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Schwing America, Inc.
IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS LINKS
PAVEMENTS
PROMOTIONS
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
EDUCATION &TRAINING
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CALENDAR
 
GivenHansco, Inc
NEWS LINKS
A Delta Industries mixer truck driver played a critical role in saving the lives of a woman and her disabled sister on August 10 just off Interstate 10 in Mississippi. The driver of the passing mixer truck was able to put water inside the vehicle as the flames were reaching her. While the water was being poured on her and the fire, the driver and other passers-by were able to pull the car from the woods along the highway and pull her and her sister to safety.

Source: MSNBC.com.based on a story by NBC television affiliate WPMI. Read more.
 
A University of Southern California engineering professor has found a way to build housing with a giant 3D printer, including the concrete foundation. The professor explained the process in a speech at a conference (which you can watch via the link below - start at 4:30 to see the animation demo). In the video,  the professor demonstrates how the machine lays down a concrete foundation, puts up walls, even inserts wiring and plumbing and eventually constructs an entire building. And you thought USC only played football. 

Source: Yahoo News for August 10. Read more.
 
Meet Sherry Boas. She's an Orlando, FL-area mother of four who likes concrete. "It may not be the most environmentally correct thing to admit, but I like concrete. I like smooth concrete driveways, raised patios and winding paths that take me where I want to go without worry about fire ants stinging my toes," she writes. The concrete sidewalks around her house originally aided her bicycling children, now she uses the paths to walk toward her vegetable, flower and herb gardens. And now, when her grandson visits, the concrete slab in front of the garage is an ideal surface for his colored chalk drawings. 

So Mrs. Boas has first-hand experience with concrete's durability. Now she needs to be convinced of concrete's environmental properties. Too bad she and her husband didn't think to order pervious concrete for those sidewalks.

Source: August 13 posting in the Orlando Sentinel. Read more.
 
An August 13 posting on the Web site of RedOrbit.com, based on information from Global Information Inc. and distributed by PRNewswire, states what many construction personnel already know: China and India are now the world's two largest consumers of concrete, with Brazil and Russia rounding out the top four. Read more.
 
PAVEMENTS
The CSX intermodal terminal in Chicago uses giant cranes that run on large rubber wheels to transfer rail cars from one train to another. In the past, it has paved with asphalt and it didn’t take long for the heavy cranes to cause significant rutting. To eliminate the rutting, CSX’s paving engineer, TIGERBRAIN Engineering, proposed it pave 6,500 cubic yards of special lanes with Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) for the cranes to run on.

At the same time, NRMCA member Prairie Materials in Chicago had installed a portable ribbon mixer onto a dry batch portable ready mix plant shown here as part of an increasing effort to promote RCC in the Chicago area and, as a result, it was able to supply RCC to the CSX project. The portable ribbon mixer mixes 8 cubic yards of RCC in 30 seconds. For this job, Prairie mixed two separate 4.5 cy loads and placed them into a dump truck for delivery to the project site.

First, asphalt pavement was cut and removed to accommodate the new crane drive lanes. Then, 16 inches of RCC was placed in two lifts onto a compacted subgrade using two asphalt road wideners. Vibratory rollers compact the RCC after each lift. A tack coat was applied to the top surface of the RCC in preparation for two inches of asphalt wearing course. The whole process was done in a single day. Central Blacktop, an asphalt contractor, performed the delivery and installation of both the RCC and asphalt. CSX’s construction consultant, Kelleher Construction’s Dave Roethig, added that CSX has used this method in other terminals and is happy with the results.

"RCC is definitely the right solution for heavy duty applications and can compete with asphalt on a first cost basis," said Theron Tobolski of Prairie Materials. "We are working with engineers on an increasing basis to convert asphalt paving designs to RCC/asphalt designs. And by using a portable ribbon mixer, it allows us to supply RCC projects from almost any Prairie location."

For more information, contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at LLemay@nrmca.org or 847-918-7101.
 
PROMOTIONS
NRMCA's national resource directors recently received an e-mail from Andy Marks with the Puget Sound Concrete Specification Council identifying a potential "situation" with a National Account client. One of the West's leading design firms that works closely with the Puget Sound council and this National Account informed Marks that there might be an opportunity for the concrete industry to support this client by visiting the site and offering opinions and possible solutions to the issues, reports Senior National Resource Director Doug O'Neill.

"Andy’s quick action alerting NRMCA allowed us to reach out to the most qualified representative of the industry who was closest to the project, which in this case was Aaron Harris with the Michigan Concrete Association," O’Neill said. "Aaron volunteered to visit the project and offer his assessment of the situation. This information was relayed through the design firm to our National Account client, providing an excellent example of inter-industry cooperation. It solidifies our relationship with this National Account and opens up the opportunity for future growth with this interested design firm."

"We appreciate Andy Marks taking the time to communicate this opportunity and Aaron Harris providing the local support that made all the difference," O’Neill added.

