Florida stays on top of ABC construction business climate survey

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff The Associated Builders and Contractors’ seventh annual Merit Shop Scorecard salutes the Sunshine State for fostering a climate friendly to construction interests and their clients. The group determines the ranking on state policies and programs that encourage workforce development, grow career and technical education, strengthen careers in construction, and advocate for…

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ACI finalizes Orlando Concrete Convention agenda

Source: American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich. Engineers, contractors, educators, manufacturers, and suppliers will muster at the ACI Concrete Convention in Orlando, March 27-31, to collaborate on concrete codes, specifications, and practices. Technical and educational sessions will provide attendees with the latest research, case studies, best practices, and the opportunity to earn Professional Development Hours. Select programming will also be…

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Advisor FMI factors IIJA, labor, M&A in 2022 Construction Materials Outlook

Sources: FMI Corp., Raleigh, N.C.; CP staff FMI Capital Advisors, a leading investment banking firm for aggregate, concrete, asphalt producers and their customers, examines key drivers and challenges its 2022 Construction Materials Outlook. Themed “Seizing the Opportunities Ahead,” the report also assesses 2021 producer and contractor merger & acquisition activity.

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New owner Westlake formalizes Boral Building Products rebranding

Sources: Westlake Chemical Corp., Houston; CP staff Two years of strategic geographic and category acquisitions across North American residential and commercial building markets—capped by a $2.15 billion deal in October 2021 for the Boral Building Products business—has culminated in the Westlake Royal Building Products launch. The new brand spans precast Cultured Stone, Eldorado Stone and StoneCraft veneer series for exterior…

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Investigators test fiber from THC-lite hemp with eye to rebar

Sources: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.; CP staff One of the first projects at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s (RPI) new Institute for Energy, Built Environment, and Smart Systems centers on innovative, cost-effective hemp processing technologies, leading to development of a conventional concrete rebar alternative. Researchers characterize hemp as yielding some of the plant kingdom’s strongest fiber, matching glass fiber pound for…

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The Precast Show to attract 4,000-plus attendees

Source: National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind. More than 4,000 members of the precast concrete industry will gather March 3-5 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. for The Precast Show 2022. The annual event is the largest precast-specific trade show in North America and the one place you can find the industry’s most important suppliers and foremost…

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Northern S&G veteran named NRMCA Driver of the Year

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff Edward Folkersma, a 34-year veteran of Northern Sand and Gravel in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., is the 2022 NRMCA Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year. A national panel of industry judges selected him from a large pool of nominees representing producer members from across the United States.…

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CertainTeed ships inaugural stone veneer panel load

Sources: CertainTeed LLC, Malvern, Pa.; CP staff Saint-Gobain, through building products subsidiary CertainTeed LLC, has shipped its first STONEfaçade stone veneer panels from a new Quakertown, Pa. plant to customers in the New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions. The precast concrete STONEfaçade can be quickly and easily installed by any siding contractor without any special equipment or masonry skills.

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World of Concrete indicates strong start to 2022

Sources: Informa Markets, Irving, Texas; CP staff Nearly 37,000 construction and masonry professionals convened January 17-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center for World of Concrete’s requisite peer-to-peer connection, deal-making, education, and competitive activities. The show’s 2022 edition saw 1,100-plus manufacturers, suppliers and service providers occupy 632,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space across the newly expanded LVCC. Consistent foot traffic…

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