CertainTeed LLC, the building products subsidiary of Malvern, Pa.-based Saint-Gobain, has commenced operations at its newest North American production site: An inaugural STONEfaçade plant in Quakertown, Pa., equipped to serve distribution partners coast to coast. Anchored with metal fasteners, the precast concrete veneer system consists of 8-in. panels in 10-, 12- or 14-in. widths, painted by hand and shipped complete…
Read MorePrecast concrete tunnel segments’ engineering efficacy is on full display between the two sweeping entrances to the new Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall, dedicated June 8 concurrent with the World of Concrete 2021 opening. A full scale, 12-ft. inside diameter tunnel segment model offers visitors a unique perspective of the LVCC’s second, but far less visible new attraction: the…
Read MorePrecast concrete veneer brands Cultured Stone and Eldorado Stone, along with sister Boral Roofing (concrete) and US Tile (clay roofing) businesses, are part of a Boral North America Building Products asset package that Australian parent company Boral Ltd. has agreed to sell Houston-based Westlake Chemical Corp. for $2.15 billion. “This transaction will bring well-established and high-quality architectural solutions and premium…
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Sources: Quartz Systems, San Francisco; CP staff Construction technology services provider Quartz demonstrated the quality control and productivity gauging potential of its new Concrete Deck Analysis program at World of Concrete 2021. The integrated hardware and software platform uses ultra-high resolution 4K video streams, machine learning, plus a web and mobile app to enable project principals to track and understand…
Read MoreSources: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago; CP staff Two University of Notre Dame student teams took first and second place in the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute 2020 Engineering Student Design Competition. Now in its 20th year and also known as Big Beam, the national competition educates college students in an applied learning environment—imparting structural engineering skills they can use throughout their careers…
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Demand for precast concrete in infrastructure products is projected to increase 4.4 percent annually, to $2.4 billion by 2022, with growth fueled by the need to repair the nation’s aging network of bridges, highways, roads and railroad tracks; increased adoption of the method over traditional cast-in-place alternatives; and, efforts by the federal government to increase surface transportation investment.
Read MoreSource: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
PCI is accepting entries for its 2018 PCI Design Awards through September 18. The program recognizes design excellence, innovation, and construction quality using precast concrete. All winning projects will be showcased at the 2018 PCI Convention and National Bridge Conference at The Precast Show in March 2018, and included in a summary article of PCI Journal, Aspire, and Ascent magazines.
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A binding merger agreement announced late last month unites the top two U.S. fly ash marketers and precast concrete stone veneer producers. Sydney-based Boral Ltd. will acquire Headwaters Inc. in a cash deal with enterprise value of approximately $2.6 billion; stockholders will receive $24.25 per share, a 21 percent premium to Headwater’s closing price leading into the merger proposal.
Read MoreSources: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago; CP staff
PCI has received ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) confirmation that the new Precast Concrete Diaphragm Seismic Design Methodology complies with 2012 and 2015 International Building Code provisions. The methodology was recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers earlier this year, and stems from a groundbreaking investigation PCI funded with the National Science Foundation, Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation and Charles Pankow Foundation.
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In partnership with the International Zinc Association and 13 supporting operators, the American Galvanizers Association has overhauled the Galvanized Rebar website, www.galvanizedrebar.org, while releasing a companion market-focused brochure and launching a technical service center.
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