Source: Associated General Contractors of America, Washington, D.C.
Saxonburg, Pa.-based Brayman Construction and its affiliate, Advanced Construction Robotics, took first place and a $10,000 prize in the inaugural AGC-Autodesk Innovation Awards program for an autonomous rebar-tying robot geared to bridge construction. The Tybot device ties continuously day or night, and takes over after construction crews carry, place and frame-in 10 percent of deck rebar.
Read MoreSources: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Washington, D.C.; CP staff
As the federal government loosens environmental rules, states are investing more in energy efficiency and delivering increased power savings. Based on 32 metrics in six areas, including building and vehicle performance, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) 12th annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard cites leaders California and Massachusetts; laggards North Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming; and, states with the highest year-over-year improvements, notably New Jersey.
Read MoreSources: Reading Rock, Inc., Cincinnati; CP staff
Reading Rock and West Berlin, N.J.-based Russell Cast Stone Inc. have merged to form Reading Rock Russell LLC. With 168 years of industry presence, the combined entity is the largest producer of architectural concrete stone in the United States. Its RockCast brand spans architectural precast and masonry veneer units, custom cast stone, and lightweight stone products.
Read MoreSources: MDU Resources Group Inc., Bismarck, N.D.; CP staff
MDU Resources has closed on Sweetman Const. Co., an integrated ready mixed, aggregates and asphalt producer serving the Sioux Falls, S.D., market and operating as Concrete Materials Co. The company and its 260 employees join the North Central Region—Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska—of MDU’s Knife River Corp. construction materials subsidiary.
Read MoreSources: Afinitas, Mediapolis, Iowa; CP staff
New Hampton Metal Fabrication (NHMF) has announced a merger with Columbus, Ohio-based Spillman Co., a manufacturer of custom wet-cast concrete forms and supplier of precast fabrication accessories, magnetic products and automation solutions.
Read MoreSources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.; CP staff
The Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education and Promotion Act, providing Congressional authorization for concrete block and brick stakeholders to pursue an industry-wide referendum on a national commodity check-off program supporting industry initiatives, was signed into law October 5 as part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018.
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