An agreement between Montreal-based McInnis Cement and Centre québécois du Droit de l’Environnement (CQDE) advances the producer’s 2 million ton per year mill and marine terminal development in eastern Quebec. It calls for CQDE to withdraw from legal action through the Quebec Environment Ministry aimed at invalidating the authorization certificate for McInnis Cement’s Port-Daniel-Gascons operation.
An environmental subcommittee stemming from the agreement facilitates a mediation process between the producer and CQDE officials addressing a) the plant’s greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring and emissions reduction efforts; b) monitoring the operation’s performance against contaminant emissions thresholds in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency newly adopted NESHAP standards; and, c) compliance with marine mammal protection measures McInnis Cement agreed to with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The producer has invited additional Quebec agency representatives and two other environmental groups to participate in the subcommittee mediation, noting: “The work of this enlarged forum will ensure a long-term dialogue around the future cement plant and is part of McInnis Cement’s sustainable development values.”
“McInnis Cement is aware of its carbon footprint and committed to gradually reduce its GHG. In this context, we choose the path of dialogue, opting for a mediation with environmental groups about this global issue,” adds CEO Christian Gagnon.
Pittsburgh-based Lanxess Inorganic Pigments Group has enlisted calcium carbonate processor Omya Inc. as a Bayferrox concrete pigment distribution partner, covering the western U.S., and joining existing North American distributors Cohills Building Specialties, E& A Supply Corp., and Empire Blended Distributors.
“Omya came on board in the fourth quarter of 2014, as our construction distributor for the west coast and Canada and has become a valuable member of our North American distribution network in a very short time,” says Peter Baldus, head of Inorganic Pigments Group Americas.
In addition to expanded distribution, the Group is marking its second year as a SCS certified supplier—the only iron oxide pigments producer to qualify and offer SCS certification of its products to the market. The certification indicates that up to 94 percent of the iron raw materials used in pigment production are recycled.
Brent Bergt has been named Southwest area sales manager at Simem America, San Antonio-based full-line batch plant manufacturer and engineering services provider. He joins Simem from the Kellogg, Brown and Root Engineering and Construction Group, and previously served in the Cemex Facilities Engineering Group, where he provided technical engineering management services to maintain, redevelop, or construct new production facilities in the Concrete Pipe & Products Division. Bergt holds a BS in Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University.
South Dakota-based Sioux Corp. reports that its quality management system is now certified to ISO 9001:2008 standards. The manufacturer began implementing changes to meet ISO standards in early 2014. Certification terms include the logging any nonconformance or customer concern, with weekly management team review of these logs. Sioux is also routinely performing internal audits of all departments including receiving, fabrication, welding, paint, assembly, testing, packaging, engineering, sales, purchasing, HR, and management.
“Achieving ISO 9001:2008 has advanced our quality management system, and will continue to do so as we move forward,” says Sioux Engineering Manager Brad Hyronimus. “Internal improvements we have implemented and continuous improvements we incorporate will help immensely. If a problem arises we log the issue, meet with the correct parties, determine the root cause and resolve the problem. Procedures we have created add discipline and assist us in training new employees. The customer-concerns log ensures we are solving the problems identified by our customers.”
MMFX Steel Corp. has named Taylor Watson as South Central U.S. regional sales manager, responsible for growing the manufacturer’s premium rebar products throughout Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. Watson started his career as a rebar detailer with a precast/prestressed producer specializing in bridge products, and also as an estimating manager for CMC in Houston. Most recently, Taylor was sales manager at FABco, a Houston fabricator serving the Gulf Coast region.
Mack Trucks named Vanguard Truck Center its 2014 North American Dealer of the Year. Founded in 1989, the family-owned business operates full-service commercial truck centers in Arizona, Georgia, Missouri and Texas. In 2014, Vanguard Truck Center of Phoenix surpassed sales goals by nearly 50 percent, while also investing $5 million-plus to modernize its facility and add a new service point on Interstate 40 in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Atlanta-based HD Supply Construction & Industrial–White Cap, a leading distributor of specialty hardware, tools and concrete accessories for professional contractors, has added locations in the Boston Waterfront District, downtown Los Angeles and Kileen, Texas. The new facilities increase the presence of the company in key geographic regions, affording industrial, commercial and residential contractors an extensive inventory, combined with will-call, site delivery and direct ship options.
“The locations heighten our level of service in three important markets and provide our customers with a more robust inventory selection at convenient locations,” says HD Supply Construction & Industrial President John Stegeman. “Our locations, staffed by our knowledgeable, service-oriented sales teams, coupled with our inventory availability, help us maintain a competitive advantage in our industry.”
The approximately 20,000-sq.-ft. Boston location is located in the Waterfront District at 643 Summer Street; the 37,000-sq.-ft. Downtown Los Angeles location is located at 101 Mission Road; and, the Killeen, Texas, location is located at 1300 W. Central Texas Expressway.
Birmingham, Ala.-based Motion Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts CO., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Miller Bearings Inc. Orlando-based Miller is one of the leading independent distributors in Florida for industrial MRO products, including bearings, power transmission products, fluid power, electrical and automation components, as well as safety and industrial supplies. Its customers represent a broad cross-section of industries in the state, which are presently being served from 17 locations.
The Penetron Group has appointed Tom Herzer as business development manager, bringing the admixture and waterproofing technology specialist 30-plus years’ experience in the management, marketing, and production of cement-based specialty products.
Baldor Electric Co. in Ft. Smith, Ark., has named John Malinowski senior industry affairs manager, representing Baldor and parent company ABB in various U.S. associations promoting the companies’ positions on industrial electric motor policies, regulations and standards. Currently the general product manager for General Purpose and Severe Duty motors, Malinkowski has been with Baldor since 1982, serving in a host of product management and application engineer capacities.
Glendale Heights, Ill.-based ITW Commercial Construction has completed acquisition of PNA Construction Technologies, Atlanta, a leader in providing innovative systems and designs to support the North American concrete flatwork industry, and named Bob Connell the new PNA general manager.
Structured to be a standalone company among the ITW CCNA family of brands, PNA represents the Commercial Construction Division’s entry into the pre-pour, cast-in-place concrete segment in North America. With Charlotte, N.C., and Bakersfield, Calif., facilities, it manufacturers systems to ensure joint stability, joint protection, and continuity of surface profile for concrete floors and industrial paving. Product offerings include the Diamond Dowel System and PD3 Basket assembly.
Indianola, Iowa-based Cemen Tech Inc. has enlisted Terry Equipment as exclusive distributor for its volumetric mixer trucks in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Las Vegas and surrounding areas. The firm will be working over the next six months to bring service staff up to speed on the equipment and being stocking parts for existing Cemen Tech customers.