Starting a construction company requires a lot of things. Usually, one of the main components is a number of years in the industry. Iowa Earth Works (IEW) Owner Joe Jensen didn’t have that. But what he lacked in experience, he made up with determination and passion.   WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/W6nymMxg9OM    He began his journey to one of central Iowa’s fastest growing contractors as a high schooler mowing lawns in his hometown of Huxley, Iowa, in the 2010s. Then, mowing lawns turned into landscaping and hardscapes while he was in college.   “I really liked running equipment, and it just kept getting bigger and bigger, and the opportunities kept coming,” recalled Jensen. “My family was very supportive of my dream and encouraged me to go for it.”   He started IEW in 2017 when the jobs — and equipment — started to get larger. Soon, small site development projects evolved into road reconstruction and other large-scal...

    Finding the right machine to fit your company’s needs is imperative to working efficiently and productively. For Precision Utilities, those machines are Komatsu PC88MR and PC138USLC compact excavators.   WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/KgPZdJqC1Ng     “We do a ton of work in the roads, and we purchased them because they have the rubber tracks,” said Owner Dan Lipe. “They are fantastic for what we do.”   Precision Utilities specializes in utility installation and repair, and a high number of its projects are emergency services. The compact footprint of the excavators allows the company to quickly get to a job and get to work in any condition.   “We’re not moving hundreds of yards of dirt; we’re precisely digging a hole,” explained Lipe. “With these smaller machines, we can still pick our trench boxes with them, set them in the hole, and safely dig inside the trench boxes.”   The size of the excavators is also an...

    When you step up to the tee box at your favorite golf course, you’ll notice an array of slopes, hazards and other unique design elements elegantly combined to create a memorable experience. However, the perfectly manicured landscape you see required a lot of thought, revision and precision to create.     WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GVIR2gK04Tc     That’s Joe Vivo’s specialty.   “We do have plans when we start, but I have the freedom to shape and create the contours to best fit the layout of the hole,” stated Golf Course Builder Joe Vivo. “Getting the vision the designer wants into my head and laid out in real life is the funnest thing I do.”   When a course is complete, the final product varies quite a bit from the original design.   “Sometimes a bunker or a water hazard in the original plans doesn’t make sense after we start building,” Vivo explained. “Once I get cutting, I can see how the hole should...

       Road Machinery & Supplies Co. hosted its annual Customer Appreciation Golf Outings this summer in Iowa and Minnesota. Iowa customers were invited to Blue Top Ridge at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside on July 17, and Minnesota customers were hosted at The Meadows at Mystic Lake in Prior Lake. In total, 225 employees, manufacturers and customers participated.   WATCH VIDEO : https://youtu.be/4uK_UVtJXMg    “These events are two dates on the calendar we look forward to every year,” said Vice President of Sales Ben Schmidtlein. “They give us the chance to hang out and spend time with our customers away from the jobsite. These two days really help with growing the relationships between us and our customers.”   Each event featured an 18-hole best shot tournament, hole competitions and prizes, and dinner.   “Customers have these events circled on their calendars, and they talk to us about it al...

    The 2025 North American Biochar Conference , hosted by the U.S. Biochar Initiative (USBI), took place September 15-18 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The event brought together innovators, industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs for deep dives, technical sessions, industry-wide keynotes, panel discussions, and hands-on networking. Ruffridge Johnson   in the Spotlight Thursday’s field trip to the Washington County facility highlighted Ruffridge Johnson's (RJ) leadership in the biochar space. The site will soon operate a Phoenix 8000 machine to produce biochar, with RJ providing direct support and expertise. Their hands-on involvement, from technical knowledge to regional proximity, positions them as a key driver in expanding Minnesota’s environmental business. This effort not only strengthens the launch of the Washington County site but also reinforces RJ’s commitment to advancing sustainable technologies and accelerating t...

    Komatsu is launching a new model of its largest harvester, the 951XC-1 harvester. It’s purpose-built for enhanced stability, performance and productivity to the most demanding forestry operations. The Komatsu 951XC-1 is one of the largest harvesters on the market. Its eight driven wheels deliver incredible traction, maneuverability and stability, especially in steep, soft or rugged conditions. Inside the cab, operators experience automotive-level quality with refined controls and features built for all-day comfort and precision.   Key performance highlights: Eight-wheel drive ensures excellent stability and low ground pressure Tractive force of 54,400 lbf (242 kN) supports operation in tough terrain Komatsu’s 3PS hydraulic coordination system allows multiple head and crane functions to operate at full power simultaneously Shortened crane center-to-front-wheel distance enables wider working range and stronge...

  Komatsu is proud to announce two new game-changing excavators. The new PC220LC-12 features a cab and controls designed for operator comfort, efficiency and productivity. The PC220LCi-12 includes the same features plus IMC 3.0, Komatsu’s latest intelligent machine control technology, incorporating automation enhancements designed to enhance operator productivity throughout each shift.    Both 21-24 ton-class hydraulic excavators are ideal for residential and commercial contractors, either performing basic land clearing and general earthwork or more advanced GPS design-driven site development.     Compared to the PC210LC-11, both excavators feature: A cab that is 28% larger, with 30% more legroom and 50% improved visibility Up to a 20% increase in fuel efficiency due to a new electro-hydraulic system and high-output engine Up to a 20% reduction in maintenance costs due to longer re...

    To expand product offerings and provide more well-rounded solutions to customers, Road Machinery & Supplies Co. will now offer trenching, shoring, and underground safety products, including the Pacific Shoring brand to the Minnesota and Iowa markets.     Pacific Shoring is an industry leader in trench boxes and other trench safety equipment. U.S. Shoring & Equipment, a Road Machinery & Supplies Co. Family Company, has carried Pacific Shoring, and will continue to do from its Euless, Texas, location.   “Carrying more well-rounded solutions to customers, Road Machinery & Supplies Co. will now offer trenching, shoring, and underground safety products allows us to meet a recurring need of our customers with a high-quality product. Additionally, with U.S. Shoring’s longstanding history in the industry, we have built-in experience that we can lean on for our sales and service teams when it comes to training and general knowledge,” said General Mana...

    With a small footprint, rubber tracks, and great versatility, the Komatsu PC88 and PC138 excavator models are excellent for road utility jobs. See why these Komatsu excavators are the machines of choice for Twin Cities contractor Precision Utilities.   Click here to watch the video and lean more!

  As America was growing in the early 1900s, a mine, quarry or other natural resource-based company would be an anchor for a town to develop around. Those enterprises played an integral role by providing not only employment, but a sense of identity for the residents. That was the case for Douds, Iowa.    VIDEO : Komatsu 325-8 haul trucks keep Douds Stone productive VIDEO : Astec stackers & wash plants help Douds Stone manage their quarry efficiently   In the 1920s, a company looking for a source of ag lime and construction began underground mining in the small southeast Iowa town. In 1947, extreme flooding caused the nearby Des Moines River to break its levees and flood the mine. Faced with a flooded underground operation and a submerged equipment fleet, the controlling company walked away from the mine.   The residents of Douds did not.   “The community still wanted to have a source of rock, the jobs and all tha...