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| Thursday, November 20, 2025 |
BOLIVIA
Bolivia is located in the central zone of South America. With an
area of 1,098,581 square kilometres (424,164 sq mi), Bolivia is the world's 28th-largest country, extending from the Central
Andes through far as the Amazon. The US Geological Service estimates that Bolivia has 5.4 million cubic tonnes of
lithium, which represent 50%–70% of world reserves. (Wikipedia) |
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| NEWS HEADLINES - MINING AND METALS |
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| (If blank no updates available this week) |
Mellott appoints Ecker as president
Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:12:54 +0000
As Nick Ecker steps into the role of president, CEO Rich Blake will continue to oversee Mellott’s strategic direction and growth initiatives.
<p>The post Mellott appoints Ecker as president first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
Mellott named Nick Ecker president, effective Nov. 3.
According to Mellott, Ecker brings executive leadership experience from across the construction equipment and heavy machinery industries. He has a background in operations, sales and strategic organizational growth. The company says his leadership approach and focus on continuous improvement align with its core values and long-term strategic vision.
In conjunction with the appointment, Rich Blake will continue to serve as Mellott CEO. In this capacity, Blake will maintain responsibility for the company’s overall strategic direction, long-term industry relationships and future growth initiatives.
“We are excited to welcome Nick to Mellott,” Blake says. “His industry experience and leadership style will be an asset to the organization as we continue to strengthen our market position and pursue new opportunities for growth.”
Related: Dealers detail how equipment supply has stabilized
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North American Mining earns Everglades contract
Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:45:40 +0000
Building on its legacy in aggregates, North American Mining is expanding into large-scale civil infrastructure with a new multi-year dragline excavation project.
<p>The post North American Mining earns Everglades contract first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
New, fully AC electric-drive MTECK draglines were a key factor in why North American Mining was selected for the Central Everglades Planning Project. Photo: North American Mining
North American Mining was awarded a multi-year contract in Palm Beach County, Florida, to provide dragline excavation services for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project in the Florida Everglades.
The project represents an expansion for North American Mining, which has a legacy in aggregates, into large-scale civil infrastructure projects.
According to the company, the project provides an opportunity to showcase its new, fully AC electric-drive MTECK draglines. North American Mining says the draglines were a key factor in why it was selected for the project.
“We are proud that our focus on providing the highest standards of safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility contributed to securing this new contract,” says Phil Berry, president of North American Mining. “We are confident our MTECK draglines will help us deliver exceptional performance in support of our customer and this vital restoration effort.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers selected Thalle Construction, North American Mining’s customer, along with the South Florida Water Management District to participate in the Central Everglades Planning Project. North American Mining will provide excavation services to move more than 25 million tons of material needed to construct a 17.75-mile embankment dam and various spillways as part of this project.
Related: North American Mining wins 10-year Florida limestone contract
<p>The post North American Mining earns Everglades contract first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
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Inside McCar Companies: A Texas producer on the rise
Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000
Through its partnership with Powerscreen Texas, McCar is expanding production, advancing sustainability and meeting the state’s growing demand for construction materials.
<p>The post Inside McCar Companies: A Texas producer on the rise first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
In the ever-changing Texas construction market, there are few businesses that have made as much of an impact as McCar Companies.
Positioning itself as a leader in the construction materials industry, McCar is committed to quality, innovation and sustainability. With a reach that extends across major cities such as Austin and Houston, as well as the rural plains of West Texas, McCar’s influence can be found in roads, bridges, buildings and more.
A legacy of excellence
McCar Companies is preparing to phase out all diesel-powered machines as it transitions to a fully electric fleet. Photo: Molson Group
Starting as a modest family operation, McCar Companies had one straightforward goal in mind: to provide builders and contractors throughout Texas with high-quality materials needed to build their communities. Since then, McCar has grown its business by investing in machinery to keep up with evolving demands, further expanding its product offerings.
Today, the company is known for its diverse product range, including utility stone, road base, flex base, concrete sand and specialty materials – all coming from its rich limestone quarry. Utilizing equipment supplied by Powerscreen Texas, McCar has become a trusted partner for projects of all sizes while handling materials of all sizes.
