NRMCA Celebrates 100 Years of Ready Mixed Concrete in the U.S.

NRMCA's celebration of the 100th anniversary of ready mixed concrete in the U.S. continues its May offerings with the histories of another Producer and Associate member. See below for the two companies we've selected for this week, along with a link to those companies respective Web sites for more information. This week's industry milestone: The reinforced concrete thin shell American Airlines hangar at Chicago’s Midway Airport, built in 1947-1948, was one of the largest commercial airline hangars at the time; eight DC3s could be serviced in each hangar at one time. Each hangar had a clear span of 257 ft (78 m) with a rise of 42 ft (13 m).

Delta Industries - Jackson Ready Mix was organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi in December 1945. The company started its original ready mixed concrete plant at its current location on Woodrow Wilson Drive in what was then Northeast Jackson. The original mixer truck fleet consisted of 22 army surplus trucks. In the more than 60 years since its founding, the company now known as Delta Industries has expanded throughout much of Mississippi along with operations in Alabama and Arkansas. Read more.

Northeast Solite - This associate member traces its roots to 1947 when the U.S. went on a post World War II building boom. Lightweight aggregate replaced coal-burning boiler cinders from railway locomotives, which disappeared with the advent of diesel engines.  That year, the rotary kiln patent for expanding shale expired, and no fewer than 40 companies rushed to enter the lightweight aggregate business. Southern Lightweight Aggregate Corporation led the pack, being incorporated by its founder, John W. Roberts. Seven months later, Solite shipped its first two railcars of lightweight aggregate for the manufacture of masonry units. One went to Charleston, SC, the other to Charleston, WV, to block plants that had formerly used coal cinders. Read more.

An NRMCA Associate Member since 1998