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.

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.

The cost of how bad roads and bridges affect us is increasing. Drivers are increasingly worried about road conditions.  It’s time for the government to take action and spend money for improvements.  Plus, increased highway repair and construction will  contribute to more jobs, higher employment and a better economy. For more information or to support the cause, check out the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association: www.nssga.org