Basalite Rocky Mountain flagship takes center stage at ICON+365 LIVE

Basalite Concrete Products is previewing what is sure to be one of the decade’s most ambitious greenfield concrete masonry production facilities in North America. The California-based producer will host a February 17 (1:15-3:00 p.m. EST) visit to its new 188,000-sq.-ft. operation in Fort Lupton, Colo., north of Denver, as part of the National Concrete Masonry Association ICON+365 LIVE Virtual Plant Tour program. Like all ICON+365 content, the tour will be presented through an online meeting portal, powered by an RD Mobile platform for desktop or internet-enabled device access.

Next generation Besser machinery and devices at the Fort Lupton operations succeed twin V3-12s that have done their duty at a Denver plant where Basalite is winding down operations.
The Quadra Q12 machine and automated cubing system will drive the Basalite Fort Lupton landscape line.

With sponsors Besser Co. and Quadra, the presentation will feature the Fort Lupton plant’s two production lines, which combine for a deep offering of gray or specialty building block plus paver and retaining or landscape wall units. Basalite Rocky Mountain Region General Manager Joe Kerrigan will join sponsor representatives to examine the a) landscape products line, anchored by a new Quadra Q12 Big-Board Machine and fully automated, robotic cubing station; and, b) architectural products line, equipped with a six-at-a-time Besser Servopac Select Concrete Products Machine, along with the new Besser Pallet Transfer System (see separate report this month on page 46) and high-speed cubing station. He and Fort Lupton team members continue a ramp up leading to the scheduled start of production by early spring. Work at their new 60-acre operation dovetails the decommissioning of Basalite’s landlocked Denver plant and its twin Besser V3-12 machines.

NCMA has set the ICON+365 education, innovation and technical program across February 9-11 and February 16-18 schedules. In addition to Basalite, Virtual Plant Tour hosts include Acme Brick & Block in Texas, Jandris Block in Massachusetts, and Kortmann Beton in Germany. Basic Boot Camp sessions will be offered February 9-11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Advanced Boot Camp sessions the same times the following week. The first and second week activities will include 16 Knowledge Bar presentations, 30 minutes each and covering a range of block and hardscape unit production, quality control and field practice topics. ICON+365 LIVE encompasses virtual presentations of ICON Marketplace and companion activities NCMA has staged the past seven years in conjunction with its Annual Convention. The association plans to resume in-person events, starting with the Mid-Year Meeting, August 3-6 in Milwaukee, but will maintain the ICON+365 portal as a year-round content source.