NRMCA e-news

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

Schwing America, Inc.
According to the newly developed Producer Confidence Index, conducted by NRMCA over the last two weeks of June, ready mixed concrete producers have a positive outlook on current economic conditions in the industry and are even more positive about future expectations. The survey uses 2006, the best year for ready mixed concrete production and financial performance on record, as a baseline to assume a 100 point positive PCI. Overall, respondents reported a 71.2 level of economic confidence. Respondents were slightly less confident with current economic conditions, reporting a 66.5 confidence level. However, the survey showed a 74.3 confidence level for future economic conditions. This inaugural survey included 75 member companies from a population of 595 ready mixed concrete producer members.

NRMCA’s PCI survey will be conducted each quarter to gauge economic attitudes in the ready mixed concrete industry. As participation in the survey grows, NRMCA hopes to be able to provide regional/state results as well as the national perspective.

For more information on NRMCA’s Producer Confidence Index, contact Michael Olivarri at molivarri@nrmca.org.
 
GivenHansco, Inc
NEWS LINKS
Six states have 30% or more of their major rural roads with pavement in poor condition and in five states, at least one-fifth of rural bridges are structurally deficient, a report released Thursday by a non-profit transportation group says. Connecticut has the worst percentage — 35% — of major roads in rural areas with pavement in poor condition. Rhode Island and West Virginia follow at 33%.

Source: USA Today article from July 10. Read more.
 
City officials in Santa Monica, CA, recently recommended that half a million dollars be spent to improve intersections currently under construction for an incoming light rail station. All five intersections are along Colorado Avenue where track is being laid. The current plan is to surround the tracks with concrete but finish the streets with asphalt. City officials say it would be better if the entire intersections were done in concrete — and done now.

Source: A July 9 article by the Santa Monica (CA) Daily Press.
 
A Houston-based company called Enterprise Paving has produced an infographic that compares concrete to asphalt in five different areas: cost, durability, maintenance, longevity and weather. Among its conclusions: aesthetically, asphalt maintains its appearance longer because it is darker and therefore stains are not as visible. In contrast, stains on concrete are much more visible because of concrete’s lighter color. Concrete is also better in warmer climates, whereas asphalt is better in cold climates. Enterprise Commercial Paving delivers commercial and industrial paving services to metropolitan Houston and the Central/Southeast Texas region.

Source: A posting on the Web site of Motor E magazine. Read more.
 
PAVEMENTS
In its ever expanding mission to inform and educate on the proper means and methods to design and detail concrete pavements, NRMCA has joined forces with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to teach a two-day, intensive course on the design and construction of concrete pavement. The next offering of this course will be in Denver on September 11-12. Personnel from state, city and county government, consulting firms and military installations are encouraged to attend. Currently, there are courses scheduled in Cincinnati (November) of this year and one scheduled in Orlando (March) for the first quarter of 2015. Planning for courses in the remaining quarters of 2015 will be conducted later this year.
 
The courses are taught by NRMCA Vice President Pavement Structures Brian Killingsworth and Director of Pavement Structures Amanda Hult. The course covers the design and construction of pavement for parking lots, city streets and higher volume facilities using conventional concrete, overlays, roller compacted concrete and pervious concrete. Attendees receive copies of NRMCA Concrete Pavement Analyst software as well as the NRMCA Rigid Pavement Technical Assistance Guide for Local Jurisdictions.

This partnership with ASCE opens avenues to reach designers and decision makers to NRMCA for technology transfer and the introduction of innovative rigid pavement materials for various applications.

See the ASCE continuing education Web site to register for upcoming courses or contact Brian Killingsworth at bkillingsworth@nrmca.org for more information.
 
PROMOTIONS
NRMCA Associate member Somero Enterprises recently held a Selling Parking Lots Boot Camp ‘Lite’ version at its annual corporate meeting in Ft. Myers, FL, reports NRMCA Vice President, National Resources, Jon Hansen. "Somero is the nation’s largest manufacturer of laser guided screeds," he said. "Laser guided screeds have become the equipment of choice for constructing large parking lot projects, both new and overlays. Our goal in presenting an abbreviated version of our popular Selling Parking Lots Boot Camp to its entire company was to make it part of NRMCA’s national effort for more parking lot projects. Once Somero understood the market potential and the support NRMCA provides for parking lot projects, each person at Somero took the information to his or her current and potential contractor customers and to use in order to expand parking lot business. This partnership with Somero basically doubled the number of people the concrete industry has in promoting and talking to contractors across the nation."

"Even though Somero could only give Amy Miller and myself four hours of its annual meeting to conduct what is normally a 10-hour program, the response we got back was overwhelming supportive," continued Hansen. "We have already aligned some of its field staff with our National Resource Director team and state promotion partners so they can work together for more parking lot projects." 

For more information, contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org or Amy Miller at amiller@nrmca.org.
 
