Tag: Asphalt
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A Technician’s Role in Ensuring Asphalt Quality and Pavement Performance
In an industry where precision determines pavement performance, few roles carry more day-to-day responsibility than field quality control. It’s the kind of work that demands technical confidence, physical stamina and the ability to make confident decisions in unpredictable conditions. That challenge is exactly what drives Quality Control Inspector Tracy Richard. Richard specializes in the real-world…
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How California’s Refinery Closures Hit Asphalt Contractors
California is on track to lose another major refinery just months after Phillips 66 fully shuttered its Los Angeles-area operations at the end of 2025. Valero’s Benicia plant is now set to end refining by April 2026. Together those two closures wipe out roughly 309,000 barrels per day of capacity, about 18% of the state’s…
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Finding a Reliable Asphalt Contractor in Oahu
It can be overwhelming to choose a dependable asphalt contractor in Oahu because the quality of asphalt work varies widely across the island. No one wants to hire crews that rush jobs, ignore proper grading, or use mixes that cannot withstand the local climate because asphalt is a material that requires skill and precision, especially…
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Astec Acquires CWMF: Strengthening Asphalt Plant Innovation Ahead of CONEXPO 2026
The two manufacturers of asphalt plant equipment announced their plans to join forces over social media on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, with Astec Inc. president and CEO Jaco van der Merwe said on a LinkedIn post: “Our Infrastructure Solutions (IS) segment is built on a commitment: to deliver innovative, reliable equipment that helps our customers…
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100% Recycled Asphalt to Slurry Seal Pavement | VSS Macropaver Preservation
In an industry often defined by incremental improvements, VSS Macropaver has taken a bold step: combining a production-grade slurry / micro surfacing paver with fully recycled asphalt (RAP) to deliver high-performance pavement preservation solutions. In a recent interview, Jeff Roberts, President of VSS International, walked me through how their Macropaver equipment works in a slurry…
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DIY vs Professional Asphalt Repair: What Really Matters
Quick Answer Fixing cracked or potholed pavement doesn’t always require a full replacement. Many homeowners start with small patches or sealants to extend the life of their surface. However, weather conditions, subgrade stability, and proper drainage play a larger role than most realize. What looks like a simple fix can mask deeper structural issues that…
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5 Ways Construction Technology is Transforming Asphalt Contracting Operations
The most successful paving contractors aren’t just skilled at laying asphalt – they’ve mastered the art of operational efficiency. While many companies rely on established manual workflows, forward-thinking firms are leveraging construction software to create competitive advantages that translate directly to their bottom line. The technology exists today to create connected workflows that span every…
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How Asphalt Contractors Can Profit by Adding Crushing Operations
For many asphalt and pavement maintenance contractors, the piles of leftover millings, broken concrete, and truck washouts that accumulate over a season are seen as waste, a problem to be dealt with, material to be hauled away somewhere. In some areas this waste even comes with its own costs associated with dumping it. But a…
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Building Connections in Construction and Asphalt at AEM
Dormie Weber laughs when she talks about her path into the construction and asphalt industries. It wasn’t a direct route, and she’s the first to admit it. “My career path hasn’t been a straight line,” Weber said. “Even dating back to my college days, I would go to school in the morning until noon and…
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Leading Women of Asphalt into a New Era of Workforce Development
The asphalt industry is known for tradition, grit, and a workforce built over generations. Yet women remain underrepresented, making up just 11% of the construction industry and often less than 2% of field roles, despite representing 47% of the overall U.S. workforce. Recognizing the gap, Women of Asphalt was founded in 2018 with a mission…