september 2012 the official magazine of the c o n c r e t e s a w i n g & d r i l l i n g a s s o c i at i o n
Drill One for the Gipper! Concrete Cutter Takes to the Field at Notre Dame Stadium
north carolina tunnels cut using wall saw Making Sense of Social Media OSHA Announces Final Haz Comm Rule
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President’s Page
jim dvoratchek CSDA President
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n all aspects of life, we are encouraged to plan for the unexpected. Things happen that are beyond our control, and we have to use knowledge and experience to adapt to a sudden change in circumstances. As a contractor in the concrete sawing and drilling industry, I have experienced situations where a job has presented an unexpected challenge, forcing myself and my operators to think on our feet to keep the job on schedule and keep the customer happy. Like many other contractors, concrete cutters come across challenging jobsite conditions that were neither anticipated or identified at bid stage. In addition, there can be instances of equipment failure, tool breakage, worker injuries, inclement weather and all sorts of other occurrences. We hope that all our jobs are completed exactly as planned, but know that not all jobs—like most things in life—go to script. If you are new to the industry, how do you prepare for something that you have never had to deal with before? Often, we fall into the trap of not knowing what we do not know. How you respond to a given situation can be the difference between a success story and a dissatisfied customer or a lost job. If you have learned from your mistakes and built an experienced team, how do you show customers that your operators are knowledgeable enough to overcome any challenge? The answer is to train. Over the years, training has provided many of my operators with the knowledge they need to do their job well, completing jobs safely and efficiently. I do not think I could quantify how much money has been
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saved through the efficient use of diamond tools, the correct use of equipment and safe practices employed by my trained operators. In addition, some of my experienced operators have achieved industry certification that proves their proficiency to customers, contributing to successful job bids. More importantly, training has helped better prepare them for the unexpected while on the jobsite. Utilizing CSDA training also insures against blind spots in your own in-house training, often developed by senior operators based on their common practices. CSDA training teaches operators best practices that have been developed by the industry and continue to be improved upon with input from leading companies. CSDA has been training sawing and drilling operators of all skill levels for almost 20 years, and my business has benefitted from the training and certification classes offered. The opportunity for operators to learn from industry veterans who have been there, done that and got the t-shirt, is a real advantage. There are classes suitable for any level, whether you are venturing out on your first job or you have operators who have been cutting concrete for years. I encourage you to look at training as an investment and as a way to prepare you and your operators for that unplanned modification to the job specifications, that sudden change in aggregate hardness or that unexpected tool break. None of us can control everything that happens on a jobsite. What we can do, is equip ourselves with the necessary tools to prepare us for when things do not go exactly as planned. It starts with training.
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t h e o ff i c i a l m a g a z i n e o f t h e c o n c r e t e s aw i n g & d r i l l i n g a s s o c i at i o n
CSDA OFFICERS
concrete cases
President, Jim Dvoratchek Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Inc. jimd@hardrockconcretecutters.com Vice President, Judith O’Day Terra Diamond Industrial joday@terradiamond.com
Drill One for the Gipper!
