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.