Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/829086
EDITORIAL • 3 June 2017 Vol. 22, No. 6 aggman.com /AggregatesManager @AggMan_editor Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Therese Dunphy Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Online Editor: Kerry Clines editorial@aggman.com Design & Production Art Director: Sandy Turner, Jr. Production Designer: Timothy Smith Advertising Production Manager: Linda Hapner production@aggman.com Construction Media Vice President, Construction Media: Joe Donald sales@randallreillyconstruction.com 3200 Rice Mine Rd NE Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 800-633-5953 randallreilly.com Corporate Chairman: Mike Reilly President and CEO: Brent Reilly Chief Operations Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Financial Officer: Russell McEwen Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Editorial and Research: Linda Longton Vice President of Events: Stacy McCants Vice President, Audience Development: Prescott Shibles Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Vice President, Marketing: Julie Arsenault For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: aggregatesmanager@halldata.com. Aggregates Manager TM magazine (ISSN 1552-3071) is published monthly by Randall-Reilly, LLC copyright 2017. Executive and Administrative offices, 3200 Rice Mine Rd. N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Subscription rates: $24 annually, Non-domestic $125 annually. Single copies: $7. We assume no responsibility for the validity of claims of manufacturers in any advertisement or editorial product information or literature offered by them. Publisher reserves the right to refuse non-qualified subscriptions. Periodical circulation postage paid at Tuscaloosa, Alabama and additional entries. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage retrieval system, without written permission of the copyright owner. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Aggregates Manager, 3200 Rice Mine Road N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Equipment Insights by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief tdunphy@randallreilly.com EDITORIAL W hen it comes to gauging what is happening in the aggregates mar- ket, there is no better source than you, the people working on the frontlines of the industry. That's why we regularly ask you to share your thoughts and opinions – whether through our monthly Aggre- gates Industry Outlook, our annual Forecast Survey, or our Equipment Strategies Survey. For example, here are some of the insights we gained from this year's Equip- ment Strategies Survey: • You are in a much better place this year. With changes in Washington, you are much more optimistic about the near-term future of your business, and you are willing to invest again. More than 30 percent of respondents plan to increase their capital expenditures for 2017. • You want parts and service at your fingertips. These two issues are primary drivers for operators planning capital expenditures. Lack of access to parts for older machines is forcing some operators to opt for new iron. As for service, many lack the manpower and/or expertise to keep up with machine mainte- nance, particularly when it comes to the automation available on newer ma- chines. • You have a love/hate relationship with machine technology. Some of you love the equipment insights and production gains, but others see technology as in- creasing costs and causing personnel issues as some older equipment operators don't care for the newer features. • You care about financing. While big manufacturers have long had captive fi- nancing, we've seen additional manufacturer entries into this market. Why? Not all banks want to finance equipment purchases. Typically, bank financing is available when the market is strong, yet some operators continue to find tra- ditional financing to be a hurdle to overcome with new equipment purchases. Manufacturers are increasingly offering options to aid that purchase. • While many of you enjoy a strong market, some of you still struggle. Nearly one in five operators say they will spend less on equipment this year. Of those, half expect to decrease their budgets by more than 60 percent. It may be that they've recently made significant upgrades, but, coupled with reports from our monthly surveys, it is more likely an indication of difficult financial conditions in certain regions and markets. Thanks to all of you who regularly take the time to share this feedback. It helps us not only produce articles such as the special report you'll find on page 8; it also informs our writing throughout the year. Over the upcoming months, we'll be touching base with operators and following up on the additional insights you've shared. Together, we can continue to produce content that addresses your informa- tion needs.