Concrete Products

JUN 2017

Concrete Products covers the issues that attract producers of ready mixed and manufactured concrete focusing on equipment and material technology, market development and management topics.

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www.concreteproducts.com June 2017 • 17 Gross sales for segmental concrete pave- ment contractors in the U.S. and Canada increased 8.8 percent in 2016 over the prior year, according to the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute's 2017 Contractor Indus - try Survey, reflecting responses Columbus, Ohio, market researcher Industry Insights obtained from 218 small, mid-size and large companies. "The 2015 ICPI study of concrete paver manufacturers reported a 14.5 percent increase in the number of pavers sold in the U.S. and Canada," says ICPI Chairman Matt Lynch (Oldcastle Architectural). "This year's survey of contractors also shows significant progress. It's great to see that the overall industry is enjoying consistent growth and that homeowners and other end users under- stand the benefits of concrete pavers and slabs." Among other key 2017 ICPI Contractor Survey findings: • 69.1 percent of respondents required crews to review and participate in a formal, docu- mented safety program, an increase of 4.1 percent from 2015; • The greatest challenges confronting con- tractors include recruiting, hiring and retaining quality employees, increasing overhead costs and competition; and, • Average wages increased by 3.0 percent for 2016 payrolls, while 2017 levels are pacing a 3.2 percent jump. The study also includes overall data on the specific systems contractors use to monitor and reduce crew member exposure to respirable silica, plus promotion and certification trends. In addition to report- ing overall data, results are also grouped based on respondents' length of construc- tion season, gross sales, and number of employees during peak project activity. The 59-page 2017 ICPI Contractor Industry Survey is available for purchase by visiting www.icpi.org/shop. PICP MAINTENANCE GUIDE Along with contractor survey findings, ICPI has released "Tech Spec 23: Maintenance Guide for Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICP)." The 12-page piece fea- tures 36 figures and tables plus information on PICP benefits and maintenance; insight on practices to support surface infiltration; infil- tration inspection and testing techniques; preventive maintenance equipment options for various PICP applications; restorative infiltration maintenance for highly clogged surfaces; inspection intervals and procedures for maintaining surface infiltration; and, winter maintenance practices. Tech Spec 23 is available in a pdf down- load or print version at www.icpi.org. For a pdf, see the Resource Library and click on "Find a Tech Spec." The print version is also available for purchase on the website store. ICPI promotes PICP as a durable, cost-effec- tive solution for compliance with national, state/provincial and municipal stormwater regulations. The surface consists of solid, durable concrete pavers with small, stone- filled joints that allow water to flow into highly permeable, open-graded bedding, base, and subbase aggregates. The spaces among the aggregates store water and enable infiltration into the soil subgrade rather than generating surface runoff. PICP is well suited to freeze thaw climates. "PICP has demonstrated significant runoff and pollutant reduction for walkways, plazas, driveways, parking lots, alleys, and streets throughout the U.S. and Canada," affirms Matt Lynch. "Like all other types of storm- water control measures, PICP requires some maintenance as over time sediment accumu- lates in the joints. Tech Spec 23 is a highly anticipated guide designed to provide project owners, design professionals, stormwater and road agencies, plus homeowners with PICP maintenance best practices." Segmental pavement project activity nears double-digit growth The new 12-page guide includes extensive insight on best design and construction practice, along with a maintenance guide for common PICP distresses. NEWS SCOPE HARDSCAPE NICOLOCK CLOSES ON GRINNELL CONCRETE DEAL Lindenhurst, N.Y.-based Nicolock Paving Stones and Retaining Walls has acquired the Grinnell Concrete Paving Stones Inc. operation in Sparta, N.J., enhancing dis- tribution logistics and adding production in a fourth state. The location joins the producer's nine hardscape unit plants in Connecticut, Maryland and New York, along with six distribution centers in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. "The expansion is a result of our con- tinued growth, due to the hard work and dedication of our internal teams and dealer network," says Nicolock CEO Roberto Nico- lia. "The new facility enables us to grow our already significant presence in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and Upstate New York, and to be closer to our customers and key supply partners to improve effi- ciency and delivery schedules throughout the region." The former Grinnell facility has two buildings totaling 50,800 square feet of innovative technology and automated sys- tems, he adds, plus future physical plant growth/expansion opportunities. Nicolock will be fully assessing the site's initial prod- uct offerings, timelines, and logistics.

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