Get ready to mark your calendars! The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association’s (PACA) 41st Annual Meeting is coming up in November 2023. The PACA Aggregate Event 2023 is a premier gathering in the state that brings together the crème de la crème of professionals and companies, including our experts from right here at Kemper Equipment!

The Where and When: Conference Details

Mark these dates on your calendar and prepare for an experience that promises to be both enlightening and exciting. The PACA Aggregate Event 2023 will take place on Monday, November 13th, and Tuesday, November 14th, 2023, at the picturesque Hotel Hershey in Hershey, PA. Starting with registration at 9 AM on November 13th, the opening session kicks off at 10 AM. The event is structured to provide a platform for industry professionals to come together and engage in insightful discussions and activities related to their fields.

This is not just a conference! It’s your chance to be a part of the larger conversation shaping the future of the aggregate industry. Imagine yourself in the beautiful setting of Hotel Hershey, mingling with industry leaders, gaining valuable insights, and participating in discussions that could redefine your perspective on the industry.

So, pack your bags, bring your ideas and questions, and get ready to step into a space brimming with innovation, knowledge, and opportunities. Your attendance at the 41^st PACA Annual Meeting could be the catalyst that propels your career forward. Get ready for two days of learning, networking, and inspiration!

Uniting the Best in the Business

This highly anticipated PACA annual event is a testament to the principle of ‘uniting the best in the business.’ The PACA Aggregate Event 2023 is a gathering for the greatest minds in the industry, but it’s also a platform where professionals in the aggregate industry convene to do much more than just catch up. It’s a space for networking where industry leaders and upcoming talents can form new connections, strengthen existing partnerships, and explore opportunities for collaboration. As they interact, they get to know each other better, understand different perspectives, and potentially lay the groundwork for future joint ventures that could revolutionize the industry.

But networking is just one part of it. The meeting is also a stage for knowledge exchange, where the best in the business share their experiences, insights, and lessons learned. Through presentations, panel discussions, and informal conversations, they delve into the latest advancements in the aggregate industry, dissecting trends, technologies, and techniques that are shaping the field. This knowledge exchange is vital in driving innovation, allowing professionals to learn from each other’s successes and failures. With this shared wisdom, they can avoid past mistakes, replicate successful strategies, and develop fresh ideas that push the boundaries of what’s possible in the aggregate industry.

Meet the Keynote Speakers: Yogi Roth and Anirban Basu

The PACA Aggregate Event 2023 annual meeting will be elevated by two extraordinary keynote speakers: Yogi Roth and Anirban Basu. Their expertise and unique perspectives promise to provide attendees with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

Yogi Roth is no stranger to the spotlight. His multifaceted career spans coaching, sportscasting, filmmaking, and authorship. Known for his deep insights into masculinity in sports, Roth’s keynotes are a journey into the heart of human potential. His knack for storytelling extends beyond entertainment, as it serves as a tool to inspire individuals and organizations to strive for greatness. Roth’s speeches are experiences that challenge listeners to question their limitations and dare to dream big. His presence at the meeting will undoubtedly motivate attendees to impact their respective fields significantly.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have Anirban Basu, a titan in economics. As the founder of Sage Policy Group, Basu has made a name for himself through his understanding of economics and a unique sense of humor that makes complex concepts accessible and engaging. As Chief Economist for various organizations and a significant contributor to academia, he brings a depth of knowledge that is as vast as it is valuable. Basu has a gift for making economics relatable and interesting, turning what could be a dry topic into a fascinating exploration of trends and forces shaping our world. His keynote will provide attendees with a fresh perspective on the economic landscape and its implications for the aggregate industry.

Together, Roth and Basu represent a blend of inspiration and insight, promising an enriching experience for all attendees of the 2023 PACA annual event.

Are You Ready to Attend?

The PACA 41st Annual Meeting is a must-attend event for anyone related to the aggregate industry. No matter how you are involved with Pennsylvania aggregates, the PACA Aggregate Event 2023 provides an opportunity to strengthen your ties within the PACA community. Mark your calendars and brace yourself for two days of insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and a chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the business.

We are already a few months into 2023, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t so much more to be excited about this year! There is a great outlook for the aggregates industry, as many sources are seeing positive first quarters and are looking forward to even more growth throughout the rest of the year.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in pricing for most aggregate materials, and that’s still the case, but we at Kemper Equipment have also seen some other trends that we are excited about. Learn more about what’s already happened and what we predict we will see in the coming months.

What’s Happened in the Industry So Far in 2023?

• Pit & Quarry’s annual roundtable took place in January, where a record number of attendees gathered to discuss the previous year and the upcoming year within the industry. Our President Greg Donecker was in attendance to contribute information on the advantages of rubber truck bed liners.

