Drilling Deeper: A Pit & Quarry podcast

Eric Gaus, chief economist of Dodge Construction Network, joins the show to give an update on the economy and the construction industry midway through 2025, as well as a look ahead to the second half of the year. Gaus offers insights into the economy as a whole, including the impact headwinds such as tariffs and interest rates have had, how the construction industry has fared through the first six...

In the latest episode of Drilling Deeper , hosts Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski shine a spotlight on one of Pit & Quarry ’s most anticipated magazine editions of the year: The Dealer Issue. Now in its seventh year, P&Q’s Dealer Issue explores the vital role equipment dealers play across the aggregate industry’s supply chain. Kevin and Jack dive into this year’s four dealer-centric stories,...

On this episode of “Drilling Deeper,” P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski is joined by VDG’s Matt Lepp. The duo take a deep dive into the current state of the market and the challenges facing the industry today, as well as VDG’s experiences navigating the economic landscape so far in 2025. Lepp, technical account sales manager for the heavy industry at VDG, offers a look at the broader economic...

Rob Duke, founder of Armada Materials, joins the show to discuss the origins and growth of his rapidly emerging company. Launched through the 2023 acquisition of Volunteer Materials in Tennessee, Armada has since completed a couple of smaller deals as it builds out its platform in the aggregates industry. Duke pulls back the curtain this episode on Armada’s merger and acquisition activity, offerin...

On this episode of “Drilling Deeper,” PPI’s Allen Mathes joins P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski to provide insights into the latest developments in the pulley market, the basics of wing pulley use and the history of PPI’s pulley designs.  Mathes, a sales manager at PPI, kicks off the conversation by diving into the “when” and “why” of wing pulley use. He explains the benefits wing pulleys pro...

John Scepaniak, director of aggregate operations at WD Scepaniak, joins the show to discuss the nature of the contract crushing business and how his company is adapting in 2025 to meet the demands of the market.   Scepaniak also shares how WD Scepaniak is venturing to new parts of the U.S. outside of its home state of Minnesota, and he details his personal approach to recruiting and building up th...

On this episode of “Drilling Deeper,” Peter Brewitt and Magnus Skörvald with Weir sit down with P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski to discuss the company’s latest offerings and provide an update on the North American sand and aggregate market.  Brewitt, global product manager of sand and washing at Weir, and Skörvald, the company’s global product owner for crushers, offer their insights on how...

Pit & Quarry caught up with an assortment of industry leaders at AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo, including Capital Aggregates’ Jamie Jones, Wm. D. Scepaniak’s John Scepaniak, Rogers Group’s Thabiso Bolebano, Machinery Partner’s Clement Cazalot, Philippi-Hagenbuch’s Josh Swank, Major’s Ian Edwards, Wingfield Scale’s Dan Caine and Dodge Industrial’s Nick Roseto. This episode’s guests reflect...

 In this episode of “Drilling Deeper,” managing editor Jack Kopanski is joined by Kevin Hambrice and Don Ruppert of TerraSource to discuss the company’s latest equipment and technology developments, as well as how TerraSource has continued to grow in recent years. Hambrice, CEO of TerraSource, kicks off the interview by discussing the role legacy brands under the TerraSource umbrella (Gundlach Cru...

Nick Pearman, senior director of operations service and support at Rogers Group, joins the show to explore a variety of equipment and technology topics.   Pearman dives into autonomous hauling and what Rogers Group is watching on this front. He also discusses industrywide AI opportunities, trends like digitalization and electrification, and how underground mine technology is a space the company is...

In this episode of "Drilling Deeper," three members of the Buffalo (formerly Buffalo Wire Works) leadership team join P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski to discuss the company's equipment and technology offerings, plans for AGG1 and much more. Hear from Joe Abramo (chairman and CEO), Max Davis (president) and Christine Abramo (vice president of business development and marketing)...

Special bonus episode: Evan Bender, director of government affairs at the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), sat down with P&Q’s Kevin Yanik at the 2025 Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference to discuss the political landscape and what’s ahead for the industry as it relates to the new Trump administration and the 119th Congress.  Bender details what’s next for the Inf...

