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IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS LINKS
PROMOTIONS
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
ENGINEERING
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
SUSTAINABILITY
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CALENDAR
NEWS LINKS
Ongoing debate among Corpus Christi city officials on whether to use concrete or asphalt on its road projects has generated considerable amount of discussion. Contractors, city staff and council members continue to disagree about which material is best. Twice in recent months they've hotly debated the question before the council voted on multimillion road construction contracts. Source: A January 14 news story from caller.com (note the extensive comments section too). The Joplin Home Depot store, where seven people died last May when the building catastrophically collapsed during an EF-5 tornado, reopened Wednesday with a unique feature. The new store, rebuilt much like the old structure, is the only Home Depot in the nation with a reinforced interior room made of precast concrete with a concrete roof, and that room can hold at least 150 people, according to plans filed with the city. Source: The Kansas City Star posted this story on January 12 written by McClatchy Newspapers. Stampcrete International, Ltd., a privately owned company in Liverpool, is not only opening a new wholesale outlet, but also intends on hiring veterans returning from battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure comes in the wake of Vice President Joe Biden’s recent message for all Americans regarding hiring veterans. Stampcrete manufactures concrete stamping tools, integral colors, color hardeners, colored release agents, colored etching stains, sealers and reinforcing fibers used in the placement of decorative stamped concrete. Source: A January 3 posting by Concrete Construction. Read more. PROMOTIONS
According to Phil Kresge, NMRCA Mid-Atlantic senior director of national resources, for the Mid-Atlantic region, NRMCA’s Parking Lot Design Assistance Program (DAP) is one of the best opportunities for the concrete industry to influence change in the design community. "And yet," Kresge says, "it is also one of the most under-utilized promotion resources provided by NRMCA." For those not familiar with DAP, the purpose of the program is to encourage specifiers lacking concrete experience to give it a try with a high likelihood for success. Specifiers will receive design suggestions that provide guidance for the project designer, contractor or owner to allow them to design, specify and build an economical and well-designed project. Additionally, they will receive CAD/CAM drawings for recommended joint layout. As of December 31, 2011, only nine state affiliates had taken advantage of the program. "Some of the state associations that have used the DAP have seen closing rates as high as 50% for projects submitted," says Kresge. "DAP is like having your own design consulting team without the major investment." The minimal cost of the program is shared between NRMCA and the state affiliate association submitting the application. For projects submitted after November 1, 2010, NRMCA will pay 100% of the costs for the listed NRMCA National Account projects submitted by State Affiliates and NRMCA members. Click here for more information on the Design Assistance Program, including the listed NRMCA National Accounts, or contact Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org. As reported in E-NEWS last month by NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Jon Hansen, Target Corp. along with Ryan Companies were recognized in their hometown of Minneapolis with a first place winning project in the Industrial/Agricultural category by the In December, Hansen noted that NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program had proved its worth to Target executives, playing a key role in the use of more than 21,000 cubic yards of concrete at a new cold storage distribution center in Denton, TX for parking lots, a truck staging area and access roads. For more information, contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org. ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
NRMCA is proud to announce the keynote speakers for the 2012 NRMCA Annual Convention taking place March 4-6 in Savannah, GA. This year’s opening General Session will feature Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), who will discuss the economic conditions specifically affecting the ready mixed concrete industry. Also presenting is Eric Belsky, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. He has extensive experience conducting research on housing markets, housing finance and housing policy and will bring that knowledge to the attendees by providing an inside evaluation of the future of the residential construction market. During lunch, John Sununu, former governor of New Hampshire and former White House chief of staff under President George H. W. Bush, will give a political update. Later that afternoon NRMCA President Robert Garbini will provide a State of the Industry update which ties together these factors to give an outlook on where our industry, and our association, is headed. Click here to access complete convention schedule information, full speaker biographies and travel information, as well as the form to register for the Annual Convention. The advance registration cut-off is Friday, February 3, so make your plans now. The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Program will hold its 2012 CIM Auction during the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas on Wednesday, January 25. The live auction will be held in the North Hall Room N262 of the Las Vegas Convention Center at 1 p.m. and the silent auction will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. NRMCA asks its member companies to support this event. For more information, click here or contact Brian Gallagher at 864-298-2037 or bgallagher@onealinc.com. ENGINEERING
