Fiber cement, roof tile, prestressed lead concrete products in 2015 market gains

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

PCA’s new “Survey of Portland Cement Consumption by User Group” underscores mixed year-over-year results among 16 U.S. market or product segments: Nine recorded growth, seven saw reduced volume in 2015 versus the prior year. Those gaining at least 20 percent were, in descending order, waste stabilization & solidification; fiber cement siding; concrete roof tile; soil cement, roller compacted concrete or full-depth reclamation/pavements; precast/prestressed concrete; and, soil cement or roller compacted concrete/water resources structures.

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U.S. Concrete adds Nycon Supply to New York City network

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

U.S. Concrete has upped an already strong stake in New York City ready mixed production, acquiring the assets of Nycon Supply Corp., based in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. Through two batch plants and a 38-mixer fleet, it serves primarily commercial building projects in western Queens and midtown Manhattan. The business will maintain the Nycon Supply trade name and join sister operations Ferrara Bros. and Eastern Concrete Materials, which cover the metro New York and New Jersey markets, respectively.

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Concrete Research Council funds tall building, pervious pavement, hollow core projects

Sources: ACI Foundation, Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff

The ACI Foundation’s Concrete Research Council has announced grants up to $50,000 for projects focused on seismic design of tall buildings, mechanistic pervious concrete pavement design; chloride ion, freeze-thaw and sulfate durability; and, steel fiber hollow core plank.

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Bank vault-grade wall, roof equip data center for 360 mph winds

Ascent

Sources: Ascent LLC, St. Louis; CP staff

A builder and operator of highly secure data centers is promoting its latest facility on the strength of mass, reinforced concrete: 15-in. walls and a 13.5-in. roof enclosing 42,600 sq. ft. of space. Dubbed DAL1 for its Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex proximity, the new Plano, Texas, facility is built to withstand exposure to 360 mph winds, well above the National Weather Service’s 200-mph threshold for (Enhanced Fujita Scale) EF5 tornadoes.

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PennDOT the latest agency to give prestressed U-girders the green light

Sources: Modjeski and Masters, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; CP staff

Bridge designer and engineer Modjeski and Masters cites Pennsylvania Department of Transportation approval of standards immediately affording spliced, post-tensioned concrete U-girder options to state practitioners and structure owners. The new standards can be used for Design-Build projects, or as an Alternate Bridge Type at PennDOT District Executive discretion.

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Portable mini crane

49 Smart Rig

Manufacturer of portable floor cranes narrow enough to fit through doors and elevators for indoor, outdoor and roof top lifting, shifting, moving and installing materials has added the CE-certified S1 Global Model. At 32-in. wide, the mini crane is rated at 1,950 lb. with an 18-ft. hook height. Battery power and on-board charger, tilt alarm, hydraulics and pick and carry design make for easy transport. The 1,450-lb. S1 Global is CE Certified to meet U.S., Canadian and international standards.

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Conveyor monitoring system

47 Watchdog

Material handling and electronic component specialist has released the fourth generation Watchdog Super Elite (WDC4) control unit for monitoring bucket elevators and conveyors. It processes signals from up to 15 sensors for belt speed, belt misalignment, continuous bearing temperature, pulley misalignment and plug conditions. When an alarm condition is detected, the system logs the details, sounds the alarm and provides shutdown control of the elevator/conveyor and feeding system.

 
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Natural pozzolan exhibits cement-optimizing capacity in block and paver mixes

47 Savings

In a follow up to a November 2013 report on Active Minerals’ Acti-Gel 208, “Rheology modifer, anti-settling agent suits zero slump to SCC mixes,” Concrete Products examines the natural mineral additive’s latest application: Replacement of up to 30 percent of cement in concrete block and paver mixes, netting potential cost savings up to $0.02/unit.

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