Wells doubles geographic reach, plant footprint with Gate Precast deal

Sources: The Wells Companies Inc., Albany, Minn.; CP staff Wells Companies has significantly strengthened its architectural and structural building precast, prestressed concrete production capabilities, acquiring Jacksonville, Fla.-based Gate Precast. The transaction broadens the suitor’s reach from Midwest and Rocky Mountains markets to those in Mid-Atlantic to Texas coastal and neighboring states. Indeed, Wells grows to more than 20 locations across…

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A Sustainable Future

By Josephine Patterson A visit with 2024 Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Chair Jim Fabinski With 30 years of experience in the precast concrete industry, Jim Fabinksi, vice president and general manager of EnCon United, brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to his leadership role as Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute chair. In fact, he has been involved with the institute for two…

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For the Team

Workforce safety, input and growth potential carry the  day at new Knife River Prestress Division flagship BY DON MARSH A new high-bay structure a stone’s throw from the Washington-Idaho border is poised to emerge this decade as the most productive precast, prestressed concrete facility on the West Coast. With nearly 200,000 square feet under roof on a 45-acre site, the…

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AltusGroup: 35 million square feet of precast wall panels in 20 years

Sources: AltusGroup, Bethlehem, Pa.; CP staff Embracing “precast innovation powered by collaboration” has positioned carbon fiber reinforced element licensor AltusGroup and producer members to sustain momentum in developing advanced commercial building enclosure solutions. “In the two decades since our founding, we’ve seen a deepened focus on energy savings, carbon footprint mitigation and on-site labor reductions, all amid an enhanced desire…

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Jensen Precast goes national with prestressed Harvest Pillar trellis posts

Sources: Jensen Precast, Reno, Nev.; CP staff After successful engineering demonstrations and initial West Coast installations, Jensen Precast is preparing national distribution of its Harvest Pillar prestressed concrete trellis posts for vineyards, orchards, nut farms, and hop yards. Built to last significantly longer than traditional trellis system alternatives, the structures are immune to pests, diseases, and weather events. “Harvest Pillar…

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Labor Department rule broadens Form 300 data submission requirements

Under “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses,” a final rule effective January 2024, the Labor Department requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness information to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Establishments with 100 or more employees in cement, concrete, construction and other industries deemed high-hazard based on reportable incident rates must relay Form 300-Log of Work-Related…

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Fatal prestressed pile incident draws $59K OSHA penalty

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor; CP staff The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Miami heavy/civil contractor de Moya Group Inc. for four serious violations tied to a December 2022 accident on an Interstate 95 site, where a 90-ft., 18-in. square prestressed concrete pile—hoisted by a crane encountering unstable soil—struck an aerial lift boom. The impact sent two carpenters…

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Solar array powers northernmost Valmont prestressed pole plant

Sources: Valmont Industries Inc., Omaha, Neb.; CP staff A new solar array abutting a Bristol, Ind. cornfield has the potential to deliver 900-plus kilowatts of electricity, or up to 100 percent of the power to run an adjacent facility: Valmont Industries’ spun, prestressed concrete utility pole plant. The array includes 70 single-axis trackers from a sister business offering the Convert…

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Kraft Match-Cure removes guesswork from QC in precast, prestressed

Kraft Curing Systems’ new Match-Cure insulated enclosure heats and cools test cylinders or cubes containing the same mix design as prestressed concrete elements in the production area, replicating their curing conditions. Temperature sensors, wired or wireless, installed in the Match-Cure enclosures and production area, transmit concrete temperatures to the central AutoCure automatic concrete curing control system. It “matches” the temperature…

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Carbon (fiber) embodiment

The CPC entry was among 133 organizers booked in the 2022 bauma Innovation Award Construction, Climate Protection, Digitalization, Mechanical Engineering and Research categories. The competition is a joint project of VDMA Construction – Equipment and Plant Engineering and bauma host Messe München, plus the Federation of the German Construction Industry, German Construction Confederation and German Building Materials Association. Companies and…

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