Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario Greg Rickford announced a $2 million commitment supporting Domtar Inc. in developing and commercializing new premium grades of pulp at its Dryden, Ont., operation.
Read MoreMonth: October 2015
Paper interests write check-off program absent small producers
Concrete masonry and ready mixed concrete interests who support a national check-off strategy to fund promotion and research, but recognize small and large stakeholders’ differing views on such programs, have another broad campaign to track: “Paper & Packaging—How Life Unfolds.”
Read MoreCal Poly, Iowa State, N.C. State students lead NCMA Foundation competition
Dubbing their concept “FlipBlock,” Cal Poly State University students Alex Kiefer and Jacob vanDerRoovaart won the 2015 Student Unit Design Competition during National Concrete Masonry Association’s Midyear Meeting in Montreal. The NCMA Foundation-sponsored event challenges architectural students with designing a “new” concrete masonry or hardscape unit that can be produced on a conventional block or big-board paver machine.
PCA Honors Buzzi Unicem, CalPortland, Cemex Leaders
Portland Cement Association has named 2015 John P. Gleason, Jr., Leadership Awards recipients in three categories: CalPortland Co. Vice President, Marketing Bill Larson, Business Continuity; Cemex USA Director, Market Development Jim Mack, Market Development; and, Buzzi Unicem USA Director, Environmental Affairs Adamn Swercheck, Young Leaders. The awards honor member company employees who have raised the bar on leadership and commitment, and made their mark on the association and the industry. Business Continuity and Market Development dovetail key PCA strategic initiatives, while Young Leaders acknowledges high potential in non-executive employees.
Read MoreCIM officials call for 2016 World of Concrete Auction donations
The National Steering Committee for the Concrete Industry Management program has announced that it is seeking donations for its 11th annual auction to be staged Wednesday, February 3, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, amid World of Concrete 2016. A silent auction will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., immediately followed by live bidding.
Life Cycle Factors Gain in ISO 14001:2015
A new version of a global standard behind 300,000 certifications annually, including parties developing Product Category Rules (PCR) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) backing green building rating measures, places increased emphasis on life-cycle thinking, considering each stage of a product or service, cradle to grave. Released last month from Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems likewise addresses users’ recognition of the need to factor both external and internal elements that influence their impact, including climate volatility, plus proactive initiatives for greater environmental protection.
Read MoreORGANIZATIONS – OCTOBER 2015
The American Concrete Institute has promoted key staff with an eye to increasing alignment and flow from ACI technical documents to educational products: Michael Tholen to managing director of Engineering and Professional Development, Claire Hiltz to manager of Professional Development, and Matthew Senecal to manager, Engineering.
Read MoreFiberlite partnership ‘entrenches’ Trenwa in performance composite
Fiber reinforced plastic specialist Fibrelite and Fort Thomas, Ky.-based Trenwa, Inc. have unveiled composite covers designed specifically for the utility precast producer’s concrete road crossing trench, available in HS-20 and HS-25 load ratings.
Read MoreLafarge Canada, Conservancy partnership tests toad tunnel
The Fraser Valley Conservancy has been working with local landowners in the Ryder Lake area of Chilliwack, British Columbia, since 2008 to study local amphibians’ migration patterns and their plight when moving across roads from woodlands to wetlands.
Rail operator contracts spur Florida satellite for Rocla Concrete Tie
The largest supplier of prestressed concrete ties to North America’s freight and transit railroads, has entered into a long-term supply agreement with All Aboard Florida and Florida East Coast Railway (FECR), prompting construction of a facility in Ft. Pierce, Fla., with production slated to begin in early 2016.