Aggregates Manager

September 2013

Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine

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ATIONS Safe Setup ILLUSTRATED Quick and with extra d cribbing nsive opt was lost raditional ruckloads kways. 2 …versus new 3 OUR EXPERTS Organize, organize, organize Chad Ferguson is operations manager for Cessford Construction, an Oldcastle Materials company based in Burlington, Iowa. Ferguson began working for Cessford in 1988 as a dozer operator. He has since worked as a utility operator and a crew supervisor, prior to taking his current position approximately six years ago. Engineering of today's portable plants allow more of a "plugand-play" type of assembly. Hydraulic folding and unfolding of onboard conveyors, and the use of run-on jacks allow for quick setup and leveling without the need for cranes and large numbers of personnel. Electric lines between plants now are as small as 1/4-inch diameter. New technology, however, can bring new challenges. For example, plants can transport with fewer loads, but there is greater weight per load. Transport and setup of portable plants can go awry if you're not prepared. Make sure you understand axle weight regulations when traveling between states — and permits are in place for the heavier loads. At least a week before the move, create a plan that includes a list of the loads. Don't forget to plan for ancillary items such as dumpster, fuel, and port-a-johns. Prioritize and organize the equipment before it's torn down at the previous site. 5 6 Keep safety in mind Today's portable plants are designed to tear down and set up in a fraction of the time that their older predecessors used to take. Hydraulics have replaced much of the muscle and sweat that were once required to set up a portable plant, but don't sacrifice safety for the sake of speed. The very fact that these plants set up more quickly than older-style plants buys your team time to address safety with every step. Time maintenance with the move Even though the plant is designed to run with minimal personnel, it is better to have extra employees on hand to help with the move and setup. Plant setup time also is an ideal time to schedule routine maintenance for equipment. By planning for service personnel to be onsite during the move, equipment maintenance and repairs can be timed for completion before startup. As territory manager and aggregate specialist for Denver, Colo.-based Power Equipment Co. (PECO), Paul Brandt works out of the company's Casper, Wyo., office. He has been with PECO for 14 years. Brandt is a graduate of the University of Montana. Dave McLaughlin has been director of major accounts for Astec companies KPI-JCI, based in Yankton, S.D., and Astec Mobile Screens of Sterling, Ill., since 2005. Previously, he held the position of sales director for Cedarapids, Inc. McLaughlin graduated from the University of Iowa, with a bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning. September 2013 OperationsIllustrated_AGRM0913.indd 17 8/15/13 3:32 PM

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