The latest solutions for Trimble’s advanced Building Information Modeling and structural engineering software—Tekla Structures 2020, Tekla Structural Designer 2020 and Tekla Tedds 2020—were unveiled last month at ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas. New Tekla Structures features enable efficient workflows for better productivity, increased mobility and collaboration across project teams, including:
Read MoreSources: National Labor Relations Board; CP staff
A National Labor Relations Board official has dismissed an International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Philadelphia Council petition to conduct a representation election for a proposed bargaining unit under Ohio-based rebar placement specialist R&R Steel LLC.
Read MoreSource: U.S. Department of Commerce
The Commerce Department has initiated an inquiry to determine if concrete reinforcing steel bar, bent at one or both ends, circumvents existing antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders covering imports from Mexico. The action responds to requests from domestic operators Byer Steel, Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Commercial Metals, Gerdau Ameristeel, Nucor Corp. and Steel Dynamics.
Read MoreSources: Charles Pankow Foundation, McLean, Va.; CP staff
The Charles Pankow Foundation’s latest grant will help fund a project, “Foundation Mats with High Strength Steel Reinforcement,” under principal investigator Jack Moehle, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. Project findings stand to further validate the case for elevated rebar strength thresholds in American Concrete Institute and model building code language. Joining the Pankow Foundation as research allies are the ACI Foundation and Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute Education and Research Foundation.
Read MoreSources: Commercial Metals Co., Dallas; CP staff
Commercial Metals has solidified its stake in concrete reinforcing products by acquiring 33 U.S. rebar fabrication facilities, plus California, Florida, New Jersey and Tennessee steel mills from Gerdau S.A. The $600 million transaction represents what CMC Chairman and CEO Barbara Smith calls “an important step in our strategy to be the leading concrete reinforcing specialist as well as a significant provider of merchant and wire rod products. With our expanded geographic footprint and added operational flexibility, this transaction supports our vertically integrated steel making model and will leverage our existing rebar manufacturing technology and customer service competencies.”
Read MoreSources: Commercial Metals Co., Irving, Texas; CP staff
On the heels of two nine-figure investments in concrete reinforcement milling capacity, Commercial Metals has agreed to acquire 33 rebar facilities plus steel mills in California, Florida, New Jersey and Tennessee from Gerdau S.A.
Read MoreSources: Helix Steel, Grand Rapids, Mich.; CP staff
Helix Steel is stepping up production of its namesake Twisted Steel Micro Rebar, citing higher sales fueled by a renewed focus on rebuilding tunnels, highways, bridges, dams and other critical infrastructure. Capacity expansion reaffirms what management calls a “commitment to continued ISO 9001:2015-certified American manufacturing, increasing jobs, and driving local economic development in and around Grand Rapids, Michigan.”
Read MoreSource: U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); CP staff
DOJ recently announced an agreement whereby Energy & Process Corp. (E&P) will pay $4.6 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging the Tucker, Ga., contractor knowingly failed to perform required quality assurance procedures and supplied defective steel reinforcing bars in connection with a Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear waste treatment facility contract.
Read MoreSource: Ryan LLC, Dallas
Missouri provides contrasting outcomes regarding the application of sales tax to purchases of concrete for foundations. The Missouri Department of Revenue’s mid-February Letter Ruling 7780 concludes that a taxpayer’s purchase of ready mixed and rebar used to construct wind turbine tower foundations qualifies for the sales tax exemption covering machinery and equipment used in manufacturing.
Read MoreSources: Rebar Trade Action Coalition and U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, D.C.; CP staff
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) preliminarily determined by a 6-0 vote there is reasonable indication that concrete reinforcing steel imports from Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey have materially injured the U.S. rebar industry. ITC figures show shipments from the three countries totaled nearly 20 percent of the $4.5 billion in rebar U.S. concrete construction consumed last year.
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