Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/489028
EquipmentWorld.com | April 2015 15 reporter | by Equipment World staff Briefs Astec Industries co-founder dies Dr. J. Don Brock, age 76, co-founder, chairman and former CEO of Astec Industries, passed away March 10 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He had been previously diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. Brock co-founded Astec Industries in 1972. He held roughly 100 construction and drying machinery and equipment patents, and was the recipient of numerous awards. In 2014, Brock's son, Benjamin, succeeded his father as the com- pany's CEO. J. Don Brock continued to serve as the Executive Chairman of Astec's board of directors. T he need for updating and maintaining U.S. infrastructure work is a clear, agreed-upon issue, but the means of providing funds is still divisive, as evidenced by an infrastructure forum put on by the National Journal. Transportation Secretary An- thony Foxx and House Transpor- tation and Infrastructure Commit- tee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) discussed the need for continu- ous funding, but did not address how the Obama Administration and the Republican majority could break the methodology impasse. Foxx touts the plan for tax reform, including repatriation of domestic companies' foreign profi ts, as a means for funding transportation projects. Shus- ter says that's not a "possible" solution. Many are calling for an increase in the gas tax – which hasn't increased in more than two decades – but such an in- crease is quickly drifting to the wayside as a solution. However, both made it clear that both sides are committed to coming up with a solution. "I feel confi dent that we will do a long-term bill, a fi ve- or six-year bill," Shuster said during the forum, "because both sides of the aisle, both sides of the Capitol, both ends of Pennsylva- nia Avenue, everybody's talking about a long-term bill." "The one bright spot is that folks like Chairman Shuster aren't just aware of this problem; they're committed to solving it," Foxx said. "Not just with regard to surface transportation, but with regard to rail and to avia- tion reauthorization. And I very much look forward to working with him on all of those issues." – Chris Hill Infrastructure forum spotlights need for funding solution Cat to cut 230 jobs at Joliet plant Caterpillar has announced that it will cut 230 manufacturing jobs at its Joliet, Illinois, facility as part of its continuing efforts to cut costs. Cat will move production of gear and engine oil valves to a plant in Monterrey, Mexico, while the heat treatment of components and the production of truck struts and truck hoist cylinders will remain at the Joliet plant. The company will start the move from Joliet in late 2016 with plans to have the transition completed by the middle of 2018. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx