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Tie Graders Learn, Compete & Excel at 2018 2018 SPECIAL CONFERENCE @RTAHQ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 For Live SHOWCASE Twitter Updates ISSUE #RTA100th THE MAGAZINE FOR PRODUCERS & USERS OF TREATED WOOD CROSSTIES & RELATED PRODUCTS SPECIAL REPORTS: Tie Graders Learn, Compete Industry Updates, Plant News & Excel At 2018 Seminar & More Market Outlook: Tie Forecast For 2018 & Beyond Annual RTA Conference: Presenters, Award Winners & More Be In The Know With Conference App: Focus On Sawmills & Safety Monthly Tie Trends & Insights From The Field RTA's Tie Grading Seminar winners include Eric Baughman of Stella Jones, left; Sean Woody of Norfolk Southern, top left; and Johnny Allison of Koppers Inc., above right. CROSSTIES TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS WE DELIVER THE QUALITY YOU EXPECT... EVERY TIME Accurate, Measurable and Repeatable Preservative Retention Levels Our patented Tru-Core® dual pressure treatment process ensures that the retention levels of Borate and Creosote Petroleum Solution that you specify for your crossties, are achieved and verifiable. Koppers delivers quality you can rely on for every decay zone. Koppers Benefits n Nine strategically located treatment facilities in North America n Creosote Petroleum Solution (CPS) pressure treated ties or patented Tru-Core®1 dual treated Borate and CPS ties for extended life in the harshest decay zones n U.S. Treatment plants are AAR M-1003, ISO 14001 and RC14001 certified BUILDING GREAT LINES FROM THE GROUND UP.™ www.koppers.com 1-888-567-8437 1 Tru-Core® is manufactured under license from Kop-Coat Inc. 2 CROSSTIES • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 Koppers-Crossties-Ad-1.18 final.indd 1 1/12/18 11:24 AM CONTENTS Volume 99, Number 4 • September/October 2018 On The Cover: Pg. 14 Participants in RTA’s Annual Tie Grading Seminar took a “hands-on” approach during the intensive three-day event. Hosted by Koppers Inc., the seminar was held in Peoria, Ill., Published jointly by: CROSSTIES and at the Koppers plant in Galesburg, Ill. See a play-by-play Covey Communications Corp. photo description of the event starting on page 14. P. O. Box 2267 Gulf Shores, AL 36547 (251) 968-5300 • FAX (251) 968-4532 TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS & The Railway Tie Association 115 Commerce Dr., Ste. C Fayetteville, GA 30214 (770) 460-5553 • FAX (770) 460-5573 SPECIAL REPORTS www.rta.org • [email protected] WE DELIVER THE QUALITY Railway Supply Institute Study Showcases Power Of Rail Industry Products 6 RTA was among several industry associations that partnered on a study quantifying the economic and workforce impact of the products and services produced by the J. Talty O’Connor YOU EXPECT... EVERY TIME railway supply industry. Publisher • Safety Minute: iPhone Users, How To Say 'No' To Distracted Driving Kristen S. McIntosh 8 In a new Crossties column called “Safety Minute,” we learn how to enable the Editor Do Not Disturb function on iPhones. • Market Outlook For Ties For 2018 & Beyond Tanya Hughes 10 RTA’s exclusive tie demand survey, coupled with data from AAR and ASLRRA, Graphic Designer explains the demand expectations for wood ties this year and into the future. • Stephanie Eckman Sawmill Focus Advertising Traffic Coordinator Accurate, Measurable and Repeatable 19 See hardwood procurement trends as reported by RTA members in the field. Also, learn more about the meetings held on Capitol Hill by representatives of the Hardwood Federation. Talks focused primarily on trade and the Farm Bill. Railway Tie Association Preservative Retention Levels Executive Committee Our patented Tru-Core® dual pressure treatment process CONFERENCE SHOWCASE PRESIDENT Timothy R. Ries ensures that the retention levels of Borate and Creosote Learn More About RTA Conference Presenters Koppers Inc. Petroleum Solution that you specify for your crossties, are 20 A field of outstanding industry experts has been lined up to make presentations during • the Annual RTA Technical Conference & Symposium. Here’s a sneak peek. VICE PRESIDENT achieved and verifiable. Koppers delivers quality you can rely William L. Behan RTA Award Winners To Be Honored At Convention Gross & Janes Co. on for every decay zone. 22 Four wood tie industry veterans have been named RTA’s annual award winners for • 2018. Learn more about those who will be honored at the convention for their contri- David A. Koch II butions to the industry. Wheeler Lumber • Deserving Students To Receive RTA Scholarships Kenneth E. Dailey Koppers Benefits 24 Three students have been selected as winners of RTA’s John Mabry Forestry Stella-Jones Corp. Scholarships. Get to know each of the students and their aspirations for working in the • n forest products industry. Richard A. Gibson Nine strategically located treatment facilities in Appalachian Timber Services North America Conference Play-By-Play • 26 Refer to this agenda to see the details of the upcoming RTA Symposium & Technical Frank (Skipper) S. Beal. n Creosote Petroleum Solution (CPS) pressure treated Beal Lumber Co., Inc. ®1 Conference. You’ll see who is scheduled to speak at what time and learn more about ties or patented Tru-Core dual treated Borate and the networking opportunities and fun activities for guests. • CPS ties for extended life in the harshest decay zones Kristine N. Storm Genesee & Wyoming n U.S. Treatment plants are AAR M-1003, • ISO 14001 and RC14001 certified Regular Departments Kevin D. Hicks News Scope ............................ 