February 12, 2019 – Concrete Products

Construction-specific ELD accounts for mixer, pump driver hours exemptions

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

Sources: GeoSpace Labs, Lakeland, Fla.; CP staff

A developer of market-specific tools for fleet operators and drivers bound by Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration hours of service rules cites the first electronic logging device programmed with functionality to reflect the agency’s hours of service rule exemptions for mixer and concrete pump drivers. GeoSpace Labs timed the early-February release of its construction-specific ELD with FMCSA’s formal announcement of exemptions for concrete delivery and placement vehicles, waiving drivers’ 30-minute break requirement and relaxing the reset period from 14 to 12 hours.

Building code-driven coalition replicates Los Angeles success in Philadelphia

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

Sources: Build with Strength, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association-aligned Build with Strength coalition has enlisted International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1291 and Mayfair Civic Association, both Philadelphia, as its newest members. They join civic organizations, fire service professionals, architects, engineers and industry experts who are committed to a) enacting safer and more sustainable building standards; and, b) closely tracking an increase in fires damaging or destroying low- to mid-rise buildings designed with combustible materials.

Automation engineer machines first plant-ready 3D concrete printer

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

Sources: USABotics, Linton, Utah; CP staff

USABotics, a specialist in robotics and manufacturing automation, has marked the commercial debut of 3D concrete printing equipment in the North American market through a new entity, MudBots, and charter namesake model. The MudBots 664 Concrete Printer consists of a rectangular, gantry-like CNC (computer numerical control) table whose software-driven devices operate on XYZ axes to extrude near-zero slump mixes in cord-like layers.

Eldorado-backed study reveals labor savings potential in veneer substrates

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

National Association of Home Builders Association-affiliated Home Innovation Research Labs finds that using PermaBase Cement Board as a substrate in exterior wall systems with modified veneer mortar reduces adhered stone installation time by 35 percent and total installed cost by 6 percent against traditional lath-and-cement mortar base alternatives.

Sakrete moves into engineered, stronger and faster setting mixes

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

Atlanta-based Sakrete arrived at World of Concrete 2019 poised for launch of its Pro-Mix series, formulated and packaged with an eye to construction supply house channels and department of transportation projects. Packaging and distribution of these professional grade mixes are scheduled for the first quarter, beginning in the Southeast:

Sika loads mortar volume in $2.5 billion Parex deal

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

The Swiss parent of New Jersey-based admixture and construction products supplier Sika Corp. projects a second or third quarter closing on Parex, a key player in façade, technical and waterproofing mortars, plus tile adhesives. Sika AG will acquire the business, which reported 2018 sales of $1.1 billion, from a fund of CVC, a global private equity and investment advisory firm.

Charah slag, pozzolan finishing technology debuts in the Empire State

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

Fly ash processor Charah Solutions Inc. has sited its first facility with patented granulated blast furnace slag grinding technology at the Port of Coeymans, 100 miles up the Hudson River from New York City. With barge, rail and truck access, it will finish MultiCem-branded slag cement to be distributed through the company’s MultiSource materials network.

New owner steers Kimble Mixer, Crane Carrier to the future

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

Crane Carrier Co. has become an independent company comprised of Kimble Mixer Co., plus namesake trucks and vehicles, following the brands’ sale by Hines Corp. to Turnspire Capital Partners LLC and the management team. In conjunction with acquiring New Philadelphia, Ohio, headquarters and manufacturing operations, Turnspire and management cite a substantial investment in CCC and will continue to support the business with financial and strategic resources.

Design-build method inches toward 50 percent of nonresidential work

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

“The Growing World of Design-Build,” a new white paper from FMI Corp. built environment researcher Paul Trombitas, tracks nonresidential project delivery trends over the past 25 years, and sees the design-build method accounting for 44 percent, or nearly $1.2 trillion, of related construction spending in the 2018-2021 window.

Rocky Mountain Prestress guides Wells Concrete West and Southwest

February 12, 2019 Concrete News

Minnesota’s Wells Concrete has become one of the top five precast/prestressed producers in the U.S. after acquiring key business assets of Denver-based Rocky Mountain Prestress (RMP). The transaction extends a footprint in structural and architectural precast from the Upper Midwest to markets from Canada and New Mexico and Wisconsin to Colorado.