Sources: Natural Pozzolan Association, Malad City, Idaho; Kirkland Mining Co., Scottsdale, Ariz.; CP staff
The Natural Pozzolan Association will stage its first official industry gathering May 16-17 at Rancho de los Caballeros, a Wickenburg, Ariz., ranch about an hour from Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix. The Natural Pozzolan Symposium will open with afternoon presentations followed by evening reception, and presentations continuing the next morning. Attendees will have the option of a May 17 afternoon visit to a natural pozzolan deposit near Skull Valley, Ariz. Operator and NPA member Kirkland Mining plans to commence extraction and processing this year of concrete-grade material with performance properties matching fly ash—supplies of which are especially constrained in Southwest and West markets. Kirkland Mining is among producers whose 2018-19 ramp up will see an NPA-estimated 1 million tons of new natural pozzolan capacity geared to North American concrete producers. — www.pozzolan.org
Read MoreSources: Concrete Sustainability Hub, Cambridge, Mass.; CP staff
In their current Research Brief, “Simulating the Formation of ASR Gels,” staff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-hosted Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub) shed new light on conditions, mechanics and protracted timelines surrounding alkali-silica reactivity in concrete.
Read MoreSource: Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), Chantilly, Va.
Entries in the ICPI 2019 Hardscape North America Awards will be accepted at an online portal through September 5, with winning and honorable projects announced during Hardscape North America, October 16-18 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville.
Read MoreSource: Bluefield Research, Boston
Federal government participation in rehabilitating U.S. water utility infrastructure is taking on even greater importance than in the past as municipalities are challenged to keep pace with the aging of 70,000-plus water & wastewater treatment systems and 3 million miles of underground pipe networks. With overall public spending on water utilities declining year-over-year in five of the last 10 years, core federal programs are proving to be more critical in addressing investment needs in urban and rural treatment systems and networks, according to water market-wise Bluefield Research.
Read MoreSources: U.S. Department of Labor, Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff
The Labor Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) cites outdated wage schedules and union-favoring tendencies in an audit report on prevailing wage rates the David-Bacon Act (DBA) mandates on federal or federally assisted construction projects. As of September 2018, according to OIG and authors of a DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD) report released earlier this month:
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Mack Trucks recently named Steve Jugovic as regional vice president, Canada, responsible for the end-to-end sales cycle in new business transactions, including dealer and fleet sales, full-service lease, rental and contact maintenance services. Prior to the appointment, Jugovic worked at Mack Financial Services Canada, where he led operations as managing director for nearly eight years. During his tenure, he built strong relationships with customers and dealers and helped to develop a high-performing Canadian team.
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Concrete Pumping Association of Canada is now operating as an American Concrete Pumping Association chapter, but maintaining the CPAC name. A merger will give members from Canada a dedicated forum while continuing to benefit from ACPA’s strong safety, training and concrete pump operator certification program. It creates what ACPA Executive Director Christi Collins calls “synergy and alignment on both sides of the border as we advocate and lobby for shared resources for the greater concrete pumping community.” Concrete pumpers in the United States and Canada share many issues, including those tied to safety, workforce development and promotion, she adds.
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Karen Biondolillo has been named chief financial officer for the High companies, a diverse group of family-owned businesses, including High Concrete Group, and one of central Pennsylvania’s largest employers. She is responsible for corporate finance, accounting, tax and information technology departments; joins an executive committee providing strategic leadership to the business; and, succeeds Mike Van Belle, who has been CFO since 2005 and recently announced his retirement.
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Sunrise Resources Plc of Cheshire, U.K., 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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