Continuing a 60 year span of supporting the area's road and highway industry, Swanston Equipment hosted its biennial asphalt paving seminar in Fargo, N.D., on March 20 at the Civic Auditorium. Registration included more than 250 individuals from the asphalt paving industry.
Keynote speaker Paul Diederich, 2013 president of the National Associated General Contractors Association and president of Industrial Builders Corporation, started the event, focusing on the state of the national highway industry. He encouraged participants to talk to their co-workers as well as to their congressmen and women about the issues that are affecting their companies and jobs.
Other guest speakers were Ken Swedeen (Dakota Asphalt Pavement Association), Larry Spring (Volvo and Blaw Knox), Ben Thielbar (Cimline), Dean Krueger (Etnyre) and Bill Wright (Carlson). Bill Wright spoke about asphalt paving joints, and Larry Spring spoke on the art of paving and compaction. Dean Kruger spoke on asphalt and emulsion product applications. Gary Motak spoke on controls and compaction monitoring systems.
On hand were several additional factory representatives including Donn Etnyre (Etnyre), John Sunkenberg and Paul Balassone (Volvo), Gary Motak (Moba), Tim Krahn and Dale Brandt (Bobcat) and Chris Colwell (Carlson).
Additional topics covered were advancements in paving, compaction and best practices.
Among other types of equipment on display at the seminar were Volvo pavers and rollers, Carlson paving equipment, Broce brooms, Etnyre distributors and Bobcat skidsteers and attachments.
