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Schwing America, Inc.
IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS LINKS
PAVEMENTS
PROMOTIONS
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
ENGINEERING
SUSTAINABILITY
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
EDUCATION &TRAINING
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CALENDAR
 
It’s hard to find safety lessons that are ready mixed concrete-specific, self-directed, measure individual retention and include an automatic proof-of-training for your compliance records. That is until June 1, when NRMCA launched its 20- 25 minute lessons on its safety e-learning Web site. Available 24/7 from any computer, the first two lessons cover backing accident prevention for both rear and front discharge mixers. Watch the lessons’ preview clip and take advantage of the special introductory price during June.
 
Sign up your staff  from the NRMCA’s Web site at a special introductory price. For more information about online safety training, contact Jacques Jenkins at jjenkins@nrmca.org.
 
GivenHansco, Inc
NEWS LINKS
Is Concrete Industry the Answer to Coal Ash? That was the headline on a June 10 article by The Charlotte Observer which included comments made to North Carolina state Senate committee by former NRMCA Board of Directors Chairman Henry Batten. Batten, president of NRMCA Producer member Concrete Supply Co., told state lawmakers his company has to import coal ash from out of state. "I’m really here telling you the industry wants to buy it, consume it," he told members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.

Batten spoke at a hearing on Governor Pat McCrory’s plan to deal with the 106 million tons of ash in 33 ponds. The plan is a response to February’s spill of 39,000 tons of ash into the Dan River. Read more (and note the extensive comments section).
 
According to Mike Barnard, a Senior Fellow - Wind at Energy and Policy Institute, yes, they could. But there's a very big but, so to speak. The basic engineering of solar roadways seems robust and fairly well thought through, he said. Could they do so economically? It’s very difficult to see how, Barnard added. Roads right now are as cheaply made and as poorly maintained as possible, he writes. That’s because there are too many of them by any reasonable standard and they are expensive to build and maintain.

"Solar roadways make them a lot more expensive - 10 to 40 times more expensive depending on assumptions - and in theory create the ability to avoid some costs and make some other costs more viable, but a lot of the additional value seems pretty flimsy. They will be unable to overcome this massive cost increase through generating electricity."

Source: A June 5 posting on Forbes.com. Read more.
 
A French research team has developed a new cement mixture called Limestone Calcined Clay Cement, or LC3, that "has the potential to become the benchmark material for low-carbon concretes," Marc Howe writes. LC3 is made from ground limestone and calcined clay, both of which are plentiful. The result is a cement paste that is stronger and less porous, according to Howe, and reduces concrete's carbon footprint by as much as 40%. 

Source: AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter for June 10 which contained this article from the Web site Sourceable.
 
PAVEMENTS
Registration is open for NRMCA’s Concrete Pavement Jointing Plan Webinar to be offered Tuesday, June 17, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern time. NRMCA’s Amanda Hult will discuss how achieving a properly designed and constructed concrete pavement does not stop at a thickness design. Jointing concrete pavements correctly is a crucial element that is often overlooked. Attendees will gain the necessary knowledge to prepare a well designed jointing plan. 

Some of the topics that will be discussed are 
Why joint concrete pavements? 
Types of joints
Jointing guidelines
Sealing and reinforcing

This Webinar is intended for civil engineers, architects, landscape architects, public works officials and others who design and review concrete pavement details. Contractors, product suppliers and land developers will also benefit from this seminar.

Click here to learn more and for registration links. For more information, contact Amanda Hult at ahult@nrmca.org.
 
In its ever-expanding mission to inform and educate on the proper means and methods to design and detail concrete pavements, NRMCA has joined forces with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to teach a two-day, intensive course on the design and construction of concrete pavement. Last week, the course was taught in Long Beach, CA, to personnel representing a port, city government, consulting firms and a military installation. Most of the attendees were from Southern California, but one individual traveled all the way from South Korea. Currently, there are courses scheduled in Denver (September) and Cincinnati (November) of this year and one scheduled in Orlando (March) for the first quarter of 2015. Planning for courses in the remaining quarters of 2015 will be conducted later this year.

The courses are taught by NRMCA Vice President Pavement Structures Brian Killingsworth and Director of Pavement Structures Amanda Hult. The course covers the design and construction of pavement for parking lots, city streets and higher volume facilities using conventional concrete, overlays, roller compacted concrete and pervious concrete. Attendees receive copies of NRMCA Concrete Pavement Analyst software as well as the NRMCA Rigid Pavement Technical Assistance Guide for Local Jurisdictions.

This partnership with ASCE opens avenues to reach designers and decision makers to NRMCA for technology transfer and the introduction of innovative rigid pavement materials for various applications.

