Coal Preparation Society of America

Message from the President

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our individual and corporate members, sponsors, exhibitors, and technical presenters for attending the CoalProTec 2026 Conference in Lexington, KY this past April. Still in the mix in ’26 was our goal, and we succeeded because of your continued support! We had 523 registered attendees at the conference this year and 71 exhibit booths. A strong turnout considering the ongoing challenges facing our industry. A heartfelt thank you to Mel Laurila and Toni Franklin for making the conference and members night out a success. Their hard work and dedication to the CPSA make these events possible. Thanks to Conn-Weld Industries, Astec Industries, The Daniel’s Company, FLS-USA, and Polydeck for their sponsorships.

Because of the efforts of Dr. Rick Honaker, we all benefitted from a series of strong technical presentations at CoalProTec 2026. When operators are faced with a challenging market, technical innovation and plant upgrades can be scarce. However, we were fortunate to enjoy engaging presentations - from the construction of a new state-of-the art facility to innovations in froth flotation. Many thanks to Dr. Honaker and the presenters for a memorable technical conference.

We were fortunate to have John Nielson serve as President of the CPSA for the past two years. I appreciate his dedication and service to the CPSA. His leadership, drive, and talent resulted in the CPSA’s new maintenance workshops. These well-attended workshops focused on the maintenance requirements of our commonly used equipment. Our valued equipment suppliers and board members did an excellent job putting these presentations together. 

As Dr. Barb Arnold presented during the CoalProTec 2026 keynote, worldwide coal consumption continues to increase, but US production continues to decline. Current US annual production, estimated at 500 million short tons, is half of the annual production from 1994 to 2014. This significant contraction means fewer operators, skilled employees, and contractors. In addition, ongoing inflation struggles coupled with low coal prices results in fewer projects, as ROIs become less favorable.

During these challenging times, the CPSA’s mission to provide educational services for its members is more important than ever. That is why we intend to educate in ’28. We already have one Coal Prep 102 scheduled in the Midwest on July 23rd, 2026. Also, be on the lookout for a second Coal Prep class in West Virginia later this summer. These are valuable opportunities for new and seasoned plant personnel to learn from Dr. Rick Honaker, so do not miss it! In addition, we plan to strengthen our quarterly newsletter with the addition of a new CPSA Technical Bulletin focused on common plant topics.

In closing, I would like to thank our Board of Directors and members for entrusting me with the role as president. It is a privilege for me to serve in this role, and I hope I can continue to bring value to our members as those before me have done.

God Bless and Be Safe,
Eric Wolfe
CPSA President