• CONEXPO-CON/AGG happened from March 14-18. This is the largest trade show in North America, and it happens once a year. A massive gathering of professionals in our industry showcase the latest in equipment, products, services, and technologies.

The turnout to both events shows an increased interest and engagement in the industry that will continue throughout the year as new technologies are developing and being introduced and product demand increases.

What Do We Have to Look Forward to in the Aggregates Industry in 2023?

Take a moment to read about the aggregate market analysis for 2023. There are some common themes that companies within our industry are focusing on for the rest of this year to keep up with a profitable first quarter.

Increased demand for Aggregate, Construction, and Related industries

As our president at Kemper Equipment, Greg Donecker, highlighted in his December 2022 Pit & Quarry article, “A number of industry companies experienced double-digit growth [in 2022]. Passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act last November created a path for continuous aggregate demand in most regions needing roads, highways, bridges, and utility infrastructure systems.” This demand is likely to continue to increase as the year progresses.

Utilizing New Equipment for Labor Shortages

Despite the global aggregates market size, the industry still has a widespread labor shortage. For some, solving this issue will look like adding overland conveyors to their operations. Still, for others, it will look like purchasing additional equipment to automate their entire process further.

Unfortunately, despite projected growth and increased demand for our industry, we are still seeing product shortages and delays. These issues will likely remain unresolved throughout the industry, though many producers are finding alternative solutions for now.

Reducing Costs through Liners and Equipment Maintenance

In a February 28^th article for Pit & Quarry, Donecker said, “Processing plants and wear parts are being purchased to reduce costs. Similarly, engineered wear-lining systems constructed of rubber, ceramic rubber, and urethane are being installed to extend the time between maintenance.”

By implementing more linings, producers can ensure their equipment has a longer life. When materials are moved around or transported, they can cause wear and tear to the equipment doing the moving. This can happen when they’re in truck beds, hoppers, bins, or silos. Even slurry boxes, sump tanks, feed boxes, transfer chutes, conveyors, belt feeders, and processing machineries like crushers and screens can get damaged. Fitted liners help minimize the damage and need for replacements or maintenance on the equipment. Liners are likely to become a valuable addition to many operations.

Value-Added Processing Systems

Some producers are reaching out to knowledgeable suppliers because they are hoping to explore new technologies for their plants. These new systems will take previously considered lower value-added reserves and produce a higher price-per-ton product.

A Greater Focus on Safety

Within the first quarter of the year, 14 miners died on the job. These fatalities are higher than in the first quarter of last year and come after the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued a pattern of violations (POV) notice for a Louisiana Morton Salt operation. We expect an increase in safety equipment sales and training to better equip miners and those within the industry with the tools to keep themselves and their employees safe.

Do You Want to Get Ahead of the Aggregates Industry Outlook for 2023?

The aggregates industry outlook for 2023 is positive overall, but as the industry shifts and changes, you want a resource to help guide you and provide you with the equipment knowledge of the future. Working with our friendly expert team at Kemper ensures that you have access to the industry’s best parts, as well as unbeatable knowledge of all things in the industry. Whether you need help training your team on maintaining your machinery or help with designing and building an entirely new operation for your specific application, contact us today to get started!

Are you feeling stagnation at your current job and frustrated with the lack of mobility? Are you looking for something new and exciting with the possibility of growth over the next few years? Look into aggregate industry jobs! The aggregate industry has done well despite many challenges faced in the last few years with the pandemic and the fluctuating economy. Predictions from industry experts also imply that you can expect this industry to continue to experience growth throughout 2023 and beyond.

This industry is highly productive and an excellent match for motivated people who seek job security and want to see their work help people in tangible ways. Without aggregate experts, there are no new construction buildings, asphalt repairs, or new driveways for homeowners. This industry touches lives in many ways; it’s an essential part of the global community.

At Kemper Equipment, we recognize the value in getting aggregates to where they belong quickly and effectively, which is why we are so dedicated to helping design and build productive systems for any aggregate producer or manufacturer. And if you’re wondering why you should choose a career in the aggregate industry, we are happy to give you some reasons!

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At Kemper Equipment, we listen, consult, create, and solve problems for our valued clients in the aggregate processing and material handling industries.

Today’s blog post showcases one of our recent success cases to show you what improved production actually looks like in practice. Kemper recently custom-designed a new plant for a construction aggregate producer to remove operational bottlenecks and ultimately increase production and profitability. This is the story.

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According to many aggregate industry sources—including our direct observation here at Kemper Equipment, 2019 ended up being an excellent year for aggregate processing and mining operations.

Robust construction activity created better demand than in many recent years for everything from crushed stone to sand, and pricing was up for most materials, as well.

