NRMCA quantifies truck weight factors consistent with feds’ carbon emissions goals

Sources: CP staff; National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.

Testifying in the first of two public hearings on “Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles,” NRMCA Vice President, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Kevin Walgenbach informed Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials of potential unintended consequences if the regulations as proposed are applied to mixer trucks.

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Notre Dame engineering student team takes PCI 2015 Big Beam Contest

Sources: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago; CP staff

The PCI Student Education Committee recently judged the Sika Corp.-sponsored Engineering Student Design Competition, or Big Beam Contest, challenging college or university teams to fabricate and test a precast/prestressed concrete beam with the help of local PCI Producer members. Prizes based on efficient design, highest load capacity and other criteria are awarded to the top 20 entries, drawn from a North America-wide pool.

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Post-tax savings accompany Terex ‘inversion’ in Konecranes merger

Sources: Terex Corp., Westport, Conn.; CP staff

Eyeing global scale and near-term earning synergies upward of $120 million, Terex Corp. and Konecranes Plc of Helsinki plan an all-stock “merger of equals,” creating a company whose 2014 revenues totaled about $10 billion. Terex and Konecranes shareholders will own approximately 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively, of the combined business, to operate as Konecranes Terex Plc, based in Finland with major corporate functions continuing in Connecticut.

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Standard on mixes’ electrical resistance spells critical quality control data

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff

The proposed ASTM WK50586, Practice for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fresh Concrete standard will show how to sample a load, prepare a mix specimen for evaluation and conduct measurements—the latter yielding information on water-cement ratio, initial setting time, compressive strength, and overall concrete quality.

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National Concrete Pipe Week a nod to vital infrastructure

Source: American Concrete Pipe Association, Irving, Texas

Proclamations from 11 governors across the U.S. have positioned August 16-22 as the inaugural National Concrete Pipe Week, formally recognizing the importance of reinforced concrete pipe and precast concrete products to citizens’ health, safety and well-being. The contributions of thousands of workers, hundreds of manufacturing plants and other industries that support producers will likewise be acknowledged.

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Worthington optimizes fuel storage in large diameter Type III cylinder

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A 26.2-in. diameter cylinder has joined the company’s line of compressed natural gas tanks for heavy-duty trucks. First shown at the 2015 Alternative Clean Transportation Expo in Dallas, it is Worthington Industries’ largest Type III CNG cylinder and, product engineers contend, provides superior fast-fill efficiency. An inner aluminum liner dissipates heat during fast filling, affording an additional 15 to 25 percent more fuel storage compared to Type IV cylinders of similar size.

 
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Clean Energy Fuels equips CNG fleet power-minded Schwarz Ready Mix

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A in-house team of financing, engineering, construction, operations, and customer service specialists guide fleet owners through the diesel to natural gas truck power transition, targeting cost-efficient fueling solutions tailored to business needs and budgets. Through consulting, design, site work, infrastructure installation and equipment commissioning services, Clean Energy staff can develop a scalable station plan addressing current and future fleet needs. It typically covers all aspects of a project, from site analysis and customized station design to modifying natural gas vehicle maintenance facilities.

 
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