NRMCA e-news

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

Schwing America, Inc.
GivenHansco, Inc
NEWS LINKS
We're not sure who Ben Adler is, but he can sure get his readers riled up over his analysis of the presidential debate and how it relates to the nation's infrastructure. He writes that until recently support for investing in bridges, roads, etc., garnered bipartisan agreement in Washington. Now, not so much. After he states his case, spend a few minutes on the spirited responses in the comment section.

Source: An October 4 article in the Architectural Record that was contained in the October 8 edition of the AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter. Read more.
 
Construction employers added 5,000 jobs in September while the industry’s unemployment rate hit 11.9 percent, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that construction employment has been relatively flat for more than a year as growing demand for residential and some commercial projects has been offset by declining public sector construction activity. 

Source: AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter for October 8. Read more.
 
For those looking for any sign of good news in the nation's housing market, NRMCA member Cemex has issued what's called its first quarterly guidance in more than three years. Cemex said it expects third-quarter earnings to rise 9% vs. a year ago, but it sees sales falling 2%.
The Mexico-based company floundered after the U.S. housing market melted down in 2008, partly triggering the broad recession, shortly after it paid out $16 billion to buy Australian peer Rinker.
It's been working its way out of debt since and recently concluded a $7.2 billion refinancing agreement that gave it leeway to deal with a mountain of debt.

Source: Investor's Business Daily for October 4. Read more.
 
The young and trendy among us are apparently noticing the versatility and durability of concrete, as detailed by a recent article by The Kansas City Star. It's also a "green" option for those in existing homes, the article states, when a thin layer of concrete called a micro-surface is applied and then stamped or stained to the homeowner's preference.

Source: This article appeared in the October 9 edition of The Charlotte (NC) observer, so it contains some Kansas City-based reporting along with some North Carolina information. Read more.
 
PROMOTIONS
Are you currently working on a CVS project in your marketplace? Have you recently won or lost a CVS? If so, NRMCA needs you. The National Account Program is working with the national drugstore chain and looking for information that could ultimately help our industry. If requested, NRMCA will keep information confidential.

Also, have you been involved with a Walgreens construction project? Both CVS and Walgreens are part of NRMCA’s National Account Program. NRMCA is looking to offer its Design Assistance Program (DAP) for projects involving all of its National Account clients, but especially these two accounts. Offering the DAP to a local developer who is responsible for these accounts could open his or her eyes to the short-term and long-term costs/benefits of concrete. Remember that NRMCA design services are FREE to NRMCA Producer Members, both for National Account and local projects.

For more information on the DAP, contact NRMCA's Amanda Hult at ahult@nrmca.org. To discuss national drug store chain projects, contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org as soon as possible.
 
NRMCA's October lineup of promotion-focused Webinars begins with an hour-long program that takes what we already know about concrete’s sustainability along with MIT research results and incorporates that information with a Communications 101 course, geared toward helping attendees understand what it takes to improve our communication skills. 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
NRMCA is seeking candidates for director of pavement structures. The director of pavement structures provides technical support to NRMCA members and staff on issues related to concrete pavement design and construction, with a particular emphasis on streets, local roads and parking areas. He/she develops technical publications on concrete roadway and parking area design, including conventional concrete pavements, concrete overlays, roller-compacted concrete and pervious concrete. He/she develops and delivers training and certification programs aimed at engineers, contractors and producers on design and construction of concrete pavements. He/she represents NRMCA at pavement-related technical committees, including state DOTs. 

This position requires approximately 25% travel. The successful candidate will be expected to work from a home office located in (or be willing to relocate to) the western United States. This position reports directly to the senior vice president, technical resources.

This position requires a person who can analyze and solve problems, and make strategic decisions. He/she must be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. The successful candidate will be expected to gather and analyze data and effectively generate and present reports, develop technical publications, and effectively develop and deliver training material. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10 years experience directly related to pavement engineering. Experience designing stormwater management systems is a plus. In addition, he or she will hold at a minimum a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and be a registered professional engineer.

Candidates should submit their resumes to NRMCA's Patty O’Brien at pobrien@nrmca.org.
 
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
NRMCA's Operations, Environmental & Safety Committee (OES) has named Tom Harris, director of materials at McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, its 2013 Joseph E. Carpenter Award recipient. This award is named in honor of Joseph E. Carpenter of Rinker Materials, West Palm Beach, FL, who was instrumental in the formation and early operation of the NRMCA Committee on Maintenance. The award was instituted in 1988 and is presented annually to persons who have demonstrated outstanding lifetime contribution to the ready mixed concrete industry in the fields of maintenance, environmental and safety. 

Harris was honored for his longtime commitment to the OES Committee and the ready mixed concrete industry. He has been one of the industry's foremost authorities on concrete mixer trucks for more than three decades. Beginning in the 1980's, he was an integral part of the invention and introduction of extended axle mixer trucks; in the 1990's, he helped invent the Sliding Mixer System (SMS), a trailer mixer which became highly popular and in the early 2000's was a leader bringing the concept of composite drums to the industry. Harris was also an early advocate for the advancement of CNG power in the ready mixed concrete industry.

Harris has served in many capacities and roles within the NRMCA and the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau (TMMB). More than a decade ago he was involved with Middle Tennessee State University when it began the Concrete Industry Management Program. He is a longtime member of the OES Committee and has been one of the leading supporters of the NRMCA's Driver of the Year Program the National Mixer Driver Championship.

Harris lives in Rochester, MN, and has been married to his wife Becky for 36 years. They have three children and four grandchildren. The award will be presented to him in San Antonio, TX, at the NRMCA Annual Convention in March 2013.

For more information, contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org. Click here for a list of past winners and more background on the award.
 
