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Association & Industry News
The estimated ready mixed concrete produced in September 2018 is 30.7 million cubic yards, 4.2% lower than that in September 2017. The estimated production in the U.S. for 2018 through September is 271 million cubic yards, 3.1% higher than that during the same period in 2017. Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. More detail, including Q3 production by state, is available to NRMCA members here. 
Buildings
Build With Strength has recently partnered with the Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA) to launch ICF contractor training to enhance the construction industry's ability to build with Insultated Concrete Forms (ICFs). ICFs are quickly becoming the method of choice for all forms of construction due to ICF attributes such as the speed and safety of construction, operational maintenance and energy savings, resilience, sound control and building insurance discounts. These benefits are creating ICF project demand and the ICF contractor training is delivering a knowledgeable workforce.
Government Affairs
With the prospect of a new, politically divided Congress, infrastructure is getting a bit of attention as a potential bipartisan effort.
On Monday, the House and Senate agriculture committees released the joint text of the compromise of the five-year reauthorization of the Farm Bill. In a win for the ready mixed concrete industry and the Stop the Timber Innovation Act Coalition led by NRMCA, the conference bill did not include the Tall Wood Building Prize Competition or other mass timber building competitions or programs.
SEO
Lots of producers are taking advantage of registering their staff as the year ends. Do not delay. • Dispatcher Course: January 8 - 10, 2019, Orlando, FL – *Sold Out • Effective RMC Supervisor Course: 10 seats left. January 22 - 24, 2019, Kissimmee (metro-Orlando), FL • Plant Manager Certification Course: December 11 - 14, 2018, Austin, TX – *Sold Out • Plant Manager Certification Course: January 15 - 18, 2019, Tucson, AZ – *Sold Out • Plant Manager Certification Course: February 19 - 22, 2019, Charlotte, NC – *Sold Out • Plant Manager Certification Course: March 26 - 29, 2019, St. Louis – seats available • Plant Manager Certification Course: April 23 - 26, 2019, Portland, OR – seats available NRMCA will also conduct the Safety Certification class, April 9 - 11 in Orlando. Registration will open in early January. These classes are required to fill NRMCA’s STEPS requirements for the Operations and Production career track certification. For more information about standardized ready mixed concrete-specific career development through the STEPS program, please e-mail Eileen Dickson at edickson@nrmca.org or click here. Click here to access the Webpages for each of the classes listed above or contact Jessica Walgenbach at 240-485-1152 or jwalgenbach@nrmca.org. 
February 27, Milwaukee March 19 – 21, Silver Spring, MD March 26 – 29, St. Louis April 16, Denver April 23 – 26, Portland, OR Engineering
Following is a summary of activity at the ASTM meeting held earlier this month in Washington, DC, on Committees C09 on Concrete and C01 on Cement attended by NRMCA staff.
NRMCA is offering its information-packed, one-day course, Handling Concrete Specifications, Low Strength Problems and Mixture Submittals, intended for concrete producers, contractors, engineers and testing labs. The course will be offered on Wednesday, February 27, in Milwaukee in association with the Wisconsin Ready Mixed Concrete Association.
Calendar
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site. 2019 January 8 – 10, Orlando, FL *Sold Out January 15, Minneapolis January 15 – 17, Silver Spring, MD January 15 – 18, Tucson, AZ *Sold Out January 22 – 24, Kissimmee, FL February 5 – 6, Phoenix February 11 – 15, Orlando, FL February 19 – 22, Charlotte, NC *Sold Out |
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