• In Memoriam, Karl Schlecht

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    The Concrete Foundation Association and the entire concrete industry regrets to inform you of the passing of Putzmeister founder and visionary, Karl Schlecht. Putzmeister has asked us to share this tribute and obituary. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Schlecht family and Karl’s worldwide network of friends and co-workers. With deep sorrow and great […]

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  • 50th Anniversary Celebration Begins

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    The Concrete Foundations Association will reach its 50th year of supporting the cast-in-place concrete contractor in the Spring of 2025. A yearlong effort will celebrate the significance of fifty years of enduring challenging economic cycles, an evolving marketplace, and a host of labor, legal, code, safety, and technology influences. The year of celebration was kicked […]

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  • CFA Establishes Preferred Supplier Program

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Membership networks generally have a variety of participation and recognition levels based on the interests of individuals and organizations and the services and resources provided. Tiered membership levels, labeled as “sustaining” or given common titles (i.e., gold, silver, diamond, and platinum) typically follow a pay-to-be-recognized system. Instead, during the fiscal year 2023–24, CFA’s Board of […]

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  • Best Practice Groups Continue Making A Difference

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    One of the significant considerations for members of the Association is how the CFA impacts their business. Keeping in mind that first and foremost the CFA is a network of organizations run by like-minded and passionate leaders, networking remains the most valuable benefit. With this in mind, Best Practice Groups (BPGs) were initiated a couple […]

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  • Caught-In-Action

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Attention to detail This is a trait every employer hopes to inculcate in the workforce they send outward to jobs.  It is the mark that often establishes the strata in the marketplace, elevating the most professional teams. Although never surprised when this is identified, the leadership at Beaver Concrete Construction is proud of the individual […]

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Feature

Jun
6

Putzmeister Introduces New BSF 61-Meter Concrete Boom Pump

STURTEVANT, Wis. – Putzmeister America introduces the latest truck-mounted concrete boom pump model to their product range – the BSF 61-Meter. To accommodate customer reach and weight requirements, the unit is strategically positioned in size between the BSF 58-Meter and BSF 63Z-Meter Putzmeister models. The BSF 61-Meter features a four-section roll-and-fold boom to provide a […]

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Jun
6

New Jersey Pedestrian Bridge Challenges Brick-Inlay System

Collingswood, NY – When the New Jersey DOT proposed a pedestrian bridge as part of a reconstruction plan for Routes 30 and 130 near Camden, city officials were anxious for the improvements to begin. They were also happy to see that brick was the specified finish material. However, hand-set brick was not in the DOT […]

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Jun
6

BIODEGRADABILITY DEFINED

“Biodegradability” is a word that has been inappropriately used in the past. While nearly “everything” is biodegradable over some period of time, clarification was needed on what actually constitutes “biodegradability” to the EPA. The correct definition of “biodegradability” can be found in the ‘EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), 1998, Fate, Transport and Transportation Test Guidelines, Office of […]

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Jun
6

You Don’t Have To Be A Big Company To Do Big Work

————————– Accurate Concrete Forming David Newman, Owner 601 B Louis Ave North, Watertown, MN 55388 952-955-3911 fax 952-955-3912 davnewman3@aol.com Started in 2002, specializing in poured walls construction ————————– When Ebert Construction needed an experienced poured wall outfit to pour their salt storage building for the City of St. Paul, they went to their local poured […]

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Jun
6

Residential Foundation Contractors Find New Opportunities by Expanding into Commercial Work

It is no secret that companies grow by diversifying, provided they are loyal to building on their core strengths. As such, it is no surprise that many residential foundation contractors have begun applying their proven poured wall concrete expertise to the commercial market. By expanding into new markets, many have found they can off-set the […]

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Apr
14

Concrete Townhomes Sail to Completion

EH Building Group II, the new Southwest Division of the heralded EH Building Group headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla., is sailing to completion of its first concrete townhome development. Mike Aranda Sr., CEO and founder of EH Building Group working with Architect Kevin Campbell, of International Innovation Design, Cape Coral, Fla. designed Sail Harbour, […]

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Magazine Issues

Dec
20

A SUSTAINING VISION: YOU AND OUR ASSOCIATION

Most of us are familiar with the name Andrew Carnegie, the industrial giant and shrewd investor from over a century ago. We’ve heard he was a man who both acquired and then gave away enormous amounts of wealth and who said, “The man who dies rich thus dies disgraced.” Less known is how Carnegie was driven to pass on his secrets of success to […]

