Category: Expert Columns
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Asphalt Industry Offers Path For American Dream
My name is Vijay Palanisamy and I currently work as Vice President of Product Management and Marketing at Dynapac. When Asphalt Contractor first reached out to me about this feature, I was not fully sure what I was going to say or write about. However, I tried to share my journey, how I got in…
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Defining ‘Five Stars’ in the Construction Industry
What’s the first thing we all do in a new city? Search Google or Yelp for places to eat. Then, we ask a few folks to see if the “five-star reviews” translate into meaningful experiences. In industries like ours, delivering world-class service every day is not only the norm but the entry price for civil…
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Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Construction
Since 2016, Jon O’Brien has been at the helm of the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA), leading efforts to support Pennsylvania’s construction industry. Over the years, O’Brien has witnessed a transformation in the field—not just in technical advancements, but in the growing need to address issues that affect the well-being of its workforce. Chief among these…
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How to Prep for 2025’s New Construction Business Agenda
You are probably in the process of closing out 2024 and finishing your game plan, budget and cash flow projections for 2025. You are doing this, right? Some of your planning was based on your thoughts about the outcome of the election. If so, at least 50% of you got it right. So, seeing that…
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Must-Have Cold Weather Safety Wear for Construction Workers
Through blazing summer heat or blustery winter winds, construction crews are at the mercy of Mother Nature year-round. Workwear and safety gear built for cold weather make all the difference in staying protected from weather-related illnesses and injuries. Still, crews need gear that keeps them protected without being in the way of getting the job…
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Has Productivity Stalled In The Construction Trades?
Those of us in the construction industry, whether we want to admit it or not, are faced with an unpleasant truth: we haven’t increased our productivity in more than 50 years. According to a research brief published by the Becker-Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago earlier this year (The Strange and Awful…
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Volumetric Concrete Mixers Create Opportunities to Lower Your Project Costs
Starting a volumetric concrete business can help contractors overcome the scheduling challenges associated with concrete pours. If you are a contractor exploring a new revenue stream, volumetric concrete mixers tailor concrete delivery offerings to meet the most stringent requirements. Volumetric technology offers a unique competitive advantage over traditional barrel mixers on jobs where concrete quantities…
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How One CEO’s Vision Led to the Start of an Industry in the Field of Crushing and Screening
Meet Susanne Cobey, Eagle Crusher Company CEO, third-generation entrepreneur, and 2024 Association Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Hall of Fame Award Winner. Susanne has been the driving force behind the paradigm shift that turned Eagle Crusher Company from its humble beginnings in 1915, into the large-scale manufacturing company it is today. Along the way, Susanne created a…
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History Lesson: Motor Grader Attachments
The original elevating graders (EGAs) were drawn by stock, and tractor-drawn elevating graders were used into the 1940s before being rendered obsolete by advances in belt loader and scraper technology. However, unlike many other obsolete machines, the idea of the EGA experienced a revival in the 1950s and early 1960s as the concept was adapted…
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Addressing the Risk of Trenching and Excavation Site Cave-Ins
With construction projects, there are multiple risks to consider when on a jobsite. Let’s look at two of the most dangerous jobs—trenching and excavation. In 2022, 39 people died while doing trenching or excavation work in the U.S., according to the Department of Labor. That number is more than double what it was in 2021.…