, AZ. Both facilities have a full course curriculum of two- to five-day sessions. Courses begin in September and continue through May 2006.Twenty different courses are offered on topics ranging from the application, operation and maintenance of Ingersoll-Rand paving and compaction equipment, to mechanics training for Ingersoll-Rand ABG and Blaw-Knox pavers and Ingersoll-Rand compactors. Additional courses are offered for material transfer vehicles and road wideners.
Courses are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Class size is limited to allow for break-out groups and team learning. Tuition for two-day classes is $300; three-day class tuition is $450; four-day class tuition is $600; tuition for five-day classes is $750.
Automation systems brochure available for asphalt producers
BMG Seltec introduces a brochure focusing on information and automation systems for aggregate and asphalt producers. The brochure provides an overview of the automation systems and services available from BMG Seltec to help producers streamline site operations.
This fully-illustrated brochure can be downloaded in pdf format at www.bmgseltec.com. Hard copies can be requested by calling 925-373-3200.
Ostensen receives Traffic Safety Award
Former Federal Highway Associate Administrator for Safety George Ostensen is the 2005 recipient of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) “Jake Landen Memorial Safety Award.”
Established in 1989 by ARTBA’s Traffic Safety Industry Division (TSID) in memory of industry leader and Past ARTBA Chairman (1976) J.C. Landen, the award annually recognizes outstanding contributions to highway safety.
Ostensen became associate administrator in March 2002 and worked continuously to reduce the number and severity of highway crashes. In this position, it was not only the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) strategic goal, but also Ostensen’s personal vision to reduce fatalities and injuries related to highway crashes by 20 percent over a 10-year period (ending in 2008).
Astec Ships 100th burner
Astec’s burner group is proud to announce the completion of its 100th burner, a one-of-a-kind stainless-steel Whisper Jet burner. It shipped to All American Asphalt’s Corona, CA facility in late July.
All American Asphalt already owns two Astec burners, one Whisper Jet and one Phoenix Talon burner. Astec constructed the new Whisper Jet burner of stainless steel to accommodate All American Asphalt’s burning preferences.
“This is a major milestone for us,” says Michael Swanson, manager of Astec’s burner group. “We started building burners in late 2001, and now we have 100 Astec burners in the field.
“Most importantly, the burners have been well-received,” Swanson adds. “Customers like All American are now purchasing a second or third Astec burner.”
The Whisper Jet burner’s versatile design features a compact flame for compatibility with virtually all drum designs, and it burns a variety of fuel grades cleanly and efficiently. The Whisper Jet also efficiently handles heavy and waste oils (when preheated to 90 SSU viscosity or less).
TSD Integrated Controls acquires Roadware RSS
TSD Integrated Controls has recently completed an agreement with Netherlands-based Roadware, BA to purchase the patent and rights to the RSS Road Scanning System for asphalt pavers and planers.
TSD will assume manufacturing, sales and support of the systems for OEM’s worldwide and some aftermarket customers in Europe, the United States and Asia.
The RSS system integrates non-contacting laser scanner technology, proprietary computer control and specialized data processing software for automated paver control, or more precisely, provides further automation and accuracy to the averaging function which yields flatter smoother surfaces. Currently in use throughout Europe, the technically advanced system replaces older, cumbersome mechanical systems.
Meeker announces new partner
Meeker Equipment Co. Inc. announces Bill Garrett as partner in the company. Garrett has 30 years of experience in senior management of contracting, hot mix and hot mix facility manufacturing, product support and capital equipment sales in the asphalt industry.