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IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS LINKS
PROMOTIONS
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
ENGINEERING
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
EDUCATION &TRAINING
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CALENDAR
NEWS LINKS
Economists see a number of sources of underlying strength in the economy, but for the growth to gain traction, they say, political leaders need to avoid the broad tax increases and spending cuts now being debated. The nascent housing rebound, the natural gas boom, record profit margins, a friendlier credit market for small businesses, along with pent-up demand for autos and other big purchases, could in combination unleash growth and hiring that the economy needs.
Source: December 17 AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter which contained this December 16 article by The New York Times.
NRMCA Producer Member Ozinga Indiana Ready Mix Concrete in Gary has received a federal grant to convert six diesel mixer trucks to run on compressed natural gas. As reported earlier in E-NEWS, the company is also partnering with South Shores Clean Cities and the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission to develop a community-wide compressed natural gas forum.
Source: December 18 posting by AggregateResearch.com. Read more.
NRMCA Producer member Cemex recently signed an agreement with the town of Consuelo in San Pedro de Macoris in Santo Domingo to build the first road with concrete in the Dominican Republic as a pilot project. After the project came in on time and under cost, five other municipalities in the east region of the town have contacted Cemex.
Source: A December 17 article by Dominican Today. Read more.
In recent years concrete-focused college level courses and workshops have sprouted all over the U.S., the latest being in New Mexico where New Mexico State University's Engineering New Mexico Resource Network will host the 49th annual Samuel P. Maggard Quality Concrete School on January 3 - 5, 2013.
Source: A December 12 posting in the Las Cruces Sun-News. Read more.
PROMOTIONS
NRMCA operates several discussion groups within the social media site "Linked In" as a way for its members, partners and others to discuss specific topics on a national and sometimes international scale. Just within the area of promotion, NRMCA hosts four separate discussion groups: Concrete Parking Lots, Sustainable Concrete, Pervious Concrete, and Streets and Local Roads. The number of members in each discussion group ranges from 47 in the Streets and Local Roads group to a high of 400 for the pervious concrete group.
"That’s 400 industry professionals able to pose questions to the group, provide insight into new technologies, offer answers and opinions or simply gripe about certain aspects of that particular promotion topic," said NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Doug O'Neill.
For example, an NRMCA partner recently needed help with a question about pervious concrete. Pervious concrete can be used around trees and shrubs because of the open voids which allow necessary air and water to penetrate into the ground around the root systems. It's one of the many benefits of using pervious concrete that seems to make perfect sense and is very rarely questioned, until now. O'Neill said an NRMCA partner asked him "do we have any proof that pervious actually does what we say it does in terms of being good for tree roots systems?"
"In all the presentations I’ve done on pervious, I’ve never been asked that, so it seemed like a perfect topic to present to the Linked in Discussion Group on pervious concrete promotion," he said. Within hours, industry experts too many to mention weighed in on the topic and provided O’Neill and our partner with a plethora of information, from university studies to pictures of projects finished years ago that showed healthy trees as proof.
"These Linked in discussion groups have taken awhile to gain acceptance, and some more than others, but overall these are tremendous ways for our industry to keep in touch, share information and get answers that otherwise we would not be able to obtain," O'Neill concluded.
For more information on NRMCA’s Linked in Discussion Groups contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.
Two Walmart projects in Nebraska are getting concrete parking lot paving, reports NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Jon Hansen. A completed Walmart Neighborhood Market in the vicinity of 168th and Harrison streets in Omaha sports a new concrete parking lot while the second project, a new Supercenter in Lincoln, started paving in late September. Stay tuned for photos of both projects in future editions of E NEWS.
For more information, contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org.
The new year starts off with two more of NRMCA's promotion-focused Webinars, this time on Roller Compacted Concrete followed a few days later on how to Effectively Communicate Sustainability. Want to learn more? Just click on the respective links below and register today from the online registration links. You can also contact NRMCA's Jacques Jenkins at jjenkins@nrmca.org.
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
The preliminary estimate of ready mixed concrete produced in the U.S. in October 2012 is 29.6 million cubic yards, 9.8% higher than in October 2011. The production through October 2012 is estimated at 248.4 million cubic yards, 10.1% higher than during the same period in 2011.
Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Additional details are available for NRMCA members here.
This week's feature article from the online edition of NRMCA's quarterly magazine Concrete inFocus is titled, Buyout Strategies for Ready Mix Owners. NRMCA Associate Member FMI Capital Advisors discusses the three exit options for owners of ready mix busineses: sell externally, sell internally or liquidate. The article is part of the Winter Edition of the magazine, which is now available online. In two weeks, E-NEWS will feature another online article from the magazine.
Click here to access the entire Winter issue along with links to past issues from NRMCA's Web site.
The Manufacturers, Products & Services (MPS) Division of NRMCA is accepting nominations for the 2013 Concrete Cares Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in community service by an NRMCA producer member company. With ready mixed concrete plants in almost every community in America, NRMCA member companies are making a real difference. From Earth Day celebrations, to organized volunteering for Boys & Girls Clubs, local schools and recreation departments, to raising awareness for breast cancer screenings, ready mix producers are at work every day in their communities.
The Concrete Cares Award aims to recognize these efforts and shine a national spotlight on the positive impact ready mixed concrete companies have in hometowns across the nation. A donation, in the name of the selected honoree, will be made to the charity of the company's choice. The award will be presented at NRMCA’s Annual Convention to be held in March 2013 in San Antonio, TX, during the Association’s annual awards breakfast. All ready mixed concrete producers who are members of NRMCA are eligible for nomination.
To check past honorees and submit a nomination for consideration, please use the form found here and forward the nomination form and supporting materials to Kathleen Carr-Smith, senior vice president, membership and communications via e-mail at kcarrsmith@nrmca.org or mail to 900 Spring Street, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Nominations must be received by January 7, 2013 for consideration.
CONCREEP-9@MIT: International Conference on Creep, Shrinkage and Durability Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures is seeking abstracts related to creep, shrinkage, and aging of our built infrastructure. The conference is being hosted by the Concrete Sustainability Hub at MIT and the Groupement de Recherche International Multi-scale Materials Under the Nanoscope (GDRI, M2UN) and will take place September 22 - 25, 2013, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. Topics of interest include (but are not restricted to):
- Nanomechanics of Creep and Shrinkage
- Microstructure, Setting and Aging of cement
- Multiscale and Multphysics Approaches
- Micromechanics of Creep and Shrinkage
- Creep, Shrinkage and Fracture of Cementitious Materials
- Creep and Shrinkage of Concrete under Extreme Conditions
- Constitutive and Numerical Modeling
- Model-based monitoring of creep and shrinkage in concrete structures
- Performance design of New Concrete Materials and Structures
- Structural Mechanics of Creep and Shrinkage
Abstracts on the above topics - not shorter than 400 words, but not exceeding 600 words - are invited by Monday, December 31. Upon review by the technical advisory panel, the notification of acceptance will be given by January 31, 2013, at which stage recommendations concerning the format of the papers will be sent the authors for inclusion in the conference proceedings. Please sent abstracts by email to 2013concreep9@mit.edu.
ENGINEERING
The next Regional NRMCA Concrete Technology Training and Certification Program (Short Course) is scheduled for February 18-22, 2013, at the Hilton Garden Inn Elk Grove outside Sacramento, CA. The course is co-sponsored by the California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA). The course provides a fundamental understanding of concrete, aggregates and concrete making materials; requirements in industry codes and standards and proportioning concrete mixtures. Attendees have the opportunity to obtain four industry-recognized certifications: ACI Grade I Field Testing Technician, ACI Flatwork Finisher Certification and NRMCA Level 2 and 3 Concrete Technologist certification. These industry certifications are essential for technical service personnel with suppliers of materials to the concrete industry and with concrete producers.
Registration for the course will close at a limited number of registrants due to space restrictions. The course is filling up fast, so interested persons should register now. Click here for more information about the course and to register.
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
The 2013 Driver of the Year Call for Nominations has been extended to Monday, December 31. The NRMCA Ready Mixed Truck Driver of the Year Award acknowledges the significant contribution of ready mixed concrete truck drivers to the growth and success of individual companies and the ready mixed concrete industry. A salute to these key members of the concrete production and delivery team, the award recognizes the driver’s career achievement, safety, professionalism, competence and customer service skills in a manner that will enhance the industry and public image of the career ready mixed truck driver.