For more information, contact Doug O'Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.
 
The latest ad in the Portland Cement Association's (PCA) paving campaign calls for an end to the outdated practice of subsidizing the asphalt industry with asphalt escalators clauses - the price adjustments or indexes that protect asphalt from volatile oil prices. The new ad is a continuation of the ongoing campaign ("Perpetual" and "Broke") with one-word headline, attention-getting layouts, and an aggressive presentation of the campaign themes of durability and economy.

Beginning this month and in September, the ad will run in construction trade magazines and Web sites serving the pavement and public works construction sector: APWA Reporter, Better Roads, Civil Engineering, Engineering News-Record, Public Works and Roads & Bridges. A graphic makes the visual connection between oil and asphalt while the text makes the case for an end to the asphalt escalators: "Call it what you will - price adjustments, indexing, or escalators. We call it an outdated bidding policy that subsidizes oil-based asphalt. Asphalt’s slick deals cost DOTs and taxpayers millions when oil prices rise, even when more durable materials like concrete promise affordability and stable pricing. Learn more about asphalt’s raw deals at www.think-harder.org/CRUDE. A page on the Think Harder Web site was set up to support the campaign with more information and links to PCA’s February report on asphalt escalators.

Source: The August 20 edition of PCA's Executive Report e-newsletter.

 
Begin your post-Labor Day with a tutorial on how to win the lucrative concrete parking lot market segment. NRMCA's national resource directors have a Webinar scheduled for right after the holiday weekend entitled Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst (CPA) Software. Using ACI and the Asphalt Institute recommendations, CPA compares total ownership costs, giving specifiers and owners the information they need to make sound parking lot pavement decisions. The Webinar explains how the software works along with strategies for making effective use of this outstanding tool.

Click on the link below to learn more or contact NRMCA's Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
 
The Euclid Chemical Company
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
Save the date, Thursday, September 27, to attend the 2012 Annual MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub Research Progress Update for Industry and Key Stakeholders in Cambridge, MA. The theme of this year's event is Research With An I4 Sustainable Change. The MIT researchers have developed groundbreaking models over the last three years and now is the time for stakeholders to Invest themselves in the research results and models, begin to Innovate their own design and manufacturing processes based on the findings, Invigorate their various constituencies to learn and apply the methodologies, and finally Implement sustainable change. 

The program will start with a Welcome Cocktail Reception on the evening of Wednesday, September 26. The morning session on Thursday, September 27, will include presentations by MIT Researchers working on the Concrete Science and Building Technology Platforms, including Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Pavements and Buildings. Lunch will be provided at noon followed by afternoon breakout sessions where interested stakeholders and representatives may provide feedback and ask questions of the researchers.

Registration is $195 and includes the reception, lunch, coffee breaks and materials. Please click here for more information and to access the registration form. The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub was established by the Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation and Portland Cement Association.
 
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
NRMCA has announced the winners of the 2012 Commitment to Environmental Excellence Awards as reviewed by a panel of judges based on a written narrative covering 11 evaluation criteria and photographs. The program offers producers national recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment and maintaining sound environmental management practices in their operation.

The program salutes companies that have not only met, but surpassed governmental compliance requirements and demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through plant and staff investment. The program provides awards in four categories based on the plant’s production volume. Eligible plants include NRMCA producer members located in the U.S., its territories or Canada.

"These plants have demonstrated that they are the 'best of the best' when it comes to being good stewards of the environment," said Gary Mullings, NRMCA senior vice president of operations and compliance.

"This is another example of the ready mixed concrete industry's move toward environmental excellence," added NRMCA President Robert Garbini. "These winning plants clearly demonstrate the incorporation of environmental management systems into the plant's operation."

The honored plants are as follows:
Category A: Less than 25,000 cubic yards of concrete produced:
Dolese Bros. Co. Ada, OK, 1st Place
Cemstone Products Co. Brainerd , MN, 2nd Place
Vulcan Materials Company, Stephens City, VA, Honorable Mention

Category B: Greater than 25,001 but less than 50,000 cubic yards of concrete produced:
Titan Virginia Ready‐Mix LLC at Clear Brook Ready‐Mix LLC, Clear Brook, VA, 1st Place
S&W Ready Mix Concrete Co. Castle Hayne, NC, 2nd Place
Concrete Supply Co Mooresville, NC, Honorable Mention

Category C: Greater than 50,001 but less than 100,000 cubic yards of concrete produced:
CEMEX Construction Materials South, LLC, Galveston, TX, 1st Place
Central Concrete Supply Co., Inc., Plant No. 13, Martinez, CA, 2nd Place
Aggregate Industries‐Northeast Region, Inc., Waltham, MA, Honorable Mention
Dolese Bros., Co., Elk City, OK, Honorable Mention

Category D: Greater than 100,001 but less than 200,000 cubic yards of concrete produced:
Lafarge Canada Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1st Place
CEMEX Construction Materials South, LLC, 7th Street Plant, Phoenix, 2nd Place
Aggregate Industries, Inc./Meyer Material Co., Des Plaines, IL, Honorable Mention

All plants receiving awards will be honored next month during the Awards Luncheon at the NRMCA ConcreteWorks in Washington, DC, this September. Winning facilities will also be featured in an article in an upcoming edition of Concrete Products magazine which sponsors the  awards program.

