As 2025 comes to a close, Drilling Deeper wraps up the year with one final episode that reflects on what shaped the aggregate industry over the past 12 months – and what’s already building momentum for 2026.

Editorial director Kevin Yanik and managing editor Jack Kopanski open the show with year-end banter before diving into Pit & Quarry’s 16 most-read stories of 2025. From major equipment launches and autonomous equipment advancements to mergers and acquisitions, this episode revisits the headlines and trends that captured the industry’s attention and defined the year.

Kevin and Jack also recap a busy fourth quarter that included a pair of state association meetings. The episode features insights from Matt Konjevich of Melvin Stone and Elliott Archibald of LJ Inc. and Supreme Manufacturing, who both share perspectives on market conditions, data center-driven demand and expectations for 2026.

The episode closes with a look ahead to the year to come – including major industry events such as ConExpo-Con/Agg and a packed first-quarter travel schedule. Kevin and Jack also outline what listeners can expect from Drilling Deeper in the new year.

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

On this episode of Drilling Deeper, P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski sits down with Daniel Friedman, vice president of marketing at Eagle Crusher, to look at how “small” innovations are quietly reshaping the crushing and screening industry. Friedman explains why core crushing principles haven’t radically changed, yet refinements in metallurgy, manufacturing and wear parts are delivering meaningful gains in production, uptime and total cost of ownership.

The conversation explores the industry’s gradual move from purely preventive to increasingly predictive maintenance, including how sensors, telematics and smarter algorithms help operators spot vibration and throughput issues before they become failures. Friedman also unpacks the pros and cons of consolidation among producers, manufacturers and emerging “mega dealers,” from better parts access to the loss of long-standing local relationships.

Finally, Friedman highlights Eagle Crusher’s latest update to its Ultramax 1400-OC plant and the launch of the new Talon tracked line, which includes lighter open-rotor impactors, dual-power track plants and tracked stackers designed to meet changing job site needs while preserving the company’s manufacturing roots. He closes by previewing what attendees can expect to see from Eagle Crusher at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2026 in Las Vegas.

You won’t want to miss this episode. Listen now!

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

Episode 55 of Drilling Deeper celebrates the arrival of the reimagined Pit & Quarry University – an expansive learning resource designed to guide newcomers and seasoned professionals alike through the fundamentals of stone, sand and gravel production.

The new Pit & Quarry University is now available at pitandquarry.com/pqu, marking the first full update to the classic Pit & Quarry Handbook since 2014. With workforce development and training more critical than ever in aggregates, the 2025 edition arrives at a pivotal moment for aggregate producers.

P&Q editorial director Kevin Yanik shares some history behind the legacy handbook in this episode, offering a behind-the-scenes view into how the 2025 edition ultimately came together. And to bring Pit & Quarry University content to life more fully, the show is joined by a special guest: Anthony Konya, CEO of Intercontinental Development, Konya Mining Company and DetX.

Konya, a globally recognized explosives engineer and mining leader, lends his deep experience across surface and underground operations to help unpack some of the most critical concepts in drilling and blasting. Konya tackles the “first transformative act” in quarrying, explaining why a blast sets the tone for everything that follows downstream. He explains how a well-designed shot can elevate production and equipment life, breaking down common fragmentation misconceptions while detailing how digital modeling, drones and modern QA/QC practices are reshaping evaluation and execution in the field.

Additionally, Konya shares lessons learned from real-world blasting challenges and offers advice for the next generation of drillers and blasters entering the industry.

Whether you're an experienced operator or new to aggregates, this episode – and the debut of the new Pit & Quarry University – offers a timely, in-depth guide to doing quarrying work safer, smarter and more efficiently than ever.

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski break down 20 trends shaping the aggregate industry this year. With the new year approaching, Kevin and Jack step back from the daily headlines to look at the bigger picture influencing producers nationwide.

They open with market and economic themes – including steady-yet-slightly lower aggregate volumes and the continued shift toward value over volume. Kevin and Jack touch on potential funding uncertainty coming in 2026, as well as what’s transpiring in the mixed residential and nonresidential construction markets.

Technology and equipment trends take center stage, as well, with the discussion covering fast-moving developments in automation, AI, autonomous hauling, modular plant design, and stabilizing equipment supply chains.

Operational and workforce trends round out the conversation, with Kevin and Jack exploring permitting challenges, reserve pressures, transportation shifts, labor shortages and the industry’s ongoing push for stronger safety outcomes.

The episode closes with major 2025 headlines – from leadership changes to a major autonomous equipment milestone – plus a look ahead to upcoming shows.

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

On this episode of "Drilling Deeper," Pit & Quarry managing editor Jack Kopanski shares interviews from his recent travels to Vermillion, South Dakota, and a pair of stops in Missouri.

