The Concrete Producer articles from August 2005

The Concrete Producer archives from August 2005

The other side of the story.(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... When my son graduated from college in June, amid the celebration of a successful academic career and the maturing of a good young man, I had another thought. I finally could buy a new car. It's not that I need a new one, but I was hoping to...

Dwelling on housing.(News)
August 1, 2005... With the nation's booming housing sector receiving abundant attention these days and with concrete capturing a greater market share, producers have an opportunity to learn more about this important part of their business. Hanley Wood LLC,...

Ooh, baby.(minerals and metal consumption)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... This baby keeps getting bigger, and a diet isn't in its future. And you won't find this infant in a maternity ward. The average American born last year will live 77.3 years and will need 46,414 pounds of minerals, metals and fuel per year...

New suppliers joins Altus.(JVI Inc and Sika Corp join AltusGroup Inc)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Admixture supplier Sika Corp. and JVI Inc., a manufacturer of connection products, have joined AltusGroup Inc. AltusGroup, a partnership of several precasters, developed the CarbonCast precast technology in mid-2004. More than 5 million square...

Joint agreement announced.(Ready Mix USA and Cemex Inc together to provide concrete to the Southeast United States)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Ready Mix USA and CEMEX Inc. are forming a joint venture to provide concrete to the Southeast United States. CEMEX will contribute two cement plants in Alabama and Georgia, 11 cement terminals, and its ready-mix aggregates and block plants in...

Ready-mix production up over 2004.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Ready-mix concrete production in the United States totaled 87.2 million yards the first three months of the year, a 6.56% increase over the 81.8 million yards produced in 2004. Production increased in January and February, but was 300,000...

Upcoming conferences & events.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... Conference on Concrete Pavements The 8th International Conference on Concrete Pavements takes place Aug. 14-18 at the Sheraton Colorado Springs. The event focuses on technologies related to design, construction, and rehabilitation of...

Armchair prospecting: online services offer plans and specs without fighting traffic.(www.reedconstruction data.com)(McGraw-Hill Construction)(Reed Construction Data)(www.construction.com)
August 1, 2005... Information is power, or at least a competitive advantage. Now, two big players in the construction information business have unveiled subscription, online tools to help producers keep track of prospective projects. A few years ago,...

Thin is in: this lightweight concrete panel clads metal buildings.(What's New)
August 1, 2005... Not too long ago, Omega Concrete was a typical precaster, primarily casting 6, 8, and 10-inch-thick wall panels. While these standard configurations served most jobs adequately, there were bids and projects lost to metal construction. The...

High-tech fuel monitoring: aboveground storage tanks are friendlier to the environment.(Rinker Materials Corp)(SCI Distribution L.L.C)(fuel management systems)
August 1, 2005... Rinker Materials Corp. has begun installing wireless fuel management systems at several sites throughout the nation, says a well-placed source within the company. The company that makes the fuel management systems, SCI Distribution of...

Preventing plastic shrinkage cracks.(which occur in concrete manufacturing )
August 1, 2005... Q. We are a concrete producer who pours a great deal of residential flatwork in the Midwest. Despite all our best efforts, we seem to be constantly fighting the battle against plastic shrinkage cracks that sometimes appear shortly after a pour....

Cement's ups and downs.(cement supply and demand)
August 1, 2005... There is much to consider when pondering the future of cement prices, which have increased by up to $40 a ton in some areas since prices started going up last year. You'd think this jump would more than offset the roughly $20 per-ton rate...

Biggest or best? To the small customer, his producer is among the best.(construction contractors)(concrete producers)(Column)
August 1, 2005... I've lived near a big city my whole life. But shortly after my wife Robbie and I got married, we decided to live in the country. Our haven from the hustle and bustle of the big city is two counties away. We found a nice home on 1 1/2 acres, not...

TCP 100 batter up: producers score big in another good year.(concrete producers's Fourth Annual TCP 100 survey)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... With 162 games to play, a major league baseball season is more like a marathon, rather than a sprint. A year in the life of a concrete producer is similar. How you handle business and its, challenges day in and day out over the long-run...

