Trimble improves rebar, hollowcore detailing in Tekla Structures

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The latest solutions for Trimble’s advanced Building Information Modeling and structural engineering software—Tekla Structures 2020, Tekla Structural Designer 2020 and Tekla Tedds 2020—were unveiled last month at ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas. New Tekla Structures features enable efficient workflows for better productivity, increased mobility and collaboration across project teams, including:

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Rebar crew organizing opportunity eludes territorial Iron Workers

Sources: National Labor Relations Board; CP staff

A National Labor Relations Board official has dismissed an International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Philadelphia Council petition to conduct a representation election for a proposed bargaining unit under Ohio-based rebar placement specialist R&R Steel LLC.

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U.S. producers trigger probe of rebar imported from Mexico

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

The Commerce Department has initiated an inquiry to determine if concrete reinforcing steel bar, bent at one or both ends, circumvents existing antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders covering imports from Mexico. The action responds to requests from domestic operators Byer Steel, Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Commercial Metals, Gerdau Ameristeel, Nucor Corp. and Steel Dynamics. 

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Foundation backs high strength rebar research

Sources: Charles Pankow Foundation, McLean, Va.; CP staff

The Charles Pankow Foundation’s latest grant will help fund a project, “Foundation Mats with High Strength Steel Reinforcement,” under principal investigator Jack Moehle, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. Project findings stand to further validate the case for elevated rebar strength thresholds in American Concrete Institute and model building code language. Joining the Pankow Foundation as research allies are the ACI Foundation and Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute Education and Research Foundation.

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Commercial Metals completes $600M Gerdau rebar shop, mill deal

Sources: Commercial Metals Co., Dallas; CP staff

Commercial Metals has solidified its stake in concrete reinforcing products by acquiring 33 U.S. rebar fabrication facilities, plus California, Florida, New Jersey and Tennessee steel mills from Gerdau S.A. The $600 million transaction represents what CMC Chairman and CEO Barbara Smith calls “an important step in our strategy to be the leading concrete reinforcing specialist as well as a significant provider of merchant and wire rod products. With our expanded geographic footprint and added operational flexibility, this transaction supports our vertically integrated steel making model and will leverage our existing rebar manufacturing technology and customer service competencies.”

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Steel fiber specialist adds capacity as infrastructure market prospects grow

Sources: Helix Steel, Grand Rapids, Mich.; CP staff

Helix Steel is stepping up production of its namesake Twisted Steel Micro Rebar, citing higher sales fueled by a renewed focus on rebuilding tunnels, highways, bridges, dams and other critical infrastructure. Capacity expansion reaffirms what management calls a “commitment to continued ISO 9001:2015-certified American manufacturing, increasing jobs, and driving local economic development in and around Grand Rapids, Michigan.”

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Contractor settles with feds in case of defective rebar, lax QC

Source: U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); CP staff

DOJ recently announced an agreement whereby Energy & Process Corp. (E&P) will pay $4.6 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging the Tucker, Ga., contractor knowingly failed to perform required quality assurance procedures and supplied defective steel reinforcing bars in connection with a Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear waste treatment facility contract.

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Foundation end use determines state’s taxing of ready mixed and rebar

Source: Ryan LLC, Dallas

Missouri provides contrasting outcomes regarding the application of sales tax to purchases of concrete for foundations. The Missouri Department of Revenue’s mid-February Letter Ruling 7780 concludes that a taxpayer’s purchase of ready mixed and rebar used to construct wind turbine tower foundations qualifies for the sales tax exemption covering machinery and equipment used in manufacturing.

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Rebar import investigation proceeds on heels of Trade Commission finding

Sources: Rebar Trade Action Coalition and U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) preliminarily determined by a 6-0 vote there is reasonable indication that concrete reinforcing steel imports from Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey have materially injured the U.S. rebar industry. ITC figures show shipments from the three countries totaled nearly 20 percent of the $4.5 billion in rebar U.S. concrete construction consumed last year.

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