Click here for a copy of the nomination entry form. For more information, contact NRMCA's Karen Bean at kbean@nrmca.org or Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org.
Because of last week’s sold-out Plant Manager Certification class in Denver and a waiting list already forming for future classes, NRMCA has just added an extra class to the 2013 schedule: March 19-22 in Houston. The other two 2013 Plant Manager Certification classes are scheduled for August 11-13 in Silver Spring , MD, and December 10-13 in Orlando.
Registration is open for the August Silver Spring Class; for further information about the March or December classes, please check NRMCA’s Web site in early January or contact Nicole Maher at nmaher@nrmca.org or 1-888-846-7622, ext. 1158 to place name(s) on the waiting list.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
A host of publications have reported on the fiscal cliff, 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 December 10 - 14, 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
In its 2012 State of the Industry Report, the American Society for Training and Development recently announced that U.S. organizations spent $1,182 per learner on employee learning and development in 2011. Over half was spent on the internal learning function, such as staff salaries and internal development costs. The remainder was split between tuition reimbursement (14 percent) and external services (30 percent).
To help plan for your staff’s 2013 ready mixed concrete related classes, please see NRMCA’s main calendar Web site page for update listings of each course, workshop and Webinar offered next year along with links to detailed, specific information.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
NRMCA's December Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, January 9, is the ever popular Concrete In Practice (CIP) full set – both English and Spanish versions available. This package contains 20 collated sets of each CIP 1-42. Concrete in Practice sheets are short one-page discussions on various concrete topics. Written in a "What? Why? and How?" scheme, they are intended to provide information in a non-technical format. The CIP topics are researched and written by members of NRMCA's Research Engineering and Standards Committee.
CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.
January 8, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Your Third Choice for Pavement
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
January 11, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
January 15, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
January 21-24, Online Course
Concrete’s Role in Sustainable Development
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
January 28-31, Online Course
Design of Concrete Pavements
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
February 5, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst (CPA) Software
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
February 5, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part I
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
February 12, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part II
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
February 14, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
February 18-22, Sacramento, CA
Technical Short Course
Email: Karen Bean, 888-84-NRMCA, x1168
February 19-21, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
February 20, Cleveland
Adopting Disaster Resilient Construction at the Local Level
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
February 21, Webinar
Soils 101
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
February 25, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
February 28, Orlando, FL
Adopting Disaster Resilient Construction at the Local Level
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
March 3-5, San Antonio, TX
NRMCA Annual Convention
Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158
March 5, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Your Third Choice for Pavement
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
March 7, Webinar
RCC: Intro to Design and Construction
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
March 11-14, Online Course
Building Green with Concrete
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
March 12, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
March 15, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
March 19, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
March 19, Webinar
Green-Star Auditor Certification
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
March 19-21, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module IV: Sales Fundamentals
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
March 20, Charlotte, NC
Handling Concrete Specifications, Low Strength Problems & Mixture Submittals
Email: Karen Bean, 888-84-NRMCA, x1168
April 4, Baton Rouge, LA
Handling Concrete Specifications, Low Strength Problems & Mixture Submittals
Email: Karen Bean, 888-84-NRMCA, x1168
April 8-11, Online Course
LCA of Concrete Structures
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
April 19, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 888-84-NRMCA, x1165
May 6-8, San Francisco
International Concrete Sustainability Conference
Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101
May 12-15, Chicago
Fifth North American Conference on Design and Use of Self-Consolidating Concrete
May 20-23 Online Course
Pervious Concrete: A Stormwater Solution
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
June 11, Webinar
Concrete Overlays for Streets and Local Roads and Parking Lots
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
June 25, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
August 11-15, Montreal
ISARC 2013: 30th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, Mining & Petroleum Industries
Email: Chantal Murphy, 514-939-2710, ext. 1309
August 13-16, Silver Spring, MD
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
August 27, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
September 22-24, Las Vegas
Concrete Works & Board of Directors' Meeting
Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158
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December 19, 2012
 
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