The International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) will hold its 44th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique Jan. 28 - 31, 2018, at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. Exhibit booth space assignments will soon be underway. Organizations are invited to showcase their latest technology, equipment, design, products and services to the global explosives marketplace. To reserve exhibit space, contact ISEE or register at www.isee.org starting Aug. 3, 2017, during the public registration.

As many as 1,600 blasters, manufacturers, government officials and suppliers from all over the world are expected to gather for this conference to gain new insights and ideas and form new business alliances. Participation is expected to be strong as the largest conference of its kind in the explosives industry visits San Antonio for the first time.

This annual event is an international forum designed for the hands-on explosives user. As in past years, the 2018 program will include exhibits, technical sessions, panel discussions and educational workshops.

Board of Directors

The ISEE Nominating Committee is seeking nominations of candidates for the ISEE Board of Directors fall 2017 election. Candidates must be qualified as members of the society who have demonstrated leadership and active participation in the society and in the explosives industry.

Candidates who are elected to the board will take office January at the end of the Annual Membership Meeting that will be held at the 44th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique.

Awards

Nominate a coworker or colleague who has made an exceptional contribution to the fields of explosives or drilling for one of the International Society of Explosives Engineers most prestigious awards. There are three awards the ISEE is accepting nominations for:

Blaster’s Leadership Award: Presented to those who exemplify the blaster in the field and have given generously of time and talents in helping fellow blasters.

Driller’s Leadership Award: The award recognizes a drill operator, manager or drill expert who has given an extraordinary amount of time and knowledge to help fellow drillers and blasters with application, engineering or field work.

Distinguished Service Award: An award of merit given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of explosives engineering.

Do you have a knack for photography and some great shots of a recent job you’d like to share? Submit them to our 25th annual photo contest for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate to the ISEE Bookstore.

The winner will be announced during our 44th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique held Jan. 28–31, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas.

There are categories for blasters and drillers at work, construction blasting, quarrying and mining, demolition blasting, specialty blasting and student entries. All submissions will be judged on composition, content and quality.

The deadline to enter is Dec. 1, 2017. So what are you waiting for? Download an entry form today.

A new fund, the Dale Ramsey Memorial Scholarship Fund, was recently launched by the SEE Education Foundation under the guidance of Tom Watts, ISEE past president.

Dale Ramsey left a tremendous legacy in the industry and in explosives and engineering education after his passing on April 15, 2016. He helped establish ISEE chapters and regional training conferences. Dale was an ISEE past president, and for more than 40 years, he was the general manager at Senex Explosives, Inc. His commitment to the industry touched countless lives around the world.

This new scholarship will honor the drive and passion Dale showed for ISEE and for students pursuing college degrees in the industry.

on ore is once again staging an explosive rally that has placed it back in a bull market, with prices now trading close to $66 per tonne. Ore with 62% content in Qingdao added $1.86 overnight to close at $65.91, the highest since early May and 20% more than those year lows hit mid-June, data from the Metal Bulletin shows.

Year to date, however, prices are 16% lower as analysts have warned of rising global production, and a seasonal drop in demand in the last quarter of 2017. China is once again the main responsible for the fresh upwards trend. Since Beijing steeped up efforts to curb low quality steel production and so reduce emissions, imports have picked up.

An estimated 261 million metric tons (Mt) of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States during the first quarter of 2017, a slight decrease when compared to the same period in 2016. Decreases were seen in five of the nine geographic divisions compared with the first quarter of 2016. The largest decreases in percentages were recorded in the New England, the Pacific, and the West North Central divisions. Production-for-consumption decreased in 29 of the 46 States for which estimates were made. The five leading States were, in descending order, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Their combined total was 95.9 Mt, a slight decrease compared with the first quarter of 2016.

Four workers trapped in a gravel pit near Placitas, New Mexico, were recently rescued. Sandoval County Fire Department officials say gravel caved in on two men while they were trying to fix equipment in the pit. Two others went in to rescue them and all four became trapped.

As the leading professional association for the explosives industry, we want to help you advance your knowledge and career through education, regulatory training and professional networking. Whether you’re a student, an industry professional, or representing an organization, being part of the ISEE community will help you to achieve your goals.

Please renew your ISEE membership to continue your access to these exclusive tools including:
Networking opportunities with 4,000 colleagues and industry leaders
Access to the Explosives Reference Database Online, a $1,200 value
Special annual conference pricing
A complimentary subscription to the Journal of Explosives Engineering
Exclusive pricing at the ISEE online bookstore
A complimentary listing in the ISEE Membership Directory and Desktop Reference

Thank you for your continued trust and generous investments in ISEE that enable blasters around the world to hone their skills and advance their careers. We appreciate your support, the faith you put in our staff and partners around the world, and the passion you have for helping to advance the science and art of explosives engineering and promoting the safe practice of handling, storing and transporting explosives.

Did you know the ISEE has an online career center that offers discounts to members looking to post jobs? Whether you’re a student looking for an internship or a business looking for a seasoned professional in the explosives industry, the ISEE job board, located at the ISEE website, is a great way to get noticed.

And one of the best parts is that it’s free for job seekers. Upload your resume today to get the attention of job posters or browse the job board for the latest openings. Visit the career center now.

The EFEE 9th World Conference on Explosives & Blasting will be held Sept. 10-12, 2017, at the Brewery Conference Centre in Stockholm, Sweden. Highlights of the conference include technical presentations, an industry exhibition, educational workshops, welcome drinks reception, gala dinner and partner program.

Explosives users, manufacturers and drilling equipment operators as well as researchers and professionals involved in the construction and mining industry will be in attendance.

The technical sessions will be divided into key themes. Authors will present their papers in English to an audience in a lecture style format with some time for questions from the audience.

July 22, 2017
Rio Oso, California
Email mchiurato@alphaexplosives.com for more information.

July 24, 2017

July 25-27, 2017
Huntsville, Ala.
Email Dean Nichols at dnichols@apt-research.com for more information.

August 11, 2017
Coplay, Penn.

August 12, 2017