4 Tie Trends......................28 Union Pacific Railroad • Sawmill Focus ...................... 19 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR James C. Gauntt • BUILDING GREAT LINES FROM THE GROUND UP.™ ADMINISTRATOR CROSSTIES (ISSN S0097-4536) (USPS# 949600) is published bi-monthly (six times per year) by Covey Commu ni ca tions Corp. in association Deborah L. Corallo with the Railway Tie Association (RTA). All rights reserved. Neither RTA nor Covey Communications Corp. assume any re spon si bil i ty for state- • ments made or opinions expressed by members or others in articles appearing in this publication. CROSSTIES readers include all active members WEBSITE & COMMITTEE COORDINATOR www.koppers.com of RTA plus other individuals and institutions interested in the treated wood crosstie and related industries. Individual subscriptions are available for $35 per year. Subscriptions, advertising rates and other data can be obtained by writing or calling Covey Commu ni ca tions Corp., P. O. Box 2267, Barbara L. Stacey 1-888-567-8437 Gulf Shores, AL 36547, (251) 968-5300. Information on membership in RTA is available by contacting the Railway Tie Association, 115 Commerce Dr., Ste. C, Fayetteville, GA 30214, (770) 460-5553. Periodical Postage paid at Gulf Shores, AL and other entry locations. Copyright 2018. 1 Tru-Core® is manufactured under license from Kop-Coat Inc. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address form #3579 to the Railway Tie Association, 115 Commerce Dr., Ste. C, Fayetteville, GA 30214. CROSSTIES • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 3 Koppers-Crossties-Ad-1.18 final.indd 1 1/12/18 11:24 AM XXXINDUSTRY NEWS virtual reality, collaborative robotics, addi- In his new role, Lish will develop and NEWS Scope tive manufacturing, current workforce digi- employ capital projects and initiatives tal readiness, cybersecurity, M4.0 cultures while delivering operational excellence in a and organizational models. socially responsible and ethical manner. Industry in “This acquisition adds another strong portfolio of services to the association,” said NC Awards Short Line RR Grants the Spotlight NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. RALEIGH , N.C.—Fourteen short line rail- “It complements our existing Leading Edge roads will soon be making improvements to NAM Acquires Manufacturing thought leadership programming that you their infrastructure thanks to approximately Leadership Council have come to know—and it will create more $7 million in matching grant funds being The National Association of Manufacturers value not only for our members but also awarded as part of the N.C. Department of (NAM) announced the successful acqui- partner organizations and for their members Transportation’s Short Line Improvement sition of the Manufacturing Leadership as well.” Program. Council (MLC), which provides industry- “We look forward to seeing the positive leading best practices, data and insights on Koppers’ Steve Lish Takes impact these grant funds have on North Manufacturing 4.0 (M4.0). On New Role Carolina’s short line rail infrastructure, Across the country, manufacturing profes- PITTSUBURGH—Koppers Inc. has which plays a key role in our economy,” sionals from operations, plant management, appointed Steve Lish as vice president, said Julie White, NCDOT Deputy Secretary supply chain and information technology Recovery Services for M.A. Energy for Multimodal Transportation. “These fields turn to the MLC for real-world knowl- Resources (MAER) business group of improvements not only spur economic edge via their peers, in-depth factory tours, Koppers Railroad Products and Services. development, but also enhance the safety an annual three-day conference, webinars, a Lish joined Koppers in 1989 and has held and reliability of rail operations across the bimonthly journal, case studies and exclu- various leadership roles in operations within state.” sive survey research on subject matters such both the Railroad Products and Services and The Short Line Improvement Program as advanced analytics and artificial intel- Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC) supports short line rail infrastructure health ligence, predictive maintenance, augmented/ business units. and performance throughout the state, enabling
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