Sustainability commitment
The partnership between McCar Companies and Powerscreen Texas dates back to ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020. Photo: Molson Group
In an industry where companies are increasingly focused on environmental impacts, McCar has taken steps to prioritize sustainability in its business. This commitment is evident throughout its operations, from sourcing raw materials to its crushing and screening process.
At the main production area of McCar’s location in Georgetown, Texas, the company operates a 1600 Eagle Crusher plant, which feeds into a Cedarapids LJ-TSV horizontal screener, then into a Powerscreen Warrior 1800 and, finally, into a Powerscreen Chieftain 2100X. All materials are transported throughout the operation via MGL Engineering conveyors.
Capitalizing on the electric-powered Cedarapids LJ-TSV, McCar has exponentially minimized its carbon footprint. The company will soon phase out all diesel-powered machines and transition to fully electric-powered machines supplied by Powerscreen Texas.
Putting people first
A mix of equipment from Eagle Crusher, Cedarapids and Powerscreen anchors the main production area at McCar Companies’ operation in Georgetown, Texas. Photo: Molson Group
McCar Companies’ relationship with Powerscreen Texas began on the show floor of ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020. Peter Nunez, president and CEO of McCar Companies, visited the Powerscreen Texas booth and sat down with the company’s president, Sam McNabb.
After gathering as much information as possible about various Powerscreen machines and the crushing and screening industry, McNabb returned to Texas to meet with the dealer and review production and expansion goals. Powerscreen Texas educated, equipped and trained McCar’s staff on all things crushing and screening, helping the McCar team quickly evolve into the company it is today.
With innovation at the forefront of its operations, the company remains deeply committed to its people. Nunez and the leadership team at McCar Companies understand that their success is driven by the hard work and dedication of their employees. As such, they have cultivated a company culture that values teamwork, safety and professional growth.
“We are here to serve our surrounding community, in both residential and commercial sectors,” Nunez says. “With the adjustability of the machines that we’ve purchased from Powerscreen Texas, we are able to meet the demands from our customers to customize final products for their needs that we weren’t previously able to produce.”
Strategic partners
Since first working with Powerscreen Texas in 2020, McCar Companies has seen tremendous growth. The company has relied on Powerscreen Texas to keep it outfitted with the necessary equipment to meet buyer demands.
“We would not be where we are today if it weren’t for our relationship with Powerscreen Texas,” says Cory Farris, COO of McCar Companies. “They are not just a supplier of our machines; they truly are partners with us in business. They are experts in what they do, and we tend to be very successful when we take their advice in mining and crushing.”
As McCar Companies looks to the future, its vision is clear: to continue leading the way in the construction materials industry while prioritizing sustainability, innovation and customer satisfaction.
The company plans to expand its product offerings, explore new markets and further invest in research and development to stay ahead of industry trends.
Moreover, McCar Companies is committed to playing a role in the development of Texas. As the state’s population and economy continue to exponentially grow, demand for high-quality construction materials is expected to increase.
Utilizing the equipment and training supplied by Powerscreen Texas, McCar Companies is positioned to meet this demand, ensuring Texas’s infrastructure remains strong and resilient for generations to come.
Information for this article courtesy of Molson Group.
<p>The post Inside McCar Companies: A Texas producer on the rise first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
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Assinck open house welcomes industry to Ontario
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:31:40 +0000
Attendees explored Assinck’s manufacturing facility, connected with key suppliers and exchanged ideas on material handling advancements.
<p>The post Assinck open house welcomes industry to Ontario first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
Assinck & Partners hosted an industry open house at its facility in Scarborough, Ontario, bringing together colleagues, customers and suppliers from across the aggregate and material handling sector.
The event included plant tours, live equipment demos and a technical “lunch and learn” session, creating an open environment for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Assinck provided a look into its manufacturing facility and approach to conveyor and material handling solutions, along with the conveying parts and components used to support those in the field.
Several Assinck partners also contributed to the event, including Brunone Innovation, Chambers & Cooke, Dodge Industrial, Polydeck, RTI Equipment Solutions, Sovereign Fusion, VDG (Van der Graaf) and Weir.
Assinck plans its next open house for spring 2026.
Related: Conn-Weld marks 50 years at celebratory event
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US Aggregates launches industrial minerals division
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:12:12 +0000
The new division, dubbed Utilimin, unites two Indiana operations under one brand.
