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FERTILIZER MINERALS 38 E&MJ; • JUNE 2016 www.e-mj.com From a very inauspicious beginning in a small blacksmith shop originally started in 1882 by Edward Brunner and Severin Lay, Brunner & Lay Inc. and its affliated companies have become recognized as the quality leaders, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of paving breaker tools. Today, using the latest state-of-the- art equipment in its facilities throughout the world, Brunner & Lay Inc.'s entire output is devoted to the manufacture of pneumatic and hydraulic tool accessories for the construction, mining and demoli- tion industries. The worldwide operations encompass manufacturing plants and warehouses on three different continents. These include seven facilities in the United States, three in Canada, three in Great Britain, one in Germany, and two in Australia, including a warehouse in Kalgoorlie. The corporation is currently overseen by F. Michael Brunner, president, the fourth generation of the Brunner Family to over- see operations. Brunner & Lay products are divided into three major categories: tools used for the demolition or cutting of concrete and stone; drill steels and carbide tipped bits, which are used to drill blast holes in quarries, mines, and construction projects; and small chipping and electric hammer tools, which are used by the gen- eral construction trade. It is with great pride that the Brunner & Lay organization can point to the many wonderful highways, dams, airfelds, mines and quarries, and national mon- uments it has shaped. These include, but are not limited to, Mount Rushmore, Hoover Dam, the Chunnel connecting En- gland and France, the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado, and Olympic venues world- wide. These accomplishments could not have been achieved without the extended efforts of longtime dedicated employees and the many fne distributors who have provided loyal support over these years. Brunner & Lay is confdent that its prod- ucts will contribute to worldwide health, growth and prosperity far into the future. COMPANY PROFILE-PAID ADVERTISEMENT 'QUALITY FIRST' Since 1882 ever, after four months, PotashCorp thought better of its plans and backed out. The company's president and CEO, Jochen Tilk, noted at the time that since PotashCorp had tabled its offer, challeng- ing macroeconomic conditions had con- tributed to a signifcant decline of global commodity and equity markets, with pot- ash peer stocks down almost 40%. "In light of these market conditions and a lack of engagement by K+S management, we have concluded that continued pursuit of a combination is no longer in the best interests of our shareholders," he said. Or, to put it another way, the original offer was now too high and K+S did not want to play ball in any case. On a purely historical note, this was not the frst time that PotashCorp had attempted to gain control of K+S. In late 1996, the company agreed to pay DM250 million (then €128 million) for a 51% stake in K+S, only for its plans to be thwarted by the German government. Meanwhile, PotashCorp has reacted to current market conditions by cutting pro- duction. Its Piccadilly (New Brunswick) operations were put on care-and-mainte- nance in January, and the company then announced four-week production breaks at both Allan and Lanigan in Saskatche- wan. The company produced 9.1 million mt of KCl in 2015, with its cutbacks this year totaling 2.4 million mt in nameplate capacity. K+S, by contrast, is focusing on its C$4.1 billion Legacy solution mine in Saskatchewan, with plant commission- ing scheduled for midyear. K+S expects the frst production toward the year-end, when its new product storage and export Figure 2—World phosphate rock production, 1999-2014. (Source: BGS)