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Europe is starting to look closer to home for essential raw materials as globalisation creates fierce competition for non-energy commodities. Robert Camp looks at the issues. By the end of this year the European Commission is expected to have finalised a new strategy to ensure that European industries get better access to raw materials, including aggregates. The Raw Materials Initiative, was first floated in November 2008 in recognition of growing concerns about global resource scarcity as the world's popul

KPI-JCI has introduced new colour monitors as standard in its track-mounted equipment line. The monitors, engineered to enhance performance, navigation and diagnostics for operators and technicians, feature significant advancements, including improved display resolution and a more user-friendly design, said Ron Griess, crushing and tracks product manager at KPI-JCI.

Legislative and social pressure is increasing the demand for quantified monitoring of dust and respirable particulates as ABE discovered. Local and environmental authorities and health at work bodies are paying ever more attention to dust issues, both in terms of potential nuisance and because of any possible health implications.

Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment has launched its new DA40 articulated dump truck, the first in a new family of ADTs from the company. Powered by a six-cylinder Scania DC13 Stage IIIB-compliant diesel engine that delivers a power output of 368kW at 2,100rpm, the DA40 provides a 10% increase in engine power compared to the previous MT41 model. With a 22% increase in gross torque to 2,373Nm at 1,300rpm, the machine is said to offer the maximum torque available in the Doosan ADT range.

Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, the world's largest on-site and online auctioneer of heavy equipment and trucks, is celebrating more than US$1billion (€760million) in online sales in 2011.

Powerscreen is celebrating ten years of "successful operations" in India. "The country has been a rapidly emerging economy and Powerscreen equipment is playing a major role in developing its infrastructure. We have invested in the local economy with a purpose-built manufacturing facility in Hosur, which has strengthened our intent to continue to grow with India," said Patrick Brian, global sales and marketing director.

Europe's top performing sustainable aggregates companies gathered in Munich in May for the presentation of the UEPG Sustainable Development Awards. Sustainable development strategies are an essential part of modern business in the quarrying industry but some companies still perform better than others. The UEPG's Sustainable Development Awards encourage companies to integrate and address all three dimensions of sustainability during the whole production process.

Baioni Crushing Plants has commissioned the full Baitrack mobile range series for a Sudanese company to work on road and urban construction. The company, which manufacturers static and mobile crushing and screening equipment, installed the equipment, which includes Baitrack BP, Baitrack FCS and Baiscreen. The units will be employed in road and urban construction. "In 2010, Baioni Crushing Plants moved into what we view as the next generation of mobile crushing and screening equipment. With the launch of Bai

Lafarge has helped transform a UK village hall into a modern events venue. Fundraising and grants totalling £60,000 (€71,497), including £16,000 (€19,065) from Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK, has paid for modular staging, state-of-the-art lighting, sound equipment and fully kitted-out catering facilities at the site in Sturton-le-Steeple.

Mineral product companies have continued to improve their sustainability, but sales growth prospects remain uncertain, according to a key industry watchdog.

The challenging economy is leading to changes in priorities when buying or renting crushing and screening equipment, finds Lisa Russell. The continued rise of mobile equipment is combining with greater reliance on rentals and growing demand for bigger equipment to bring changes in the crushing and screening market. Rental periods are also becoming longer as users avoid committing themselves to purchasing while uncertain times lie ahead.

A £150million (€179.43million) government scheme to reduce crashes and congestion at a notorious UK motorway junction has been welcomed by highways building material specialists Lafarge.

Terex Finlay's new 684 tracked mobile screener is set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2011. It was one of eight Terex Finlay tracked mobile crusher and screener models showcased at was previewed at SteinExpo in Germany. The new model worked with a Finlay J-1160 jaw crusher and there was also a working circuit including a Finlay J-1175 jaw crusher; Finlay I-130RS impact crusher and Finlay 694+ inclined screen on the main booth. The recently-released Finlay 863 compact heavy duty screen worked with a Fi

An innovative transport system is used at a limestone quarry to move heavy equipment around. ABE reports. Scandinavia’s largest limestone quarry is going to experience a new progress when the original quarry is worked out. In 2013 it plans to bring a new quarry into use on the island of Gotland, off the east coast of Sweden, where limestone has been mined since 1658.

As part of its ongoing expansion in developing markets, Volvo Construction Equipment has announced it will build a new excavator plant in Kaluga, Russia. The new Volvo CE will invest SEK 350 million (nearly €38 million) to build the 20,660m² excavator plant on the 15 hectares of land Volvo acquired in 2007. The Kaluga plant will initially manufacture five models of Volvo excavator including the Volvo EC210, EC240, EC290, EC360 and EC460, with production planned to begin in the first quarter of 2013.

Caterpillar has introduced a series of new models including the all-new Cat 980K wheel loader, which it says offers high productivity, reliable performance and excellent fuel efficiency and an engine certified to meet Stage IIIB emissions standards in Europe.

Opening up quarries to local communities under the European Minerals day was the brainchild of the Industrial Minerals Association. Claire Symes talked to IMA president Thierry Salmona in the build up to the next event in 2011. Some of the biggest opponents to new quarries and extensions of existing ones are local residents and their campaigning power can halt access to high quality reserves. But how many of them really understand the need for aggregates and minerals on a regional basis or have seen the ben

A ‘global screening alliance’ from 1 January, 2012 aims to boost world product sales of two traditional industry competitors.

Testing times are ahead but there is hope for aggregates producers says Julian Clapp. Hardly a day goes by without mention in the national news about the financial crisis facing Europe and the rest of the world. Opinion seems to vary on a daily basis from some optimism to total pessimism. Investors hoping that markets will settle down soon are likely to be disappointed. Many of the financial arrangements currently being put into place involve the medium term repayment of loans. Unless the countries concerne

Applying two layers of asphalt in one go not only improves quality, it also speeds up work on site - a critical factor during recent work on the A99 motorway near Munich in Germany. When traffic levels are at a high volume, road reconstruction work can often only be carried out at night leaving just a short time for resurfacing. But time is not the only pressure - these works need to be completed to a high standard in order to cope with the heavy loading.