Life-365 is software designed to estimate the service life and life-cycle costs of alternative concrete mixture designs proportions, life-cycle costs of alternative concrete mixture designs proportions and corrosion protection systems. It follows research-based methodology developed by the Life-365 Consortium I and II groups of companies that gives estimates on the effects of design, chloride exposure, environmental temperature, high-performance concrete mixture proportions, surface barriers and steel types on the service life and life-cycle cost of steel-reinforced concrete structures. The simplistic model is a fundamental tool for design consultants of steel-reinforced concrete structures that will be exposed to chlorides who wish to estimate the service life and life cycle costs of alternative protections systems in their design. Life-365 software had been removed from its Web site for a period of evaluation and validation. This being complete, Life-365 version 2.1 is now available for downloading. To access and download Life-365, visit www.life-365.org. OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
NRMCA has named Timothy J. Lindsay of GCC Mid-Continent Concrete the NRMCA Mixer Truck Driver of the Year for 2012. A panel of judges from the ready mixed concrete industry selected Lindsay as the top driver from a large group of outstanding applicants from all across the U.S. Lindsay, whose home plant is located in Siloam Springs, AR, was honored for his career achievements, safety record, professionalism, driving competency and customer service skills. He has worked for GCC Mid-Continent Concrete for more than 26 years. "When I think of Tim Lindsay, the word I think of is integrity", wrote GCC Production Manager Keith Soper on the nomination form. "He has been a loyal employee for 33 years and his safety record is amazing!" Along with the winner, the judges selected 35-year veteran mixer driver Raymond Spradley of Titan America, LLC, from Port Norfolk, VA, as runner-up. Titan America Operations Manager Jay Trefry wrote that "Raymond has been working here for 35 years and continues to display an outstanding professional attitude while giving our customers superior service". As the winner of the 2012 award, Lindsay will receive a $5,000 check from the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau. As runner-up, Spradley will receive $500. The 2012 Driver of the Year winner and runner-up will be honored at NRMCA’s Annual Convention, Tuesday, March 6, in Savannah, GA. The Chicago-based trade magazine Concrete Products is a cosponsor of the Driver of the Year program. For more information, contact NRMCA's Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org. 
SUSTAINABILITY
The deadline for submitting abstracts for the 2012 International Concrete Sustainability Conference is Friday, January 27. The 7th annual conference will provide learning and networking opportunities on the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for sustainable concrete manufacturing and construction. 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: • Life Cycle Assessment ─ Methods for assessing carbon footprint, embodied energy and other environmental impacts for buildings, infrastructure, and cement and concrete manufacturing. Life cycle assessment tools and models for process and product innovations and green building. Submit abstracts online at www.ConcreteSustainabilityConference.org by Friday, January 27. For more information, contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at LLemay@nrmca.org or 847-918-7101. In response to growing environmental and economic forces, architects, engineers, developers and owners are seeking efficient and innovative building solutions that meet the sustainability demands. Increasingly, concrete is being recognized for its strong environmental benefits in support of creative and effective sustainable development. Attend the online Webinar series, "Concrete’s Role in Sustainable Development" this February 6 - 9 and learn about the environmental attributes of concrete and how it can contribute to sustainable development. You’ll come away with a detailed understanding of how green building rating systems work. Plus, you will be prepared for the transition from LEED 2009 to the new LEED 2012 rating system and the new International Green Construction Code (IgCC), both due to launch in 2012. This course will help participants understand the new protocols. You’ll also learn how promoting sustainable development can benefit the environment and your business. For more information on this and other NRMCA educational courses, click here or contact NRMCA's Tien Peng at 206-913-8535 or tpeng@nrmca.org. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
To read government affairs-related stories that relate to the ready mixed concrete industry for the week of January 9-13, 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 January Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, January 31, is the Concrete Floors and Moisture book. This book discusses sources of moisture, drying of concrete, methods of measuring moisture, construction practices, specifications and responsibilities for successful floor projects. This edition incorporates a brief discussion of terrazzo issues, additional references on drying times of lightweight concrete, an extended discussion of issues with ASTM F1869 moisture emission testing, and updates to the sources of supplies and standards. Order online today from and receive 50% off. Internet Special $20, plus shipping. Please use Discount Code ISJAN12 to receive the online discount. CALENDAR
January 23, Webinar May 17, Webinar |
January 18, 2012
 
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Minnesota Concrete Council. The awards ceremony was held earlier this month at the Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville.
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