Table of Contents
Cemex-RMC a
done deal; integration begins immediately
Holcim:
Aggregate Industries deal on track
Latest
transportation bill speedily clears first hurdle
Transportation Fly-In supplants
Political Partners Conference
NRMCA
schedules Innovations in Concrete Technology Showcase
PCI calls
for National Bridge Conference papers
NPCA installs
Hanson's Blecha as 2005 chair
Welcome to CONCRETE CURRENTS, the electronic
newsletter from Concrete Products magazine.
For additional industry news, technology, and highlights from the latest
issue of Concrete Products, please visit www.concreteproducts.com
Submissions for upcoming issues of CONCRETE CURRENTS or Concrete
Products can be directed to Editor Don Marsh, dmarsh@primediabusiness.com
or 312/840-8483.
ADVERTISEMENT
 SIMEM America, LLC of San Antonio,
Texas announces its newest concrete mixing development: The SIMEM
Fluid-Zone Zero-Gravity System. This system employs a new mixing
geometry especially developed for the high performance concrete markets.
SCC is created in less than 30 seconds by the three-dimensional
compulsory mixing geometry of the new design. Multiple mass division
and acceleration occurs in the new design, which creates rolling,
blending, kneading and the emulsification of the highly fluid mixtures
from the mass. High cement ratios and dispersion of admix do not affect
the fast, efficient mixing of high performance mixtures in the SIMEM
design. Speed is deemed important as it relates not only to production,
but also to wear rates. The SIMEM Fluid-Zone Zero-Gravity System
provides for no greater wear than experienced in low intensity tilt drum
type mixers.
Come visit us at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005, Booth S-678.
Cemex-RMC a
done deal; integration begins immediately
Source: Cemex, S.A. de C.V., Monterrey,
Mexico
More than five months after beginning its takeover
campaign, building materials giant Cemex got a whole lot bigger on March
1 as the company completed acquisition of UK-based heavy hitter RMC
Group. The enterprise value of the US$4.1 billion cash
transaction--which includes the assumption of debt--is US$5.8 billion.
Including RMC properties, Cemex will have an estimated annual production
capacity of 97 million metric tons of cement, enhancing its position as
the third-largest powder company in the world. Cemex, with RMC, will be
the largest ready mix producer, with annual output exceeding 90 million
yd. Additionally, the combined company will become the fourth largest
aggregates source in the world.
RMC's leading position in Europe extends Cemex's reach into new markets
that complement the company's position in the Americas. Cemex expects to
achieve about US$200 million of annual synergies 2007 by standardizing
some management processes, capitalizing on trading network benefits,
consolidating logistics and improving global procurement and energy
efficiency.
"This is an important day for Cemex," says Cemex Chairman and CEO
Lorenzo Zambrano. "The addition of RMC enhances Cemex's growth platform
and diversifies our geographic base by strengthening our presence in the
U.S.--the world's largest cement importer--and gives us exposure to
high-growth markets in Eastern Europe and an important position in
mature markets in Western Europe. The integration process will begin
immediately. RMC's customers will benefit from our operating expertise
and from Cemex's vertically integrated network."
ADVERTISEMENT
1-800-CONCRETE is a network of ready mix producer utilizing the number
1-800-CONCRETE as a tool for there customers/consumers to easily recall
how to get concrete, we are in most of the major markets with companies
Aggregate Industries, Oldcastle, RMC, Lehigh Cement, Consumers Concrete,
and Meyer Material.
To find out more visit us at Booth S-8809 at ConExpo or at 1800concrete.com
Holcim:
Aggregate Industries deal on track
Source: Holcim Ltd., Jona,
Switzerland
Holcim officials reported last week that shareholders of
U.K.-based Aggregate Industries were responding affirmatively to
Holcim's takeover offer, as a target for sale of shares was extended
from February 28 until March 21. With commitments for more than 75
percent of Aggregate Industries' ordinary shares, Holcim is awaiting a
March 14 notification from the European Commission regarding competition
clearance. Holcim effected the takeover bid in January, three months
after Cemex S.A. announced a similar plan for Aggregate Industries'
larger U.K. counterpart, RMC Group. Holcim Ltd. has not indicated a
regulatory review schedule for North America, where Holcim (US) and
Canadian sister company, St. Lawrence Cement, have much synergy with
Aggregate Industries' integrated aggregate and ready mixed operations.
In the case of Cemex and RMC, European antitrust authorities gave
clearance about 10 weeks before similar U.S. Federal Trade Commission
action.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Maxon Industries
introduces the newest technology for transporting and placing concrete
and SCC for Prestress operations:
The MOBILE AGITOR
The MOBILE AGITOR is the first self-propelled concrete
transporter specifically designed for the Prestress industry. The MOBILE
AGITOR's agitator shaft insures quality delivery of SCC. Place
up to 10 cubic yards in less than 3 minutes. Achieve higher production
rates and better quality than previously available.
Maxon Industries, Inc.
Phone: 800/236-9944
Web: www.maxon.com
Latest
transportation bill speedily clears first hurdle
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie,
Ill.
