Concrete Currents – Concrete Products

MB admixture halts returned mix hydration, speeds stiffening, eases recycling

September 24, 2020September 24, 2020 CP Staff

Sources: Master Builders Solutions, Beachwood, Ohio; CP staff Master Builders Solutions has formulated a new powdered polymer admixture to gel returned concrete mixes, rapidly curtail workability and strength development, then ease handling after they are dispensed from a mixer truck. MasterSuna Returned Concrete Treatment (RCT) 323 Admixture provides ready mixed producers a cost-effective tool to manage a pervasive material handling…

NAHB analysis shows doubling of concrete-framed home volume

September 23, 2020September 23, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff Annual concrete-framed home completions climbed from 42,000 to 86,000 over the 2015-2019 window, according to a National Association of Home Builders analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. With lumber prices up more than 170 percent from mid-April through mid-September, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association cites market conditions favorable for…

LafargeHolcim rebrands blended cements, calls for A/E/C carbon action

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: LafargeHolcim, Chicago; CP staff Responding to demand for construction materials performance and sustainability, market leader LafargeHolcim has rebranded its U.S. blended cement and supplementary cementitious materials portfolio as Envirocore Series—led by OneCem Portland Limestone, MaxCem Blended and NewCem Slag Cements. Concurrently, it calls on architectural, engineering and construction (A/E/C) interests, along with their concrete suppliers, to adopt more sustainable…

Hilti begins maturity monitoring sensor rollout in major markets

September 22, 2020September 23, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Hilti North America, Plano, Texas; CP staff Six months after acquiring the assets of Concrete Sensors in Cambridge, Mass., Hilti has built out the start up’s maturity monitoring device and quality control technology. An Internet of Things hardware, training and support services offering, Hilti Concrete Sensors will help practitioners track slab or structure internal temperatures and strength development—potentially enabling…

Mineralized aggregate developer Blue Planet secures $10M commitment

September 22, 2020September 23, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Blue Planet Systems Corp., Los Gatos, Calif.; CP staff A $10 million funding round positions Blue Planet to advance a carbon capture and utilization system netting concrete-grade synthetic limestone. The Silicon Valley company is approaching commercialization of a process that converts diluted carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-powered electricity generating stations, cement or steel mills, and petroleum refineries to carbonate…

Investment syndicate strengthens CarbonCure ties to Amazon, Microsoft

September 22, 2020September 23, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: CarbonCure Technologies, Halifax, Nova Scotia; CP staff A funding round for CarbonCure Technologies, developer of carbon dioxide-based processes for optimizing portland cement and compressive strength development in concrete, has once again attracted principals or affiliates of top technology brands.

Contractors measure four years of deliverables in Trump endorsement

September 16, 2020September 21, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

CEO Michael Bellaman and National Chair Tim Keating (R. C. Stevens Construction Co., Winter Garden, Fla.) outline member-friendly, 2017-2020 advocacy and policy measures in an Associated Builders & Contractors endorsement of President Donald Trump for election to a second term. In a letter to 1600 Pennsylvania, they write: “Your continued support for fair and open competition, job creation, small businesses and expanded workforce development initiatives during your first term have helped ABC members grow their businesses, upskill their workforce and create career enhancing jobs.”

Arbitrator closes HeidelbergCement earnout claim in Forterra’s favor

September 15, 2020September 21, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Forterra Inc., Irving, Texas; CP staff

A neutral accounting arbitrator has determined that no earnout payment from concrete pipe and precast giant Forterra is due to HeidelbergCement AG under terms of a 2015 Hanson Building Products business spinoff, initially valued at $1.2 billion. HeidelbergCement had sought a $100 million earnout payment based on the fiscal 2015 performance of Hanson Building Products, whose Dallas-based suitor, Lone Star Fund IX (U.S.) LP, adopted the Forterra brand. The Delaware Court of Chancery deferred an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) calculation—central to the earnout payment clause—to the arbitrator in conjunction with a late-2017 dismissal of a HeidelbergCement suit.

Topwerk names Columbia Steel vet Rathke to head new North American HQ

September 11, 2020September 21, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Topwerk America Ltd., Burlington, Ontario; CP staff

Germany’s Topwerk Group, the umbrella organization over Hess, Prinzing-Pfeiffer and SR-Schindler concrete masonry, pipe and dry or wet cast product machinery, has relocated the Topwerk America headquarters to Houston from Burlington, Ontario, and appointed Chad Rathke as president and chief executive officer, as well as SR-Schindler regional sales director. Gudrun Hess will continue as president of the newly named Topwerk Services in Burlington, a center that has supported the North American market for nearly 40 years.

American Highway branding lends Simplex-USA road creed

September 11, 2020September 21, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Simplex-USA, Fernley, Nev.; CP staff

American Highway, a Simplex Co. is the new identity of Simplex-USA, a key player in concrete pavement dowels and dowel baskets. “Our intent on this pivot is to better inform and provide more color definition to this large industry landscape,” says Co-CEO Ron Meskis. “Prior to Simplex’s purchase of Dayton Superior’s paving division in 2019, the trade name of American Highway was predominantly used to supply steel products to the concrete paving industry. As such, the name brings a long-established road creed and added value to our overall corporate brand as a recognized and familiar staple in the industry.”