The Concrete Producer articles from January 2003

The Concrete Producer archives from January 2003

Where fortunes are made.(opinion)(Editorial)
January 1, 2003... As we rush about here to ready ourselves for the World of Concrete next month, I've been in a sort of reverie. Part of my preparation has been to brief Amara Rozgus, this magazine's new Managing Editor, on what to expect at the show. It...

Pioneers in education recognized.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Recognizing the Atlanta-based producer's commitment to the Workplace Education program of lifelong learning, the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education recently awarded Thomas Concrete Industries their 2002 annual award for...

Safety and skills competition winners announced.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Florida Concrete & Products Association Inc. (FC&PA), Orlando, Fla., recently announced the winners of its Sixth Annual Safety & Skills Competition. More than 80 ready-mix truck drivers, forklift, and front-end loader operators from across...

Informational CD available from CRSI.(News)(compact disk, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Epoxy Coated Reinforcement--a CD-ROM developed for manufacturers, consultants, engineers, and state agency personnel--is now available from the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI), Schaumburg, Ill. The disk is a compilation that...

Call for papers.(News)
January 1, 2003... The ASTM's Symposium on Cement-Admixture Interactions, to be held on Dec. 10, 2003, is now accepting papers. The symposium will be held in conjunction with the standards developments meetings of Committees C01 and C09 in Tampa, Fla., Dec. 7-12....

Leadership changes hands at Anderson Concrete.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Doug Anderson has been elected president of Anderson Concrete Corp., Columbus, Ohio. Anderson replaces his father, who was president of the ready-mix company for 26 years. Anderson has more than 20 years of experience in the concrete and...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... It is always interesting to see the TCP 100 listing in your magazine. I do not envy the difficult process you have in evaluating each organization. As a businessman involved in the ready-mix industry, it was disappointing to see our name...

Never let a salesman dispatch.(As the Drum Turns)
January 1, 2003... "Sure, we can get to your order today. We appreciate your business!" Have you ever heard these words? In this era of building good customer relations, many producers spend time, money, and effort trying to convey a sense of customer awareness...

Nondestructive testing: Part 2: ultrasonic testing assesses concrete's soundness.(What's New)(Related Article: Sounding out concrete quality.)
January 1, 2003... Last month, I reported on a newly patented technology for nondestructive testing of concrete. While electromagnetic testing and ground-penetrating radar are effective in assessing concrete's soundness, it's not surprising that engineers like to...

Avoiding the Tower of Babel: users must determine whether XML will help decipher the language of the workplace.(E-Concrete)
January 1, 2003... There are some definite indications that concrete is going high-tech. And it's more than the number of pagers, cell phones, PDAs, and GPS devices found among the fixed assets of many producers. Even the batch, dispatching, and order-taking...

Seeking approved test methods for SCC.(Troubleshooting)(self-consolidating concrete)
January 1, 2003... Q. I would like to know what quality control test methods govern the production of self-consolidating concrete. Are any approved by ASTM? A. Your question was answered in depth in a keynote paper presented by Martin Vachon and Joe Daczko at...

How does Mica affect concrete's ultimate strength?(Troubleshooting)
January 1, 2003... Q. Recently, a participant in Aggregate Research Industries' online forum posed the following question on a coarse aggregate problem. The user was concerned with variable aggregate quality and thought that it was impacting concrete compressive...

Concrete for a fire pit.(Troubleshooting)
January 1, 2003... Q. Another question posed on the ARI Web site focused on concrete fire resistance. The forum member asked, "I have a customer building a fire pit with a poured floor and walls for burning pallets and such. How can I make the concrete more fire...

Piping fresh concrete: how pumping can take ready-mix produces to the next level.(Cover Story)
January 1, 2003... Instinct tells most ready-mix producers that adding to a fleet can add to the potential for more headaches. It usually means more variables to watch, more debt to absorb, more people to pay, and at worst case, more trouble than it's worth. ...

Hurdling the acceptance barrier: how to work self-consolidating concrete into state acceptance.
January 1, 2003... When visitors come to Rotondo Precast, they always comment on two things: The vibrators have been removed from the form and locked into closets and the pour crew consists of just two people. Since the company changed over to...

Comparing fiber performance: ASTM C 1399 gives producers an easy way to measure the toughness of fiber reinforcement in concrete.
January 1, 2003... Producers have long been touting the benefits of fiber-reinforced concrete, helping concrete contractors understand how fibers improve the quality and durability of flatwork. Now, recent research and marketing initiatives are enabling producers...

