Latest news with #Covia
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Driving Innovation and Connection: Covia's Impact at Recent Industry Events
Over the last several weeks, Covia has played an active role in several significant industry conferences and tradeshows. These events demonstrate Covia's dedication to our customers, communities, and other important partners. They also provide opportunities for our team members to learn from industry experts, share best practices, showcase our cutting-edge technologies, and develop valuable new skills. As you will see, Covia continues to be a key contributor to the industry's evolution, reinforcing our position as a leader. Essential Minerals Association 2025 Annual Conference Andy O'Brien, Senior Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety, and Mona Legin, Ergonomics Specialist, represented Covia as invited speakers at this year's annual Essential Minerals Association conference. They emphasized the company's commitment to improving the health and safety of miners in the industry. Andy discussed the implementation of DustShield technology, which is designed to prevent overexposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) during screen changes. He illustrated its potential for adoption throughout processing stages and its ability to significantly reduce RCS levels. Mona concentrated on Covia's adoption of Soter Analytics technology, illustrating how wearable sensors and video evaluations detect ergonomic hazards, promote safer practices, and diminish reportable injury incidents. Covia was pleased to participate in the conference and engage with industry experts, which helped enhance our insight into the essential minerals sector. Eastern Coatings Show 2025 This week, Covia participated in the Eastern Coatings Show, an event that brings together leaders in coatings innovation. Covia's Senior Technology Manager, Scott Van Remortel, presented his technical paper titled 'Surface Treated Nepheline Syenite for Enhanced Performance in Industrial Coatings.' Applications data showing improved performance of industrial maintenance floor and general industrial top coats with nepheline syenite fillers treated with silane coupling agents will be presented. This new technology for both solvent and waterborne floor coatings and solvent-borne top coats will provide the formulators with low silica formulations that deliver higher filler loading, gloss retention, water, chemical and corrosion resistance. We were pleased to be among a respected group of presenters demonstrating how advanced mineral technology improves performance, durability, and sustainability in industrial coatings. Project Control Summit 2025: Navigating the Future of Project Controls Covia's Project Management Department participated in the Project Controls Summit to expand our project managers' knowledge of project controls. The Summit is the largest global gathering of project controls professionals. The summit fosters an environment in which project controls professionals and practitioners can engage in educational sessions focused on key sub-disciplines, including earned value management, change management, cost estimating and scheduling, contracting, and technology and innovation. Covia's participation aimed to expand Project Managers' knowledge of the Project Controls discipline, equipping them with the tools necessary to execute capital projects at Covia with optimal performance. The team gained valuable insights and established connections within the project controls community. They are eager to apply these learnings to improve project execution at Covia. Visit for more information about how everything we do helps you do what you do. It has been an eventful year for Covia thus far, and we are not even halfway through. Earlier this year, Covia team members actively participated in various events, showcasing their expertise and giving presentations. Their involvement highlights the team's commitment and passion for the industry. Cority Connect Conference Michele Oxlade, Senior Environmental Specialist and WHC Coordinator, and Erica Mitts, Cority Administrator and Operations Administration, attended the Cority Connect Conference. The goal of this conference is to inspire and empower health and safety professionals to protect worker health and safety and drive meaningful changes. Our sales and technical teams have also participated in a variety of prominent trade shows, demonstrating our commitment to the industry and engaging with key customers and stakeholders. Notable events included the Golf Industry Show, the New Jersey Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA NJ), the New England Regional Turfgrass Conference, and the Canadian Golf Show. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Covia
Associated Press
22-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
National Volunteer Month: Covia's Top Volunteers
April is National Volunteer Month, and Covia wants to take a moment to celebrate all of our amazing volunteers! Covia's team members are actively involved in their communities and take great pride in the work they do to strengthen our connection to those communities. We are particularly excited to honor our Volunteer of the Year, David Morris from Covia's Cleburne, Texas Plant, as well as the winners of the President's Volunteer Awards, which recognize those who contributed 200 or more volunteer hours in 2024. This year, we are proud to recognize the following team members who have qualified for the award. *Previous Volunteer of the Year Winner Covia would like to congratulate this year's award recipients and express our gratitude for their impactful contributions to the communities in which we live and work. For more information about the Covia Foundation, community impact and philanthropy, please visit Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Covia
Associated Press
16-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Covia Mexico: Honoring 70 Years of Dedication and Excellence