See the ASCE continuing education Web site to register for upcoming courses or contact Brian Killingsworth at bkillingsworth@nrmca.org for more information.
 
PROMOTIONS
"Many automobile dealerships across the country are either constructing new facilities or rehabilitating existing dealerships," reports NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Phil Kresge. "This increase in activity represents a fantastic opportunity for the concrete industry." To help our industry capitalize on that opportunity, two new NRMCA promotion flyers are focused on concrete parking lots for auto dealers.

The full color, two-page flyers list the benefits of concrete pavements for auto dealers – cost effective, reduced lighting costs, superior performance and enhanced vehicle display. They also include testimonials from auto dealers who have made the switch to concrete. "We have even included a space on the flyer for ready mix producers and/or contractors to include their individual contact information, for prospecting purposes," adds Kresge. The flyers are available in pdf format for free download at NRMCA’s promotion resource Web site. Larger quantity printed orders can be purchased through NRMCA’s e-store here (for portrait flyers) and here (for landscape format).

For more information, contact Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org.
 
During the recent International Council of Shopping Centers RECON show in Las Vegas (see May 28, 2014 E-NEWS), Tom Tietz with the California Nevada Cement Association (CNCA) worked the booth with NRMCA vice presidents, national resources, Amy Miller and Jon Hansen. Prior to the show, Tietz contacted a number of ready mix producers in Las Vegas asking them to invite selected concrete contractors to an informational meeting on how partnerships with contractors can work to advance the concrete parking lot paving market. Two of the meetings, each held at producers' offices, had 4 - 6 concrete contractors who heard from Hansen and Tietz about the NRMCA Design Assistance Program (DAP), Parking Lot Boot Camp selling and concrete overlays as ways to expand the local concrete market. To date, three contractors have expressed an interest in utilizing NRMCA offerings that will be coordinated by Tietz and the CNCA staff.

For more information contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org or Tom Tietz at tom.tietz@cncement.org.
 
The Euclid Chemical Company
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
The preliminary estimate of ready mixed concrete produced in April 2014 is 27 million cubic yards, 11.3% higher than that in April 2013. The estimated production for 2014 through April is 84.7 million cubic yards, 5.7% higher than that during the same period in 2013. Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. NRMCA members can review details here.
 
Amanda Hult, NRMCA director of pavement structures, earned her Professional Engineering (PE) license last month in Colorado. Earning a PE license is a key milestone in any engineer’s career. In addition to requiring an engineering degree and years of work experience, a candidate must also pass a rigorous exam. Ms. Hult joined NRMCA in 2011 to provide technical expertise in parking lot pavement design. Since joining NRMCA, Hult has helped transform the Association’s Pavement Design Assistance Program (DAP) to make it one of the NRMCA’s most successful programs for designing and converting parking lots from asphalt to concrete. In addition to DAP, Ms. Hult conducts several pavement design classes and Webinars throughout the year.

Prior to joining NRMCA, Ms. Hult was actively involved in promoting concrete pavements in Florida with NRMCA Producer member CEMEX USA. She holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida.

For more information, contact Amanda Hult at ahult@nrmca.orgClick here to search the educational opportunities available at NRMCA.
 
ENGINEERING
NRMCA is continuing to accept applications for its popular 2014 Excellence in Quality Award program. A company must be an NRMCA Producer member in good standing to participate. Companies can enter as a company or a division. Applicants are asked to respond to a multiple-choice type application form that generates their score, which will be judged. Companies or divisions that achieve a score of 75% or greater will be recognized at NRMCA ConcreteWorks, scheduled from September 21 - 23 in Indianapolis.

There are several advantages to participating in this award program:
1. It provides recognition to the companies that maintain high quality standards.
2. The award criteria can serve as an excellent quality improvement tool for companies.
3. Companies have used the award criteria for conducting internal quality audits.

Downloading the award form and for more information, including past quality award winners, here. Completed award forms should be e-mailed in the original Excel format along with required supporting documentation to Karen Bean at kbean@nrmca.org by Monday, June 30. For more information, contact NRMCA's Karthik Obla or Colin Lobo at kobla@nrmca.org or clobo@nrmca.org.
 
This comprehensive guide, a joint publication of ASTM International and NRMCA, is part of the ASTM’s Manual series. The publication is now available from NRMCA and ASTM International. It is the second edition of Manual 49 and provides an in-depth discussion of ASTM C94/C94M, Specification for Ready Mixed Concrete. The co-authors, D. Gene Daniel, concrete consultant from Claremore, OK, and Colin Lobo, NRMCA senior vice president of engineering, have been active longtime members of ASTM Subcommittee C09.40 that is responsible for the ASTM C94 specification. The book provides detailed discussion, images, pictures and numerical examples of each clause in the specification. It discusses the intent and purpose of each aspect of the specification. ASTM Manual 49, 2nd Edition is an essential reference for ready mixed concrete producers, material suppliers, design engineers, contractors, lawyers and users of ready mixed concrete.

