October 2017 – Concrete Products

FedEx Ground safety hawk, Army legal veteran on track to lead OSHA

October 31, 2017 Concrete News

Sources: White House Press Office; CP staff

President Donald Trump will nominate Pittsburgh-based FedEx Group Vice President for Safety, Sustainability and Vehicle Maintenance Scott Mugno to be Assistant Secretary of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health. He transitioned to his present role after serving at Memphis headquarters as managing director, FedEx Express Corporate Safety, Health and Fire Protection, where he twice earned the company’s top honor, Five Star Award, for safety leadership. Prior to the shipping and delivery business, Mugno was Westinghouse Electric Corp. Waste Isolation Division counsel and Eastern Region U.S. Army Military Traffic Management Command deputy staff judge advocate.

MMFX deal brings Commercial Metals deeper into concrete reinforcement

October 30, 2017 Concrete News

Sources: Commercial Metals Co., Irving, Texas; CP staff

Through its wholly owned subsidiary CMC Steel Fabricators Inc., Commercial Metals has acquired substantially all of the assets of Irvine, Calif.-based MMFX Technologies Corp., which markets and licenses production of proprietary steel products, including the ChrōmX line of high strength, corrosion-resistant rebar.

NPCA committee issues coil insert, hardware safety advisory

October 30, 2017 Concrete News

Source: National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind.

In light of manufacturing and product tolerance differences among precast hardware sources, the NPCA Technical Committee cautions members on the use of multiple coil insert, nut, rod and bolt brands.

Headwaters, BMT combination equals Boral Resources

October 30, 2017 Concrete News

Sources: Boral North America, Atlanta; CP staff

Boral Material Technologies and Headwaters Resources have combined to form Boral Resources—America’s largest marketer of fly ash for concrete products and other building materials. A sister unit providing ash management to utilities and related customers is now Boral Plant Services.

DOT-grade units boost overall segmental retaining wall sales

October 24, 2017 Concrete News

Sources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.

The 2017 NCMA SRW Sales Survey of U.S. and Canadian hardscape producers indicates year-over-year segmental retaining wall shipment gains of 3 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively, for 2016 and 2015. Now in its second year, the survey reflects data from 39 SRW producers or licensors spanning 178 plant locations.

California State University, Chico CIM director earns top ASTM award

October 23, 2017 Concrete News

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff

California State University, Chico Assistant Professor of Engineering Feraidon Ataie, Ph.D. has been named ASTM 2017 Professor of the Year, recognizing the contributions of educators in developing students’ understanding of standards. He joined the faculty in 2014 and has been the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) programs director since 2015.

California moves first on Iron Workers’ revised rebar, P-T safety standards

October 23, 2017 Concrete News

Source: Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust, Washington, D.C.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) is the first state-approved Occupational Safety and Health Administration plan to adopt the Iron Workers’ (IW) comprehensive updates for reinforcing steel and post-tensioning practice.

NRMCA, ASCC step up parking lot promotion

October 23, 2017 Concrete News

Sources: American Society of Concrete Contractors, St. Louis,

The joint ASSC/NRMCA Paving Committee has designated the first six pieces of a Paving Tool Box to assist concrete contractors in understanding and promoting parking lot design and construction.

Ash Grove shareholders clear path for CRH acquisition

October 23, 2017 Concrete News

Sources: Ash Grove Cement Co., Overland Park, Kan.; CRH Plc, Dublin; CP staff

Shareholders controlling just over 63 percent of Ash Grove Cement voting stock have approved a $3.5 billion merger agreement with Oldcastle Inc. parent company CRH. The deal is projected for a late-2017 or early-2018 closing and will position Atlanta-based Oldcastle Materials as the number five U.S. portland cement producer, with 8 million-plus tons’ annual capacity, while strengthening its role among the top five aggregates and ready mixed concrete operators.

ICPI, NCMA open Commercial Sales Course registration

October 18, 2017 Concrete News

Source: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.

NCMA and the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute will conduct their fifth Commercial Sales Course, December 11-13 at the Hyatt Place Chicago, near O’Hare International Airport. Three registration options—Days 1-3, Days 1&2 or 2&3—reflect content suitability for concrete paver or block professionals targeting the commercial market: