The Concrete Producer articles from December 2004

The Concrete Producer archives from December 2004

Planned spending.(capital investments)(Editorial)
December 1, 2004... This year's holiday season is bringing more stress than ever before to our home. Along with the normal hustle and bustle, we're planning our college kids return. I'm anxious to see how they've changed after being away for so long. Another...

Cemex and RMC make a deal.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Cemex said in September it will acquire RMC Group of the United Kingdom in a deal that will create a behemoth in the construction industry with annual sales of $15 billion. The boards of both companies have already approved the deal, which is...

Plant manager remembered.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Clarence Hutchison Memorial Golf Tournament raised $5500 in September. Proceeds were donated to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society in memory of Clarence "Hutch" Hutchison, former plant manager at Nitterhouse Concrete Products, who died of...

Suppliers sign technology agreement.(News)(Trimble Mobile Solutions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Command Alkon, Trimble Mobile Solutions, and McNeilus Companies will work together to integrate emerging technologies for ready-mix and aggregate trucks. This will include wireless solutions and management systems to benefit construction...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... Thirty members of the International Packaged Concrete Manufacturers Association (www.ipcma.org) visited Salt Lake City recently for our Fall Meeting. The association is composed of companies that manufacture dry packaged concrete, including...

Upcoming conferences & events.(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... American Concrete Pavement Association 41st Annual Convention The concrete pavement industry meets for ACPA's 41st Annual Convention at the Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Florida, Nov. 30-Dec. 3. The chapter/state and...

Clicking when bidding: online bidding is reaching new heights in the construction industry.(E-Concrete)
December 1, 2004... Many businesses are chasing too few customers and opportunities today. Take a look at how many fast-food joints, discount stores, and service stations line the streets in any city or suburb. I sometimes ask myself how Wendy's, Wal-Mart, and the...

Ultracleaning process water: a compact water reclaimer economically cleans colored water.(What's New)
December 1, 2004... How to treat process water containing color pigments and fibers is one of a concrete producer's greatest environmental challenges. Most clean it enough to meet most discharge permit levels. Imagine a machine that also is capabile of separating...

Sounding the alarm: do you know the requirements for truck back-up alarms and safety devices?(Fleet Factors)
December 1, 2004... Owners and fleet managers of construction trucks need to live by only one set of safety equipment rules, says Steve Spata. As the technical service manager for the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), Spata frequently talks about this...

Does new standard carry water?(Problem Clinic)(American Society for Testing and Materials, concrete mixing)
December 1, 2004... Q. As a producer, how can I use the recent changes in ASTM standards to use process water in my concrete mix designs? Promoting using process water in concrete is a tedious effort. We turned to three experts to answer this important...

I resolve ... twenty-eight years of resolutions, and still trying.(As the Drum Turns)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... As I ponder my budget, projections, and new business opportunities for the New Year, I can't help but think about resolutions. Let's face it. I realize I'm not going to lose 25 pounds, quit smoking, or get 50 new customers. But is there...

Playing by the rules: some producers have problems with Hours-of-Service, but most are able to adjust.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2004... This summer, Tim Duncan didn't mind the traffic. In fact, he's probably going to remember 2004 as one of the best year, of his life. His Aggregate Industries concrete sales region around Fargo, N.D., practically doubled in volume from recent...

Cutting the ties that bind: these products could help automate your plant.(Omnex Controls, Engineered Software Products, Elite Batch Systems)
December 1, 2004... In a small community known for manufacturing graduation gowns and growing corn 50 miles east of St. Louis, Lanny Largent starts each morning with a cup of coffee, a look at the morning paper, and a glance at his computer screen to check what's...

Modular classwork: special forms allow fast-paced construction to meet quick learning.(casting trends)(Oldcastle Precast East Inc.)
December 1, 2004... In many areas of the country, school administrators are working hard to keep up with ever-increasing demands for space. Some have turned to fast-paced construction techniques to meet the tight time-constraints. These are fast-paced...

No barrier to safety.(casting trends)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... More than 1000 fatalities and 40,000 injuries occur in construction zones each year in the United States. Florida ranked fourth in roadway construction fatalities in 2001, prompting the Florida DOT to seek an alternative to its traditional...

Acromix Mixers.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Acromix Mixers by ERMC are designed and built for decades of reliable use. Full-Size main mixer shaft, fall-Size main bearings with the exclusive Labyrinth Seal, heavy Construction, volumes beginning at 1/2 yard. Elk River Machine Company is...

Price breakthrough for dust collectors.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... 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...

Armorgard 505 epoxy form coating system.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... This unique material is ideal for coating Styrofoam, Wood, Steel or Concrete forms. Armorgard 505 is a VOC free material that has a convenient 2:1 mix ratio and is odor free. Armorgard 505 is long lasting too and will hold up in all casting...

Tumblemaster.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Revolutionary and novel aging plant tar 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 905-5754440,...

Measure color ... measure quality.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Far more reliable them 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)(Advertisement)
December 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...

Integrated moisture control.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Moisture control for dry-cast or self-compacting concrete, previously the exclusive domain of standalone moisture control computers, is now integrated into the MPAQ TouchBatch software for precast. Through an easy calibrating procedure, this...

Molecular Cement Dissolver.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... "Back-Set" Molecular Cement Dissolver is a unique add 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)(Advertisement)
December 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,...

1-Step Metric conversion calculator.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Our 1-Step: A gift that will be valued. Instantly converts U.S. to Metric and vice versa, including decimals & fractions to nearest 1/64 Measures and converts volume, mass (weight), length, area, pressure and temperature. Start making...

Gantry cranes.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Shuttlelift Gantry cranes are available in capacities from 15 ton to 1,0000 ton. Some features on our cranes include; an exclusively designed pivot Iranian for improved mobility over uneven terrain, two or four-wheel drive, radio remote control...

Step Riser Forms.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Introducing the new Step Riser Form from Western Forms. Stop wasting time placing and drilling the holes you need for steps just to have to do it again. The Step Riser Form offers guaranteed hole alignment and accurate positioning without the...

Portable batch plant.(Producer Products showcase)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... The Port-A-Pour botch plant is easy to set up, completely self contained, truly portable and highly productive. On site dedicated service increases productivity, reduces truck demand and guaranties fresh concrete. The plant con blend products...

A sure thing: World of Concrete plays Vegas.(World of Concrete)(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... There are things in life you don't mind taking a chance on. Your business is not one of them. That's why World of Concrete 2005 is the place you want to be Jan. 18-21. The world's biggest show devoted to concrete will be at the Las Vegas...

Producer power: World of Concrete, Las Vegas Jan. 18-21.(Producer Center Products)
December 1, 2004... Close to 200 exhibitors are just itching to cheer people like you at the 2005 World of Concrete. The show has made it easier to make that happen. For the fifth year, producers are invited to visit the show's Producer Center. As the...

Flatwork guidelines available online: a recent harsh winter prompted the online publication.(Bookshelf)(Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association's (IRMCA) guidelines for exterior residential concrete are available as a tree online download. The specification applies to the materials, equipment, methods, and procedures used in producing and...

Greetings from San Francisco.(In the Mix)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association picked a winner in choosing San Francisco to host its 32nd annual Operations, Environmental and Safety Forum and Expo in early October. In addition to taking in some beautiful sites in the City...