MTC Adds Economic, Regulatory Sessions to Program

The Manufacturing Technical Committee meeting will include numerous presentations on a variety of topics geared towards today’s cement manufacturing challenges.  Scheduled for  August 26, in conjunction with the PCA Fall Committee Meetings,  at the InterContinental Chicago,  sessions will cover economic and regulatory outlooks, addressing a critical shortage of skilled labor in the cement industry, as well as several presentations on process issues. 

In addition, presentations will include information on plant expansion and maintenance topics, including the topics of gas-phase control technologies and the use of supplementary cementitious materials.

Meeting schedule, registration information, and hotel reservations may be found at the members-only section of the PCA’s Web site.
View the MTC meeting program
Contact Rick Bohan

Weld County Commissioners Select Concrete Pavement for 33-Mile Corridor

PCA Rocky Mountain Region and the Colorado/Wyoming American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) successfully lobbied the Weld County Commissioners for the use of concrete as the best choice for the reconstruction of CR 49. 

This 33-mile corridor will use approximately 100,000 tons of cement to complete the reconstruction during the upcoming decades.

The concrete industry met with the county commissioners repeatedly to counter the asphalt industry’s efforts to keep the corridor asphalt.  The asphalt industry became concerned that the whole corridor may be specified with concrete pavement and scheduled a meeting with the county engineers and planners.  After meeting with the county staff, the asphalt industry decided their next step was to meet with the county commissioners.  They promoted thinner asphalt sections and a local preference for the local asphalt industry.  Weld County’s bylaws state a preference should be given to local companies.

After the commission heard from both industries, during two different work sessions, they decided to schedule a public hearing for final comments from the industries and the public.  On July 10, 2013, both industries were allowed to make a final presentation.  The commission unanimously voted to construct the CR 49 corridor with concrete pavement.  Jamie Johnson, PE, PCA pavement engineer, was the spokesman for the concrete pavement industry. Bestway Concrete also testified in favor of the concrete alternative for this project.
Contact Don Clem

Slowdown Expected for Global Economic Growth

Continued troubles facing some economies in Europe, coupled with a slowdown in the Chinese economy, are expected to cap global 2013 cement consumption growth near 2012 levels.

According to PCA"s World Cement Consumption report issued last week, PCA predicts world cement consumption to record sustained growth during 2013-2016 even with weaker economic conditions in China and many of the industrialized economies’ cement markets. World cement consumption is expected to grow 3.6 percent in 2013, 4 percent in 2014, and remain near 4 percent growth during 2015-2016.

World cement consumption grew an estimated 4.2 percent in 2012 from 3.6 billion metric tons in 2011 to 3.7 billion metric tons. Growth was achieved by demand among developing and transitional economies in Asia. These gains were partially offset by moderate declines in consumption among developed economies.

Compared to world economic growth of 2 percent in 2012, PCA expects real world GDP will increase by 2.2 percent in 2013 and 3.3 percent in 2014. These real GDP growth rates are expected to average much lower than the average annual growth rates achieved during the ten years preceding the great recession. Four key factors account for the weak growth, including: 1) greater economic distress associated with European sovereign debt adjustments; 2) slow job creation among developed countries; 3) slower export opportunities for emerging and transitional economies due to slower growth among industrial economies; and 4) the lagged response of tight monetary policy on economic growth among emerging economies in reaction to high commodity prices and inflation. The third and fourth factors are critical ingredients in China’s growth rate slowdown.
Contact Ed Sullivan

PCA Meets with White House Officials – On July 30, PCA officials and ready-mixed industry representatives met with senior White House staff to explore opportunities for cooperative action following President Obama’s June 25 announcement of a new climate change policy.  The group shared a paper and discussed such areas as resiliency standards for building construction and innovative infrastructure solutions to address the effects of certain natural disasters. Karl Watson (CEMEX USA) and Greg Scott (PCA) attended the meeting on behalf of PCA. Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, hosted the discussion.
Contact Greg Scott

PCA Submits Comments to Draft DOE Study on Industrial Energy Efficiency – On July 31, PCA members submitted comments on a draft Department of Energy (DOE) study outline that was authorized by energy efficiency legislation passed into law in late 2012. The law requires DOE to submit a report to Congress by December 2014 identifying barriers, and potential new incentives, for the increased deployment of energy efficient technology, including combined heat and power systems. PCA comments focused on challenges posed by EPA’s new source review permitting program, among other obstacles. PCA also discussed the importance of alternative raw materials and fuels in the manufacturing process, per DOE’s solicitation. PCA has scheduled a meeting with DOE staff for early 2014 to discuss detailed comments to be included in DOE’s final Report to Congress. Contact Bryan Brendle

PCA Hosts Meeting for Congressional Staff – On Wednesday, August 7, PCA hosted a meeting for staff members representing Alabama’s congressional delegation. The meeting was held in Birmingham, Ala. Employees representing member companies Argos USA, CEMEX USA, Lehigh Hanson, and National Cement Company provided congressional staff information regarding the economic impact of the cement and concrete industries operating in Alabama, and about federal public policy issues affecting cement. Those attending included congressional staff from Republican Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, and from Representative Martha Roby (R–AL), Representative Mike Rogers (R–AL), and Representative Spencer Bachus (R–AL).
Contact Tom Harman

Concrete Specified for Georgia's Single Largest Road Project

Georgia Concrete Paving Association (GCPA) member Archer Western Contractors was appointed the lead contractor for the Northwest Corridor managed-lanes project.  The Northwest Corridor is the single largest project that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has ever awarded.

GDOT estimates the project cost at $850 million, with $600 million for the construction phase.  Work will begin in November 2013 and take 4.5 years to complete.

The agency specified concrete pavement for the managed lanes along I-75 and expects approximately 430,284 square yards of concrete to be used for the project. In addition to the pavement on I-75, all toll zone construction on the project will be concrete. 

Archer Western beat out some stiff competition in this historic project that plans to include almost 30 new miles of concrete paving. The project remains a public-private partnership, but the method of delivery has changed to a design-build-finance delivery model selected by the Governor’s Office and GDOT. The partnership also includes the Georgia State Road and Toll Authority and the Federal Highway Administration.
View additional information at www.nwcproject.com
Contact Roger Faulkner

Check-Off Program, Manufactured Stone Highlights of NCMA Meeting

On July 31, National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) members rolled into Chicago for their Midyear Meeting. Three full days of committee meetings covered technical and marketing issues for concrete masonry, segmental retaining walls and hardscape products, and for the first time within the NCMA schedule, manufactured stone. The proposed Check-off Program, a critical issue facing the association and its members, was addressed in several forums during the three days, including a PAC Reception.

Some highlights hinted at where NCMA is headed, including a Young Professionals Group, acknowledging a need to cultivate future leaders in the masonry industry; a Student Design Competition Awards, which recognized the top three national winners following their presentations; a review of NCMA’s extensive online training resources; a revamped trade show renamed Icon Xchange to reflect the more interactive nature of the event; and discussing the debut edition of SMART Dynamics of Masonry magazine.
Contact Jamie Farny