Secretary/Treasurer, Mike Orzechowski DITEQ Corporation mikeo@diteq.com Past President, Doug Walker Atlantic Concrete Cutting, Inc. dwalker@atlanticconcretecutting.com Executive Director, Patrick O’Brien Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association pat@csda.org CSDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Terms expiring in 2013)
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Roger Allen Diamond Tools Technology roger@diamondtoolstechnology.com Ty Conner Austin Enterprise tconner@austin-enterprise.com Mike Greene Greene’s, Inc. mikeg@greenesinc.com Larry Liddle Diamond Products Limited lliddle@diamondproducts.com Kellie Vazquez Holes Incorporated kvazquez@holesinc.com
Tunnel Vision
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Kevin Baron Western Saw, Inc. kevinb@westernsaw.com Tim Beckman Cutting Edge Services Corporation beckman@cuttingedgeservices.com
Innovative Design Takes Contractor Through the Mountains
Darwin RAAF Base
Kevin Warnecke ICS, Blount Inc. kwarnecke@icsbestway.com CSDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Terms expiring in 2014)
Concrete Cutter Takes to the Field at Notre Dame Stadium
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Diamond Tools Get CSDA Member Off to a Flying Start
Paul DeAndrea DeAndrea Coring & Sawing, Inc. paul@deandreacoring.com Steve Garrison Hilti, Inc. steve.garrison@hilti.com Donna Harris Concrete Renovation, Inc. donna.cri@sbcglobal.net Ron Rapper Husqvarna Construction Products ron.rapper@husqvarna.com
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Job Well Done
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Concrete Well Cap Removed Using Diamond Tools
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Concrete Openings Magazine Official Magazine of the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association Volume 21, Number 3 ISSN: 1093-6483 Concrete Openings magazine is published by O’Brien International, Inc., four times each calendar year in March, June, September and December. Editorial contributions are welcomed and advertisements are encouraged. Please contact the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association 13577 Feather Sound Drive, Suite 560 Clearwater, FL 33762 Tel: 727-577-5004 Fax: 727-577-5012 www.csda.org Magazines, newspapers and private individuals are welcome to reproduce, in whole or part, articles published herein provided that acknowledgements are made in the following manner: “Reprinted courtesy of the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association, Concrete Openings magazine, Issue Date.” No alterations should be made in the text of any article.
c o n t e n t s 13 CSDA 2013 Convention Preview 20 The Business of Business
Operational Strategies for Improved Performance
28 Safety Counts
Haz Comm 2.0: OSHA Announces Final Hazard Communication Rule
30 Core Health
Identification and Management of Jobsite Seizures
34 Polished Performance 42 Tech Talk
Selecting the Right Blade for the Job
Publisher Patrick O’Brien ASSOCIATE Editor Russell Hitchen CONCRETE CASE Contributors
45 OSHA/CSDA Alliance Latest 46 Social Media Focus
Making Sense of Social Media
Geoff Day Jason Franken Matt Hephner Shriram Matte Editorial Review Committee Skip Aston Rod Newton Pat Stepanski The information and recommendations in this magazine are provided for use by fully qualified, professional personnel. The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association and the publisher disclaim any responsibility as to their use by readers and shall not be liable for damages arising out of the use of the foregoing information.
48 Industry Bits 56 Certification 57
Membership
60 Calendar 64 Director’s Dialogue
All bylined articles published in this magazine represent solely the individual opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association.
30 Cover Photo: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
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Concrete Cutter Takes to the Field at Notre Dame Stadium
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he Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represents the University of Notre Dame and is one of the most famous and most successful college football teams around. The team plays its home games at a custom-built, on-campus stadium located in South Bend, Indiana. The stadium has been home to the football team since 1930 and has undergone a series of expansions over the years to increase its capacity from 54,000 to almost 81,000. Notre Dame Stadium underwent its latest round of renovation work in February 2012. The work involved the removal and replacement of a concrete wall around the perimeter of the football field, but the job was not as simple as it first seemed. The wall was badly deteriorated and the stadium owners were concerned about the stands behind the wall giving way.
CONCRETE
CASES
A 10-inch-thick concrete wall around the playing field had to be removed.
Operators drilled 8-inch-diameter holes through the wall at a 35-degree angle.
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The tunnel floor was 4 feet below field level and the passageway was too narrow to set up our equipment, so we had to think of another way... —Geoff Day, project manager for Diamond Concrete Sawing
The 8-foot-tall, 10-inch-thick wall was connected to another wall running parallel via a conrete lid, forming a tunnel measuring just 36 inches wide and around 6 feet tall. The 8-inch-thick concrete lid of the tunnel was also to be replaced, but the other wall was to stay in place and remain in use. It was specified that this wall not be damaged during the work, so openings would have to be made in the wall for the insertion of stabalizing soil pins. Because the tunnel base was 4 feet below grade, just 2 feet of the first wall was visible from field level. With the walls of the tunnel being so close together, access was limited. A contractor was needed that could create the necessary soil pin openings in a tight space without damaging the wall that was to remain. The general contractor for the wall replacement, The Hagerman Group of Fort Wayne, Indiana, knew that traditional demolition methods would have required more room and would have likely compromised the structural integrity of the tunnel. A technique was required that would be lowimpact and produce low levels of vibration. The general contractor hired CSDA member Diamond Concrete Sawing of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to perform specialty core drilling techniques. “The tunnel floor was 4 feet below field level and the passageway was too narrow to set up our equipment, so we had to think of another way,” said Geoff Day, project manager for Diamond Concrete Sawing. “We came up with a plan to do angled core drilling through the exterior of the first wall at field level, which would then allow us to set up a long core bit through the hole and core the base of the second wall. This way, our equipment and operators could remain outside the tunnel while we cut.”
