Sauter to be Honored During World of Concrete
Ed Sauter will retire as Executive Director of the CFA at the end of 2014. World of Concrete will officially celebrate his legacy after 22 years of service.
CFA Executive Director
Ed Sauter, esauter@cfawalls.org
1993 – ED SAUTER BECAME THE FIFTH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CONCRETE FOUNDATION ASSOCIATION and began expanding the benefits of membership as well as increasing the Association’s presence at the World of Concrete of concrete that very next year. Agreeing to the opportunity as interim director of the association, Sauter knew he was in a position to help this industry achieve a successful transition for their future. Now, twenty-two years later, an era comes to an end.
2015 – THE CFA PROUDLY ANNOUNCES ED SAUTER AS GUEST OF HONOR FOR THE CFA WINTER MEETING HELD DURING WORLD OF CONCRETE WEEK. The event will be hosted this year at the Harley Davidson Café on February 3, 2015 from 6-8:30 pm. Over the more than two decades that spans his leadership to this industry, the CFA has benefited from the passion, commitment and leadership of Sauter as Executive Director. As he enters part-time retirement at the end of this year, stepping down as CFA executive director, we invite you to join us in celebrating his accomplishments, his vision and celebrating the next season set before the CFA. All will be continuing the celebration of 40 years of CFA during the event, more than half under the leadership of Sauter.
The event, sponsored by Concrete Forms Services LLC, Cranes & Equipment Corp., Epro Services Inc, GMX Inc, Irving Equipment, LLC and Prinsco Inc, all National Associate members of the CFA, can be attended at the single price of $85 per person if registering by January 23, 2015. Late and onsite registration will be $115. Register online at www.cfawalls.org/events.
The event will feature a slideshow of CFA history and a brief presentation of reflections on Sauter’s term as Executive Director. Cocktails will start the party at 6 pm followed by good food, more libation and networking with the wealth of industry expertise and friends this event has long been known to assemble. Parking at the Harley Davidson Café will be available and is free to all attendees with a paid registration.
As a cosponsor of World of Concrete, CFA is again offering the lowest published registration and seminar prices published. This year, WOC has changed to a paid registration policy for all attendees. CFA offers an exclusive co-sponsor online $20* (exhibits-only) registration with significant education savings by using source code A30 on any form or by registering online at www.bit.ly/WOCwithCFA. *Restrictions may apply.
Letter from the Director: We’ve Learned Our Lessons – and Now We Are Stronger
This month’s letter from the CFA Executive Director:
We’ve Learned Our Lessons – and Now We are Stronger
CFA Executive Director
Ed Sauter, esauter@cfawalls.org
Another winter is on its way but otherwise things are heating up in the residential concrete industry. Growth is slower than we would like to see but the trend is there. Credit is tighter (as it should be) but the inventory of underwater homes is dwindling. Attitudes – and that is really what has been holding us back the most – have changed. People have gone from cautious hope to optimism. We aren’t where we were 6-7 years ago and will likely never get there again but slow, steady growth is far better than the boom or bust cycles we have been through.
So what will be the new paradigm? The bad times eliminated many marginal operations (as well as some very well managed ones). You likely flushed out many of your poor practices and underperforming personnel. To put it as one contractor said, ”Why waste a good recession.” Nearly everyone cut their business overhead to the bones during the recession. They entered new business areas and performed work outside their specialties in order to make ends meet. This will make their businesses stronger in the long term.
I have made several observations during those times. Perhaps you have seen these also but they bear repeating none-the-less:
- Continue to diversify and retain those new markets you entered to survive. There will continue to be hiccups as the economy ramps up. Diversify and grow.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. That adage has never been truer. Do not get to the point where 1 or 2 customers control your destiny. It gives them too much control over your schedules and prices – and what if something happens to that company?
- Lean on your peers. That is one area where the CFA comes in, providing venues, connections, and dialog to solve your problems and find out what works and what doesn’t.
- Educate yourself. Again, the CFA offers numerous opportunities to learn and grow. The CFA Summer Meeting continues as the premier resource for educational content specific to your core businesses.
