Pennsylvania-based synthetic reinforcing fiber specialist Forta Corp. has acquired the TCPavements brand and companion OptiPave software. The manufacturer plans to expand the use of the TCP industrial pavement engineering and jointing methodology, where no more than one wheel or axle loads the same plain concrete slab at any time. Developed in Santiago and applied in 15 countries, the TCPavements/OptiPave technology…
Read MoreDay: July 22, 2022
Xypex CEO offers full-throated view of industry’s bright future
The innovation behind the crystalline waterproofing technology synonymous with Vancouver, B.C.-based Xypex Chemical Corp. is featured in “Concrete Solutions Provided by Admixtures,” an Inside the Blueprint series episode airing this month on Bloomberg News and in syndication after. Producers explore how the technology works deep inside the concrete mass to create a permanent waterproof structure that resists extreme hydrostatic pressure…
Read MoreLehigh White Cement parent builds out UHPC binder series
Italy’s Cementir Group presents the just-launched Aalborg InBind as a flexible white binder enabling manufactured-concrete producers to optimize ultra-high performance mix designs leveraging locally available materials. Based on FutureCem technology formulations—heavy on limestone and calcined clays—InBind supports the recently introduced InWhite Solutions packaged concretes and mortars. The binder is premiering in Europe with potential distribution in North America through Lehigh…
Read MoreSCM developer Purebase eyes California market in major-producer partnership
Natural resource-minded Purebase Corp. has entered a strategic partnership with a major integrated materials producer to commercialize an eco-friendly, supplementary cementitious material especially suiting the California market. The partners will test a kaolin clay-based SCM processed at Purebase’s pilot plant in Ione, Calif., where efforts to date have been concentrated on augmenting concrete mix designs calling for Type II or…
Read MoreHolcim to test electric powertrains in South Central tractor fleet
Holcim US has spec’ed Hyliion Hypertruck ERX electric powertrains for 10 tractors serving Texas and Oklahoma cement and concrete operations, plus sister roofing product businesses. Batteries powering the Hypertruck ERX draw from an onboard generator running on compressed natural gas (CNG) or renewable natural gas (RNG), consumption of which compares favorably against diesel fuel when measuring carbon dioxide emissions. Holcim…
Read MoreHolcim invests in Blue Planet carbon dioxide-mineralizing technology
Holcim North America has taken a financial position in Blue Planet Systems Corp. of Los Gatos, Calif., joining three other marquee investors that have announced stakes in the carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) technology developer since 2020: Knife River Corp., Mitsubishi Corp. and Chevron. Their capital supports commercialization of a process that mineralizes carbon dioxide gas into synthetic limestone…
Read MoreCRH builds fencing platform with $1.9B Barrette Outdoor Living deal
Oldcastle parent CRH Plc is set to acquire Ohio-based Barrette Outdoor Living Inc., a leading player in steel, aluminum and vinyl fencing, railing, gate and accent products for residential and commercial applications. It sells and distributes through big box or independent home improvement retail channels and specialty outdoor product dealers. “Barrette is an excellent addition to CRH,” says Chief Executive…
Read MoreContractors’ annual workforce development outlays surpass $1.5 billion
Associated Builders and Contractors member contractors invested $1.6 billion to provide more than 1.3 million course attendees with craft, leadership and safety education in 2021, up from $1.3 billion in 2020. The group’s 2022 Workforce Development Survey quantifies the scope of member initiatives to advance their employees’ commercial and industrial construction careers. Safety education accounted for the greatest share, or…
Read MoreConcrete.ai developers project Q3 2022 software commercialization
Los Angeles-based Concrete.ai is preparing for general release of its pioneering data science platform, programmed to reduce costs and embodied carbon intensity (CO2e) in concrete construction. Ahead of the launch, the company is filling key management positions and executing a worldwide, exclusive license from the University of California, Los Angeles for the underlying artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)…
Read MoreProgrammers complete AASHTOWare Project, ForneyVault interface
Construction materials testing equipment and technology provider Forney LP is preparing release of a ForneyVault-AASHTOWare Project Construction & Materials interface to state departments of transportation. Linking its signature platform and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials software suite, the company notes, “Drives increased transparency, productivity and efficiency—especially pertinent for DOT labs today in light of the Infrastructure…
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