September 6, 2016 – Concrete Products

PCI releases first Sustainable Precast Concrete Plant Program report

September 6, 2016 Don Marsh

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

Backed by PCI, the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute and National Precast Concrete Association, the North American Precast Concrete Sustainable Plant Program (NAPCSPP) has yielded its first full-year energy, materials and transportation data benchmarks. PCI’s 2015 Sustainable Plant Program Performance Report presents results in carbon dioxide equivalent (global warming potential), total primary energy and water consumption categories based on data from 34 structural and architectural precast/prestressed producers.

Nanotech-based rheology control agent frees GCP’s shotcrete system of silica fume

September 6, 2016 Concrete News

Sources: GCP Applied Technologies Inc., Cambridge, Mass.; CP staff

After a World of Concrete preview earlier this year, GCP (Grace Construction and Packaging) has officially introduced the Tytro Shotcrete System, underscoring its potential to make underground construction processes better, faster and more economical against conventional methods and mix designs. It spans GCP’s Strux BT macro-fiber and six Tytro family agents; newest among them is RC, a nanotechnology-derived, liquid rheology control modifier functioning as a pozzolan and silica fume alternative.

FRC Industries deal bring Sika greater depth in concrete fibers

September 6, 2016 Concrete News

Sources: Sika Corp., Lyndhurst, N.J.; CP staff

Sika has acquired Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based FRC Industries, citing it as the fastest growing concrete reinforcing fiber producer in the U.S. Founded in 2001, the company has a full synthetic polypropylene product line and serves markets east of the Mississippi River.