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Wheeled loaders provide an efficient loading solution both at the quarry face and in the loading yard. ABE takes a look at the changing technology The wheeled loader is a true quarry workhorse - it can provide productive truck loading at the quarry face or directly feed a mobile crusher hopper, as well as work in the loading yard. The addition of parallel linkage options on many models opens up a range of attachments that means the wheeled loader can also prove to be an effective house keeping tool. While t

The German construction materials industry expects production to grow by as little as 2% in 2012, following a 10.9% rise in 2011. Revenues increased 14.3% to €31billion in 2011, boosted by keen investment in residential construction. Employment in the industry increased 2.2% to 135,000 workers.

Portuguese cement company Cimpor has appointed Ricardo Lima as its new chief executive. Lima is taking over from Francisco Lacerda and after leaving his position as vice-president of InterCement (Camargo Correa). The appointment comes after Camargo Correa assumed control of Cimpor. The Brazilian industrial group is also keeping seven of Cimpor's administrators and nominating eight new members.

Russia-based Novoroscement increased its cement plant revenues by 46% up to €282.09million (RUB 11.6bn) in 2011, compared to 2010. Net profits rose more than three times 2010 levels to €80.2million (RUB 3.3bn).

Hydraulic breakers have become a key tool for secondary breaking and, in some quarries, are also gaining ground in primary breaking application Hydraulic breaking is the technique of choice in Europe when it comes to secondary breaking - drill and blast for this type of work has almost completely disappeared due to the safety issues. But developments in performance and power also now mean that hydraulic breakers offer an alternative method for primary breaking in some circumstances. "Drill and blast is stil

Blast hole drilling is becoming more hi-tech in a bid to maximise productivity with greater focus on automation and drill bit selection. Claire Symes reports Do bespoke drill patterns and lengths that take bench variation into full consideration and rigs that can automatically locate and drill these sound like a space-age fantasy? Well, they are not and some quarries are already taking advantage of some of these technologies and seeing significant improvements in both productivity and safety as a result. At

Dutch construction company Ballast Nedam and Dutch concrete company Microbeton are to work together and set up a joint venture named Concrete Valley. The new venture will be made up of Ballast Nedam's subsidiary Waco Lingen Beton and Microbeton. The company will focus on specialised solutions in the concrete industry. Financial details of the cooperation have not been released.

Norsk Stein is somewhat unusual in Europe in that it is increasing its investment while other quarry operators are cutting back. ABE interviewed Norsk Stein's Tommy Lorentzen to find out more Norway's Jelsa Quarry is not only unusual in terms of size and location, but also in the way it does its business. However, the company must be doing something right as it is actively progressing investment plans when other businesses in Europe are more hesitant. The Norsk Stein-owned quarry located on the fjords is Sc

Slovak construction firm Doprastav has announced plans to invest in new sites. By the end of 2013 the company plans to build two new asphalt compound production units and is currently investing €2.2million in the purchase of a bitumen compound packaging unit, set to open at the end of July 2012. All the new units are earmarked for assisting with construction works in Poland, with around six new jobs being created.

According to data from Confindustria-Marmomacchine, the Italian stones and extraction and processing machinery sector reported an export increase of almost 5% in 2011.

McCloskey is a relative newcomer to the European screening market and is now aiming to take on the crushing sector. Claire Symes met Seamus Doyle to find out more

Northern Ireland is home to global players in the crushing and screening sector, but one company located there hails from Canada rather than Gaelic origin. McCloskey International moved into the region just five years ago to take on the European market and build on its success in the North American industry.

The man charged with driving the

As the construction equipment industry heads to Paris for Intermat 2009, ABE reports on the latest new quarry machines that will be launched at the show Visitors will get a chance to view Komatsu's HM250 in the iron Prospects of economic stimulus packages from governments around Europe mean that while general construction is in a slowdown, there are plans for major infrastructure investment. With this will come the demand for aggregates and the need for the latest technology in order to match this demand wi

The UEPG wants to become a social partner of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Extractive Industries in a bid to promote the industry In early March the European Aggregates Association (UEPG) took the first formal step to further improve its representation of its members and communication with other professional bodies in allied industries. On 2 March in Brussels the UEPG presented its case at European Commission DG Employment to become a Social Partner in the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee

The EU Soil Framework Directive could impose a huge unnecessary burden on the aggregates industry despite a cross-border campaign to halt it. UK minerals lawyer Robert Camp reflects on the current situation Few in the quarrying industry will look back fondly on the draft Soil Framework Directive, which was published in September 2006 by the European Commission. The objective was to provide a framework that would enable each member state to decide how best to protect and use soil in their territory in a sust

Whatever the future may hold, Ireland is two different countries and two different markets for aggregates and rock. But the crisis is hitting both of them, reports Adrian Greeman The financial crisis has directly impacted on the aggregates business in Ireland Family-owned Kilsaren Group operates 18 quarries across Southern Ireland A single factor unites Ireland at the moment - the credit crunch. Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) have suffered from the slowdown in the world economy that

One former UK quarry will be taking centre stage during the 2012 London Olympics in the form of the world-class rowing facilities at Dorney Lake. ABE looks back at how the project came about Most quarry restoration projects are designed to ameliorate the impact of aggregate production but one UK quarry was borne out of the need for the restoration project. The site in question is Eton Aggregates' Dorney Lake which will be taking centre stage in London's Olympics in 2012 when it hosts the rowing events. The

In just eight years Tarmac has turned its Swinden Quarry operation around and gained full public support that has recently helped it gain approval for expansion. Claire Symes visited the Yorkshire quarry to find out more Gaining permission to extend a quarry is the Holy Grail for many quarry operators but to achieve that inside a national park is almost impossible. Nonetheless, Tarmac's Swinden Quarry in North Yorkshire, UK has achieved just that after turning around local opposition to the site in just eig

Addition of a Liebherr dozer to the equipment fleet of one UK quarry is helping to improve efficiency. Dan Gilkes reports A dimensional sandstone quarry in Yorkshire, UK, has changed its method of moving overburden. By using Liebherr's largest hydrostatic dozer the company said that it is saving time, money and reducing its environmental impact. Johnsons Wellfield Quarries, part of the Yorkshire-based Myers Group, operates the Crosland Hill Hard York Stone quarry near Huddersfield. Producing a range of dime

Eiffage's new Kleemann crushing and screening fleet is boosting productivity at Carrière Roland in France Carrière Roland took delivery of its new Kleemann crushing and screening equipment last year France-based construction firm Eiffage may be more well-known for iconic structures like the Millau Viaduct but as well as building these, it also produces the materials that go into them. The company has a number of quarries to serve its construction needs and has been investing in them to ensure it has top qua

After spotting the need for aggregates in his home region in Sweden at just 16, Bernt Hagen has spent his working career developing his quarrying business Owning and operating a quarry is probably not at the forefront of most 16 year olds' minds, but for one such teenager in 1950s Sweden it certainly was. For Bernt Hagen, a trip into the city with his 21-year old brother to buy a wheeled loader was the start of what is now a family enterprise centred on aggregates. In addition to five quarries in the Vetlan