Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/199290
Innovations and Insights Luck Stone develops technologies for remote-control loading, as well as applications to improve load planning, dispatch, and transportation for its customers. by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief 22 L uck Companies, the parent company of Luck Stone, has a corporate mission of "igniting human potential." Pairing this with Luck Stone's vision of understanding customer insights and acting upon them has led to groundbreaking innovations for the operator. "One of the things that is really exciting for me, personally, is our whole concept of igniting human potential and our investment in values based leadership," says Travis Chewning, director of innovation. "It's about making conscious choices, and it's really geared around helping each one of us be the best version of ourselves so we can help others be the best version of themselves. What that has led to is getting people what we call straight and beautiful, where they're in a really good spot. They're engaged. They're smiling. They're joking. They're having fun. The creative juices in the brain seem to be a little more amped up in that environment." While some may think the concept sounds a little New Age-like and more likely to impact people than profits, Luck Stone's creativity and focus on innovation is helping it to tap additional reserves and differentiate itself among customers. Remote-control loading Luck Stone showcased its remote-control (RC) loader on Sept. 19 at Luck Stone's Bull Run operation in Manassas, Va. The RC system is installed on a Cat 988G wheel loader and allows Luck Stone to safely access material at the toe of its highwall. "We were trying to work out a mine plan that would allow us to maximize reserves and then move to a different property," says Bob Grauer, president of Luck Stone. AGGREGATES MANAGER November 2013 CompanySpotlight_AGRM1113.indd 22 10/21/13 8:57 AM