The Euclid Chemical Company
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
The 2014 NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors’ Meeting brochure is now available online. This year’s event takes place September 21-23 at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. Be sure to download the brochure to get more detailed information about this year’s keynote speakers and educational sessions as well as other meeting highlights such as NRMCA’s National Mixer Driver Championship, the RMC Research & Education Foundation Walk for Wellness and more. Remember to sign up early to save more than $100 off the regular registration fee.

NRMCA has contracted a block of rooms at the JW Marriott Indianapolis at a discounted rate of $189/night plus taxes. Hotel reservations can be made by calling the JW Marriott directly at 877-303-0104. When calling please mention you are with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. The hotel reservation cutoff date is Friday, August 29, but the block of rooms is limited, so we suggest that you make your hotel reservations as soon as possible.

In an effort to expand our "Green Meetings" campaign, we will NOT be mailing you a brochure this year. You may access an online version of the full brochure by visiting the ConcreteWorks Web site which includes links for online registration, online hotel reservations and NRMCA staff contact for more information.
 
The Summer 2014 edition of NRMCA's quarterly magazine, Concrete InFocus, is now available online. This latest issue includes a number of timely and informative articles available only online, including by Corporate Suite: Booms & Millenials by NRMCA Vice President, National Resources, Jon Hansen who discusses the implications of social media and how best to utilize the dizzying array of interactive tools in the ready mixed concrete industry. Look for more highlights of online articles in upcoming editions of E-NEWS.
 
This week, NRMCA continues to highlight one of the companies that has chosen to exhibit at this fall's annual ConcreteWorks conference in Indianapolis. The conference is one of the industry's best opportunities for ready mix producers to interact with companies that provide goods and services to the concrete industry. This week, Active Minerals International, LLC is the third company in the series.

Active Minerals International, LLC developed and manufactures Acti-Gel®208, a low-dose rheology modifier and anti-settling agent that stabilizes mixtures, provides superior aggregate suspension and dramatically improves the performance and paste quality of ready mixed concrete. Active Minerals International joined NRMCA in 2011 and will be located in booth 200.



Click here for more information on how to exhibit at ConcreteWorks or contact Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
 
Earlier this month, the leadership of the Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC) Research & Education Foundation and that of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Foundation signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement renewing their joint commitment to support the concrete industry and, by extension, the general public. The Agreement reiterated that the two organizations would work together to "identify research and educational needs, collaborate on funding and administration of projects, and maximize industry resources by avoiding duplication of work."

In addition, the Agreement also outlined roles for the two organizations, including that both organizations will help to identify potential research and educational proposals that may be jointly funded, or more appropriate for the other organization to fund, keeping in mind each Foundation’s respective guidelines and criteria. Both organizations also agreed to assist with the dissemination of new research and information to their respective network of organizations and individuals.

The Agreement is similar to one signed between RMC and the Charles Pankow Foundation in May 2014.

For more information on the work of the RMC Research & Education Foundation, please visit www.rmc-foundation.org. For more information on the work of the ACI Foundation, please visit www.acifoundation.org.
 
ENGINEERING
NRMCA's Engineering Department will teach its annual introduction to concrete fundamentals for those who need a broad overview of technical and operations essentials. The curriculum is appropriate for sales reps, dispatchers, administrative/home office and mid-level staff as well as those in an executive function whose jobs do not relate to concrete per se, but who should have knowledge of the industry. This class is NOT appropriate for technical ready mixed concrete personnel.

The workshop will be held October 7-9 at the RMC Research & Education Foundation Center in Silver Spring, MD. The attendees’ exam will be the morning of October 10. For those working toward their NRMCA STEPS® CCPf certification in Sales and Marketing Track, this is a required class. For others working toward CCPf certification in other STEPS tracks, the class is the qualifying prerequisite or an elective.

Click here for more information, including registration options and staff contact.
 
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
NRMCA’s Commitment to Environmental Excellence Awards competition offers producers national recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment and maintaining sound management practices in their operations. The program salutes companies that have not only met, but surpassed governmental compliance measures and demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through plant and staff investment. Any NRMCA member company producing ready mixed concrete from a fixed plant location in the U.S., its territories or Canada is eligible to enter. Awards will be determined upon individual plant merits; companies may choose to enter plants from any or all of the five production volume categories. 

Click here for more information, download the 2014 Environmental Excellence Awards entry form or staff contact. Entries and photos must be received by e-mail to Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org by Thursday, July 31.
 
NRMCA's OES department will host five face-to-face classes in Fall 2014. With a clear understanding that operations people now multitask, these classes focus on giving participants immediate skills to help juggle all their balls within compliance parameters as well as learn efficiency processes and organizational methods. A registration fee discount is extended to those companies that send three or more people to one class title.
  • Ready Mixed Concrete Safety Course – Ontario, CA (metro Los Angeles), August 6-8. Click here for information.
  • Plant Manager Certification Course – Silver Spring, MD, August 9-12. Click here for more information.
  • The Effective RMC Supervisor Certification – Silver Spring, MD, November 18-20. Click here for more information. 
  • Environmental Professional Certification – Phoenix, December 3-5. Click here for more information.
  • Plant Manager Certification Course – Orlando, FL, December 9-12. Click here for more information.
  • Dispatcher Training Forum – Silver Spring, MD, February 17-19. Click here for more information. 
These classes are required to earn NRMCA's STEPS "Operations and Production" Track certification, CCPf. STEPS is the ready mixed concrete’s industry most prestigious employee professional development program, supporting career development and job retention/succession planning. (The Dispatcher class will run early in 2015, dates to be determined.) 

