September-October 2013 Table of Contents

Articles
TCP Survey The Concrete Producer 2013 Survey Roundup

Information, charts and maps from the 2013 The Concrete Producer Survey. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Supermix Concrete

The Florida producer, also known as Central Concrete Supermix, is known as a good neighbor. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Schmitz Ready Mix Inc.

Locally owned and operated in Milwaukee, Schmitz Ready Mix provides ready-mixed concrete and related construction supplies and services for homeowners, construction professionals, municipalities, schools, institutions, and business owners. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Branscome

Branscome is one of the largest heavy highway and general contracting companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile US Mix Co.

Formed in 1968, US MIX is a premier blending and packaging company located in Denver, Colorado. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Smokey Point Aleutian Concrete LLC

Based in Dutch Harbor Alaska, at Smokey Point Aleutian Concrete we strive to produce the highest quality concrete for the lowest price possible. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Ozinga Bros. Inc.

Ozinga is a 4th-generation family-owned and operated American company. Read more

The Operational Advantages of Biodiesel Fuels

More and more fleet managers are turning to biodiesel fuels. As winter nears, how can fleets continue to use these fuels? Managers should work with their suppliers to develop a cold weather management plan. Read more

Top 10 Publicly Traded Ready-Mix Producers in 2012

Things are looking up for the top concrete producers in North America; 2012 revenue reports indicate they are gradually earning back business lost during the recession years. We rank these companies by revenue and employees (in North America only), and take a look at their growth, acquisitions, divestments, and the other defining factors of their performance. Read more

TCP Survey The Concrete Producer Survey: Bright Spots of Recovery

Concrete producers echoed expert economists’ opinions in the 2013 TCP Survey. Readers shared the challenges they have faced in every region of North America, but also expressed a sense of optimism about what’s to come. Read more

The PCI Convention and National Bridge Conference is a high-powered gathering of precasters

The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute invited producers to Discover High Performance Precast at its 59th annual convention and National Bridge Conference in Grapevine, Texas. The event gives precast producers an opportunity to expand their knowledge, learn about new products and technologies, and develop relationships within the industry. Read more

Producer to Watch Producer to Watch: Robertson's Ready Mix

Robertson's Ready Mix is a family-owned business with great community ties. Read more

Community The winner of the "Every picture tells a story" is announced

In a recent blog post by Editor Shelby Mitchell, we asked readers to pick their favorite ready-mix truck drawing. The fan favorite is the "Red & Orange" truck. Read more

TCP Survey Concrete Producers tell stories of resilience

Each year, the TCP survey paints a true picture of what producers are experiencing across North America, beyond the economic reports and construction data. Overwhelmingly, this year's responses revealed how top producers have managed to survive the turbulence of the past few years, and how they're preparing for a strong future. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Silvi Group Companies

Silvi Concrete is one of the most innovative and modern concrete companies in the country. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Molalla Redi-Mix & Rock Products Inc.

A small Oregon producer grows through discipline and integrity. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Irving Materials Inc.

Irving Materials, Inc. has been a building materials producer since 1946 when C.C. “Skunk” Irving began delivering ready mix concrete from Greenfield, Indiana. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Geneva Rock Products Inc.

Geneva Rock Products, Inc. opened its doors in 1954, and has since become one of the most respected and experienced contractors in the state of Utah. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Cranesville Block Co. Inc.

N.Y. producer runs lean operations, stresses technical expertise. Read more

TCP Survey Producer Profile Hanson Pipe & Precast

TCP interviewed Scott Szwejbka, senior vice president of Hanson Pipe & Precast, on the unique aspects of precast products in the current economy. Read more

Project Profile Anderson Concrete

Contractor Dan Anderson, owner of Anderson Concrete in Coal City, Ill., saw an opportunity to convert a partial concrete parking lot to a 100% concrete parking lot. He provided an alternate bid that was accepted by the school district to do all of the paved areas in concrete. Read more

Ratec + Pocket Battery Molds

Pumping SCC into the double-sided form from below results in smooth surfaces on both sides. Read more

Paul Jacks USA + Paul Stressing System

Stressing jacks can be equipped with exchangeable interior parts suiting different tendon configurations. Read more

iwi Group + Python Safety solutions

Safety products, including tool belts, lanyards, and holsters, withstand harsh working environments. Read more

Hess Pumice Products + Pozz pumice pozzolan

Product's pozzolanic charge leads to strengthening and densifying of concrete. Read more

Hamilton Form Co. + Magnetic Block-Out System

Form block-outs quickly easily on steel casting tables. Read more

Finfrock + Software and Laser Technology for Precasters

Software improves productivity in laying out precast concrete forms. Read more

Erico + Lenton Interlok coupling system

Seal around rebar and coupler face helps prevent grout from leaking out of the coupler. Read more

Innotech + Color Chart for Interior, Exterior Applications

Use Integral Colors with other color agents for a wide range of finished effects. Read more

Delta Performance Products + Blue Concrete Color Guide

Program allows concrete artisans and contractors to specify custom color for countertops, fireplace surrounds, and other elements. Read more

Cohills Building Specialties Inc. + Pigments and Color Services

Supplier's services include color matching, special bagging, and private labeling. Read more

Builders Construction Products + Brighter, Reliable Colors

ColorBlend pure iron oxide blended colors have no fillers or additives. Read more

Shepherd Color + Calypso line of pigments

The Calypso line of pigments provides weather- and heat-resistant permanent colors. Read more

L.M. Scofield + Streak-free Integral Coloring

Admixtures provide consistent, permanent, fade-resistant integral color conditioning. Read more

Rockwood Pigments + Pigment Handling System

The Granumat weighs, blends, and conveys pigments from bulk sacks into a concrete mixer up to 200 ft. away. Read more

Quikrete + Liquid Color Additive

Use Cement Color in concrete, mortar, sand mix, stucco, and other cementitious mixes. Read more

Lanxess + Black Paving Stones

Due to sustainable pigment production, not only do living spaces leave a lasting impression, they also aer preserverd at the same time. Read more

Interstar + Vivid, Consistent Color

The product produces consistent, dependable color for ready-mix, precast, block, and pavers. Read more

Butterfield Color Inc. + Select Grade Integral Concrete Colorant

Synthetic iron oxide pigments for integrally coloring concrete products during batching. Read more

Alabama Pigments Co. + Strong Tint Strength

APC Precision-Pac Integral pigments have strong tint strength pour after pour. Read more

Problem Clinic Should Superplasticizers be added at the Plant or the Jobsite?

Adding water reducers, including superplasticizers, at the ready-mix plant doesn't limit the ability to measure and control slump. What factors determine where they are added? Read more

Elm Street Vault re-energizes operations with plant upgrade

Elm Street Vault, a producer of manholes and utility vaults in Biddleford, Maine, reacted to increased local demand by replacing its volumetric mixer with a high-speed counter-current mixer. The plant modernization incorporated much of the producer’s existing equipment while creating opportunities for producing higher volume and new products. Read more

New standards proposed by ASTM E60 Sustainability Committee may affect producers

ASTM E60 Committee on Sustainability is developing two standards that could affect the way concrete producers track materials and operate their plants. Read more

Fleet Factors Greenhouse Gas Regulations for 2014

Paul Abelson provides an overview of regulation updates every producer needs to follow, to keep fleets in compliance with evolving emissions standards. Read more

When Orchestrating Architectural Concrete, color, tone, texture, and uniformity can create pitfalls

Concrete is frequently expected to have an architectural finish even though it was not specified. This article focuses on achieving agreed-upon results rather than a poorly defined ideal. Read more

Concrete Returns Why the housing recovery has yet to impact the economy

Pierre Villere discusses why the current housing recovery isn’t moving the needle in our economic recovery. He explores why the current recovery isn’t boosting overall consumer spending like it did last time, the effects rising interest rates will have, and how the recession has left our industry stretched thin for manpower and equipment. Read more

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