July 9, 2012 – Concrete Products

National Mixer Driver Championship application deadline nears

July 9, 2012 Concrete News

Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.

NRMCA is accepting through July 20 applications from member producers employing candidates for the 2012 National Mixer Driver Championship, September 16–17 in National Harbor, Md., bordering Washington, D.C. Candidate drivers include those who have won or placed runner-up in state association competitions, or those who top intra-company events in states or regions where driver competitions are on hold or not offered.

Graniterock names acting successor to CEO B.W. Woolpert

July 9, 2012 Concrete News

Sources: Granite Rock Co., Watsonville, Calif.; CP staff

The Board of aggregate, ready mixed and road-building operator Graniterock has appointed longtime director Mark Kaminski chairman and acting chief executive officer following the late-June drowning death of Bruce Woolpert, who had served as president and CEO since 1997.

Grace expands Brazilian footprint in deal for two-plant admixture operator

July 9, 2012 Concrete News

Sources: W. R. Grace & Co., Columbia, Md.; CP staff

Grace has acquired a leading producer of concrete admixtures in Brazil, Rheoset Industria e Comercio de Aditivos Ltda., adding capacity in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Recife to complement existing (Grace Construction Products) operations in Sorocaba and Bahia.

Chemical groups confront USGBC on LEED draft’s ‘Avoidance’ section

July 9, 2012 Concrete News

Sources: American Chemistry Council (ACC), Washington, D.C.; CP staff

ACC is challenging “Avoidance of Chemicals of Concern,” a proposed section in the forthcoming version of the LEED green building rating system for commercial projects. A subject of voluntary credits, it is part of the current draft of LEED 2012, release of which the U.S. Green Building Council has rescheduled for next year, along with a rebranding as LEED v4.

Flawed highway bill stabilizes flat funding levels through 2014

July 9, 2012 Concrete News

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Washington Office; National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

Although it represents no real gain in dollars made available via years of short-term extensions, HR 4348, which morphed into Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP-21, was signed into law by President Obama two days after the July 4 holiday.

Techo-Bloc adds former Rinox operation in Pennsylvania

July 9, 2012 Concrete News

Source: Techo-Bloc Inc., St-Hubert, Quebec

Techo-Bloc has acquired a Douglassville, Pa., plant to expand capacity and distribution of concrete landscape products in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets.