Ex-Transportation chief ties gas tax increase to ‘big, bold’ infrastructure vision

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.; CP staff

With candor that marked his tenure as U.S. Transportation Secretary (February 2009–June 2013) and in Congress (1995–2009, R-IL), Ray LaHood told cement and concrete interests: “I believe that the time has come for America to say we need to be number one again, we need to fix up our bridges that are falling down, we need to fix up our roadways, and we need to raise the gas tax 10 cents per gallon.”

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Coal-, steel-seasoned investor WL Ross enters concrete and aggregates

Sources: WL Ross & Co. LLC, New York City; CP staff

Permian Basin Materials, LLC (PBM), a newly formed affiliate of private equity firm WL Ross & Co., has acquired majority stakes in Texas’ Crockett County Mining, Ltd., Highland Concrete Co. and Wallach Concrete, Inc. WL Ross-managed funds will own 80 percent of PBM as the three business’ existing shareholders maintain a combined 20 percent stake.

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ASTM subcommittee eyes tests for RCC compaction, density, air and flexural strength

Source: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.

ASTM Subcommittee C09.45 on Roller-Compacted Concrete is working on three proposed standards: WK33682, Test Method for Preparation, Compaction and Density Determination of Roller-Compacted Concrete Specimens by Means of the Gyratory Compactor; WK41101, Practice for Molding Roller-Compacted Concrete in Beam Molds Using a Vibrating Hammer; and, WK42461, Test Method for Density (Unit Weight) and Air Content (Pressure Method) of Freshly Mixed Roller-Compacted Concrete.

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Armstrong to head Columbia Concrete Products Division

Source: Columbia Machine Inc., Vancouver, Wash. Richard Armstrong will transition from the Columbia Palletizer Division to the Concrete Products Division, maintaining his title of president and overseeing a full range of product molding and handling machinery, plus batch plant and mixer equipment. Armstrong has been with Columbia Machine for 12 years, the last eight at the Palletizer Division helm. Company…

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