Click here for more information on this awards program, including staff contact.
 
The semi-annual OES Committee and its four task groups will meet on Saturday, September 15, at NRMCA's ConcreteWorks at the Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, MD (Metro Washington, DC). The committee extends a warm invitation not only to OES Committee members but also anyone attending ConcreteWorks, the Mixer Driver Championship and Board meeting. The meeting times are as follows:
  • 7 - 8:30 a.m. - OES Operations Task Group
  • 8:45 - 10:30 a.m. - OES Safety Task Group
  • 10:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - OES HR Task Group
  • 12:45 - 2:30 p.m. - OES Environmental Task Group
  • 2:45 - 5 p.m. - OES Committee (task groups will update the full Committee and the group at large will discuss mutually related topics).
For more information, contact NRMCA’s Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org.
 
Effective Supervisor Certification: November 13-15, Silver Spring, MD (offered once a year)
Environmental Certification: December 4-6,Orlando, FL (offered once a year)
Plant Manager Certification: December 11-14, Denver (not offered again until August 2013)

For more information, visit the Operations, Environment & Safety home page or contact NRMCA’s Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
 
Naylor, LLC
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
A host of publications have reported on presidential politics, transportation, infrastructure, regulation, heath care, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry. To access these articles for the week of August 13 - 17, 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 Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
 
EDUCATION &TRAINING
Who in your company would benefit from learning about the concrete fundamentals and technical operations essentials? This essential primer is appropriate for sales reps, dispatchers, administrative/home office and mid-level staff as well as those in executive functions whose jobs do not relate to concrete per se but who should have a baseline knowledge about ready mix technology and ops. This class is NOT appropriate QC/QA personnel.
 
The once-a-year workshop is taught by NRMCA staff engineers at the RMC Research & Education Foundation Center in Silver Spring, MD, right next door to NRMCA's headquarters building. It will be held October 2-4 with the certification exam on the morning of October 5. For those working toward their NRMCA STEPS® CCPf certification in Sales and Marketing Track, this is a required class. For others working toward CCPf certification in other STEPS tracks, the class is the qualifying prerequisite or an elective. The last day for the hotel rate discount is Monday, September 17, less than one month away.

Click here  for more information, including registration options and staff contact.
 
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
NRMCA's August Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, September 4, are the Concrete In Practice topics (single set). Available in English and Spanish, Concrete In Practice is a series of 42 one-page information sheets on important technical topics, written in a non-technical "What, Why and How?" format. Give them to contractors and they'll know that you deliver quality and value and make them a part of your promotion and education program. 

Order online (or here for Spanish) today and receive 25% off. Regular member price is $27, Internet Special $20.25, plus shipping. Please use Discount Code ISAUG12 to receive the online discount.
 
CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.

August 27-30, Online Course
Design of Concrete Pavements
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
September 4, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Software
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 4, Webinar (Part 2 on September 11)
Designing & Specifying Pervious Concrete
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 5-7, Silver Spring, MD
NRMCA Concrete Durability Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 7, Richmond, VA
Adopting Disaster Resilient Construction at the Local Level
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
September 11, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 11, Webinar (Part 2)
Designing & Specifying Pervious Concrete
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 14, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 16-19, Metro Washington, DC
2012 NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors Meeting
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 20, Webinar
Streets and Local Roads
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September, 27, Cambridge, MA
Annual MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub Research Progress Update
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
October 2-5, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module I: Concrete 101
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
October 19, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
October 23-25, Silver Spring, MD
Effective RMC Supervisor Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
November 1, Webinar
Streets and Local Roads
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
November 5-9, Silver Spring, MD
Technical Short Course
Email: Karen Bean, 888-84-NRMCA, x1168
 
November 16, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
December 4-6, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
December 4-6, Orlando, FL
Environmental Professional Certification Course for the Ready Mixed Concrete Industry
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
December 11-14, Denver, CO
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
December 12-13, Doha, Qatar
International Concrete Technology Forum
Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101
 
2013
 
February 19-21, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
March 3-5, San Antonio, TX
NRMCA Annual Convention
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
March 19-21, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module IV: Sales Fundamentals
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
May 6-8, San Francisco, CA
International Concrete Sustainability Conference
Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101
 
May 12-15, Chicago, IL
Fifth North American Conference on Design and Use of Self-Consolidating Concrete
 

  August 22, 2012
Fritz-Pak Corporation
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Command Alkon
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Phone: 301-587-1400 Toll Free: 888-84 NRMCA (846-7622)
Email: info@nrmca.org

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