The Concrete Producer articles from February 2006

The Concrete Producer archives from February 2006

Investing in forward thinking.(Editorial)(Editorial)
February 1, 2006... My daughter just taught me that life as portrayed on television doesn't always match what happens in real life. I should have known better. After all, my learning experience came from watching a commercial. You've probably seen it. The...

Construction stays strong.(News)
February 1, 2006... Construction spending in the United States stood at $602.6 billion through November 2005, a 10% increase over 2004. "Total construction continues to be quite healthy, supported by what is still a brisk pace for home building," said Robert...

Holcim announces changes.(News)
February 1, 2006... Norman Fowler has accepted a seat on the Holcim Group's governing body in one of several personnel changes the company announced recently. He had been non-executive chairman of Aggregate Industries (AI), which Zurich-based Holcim acquired last...

Upcoming conferences & events.(News)(Calendar)
February 1, 2006... National Green Building Conference The National Green Building Conference will be held March 12-14 at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque in New Mexico. Learn why a growing number of home builders are "greening the American dream" by making...

Printing on demand: new software transforms your data into custom documents in real time.(E-CONCRETE)
February 1, 2006... In the last few years, the digital camera has turned photographers into graphic designers. Cut and paste has become as much of the photo process as focus and snap. Along with this change, digital camera users now share their photos in ways...

Just a little nudge: smoothing out non-SCC concrete productions.(What's New)
February 1, 2006... Despite all of the hoopla surrounding self-consolidating concrete (SCC), precast producers still need ways to effectively and safely consolidate the product in the forms. But given the greater attention to mix designs, many producers are...

Sizing up block.(Problem Clinic)
February 1, 2006... Q. We are about to bid on a large project next month. The architect is not from our area and has plans to use both 10-inch and 12-inch block. What is the minimum web thickness we can provide for each block size on this project? A. You...

A list you should skip: the reasons for safety violations have changed little in the past decade.(United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
February 1, 2006... David Letterman is famous for getting laughs with his Top 10 lists every night. But there's another list to which producers should pay attention. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) creates its own list, but this one...

Farewell, Mr. Chairman: we should feel confident about Alan Greenspan's successor.(Concrete Returns)
February 1, 2006... Jay Leno loves to call attention to the general dimwittedness of the average person walking on the street with his hilarious "Jay Walking" interviews. He asks everyday people questions about current events or basic knowledge any first grader...

Out of the blocks: ever more ways to use this versatile building material.(Ask the Drum Turns)
February 1, 2006... It's important to start training while they're young. This was the premise I worked on last Christmas. My grandkids never tired of using their time in our home to leave ambushes in the family room of our house-turned playroom. I wanted to...

A window into beauty.
February 1, 2006... In Dan Houk's world, beauty and ruggedness mix well. It's a part of the country were a few minutes' drive one way or another decides the course for the day. For instance, just a few miles east, there's the chiseled beauty of the Coeur d'Alene...

Checking for water penetration resistance: producers can check production quality of integrally treated block.
February 1, 2006... The concrete masonry industry is reviewing three methods to test water penetration and resistance of concrete masonry units. They are, from top to bottom, the spray bar test, water uptake test, and bead penetration test. These precedures are...

Taking the test: producers now have a standard test for developing and using SCC.
February 1, 2006... Since it was introduced in North America in 2000, the use of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) has grown as ready-mix and precast concrete producers, as well as contractors, have recognized its production and placement benefits. SCC is a...

Next is MCPX: nearly 300 exhibitors will show the latest innovations.(MCPX Product Preview)
February 1, 2006... The Manufactured Concrete Products Exposition (MCPX) goes west, with a stint in Anaheim, Calif. The world's largest trade show specifically for the manufactured concrete product industry takes place Feb. 23-25 at the Anaheim Convention Center....

Turning gray into gold: manufacturers are offering surface-marring equipment.(Product Pulse)
February 1, 2006... Architects are rediscovering concrete block. And what [they want to spec on their jobs is that extra something that transforms standard 8s or 12s into architectural units. Concrete producers have responded to this new demand by offering a...

The upside of upkeep: there's lots to consider when developing a fleet preventive maintenance program.(Fleet Factors)
February 1, 2006... A solid preventive maintenance program can help concrete producers' fleet managers minimize vehicle repair costs and downtime. But an inefficient, poorly designed program can cost time and money. Fleet managers should review several areas...

More at the show.(Fleet Factors)
February 1, 2006... These and other maintenance techniques will be discussed in greater detail during a session at the National Truck Equipment Association's Work Truck Show, Feb. 28, in Atlanta. Author Robert Johnson will be joined by Dave Williams, fleet...

Legends in their time: get the inside story on some of the nation's greatest engineers.(Bookshelf)
February 1, 2006... Behind every great American civil engineering accomplishment, there is a great American civil engineer. Throughout history, civil engineers have made an enormous impact on the progress and development of the United States. Engineering Legends...

Pre-cast forming systems.(Producer Products Showcase)
February 1, 2006... AFTEC's concrete fence wall forming systems are at the top for efficiency and versatility. The patented Combo-Cast[TM] unit, whereby the column and panel are cast as one piece, requires less than one half of the manufacturing, handling and...

ERMC mesh benders.(Producer Products Showcase)
February 1, 2006... 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...

Precise color measurement of concrete.(Producer Products Showcase)
February 1, 2006... Use a HunterLab MiniScan XE Plus portable color measurement instrument to quickly and easily quantify the color of your concrete product or raw materials. It can be used at the plant or on the jobsite to measure precast product. Ensure that you...

Molecular Cement Dissolver.(Producer Products Showcase)
February 1, 2006... "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)
February 1, 2006... Award winning projects begin with award winning materials. CHROMIX Admixtures for Color-Conditioned[TM] Concrete are colored, water-reducing, set-controlling admixtures for ready mixed architectural concrete. Coloring concrete integrally, they...

Universal's twister connector.(Producer Products Showcase)
February 1, 2006... Designed to withstand and spread concrete forces when connecting the side of the flange of one double tee beam, wall or slab to adjacent concrete in precast parking garage floors, bridge decks and reinforced roof slabs in industrial buildings....

East meets west.(In the Mix)
February 1, 2006... The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro has joined with Tongji University in Shanghai, China, to pursue collaborative activities between the two schools. MTSU president Sidney...

Pipe plant expands.(In the Mix)
February 1, 2006... Cayuga Concrete Pipe is building a new $3.5 million plant in Croydon, Pa. The new facility, which will be an addition to its existing plant, will allow quicker turnaround of orders, enhance quality, and increase efficiency, the company says....

Thinking about sustainability.(In the Mix)
February 1, 2006... The Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the Association of Collegiate Schools or Architecture (ACSA) have announced the Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World international student design competition. Sponsored by PCA and administered...