NRMCA members are offered a special discounted price relative to ASTM list price. To obtain a copy of NRMCA Publication 2PMNL49, contact Jacques Jenkins at jjenkins@nrmca.org or 301-587-1400, ext. 1165.
 
The NRMCA Concrete Durability Course was offered last week (June 3-5) in Silver Spring, MD, with 20 attendees. The course was well received by the attendees who gave it great ratings. The next NRMCA Concrete Durability Course is scheduled for September 8-10 at the office of the Florida Concrete Products Association (FCPA) in Orlando. The course is taught by Michael Thomas, University of New Brunswick and Kevin Folliard, University of Texas at Austin and NRMCA Engineering Department staff. The course provides a fundamental understanding of the nature of cement and concrete as it relates to durability of concrete. Topics will cover cracking, alkali aggregate reactions, sulfate attack, corrosion of reinforcing steel, freeze-thaw durability and other aspects. A group exercise will be facilitated to walk attendees through NRMCA's ConcreteWorks software that can be used to develop concrete mixtures for durability and to evaluate the potential for temperature-related cracking.

The course also discusses the durability provisions in the Building Code - ACI 318-11 and how specifications can be structured to address durability. Comprehensive reference material is provided as course notes that is an excellent resource to concrete producers and associated technical personnel. The course concludes with a comprehensive exam on the subject matter covered. Those with NRMCA Level 3 Certification obtain the NRMCA Concrete Technologist Level 4 Certification when passing this exam. However, it is not essential to have attended the NRMCA Technical Short Course to attend the Durability Course. The course provides required learning units toward the technical track of the NRMCA STEPS certification program. Please register early if you wish to attend.

Click here to access registration links (hotel contract is being finalized and will be communicated to registrants).
 
The March/April 2014 issue of the Concrete Bridge Views newsletter is now available online. It includes the following articles of note to the ready mixed concrete industry:
  • Portland-Limestone Cement - A Choice Material for Sustainable Concrete, Paul D. Tennis, Portland Cement Association - Portland-limestone cement (PLC) is a relatively new technology for the United States, with requirements defining Type IL adopted in 2012 in specifications ASTM C595 and AASHTO M 240. Read more.
  • Michigan’s Experience with Floodcoats, Jason DeRuyver, Michigan Department of Transportation - Epoxy floodcoats have been used as a preventive maintenance treatment on bridge decks in Michigan since the early 1990s. Read more
  • Washington State DOT’s Use of Modified Concrete Overlays to Preserve Bridge Decks, DeWayne Wilson, Washington State Department of Transportation - WSDOT has a comprehensive Bridge Deck Program with the primary goal of economically repairing and overlaying concrete bridge decks to prolong their lifespan and avoid expensive deck replacements. Read more.
HPC Bridge Views is published jointly by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Concrete Bridge Council.
 
Trimble Construction Logistics
SUSTAINABILITY
Redi-Mix Concrete, a U.S. Concrete Company, NRMCA Producer member and one of the largest concrete producers in North America, has published an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for concrete produced at its Dallas area plant. Developing and publishing an EPD requires a rigorous process of conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) of plant operations and product formulation followed by an extensive review by independent LCA professionals using a standard called a Product Category Rule (PCR). Redi-Mix Concrete chose NSF International to verify its EPDs. It followed the North American Product Category Rule for Concrete developed by the Carbon Leadership Forum and relevant international standards. As is required by the standards, the EPDs are published on NSF International’s Web site.

The concrete industry leads the way with the number of products with verified EPDs. NRMCA also verifies and publishes EPDs. For more information about EPDs and the NRMCA EPD program visit www.nrmca.org/sustainability/EPDProgram

For more information, contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at LLemay@nrmca.org or 847-918-7101.
 
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Media articles on Congress, transportation infrastructure, regulation, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry, are updated each week by NRMCA's Government Affairs staff. To access the most recent compilation of articles for June 2 - 6, please click here.

If you would like to receive this weekly updated link in a separate e-mail, or if you have questions or comments about the roundup, contact NRMCA’s Elizabeth Fox at efox@nrmca.org.
 
