March 2020 – Concrete Products

Software, tech-wise investor to acquire Command Alkon

March 31, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Command Alkon, Birmingham, Ala.; Thoma Bravo, San Francisco; CP staff

Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm focused on software and technology-enabled services sectors, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire heavy building materials IT leader Command Alkon from New York-based Quilvest Capital Partners. The ownership transition stands to speed execution of a strategy to integrate inter-company supply chain operations in heavy construction via Connex, a many-to-many technology platform rolled out in 2019.

Shotcrete contractors test creative limits

March 30, 2020September 23, 2020 Concrete News

The American Shotcrete Association recognized six winning projects and three honorable mentions through its annual Outstanding Shotcrete Project Awards program. The recipients confirm and demonstrate the advantages of utilizing shotcrete as an alternative or companion to conventional cast-in-place or precast concrete.

Concrete Fiber Solutions, Prairie Material ‘wired’ into mesh alternative

March 30, 2020 Concrete News

Concrete Fiber Solutions (CFS), along with Prairie Material and Goebel Forming, recently completed a massive flooring installation at the 110 N. Wacker project in Chicago, utilizing steel fiber reinforced concrete in place of traditional wire mesh. The high-rise features composite metal deck floors reinforced with 25 lbs./yd. of CFS 150-5 fibers in lightweight concrete mixes. The fiber substitution contributed to increased worker safety and floor-finishing efficiency.

Evolution of concrete plants

March 30, 2020September 21, 2020 Concrete News

by Craig Yeack

Ready-mix plants matter. The physical foundation of modern society is absolutely dependent on concrete infrastructure. More important are the resilient folks who work long, hard hours, day after day, to make it happen. Now more than ever, our people and concrete plants are faced with fundamental changes not seen in 70 years.

Elemental Streamlining

March 30, 2020 Concrete News

Concrete producers and AEC community program tool to measure embodied carbon in structures, slabs and finishes

Contractors report project delays, cancellations, supply disruptions

March 30, 2020 Concrete News

Source: Associated General Contractors of America, Washington, D.C.

Of the nearly 1,650 contractor participants in an online survey gauging market activity amid federal, state and local pandemic response measures, 39 percent note that owners have halted or canceled current construction projects, while 23 percent cite material, part or equipment shortages, including respirators and other protective gear.

Producer, contractor coalitions pursue work shutdown exemptions

March 30, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Alexandria, Va.; Associated General Contractors of America, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

Major construction material and product groups, along with contractor counterparts, have implored federal, state and local officials to exempt building and nonbuilding work from business shutdowns as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus spread.

Energy Star cement mills log Btu savings by the trillions

March 30, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.; CP staff

Thirteen portland cement plants earned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Certification for 2019: Alamo Cement Co., San Antonio; Argos USA, Calera, Ala. and Harleyville, S.C.; Ash Grove Cement, Seattle; Buzzi Unicem USA, Festus, Mo. and Chattanooga, Tenn.; CalPortland Co., Rillito, Ariz.; Cemex USA, Brooksville and Miami, Fla.; GCC of America, Pueblo, Colo.; Salt River Materials, Clarkdale, Ariz.; plus, Titan America, Medley, Fla. and Troutville, Va.

Sand & gravel production, use survey measures concrete prevalence

March 30, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: U.S. Geological Survey; CP staff

The annual USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries estimates 2019 construction sand & gravel production at 970 million metric tons, valued at $9 billion and extracted from 6,830 sites operated by 3,870 companies. In order of decreasing tonnage, the lead states for production were Texas, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington, Ohio, New York, Utah and Colorado—accounting for upward of 55 percent of total U.S. output.

Ready mixed producers assist artificial intelligence-fed quality control

March 27, 2020 Concrete News

Sources: Giatec Scientific Inc., Ottawa; CP staff

Central Concrete Supply Co. of California, Maschmeyer Concrete Company of Florida and Stoneway Concrete of Seattle have provided mix data used to train an artificial intelligence program, Roxi, to detect possible errors in batch proportions and slab or structure maturity calibrations.