- Embrace Technology. There are still a few of you out there who operate with paper and a telephone – and don’t get me wrong, those are still good – but your customers of the future are very tech savvy. They get their news and entertainment; they shop and research their products on the internet. If you aren’t there, you WILL be left behind. CFA will continue to be at the forefront in delivery of content, information, and connections for our members through the internet.
I’m sure there are other lessons learned I haven’t listed above. If you have ideas, send them to Jim or myself. We are all impatient to see a return to profitability but a “boom” would simply allow many people to start businesses that should perhaps wait before they take the plunge. A slower growth trend will keep some of that in check. Take this time to fine tune your business model, set realistic goals, and prepare for what comes ahead – whatever that might be.
Letter from the President: Learning from One Another…Being Friends
This month’s letter from the CFA Board President:
Learning From One Another…Being Friends
It gives me great pleasure to write to you as your president. As a third generation concrete contractor and a member since 1993, I have experienced first-hand what the Concrete Foundation Association has to offer. It was not long after I started my career at Martinson Construction that I decided to join the Association. I joined the Association in order to form business relationships with industry related companies, but what I received in return was so much more. The leadership and companionship of the Association have proved profitable beyond comparison for my business. The combination of leadership and friendship is what continues to inspire young business professionals into successful companies.
In the coming years, I would like to focus on growing membership by emphasizing the importance of the friendships formed within the Association. With an increase in members, we will continue to gain expertise from each other, and most importantly we will be able to increase our impact on the industry.
We cannot look to the future without first recognizing our past. I would like to recognize and thank our outgoing president, Jim Bartley, for his outstanding leadership and involvement with the Association the past two years. It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of him and my other predecessors; it was their innovative leadership that has made the Association what it is today. With my leadership, I will maintain the Association’s reputation as an industry leader. I hope to impact each and every one of you the same as the Association has impacted me throughout the years.
CFA Continues Popular Hotline for Members
CFA Continues Popular Hotline for Members
Email hotline offers active CFA members convenient access to a wealth of information resources and experience.
Access to technical information and solutions has never been easier. CFA members continue to have access to three levels of support for project, material and system questions. A technical staff member is available full time by phone or email. This one on one solution can provide a wealth of information from codes to construction practice. A network of peers is accessible conveniently through the social media site, LinkedIn. At “Concrete Foundations,” a public networking group, and “CFA Members,” a private networking group, questions on any topic or curiosity can be exchanged with the valuable asset of a strong, professional and experienced peer network. The third and perhaps most popular technical resource available to CFA members is that of the Email Hotline. Any individual for a CFA member firm can request to participate or can access the wealth of knowledge from this resource by emailing hotline@cfawalls.org. Inquiries are distributed to the contact list participating in this hotline after a quick staff review. Responses are immediately reviewed by staff and redistributed through the network resulting in sharing of both the inquiry and the solutions for greater distribution of knowledge.
Contact the CFA to find out how your company can begin participating in these professional areas immediately.
Schwing Adds New Boom Pump
Schwing Adds New Boom Pump
October 6, 2014 – St. Paul, Minn.
Schwing has expanded their boom pump lineup with a new model, bringing the Schwing truck-mounted concrete pump with placing boom line to a total of 16 different models. The S 20 offers a unique boom design in a compact package, affording pumpers, concrete contractors and specialty contractors a versatile tool to expand concrete pumping possibilities while also performing conventional work.
The four-section Double Z boom offers a total of 820 degrees of articulation with 270 degrees at both the third and fourth sections, allowing many possible configurations in confined spaces. Combined with a 12-foot 7-inch unfolding height, the S20 can be used indoors, under overhead structures and in tunnels. The standard truck is a Kenworth T370 with 330 hp and automatic transmission. Overall reach of the boom is 63 feet 8 inches vertically and 51 feet 10 inches horizontally. The boom can rotate 370 degrees in either direction, enhancing versatility on tight projects. The boom is equipped with full five-inch pipe.
The S 20’s utilization benefits from its convenient ability to perform as a line pump with a standard back-end 180-degree rotating outlet. The unit also features excellent storage for clamps and additional system with fold down sideboard access on the driver’s side to a 13-foot loading deck.