Richard Luck, who was named president of Luck Companies in November, joined the magazine early this year to discuss a variety of topics pertaining to his company. Luck shares his experience growing up in the family business while detailing the yearslong efforts that prepared him for his new role. Luck also reflects on his short- and long-term goals for Luck Companies and how a new generation of le...

Douglas-Rulmeca president Paul Ross pays P&Q a visit to share company updates. Ross offers a behind-the-scenes view on Rulmeca's 2023 acquisition of Douglas while providing insights about maximizing conveyor performance. Additionally, hear from Ross about Douglas-Rulmeca’s new idler plant in Pell City, Alabama. Learn about the new PSV idler, how Douglas-Rulmeca aims to achieve a stronger...

Chris Williamson, assistant secretary of the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) joins the show as a special guest to look back on his two and a half years heading the agency that develops and enforces safety and health rules for all U.S. mines. With Jan. 20 being his last day at MSHA, Williamson touches on the agency’s respirable crystalline silica rule and how technology can play a ro...

The 2024 year-end episode of “Drilling Deeper” welcomes in two leaders from the aggregate industry’s producer ranks: John Sather, vice president of aggregates at Utah-based Whitaker Construction; and Cody Ladd, president and COO of Minnesota-based Kraemer Mining & Materials. Sather discusses a variety of topics during his visit, including the regulatory environment, solutions to workforce chal...

Sunrock chairman Bryan Pfohl and COO Zach Satterwhite visit with P&Q to share their company’s story. Celebrating Sunrock’s 75th anniversary in 2024, Pfohl and Satterwhite discuss the company’s shift four decades ago from New York to the Tar Heel State; the growth of the market in Raleigh, North Carolina; why Sunrock integrated vertically over the years; and what the future holds. Timestamps: B...

With 2024 nearing a close, P&Q’s Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski discuss the health of the industry at this point in time while welcoming in several equipment manufacturers as guests to share their takes on the state of the industry nationwide. Some of our guests this episode not only share insights on the state of aggregates, but they offer views of what’s happening in coal and precious metals,...

Five guests join the podcast this week to discuss what’s transpiring across the industry with digitalization, electrification and other areas. Hear from leaders at Haver & Boecker Niagara, Masaba, Montabert, Philippi-Hagenbuch and Regal Rexnord. For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver...

On the latest episode of "Drilling Deeper," Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski are joined by Bibhrajit Halder and Christian Kurasek. Halder, with Safe AI, and Kurasek, with Pronto.ai, discuss what developments are happening in the world of autonomous hauling. You won't want to miss these interviews. Listen to the latest episode of Drilling Deeper now! Timestamps: Bibhrajit Halder: 4:36 –...

On this episode of "Drilling Deeper," P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski discusses what is ahead for each construction sector for the rest of 2024 and into 2025. Jack is joined by Ken Simonson, chief economist at the Associated General Contractors of America; Richard Branch, chief economist at Dodge Construction Network; and Zack Fritz, COO of Sage Policy Group and economist at the As...

On the latest episode of "Drilling Deeper," Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski discuss what transpired at MINExpo International 2024 in Las Vegas.  The two are joined on the show floor by several guests who discuss their show experience. Hear from Christian Kurasek (Pronto.ai), Bibhrajit Halder (SafeAI), Jim Chamberlain (Philippi-Hagenbuch), Garry Baldwin (Regal Rexnord), Kirby Cline (Masaba)...

On this episode of "Drilling Deeper," P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski discusses the latest economic developments and how they are impacting construction and aggregates.  Jack is joined by Ken Simonson, chief economist at the Associated General Contractors of America; Richard Branch, chief economist at Dodge Construction Network; and Zack Fritz, COO of Sage Policy Group and economis...

LJ Inc. vice president Tracy Slieff joins P&Q on the latest episode of “Drilling Deeper,” visiting with editor-in-chief Kevin Yanik to discuss developments in dredging – including opportunities with autonomy and AI. Slieff details how automation is broadly impacting aggregate operations in 2024, laying out a vision for how technology will make producers more efficient in the years to come.  Ad...

George Reddin and Rob Mineo of FMI Capital Advisors join P&Q on the latest episode of “Drilling Deeper,” providing a 2024 midyear update on the performance of the construction materials industry – including aggregates, asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. Reddin and Mineo discuss the current state of these construction markets, reflecting on pricing trends, materials demand, the impact of weather...