First, proposed locations for the soil pins were marked out by the general contractor. The pins were to be positioned at 6-foot intervals around the second wall inside the tunnel area. The team from Diamond Concrete Sawing calculated that operators would have to drill at a 35-degree angle through the first wall at field level to hit the correct point on the second wall. The cutting contractor chose to use 8-inch-diameter core bits to make core holes large enough for the soil pins to be inserted. A Hilti DD350 diamond coring system was set up at the first location. To drill through the 10-inch-thick concrete wall at a 35-degree angle, operators used a 28-inch-long core bit. It took just 25 minutes to core through the first wall, after which the bit was backed out of the hole and replaced with an 88-inch-long bit. This longer core bit was fed through the hole into the tunnel area and attached to the drill rig, positioning it to create an 8-inch-diameter hole in the second 10-inch-thick wall. This second hole took 35 minutes to cut, as operators used much longer bits that had to be controlled. The contractor used one other Hilti DD350 rig along with two DD500 coring systems, all fitted with core bits from Diamond Products and running off two generators. Operators worked in tandem to complete a set of four soil pin access holes in around two hours. The process was then repeated around the rest of the perimeter wall until the team had complete a lap of the football field. The contractor had operators working 8-hour shifts and completed the drilling work in two weeks. The next task was to cut through the tunnel lid. Diamond Concrete Sawing devised a plan to flush cut the lid where it met the second wall, allowing both the lid and the first wall to be removed at the same time and
There was a 36-inch gap between the two walls, which were connected by a concrete lid forming a tunnel.
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CONCRETE
CASES
Core bits measuring 88 inches long were fed through the first wall to reach the second. leave a smooth finish on the remaining wall. Operators set up a customized 7.5-horsepower wall saw on top of the tunnel and cut to specified start and end points for the general contractor, who then moved in to break out the sections. This work took around one week to complete. Core drilling with a bit measuring 88 inches long was not as straightforward as using a shorter bit. Operators did encounter some “chatter� as they began coring the second wall with the long bit, so a helper was sent into the tunnel to steady the bit with a custom jig and help the operator to get a bite with the drill. The helper was adequately trained and equipped with a safety harness and a tripod for egress. Air quality in the tunnel was monitored before and during the work. The cutting and coring work was completed on time, within budget and with a high level of safety throughout. Daily meetings were held to address any safety concerns and plan for the day’s work. All employees were supplied with the necessary personal protective equipment for the job and used several layers of clothing to combat the cold. Temperatures were between 15 and 20 degrees at night and all drills, hoses and pumps used on the job were carefully drained and cleaned out to avoid damage from freezing conditions. The contractor made 230 holes in the stadium wall, and flush cut 620 feet on the lid.
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It took three weeks of sawing and drilling to complete the work. Since the cutting work at the stadium progressed so well, The Hagerman Group offered more work for the cutting contractor to complete. This extra work included the creation of around 15 3-foot square openings in the tunnel lid, which provided access for the cutting contractor and utility contractors. Despite having more work to do, Diamond Concrete Sawing completed all work within the original agreed time frame of three weeks. In total, the contractor drilled 230 holes at a 35-degree angle using 8-inch-diameter core bits measuring 28 and 88 inches in length. In addition, operators performed around 620 feet of flush cutting with the wall saw as the team worked its way around the stadium. Operators also cut some square access point in the tunnel lid measuring 30 inches so that helpers could enter and set up the long core bits. “Our guys went about the work very professionally, as always, which gave the general contractor great confidence in our abilities. We were very satisfied with the outcome and the representatives from Hagerman were very pleased,” said Day. This CSDA member thought outside the box, or in this case the tunnel, to come up with a result. Sometimes, when the general contractors are up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks need fixing, ask a professional concrete cutter to go in there with all they’ve got and saw or drill one for the Gipper.
