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.

The next ConExpo-Con/Agg is less than six months away, and equipment manufacturers have their show plans in motion. A late-summer meeting in Chicago brought ConExpo-Con/Agg manufacturers and others together to capture the latest exhibiting best practices – and P&Q’s Jack Kopanski was there to capture the energy and perspective.

In this episode, Jack visits with seven guests – including Megan Tanel (Association of Equipment Manufacturers), Jen Dugas (National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association), Kerri Green (Purple Wave Auctions), Anna Semonco (Conn-Weld Industries), Daniel Friedman (Eagle Crusher), Mary Erholtz (Superior Industries) and Matt Graves (Wirtgen Group/Kleemann). P&Q’s guests share their excitement for ConExpo-Con/Agg 2026, teasing their show plans while touching on the health of the industry leading up to the March 3-7 trade show.

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," Travis Chewning, vice president of engineering and operational support at Luck Stone, and Dr. Erik Westman, professor of mining and materials engineering at Virginia Tech, join the show to discuss the "Built for the Mine" program.

In their conversation with P&Q editor-in-chief Kevin Yanik, Chewning and Westman spotlight how the "Built for the Mine" program – a collaboration between Luck Stone and Virginia Tech – is preparing the next generation of mining and aggregate professionals.

This episode explores how the program’s inaugural forum united producers, vendors, academics and students to discuss fast-evolving technologies like automation, AI, precision drilling and autonomous hauling, as well as how these advances are reshaping the industry’s future. Chewning and Westman share how workforce development, hands-on learning and modern curriculum are crucial to meeting industry needs. They also share how the forum sparked new ideas, inspired students and provided actionable insights.

The conversation highlights the importance of industry partnerships, the growing influence of aggregates in mining education and the program’s role in expanding career paths for students nationwide.

You won't want to miss this episode of "Drilling Deeper." Listen to it 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.

In this episode of Drilling Deeper, Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski team up for a deep dive into the nation’s No. 1 aggregate–producing state: Texas.

Their guest, Rich Szecsy, CEO of Big Town Concrete and chair of the Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association, offers an inside look at the unprecedented growth fueling demand for construction materials across the Lone Star State.

Szecsy explains how Texas’s surging population, robust infrastructure investment and business-friendly climate are creating incredible opportunities and unique challenges for producers. The conversation covers everything from sustainably meeting skyrocketing demand to navigating regulation, workforce development and technology adoption – including automation, AI and digitalization.

With firsthand insight from one of the industry’s most respected voices, this episode captures why Texas is setting the pace for aggregates and concrete production nationwide, and how producers can keep up in one of the fastest-growing construction markets in the world.

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Thank you to our show sponsor, Kemper Equipment.

EastRock Solutions is now part of the Kemper Group – and together, they’re raising the bar on parts availability, equipment solutions and turnkey plant design. From the pit to the stockpile, Kemper Group has got your operation covered.

To learn more, visit kemperequipment.com or call (610)-273-2066.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

Steve Fuller, founder of the Steve Fuller Company, joins this episode of Drilling Deeper. Fuller’s company focuses on helping organizations continually improve their safety culture through coaching, advising, mentoring and training.

In this episode, Fuller zeroes in on safety within the aggregate industry. He draws from more than 20 years of experience in safety and operational leadership roles, and shares his approach to safety consulting. Fuller touches on the importance of building relationships, how to address high turnover and seasonality, and tailoring safety messages to the realities on job sites.

Additionally, Fuller provides insight into fatigue management, heat stress and the broader evolution of safety from a priority to a foundational value in aggregates and beyond. He offers practical advice for contractors, supervisors and company leaders on motivating teams, assessing safety culture and implementing core safety fundamentals to ensure everyone goes home safely every day.

If you want more from Fuller, check out his monthly safety column “Going Home Safely, Every Day” in Pit & Quarry and on pitandquarry.com.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you to our show sponsor, Kemper Equipment.

EastRock Solutions is now part of the Kemper Group – and together, they’re raising the bar on parts availability, equipment solutions and turnkey plant design. From the pit to the stockpile, Kemper Group has got your operation covered.

To learn more, visit kemperequipment.com or call (610)-273-2066.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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.