Trucking ahead in 2003: if 2002 was the year of the mixer, what will happen this year?
January 1, 2003... When asked to comment on the events that significantly changed the way concrete producers did business in 2002, historians should focus on one key answer--trucking. There's even a good chance that they may choose the slogan "keep on trucking"...

Tested and approved: when it comes to approving material sources, preliminary and recurring tests are necessary.
January 1, 2003... The concrete producer can do everything right in terms of mix proportioning, aggregate gradation, and plant maintenance and still the concrete might not perform as desired. That's because the concrete production process depends on the...

RCC and producers: the right mix: the producer should know about a few unique attributes of the material before pursuing the small pavement market.(roller-compacted concrete)
January 1, 2003... When developing an effective introduction plan for a new product, the toughest challenge is to deliver the innovation at the right price and the highest quality from the start. When a contractor is deciding whether to approve concrete for use,...

Designing the future: creating new mix designs for ICFs: you are invited to participate in the first industry-wide mix design research effort to help determine the best concrete mix for insulating concrete form construction.(insulating concrete forms)
January 1, 2003... Market acceptance of insulating concrete forms (ICF) construction among contractors and consumers has steadily increased over the past few years. According to figures compiled by the Portland Cement Association and the National Association of...

Have your place in history: cover models wanted: nominate yourself for the May cover today.(World of Concrete)
January 1, 2003... Each year the editors select a producer to be the cover subject of the May issue of our magazine. To qualify for the drawing, you need to either e-mail managing editor Amara Rozgus at arozgus@hanely-wood.com or fill out an entry form at the...

Browse the WOC Bookstore: WOC Bookstore showcases new construction books and CD-ROMs.(World of Concrete)
January 1, 2003... World of Concrete Bookstore brings an array of new products to Las Vegas this year. Constantly updating and expanding, WOC Bookstore brings the newest and most pertinent technical publications, CD-ROMs, and videos to WOC attendees. The most...

The people's choice: readers can cast their vote in the first annual Most Innovative Products contest either online or at World of Concrete.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... Since its beginning, World of Concrete is the place where concrete industry professionals meet every year to learn about the most innovative technologies that manufacturers have to offer. Every year, a select few exhibitors display truly...

Admixture kit for field corrections.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... Ready-mix producers can use the Rescue-Pak to correct problems with loads of concrete in the field. Rescue-Pak contains six different admixtures (Superplasticizer 5, Slick-Pak II, Super Air Plus, Mini Delayed Set, Super Slump Buster, and...

Dispenser for fiber bags.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... Producers can use this unique Fiber Dispenser (patent pending) to transfer BulletPAC bags of fibers to a central mixer or ready-mix truck easily, safely, and accurately. Bags weighing 3/4, 1, 1 1/2, or 2 pounds are dispensed from a remote...

High-flow manifold for admixture dispensers.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... Recently improved, this one-piece cast manifold assembly now features l-inch NPT connections to provide producers with twice the flow rate of a 3/4-inch manifold and much quicker dispensing of high-viscosity chemical admixtures. The assembly...

Modular concrete fence with wood-grain texture.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... This company reportedly has developed the first vertical modular concrete fence--the new Cedarcrete concrete fence system--using its patented technology. The 4500- to 5500- psi precast concrete units feature a deeply embossed wood-grain texture...

Slump-inspection platform.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... Slump Master 2 is a slump-inspection platform that ready-mix producers can customize to best meet their specific needs and plant space requirements while providing an OSHA-safe working environment for their personnel. Typical platform uses...

Shut-off valve for mixer trucks.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... Ready-mix producers looking to limit water overflow from their tracks can use this company's Waterdog Automatic Shut-Off Valve. Such overflow not only is costly (wasting heated water), it also damages concrete pavements and creates a safety...

Paver machine with quick mold changes.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... Hydraulic molds on the Model PS Paver Machines can be changed in just 2 minutes at the push of a button, letting producers increase productivity and profitability by making another product without having to remove both base and face concrete...

Mortar buggy.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... The Stone Mud Buggy, a new 16-cubic-foot mortar buggy, has a load capacity of 2500 pounds and is powered by a 13-hp Honda engine. It features a one-person one-piece, lift-away engine cover for easy access and a brake pedal and dump pedal that...

Zero tail swing compact excavator.(most innovative products)
January 1, 2003... This company introduces the 3 1/2-ton Kubota U35, its first 'Zero Tail Swing" compact excavator, to the U.S. market for efficient operations in space-restricted areas. Zero Tail Swing allows the operator to rotate the upper structure 360...

