Domestic industry, multinationals counter site’s ‘Concrete Week’ bias

Sources: Global Cement and Concrete Association, London; CP staff

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association President Robert Garbini and Portland Cement Association CEO Mike Ireland assure members of their groups’ preparedness to address questions arising from recurring and primarily negative media coverage on the carbon dioxide aspect of cement production and finished concrete. A joint communiqué followed the launch of Concrete Week by The Guardian, an online United Kingdom publication with extensive North American coverage and audience. Leading off the series is a report titled “Concrete: the most destructive material on Earth.”

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Natural pozzolan exhibits potential as fly ash substitute

Sources: Sunrise Resources Plc, Cheshire, U.K.; CP staff

Sunrise Resources reports successful demonstration of a material, mined at the CS Pozzolan-Perlite Project in Nevada, as a substitute for fly ash in concrete. Prior observation of the natural pozzolan entailed mortar specimens, while more recent tests have been conducted on concrete samples and involved a major integrated cement and ready mixed producer. 

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Northwestern University wall rides wave of creativity to PCI Building Award

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The winning project of the Precast/Prestressed Institute’s 2019 Building Awards – Custom Solution entailed a unique setting on the western edge of Lake Michigan in Evanston, Ill. Chicago architect Perkins + Will was faced with the challenge of keeping the foundation of the new Ryan Fieldhouse & Walter Athletics Center at Northwestern University from being damaged by waves and ice rubble. The solution: a design-build precast concrete coastal wall made up of 109 5-ft. wide segments of varying heights and tapers arranged in two planes to replicate the appearance of a wave.

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Silo inventory on the cloud

Silo

Company has released a major upgrade of the SiloWeigh.Net inventory management and control system, which monitors the weight of material in silos or vessels located across an unlimited area. Among major benefits: users do not run out of material; vessels are not overfilled, curtailing costs associated with dust filter damage and environmental impact; delivery volumes are verified and fraud prevented; and, delivery schedule savings.

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Compact telehandler, forklift

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The Gehl RS4-14 is presented as a highly versatile machine that excels in loader, telescopic handler and industrial forklift applications. At just under 60 inches wide and 75 inches tall, it is the company’s most compact model, yet maintains a full-size cab. It boasts a 4,400-lb. maximum lift capacity, 14-ft. 3-in. lift height, and 9-ft. outreach. The RS4-14 has four-wheel drive, three steering modes and a 10-ft. 1-in. turning radius, and can work on uneven terrain and in confined spaces.

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Elematic focuses like a laser on hollow core opening and cut efficiency

Plotter ia

Engineered with an eye to accuracy, speed and cost savings in precast concrete hollow core production, the new automatic Elematic E9 plotter features a practical touch screen for fast, accurate marking of slab openings, reservations and other cuts. The equipment marks cutting lines, rectangles and circles; identification texts and codes on the slab surface; and, places for dividers or fittings on an empty bed surface.

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Redi-Rock optimizes block design for taller, tighter footprint walls

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The Redi-Rock retaining wall system is moving up with the release of XL Hollow-Core blocks, designed at 36 in. high—twice standard units’ height—in 52-, 72- or 96-in. widths. “This is the most significant innovation we’ve made to the system since the release of the Positive Connection blocks in 2011,” says Redi-Rock International President Jacob Manthei.

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