Asphalt industry news from around the globe.

France

The company is based in Kohler, Wisconsin, but Kohler Power System unveiled an all-new range of large diesel industrial generators at a global launch event in Strasbourg, France. The KD Series includes generator sets between 800 kVA and 4,200 kVA, and they’re available globally.

India

India was predicted to import 1 million tons of bitumen in 2016, the majority of that from the UAE and Iran, even though monsoon season negatively impacted demand for a couple months. For example, imports were down 70 percent during the month of July 2016, and the country’s exports were up 130 percent during the month of August while imports waned. Watch for the first Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) Bitumen Conference to be jointly organized by Petrosil’s Bitumart and Rex Fuels in Mumbai this July 12 through 13. Source: Petrosil Media’s India Bitumen Annual Report

New Zealand

Naughty parrots have been moving traffic cones in New Zealand. According to the NZ Transport Agency’s Milford Alliance team, kea have been moving the cones stored at the Homer Tunnel, which is the entrance to Milford Sound. Kea Conservation Trust Chair Tasmin Orr-Walker thinks the kea might be trying to get tourists to bring them food. Source: www.stuff.co.nz

Russia

According to Petrosil Media’s Bitumart, Russian firms joined to sign an MOU to start a polymer bitumen production plant in India in fourth quarter 2016.

Scotland

Pro-Sapien Software Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland, has launched a new resource to help oil, gas and energy companies streamline their safety processes. The download advises senior leaders and safety professionals how to use information-driven decisions to protect employees. Visit https://goo.gl/0ytTV0

Sweden

The Swedish Institute for Quality’s (SIQ) 2016 Quality Innovation of the Year Award in the Potential Innovations category went to Volvo Construction Equipment for its HX1 prototype, autonomous, battery-electric, load carrier. The futuristic machine is one element of a present-day electric site research project.

United States

Your AsphaltPro magazine staff members are headquartered in Missouri, but share news from all over North America. We welcome you to join us on the web at www.TheAsphaltPro.com. Like us at https://www.facebook.com/AsphaltPro. Ask our editor sandy@theasphaltpro.com how to join the Sharing Asphalt Group on Facebook to help promote your asphalt business.

Alabama

Get your registration in for the Alabama Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA) 27^th annual asphalt paving conference, March 22 through 23, 2017, at the Birmingham Marriott, Birmingham, Alabama.

Arkansas

Sign up for the Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association’s annual convention, to be held March 15 through 17 in Branson, Missouri. Visit www.arasphalt.com for information.

California

Plan ahead to attend the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists annual meeting March 19 through 22, 2017, in Newport Beach, California.

Colorado

The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association has awarded CAPA/APWA Asphalt Scholarships to seven members of industry who will receive a tuition waiver and travel/lodging stipend of $1,200 each to attend the NCAT Asphalt Technology Short Course at Auburn University Feb. 20 through 24, 2017. Congratulations to the recipients.

Indiana

Kirsten Pauley, P.E., has been named technical director for the Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana (APAI). Pauley is a 2001 graduate of Purdue University and has experience in civil/site design, aviation design, utility design and pavement design.

Iowa

The 2017 Greater Iowa Asphalt Conference & Equipment Expo will be held at the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn Conference Center March 1 through 3. You may want to plan your visits to exhibitors’ stands ahead of time to ensure you get to ask your questions of them; APAI had a record attendance at its 61^st Annual Convention Dec. 1 through 3, 2016. At the Quality Paving Awards luncheon, staff announced APAI members had funded over $32,000 in scholarships for Iowa engineering students. An auction during the Presidential Banquet raised over $27,000 for the APAI Scholarship Fund.

Missouri

AsphaltPro magazine, headquartered in Missouri, will soon launch a comprehensive online training course designed to equip each member of your paving crew with the knowledge he or she needs to succeed. By taking the course in the comfort of your office, crew members will learn specific job responsibilities, tips for staying safe on the job site, how to maintain key equipment properly, how to prepare for paving the perfect mat, how to build the takeoff ramp, how to determine fluff factor and yield, and additional elements for top quality paving. Visit www.theasphaltpro.com for more information.

Ohio

• What are you doing after CONEXPO-CON/AGG? There’s no time for rest! Get registered for the 2017 Ohio Asphalt Expo March 14 through 15 at the Columbus/Polaris Hilton Hotel in Columbus. There’s information at flexiblepavements.org/calendar.
• Auctioneers of heavy construction equipment, Yoder & Frey of Holland, Ohio, have merged with Euro Auctions of Dromore Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

Rhode Island

VIBCO Inc. shared that co-founder Aina E. Wadensten of Charlestown, Rhode Island, passed away Dec. 1, 2016, at the age of 84. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Theodore “Ted” Wadensten, with whom she immigrated to the United States from Sweden with the dream of building a company. They founded VIBCO in their backyard in 1962.

Utah

Add the 2017 Utah Asphalt Conference to your calendar for Feb. 22 through 23 at the South Towne Expo Center. Visit www.utahasphalt.org/UAPA-Events for details.