Price breakthrough for dust collectors.(Producer Product Showcase)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2003... Filter Technology Ltd. has engineered a reliable filtration system that does the same job as stainless steel at a fraction of the cost. The low density rotationally molded polyethylene body is rated for service from -20 to 250 degrees F. Four...

Concrete coloring systems.(Producer Product Showcase)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2003... L.M. Scofield Company provides a reliable and versatile engineered system for coloring, texturing and improving performance in architectural concrete. Create exceptionally durable and beautiful hard surfaces for plazas, walkways, streets,...

Skin safety with cement & concrete.(Producer Product Showcase)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2003... Wet cement products like concrete, mortar, and grout can be hazardous to the skin when not handled properly. Workers need to know these hazards and how to work safely with wet cement products. This 15 minute video is a great training tool for...

Non-stick bullfloat handle.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... The improved K2 bullfloat handle is made of nonconductive nylon composite material. Concrete will not stick to its lightweight composite material. It has a 1-to-1 turning ratio for easier handling and will fit two- or four-bolt bullfloats and...

High-strength crack injection.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... A new crack injection product for concrete repair called the Crackbond Adhesive System restores concrete. It is available in formulas of various viscosities that depend on the particular application. The system's injection resin has a...

Wheelbarrow with locking brake.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Jeep wheelbarrows feature a patented locking disk brake that makes it easier for contractors to control loads on hills, park on slopes, and dump out materials with precision. To activate the brake, simply depress the lever attached to the right...

Powerful tilt-up anchor.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Featuring a patented deep-cutting thread design that achieves powerful load capacities, the new Tilt-Wall Wedge-Bolt anchor is engineered for anchoring brace shoes that support tilt-up concrete wall panels. The high-strength anchors are...

Provides sandblasted decorative look.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... The adhesive-backed Plastic Border Stencil allows contractors to produce the same results as sandblasting in less time, eliminating the need for specialized and costly sandblasting equipment, cleanup, and debris disposal. The stencil allows the...

Polymer-modified countertop coating.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Contractors can use the pre-colored Dura-Top Counter Top System either as is for concrete countertops, tabletops, and tilt-up sections-or they can mix in a lightweight aggregate and pour the product for thicker jobs like mantelpieces and bases....

High-gloss, protective floor coating.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Duro-Shine floor polish provides a high gloss and improved slip and stain resistance on sealed concrete floors immediately, without buffing. Duro-Shine is not a sealer or coating but a water-based synthetic polymer polish that provides a high...

Graffiti barrier coating.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... CPU 647 is a new non-sacrificial graffiti barrier coating, which is applied to brick, concrete, stucco, and other building materials whether painted or not. The two-component, waterborne polyurethane coating is available in a clear or pigmented...

High-workability masonry cements.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... MRT E-Z Joint masonry cements are made primarily from recycled coal-combustion fly ash, which contains silica, clay, lime, and alumina. These cements use half as much water as conventional masonry cement, resulting in lighter-weight mortar for...

Front-discharge chute cover.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... This manufacturer recently added its 11 Shute Shutter model and its second for front-discharge mixer tracks with the Model WFP100, which is specifically designed for the Oshkosh Powerfold chute. The WFP100 is fully automatic, contains debris...

Safe paint system.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... The Silacote mineral silicate paint system is applied on concrete, masonry, and other cementitious substances. The fully tintable, water-based, chemically adhered inorganic paint is noncombustible, nontoxic, nonallergenic, environmentally safe,...

Beveled blades for early-entry saws.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... New Pro-Edge beveled blades for early-entry saws are specially designed for architectural scoring to replace labor-intensive hand tooling. The V-Line and Radius Line blades bevel the cut, allowing for straighter joint lines, increased...

Heavy-duty control joint filler.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... The main component of the Ceva Plug Joint system is Elasto Flex, a colored two-component polymer-modified epoxy that serves as a heavy-duty control joint filler. Combined with the company's Eva-Seal and Eva-Pox Bonder 1 products, the system...

Color-safe masonry cleaner.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... A chlorinated glutaraldehyde solution with a detergent base, NMD-80 allows safe but effective cleanup of new masonry structures and lets contractors use fewer applications than normal The product is designed to solve a host of problems,...

Heavy-duty adjustable wall-tie system.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Level Eye is a continuous adjustable wall-tie system with a profile that does not exceed 3/16 inch in height and "lollipop" design eyelets that provide maximum strength and durability. These eyelets meet ACI530 Code requirements and feature...

