The Concrete Producer articles from August 2004

The Concrete Producer archives from August 2004

Scoring one for concrete.(Editorial)(Editorial)(Column)
August 1, 2004... I must look like a friendly sort of fellow. Or the concierge at the Grand Hyatt is a frustrated, unemployed comedian. When I asked how to get to Carnegie Hall, she answered, Practice, practice, practice." I realized after a pause that her quip...

Can-do Canoes.(News)
August 1, 2004... The 800-mile trek from Wisconsin to the nation's capitol was worth the trip for the University of Wisconsin-Madison's engineering students, who won their second consecutive championship at the 17th Annual National Concrete Canoe Competition on...

Master builders now Degussa.(News)(Degussa Admixtures Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Master Builders has changed its name to Degussa Admixtures Inc. Master Builders was the U.S.-based admixtures division of Degussa of Germany. The Cleveland-based company also has reorganized its sales division. Ray Minnillo is sales director in...

Upcoming conferences & events.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... 2004 APWA International Public Works Congress and Exposition The exposition will be held Sept. 12-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The event will include a lineup of keynote presenters, three full-day and in-depth...

Spec numbers, titles available.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Construction Specifications Institute has released section numbers and titles for the 2004 edition of Master-Format, the specifications-writing standard for most nonresidential building design and construction projects in North America. ...

New concrete program discussed.(News)
August 1, 2004... The New Jersey Concrete and Aggregate Association is gauging interest in a Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Program to be located at a university in the Northeast. It would be similar to the successful 10-year-old CIM program at Middle...

Partnership forms Besser GmbH.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Besser Co., the Alpena, Mich.-based block machine manufacturer, has formed a partnership with Hess Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. of Burbach-Wahlbach, Germany, a concrete block and pipemaking equipment manufacturer with locations in Germany,...

Grace marks milestone.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... W.R. Grace & Co., parent of Grace Construction Products, celebrated its 150th anniversary recently. Grace was founded by William Russell Grace, who became mayor of New York City in 1880. Grace's first business was a merchant steamship line....

Not your father's Blue Book.(E-Concrete)
August 1, 2004... Imagine life with only the Internet and printed publications like you're reading right now had not been invented. Then one day, we're introduced to newspapers, magazines, books, and catalogs. "What a great idea," we'd say. Now, we can read in...

Uniform mixing.(What's New)
August 1, 2004... High-performance concrete is becoming a worldwide topic. Chemists and mix design engineers are working hard to develop new ingredients to cast concrete as a Space Age material. Just as importantly, equipment manufacturers are developing new...

Revving up: environmental performance.(Fleet Factors)(1082 mobile lift)
August 1, 2004... Did you ever think you could own a fleet of trucks and support vehicles that not only delivers product, but rids the air of pollution? Bob Aquaro, vice president of product assurance for Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Bridgeport, N.J.,...

Defining 'transportation unit'.(Problem Clinic)
August 1, 2004... Q. ASTM's ready-mixed concrete specification says, "air content of air-entrained concrete when sampled from the transportation unit at the point of discharge" is to be within 1.5% of the specified value. What does the "transportation unit"...

Keeping up with the specs.(Problem Clinic)
August 1, 2004... Producers should be aware that the ASTM scientific committee is trying to transform sustainability topics from marketing efforts into measurable performance standards. For five years, members of ASTM subcommittee E06.71 on Sustainability, part...

Anything that can go wrong ...(As the Drum Turns)(Short Story)(Column)
August 1, 2004... I recently discovered concrete production and aerospace research have at least one thing in common--Murphy's Law. My experience began on the last leg of a three-day weekend trip. I was leisurely riding back from Chattanooga, Tenn.,...

Taking names TCP 100: it was a good year for producers, despite commercial challenges.(The Concrete Producer)
August 1, 2004... Concrete producers today find themselves in a climate of moderate but steady, growth, tempered with the uncertainties surrounding federal transportation funding, rising interest rates, and cement shortages. Accordingly, cautions optimism...

