Consumer confidence spurs new-home demand to level of pre-mortgage market meltdown

Source: National Association of Home Builders, Washington, D.C.

Nationwide production and permitting of new homes rose sharply in September to their highest levels in more than four years, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. A 15 percent gain brought the pace of new housing construction to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 872,000 units, while an 11.6 percent gain brought the pace of permit issuance to 894,000 units. These were the strongest numbers seen in both categories since July 2008.

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Bode deal affords U.S. Concrete a San Francisco flagship

Sources: U.S. Concrete Inc., Euless, Texas; CP staff

A definitive equity purchase agreement with Boardman family trustees will net U.S. Concrete subsidiary Central Concrete Supply Co., San Jose, the assets of San Francisco-based Bode Concrete LLC and Bode Gravel Co.

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NRMCA veteran Pool joins Argos-backed ash specialist Ceratech

Sources: Ceratech Inc., Alexandria, Va.; CP staff

Eyeing expanded market development of its portland cement-free, fly ash-based binding agents for high performance concrete, Ceratech has named Vance Pool vice president of Sales. He joins the company from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, where as a national resource director he managed South Central business development and field operations. The NRMCA tenure followed Blue Circle Cement, Fibermesh and Grace Construction Products tours of duty.

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Cemex’s Craddock chairs CIM National Steering Committee

Source: Concrete Industry Management, Silver Spring, Md.

The National Steering Committee (NSC) for the CIM program, a business intensive program that awards students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management, recently elected new officers and board members, including Cemex Inc. Executive Vice President, U.S. Operations, Frank Craddock as chairman.

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Permatile Concrete’s Rainero Coles chairs NPCA

Source: National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind.

Mimi Rainero Coles of Bristol, Va.-based Permatile Concrete Products Co. was elected to a one-year term as NPCA chairman of the board during the group’s annual meeting earlier this month in New Orleans. A sales manager for the drainage, underground and highway product operator, she succeeds Tom Engelman, president of Pennsylvania’s Bethlehem Precast Co.

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Ready mixed producer survey: Margins wane as shipments increase

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

For the first time since the 2005 market peak, ready mixed concrete production increased in 2011, according to results from the recently released NRMCA Industry Data Survey. Although last year’s modest 3 percent shipment increase—to 265.7 million cubic yards—marks a slight improvement against 2010 figures, U.S. ready mixed concrete producers continue to report losses tied to the effects of a prolonged economic downturn.

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Arizona-Nevada span takes PCA Bridge Award

Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.

Jurors recently honored the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, spanning the Black Canyon between Arizona and Nevada, with special recognition as an outstanding achievement in the PCA’s 13th Biennial Bridge Awards Competition. The competition recognizes excellence in design and construction of concrete bridges. PCA will recognize the winners at the American Concrete Institute Fall 2012 Convention, October 21, in Toronto.

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