Sources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.; CP staff National Concrete Masonry Association technicians are collecting block from a cross section of producer members for a two-year investigation measuring specimens’ carbon dioxide sequestration characteristics. Findings have the potential to arm the industry with critical CO2 uptake data plus delineate the sequestration rates and net volumes of dry cast versus conventional precast…
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York Building Products reaches outside industry to fill new president post
Sources: York Building Products, York, Pa.; CP staff Dave Semple has been named to the newly designated position of York Building Products president, overseeing 10 concrete masonry plants or yards and seven stone, sand & gravel sites, along with safety management and procurement functions. He assumes duties of a former vice president and is tasked with ensuring collaboration across all…
Read MoreNew rule steers block, paver, veneer stone Environmental Product Declarations
Sources: UL Environmental, Northbrook, Ill.; CP staff An updated Product Category Rule (PCR) will inform new Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for block, segmental retaining wall, segmental paving, manufactured stone veneer and other manufactured concrete units. A PCR provides an established methodology for preparing EPD and conducting a life cycle analysis. Submission of declarations increasingly influences specification of products or materials…
Read MoreConcrete Masonry Unit Sales Survey tracks modest year-over-year gains
Sources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.; CP staff The 2020 NCMA CMU Sales Survey, reflecting data from 187 plants, shows respective 2019 increases of 1.9 percent and 0.9 percent in the U.S. and Canada against prior year figures. In 8-in. unit equivalent terms, producers shipped 1.17 billion block in the U.S. and 101.5 million block in Canada last year.
Read MoreOldcastle APG sites $25M South Carolina greenfield
Source: South Carolina Department of Commerce, Columbia; CP staff Oldcastle APG plans a fourth South Carolina concrete masonry production site: A greenfield plant in Ridgeway, north of Columbia and along the Interstate 77 corridor linking the state capital to Charlotte, N.C. The $25 million operation will be dedicated to Belgard hardscape units; serve trade and retail accounts; and, build to…
Read MoreConcrete masonry sales pace cement consumption
Year-over-year concrete masonry unit sales for 2017 increased 2.6 percent in the U.S. and 1.9 percent in Canada, according to gray or architectural block and masonry veneer data collected from 44 producers operating 210 plants across the U.S. and Canada, and analyzed in the inaugural National Concrete Masonry Association CMU Sales Survey.
Read MoreConcrete masonry sales pace cement consumption trend line
Sources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.; CP staff
Year-over-year concrete masonry unit sales for 2017 increased 2.6 percent in the U.S. and 1.9 percent in Canada, according to gray or architectural block and masonry veneer data collected from 44 producers operating 210 plants, and analyzed in the inaugural National Concrete Masonry Association CMU Sales Survey.
Read MoreLife cycle-attuned Institute updates Impact Estimator for Buildings
Sources: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, Ottawa; CP staff
The Athena Institute includes updates for concrete masonry and ready mixed concrete in the just-released version 5.4 whole-building life cycle assessment (LCA) software tool, Impact Estimator for Buildings. The software models any building type at any point in the design stage and eases side by side comparison of material specifications and methods. It also helps users reduce projects’ environmental impact, earn the LCA credit in LEED green building rating system, or report embodied carbon.
Read MoreNCMA Young Professionals compel new branding, logo, messaging
Sources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herdon, Va.; CP staff
The just-launched www.ncma.org site exhibits an evolved NCMA brand identity, with new logos, colors and core messaging. A rebranding effort announced at the association’s 2019 convention in Orlando was facilitated by the NCMA Young Professionals Group. Born over the course of several YPG meetings and gatherings, it centered on the belief that a new brand identity, coupled with a revamped and user-friendly website, will allow the association to communicate better with all audiences, from concrete masonry producers and sales personnel to architects and designers.
Read MoreBoral block business brings Quikrete Texas heft
Sources: Boral Ltd., Sydney; CP staff
Boral has announced an agreement to sell its Texas concrete masonry operations to Atlanta-based Quikrete Holdings Inc., anticipating a mid-November closing for the $156 million deal. Boral inherited the block production assets with the May 2017 Headwaters Inc. takeover, and has recently moved to streamline its portfolio around building products and fly ash businesses in North America; the USG Boral gypsum-based wall and ceilings joint venture; and, construction materials production in Australia.
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