Covia Mexico recently celebrated its 70th anniversary with a commemorative tour of three key plants in southern Mexico. The event was an opportunity to honor the company's heritage and recognize the remarkable accomplishments of its plants and team members because of their hard work and dedication. The tour was attended by Covia's Executive Leadership Team, who expressed pride, gratitude and encouragement to the local teams, reinforcing the company's commitment to its employees and their contributions. Covia's Ahuazotepec Plant is recognized as Plant of the Year for the second consecutive year The celebration began at the Ahuazotepec plant with a sense of pride. For the second year in a row, this plant was recognized as the Plant of the Year. The event brought together the plant's leadership team, who recognized their employees for their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results in quality, efficiency and culture. The team was congratulated for their hard work, leadership, and the significant impact they continue to make on the plant. 20 Years Accident-Free at Covia's Tlaxcala Plant The second stop was the Tlaxcala plant, where a remarkable achievement was celebrated: two decades without a lost-time accident. Team members were recognized for working tirelessly to foster a strong safety culture. Covia's leadership truly values this achievement, as it is a significant reflection of the dedication, responsibility and commitment to health and safety of every employee at the plant. 70th Anniversary of Operations at Covia's Jáltipan Plant The last stop was Covia's Jáltipan plant, which celebrated its 70th anniversary, a significant milestone for the plant. The event brought employees together, fostering a sense of community and shared history. During the celebration, a powerful message was delivered, emphasizing that this achievement is the culmination of the collective dedication of generations of team members who have shaped who we are today. The tour not only honored 70 years of history but also celebrated the employees who contribute to the company's future every day. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Covia
Associated Press
06-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Robert Knight: Driving Digital Innovation With Deep Roots at Covia
Covia is proud to recognize the critical impact our team members make, both through their work and their dedication to their communities. Today, we spotlight Robert Knight, Director of Enterprise Applications and IT Architecture, whose leadership in technology implementation and optimization has helped position Covia for future growth and innovation. From Code to Covia: A Journey Back Home With 35 years of IT experience, Robert brings a wealth of knowledge to his role at Covia. His journey began as a COBOL programmer at a hardwood lumber company, where he gained comprehensive IT experience in a small department. His career path led him through diverse industries, managing IT operations for a men's fashion company before moving to Atlanta, Georgia, to join an automotive parts company. Robert spent 12 years in the Peach State, but a desire to move back to be closer to family meant it was time to head back to Northeast Ohio. 'Our family made the decision to move back to Cleveland, leaving Atlanta to return to our former home,' Robert explained. Shortly after moving back to Ohio, he found an opportunity at Covia. His decision to join Covia in July of 2023 was more than just a good fit, it closed the circle on a childhood connection. 'I don't know if it's fate or destiny, but I grew up in Chardon,' Robert said. 'My dad drove a truck for a local company that hauled sand from Covia's BESTSAND plant when I was a kid. When I went out to do a plant tour after I started, I saw the familiar trucks still hauling out of there. It brought back such fond memories.' Streamlining Systems for Success In his current role, Robert oversees the teams responsible for implementing and supporting Covia's business-critical applications. At the heart of these systems is the company's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which touches every aspect of operations from maintenance to sales and accounting. One of Robert's key achievements has been leading the rationalization of Covia's application landscape. 'When I came here, there were several different systems with overlapping uses,' he explained. 'It was my job to reduce our total cost of ownership and complexity of our application landscape while making it easier to support and less expensive to operate.' The successful cloud reimplementation of the ERP stands out as a particular point of pride. While Robert joined on day one of the go-live, he emphasizes how his team's work led to minimal business disruption. Other projects like the rationalization of shipping systems helped standardize processes for loading out and shipping. Robert and his team have helped streamline various aspects of Covia's business and position the ERP system for growth, allowing it to scale with Covia's future needs. 'We're developing our plans and cadence to keep everything current,' Robert shared. 'There are additional phases that we're planning for 2025 to make enhancements and modifications that touch every aspect of our business.' Looking to Build a Smarter Future Robert's vision extends beyond day-to-day operations to include emerging technologies. By exploring new technologies and tools, Robert's team's plan is to help departments and individuals work smarter, not harder. Robert highlights the integration of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors as one example of how new technology can enhance operational efficiency. These sensors can gauge vibration and other factors that can predict issues and alert team members to improve operational safety and avoid downtime. Artificial Intelligence is another notable focus for Robert and his team. Software vendors are introducing AI technology to create new opportunities for businesses in just about every industry. Robert is embracing AI and evaluating its potential to make Covia more agile. 'We're able to shift gears and make changes as they come,' Robert shared. 'By staying current, we can make software enhancements more rapidly to support the business as both technology and our business evolve.' The Power of Giving Back Outside of work, Robert finds joy in family, sports, and maintaining an active lifestyle. Since 2017, he and his wife have been actively involved in supporting The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They attended their first ShamRockin' for a Cure event in Atlanta, and the experience inspired them to get involved. 'We met a bunch of great people, and it just breaks your heart when you listen to their stories of people being born with cystic fibrosis and breathing issues,' Robert said. 'My wife and I feel very blessed that all our children and grandchildren are healthy, and we wanted to give back.' While Robert and his wife now live in Cleveland, they still stay close with all the families they met and participate where they can. The Knights were also able to share their passion with Covia, and we are proud to support their work and help build a bright future for those impacted by cystic fibrosis. Robert's combination of technical expertise, industry experience, passion for social impact, and personal connection to Covia's roots makes him a valuable leader in driving the company's digital transformation and supporting people across the country.
