Tag: cement: Page 2

Business

PCA’s Sullivan: Cement consumption on straight growth trajectory through 2017; optimism palpable at World of Concrete

Cement consumption grew by 8 percent in 2014 and is on track to grow another 8 percent in both 2016 and 2017, according to Ed Sullivan, chief economist, PCA, noting that the 100  metric million tons  realized in December was the highest month total since January 2008. Sullivan made his remarks during the opening day […]

February 4, 2015

Roadbuilding

Cement shortage taking its toll on Minnesota projects

Construction projects in Minnesota are struggling to get done in a timely manner due to a cement shortage. CBS Minnesota reports the shortage is due to flooding from the spring, and some problems at cement plants down south. “We have a problem right now. We do have a cement shortage,” Jerry Lang, president of the Aggregate […]

October 29, 2014

Business

Thieves are plundering the world’s beaches for sand as global demand for concrete grows

Once-beautiful beaches in many parts of the world are losing their most distinctive feature at an alarming rate due to a rising demand for concrete. According to a report from German publication Der Spiegel, men and women outfitted with only shovels and buckets are plundering beaches in Senegal, Kenya, New Zealand, Jamaica and Morocco for their […]

October 9, 2014

Business

PCA forecasts steady growth for cement consumption through 2016 as construction activity increases

According to the latest forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA), cement consumption in the U.S. will see steady gains over the next three years. As far back as the World of Concrete show in January and again in the Spring, PCA chief economist Ed Sullivan has forecasted 8-percent growth in cement consumption and that […]

September 25, 2014

Roadbuilding

Why repair cracks when you can avoid them altogether?

Fibers in concrete bridges controls cracks High-performance, fiber-reinforced concrete controls cracks and provides satisfactory bond strengths in bridge deck construction, say Levon C. Hoomes, E.I.T., Celik Ozyildirim, Ph.D., P.E., principal research scientist, and Michael C. Brown, Ph.D., P.E., associate director, Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research, in their 2014 TRB paper, “Evaluation of High […]

September 10, 2014

Roadbuilding

A crack-resistant road? You better believe it!

Stress-absorbing membrane interlayer in Rural Nevada In Washoe County, Nev. County Highway 447 was improved by cold in-place recycling, placement of a fiber-reinforced SAMI, and finished with a Type III slurry surfacing as the final wearing surface instead of a costly total reconstruction. “With fuel prices going up, we are seeing a lot more truck […]

September 4, 2014

Roadbuilding

A road without fibers is a road soon to be in need of repair

New research is reaffirming the benefits of steel or synthetic engineered fibers in asphalt pavements and concrete, where they enhance performance, replace fine matter, and in the case of concrete, control shrinkage cracking and keep deicing salts away from reinforcing steel. For decades, fibers of all origins have been hawked as cure-alls for pavement problems. […]

August 29, 2014

Roadbuilding

Elderly woman destroys newly poured road

An elderly woman caused $10,000 worth of damage when she drove through 50 feet of newly poured cement in the 25th Street construction zone in Fargo, North Dakota. The 78-year-old woman was southbound when she got confused by road signs, took a wrong turn and ended up in cement that had just been poured. Her car sunk into […]

August 22, 2014

Roadbuilding

IDEAL Tri-Bore hole saw cuts through virtually anything

IDEAL Tri-Bore multi-purpose hole saw claims to cut through virtually any construction material, including cement. Tri-Bore hole saws are compatible with standard battery-powered tools or fixed stationary machines. Its diamond-sharpened carbide teeth are larger than traditional hole saws for improved speed, cleaner cutting action, and minimized vibration. The larger size works to reduce stress by acting […]

August 18, 2014

Roadbuilding

Holcim and Lafarge detail Brazilian disposal plans

Holcim and Lafarge have announced the activities they plan to offload in Brazil in order to gain antitrust approval for their merger to create the largest cement maker in the world. The Swiss and French companies plan to sell several assets, including three integrated cement plants and two grinding stations as well as one ready-mix plant in […]

August 12, 2014

Roadbuilding

PCA: Cement consumption likely to grow steadily over next 5 years

Despite data that suggests the economic recovery in the U.S. is slowing down, Portland Cement Association (PCA) chief economist Ed Sullivan says he still believes construction and cement consumption will steadily grow over the next five years. The economic causes of concern include the fact that real gross domestic product (GDP) fell during the fourth […]

May 29, 2014

Construction Equipment

This “Magic Concrete” displays hidden patterns when wet

Designers Frederik Molenschot & Susanne Happle have come up with a pretty neat creation. When their concrete gets wet, it reveals hidden patterns. They call the project “Silent Poetry,” according to a report from Weburbanist.com. Most of their creations up until now have been leaves and floral patterns but anything is possible with the technique. The concrete does […]

January 6, 2014