The standard pump kit is the 2023-3 110/75 SC with 124 cubic yards per hour output, operating through nine-inch diameter pumping cylinders. The twin-cylinder all-hydraulic unit sequences the pumping cylinders through the proven M Rock Valve, providing maximum sealing efficiency in a totally rebuildable valve with a minimum of moving parts. Contractors can pump with confidence in all situations with the S20, handling mixes with up 2.5-inch aggregate and applying up to 1095 psi on the concrete.
Manually extending outriggers lower hydraulically, applying only 38 psi soil pressure with dunnage on the front and 15 psi on the rear. Spacing is 12 feet 8 inches in the front and 7 feet 3 inches in the rear, for easy setup on crowded job sites.
For more information visit Schwing at www.schwing.com.
Cygnus Business Media Sells Heavy Construction and Logistics Groups to AC Business Media Inc.
Cygnus Business Media Sells Heavy Construction and Logistics Groups to AC Business Media Inc.
FORT ATKINSON, Wis. – Aug. 11, 2014 – Cygnus Business Media today announced that it has sold its Heavy Construction and Logistics Groups to AC Business Media Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The transaction was
handled by Corporate Solutions, Inc., and was finalized on August 11, 2014. All employees related to these businesses were retained by AC Business Media Inc.
According to Cygnus CEO John French, “We are very pleased to have found a buyer of these highly profitable multi-platform properties serving the heavy construction and logistics industries that will utilize the current team’s creativity and experience.”
“The construction and logistics team, with its industry-recognized brands, impressed us with its past successes and forwarding-thinking plans and initiatives” commented AC Business Media’s owners Carl Wistreich and Anil Narang. “We are excited to continue to provide industry leading content to our audience through our cutting-edge digital properties and print publications and provide our advertisers the analytics and ability to reach the audience they want to reach that they have become accustomed to with our brands.”
Kris Flitcroft, who is assuming a leadership role in AC Business Media, said, “Our talented editorial, sales and support team will transition to AC Business Media. The opportunities for growth and investment that the new company presents has our team extremely excited. Our corporate office will remain in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin and the transition in ownership will be transparent to our audience and advertisers.”
The Construction Group brands reach the entire heavy construction market, providing integrated media solutions with digital, print, event and social media platforms. ForConstructionPros.com anchors the Construction Group as the online digital platform for six publications: Asphalt Contractor, Concrete Contractor, Equipment Today, Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, Rental and Sustainable Construction. Additional print and digital platforms include OEM Off-Highway and other specialty publications. National Pavement Expo is the group’s premier event and rounds out the portfolio.
The Logistics Group includes Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazines, as well as digital platforms for both brands.
About AC Business Media Inc.
AC Business Media Inc. is a business-to-business media company that provides targeted content and comprehensive, integrated advertising and promotion opportunities for some of the world’s most recognized business-to-business brands. Its diverse portfolio serves the construction, logistics and supply chain and other industries with print, digital and custom products, events and social media. AC’s brands include: Asphalt Contractor, Concrete Contractor, Equipment Today, Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, Rental, Sustainable Construction, ForConstructionPros.com, OE
ThermalDrain™ Chosen as Finalist for 2013 RISE® Durable Product Awards
ThermalDrain™ Chosen as Finalist for 2013 RISE® Durable Product Awards
Cleveland-based GMX, Inc.’s ThermalDrain nonwoven drain protection board is a finalist for the 2013 RISE Durable Product Awards. The award recognizes and rewards innovation in new, durable products that utilize nonwoven fabrics in a way that expands the usage of nonwovens in the consumer or industrial marketplace.
Cleveland, Ohio – GMX, Inc.’s premier recycled nonwoven drain protection board, ThermalDrain, is a finalist for the 2013 RISE (Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics) Durable Product Awards. The award recognizes and rewards innovation in new, durable products that utilize nonwoven fabrics in a way that expands the usage of nonwovens in the consumer or industrial marketplace. The winner will be announced on October 3 at the annual RISE Conference held in Denver, Colo.
