The Concrete Producer articles from October 2005

The Concrete Producer archives from October 2005

Cracks in our united front.(Editorial)
October 1, 2005... As a high school football referee, I often have a chance to see two sides of the head coach. While the coach is on the sideline, he wears the face of a fierce competitor who wants nothing more than a fair game called his way. But after the...

Going once, going twice ...(News)
October 1, 2005... Attendees at January's World of Concrete in Las Vegas will have a special opportunity to bid on equipment while helping the industry's future leaders. The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program has been raising money for a new building...

Bush signs highway bill.(News)
October 1, 2005... President Bush signed the bill to reauthorize federal highway and transit programs through fiscal 2009. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users will provide $286.5 billion in guaranteed...

ASTM developments.(American Society for Testing and Materials)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Several ASTM International committees have made announcements recently: * With an increase in the use of natural cement thanks to historical rehabilitation, C 10 Specification for Natural Cement is being restored. * Committee C09 on...

Home sweet dream house.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Mike Ott of West Allis, Wis., was the lucky winner of a Dream House giveaway at the Wisconsin State Fair this summer. The winner in the annual event takes home the home, so to speak. Proceeds benefit Wisconsin Job's Daughters. Ott has the...

Conveyor seminar.(News)
October 1, 2005... Leading experts will speak at a seminar devoted to pneumatic conveying at the CycloTech System Proving facility in York, Neb., Oct. 11-13. The Theory and Practice of Pneumatic Conveying will include demonstrations of full-scale pneumatic...

Upcoming conferences & events.(calendar)(Calendar)
October 1, 2005... ACI Convention The American Concrete Institute moved its Fall Convention in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The event will take place at the Kansas City Marriott, Nov. 6-10. The event will include a wide array of technical...

A suite solution: centralized and distributed architecture combine to boost efficiency.(E-CONCRETE)
October 1, 2005... It wasn't too log ago that mid-sized and small producers avoided investing in computer systems because set-up disrupted business and the cost was excessive. But now these same procrastinators may not have these reasons to not automate their...

Precision on the go: an on-board controller takes the slack out of slump control.(What's New)
October 1, 2005... Joe Stigler is a control freak. From his clients' perspective, his detailed attention to monitoring processes is a benefit. So when Stigler uncovers a process whose result often seems to be out of control or beyond acceptable limits, the...

Tires: exhausting the possibilities: stress safety if you repair your own tires.
October 1, 2005... Should you do tire maintenance in-house or contract for it? With your own people, you may have more control; the comparative cost depends on your situation. "We sub out tire repair," says Ed Jongsma, fleet supervisor for Ozinga Bros. Inc.,...

Getting over rollovers.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... A recent National Ready Mixed Concrete Association survey found 42 participating producers had 136 rollover accidents, an average of three each in a little more than a year. Of these, 52% resulted in injuries, and 2% in deaths. In addition...

Differences in cement standards.
October 1, 2005... Q. During our pre-bid planning meeting for a state highway project, we came across a potential concern regarding our cement source. In reading the contract, we discovered that our DOT engineer has required that the cement must conform to the...

Jane Jetson was cool: technology has helped strengthen relationships with customers.(Concrete Returns)
October 1, 2005... When I was a kid in the early 60s, I watched Saturday morning cartoons like most of the other kids in the neighborhood. One of my favorites was "The Jetsons." I looked at all the technological wizardry and could only dream of what the future...

Clowning around: make way! Hot Rod might be around the corner.(As the Drum Turns)(Column)
October 1, 2005... I just read an article about how many of us don t take all of the vacation we have earned. It shows just how seriously people take their jobs and careers these days. Let's face it--someone with similar or even better qualifications is always...

Safe landing: concrete plays a big role in the expansion of the world's busiest airport.(Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport)
October 1, 2005... Craig Thompson can't stand it when things don t go right. And the only delays that he finds acceptable are those imposed by his customers. So the plant manager at Standard Concrete Products in Atlanta feels he's helped solve one of...

Events galore: don't get shut out. Pick your favorite events to attend early.
October 1, 2005... World of Concrete attendees in January will have lots more to do than the usual visits to their favorite exhibitors. A wide array of special events is planned, including a tour to world-famous Hoover Dam, an auction, an obstacle course, and an...

SOX it to you: not complying with the new law may result in prison and stiff fines.
October 1, 2005... Enron, Tyco, WorldCom. They are high-profile companies that have been at the media forefront of fraud and deception. In fact, they seem so big and complex, it might be hard to imagine just how it all happened. But it does lead to the question:...

If they had only chosen precast: experts propose precast as a solution for the troubled Chesapeake Bay Bridge deck.
October 1, 2005... Summer 2004 was the summer of travel hell for many people in eastern Maryland. Time and time again, travelers heard the bad news on the radio. "The Chesapeake Bay Bridge traffic is ensnared in a massive back-up and has resulted in another...

Now playing: the 16-screen theater with its precast walls highlights the California city's redevelopment.
October 1, 2005... Remember the days when you were forced to watch a movie sitting behind a man with a tall hat or a woman with a bouffant hairdo? Those days of obstructed views are gone as moviegoers flock to theaters with stadium-style seating. The design...

PCI visits SoCal: sessions will be divided into special areas of interest.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Sunny Southern California hosts the Precast/Prestressed Institute's Annual Convention/Exhibition and the PCI National Bridge Conference. The event takes place Oct. 16-19 at the Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel and Palm Springs Convention Center. ...

Speedy precision batching.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... SmartMix compact batch plants provide speedy precision batching--up to 45 batches per hour. Batching, charging, and discharging a mixer can be accomplished in about 80 seconds. The plants are delivered pre-wired, pre-plumbed, and factory...

