Features

Located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, Regensburg is a Bavarian city in Southern Germany.
In nearby Painten, the Rygol quarry has been a family business since 1947.
After a period of rain, the surface can become waterlogged on the site, and when stockpiling clay it is often barely possible to get through.
A year ago, Rygol bought a Caterpillar 740B articulated truck that replaces the Cat 769C truck that had clocked 20,000 hours and had been on site for over 20 years.
Operators Johann

The IQ (Institute of Quarrying) says it is actively promoting all its courses on a global basis.
The international professional body for quarrying, mining and the related extractive and processing industries, has over 5,000 members in some 50 countries, with membership open to individuals rather than companies.
IQ’s long-term objective is to promote progressive improvements in all aspects of operational performance through the medium of education and training.
Originating from a meeting of The Associatio

José Antonio Vicente is an authority in trade show circles, and as well as chairing the Spanish trade show association (AFE) he has expertise in public works machinery thanks to his close ties with this sector.
He is also director of the Zaragoza Exhibition Centre, setting for the International Show of Public Works, Construction and Mining Machinery (SMOPYC).
With five months to go until SMOPYC 2014 (1-5 April) Vicente looks at the evolution of the sector in recent months and answers whether the last show

The maintenance of quarry sites and associated equipment is not only essential for health and safety but productivity as well.
Such maintenance includes regular inspection and, where necessary, the repair of fixtures such as haul roads, embankments and vehicles on site where tasks, including wheel washing, are a daily occurrence.
Ensuring plant operators and site engineers receive regular and adequate training is also essential says Ryan Barker, global service manager for CDE.

Unrestricted extraction of natural sand and gravel is becoming less of an option for the construction materials industry due to the changes in thinking, economic forces and the requirement for sustainable and consistent quality products for construction and manufacturing, says Peter Craven from CDE Global.

Permissions for new pits are becoming fewer and harder to secure and while in the past natural sand and gravel extraction has been the backbone of the aggregate industry, this is becoming increasingly

Björn Ingemanson, who has been at the helm of Volvo Penta for over a year, says the company has what it takes to become a bigger player in the off-road business.
“Volvo diesel power gives a competitive edge to the group’s construction equipment and trucks. Our job is to bring the same competitive edge to OEM customers in the external engine business,” says Ingemanson, who was appointed president of Volvo Penta, Volvo group’s diesel engine company, in April, 2012.

Marble comes in all shapes, sizes and colours, and for centuries has been prized for its versatility, writes Patrick Smith. Some of the world’s best known buildings are made of it, including The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy; the Taj Mahal, India, and the Parthenon in Greece. Many of the oldest major Roman buildings are made of marble (the Colosseum’s facade was made of it). Indeed more ancient monuments were constructed of marble than any other stone. More recent examples of marble’s use can be found at s