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Dec
20

Insurance Captive – Yes, You Need To Know

I last wrote about the CFA Insurance Captive in this forum a little over a year ago so its time to get on the pulpit yet again. If this were a normal business climate, the captive would have been in operation for nearly a year. We need approximately $3 million premiums to meet the threshold for the underwriter and […]

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Oct
24

CFA Announces Availability of Alternate Fall Protection Plan for Members

Member companies now have access to a model or draft alternate fall protection plan conforming to the requirements of OSHA 1926.502(k). This document details the recommended plan for companies delivering concrete foundations for projects identified as “residential construction” by OSHA’s recently implemented STD 03-11-002. “The Alternate Fall Protection Plan is a collaborative effort of CFA staff and key CFA member contractors with a passion for providing solutions not […]

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Oct
24

CFA Summer Convention 2011 – If You Weren’t There, Boy Did You Miss It!

Okay, so it is now the end of summer and the start of the fall construction season rush to winter. Somewhere along the way, there are two types of companies in the CFA that may be looking at this transition differently. What defines the difference may very well be whether or not you were able to make it to Virginia this summer to network, learn and […]

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Oct
24

Ergonomic Solutions: Small Changes Make A Big Difference

Construction work is hard work, and construction workers feel the results. In one survey, seven out of ten construction workers from 13 trades reported back pain, and nearly a third went to the doctor for it. Some of the most common injuries in construction are the result of job demands that push the human body beyond its natural limits. […]

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Oct
24

WELCOME YOUR 2011 BOARD MEMBERS

Each year at Annual Meeting, according to your by-laws, the assembled membership is presented a slate of candidates to the Board of Directors. Board members serve three-year terms under the present by-laws and may be re-elected to serve until such time that they feel it is in their best interest to step away and have new energy added to the Board. This year, we are pleased […]

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Oct
24

TOUGH DECISIONS TO PULL OUR BUSINESSES THROUGH

The CFA Summer Meeting has always been my favorite association event and our recent gathering inWintergreen VA was no exception. The pleasant temperatures and inviting surroundings were a perfect setting for hearing a great lineup of speakers and renewing friendships with fellow contractors and suppliers. Thanks to all of you who made this a great event to attend. My mind drifts back […]

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Oct
24

Another CFA Summer Convention is in the Books

The venue was great, the food good and plentiful, and the views were tremendous. A special thank you is extended to all of you who took the time (and spent the money) to attend this year’s event. Feedback from those in attendance was that this was one of the best values and events we have […]

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Oct
24

Industry Loses Leader: Charles Engelken

An extraordinary journey on this earth came to a close with the passing of Charles Orval Engelken, age 48, of Overland Park, KS on Saturday, September 3, 2011. He was born on July 14, 1963 in Kansas City, KS, the son of Verna Jean (Lewis) and Orval Charles “Skeeter” Engelken. Charles was a 1981 graduate of Center High School and earned […]

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Oct
24

John Crowe Appointed President and CEO of Saint-Globain and Certainteed Corporations

Crowe to continue focus on energy efficiency and sustainability Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building materials company, has announced the appointment of John Crowe as President and CEO of both Saint-Gobain Corporation (Saint-Gobain’s North American holding company) and CertainTeed Corporation (Saint-Gobain’s largest North American subsidiary). Crowe takes on these two roles effective September 1. As President and CEO of Saint-Gobain Corporation, Crowe will […]

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Oct
24

Liv-Space Building Concepts

The Boman Kemp Companies in Ogden, Utah have been involved with the manufacturing and nationwide distribution of basement egress window systems for over 30 years. IRC 2009 R-310, calls out for a means of egress from every basement. Boman Kemp is the only basement window manufacturer to earn an ESR from the International Code Council: ESR #1856 In addition to […]

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Jun
15

Scott Smith Receives 2010 Robert D. Sawyer Award

During the CFA Summer Convention in Branson, Missouri, Scott Smith of MPW Construction Services was awarded the Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award. The Summer Convention was held August 4-6, 2010 at the Chateau on the Lake, Branson, Missouri. Last year’s winner, Barry Herbert of Herbert Construction, recognized Smith as this year’s recipient. “Scott is the type of person who makes the CFA such a great organization,” states […]

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