Insulated precast concrete systems.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... These precast concrete systems feature edge-to-edge insulation that maximizes the thermal mass effect of concrete, for extremely energy-efficient walls. The systems include Styrofoam T-Mass Residential Precast, Styrofoam Composite Connector,...

Admixtures for all climates.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Three new admixtures have been added to the Sika ViscoCrete Technology product line: 6100, 2100, and 4100. With early set times, Sika ViscoCrete 6100 is ideal for cooler climates. For warmer climates, 2100 guarantees extended slump life; 4100...

Brick-faced concrete corners.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... The Universal Corner is an easy way to install corners in Brick Snap--a brick inlay system that integrally casts brick veneers into precast or tilt-up concrete. The single-component corner piece fits the system's L-shape corner brick. Also...

Seismic wall system.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... This company's Seismic Wall Panel Connections help its prestressed hollowcore wall panels stand up to earthquakes. The connection details are designed for use under the seismic requirements of the 1997 Uniform Building Code and the 2000...

Self-consolidating concrete system.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... This self-consolidating concrete system includes admixtures and tools for concrete production that virtually self-places with no vibration. It also provides an unblemished surface. The admixtures are specially formulated to meet the unique...

Facades for all kinds of buildings.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Create the appearance of brickwork, wood paneling, marble, granite, and more on any type of building with these facade technologies. The versatile technologies for the manufacturing of facades for residential, commercial, and industrial...

Make your bridge match its environment.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Canyon Tone stain and In-Stone concrete stains help precast and cast-in-place bridges perfectly match their natural environments. The stains also work on mechanical stabilized earth walls with form-lined patterns, as well as standard smooth...

Rust remover.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Form Cleaner 240 Rust Remover removes rust from steel forms, iron railings, and more. It also eats away at concrete buildup. The thick, pasty gel quickly dissolves rust, promotes bonding of paints, and protects treated forms from rust. It also...

Water-reducing admixtures and concrete.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Glenium high-range, water-reducing admixtures contain polycarboxylate based chemistry, and can be modified to provide controlled setting time, dosage efficiency, high early strength, improved workability, slump retention, and enhanced surface...

Liquid color dispensing systems.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Capable of servicing two mixers, these liquid color dispensing systems provide high accuracy for quality architectural precast pieces. The systems are specifically designed for use in architectural precast concrete plants. The company also...

Seal cracks, pores, capillaries.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... For long-term waterproofing and durability, Radcon Formula #7 seals cracks up to 0.08 inches wide. The biochemically modified solution penetrates concrete and reacts with calcium and water to form a calcium silicate gel complex in cracks,...

Gasket formliners for precast.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... With Versa-Brix multi-use gasket sheet liner for thin brick clad precast concrete panels, custom patterns such as arches, quirk corners, and corbelled accents are easily manufactured. The coved mortar joint feature reduces concrete leakage and...

Web-based mix design.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... SCCZone.com provides an "end-to-end" solution and mix design methodology that eliminates the need for a viscosity modifying admixture by properly proportioning the materials in the mix. Specifying engineers can use this online tool as a quality...

Shear reinforcement system.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Lenton Steel Fortress provides a simple solution for brittle punching shear problems. This shear reinforcement system includes a flat steel strip with holes punched along its center for fast installation over the uppermost layer of reinforcing...

Better vision.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... Concrete Vision is a web-based software application designed to provide precast concrete companies with real-time information on all jobs. It produces accurate and timely quotes, lets you track jobs, gives a clear picture of inventory in the...

Create hand-laid brick appearance with precast.(PCI Exhibition Products)
October 1, 2005... The Composite Brickliner captures the truest look of hand-laid brickwork. Its reinforced backing eliminates thermal expansion/ contraction, and its textured joints give a realistic appearance to precast brick panels. Plus, installation is...

Coming to terms with SCC: a short list of high-tech terms lets you talk the talk with the experts.(Product Pulse)
October 1, 2005... At the end of this month, producers, researchers, and contractors from around the world will meet in Chicago to share the latest developments surrounding concrete's newest technology. We thought it was important to help our readers stride in...

SCC 2005 proceedings: sharing information about SCC is becoming more important as applications increase.(Bookshelf)
October 1, 2005... The proceedings from the Second North American Conference on the Design and Use of Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC) and the Fourth International RILEM Symposium on Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC 2005) are available from the Center for Advanced...

Advanced color metering systems.(Producer Products: showcase)
October 1, 2005... Advanced Concrete Technologies gives manufacturers of precast concrete products u range of liquid, powder and granule color metering systems designed to help them produce colorful new product more quickly, consistently and profitably than ever....

Price breakthrough for dust collectors.(Producer Products: showcase)
October 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)
October 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...

Measure color ... measure quality.(Producer Products: showcase)
October 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)
October 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)
October 1, 2005... 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,...

Universal's Twister Connector.(Producer Products: showcase)
October 1, 2005... 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....

Working while the sun shines.(Sierra-Tahoe Ready Mix)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Buck McLelland's work is never-ending during the summer. That's because his business practically comes to a standstill when the snow hits the resort town of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. So far, this has been a great year for McLelland, assistant...

Southern hospitality.(In the Mix)
October 1, 2005... Producers were well represented at the Command Alkon Customer Conference this spring in the batching software supplier's, hometown of Birmingham, Ala. A total of 343 producers attended the four-day event. The customer conference is one of...

Association in the mix.(In the Mix)
October 1, 2005... PCI The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) has joined the Manufactured Concrete Products Exposition (MCPX) as its fifth association sponsor. PCI joins the National Precast Concrete Association, the National Concrete Masonry...