From America's heartland to the heart of the former USSR, two new asphalt
drum-mix plants are headed for Tula, Russia, just 30 miles south of Moscow.
Both plants are portable, 220-tons-per-hour Roadbuilder units manufactured
by Asphalt Drum Mixers Inc. (ADM), Huntertown, Ind.

The first plant was delivered this past August; the second is scheduled
for an early spring delivery. Each of the Roadbuilder parallel-flow units
purchased by the Russian Ministry are package deals that include items such
as a baghouse, control room, six cold-feed bins, a recycle system and two
80-ton silos in addition to the drum mixer itself. These units will be used
to help rebuild roads in and around the capital of the Russian Republic.

ADM broke new ground in the homeland of the U.S.' former Cold War nemesis
in 1994, when it sold a 160-ton-per-hour unit to a Russian contractor. This
sale represented the first U.S.-manufactured asphalt drum-mix plant in Russia.
Many other asphalt-plant manufacturers are eyeing the Russia as a potentially
lucrative market; in addition, manufacturers have mentioned China and the
countries south of the U.S. border as demonstrating excellent exporting
potential. Even Mexico is looking more attractive: Its infrastructure is-overall-in
poor condition, and the peso has recently made a small rally.