How long should it take? There are different guidelines in establishing concrete delivery intervals.
August 1, 2004... If you ask 100 different producers what guidelines or rules of thumbs they use in establishing delivery intervals, you're likely to get 100 different answers. Ask these same 100 producers, "How long should it take?" and you are likely to get...

Equipment wunderbar: the world's largest construction equipment show opens doors to productivity and opportunity.
August 1, 2004... The Alpine air was crisp, the skies blue, and the crowds abuzz with excitement at Bauma 2004 in April. More than 410,000 visitors trekked through the Munich, Germany, Trade Fair Centre's eight halls and two large open-lot displays of...

Raising safety awareness: updated requirements place a new emphasis on rigging safety.(casting trends)
August 1, 2004... As a precast producer, one of the most delicate, yet dangerous, aspects of production and delivery is safely moving heavy precast elements. This often is done at a jobsite, after a precast element leaves the production plant. Rigging an element...

Keeping an eye on lifting: general laborers are more suited these days to using lifting inserts.(casting trends)
August 1, 2004... Physics and engineering play a role in proper lifting; the rigging angles and location of lifting points are crucial. The kind of inserts embedded into the concrete also demand attention. Lifting inserts can be fashioned onsite by the...

ERMC computerized mesh rollers.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2004... Standard Features include: Menu driven control panel, Program adjustment with 'file save' feature, The Easy Load system for operator safety, Machined grooves for improved traction, Low maintenance cross-wire sensors, The CMR counts inches not...

Price breakthrough for dust collectors.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2004... Filter Technology Ltd. has engineered a reliable filtration system that does the same jobs as carbon steel at a competitive cost. The low density rotationally molded polyethylene body in the 5-Ft. model accepts from 16 to 37 filters for air...

"Tumblemaster".(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2004... Revolutionary and novel aging plant for concrete pavers, the "Tumblemaster". It finishes complete layers of concrete pavers (60-100 mm) on both sides in-line with a cycle time of 10 seconds. Daily capacity 25000 sq.ft. Phone (905) 575-4440,...

Measure color ... measure quality.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2004... Far more reliable than visual inspection, the portable MiniScan XE Plus color measurement instrument provides quantitative results. It is ideal for measuring the color of your concrete product. One-handed, fully portable operation Stores...

PipeWipe.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2004... Chemically engineered to produce a "sack rubbed" finish to fill the smallest voids and blemishes on precast concrete. PipeWipe is a cementitious blend combined, with special fine aggregates, and a dry latex polymer to help with adhesion and...

Concrete stamping tools.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2004... Award winning projects begin with award winning materials. CHROMIX(r) Admixtures for Color-Conditioned(tm) Concrete are colored, water-reducing, set-controlling admixtures for ready mixed architectural concrete. Coloring concrete integrally,...

Gantry cranes.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2004... Shuttlelift Gantry cranes are available in capacities from 15 ton to 1,000 ton. Some features on our cranes include; and exclusively designed pivot trunion for improved mobility over uneven terrain, two or four-wheel drive, radio remote control...

Mixer easy to operate, clean.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... RFI Construction Products' CM-1500 continuous mixer and predampener can handle dry, pre-blended materials such as concrete, mortars, grouts, fireproofing, and restoration mixes. Water is injected at high pressure through four spray heads, which...

Sensor easy to install.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... Monitor Technologies' TrueCap MK-2e is a versatile, value-priced point level sensor. Using RF capacitance technology, the sensor is suitable for solid, liquid, and slurry applications. It offers high sensitivity, buildup immunity, and a wide...

Longer running engines.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... The Vanguard V-Twin Big Block line of engines from Briggs & Stratton offers air and liquid cooling, with power ranging from 25 to 35 hp. The engines provide economical power, increased horsepower-to-weight ratio, and the same mounting footprint...

Corrosion-resistant solenoid.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... Cole Hersee Co. introduces its 24550 motor-reversing solenoid, ideal for construction equipment with forward and reverse (up or down) motors, including mixers, cranes, and winches. The solenoid is lightweight, rugged, and reliable. Because it...