These good news stories for mining and aggregate production have got us thinking about industry progress, and what that might mean as we head into a new decade. Our Kemper Equipment owner and president, Greg Donecker, recently shared his predictions for 2020 and beyond with Pit & Quarry magazine.

Today’s post offers a look at some of those big trends that have emerged in recent years, which we expect to continue to shape our industry in 2020 and beyond.

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In the quarrying and mineral processing industries, it’s true that we are often working with mined “virgin” materials extracted straight from the earth. But if you’ve been involved with many projects over the years, you know that every mine has its expiration date (expressed as LOM, or expected life of the mine), and even the most productive quarries will eventually be depleted.

The good news is there’s a source of aggregate that is considered sustainable because it will always be plentiful and available – recycled asphalt, or reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), as it’s more commonly known in the industry. RAP has been growing in popularity among paving contractors, and that means more work for crushing and screening operations that can properly size the material for use.

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We’ve had a busy fall season here at Kemper Equipment! Our usual work of designing, manufacturing, and supplying the best material handling equipment and solutions is more than enough to keep our team working hard every day, of course. But did you know that we are also dedicated to promoting our industry with knowledge sharing and education events for both professionals in our field and the next generation?

As we close out 2018, we wanted to take a look back at a couple of our favorite experiences from the past few months of getting out there and educating. If you missed our learning events this year, don’t worry – we have plenty more coming in 2019! Continue reading →

“Time is money,” or so the adage goes; but how easy is that to quantify? Well, for many businesses, this is a simple equation to work out. Whether you go by operational and repair costs, salaries, or products, knowing how much you spend to stay productive can help you understand how much money you’re losing when the plant has to be shut down for repairs or a piece of equipment slows down.

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Contractors—and customers—are always looking for a way to stay under budget without sacrificing quality. There’s also the matter of minding the environment. Thankfully, there’s an aggregate material that can help reduce waste and provide a cost-effective alternative to pricier materials: recycled asphalt product.

Recycled asphalt product explained

Recycled asphalt product, or RAP, is simply old asphalt that has been ground into gravel and binds together once it’s compacted, hardening again. Asphalt isn’t exactly “environmentally friendly,” so it’s typically recycled to reduce asphalt waste. This practice has made asphalt one of the most recycled aggregate materials in the country according to the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA). Using RAP is considered green, which is a big incentive to recycle and reuse asphalt. Many states require new roadways and paving contain a minimum percentage of RAP. Check with your Department of Transportation for specific requirements.

The Federal Highway Administration has stated the following:

“[Recycled asphalt product] RAP is now routinely accepted in asphalt paving mixtures as an aggregate substitute and as a portion of the binder in nearly all 50 states. Recently developed technology has even made it possible to recycle 90 to 100 percent RAP [recycled asphalt product] in hot mix.”

Along with its use by municipalities as part of a base or subbase material on highways and roads, it’s also used by contractors as a base layer for residential driveways, in parking lots, gravel road rehabilitation, and even bike paths.

The advantages of using recycled asphalt product

Using RAP can be very cost effective for both customers and contractors, especially if the work is being done in remote areas and is a large enough area to be covered. The lower initial cost is a huge incentive for contractors trying to stick to budget; and the quality offered by recycled asphalt product is invaluable as a base foundation.

Even local governments are able to benefit from the significant cost savings offered by recycled asphalt. AsphaltRecycling.com reports that savings can range from $30 to $80 a ton. For companies who recycle consistently can expect large savings.

Through the use of RAP, less reclaimed asphalt is winding up in landfills. Technology has been steadily advancing the percentage of asphalt that can be recycled, which can further reduce any negative environmental impact asphalt production and use might cause. More projects are featuring increased amounts of RAP, meaning there’s less waste, a lower cost, and a higher quality result.

Another advantage to recycling asphalt is it also reduces the quarrying, mining, and oil consumption required to create new asphalt. This also cuts down on necessary resources and material, some of which are already scarce in certain areas of the United States.

Equipment you need to produce RAP

There are various types of equipment you need to produce Recycled Asphalt Product. RAP screens, RAP crusher and impactors, recycling crushing & screening circuits, stockpile conveyors, and telescopic conveyors all work together to create the final product.

If you’re looking to stay under budget and want to go green, consider recycled asphalt product. It can be used in a number of projects in various ways, and almost always offers a more stable solution than other commercially manufactured aggregate materials.

Current project at a salt mine 1,400ft underground. Kemper Equipment supplied an 8×24 Terex Simplicity screen in pieces to fit down the mine shaft and Kemper’s Allen Snavely, a Terex Minerals Processing technician and our customer are building it piece – by – piece underground.