Education sessions with an aggregate focus at ConExpo

While the exhibits at ConExpo-Con/Agg are always a huge draw, North America’s largest construction trade show regularly offers a wealth of education opportunities to those who attend.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which hosts ConExpo-Con/Agg every three years, says the education track it offers is one of the biggest reasons business owners value the show. For when it comes to building a business and its respective teams, empowering people with knowledge that helps them do their job contributes to building the leaders of tomorrow.

“The biggest value in making the trip to Vegas to come to ConExpo-Con/Agg is learning, and I don’t mean just learning about the latest and greatest equipment on display,” says Dana Wuesthoff, show director of ConExpo-Con/Agg. “The education offerings at ConExpo-Con/Agg have always stood out for their focus on helping construction professionals build both their skillsets and their overall businesses acumen.”

According to AEM, about 150 education sessions are planned for the March 14-18 trade show. A handful of those are geared specifically toward aggregates. Here’s a glimpse at 12 sessions in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall that aggregate producers should find of interest.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 14

How to produce sand with low or no water

Time: 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Location: West Hall 207
Speakers: John Bennington, Superior Industries; David McCracken, Astec
About the session: Smart water management in aggregate operations is crucial to maintain efficiency and a site’s sustainability. Not only is water management subject to regulation, but water shortages can cause production slowdowns in many areas. In this session, the speakers will explore how operators produce sand while using less water than traditional methods – or no water at all. The processes to be covered include air classification, high-frequency screening and wet fines recovery.

Crushing 101

Time: 10:45-11:45 a.m.
Location: West Hall 219-221
Speaker: Mark Krause, McLanahan Corp.
About the session: This session will provide an overview of crushing. Learn about the different types of primary and secondary crushers, the pros and cons associated with each, what site conditions to consider when choosing crushers, and how to optimize the process given a particular crusher. Topics to be covered include the features and benefits of each crusher type, plus their expected production capabilities; end products; and factors affecting efficiency. By the end of the session, attendees should understand the effect of speed, stroke and angle for the various types of crushers.

Optimizing aggregate plants with simple models

Time: 1-2 p.m.
Location: West Hall 207
Speaker: Mark Horton, Pete Lien & Sons
About the session: Aggregate production is a system of tradeoffs. With yearly swings in sales demand by product gradation, how do you optimize your plant? This presentation explores simple and available aggregate modeling tools and optimization strategies based on resource availability, sales, and production and inventory constraints. The session is intended to get producers to think holistically about their operation and to highlight the potential pitfalls of chasing short-term production optimization strategies. Attendees will learn how to use AggFlow information combined with simple spreadsheet models to analyze the effects of plant changes to KPIs, including runtime, throughput, quality, yield and cost.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

The top five screening issues every producer faces

Time: 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Location: West Hall 219-221
Speaker: Alex Caruana, Polydeck
About the session: Screening can nearly go unnoticed on an aggregate site when all is running well. When things do not go so well, though, the critical nature of this part of the processing circuit suddenly makes itself very clear. In this presentation, industry experts blend theory and practical experience and tackle some of the most common screening problems. Case studies and pro tips will be presented to guide attendees in tackling their own screening issues in the field. Attendees will gain a cohesive understanding of the relationships between mechanical operations, media issues and the application of water when wet processing.

Predictive maintenance: Plan the work and work the plan

Time: 10:45-11:45 a.m.
Location: West Hall 203-205
Speakers: Neil Hise, Cemco; Ted Powell, Rogers Group; Travis Vliem, Flexco
About the session: Maintenance costs typically account for 20 to 25 percent of an operation’s total production costs, but a preventive maintenance plan and a proactive approach for routine services can help reduce those and improve efficiencies. What if operators had the technology to provide predictive maintenance, allowing them to schedule repairs prior to experiencing a failure or breakdown? In this session, attendees will hear how implementing predictive maintenance practices can help them gain efficiencies and improve costs, using the data they have today to predict their maintenance needs tomorrow.

Washing and classifying 101

Time: 1-2 p.m.
Location: West Hall 219-221
Speaker: John Bennington, Superior Industries
About the session: As quarries progress into their reserves, operations are processing material with a higher level of clay and silt. While some materials may require only rinsing, others require scrubbing to remove clay and other deleterious materials. Attend this session to gain a comprehensive overview of aggregate washing techniques, maintenance routines, classifying tanks, screws versus screens, troubleshooting common washing problems, and the consequences of wrong-sized equipment.

Producer roundtable: Real live automation and technology usage

Time: 2:30-3:15 p.m.
Location: West Hall 207
Speakers: TBD
About the session: Automation and technology solutions are available for nearly every aspect of an aggregate business – from the back office to the pit and plant. How do operators determine what’s necessary and what isn’t to make their operation safer, more efficient and more profitable? In this roundtable, aggregate producers will share their real-world experiences implementing technology and automation in their operations. They’ll discuss existing and emerging solutions such as robot process automation for back-office processes, operational technology, remote plant operation versus completely autonomous plant operation and more.

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