Sources: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.; CP staff
Purdue University researchers aim to move testing of a cellulose nanocrystal admixture from campus laboratories to a California concrete construction site this year.
Read MoreMonth: February 2018
Argos USA channels cement kiln-derived CO2 to ready mixed concrete
Sources: CP staff; CarbonCure Technologies, Halifax, N.S.
Argos USA has anchored a five-member consortium targeting a closed loop model of carbon dioxide capture and recycling in cement and concrete production. In an early-2018 demonstration, the company used CO2 from its Calera, Ala., cement plant in commercial concrete produced at its Glenwood, Ga., batch plant. That Atlanta-area ready mixed operation is among nearly 100 sites, primarily in the U.S., equipped with CarbonCure Technologies CO2 storage and injection devices. The CarbonCure process uses the greenhouse gas to promote cement hydration in high to zero slump concrete.
Read MoreMartin Marietta, Vulcan sales and profits stay in lockstep
Sources: CP staff; Martin Marietta Materials, Raleigh, N.C.; Vulcan Materials Co., Birmingham, Ala.
For a second consecutive year, the industry’s top aggregates producers closed 12 months with near-equal financials, albeit from differing levels of sand & gravel, crushed stone, ready mixed concrete, cement and asphalt.
Read MoreLimestone processor enters concrete market with three calcium carbonate grades
Sources: Huber Carbonates LLC, Atlanta; CP staff
Huber Carbonates launched HuberCrete, a series of ground calcium carbonates for fly ash substitution and self-consolidating concrete mixes, at the 2018 Precast Show in Denver. The product is processed in Prime, Preferred and Extra Fine grades of these respective median particle size and Blaine fineness profiles: 15-24 µm, 300-500 m2/kg; 8-13 µm, 500-700 m2/kg; and 3-5 µm, 700-1,000 m2/kg.
Read MoreCaltrans veteran takes helm of lightweight aggregate group
Sources: Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate Institute, Chicago; CP staff
California State University, Fresno College of Engineering Associate Professor Fariborz Tehrani, Ph.D., P.E., has been named Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate Institute director, bringing nearly three decades of structural and geotechnical engineering experience.
Read MoreOldcastle Precast, Pomeroy veteran Grafton lands new PCI Operations post
Sources: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago; CP staff
PCI recently appointed R. Jon Grafton, a certified professional engineer, as director of Operations Services, where he will serve as Business Performance Council staff liaison and contribute to productivity, erector, and safety efforts. He joins PCI with more than 30 years’ experience in precast, prestressed concrete, most recently as Oldcastle Precast manager of Business Development. In that role, he pursued design-build projects using precast/prestressed concrete, and helped develop new products that could be marketed throughout the company’s 90+ plants across the United States and Canada.
Read MoreSteam-based aggregate drying brings energy efficiency to bagging lines
Sources: CDS Inc., Boonton, N.J.; CP staff
Best known in manufactured-concrete production for its Envirocure technology, CDS has unveiled the R-O2 Drying System, whose reduced oxygen, superheated steam atmosphere serves as an energy-wise medium for bringing sand, gravel and stone moisture levels to zero.
Read MoreHardscapes leave asphalt jungles, creosote timbers in rearview mirror
The Brick Industry Association, Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute and National Concrete Masonry Association’s 2017 Hardscape North America awards program recognized 16 winning and 20 honorable mention projects. Sponsored by Belgard and Pavestone, the program was open to residential and commercial walkways, patios, pool decks, outdoor kitchens, driveways, commercial plazas, streets, and other applications of concrete, clay or porcelain pavers and segmental concrete retaining wall units.
Read MoreHeavy-duty work boots
Three “Old School Tough” work boot series—Troweler, Galvanizer, Groundbreaker—join the company’s Iron Age Footwear line. The outsoles of the Troweler feature slip-resistant tread on traditional lugs with extra stabilization for climbing and balancing on grating. The boots bear the Shift Kicker abrasion-resistant toe guard and new BootBed footbed.
Read MoreELE programs automatic compressive strength test machine control
The ADR Touch Control Pro features what system developers call the latest in materials testing lab technology. A key feature of new ADR-equipped machines is LAN connectivity for remote control via the PC-based app, known as ‘ELE Logger.’ It enables quality control technicians to initiate and monitor tests away from the lab, and service staff to conduct remote diagnostics.
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