The Concrete Producer articles from August 2006

The Concrete Producer archives from August 2006

Stuck in row 21.(how does workplace effects)(top producers)(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... I have a new perspective on personal space. When I recently flew from New York to Chicago, I didn't give my assignment of seat 21F a second thought. I was just happy to be heading home earlier than I had expected. But I should have realized...

Scoring a goal for Concrete.(In the Mix)(World of Concrete Mexico)
August 1, 2006... Amid the nationwide fervor of Mexico's second game in the first round of the World Cup, this year's World of Concrete Mexico had a definite soccer theme. Most exhibitors this June day in Mexico City had draped images in their booths...

Badgers float to victory.(Wisconsin Winners)(in the Annual National Concrete Canoe Competition hosted by Oklahoma State University)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... In what's becoming an annual ritual, the University of Wisconsin-Madison took first place in the 19th Annual National Concrete Canoe Competition, held in June at Oklahoma State University. It was the Badgers' fourth straight victory. The...

Truck winner.(Wisconsin Winners)(Michael Moran won the Site Commander 2005 National Tour competition)(hosted by Hilti Western Hemisphere)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Site Commander 2005 National Tour ended in June with one lucky contractor winning the Site Commander work track. Hilti Western Hemisphere president/ CEO Cary Evert presented the keys to "the ultimate work truck" to Michael Moran at Hilti's...

U.S. Concrete acquires producers.(Wisconsin Winners)
August 1, 2006... Kurtz Gravel Co. of Flint, Mich. was bought by U.S. Concrete for $13 million cash and certain liabilities. Kurtz's six ready-mix plants and mines in southeast Michigan generate about $32 million in annual sales. U.S. Concrete also recently paid...

New marketing manager.(Wisconsin Winners)
August 1, 2006... Mike Saubert was named new marketing manager for Front Range Concrete in Boulder, Colo. He will market FLXX watertight septic and containment systems, Precon fabricated bridges, and Halo automated precast manufacturing equipment. Visit...

ASTM.(Associations in the Mix)
August 1, 2006... A new edition of a popular ASTM international publication on concrete offers valuable updates. You can buy STP 169D, "Significance of Tests and Properties of Concrete and Concrete-Making Materials," through ASTM customer service. Telephone...

NRMCA.(Associations in the Mix)
August 1, 2006... Dan Huffman was named managing director, natural resources. Formerly a senior national resource director, Huffman now leads the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's national field promotion efforts. Visit www.nrmca.org.

CRSI.(Associations in the Mix)
August 1, 2006... The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute has formed its first regional chapter in Canada. Martin Gobin of Heritage Steel is the chapter's chairman. The chapter consists of 10 companies in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba....

Upcoming conferences & events.(In the Mix)
August 1, 2006... 2006 ASCC Annual Conference The American Society of Concrete Contractors holds its annual conference Sept. 14-17 at the Hilton Milwaukee Center. Producers will be interested in attending a seminar on decorative concrete mix designs. Other...

Good measure: this system checks the content of silos and bins in real time.(E-CONCRETE)(BinMaster's eBob software works with SmartBob2 sensors)
August 1, 2006... Surprises are okay for birthday parties, but they re generally not a good idea on the job. For instance, nobody wants to run out of material halfway into batching a load of concrete. But now it's easier than ever to check the content of...

Keeping the lines open: a new turnkey communication device keeps the initial wiring costs down and network availability up.(What's New)
August 1, 2006... Concrete plant operations are tough on electrical control apparatuses. While most operators perform their work in relatively dust-free and temperature-controlled batch rooms, the devices on which they rely are not. In severe environments like...

Concrete on a roll.(Problem Clinic)(American Society for Testing and Materials forming subcommittees)(roller-compacted concrete pavement construction workshops introduced by Southeast Cement Association)
August 1, 2006... Q. Due to an extremely wet spring, many construction projects in our area have been delayed. One is a parking lot where the contractor will place a sizeable amount of roller-compacted concrete (RCC). How does hot summer weather usually...

Making perfect block.(Problem Clinic)(constructing concrete blocks)
August 1, 2006... Q. We have recently been experiencing some color and surface variations on our architectural block. Are there any guidelines you can provide to help us troubleshoot our problems? A. As production rates increase in summer, it's common to...

A look back and ahead: don't be surprised to see a recession next year.(Concrete Returns)
August 1, 2006... As we head toward the home stretch of 2006, it might be interesting to review some of the predictions I previously expressed. So far, I'm happy to say, it looks like I'm batting 1.000. Inflation and interest rates I am more worried...

Lead, follow, or get the heck out of the way! Leadership comes in handy when the going gets tough.(As the Drum Turns)
August 1, 2006... How many times have we heard that slogan? One reason for an organization's success is how it develops a work environment where everyone is involved is some type of leadership role. Sometimes we get the idea that as sales managers, we lead...

Building on success 100: as housing softens, commercial business should pick up.(Cover story)
August 1, 2006... Concrete has made the foundation of America. It is the skeleton of our infrastructure and of the tallest, strongest buildings where the business titans of the modern era formulate their strategies. The skylines of the nation's cities...

Fly ash and concrete: a study determines whether biomass, or coal co-firing fly ash, can be used in concrete.
August 1, 2006... Current national standards for using fly ash in concrete (ASTM C618) state that fly ash must come from coal combustion, thus precluding biomass-coal co-firing fly ash. The co-fired fly ash comes from a large and increasing fraction of U.S....

Real-life testing: many companies take advantage of the WCCT's facilities and personnel.(World Center for Concrete Technology)
August 1, 2006... Plastic beads, rice hulls, and crushed corn-cob are not exactly what one expects to find in a concrete research lab. But these are exactly the kind of things one might find regularly at the World Center for Concrete Technology's (WCCT)...

Tips for scales: there's much to consider when buying a truck scale.(Product Pulse)
August 1, 2006... More and more producers are adding truck scales to their plants. They are handy for operations such as verifying the weight of a partially loaded mixer before top loading. They can provide an added inventory check by weighing aggregate truck...

Aggregates for precast.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... Precast concrete producers can choose from almost any architectural or specialty stone or sand in just about any size, from fine ( 3/4 inch). Materials include granite, grit, marble, various stones, sand, and more. Upper Canada Stone Co. Ltd....

Mobile batch plant is self-contained rig.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... For complete control over dry-mix material, from batching to placement, the 914 mobile batch plant has a 12- to 14-cu.-yd. bulk material capacity and a 20-cu.-yd. per hour production capacity. It allows contractors to mix material at the...

Concrete pump with detachable boom.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... The truck-mounted KVM 39 X concrete pump with Generation 2 detachable boom offers lighter picking weight (13,200 pounds) and faster mounting. This is achieved thanks to a separate powerpack/reservoir, which is flown to the mounting point...

Self-leveling pipe hook.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... Designed for trench boxes and confined spaces, the PH3500 pipe hook is ideal for all sizes and types of pipe. It features 3500-pound capacity and a self-leveling mechanism housed inside the hook body. It also has a urethane pad that prevents...

For concrete compression machines.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... Designed for growing labs, DOTs, and universities, the Test Pilot digital indicator for concrete compression machines has a four-channel transducer input system with two selectable load channels to capture load data from one or two load frames....

Liquid crystalline waterproofing admixture.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... Aquafin-IC Admix is a liquid crystalline waterproofing admixture whose components react with moisture and free lime to grow tiny crystals that penetrate the concrete matrix. The crystals fill capillary voids and seal hairline cracks, enabling...

Obstacle detection system for mixer trucks.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... Designed for select McNeilus, London, and Oshkosh S-Series ready-mix trucks, the Eagle Eye system provides drivers with location and distance information on potential hazards hidden in vehicle blind spots. It uses sensors that detect obstacles...

Stressing jack improves safety.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... The Paul 250kN stressing jack is a safe stressing jack for the precast/ prestressed concrete industry. An internal feature automatically grips the strand when it starts to extend. The strand also stays in the center, preventing the jack from...

Manual chain hoist.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... The KM manual chain hoist is compact for easy use. It features automatic, self-sustaining brakes, alloy steel, and heat-treated hooks with a safety catch. All mechanical components are heat-treated, and the hoist itself is powder-coated. KCI...

Two long-reaching concrete pumps.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... The Sany 52M and 56M concrete pumps employ Volvo chassis and five-fold booms that can pump up to 140 cubic yards per hour with a 32MPa hydraulic system. The 52M features a horizontal reach of 156 feet and a vertical height of 169 feet. The 56M...

15-yard tilt mixer.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... The R&S Tilt Mixer features a 15-cu.-yd. capacity and an oversized drum opening that allows highspeed charging and discharging of all materials for maximum concrete production. Its blade design reduces mixing time, cleanup, and concrete buildup...

Crushes hard rock.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... For processing even the most severe-duty hard rock, the Model 3258 Jaw Crusher tackles challenging demolition debris applications. Its 12- x 58-inch opening and long crushing chamber with shallow nip angles deliver aggressive crushing action...

Speedy compact wheel loader.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... The John Deere 344J compact wheel loader moves more material quickly, even at crowded jobsites. The key to its productivity is oscillated stereo steering, which delivers fast cycle times by allowing tight turns with large loads. The...

Light, steerable lift axle.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... Weighing 689 pounds, the Composilite FBC self-steering auxiliary lift axle is available in capacities of up to 10,000 pounds. This lift axle is ideal for fleets and owner operators who do not need a full 13,500-pound capacity lift axle for...

Aluminum blockouts for precast concrete.(PRODUCTS FOR THE PRODUCER)
August 1, 2006... The new line of Ezy-Stryp aluminum blockouts work in combination with button magnets for quick positioning within the form. They can create rectangular or circular openings in precast concrete. Adjustable blockouts with a minimum diameter of 12...

Ready for new engine rules: preparations are underway for smooth fleet conversions.(Fleet Factors)
August 1, 2006... In the last few months, two major truck engine manufacturers have demonstrated they are ready for the new Tier III engine emissions rules which become effective Jan. 1. Caterpillar Inc. recently proved its readiness to the U.S....

Survey says ... Almost six out of 10 women say they are paid fairly compared to men.(Women in Concrete)
August 1, 2006... Women love working with concrete. You might think they would complain about the long hours, demanding workloads, and working with men all day. (Especially that!) But it's just not so. Earlier this year, Systech, a software provider in...