For more information or questions, contact NRMCA's Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org or 240-485-1152.
 
SUSTAINABILITY
LEED v4 officially launched last month. The new reporting requirements in LEED v4 will likely change the way companies do business; companies that take the initiative to understand the requirements and obtain the necessary documentation will gain a competitive advantage. To help concrete producers understand these new requirements, NRMCA is offering a free 90-minute Webinar titled "New Radical Material and Resources Reporting Criteria in LEEDv4" on Wednesday, August 20, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The Webinar will provide an overview of the new MR Disclosure and Optimization credits and the reports required by product manufacturers, including EPDs, CSRs and HPDs and what they mean for the concrete industry. This Webinar will help participants understand the new LEED v4 requirements that emphasize material transparency and how your business can prepare for the transition. It will also describe the NRMCA programs and resources available to help concrete producers meet these new reporting requirements.

Click here for more details and registration information or contact Tien Peng at tpeng@nrmca.org or 206-913-8535.
 
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Media articles on Congress, transportation infrastructure, regulation, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry, are updated each week by NRMCA's Government Affairs staff. To access the most recent compilation of articles for July 14 - 18, 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 Elizabeth Fox at efox@nrmca.org.
 
EDUCATION &TRAINING
The Educational Activities Committee invites ready mix producers to submit their most innovative training initiatives of 2013-2014. Companies must submit their entries no later than Wednesday, July 30. The Innovation in Training Award winner will be recognized at NRMCA's ConcreteWorks to be held this fall in Indianapolis. Additionally, the producer’s program will be featured in a best-practices article in NRMCA's quarterly magazine, Concrete InFocus. MTSU's Concrete Institute Management faculty will serve as judges.
 
Click here for more information or contact NRMCA's Eileen Dickson at 1-888-846-7622, ext. 1164 or by e-mail, edickson@nrmca.org.
 
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
NRMCA's July Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, August 5, is the Concrete Plant Operators Manual. This manual is a comprehensive guide for the batch plant operator that includes valuable information on materials, batch tolerance and aggregate moisture, calculations, plant maintenance, safety and more.

Order online today and receive 20% off. Regular member price is $28, Internet Special $22.40, plus shipping. Discount Code: ISJULY14.
 
CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.

July 25, Tukwila, WA
Regional ConcreteWorks Northwest Region
Email: Nicole Maher, 1-888-846-7622, ext. 1158
 
July 29-30, Online Course
Designing Jointed Concrete Pavement for Streets and Parking Areas
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
August 4-7, Online Course
Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Structures
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
August 5, Free Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete for Streets & Local Roads
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
August 6, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion & Advocacy Overview
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
August 6, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Program
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 6, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part 1 (Part 2 is August 13)
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 6, Centennial, CO
Regional ConcreteWorks Rocky Mountain Region
Email: Nicole Maher, 1-888-846-7622, ext. 1158
 
August 6-8, Ontario, CA
Ready Mixed Concrete Safety Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 12-15, Silver Spring, MD
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 14, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
August 19, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 19, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
August 20, Free Webinar
New Radical Material and Resources Reporting Criteria in LEEDv4
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
August 20, Webinar
Recruiting & Hiring Top Performing Ready Mix Sales Reps
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
August 21, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
September 8-10, Orlando, FL
Concrete Durability Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 9, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part 1 (Part 2 is September 16)
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 10, Webinar
Re-Entrepreneuring: 7 Strategies for Rebuilding Your Business in the New Economy
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
September 12, Free Webinar
Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
 
September 12, Webinar
Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!
Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850
 
September 21-23, Indianapolis, IN
NRMCA's ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors' Meeting
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 30, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
September 30, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Program
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
October 7-10, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module I, "Concrete 101" - Technical/Product Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
October 14, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Elected Official Advocacy
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
October 15, Silver Spring, MD
Improving Concrete Quality
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
November 3-7, Silver Spring, MD
Annual Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"
Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168
 
November 7, Webinar
Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!
Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850
 
November 18-20, Silver Spring, MD
The Effective RMC Supervisor - Silver Spring, MD
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
November 19, Webinar
Sales Performance Assessments and Review for Ready Mix Sales Managers
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
December 3-5, Phoenix
Environmental Professional Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
December 9-12, Phoenix
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
December 16-18, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge - Understanding the Concrete Contractor's Business
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
 
Fritz-Pak Corporation
MPAQ Automation
Putzmeister America, Inc.
Xypex Chemical Corp
McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing, Inc.
WAM USA, Inc.
Clean Energy
Lehigh Hanson