High-performance cement.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... SF Cement from Lafarge North America is a hydraulic product containing a blend of silica fume and portland cement, designed for use in high-performance applications in which high strength and durability are required. Using the cement enhances...

Cast-in-place accelerator.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... Rapid 1 is a hardening accelerator for cast-in-place concrete. Unlike set accelerators, the product initiates very high early strengths in concrete while maintaining slump life and workability. This allows easy batching and delivery in a...

Concrete pump with boom option.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... A detachable boom option has been added to Schwing America Inc.'s 39X concrete pump. The machine has a relatively small outrigger spread for its boom length. With a horizontal reach of 144 feet, it requires only 25 feet, 7 inches of width for...

Lift, remove, position precast slabs.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... Avoid digging, back or hand injuries, or poorly installed blocks with the Slabsetter, a specially designed tool that is used to lift, remove, or position precast concrete slabs. The tool, which usually comes in a set of four, is a steel bar...

Feature starts vehicle from great distance.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... Mopar's Remote Start feature can start a vehicle from as far away as 800 feet, even working through solid walls. It has two mini single-button transmitters that project a strong signal to start a vehicle, while anti-code-grabbing technology...

Driver reports system.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... Trimble Navigation's Telvisant Drive-Safe system is now available on the McNeilus Revolution composite mixer system-equipped trucks. The product uses GPS technology to deliver detailed reports of how mixer drivers operate their vehicles. The...

Download real-time weather.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... Get weather information from the Storm Hawk, a hand-held device that uses GPS technology. The package from WeatherData Inc. allows users to download real-time weather information onto a personal digital assistant. The data is displayed in a...

Easy-start, air-cooled engine.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... The EX Series uses high-performance, chain-driven overhead cam technology in an air-cooled engine; the feature allows the intake and exhaust valves to be positioned for optimum engine performance. The four models from Robin Subaru offer power...

Smooth ride suspension.(Products for the Producer)
August 1, 2004... The Air Link air-ride walking beam suspension from Raydan Manufacturing Inc. is designed for a wide variety of heavy-duty applications, including ready-mix trucks. It is available for axle spreads ranging from 66 to 84 inches, with a weight...

Stronger, easier-to-handle generators.(Products for the Producer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The GA Series generators have been updated to make them stronger, easier to handle, and able to power a wider variety of tools on the job. The line includes seven models, ranging from the 2.5-KW GA-2.5H to the 9.7-KW GA-97HE. The...

Wheels for better mileage.(Products for the Producer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Haul-Rite 19.5-inch commercial-duty wheels from Rickson Truck Accessories are direct-replacement units, engineered with the same offset, bolt pattern, and hub bore for each specific truck make. The wheels come in powder-coated steel, chrome, or...

Preventing skin injuries.(Bookshelf)(The Handbook of Skin Protection for Concrete and Masonry Work)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2004... The Handbook of Skin Protection for Concrete and Masonry Work tackles a top issue on OSHA's agenda--exposure to hexavalent chromium. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit asked OSHA to publish a proposed rule for hexavalent chromium...

Chile in Chicago.(In the Mix)(construction industry)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... A group of contractors, masons, and concrete producers from Chile visited Chicago in June to learn about U.S. construction methods and building materials. THE CONCRETE PRODUCER and MASONRY CONSTRUCTION magazines, along with Packaged Concrete...

Finely tuned.(In the Mix)
August 1, 2004... Beautiful music filled Carnegie Hail in New York recently. One of the choir members was Butch Bailess, chief operating officer of Gulf Concrete, Pascagoula, Miss. Read the editorial on p. 7 to learn how the concrete industry can score big with...

Associations in the mix.(In the Mix)(National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... NRMCA NRMCA hired Jai Kundu as director of transportation advocacy. She will focus primarily on commercial drivers licenses, hours of service regulations, truck size and weight limits, safety performance history of new drivers, and drug...