The Concrete Producer articles from April 2004

The Concrete Producer archives from April 2004

Science's influence on society: uplifting events like the Mars mission teach us to reach out for new scientific approaches.(Editorial)(Editorial)
April 1, 2004... I've been closely following the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. I grew up just near the end on the United States' race to the moon. I also enjoyed traditional sci-fi writers. So it's kind of sad to realize that my only extraterrestrial visits...

Economist gives bullish outlook.(News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The Portland Cement Association's (PCA) chief economist gave a largely positive forecast for the U.S. economy at World of Concrete in Orlando, Fla., in February. "The overall outlook for cement consumption is very positive for 2005 through...

ASTM vice chair named.(News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Anthony Fiorato, Ph.D. and president and CEO of Construction Technology Laboratories (CTL), Skokie, III., was named vice chairman of the ASTM International Board of Directors for 2004-05. He serves on ASTM committees C-01 on cement and C-09...

New Hanson Web site.(News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Hanson PLC, a major brick and concrete supplier, has introduced a new Web site, which includes new functionality and a new look. All of Hanson's Web sites worldwide have been brought together through this one portal. To learn more about Hanson...

CD for aggregate optimization.(News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... A new interactive CD from the Portland Cement Association, "Aggregate for Use in Concrete," provides a comprehensive course on the critical impact aggregates have on concrete properties. The course is designed for ready-mix concrete producers,...

Upcoming conferences & events.(News)(Calendar)
April 1, 2004... Concrete Bridge Conference The 2004 Concrete Bridge Conference takes place May 17-18 at the Westin Charlotte in North Carolina. The conference, cosponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, National Concrete Bridge Council, and the...

Ordering with a click: you also can visit a database to learn what weather conditions were like on the day of a pour.(E-Concrete)
April 1, 2004... Many of the businesses which failed in the go-go 90s were e-commerce companies which sold their wares on the Internet. The products they tried to peddle electronically included energy futures (Enron-style) to steel to groceries (although Peapod...

New fibers add flexibility: precast concrete is an ideal use for the product.(What's New)
April 1, 2004... Sometimes it takes a lot of tinkering to turn something from being just a good idea into something that works well. One idea for better steel fiber reinforcement for concrete emerged through research at the University of Michigan more than a...

Alternative fuels are becoming a gas: clean-air fleets are becoming popular in air quality-sensitive areas.(Fleet Factor)
April 1, 2004... Attention on our national oil dependency has renewed discussion on using alternate fuels in vocational trucking. When the subject first drew national interest, alternate fuels were touted as the means to reduce air pollution. This...

A caisson problem.(Problem Clinic)(Concrete construction)(Column)
April 1, 2004... Q. I have a ready-mix customer who is supplying concrete for caissons. The mix design is an ordinary caisson mix (similar to CDOT Class BZ) designed for 6- to 8-inch slump placements. The caissons range from 30 to 60 inches in diameter and are...

Safe havens: be thankful just a few concrete barriers we produce are used to stop terrorists.(As the Drum Turns)
April 1, 2004... I've been paying a little more attention to safety. Recent world events consistently remind us that work is the safest place to be. For example, when I pass concrete traffic barriers on a paving or bridge project, I now think in broader terms....

On the beach: the project proves water doesn't have to be the industry's Achilles' heel.(Concrete mixing)
April 1, 2004... A casual look at the hulking concrete structure (from a wind-swept pier jutting into the Atlantic Ocean doesn't begin to tell the whole story of Margate Tower and how it came into being. This is a complex story with different facts and figures...

A tale of two concretes: high reactivity metakaolin improves performance and beauty in two very different projects.
April 1, 2004... For many visitors, two recently completed concrete building projects in New York City couldn't be more dissimilar. One, in trendy Soho, adheres to a reinterpretation of a modern aesthetic that is lean and devoid of applied decoration. The...

Air supply: a producer in Wisconsin studied strength loss variables in air-entrained concrete.(quality management program)(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2004... When a new Quality Management Program (QMP) was specified to control Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) concrete work, it raised the eyebrows of ready-mix producers across the state. The new program mandates using large size (ASTM...

Rewarding and challenging employees.(Bookshelf)(Book Review)
April 1, 2004... "Rewarding and Challenging Employees: For Profits in Masonry" (RACE) should be in the hands of every masonry contractor, block producer, and construction company owner. It is a roadmap to reinventing your organization. Damian Lang, president of...

Carrying more with less: axle assemblies continue to get lighter and stronger.(Product Pulse)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Everyone knows lift axles, or auxiliary axles, are used to average out the weight of a fully loaded vehicle over more than the standard chassis axles. Once considered necessary only for urban fleets, these add-ons are becoming commonplace...

Composite lift axle.(Product Pulse)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The HLUC-2 Composilite offers inline air springs to provide maximized packaging space and free clearance from vehicle undercarriage obstructions, both inside and outside the frame rails. At only 788 pounds, the lift axle has a capacity of...

Lightweight steer axle.(Product Pulse)
April 1, 2004... The SL-0851 Tru Track is Watson & Chalin's lightest lift axle. Weighing only 895 pounds, including tires and wheels, it has a capacity of 8000 pounds. It has a compact envelope, with only 25 inches from the front of the suspension to the...

Self-steering integrated suspension.(Product Pulse)
April 1, 2004... The Light Trac RLT-230 has a self-steering integrated suspension, axle and brake system. The unit weighs 924 pounds, including suspension and fully dressed fabricated axle, and fits in a compact package space of less than 22 inches. Its...

Low maintenance axle.(Product Pulse)
April 1, 2004... The AAS-721 series Parallelogram Air Suspensions combine a smooth ride with maximum cargo protection, with a capacity of 13,000 pounds. Air springs lift the axle up out of the way when not in use. The maximum lift is 7 inches. A compact hanger...

Patented frame and hanger brackets.(Product Pulse)
April 1, 2004... The DuraLift is a self-steering lift axle with available capacity of 13,200 pounds that can be used in either the pusher or tag configurations. The lift axle has a patented frame and hanger brackets, with interchangeable and adjustable frame...

MCPX wrap-up.(In The Mix)(Manufactured Concrete Products Exposition)(Concrete industry)
April 1, 2004... Many people exhibiting and attending the Manufactured Concrete Products Exposition (MCPX) in Atlanta Feb. 6-8 were optimistic about their prospects for the coming year. Most said they were more upbeat than at the MCPX show in Salt Lake City in...