In South Dakota, Jack stopped by the grand opening of Masaba's new steel fabrication facility. The 147,500-sq.-ft. building includes both fabrication and office spaces and is adjacent to the company's 211,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility. Masaba president Mike Krajewski talked with Jack during the event about the grand opening, how 2025 has been for Masaba and what the company is expecting in 2026.

Also from the Masaba grand opening, Jack spoke with Bob Meyers with US Equipment Sales & Rentals, Kirby Cline with Masaba and Jared Riley with ICM Solutions. Along with Kirby, the pair of dealers talk about the current state of the aggregate industry and what might happen in 2026.

From there, Jack traveled to Ozark, Missouri, to visit Capital Aggregates' Ozark Quarry. The quarry recently launched full production with a new crushing spread and a new asphalt plant. On site, Jack was joined by Chris Williams, vice president of operations at Capital Aggregates, who talked about what went into getting the quarry up and running. Additionally, Williams offers insights into the company's 2025 performance and what the coming year has in store.

Finally, about two hours north, Jack stopped by another Capital Aggregates operation in California, Missouri. At the California Quarry, the company showed off a Metso mobile setup that has been running strong for more than 20 years. Kevin Nichols, safety director at the quarry, talked about what pieces the company has running, how to keep equipment efficient for so long and more.

Interviews:

Mike Krajewski: 4:44 – 9:47

Bob Meyers: 14:04 – 15:56

Kirby Cline: 15:57 – 18:11

Jared Riley: 18:12 – 20:02

Chris Williams: 25:46 – 29:06

Kevin Nichols: 33:38 – 38:08

You won't want to miss this jam-packed episode of "Drilling Deeper." Listen now!

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

Two equipment dealers join the show to break down what’s happening in the aggregate industry right now – and where things are headed in 2026.

P&Q welcomes Gavin Cole, executive vice president of sales at Kirby-Smith Machinery, and Robert Krutsinger, vice president of sales at Brandeis Machinery, for dealer perspective on market conditions, technology trends and the ripple effects of tariffs.

Listeners will hear:

• How producers and dealers are navigating 2025

• Where equipment and technology adoption – including autonomy and data-driven decision-making – is accelerating

• Why tariffs on steel, manganese and other inputs are reshaping pricing, supply chains and buying behavior

• Expectations for 2026 in key markets

Additionally, co-hosts Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski offer industry updates, insights from recent travels and a look ahead at what’s to come for the magazine and the podcast.

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

In Episode 51 of Drilling Deeper, Pit & Quarry’s Kevin Yanik takes listeners to the Pacific Northwest for a closer look at three producers shaping the region’s aggregate market. From Oregon to Washington, Kevin visits Allied Rock, Knife River and Washington Rock Quarries to capture fresh perspectives on operations, technology, workforce development and market trends.

At Allied Rock, Andrew Siegmund discusses how the company continues to grow through strategic acquisitions and forward-thinking investments in automation. From the X-Rock and South Rock quarries in Oregon, Siegmund shares how Allied is navigating interest rate pressures, infrastructure funding challenges and the integration of AI-driven equipment to boost efficiency.

The episode then moves to Albany, Oregon, for an inside look at the Knife River Training Center – a 230-acre campus redefining workforce development for the construction materials industry. Knife River’s Kris Latimer details how the facility’s massive indoor arena, simulation zones and advanced classrooms are preparing the next generation of operators for real-world jobsite conditions.

Finally, listeners head north to Washington Rock Quarries, where Jonathan Hart reflects on the company’s 35-year history, its role in serving major Pacific Northwest markets, and the optimism he sees for the region’s construction outlook. It’s a jam-packed episode offering a boots-on-the-ground perspective from some of the industry’s most forward-focused producers.

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

On this episode of Drilling Deeper, P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski sits down with Elliott Tribble, director of aggregate at General Kinematics, to explore the evolving landscape of aggregate production and the technology reshaping it today.

Tribble shares his boots-on-the-ground perspective on matching screen design to site-specific needs, meeting increasingly tight customer specifications and tackling sticky material and throughput challenges with tailored solutions. Hear first-hand accounts of how General Kinematics collaborates with producers to optimize performance, including success stories where plant efficiency and uptime were dramatically improved through application-specific equipment and tuning.

Listeners will get an insider’s look at the company’s commitment to supporting producers with a blend of engineering know-how and hands-on service that sets them apart. Tribble highlights how vibration monitoring and predictive maintenance are changing plant management, and previews General Kinematics’ plans for ConExpo-Con/Agg 2026.

There’s plenty more to hear in this episode. Listen now!

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.