Construction shipper seeks loading access at U

A major shipper in the Twin Cities area has approached the University of Minnesota about using its riverside dock in Minneapolis for loading of sand and gravel, setting off alarms among river and neighborhood advocates. Eagan-based Aggregate Industries’ proposal highlights how seriously the company is taking the loss of its ability to ship through St. Anthony Falls next June.

Read more in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Aggregate Industries hosts search-and-rescue exercise

Aggregate Industries and the International Rescue Dog Organization, based in Austria, put on a search-and-rescue test at the Aggregate Industries K-9 Testing Facility in Littleton, Mass. Rescue dogs and their handlers underwent rigorous testing, including a search for volunteer human 'survivors' under piles of rubber.

Read more in Pit & Quarry.

Holcim, Aggregate Industries mark centennial with service

Holcim U.S. and Aggregate Industries U.S. launched an employee volunteer initiative to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its parent company, Holcim, Ltd. To mark the milestone, the company launched Together for Communities, an initiative in which employees led local volunteer projects. Over the course of a year, employees contributed more than 34,600 volunteer hours through a variety of projects.

Read more at Pit & Quarry.

Holcim, Aggregate Industries name new president and CEO

From Feb. 12 Pit & Quarry e-newsletter:
Holcim U.S. Inc. has named Filiberto Ruiz as the company's president and CEO. Ruiz will also serve Aggregate Industries U.S. in the same positions.

Aggregate Industries US donates rock to Smithsonian

We recently learned that Aggregate Industries US partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for a late September festival about geology. The company donated a unique rock - rodingite - found in one of its local quarries.

Here's more on the story from FOX19 news in Cincinnati.

Vergas would benefit from aggregate bill

A legislative bill has been introduced that if passed would allow the city of Vergas to impose an aggregate materials tax if Otter Tail County does not implement the tax. Under wording in the bill, the city of Vergas would be deemed to be the county for purposes of collecting the tax. All revenues would be retained by the city.

Read more in the Fergus Falls Journal.

Holcim creates weather APP for cement and ready mix customes

A new tool Holcim (US) has developed for cement and ready mixed customers enables Android, Apple 4 & 4S iPhone and Blackberry smartphone users tailor mix design and slab pour schedules according to a four-day forecast of building site evaporation rates.

Learn more from Concrete Products.

Minneapolis city planners: Industry belongs on the Mississippi

After years of living under the threat of eventual displacement to make way for pricey residential development along the Mississippi River, some Minneapolis businesses got a break Tuesday night.

City planners revealed they were recommending scaling back an ambitious 11-year-old land-use policy known as Above the Falls.  . . .

"I'm relieved," said Bob Bieraugel, property manager for Aggregate Industries, whose Minneapolis barge terminal is at 26th Avenue North and Pacific Street North.

Read more in Finance & Commerce.