Sources: AltusGroup, Bethlehem, Pa.; CP staff
AltusGroup partnership precast producers can now add to their licensed architectural or structural CarbonCast offerings a thin panel technology for cladding or exterior fascia applications; rainscreens and ventilated drainage components; interior décor elements; marine decking or planking; and, tactile ADA detectable warning panels.
With 20 North American members, AltusGroup has entered into an exclusive technology and manufacturing agreement with Portland, Ore.-based Arcis Corp. to license the company’s panel and product technology—thus far limited to Pacific Northwest projects. Arcis precast panels are fabricated in 0.625 in.- to 1.5-in. depths (16 mm to 37.5 mm); their non-corroding stainless steel strand imparts strength, crack control and durability, while allowing concrete cover and weight to be minimized.
“This agreement is more evidence of our desire to be the driving force for bringing precast innovation to North America,” says AltusGroup Executive Director John Carson. “We have been studying the movement of the architectural market with respect to changing regional building codes and material specifications and believe Arcis gives us another proven, economical platform to meet diverse enclosure needs.”
The agreement represents AltusGroup’s first non-carbon fiber based platform since the flagship CarbonCast line, a next generation precast technology that uses C-Grid carbon fiber composite grid for shear and face reinforcement in high performance insulated wall panels, architectural cladding, double tee members and piles. The group’s novel “co-opetition” model—where members cooperate to speed the development and introduction of products then compete with each other for projects—provides an ideal structure to quickly broaden Arcis market availability. Five AltusGroup producers have initially obtained sublicenses for the ultra-thin precast/prestressed.
Arcis is positioned to realize its full market potential as a differentiated precast technology,” notes Brian Blount, founder and president, adding: “AltusGroup and its members have proven capacity and leadership to introduce new technology on a national basis as they have done with CarbonCast. Rather than being only a regionally accepted product, Arcis technology will be able to achieve significant scale over the next five years as the construction market continues to recover.”