SUSTAINABILITY
In an effort to help concrete producers reduce their carbon footprint, NRMCA has signed on to the 2030 Challenge for Products. The 2030 Challenge for Products is a global challenge to specify and manufacture products that meet a carbon footprint of 30% below the product average through 2014 and subsequently improve on this reduction in the following years: 35% in 2015, 40% in 2020, 45% in 2025 and 50% in 2030. Issued by Architecture 2030, the 2030 Challenge for Products builds on the widely adopted original 2030 Challenge, which calls for the operation of all new buildings and major renovations to be carbon neutral by 2030.

In support of the challenge, NRMCA has become an EPD Program Operator to facilitate the development and verification of EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) and establish industry baselines for concrete. EPDs are third-party verified (certified) reports published by product manufacturers that provide quality assured and comparable information regarding environmental performance of their products. NRMCA has also helped develop a Product Category Rule (PCR) that provides instructions on how to conduct and report EPDs.

NRMCA’s commitment to sustainability was outlined in a 2009 report titled NRMCA Sustainability Initiatives which provides a vision along with strategies and goals for lowering the environmental footprint of concrete and details research, education and measurement programs to help its members meet these goals. Further carbon footprint reduction strategies are being explored through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Concrete Sustainability Hub which was established in 2009 through generous funding from the RMC Research & Education Foundation. The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub is exploring ways to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and pavements through the use of advanced concrete building systems and through the development of innovative cements and concrete mixtures, improved manufacturing processes, use of alternative energy sources and enhanced transportation efficiency.

For more details, visit http://www.nrmca.org/sustainabilityhttp://www.architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/products or NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at LLemay@nrmca.org or 847-918-7101.
 
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CALCIMA), Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the California Nevada Cement Association are the latest organizations to co-sponsor NRMCA’s 2013 International Concrete Sustainability Conference. The 8th annual conference, scheduled for May 6-8 in San Francisco at the Hotel Sofitel San Francisco Bay (Redwood City, CA), will provide learning and networking opportunities on the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for sustainable concrete manufacturing and construction. This year’s conference is being conducted in cooperation with the Stanford University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the RMC Research & Education Foundation.

Researchers, academics, students, engineers, architects, contractors, concrete producers, public works officials, material suppliers and concrete industry professionals are invited to present and attend the conference. Suggested topics include the latest developments related to design, specifying, manufacturing, testing, construction, maintenance and research of concrete as they relate to sustainability. Topics include:

Life Cycle Assessment
Low Impact Development
Green Concrete
New Concrete Technology
Sustainability Initiatives
Functional Resilience 

Abstracts can be submitted online at www.ConcreteSustainabilityConference.org through Friday, November 30. For more information, contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at LLemay@nrmca.org or 847-918-7101.
 
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its fifth draft version of the LEED v4 Rating System. The comment period, which is open until Monday, December 10, is the last step in the program delivery process and development of the LEED update. NRMCA will review the draft and provide comments for those sections of the LEED system that affect concrete applications.

LEED v4 includes changes to all major LEED rating systems that affect new construction, existing construction, homes and neighborhoods. Many of the credits from previous drafts such as Life Cycle Assessments and Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) remained while Material Sourcing (extraction) and Material Ingredients disclosure has evolved dramatically. Once the comment period process concludes, LEED v4 will be balloted next June to its membership for adoption in 2013.

NRMCA members are encouraged to review the public comment draft on USGBC’s Web site. NRMCA will provide follow up articles regarding potential changes affecting our industry.
For additional information contact Tien Peng at TPeng@nrmca.org or 206-913-8535.
 
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 October 1- 5, 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.
 
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
NRMCA's October Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, November 6, is the complete four-part set of the Protection Section DVD series (Parts 1-4). While supplies last, prepare your drivers for the winter training season by purchasing the complete PPE driver training DVD series for half price! Series includes:

(Pt. 1) Head Protection - This first in a series of four videos begins with a big picture view of the "what and why" of PPEs in general. We then move onto an in-depth discussion and "how-to’s" on inspecting and properly caring for head protection.
(Pt. 2) Eyes and Ears - This lesson provides information on the five specific types of eye protection and when we should be wearing each one.
(Pt. 3) Vests and Gloves - This lesson provides a discussion on the three classes of safety vests, their differences and guidance on when each type is appropriate.
(Pt. 4) Boots - The series wraps up with a look at one of the most abused but most critical pieces of PPE - our boots. Based on the collaborative efforts of Danner Shoe Manufacturing Company, this lesson provides six tips critical to getting the best shoe.

Order online today and receive 50% off. Regular member price is $280, Internet Special $140, plus shipping. Please use Discount Code ISOCT12 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.

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 2, Webinar
ACI 330 R-08 - The Gold Standard of Concrete Parking Lot Design
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
November 5-9, Silver Spring, MD
Technical Short Course
Email: Karen Bean, 888-84-NRMCA, x1168
 
November 7, Jackson, MS
Adopting Disaster Resilient Construction at the Local Level
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
November 8, Madison, WI
Great Lakes Regional Work Plan Meeting
Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158
 
November 14, Little Rock, AR
South Central Regional Work Plan Meeting
Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158
 
November 16, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
November 27, Wilmington, NC
Adopting Disaster Resilient Construction at the Local Level
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
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 6, Las Vegas
Rocky Mountain Regional Work Plan Meeting
Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158
 
December 7, Webinar
ACI 330 R-08 - The Gold Standard of Concrete Parking Lot Design
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
December 11-14, Denver
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
December 12, Silver Spring, MD
Atlantic Regional Work Plan Meeting
Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158
 
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
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
 
 
Fritz-Pak Corporation
Marcotte Systems Ltd.
WAM Inc.
MPAQ Automation
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (America) Inc.
Enviro-Systems, Inc