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Day: October 11, 2018

ORGANIZATIONS – SEPTEMBER 2018

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The National Precast Concrete Association will vote during its Annual Meeting, October 5-7 at the Omni Providence Hotel in Rhode Island, on 2018-2019 officers and directors. Officers nominated are Chairman-Elect Jon Ohmes of Champion Precast Inc. and Secretary Treasurer Ron Sparks of Columbia Precast Products. Director nominees are Bill Bundschuh of Pretech Corp.; Mark Chinery of Forterra Pipe & Precast; Clay Prewitt of H2 Pre-Cast Inc.; and, Daryl Burns of Delta Specialty Precast Concrete Engineers.

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PRODUCERS – SEPTEMBER 2018

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LafargeHolcim has closed on the assets of Metro Mix LLC, a ready mixed producer with Denver and Castle Rock, Colo., plants and a payroll of 50. Metro Mix reported 2017 sales upward of $30 million and serves a fast growing market where construction is projected to remain strong thanks to large jobs and population growth.

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Craftsmanship, gamesmanship prevail at Solomon Colors Fair

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Some of the top artisans, cement masons and contractors who have helped drive concrete finishes and elements deeper into architecture, hardscapes and interiors over the past two decades convened last month for the Solomon Colors 2018 Decorative Concrete Fair. Staged near the host’s Springfield, Ill., headquarters, the three-day event spanned pattern stamping of integrally colored mixes; slab staining and finishing techniques; vertical surface carving and molding; and, countertop and outdoor fire table casting—all showcasing namesake, Brickform and Ultra Fiber brands.

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Petrographers offer quick study on pinpointing slab, structure defects

Concrete News
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A new white paper shows how petrographic examination identifies the root cause of common deficiencies and degradation mechanisms in hardened concrete, from low compressive strength, surface scaling or spalling to cracking and alkali-aggregate or chemical reactions. Available free of charge, “The Concreting Process and Petrographic Examination,” is primarily for cast-in-place concrete but offers content applicable to precast as well, and suits engineers, architects, contractors, producers, agencies and building owners.

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Industry alliance bullish on Water Infrastructure Act

Concrete News

Sources: North American Concrete Alliance (NACA), Washington, D.C.; CP staff

On behalf of members in cement, ready mixed and precast production, the North American Concrete Alliance is praising passage of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act—reauthorizing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)—and urging President Donald Trump to sign the bill. Passage of vital water infrastructure and resource programs every two years means Congress is ensuring America can build and maintain 21st Century infrastructure, NACA contends, while supporting the 600,000 jobs across the cement and concrete industries.

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BASF Admixture Systems panel probes mixing concrete in space

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Alex preferred crop

For many years engineers have dreamed about building habitable structures on the Moon or Mars. Those structures will have to be sturdy and stable, which begs the question, why not use concrete? But can ready mixed concrete be successfully formulated in the unique atmospheric conditions of the lunar or Martian surface? That is a question scientists are seeking to answer. And recently completed experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) may bring us closer to that answer.

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NPCA extends product-specific certification to water, wastewater tanks

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The National Precast Concrete Association takes quality control and validation to the next level with a new product-focused certification for water and wastewater tanks. While its Plant Certification program has traditionally centered on precast concrete production processes candidate operations must abide, the just-launched Optional Product Listing for Water and Wastewater Tanks Program describes specific product models, plus design and performance criteria to obtain certification. Like other association programs, the new offering enlists independent third-party engineering firms accredited to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for Plant Inspection.

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Oldcastle retention system sees green light from key agency

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Oldcastle Infrastructure (formerly Oldcastle Precast, note companion item) recently announced that its BioMod System received Washington State Department of Ecology equivalency approval as a stormwater bioretention planter or planter box. By granting “functional equivalency,” the agency affirms that the BioMod Modular Bioretention System does not need to go through its Technology Assessment Protocol — Ecology (TAPE) program for approval, and may be designed using the same standards and criteria as any non-proprietary bioretention planter or planter box.

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