Noncorrosive equipment cleaner.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Crete-Away liquid compound dissolves cured cement, mortar, and concrete so that contractors can remove these materials from forms, tools, vehicles, and mixers easily. This product contains no muriatic, sulfuric, phosphoric, or hydrofluoric...

Self-leveling industrial wear topping.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... The K Tex 042 overlay is a two-component, self-leveling product specifically designed for use in exterior environments and as a wear topping for industrial applications. Comprehensive strengths of greater than 7000 psi and an extremely dense...

Quickly scrapes floors.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Designed for use with all 15-pound chipping hammers, the Floor Scraper allows contractors to scrape large areas quickly. It is ideal for a range of heavy-duty applications such as tile and carpet adhesive removal and industrial floors. For...

Concrete dowel drilling unit.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... This popular multi-gang concrete dowel drilling unit combines many features that make it an inexpensive yet highly productive drill system. An automatic oil-injection system lubricates both drills individually from a single reservoir. An...

Various filler/sealant applications.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Sealtight Rezi-Weld Flex is a two-part, pourable, moisture-insensitive semi-rigid epoxy that suits a variety of joint filler/sealant applications. When cured, it offers a Shore D Hardness of 60. It was developed for use in narrow saw cuts,...

Epoxy floor system has granite look.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... The PolyMax DCS epoxy floor system is now available with blends of vinyl chips that create the effect of granite, providing an alternative to granite and terrazzo floors. It consists of an epoxy primer/sealer that adheres to concrete. An...

Precast finish.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Using a resin and a hardener, Copps Armorguard 505 produces a smooth finish for almost any precast form. The product has a convenient 2:1 mix ratio with virtually no odor and is VOC-compliant. Designed for use on wood, concrete, and steel...

Protects floors from cracking.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... PAC POLYUREA is a rapid-setting, two-part polyurea elastomer that reportedly is flexible enough to allow surface movement while protecting the edges of concrete from spalling under heavy loading. When cured, it has a hardness of 50, 70, or 85...

Power boxes for core drills.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Power boxes (PB WX2, PB WX8, and PB WX10) can convert electricity into high-frequency power--giving contractors a way to expand the versatility of their core drills. The PB WX2, an air-cooled unit, is used with the company's Beluga WX2 core...

Customized storage silos.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... These silos range from 250- to 1050-barrel capacities with various options including dust collectors, level switches, relief valves, screw conveyors, and access platforms. The company can provide custom sizes and split silos for various...

Full body harness with safety extras.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... The line of full body harnesses is available in premium, standard, and economical grades. All harnesses are available with a sliding back D-ring for fall protection attachment as well as optional side D-rings for positioning, shoulder D-rings...

Portable coating sprayer.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... The portable gas-driven XTG texture and stucco sprayer can apply a wide range of materials from joint compounds, acoustical ceiling materials, EIFS, finish stucco, fire stop products, and concrete coloring materials. It features a 5.5-hp Honda...

Foam joint backstop.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... Bagged ITP Backer Rod Insulating Filler now comes in small 20-foot quantities to make job costing more accurate. The closed-cell polyethylene foam is inserted into a joint to control sealant depth to create a backstop that allows proper sealant...

High-reactivity metakaolin.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... MetaMax high-reactivity metakaolin (HRM) is an ultrafine pozzolan that enhances the strength, durability, and workability of concrete and cement-based products. Because it is a bright white powder, it does not darken the appearance of concrete...

Hydraulic drilling machine.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... An external power pack allows the company's T43 Hydraulic Drill Rig to be used in previously inaccessible areas such as inside buildings. It is designed to be ideal for foundation repair projects in which contractors want to use grouting...

Concrete maintenance franchises.(Products contractors will want to buy)
January 1, 2003... This company has launched a concrete maintenance franchise business that combines three elements for the contractor: equipment, chemistry, and marketing. The franchisor has joined forces with ProSoCo to surface treatment chemicals such as...

Manufacturer incentive.(World Of Concrete Preview)
January 1, 2003... Manufacturers often include special promotional programs as a part of their World of Concrete display. This year Manual Haynie, sales manager at Henry Manufacturing Company, a Hampton, Virginia-based manufacturer of concrete reclaiming...

Lifting the burden of chute: truck-mounted assembly helps to eliminate hand and back injuries.(Fleet Factors)
January 1, 2003... Fleet managers walking through this year's World of Concrete exhibition halls will have a field day examining the new versions of chassis, engines, and mixers. They'll discover numerous examples of manufacturer improvements designed with a...