Portable Plants traveled to San Antonio for the Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association’s (TACA) 72nd Annual Meeting. The event drew more than 600 attendees, a show record. At the start of the meeting, TACA president and CEO Andrew Pinkerton (pictured) delivered opening remarks to attendees. For more on TACA’s latest annual meeting, see here.
In addition to setting an attendance record, TACA’s Annual Meeting drew a record number of exhibiting companies (26). Among the companies that exhibited at TACA’s Annual Meeting was Harahan, Louisiana-based Michelli Weighing & Measurement. In attendance for the company were Charles Magee, central area vice president (left), and Jon Wells, heavy capacity project manager. Michelli was one of several new member companies and first-time exhibitors that made their TACA Annual Meeting debut this year.
Another company in attendance at the Texas meeting was ASGCO. Representing the company were Richard Bolvin, Texas service manager (left), and Carl Cox, south central territory manager.
Portable Plants also ran into Flexco at the show. Representing the company were Casey Sinunu, Gulf region territory manager (left), and Natasha Denisova, strategic account manager.
Outgoing TACA chairman Rich Szecsy addressed attendees at the association’s Annual Meeting. Szecsy, who serves as CEO of Big Town Concrete in Dallas, was named association chairman during TACA’s 2025 Annual Meeting. Taking over for Szecsy at the conclusion of this year’s meeting was Matt Arnold, vice president of operations at Knife River Corp.
Portable Plants also took a trip out to Elma, New York, for an open day event hosted by Anaconda Equipment at Baschmann Services. Dozens of Anaconda employees were on hand for the event, including Alistair Forsyth, group president and managing director at Anaconda (second from left); Sean McLanahan, CEO of Anaconda’s parent company, McLanahan (third from left); and Ethan Weyant, business development manager at Anaconda (far right). Also in attendance was Mark Krause (far left). Krause retired in July after 12 years with McLanahan and, prior to his retirement, served as the company’s vice president.
Baschmann Services, Anaconda’s first U.S. dealer, also had several company representatives in attendance. Pictured from Baschmann are (from left): Mark Peters, sales manager; Zach Manz, president; Jeremy Rauf, sales manager; and Dan Flannery. For more from Anaconda and Baschmann’s open day, as well as details about Anaconda’s I14R mobile crusher that was demoed at the event, see here.
This summer’s Hillhead drew thousands of visitors to the UK for three days, as more than 620 exhibitors participated in the show in Buxton, England. Hillhead, which takes place at a former active quarry, included a series of demonstrations of mobile crushing and screening equipment.
Among the exhibiting companies was McLanahan, which showcased its new Discovery wash plant alongside the ProPOD vibrating screen drive. McLanahan team members (pictured) joined those from Anaconda Equipment and RubbleCrusher in a shared Hillhead exhibit space.
During a Hillhead press conference, McLanahan’s Cory Jenson welcomed members of the media to the company’s booth. Jenson, who serves as McLanahan’s executive vice president of sales and business development, provided an overview of the company’s growth in recent years and its recent innovations.
Magna, a Terex brand, also had a presence at the show, with business line director Neil McIlwaine among those on hand. Magna, which debuted at Hillhead in 2024, displayed two machines this time around: the MT6S heavy-duty scalping screen and the MT400C cone crushing plant.
CheckProof was yet another Hillhead exhibitor, showcasing its latest safety innovations – including Safety Alerts and AI Checklist Builder. CheckProof’s Richard Ware (left) and Tom O’Boyle demonstrated the new technology while operating a remote-control excavator in their booth.
Related: Texas growth drives demand for aggregates and construction