Skako Concrete continues North American market integration of its Danish parent company’s seven-model Atlantis planetary mixer (AM) line. Premiering at last month’s Precast Show in Orlando, the 4-yd. 3750 joins five smaller models currently available—the AM 750 to 3000—to be followed by the 5-yd. 4500 later this year.
The Precast Show 2015 saw Voeller Mixers unveil the latest addition to its Planetary Mixer series: a 3-yd. model powered by a single, 125-hp motor. It joins 1-, 4- and 5-yd. models, each designed with a) motors at the base of the vessel to eliminate headroom requirements and suit hard to fit batch plant conditions; and b) v-belt drive transmission, a signature component of the manufacturer’s Cyclo Mixer pan models.
Concrete maturity can be determined by profiling temperature within the hardening. This benefits the project in both quality and speed of construction as adequate hydration can be determined and forms/shoring removed once target strength development is confirmed. The challenge is making sure that the temperature data is accurate and reliable, especially in the minds of engineers, quality control representatives and owner representatives who are responsible for finished slabs and structures.
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Professionals throughout the construction value chain perennially confront the question: What are the obstacles to incorporating productivity-advancing processes and innovations the manufacturing industry has employed for years? A building is usually a one-of-one custom made product. A lack of repetitive building designs makes productivity gains in production of structural and architectural elements economically impractical if not impossible—adding time, increasing costs and compounding errors with each and every project.
Following early deliveries to precast producers in its home base and other European countries, Finland’s Elematic Oy Ab is expanding availability of the E9-16-5a lifting beam to the North American market via Elematic Inc.
“Crushable” concrete for better protection against terrorists … improved designs for precast rockfall barriers … corrosion of precast concrete barrier connections … lightweight, high-performance, self-consolidating concrete for bulb-T beams. They’re all part of new research presented earlier this year during the 94th annual Transportation Research Board annual meeting, which drew 12,000-plus design, engineering and allied professionals to Washington, D.C.
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By Don Marsh
A recent consolidation of the former American Manufacturing Group, Manufacturing Division of American CNC Leasing, LLC and a foundry castings business has spawned a new Jonesboro, Ark.-based entity, American Manufacturing Group–Marketing Division, to handle the sales of existing Box Culvert Mold Equipment plus an expanded line of domestic foundry products. Sales will be coordinated by General Manager L. Paul Fergeson through an established manufacturers representative network.
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The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute conferred top honors on industry leaders Chris Ross and David Bender at its annual meeting in San Antonio, dovetailing the 2015 National Concrete Masonry Association convention and ICON-Xchange.
Capping a 2015 convention that drew 500-plus producer and associate members to San Antonio, the National Concrete Masonry Association board elected Joseph Bowen as chairman for a one-year term, during which he envisions a strategically driven approach that engages and leverages members to push market growth in an improving economy. Bowen is executive chairman of Auburn, Wash.-based Mutual Materials. A leading source of concrete or clay unit masonry for Pacific Northwest building and hardscape markets, it runs one paver, one architectural slab, three brick and four block plants, plus a mortar and grout bagging operation, in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Joining him as 2015 NCMA officers are Chair-Elect Pat Sauter of King’s Materials, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Past-Chair Dale Puskas of Basalite Concrete Products, Dixon, Calif.