<p>The post US Aggregates launches industrial minerals division first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
US Aggregates launched a new industrial minerals division, marking its expansion beyond traditional construction stone.
The new division – Utilimin – specializes in precision-ground calcium and dolomitic carbonates that are engineered to spec and verified through ISO-certified laboratory testing. The naturally occurring materials are used across a range of industries, the company says.
The new division unifies US Aggregates’ industrial minerals sites in Portland and Cloverdale, Indiana, under one brand.
“The launch of Utilimin reflects US Aggregates’ commitment to innovation and customer success,” says Caleb Brown, president of US Aggregates. “Utilimin’s products are reliable, versatile and built to perform. They are engineered to help manufacturers, builders and innovators maintain consistency, reduce downtime and meet their needs.”
Related: Strategies to address the industry’s workforce woes
<p>The post US Aggregates launches industrial minerals division first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
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Motion acquires Sunset Industrial assets
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:45:09 +0000
The deal expands Motion Industries’ presence in Southern California.
<p>The post Motion acquires Sunset Industrial assets first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
Sunset Industrial is an industrial distributor based in Cerritos, California. Photo: Motion
Motion Industries acquired assets of Sunset Industrial, a California-based industrial distributor.
The transaction closed on Nov. 1.
Sunset Industrial, founded in 1979, distributes power transmission parts and industrial lubrication solutions while offering services such as make-to-order (MTO) parts, repairs, inventory management, safety training and free local delivery.
“We’re excited to join the Motion team,” says James Stratmann, Sunset Industrial’s chairman of the board. “Both companies are customer-focused, quality-driven and serve many of the same industries, so we expect a highly smooth transition for our customers and employees. This integration will drive new and expanded opportunities.”
Motion president James Howe says the addition of Sunset supports his company’s growth strategy while increasing value to local customers.
“We look forward to welcoming the talented Sunset team and further increasing our market leadership in Southern California,” Howe says.
Related: CalPortland expanding with Vulcan ready-mix deal
<p>The post Motion acquires Sunset Industrial assets first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
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USLM grows revenues, profit in third quarter
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:28:16 +0000
Higher sales volumes and pricing lifted United States Lime & Minerals (USLM), although the company anticipates softer demand in some markets ahead.
<p>The post USLM grows revenues, profit in third quarter first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
Revenues and gross profit were both up in the third quarter at United States Lime & Minerals (USLM).
Increases in sales volumes and average lime and limestone selling prices drove USLM’s third-quarter revenues up 14.1 percent to $102 million. The company says sales volume increases were principally due to the company’s construction, environmental and steel customers, though these were partially offset by decreases in sales volumes to USLM’s oil and gas services customers.
USLM’s gross profit in the third quarter, meanwhile, was $52.2 million – a 21.1 percent increase.
“We are pleased with the company’s continued strong financial performance in the third quarter [of] 2025,” says Timothy Byrne, president and CEO of USLM. “Demand from our construction customers remained solid, supported by the construction of large data centers in the regions that we serve. Looking ahead, we anticipate a more mixed demand picture, with ongoing data center construction demand being partially offset by softer demand from some of the other industries that we serve.”
Related: Martin Marietta sets quarterly records in aggregates
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Acquisitions, pricing power Knife River’s third-quarter gains
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:06:56 +0000
Revenue climbed 9 percent to $1.2 billion as the company offset softer net income with record adjusted EBITDA and margin improvements.
<p>The post Acquisitions, pricing power Knife River’s third-quarter gains first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
Gray
Acquisitions and higher product pricing propelled Knife River Corp. during the third quarter, as the company reported a consolidated revenue increase of 9 percent to $1.2 billion.
Knife River’s net income slipped 3 percent to $143.2 million, although adjusted EBITDA was up 11 percent in the third quarter to $272.8 million.
“Our team faced external headwinds in the third quarter and responded with better year-over-year results, including record revenue and adjusted EBITDA,” says Brian Gray, president and CEO of Knife River. “Growth, including strategic M&A, is a core component of our Competitive EDGE strategy to deliver long-term shareholder value. We benefited during the quarter from our recent acquisitions, which boosted our operations through a rainy summer, economic uncertainty in Oregon and a slower paving season in the Mountain segment.