ThermalDrain is a user-friendly synthetic protection board that is more durable than fiberglass and provides excellent drainage. It is also the only protection board that provides an R-Value in addition to containing 70 percent post-consumer recycled content. ThermalDrain’s patented design provides consumers with a flexible, easy-to-bend protection board that is environmentally friendly and will not irritate your skin. It is designed to be used in conjunction with spray-applied waterproofing. DryDog was recently acquired by GMX, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Garland Industries, Inc. and manufacturer of commercial and residential waterproofing systems. The DryDog line of products and services are being integrated into GMX’s line of high-performance, below-grade waterproofing products.
“It is an honor to have one of our premier products selected as a finalist for the RISE Durable Products Award. At GMX, we pride ourselves on developing innovative and versatile products that meet the strict performance demands of our customers’ diverse application requirements,” explains Lindsay Castles, vice president of GMX, Inc.
The annual RISE conference is sponsored by the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA®). Founded in 1968, INDA member companies represent the entire nonwovens value-chain. From raw materials and roll goods producers, to machinery manufacturers and converters, to brand owners, INDA works every day to fulfill their mission of “advancing nonwovens worldwide for the benefit of our members.” INDA achieves that by providing world-class networking events, industry leading education, accurate research and industry information, on-demand consultation and strong advocacy on key issues facing the nonwoven fabrics industry.
GMX, Inc.® is a manufacturer and supplier of below-grade waterproofing products for the building envelope and is the only ISO 9001: 2008 certified manufacturer of residential and commercial waterproofing systems. GMX high-performance products are engineered to provide superior protection against water intrusion and degradation, guarding your building and its contents from moisture. Our continued investment in research and development and improvement to manufacturing facilities and processes guarantees superior product consistency and performance under the harshest of waterproofing conditions. GMX is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
For more information, contact your local GMX Representative at 866-228-7743 or visit http://www.gmxwaterproofing.com.
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2014 Projects of the Year: Private Single-Family Residence >5,000 sq.ft.
Private Single-Family Residence >5,000 sq.ft.
Norman Home
Basement Contractors of Edmond, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
The final project to receive recognition this year represents the large-scale single-family residences over 5,000 square feet category. Basement Contractors from Edmond, Oka. submitted this challenging project that consisted of complex footings, tall foundation wall heights, concrete floors throughout all levels and a gymnasium on the basement level with foundations supporting a pre-engineered metal structure.
“Our involvement was based on being the only contractor in this area that was capable of delivering the entire project,” stated Hancock. “From engineering to coordination of the floor joists including excavation, coordination of waterproofing, drainage, concrete, walls and all flatwork including decorative elevated concrete decks, we delivered a complete package for this complex structure that included details more commercial like in many regards.”
At more than 10,700 square feet, this residence incorporated 643 cubic yards of concrete in the footings and walls. Additional concrete was incorporated to the flooring for each level and several elevated decorative concrete decks, including a continuous deck the full length of the back of the house. The walls and footings also required 33 tons of steel with wall heights of 6 feet and 14 feet ranging in thickness from 10 to 14 inches.
“The owner of this house desired a full-size basketball court to be accessible from the lower level of this walk-out basement,” stated Hancock. “The foundation walls supporting the steel building had exacting tolerances with numerous anchors set in the top of wall for connection and support of the steel frame. The walls were also designed as moment-resisting foundations for the structure.”
For more information on this foundation project, contact CFA Member, Mike Hancock, Basement Contractors, at mike@basementcontractorsok.com or (405) 359-0269.
Project Specifications:
- Total Size: 10,712 sq.ft.
- Concrete Used: 463 cu.yds. (walls), 280 cu.yds. (footings)
- Steel Used: 28 tons (walls), 5 tons (footings)
- Wall Heights: 6 ft. and 14 ft.
- Wall Thickness: 10″ and 14″
2014 Projects of the Year: Private Residence Foundation < 2000 sq.ft.
Private Residence Foundation <2000
Marietta Home
Herbert Construction
Marietta, Georgia
The project award this year for foundations under 2,000 square feet goes to Herbert Construction of Marietta, Ga. for a very complex foundation system that accommodated severe elevation change and complex forming heights for such a relatively small footprint.