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill on June 5. The only debated amendment was from Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME); it targeted drivers' Hours of Service rules. Collins’ amendment suspends two 34-hour restart rule provisions while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – with input from the Office of Inspector General – conducts a comprehensive study to see if these changes are truly justified. The two requirements of the 34-hour restart that would be suspended are: that a driver takes two consecutive 1-5 a.m. periods off work and that 168 hours pass before a new workweek can be started.

In spite of vocal opposition from safety groups, the committee approved the amendment 21-9. Most of the opposition supported studying the provisions, but had misgivings about suspending the changes during the study. No time has been set yet for the full Senate to take up the bill.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Fox at efox@nrmca.org or 301-587-1400, ext. 1156.
 
EDUCATION &TRAINING
NRMCA will host a new Webinar, "Building the Customer Relationship...in the Post-Recession Economy," Wednesday, July 23, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. The goal is for management and their sales staff to ask at the year's halfway mark, "Are you sure your sales reps are focused on maximizing their efforts?" This is an opportunity to pull them together and collectively listening to the Webinar proceedings, then management can follow up with a brainstorming session.

The Webinar will ask sales staff if they are finding new contacts. Is the market indicating new sales strategies with current customers? Are your customers looking at new directions? Are you looking for possibly new buying criteria? Do you really know your most important customers as well as you need to; enough to be sure of getting and keeping their business? In this webinar, sales reps learn to reassess their relationship with key customers and how to ask the right "20 Questions" that help GET, KEEP and GROW sales. For a healthy bottom line, it can no longer be, "Just get the order and we’ll figure it out." Now, more than ever, it’s about building a partnership with a contractor that is healthy for both sides of the sales equation.

Click here to register. For more information, contact Jessica Walgenbach at 240-485-1152 or by e-mail at meetings@nrmca.org.
 
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
The NRMCA June Internet Spotlight is the Hot Weather Concrete Package. This package includes the driver training DVD "How to Keep it Cool", which discusses tips for placing concrete during hot weather, and the Concrete In Practice topic (CIP12) "Hot 'Weather Concreting" - pkg. of 50. Order online today and receive 20% off. Regular member price for this package is $90, Internet Special is $72, plus shipping. Discount Code: HWC
 
CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.

June 13, Free Webinar
Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
June 17, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
June 17, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part 1 (Part 2 is June 24)
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
June 18, Free Webinar
Backing Accident Prevention Program
Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168
 
June 19, Free Webinar
Utilizing MIT Research Results
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
June 23-26, Online Course
Concrete's Role in Sustainable Development
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
June 26, Free Webinar
SLR Concrete Construction & Repair Basics
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
July 1, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
July 7-10, Online Course
Building Green with Concrete
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
July 8, Webinar
Understanding Asphalt
Email: Brian Killingsworth, 830-438-2690
 
July 11, Webinar
Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!
Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850
 
July 15, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Elected Official Advocacy
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
July 29-30, Online Course
Designing Jointed Concrete Pavement for Streets and Parking Areas
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
August 4-7, Online Course
Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Structures
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
August 5, Free Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete for Streets & Local Roads
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
August 6, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion & Advocacy Overview
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
August 6, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Program
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 6, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part 1 (Part 2 is August 13)
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 6-8, Ontario, CA
Ready Mixed Concrete Safety Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 12-15, Silver Spring, MD
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 14, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
August 19, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 20, Webinar
Recruiting & Hiring Top Performing Ready Mix Sales Reps
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
August 21, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
September 8-10, Silver Spring, MD
Concrete Durability Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 9, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part 1 (Part 2 is September 16)
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 10, Webinar
Re-Entrepreneuring: 7 Strategies for Rebuilding Your Business in the New Economy
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
September 12, Free Webinar
Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
September 12, Webinar
Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!
Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850
 
September 30, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 30, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Program
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
October 7-10, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module I, "Concrete 101" - Technical/Product Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
October 14, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Elected Official Advocacy
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
November 3-7, Silver Spring, MD
Annual Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"
Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168
 
November 7, Webinar
Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!
Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850
 
November 18-20, Silver Spring, MD
The Effective RMC Supervisor - Silver Spring, MD
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
November 19, Webinar
Sales Performance Assessments and Review for Ready Mix Sales Managers
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
December 3-5, Phoenix
Environmental Professional Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
December 9-12, Phoenix
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
December 16-18, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge - Understanding the Concrete Contractor's Business
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 

  June 11, 2014
Fritz-Pak Corporation
MPAQ Automation
Putzmeister America, Inc.
McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing, Inc.
WAM USA, Inc.
Clean Energy
Xypex Chemical Corp
Logo NRMCA
900 Spring Street
Silver Spring, MD, 20910
Phone: 301-587-1400 Toll Free: 888-84 NRMCA (846-7622)
Email: info@nrmca.org

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