After decades in the cut-throat concrete industry, Australian Joe Wagner recognizes the importance of innovation to remaining competitive. Wagners, a family company that supplies construction materials to the building industry, has invested eight years of research and development at its laboratory in Toowoomba, Queensland, into the formulation of a "green" concrete. The product, marketed as "earth-friendly concrete", is based on a cement-like material made using slag and fly ash that replaces Portland cement as a binder in concrete. Wagner says the concrete costs about as much as that made with Portland cement. However, it is making inroads into the market, partly because of its environmental and structural characteristics.

Source: A November 16 posting on the Web site of The Australian. Read more.