Most projects of this size are simple, straightforward foundations. The overall dimensions of the house were merely 39-foot wide by 68-foot-6-inches deep. However, the sloping lot made this a challenging foundation to construct. From the top of wall in the front to the top of footing in the rear, there was 31-feet of vertical change. This drop in elevation in just 62-feet equates to a slope on the site of 2 to 1 (2:1 slope). To make things more difficult, rock was encountered during excavation. This made the construction of the footings more challenging.
“With a multitude of steps in the excavated grade and the steep drop-off of the site, there weren’t many areas to place our form baskets,” stated Doug Herbert, president of Herbert Construction. “When the baskets were placed on level plateaus, they hindered the wall crew from setting the wall forms efficiently. When we stripped the wall forms, many had to be hand-carried up several plateaus to get them back into the form baskets.”
The project totaled only 1,782 square feet with nearly 100 cubic yards of concrete and 3.25 tons of steel. A total of ten different wall heights were required in this complex foundation ranging from 3 feet to 15 feet with four variations in thickness from 8 inches to 14 inches.
“To us, the success on a project like this is found in two critical steps,” stated Herbert. “The first is working with the client and devising a cost-effective way to construct the foundation of interest, producing a CAD plan for all geometries. The second is to consistently layout and check the foundation with robotic total station layout instruments from excavation to final wall plumbing. This was crucial on this project because of the numerous elevation changes. Without these precision instruments, the layout would have taken three men over six hours to layout the footing, and then another five hours to layout the wall. The robotic total stations were more accurate and much faster than convention layout with measuring tapes and string lines.”
For more information on this foundation project, contact CFA Member, Doug Herbert, Herbert Construction Company, at Doug@herbertconstruction.com or (770) 795-0103.
Project Specifications:
- Total Size: 1,782 sq.ft.
- Concrete Used: 73 cu.yd. (walls) 26 cu.yd. (footings)
- Steel Used: 2.5 tons (walls), .75 tons (footings)
- Wall Heights: 10 total, 3 ft. to 15 ft.
- Wall Thickness: 4 total, 8″ to 14″
2014 Projects of the Year: Commercial/ Multi Family
Commercial/Multi-family
Condominium Project
Basement Contractors of Edmond, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Entered by Basement Contractors of Edmond, Okla., this year’s recipient of the Project of the Year for commercial and multi-family projects is a complex and impressive foundation system for condominiums in an urban setting in Oklahoma City.
“The original plan called for a half walk-out basement,” stated Mike Hancock, president of Basement Contractors. “We proposed a full walk-out basement that reduced the project cost by $100,000 from the original design. We then provided full engineering details for making the changes.”
The project consists of more than 9,200 square feet of area and incorporated 360 cubic yards of concrete with 17.5 tons of steel. A variety of wall heights from 2 feet to 10 feet and thicknesses from 12 inches to 22 inches were required.
“The primary reason we proposed this change to the builder,” stated Hancock, “was to give them the advantage of safe rooms for each of the condos located here in the heart of ‘Tornado Alley’. Seven safe rooms were built into the foundation with varying wall thicknesses and odd forming heights of 8 feet 4 inches and 9 feet 8 inches.”
Setting up the forms for the offsets, wall thickness variations and the monolithic “lids” for the safe rooms was the biggest challenge for this contractor. The odd wall heights made the forming module a challenge and incorporated a tremendous number of fillers from their inventory. “This was a much larger scope for us but a better solution for the customer along with the added benefit of safe rooms for their tenants,” stated Hancock.
For more information on this foundation project, contact CFA Member, Mike Hancock, Basement Contractors, at mike@basementcontractorsok.com or (405) 359-0269.
Project Specifications:
- Total size: 9,204 sq.ft.
- Concrete Used: 238 cu.yds. (walls), 122 cu.yds. (footings)
- Steel Used: 14 tons (walls), 3.5 tons (footings)
- Wall Heights: 2′, 3′, 8’4″, 9′, 9’8″, 10′
- Wall Thickness: 12″, 16″, 20″, 22″
