The National Precast Concrete Association has licensed its Master Precaster program to the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to enhance educational opportunities and workforce skills. Individuals attain Master Precaster status by completing six precast-specific courses that focus on general industry knowledge, leadership plus production, safety, technical and quality control topics. More than 400 individuals have earned the Master Precaster title since NPCA introduced the program in 2012.
“Master Precaster is a well-established and highly regarded worker training program built on the needs of our members,” says NPCA CEO Nick Rhoad. “We look forward to working alongside CPCI to continue skilling up the workforce, providing opportunities for production personnel so that we can help ensure the manufacturing of high-quality precast concrete products.”
“Providing a comprehensive training program such as the NPCA Master Precaster will go a long way toward educating our industry and further reinforcing the excellent relationship between our two organizations,” adds CPCI President Val Sylaj.
The Institute will offer Master Precaster courses through a combination of in-person and web-based events beginning in 2024. CPCI-trained Master Precasters will receive the same recognition as those who complete the education through NPCA, including a certificate, gold hard hat and inclusion in the annual graduation ceremony at The Precast Show. The training program includes:
- Production and Quality School (PQS) Level I. A baseline overview covering the body of knowledge that all precast concrete facility employees should hold.
- PQS II-Safety. A comprehensive examination of safety issues associated with the precast concrete production process.
- PQS II-Production. An expansion of PQS I topics that includes more complex casting techniques, lean manufacturing, repair procedures, reinforcement, lifting and handling.
- PQS II-Technical. An analysis of basic mechanics, design theory, proper lifting, understanding blueprints and industry standards.
- PQS II-Quality Assurance/Quality Control. A topical look at the standards required within the NPCA Quality Control Manual and NPCA Plant Certification.
- PQS III-Leadership. An exploration of leadership principles to strengthen management skills and cross-cultural workforces.
Additional information on the Master Precaster program is posted at www.Precast.org/masterprecaster.
FOLEY PRODUCTS BUILDS FLORIDA BANDWIDTH
Georgia-based Foley Products Company LLC is equipped to serve the southwest Florida drainage construction market with a full range of concrete pipe and precast structures after acquiring a second Sunshine State operation: Coastal Precast of Florida Inc., whose Fort Myers site is 15 miles from an existing Foley concrete pipe plant. The Coastal Precast plant joins 18 Foley Products pipe and precast sites across the Southeast.
“The addition of Coastal to our national network of plants will expand our presence in a high growing Florida market and provide our customers with a broader selection of storm, sanitary, retention, and specialty solutions,” says Foley Products CEO Keith Haas.