On March 2, the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure passed the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(TEA-LU), which guarantees $284 billion for FYs 2004-2009 for highway,
transit and safety programs. The funding plan mirrors the level proposed
in the President's FY 2006 budget and is supported by the White House.
The entire House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the bill
this week.
On February 9, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Chairman Don Young (R-AK) and three colleagues introduced a revised
version of their surface transportation bill from last Congress. Given
that FY 2004 is complete, TEA-LU provides an obligation level of $241.7
billion for the remaining five years. Road and bridge funding would
climb about $1 billion annually from a proposed $36.7 billion in
2006.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Continental Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
is a worldwide supplier of superior quality, high performance concrete
transit mixers under the "CBMW" trade name and replacement parts for all
brands of mixer. The firm also supplies related equipment, such as
vocational trucks and batch plants, along with technical assistance for
ready mix concerns.
www.cbmwmixers.com
Transportation Fly-In supplants
Political Partners Conference
Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association,
Silver Spring, Md.
NRMCA has rescheduled its annual mid-May Government
Affairs Committee event, Political Partners for Concrete Results, to
coincide with the Transportation Construction Coalition's April 26-27
Fly-In. Co-chaired by Associated General Contractors and
American Road and Builders Transportation Association, TCC has
timed the Washington, D.C., event with anticipated late-stage activity
on Capitol Hill surrounding highway bill reauthorization. In addition to
the Fly-In schedule, NRMCA is planning a Concrete Industry Session to
include a Government Affairs Committee meeting on the morning of April
26. The events will be based at the Hotel Washington. -- Kevin
Voelte, 888/846-7622, ext. 1152, NRMCA, www.nrmca.org
ADVERTISEMENT
 Wear resistant Dur-X-Line urethane
concrete batch plant liners, from Durex Products, Inc., prevent liner
peeling and the premature penetration of concrete. Sized to fit any
plant component or wear application, Durex liners ensure long wear life
(lasting 8 times longer than steel liners), and greatly reduce the
buildup of concrete inside mixers and hoppers.
Visit us at ConExpo Booth #C-6573.
www.durexproducts.com
NRMCA schedules
Innovations in Concrete Technology Showcase
Source: NRMCA
Following the April 26-27 Concrete Industry Session and
TCC Fly-In program, NRMCA will host an open house, themed Innovations in
Concrete Technology Showcase, at its College Park, Md., Research Lab.
The April 28 event will highlight the International Center for Concrete
Research, which is housed at the lab and is a cooperative effort between
NRMCA, University of Maryland and Middle Tennessee State University. The
open house will include indoor and outdoor demonstrations and provide
background on how the International Center works with industry and
academia to target research initiatives yielding rapid payback. --
Michelle Barringer, 888/846-7622, ext. 1143; www.nrmca.org/Showcase-2005
ADVERTISEMENT
 Schwing America, White Bear, MN,
supplies the North American market with the latest technology in truck
mixers, concrete pumps and concrete reclaimers. Schwing offers
reliable, quality products and the best in after-sales support from
their 400,000 sq. ft. plant and five company store's located
throughout the U.S.
www.schwing.com
Come visit us at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005, Booths S-832 and
S-8005.
PCI calls for
National Bridge Conference papers
Source: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute,
Chicago
PCI is accepting abstracts through April 1 for candidate
papers to be presented at the National Bridge Conference, October 16-19,
in Palm Springs, Calif. Conference committee members are reviewing
presentations on such topics as design-build projects; post-tensioning
technology; precast bridge decks; fast construction; segmental concrete;
and hauling and transporting bridge members. Themed "Bridges for Life,"
the conference will run concurrent with PCI's annual convention and
exhibition. Abstracts can be submitted to the Institute's John Dick,
312/360-3205; jdick@pci.org
NPCA installs
Hanson's Blecha as 2005 chair
Source: National Precast Concrete Association,
Indianapolis
Hanson Pipe & Products/Southeast Region President
Joan Blecha was named 2005 NPCA Chairman during the association's 40th
annual convention, held recently in Indianapolis. The NPCA board
welcomed new members Thomas Engleman of Bethlehem Precast in
Bethlehem, Pa.; Don Humphrey of Central Precast Concrete in Santa
Rosa, Calif.; Kirby O'Malley of Garden State Precast in
Farmingdale, N.J.; and Richard Isaacso of iwi group LLC in
Norcross, Ga. Also during the convention, which followed the MCPX trade
show, NPCA named recipients in two annual programs: John Lendrum of
Norwalk Concrete Industries, Robert E. Yoakum Award and
Cindy Buckardt of Colorado Precast Concrete, Douglas G. Joskin
Membership Award.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Cyclonaire Corporation is a leading
manufacturer of material handling systems for the concrete industry.
Cyclonaire specializes in pneumatic conveying and makes vacuum,
pressure, and vacuum/pressure systems, individual conveyors, controls,
and related components for dilute, semi-dense, and dense phase
applications. Services range from concept engineering and project
management to start-up supervision.
www.cyclonaire.com
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Paradyme Technologies