“We also continued our focus on price optimization and cost controls, leading to year-over-year improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin, as well as higher gross margin across our aggregate, ready-mix and asphalt product lines,” Gray adds. “Managing through adversity in 2025 while delivering record results has us optimistic for 2026. We believe the fundamentals of our business are strong, that our EDGE strategy is working and that we are well-positioned to continue delivering profitable growth.”
Gray says Knife River is now focused on finishing the year strong.
“We expect the work we are doing to manage costs, optimize prices and grow our business to pay off in 2026 and beyond,” he says. “We have record backlog and a skilled team that is eager to continue implementing our strategies and delivering for our shareholders.”
Related: Martin Marietta sets quarterly records in aggregates
<p>The post Acquisitions, pricing power Knife River’s third-quarter gains first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
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Martin Marietta sets quarterly records in aggregates
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:33:18 +0000
Aggregate shipments increased 8 percent to 57.9 million tons in the third quarter as gross profit and margins reached all-time highs.
<p>The post Martin Marietta sets quarterly records in aggregates first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
Nye
Martin Marietta reported its third-quarter financial results, noting that shipments in its aggregate business increased 8 percent to 57.9 million tons.
The increase reflects a broad volume recovery across Martin Marietta’s footprint. More normal weather throughout the Southeast and Texas contributed to the 8 percent increase. Pricing momentum continued in the third quarter, as well, with average selling price rising 8 percent to $23.24 per ton.
Martin Marietta’s gross profit in aggregates rose 21 percent to $531 million, and gross margin expanded 142 basis points to 36 percent – both all-time quarterly records.
Higher pricing and increased shipments more than offset cost inflation, the company says.
“Martin Marietta delivered outstanding third-quarter results, led by record-setting performance in our aggregates business, which achieved all-time quarterly records for revenues, gross profit, gross profit per ton and gross margin, underscoring the efficacy of our SOAR (Strategic Operating Analysis & Review) plan and the compounding benefits of diligently executing our aggregates-led product strategy,” says Ward Nye, chair and CEO of Martin Marietta. “These exceptional results were further complemented by record quarterly revenues and third-quarter gross profit in our specialties business.
“Notably, we also achieved our best year-to-date safety performance in our company’s history, as measured by total reportable and lost-time incident rates. Given our strong year-to-date performance and current aggregates shipment trends, we are raising our full-year 2025 guidance for consolidated adjusted EBITDA to $2.32 billion at the midpoint.”
Companywide, Martin Marietta’s third-quarter revenues were up 12 percent to $1.84 billion. The company’s gross profit increased 19 percent to $611 million, with adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations up 22 percent to $667 million.
“More broadly, our third-quarter and year-to-date performance provide a meaningful indication of likely future outcomes,” Nye says. “First, demand trends across our key end markets remain broadly constructive. Infrastructure activity continues to be strong, supported by record levels of federal and state investment.
“Second, nonresidential construction is benefiting from accelerating data center development, a recovering warehouse sector and early signs of renewed momentum in domestic manufacturing,” he adds. “Third, light nonresidential demand, while typically more interest rate-sensitive, has demonstrated notable resilience. While near-term residential demand remains subdued, moderating mortgage rates suggest a gradual path toward normalization. As product demand within these sectors collectively gain traction, Martin Marietta is well-positioned to capitalize on the positive opportunities with precision and discipline.”
Also in the third quarter, Martin Marietta completed the acquisition of Premier Magnesia, a privately-owned producer of magnesia-based products with operations in Nevada, North Carolina, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
Additionally, Martin Marietta reached an agreement with Quikrete on the exchange of certain assets. Under the terms of the agreement, Martin Marietta will receive aggregate operations producing about 20 million tons annually in Virginia, Missouri, Kansas and Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as cash proceeds. In exchange, Quikrete will receive Martin Marietta’s Midlothian cement plant, related cement terminals and certain Texas ready-mixed concrete assets.
The Martin Marietta-Quikrete deal is expected to close by the end of 2025.
Related: Petro named CFO at Martin Marietta
<p>The post Martin Marietta sets quarterly records in aggregates first appeared on Pit & Quarry.</p>
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