Hardscape NA, Equip Exposition organizers prepare for record gathering

Sources: Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff All indoor and outdoor exhibit space for ICPI-NCMA’s Hardscape North America and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s co-located Equip Exposition, October 18-21 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, is sold out. With upward of 1,000 exhibits combined, the events draw tens of thousands of hardscape or landscape practitioners and other…

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Outdoor Living Supply builds NE presence through Back Yard Living

Sources: Outdoor Living Supply, Rochester, Minn.; CP staff Hardscapes-focused distribution platform Outdoor Living Supply has acquired Back Yard Living of Abingdon, Mass., an independent paving stone, segmental retaining wall unit, fireplace, outdoor appliance, and lighting retailer. The deal extends OLS’ Northeast presence and provides additional product expertise. Peter and Paul Fiore founded Back Yard Living in 2005 to accommodate discerning…

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Hardscape installers report banner 2021

Sources: Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, Chantilly, Va.; CP staff Gross 2021 sales for concrete paver contractors in the United States and Canada increased 27 percent year over year, according to a new Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute survey. The 2022 ICPI Contractor Industry Report reflects trends based on responses from 177 segmental concrete pavement professionals surveyed by Columbus, Ohio-based market researcher…

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Quarry deals deepen Pioneer’s natural-hardscape deposits

Source: Pioneer Landscape Centers, Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Pioneer Landscape has added one Colorado and three Arizona quarries, affording increased production capabilities and ushering in new stone grades to support a range of customers in the concrete, asphalt and road base markets. The sites bring the company’s portfolio to 20 quarries and production facilities, plus 35 retail distribution locations.

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Bullish hardscape product growth forecast bears on solid ground

CC061719 Planks2

Sources: Freedonia Group, Cleveland; CP staff

In a new report, market researcher Freedonia Group projects hardscape unit demand increasing 5.4 percent annually through 2023, driven especially by consumer interest in higher value offerings like concrete plank pavers that resemble wood, along with permeable interlocking concrete, natural stone or porcelain pavers.

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Paver sales growth stays course toward pre-recession watermark

Sources: Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, Chantilly, Va.; CP staff

Segmental concrete pavement product sales in the United States and Canada increased for a seventh consecutive year, hitting an estimated 750 million square feet, or 2.5 percent higher than 2016, according to the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute 2018 Industry Sales Profile. 

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System Pavers adds humanoid robot to hardscape project sales team

CC060418 Pepper

Sources: System Pavers, Santa Ana, Calif.; SoftBank Robotics America Inc., San Francisco; CP staff

One of southern California’s leading hardscape design and installation contractors is deploying Pepper, a 4-ft. humanoid robot programmed to answer homeowner questions about outdoor living and project possibilities, at its San Diego County Fair (June 1-July 4) and Orange County Fair (July 13-August 12) booths. 

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NCMA Foundation opens building, hardscape unit design competition

Source: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.

The NCMA Education and Research Foundation’s 2018 Unit Design Competition exposes students in college or university design and construction programs to concrete masonry and hardscape products. Individual school teams begin in local competitions, proposing an innovative design for a concrete masonry or hardscape unit that can be produced on current equipment. First place teams from the local rounds qualify for the national competition, the top three teams from which will be invited to present their unit design at the NCMA Midyear Meeting, July 31-August 3 in Chicago. Additional information on the competition and entry submissions can be obtained here.

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