The returns are in: undergraduate research is bearing fruit.(Concrete Industry Management program)(Middle Tennessee State University)(Arizona State University)
August 1, 2005... Ten years ago, concrete industry leaders collectively went back to school. Sensing the impending need for new leaders, a steering committee worked together to develop a four-year degreed program. Its goal wasn't to create another civil...

The envy of others: students apply classwork to real-life work situations.(Jason Stepanski)(World Center for Concrete Technology)(concrete technology projects)
August 1, 2005... Jason Stepanski can't believe he's already finished his two-year degree program. That, doesn't make him any different than most of his classmates. What sets the 23-year-old Detroit resident apart from most of his counterparts is that he already...

Dignified work: precaster rises to the occasion to produce thousands of burial vaults.(Wieser's Concrete Products Inc)(National Concrete Burial Vault Association convention)
August 1, 2005... When dealing with hard-bargaining customers, many salesmen refer to a saying goes something like, "On this project we offer good, fast, inexpensive... pick any two." Not too tong ago, the production team at Wieser Concrete Products found...

Forward thinking, looking back: the high-tech cameras can weight as little as a pound.(Product Pulse)
August 1, 2005... Hindsight is supposed to be 20/20, especially when you are talking about rear object detection systems for truck safety. Safety is a constant issue for concrete producers. Decreasing accidents pays significant dividends, including greater...

Concrete in extreme temperatures: new CD examines the effects of hot and cold.(Bookshelf)(Portland Cement Association )(effects of weather on concrete)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Extreme weather temperatures call for special measures when working with concrete. The Portland Cement Association has introduced Hot and Cold Weather Concreting (CD057), a new training program providing an introduction to the effects of hot or...

Posi-Turner[R] Rotation Beams.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2005... Posi-Turner[R] Rotation Beams This Posi-Turner[R] quickly, easily, and safely rotates concrete molds from the pour position to the stripping position and back again in minutes. Posi-Turner's can be used for any application that required mold or...

ERMC mesh benders.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2005... Steel is expensive and so is the freight to transport it. Why take delivery of pre-bent mesh when you can bend your own, on your jobsite? ERMC mesh benders are designed to bend the full range of mesh, in virtually any width and any angle up to...

ERMC computerized mesh rollers.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2005... 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, 2005... Filter Technology Ltd. has engineered a reliable filtration system that does the same job 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...

Seal saver cylinder cover.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2005... Eliminate acid wash damage to cylinder rods and extend cylinder life three-fold and beyond. Over 6,000 Tag-Axle "SEAL SAVERS" in application. 2-year warranty on Bridgemaster Kevlar version. Simple wrap-around installation. Also available for...

Tumblemaster.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2005... Revolutionary and novel aging plant for concrete pavers, the "Tumblemaster". It finishes complete layers of concrete pavers (60-100 mm) on both sides inline 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, 2005... 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...

Molecular Cement Dissolver.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2005... "Back-Set" Molecular Cement Dissolver is a unique acid alternative formulated by RoMix, Inc. "Back-Set" works on the molecular level breaking down the ionic bond of the portland cement, turning it to a rinse free mud! "Back-Set" is...

Admixtures for colored concrete.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2005... Award winning projects begin with award winning materials. CHROMIX[R] Admixtures for Color-Conditioned[TM] Concrete ore colored, water-reducing, set-controlling admixtures for ready mixed architectural concrete. Coloring concrete integrally,...

Super strong 22 KP lifting system.(Producer Products showcase)
August 1, 2005... Our popular Ring System is available in 15 Kp and 22 Kp capacities. The all new 22 Kp system has all of the advantages of our 15 Kp version, including reliability, ease of use and spall-free lifting. Simply add the inserts before curing, move...

WOC Mexico gets grande.(World of Concrete Mexico)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Mirroring the growth of Mexican construction, World of Concrete Mexico 2005 in June attracted about 10% more attendees, and 75 more exhibitors than the 2004 inaugural show. Attendees this year saw a wide range of concrete industry-related...

Architectural precast's best.(Architectural Precast Association awards for Design and Manufacturing Excellence)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Architectural Precast Association announced the winners of the 2005 APA Awards for Design and Manufacturing Excellence recently. The competition recognizes examples of outstanding design and production utilizing architectural precast...