Company Profile Diamond Concrete Sawing has been in business for 38 years and has been a CSDA member since 1996. The company headquarters is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with support locations in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Gulfport, Mississippi. Diamond Concrete Sawing offers the services of flat sawing, core drilling, wall sawing, wire sawing, hand sawing, selective demolition, concrete pour back and ground penetrating radar scanning. The company has 22 employees and 22 trucks.
Resources General Contractor: The Hagerman Group Sawing and Drilling Contractor: Diamond Concrete Sawing Grand Rapids, Michigan Phone: 616-245-3100 Email: geoffd@diamondconcretesawing.com Website: www.diamondconcretesawing.com Methods Used: Core Drilling, Wall Sawing
REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.concreteopenings.com/FORUM.CFM
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CSDA 2013 Convention and Tech Fair Duck Key, Florida February 26–March 2
Pre-Convention Agenda
Call Now to Reserve Your Hotel Room
Tuesday, February 26 Wednesday, February 27
Tel: 800-432-2242
Committee Meetings CSDA Board Meeting and Fishing Tournament
Hotel Reservations
Convention Agenda
Room Rates
Thursday, February 28 Opening Session, Presentations and President’s Reception Friday, March 1 Roundtables, Tech Fair and Manufacturers’ Night Saturday, March 2 Presentations, Annual Business Meeting and Gala Dinner Sunday, March 3 Departures
Room Reservation Cut-off Date
Hotel
Hawks Cay Resort 61 Hawks Cay Boulevard Duck Key, FL 33050 Tel: 305-743-7000
$199/night (King or Queen), $249/night (Water View), $269/night (Lanai), $499/night (2 BR Villa) Group Code: CSDA Note: Rates are available three days prior and three days after the convention on a space-available basis.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Airline Info
All major airlines fly into Miami (MIA-60 miles away) and Key West (EYW-90 miles away). Rental car services are available at both airports.
Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association • 13577 Feather Sound Drive • Suite 560 • Clearwater, FL 33762 • Tel: 727-577-5004 www. c on c re te ope n in gs.com
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TunnelVision Innovative Design Takes Contractor Through the Mountains
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n the spring of 2012, a general contractor was given the
job of replacing the drainage systems in two arch tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The install required the diamond saw cutting of 1,200 feet of 11.5-inch-wide by 8-inch-deep channels in the concrete tunnel walls and the removal of the cut concrete. The cutting requirements were more demanding that first thought, so a specialty concractor was brought in to offer a solution. Dubbed “America’s favorite drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Construction began in 1935 and was completed in 1983. The road incorporates numerous campgrounds, picnic areas and trails as it winds its way across the two states. The two tunnels, Big Witch Tunnel and Ferrin Knob Tunnel, are located in North Carolina close to the town of of Cherokee and the city of Asheville respectively, where the Parkway runs through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Big Witch Tunnel is 353 feet long and 18.2 feet tall, while the Ferrin Knob Tunnel measures 604 feet in length and 19.3 feet tall. Both are 30 feet wide to accommodate two lanes of traffic and the concrete lining of the tunnel walls is 8 inches thick. Beyond that, the tunnel walls are solid rock. The general contractor, Alridge Brothers, Inc. of Robbinsville, North Carolina, had devised a plan to use hand sawing and chipping techniques to
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The contractor was tasked with creating 11.5-inch-wide, 8-inch-deep trenches around the tunnel wall.
CONCRETE
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...the cutting contractor came up with an affordable solution. This solution consisted of creating a custom-made attachment for the company’s Brokk demolition robot, which would allow the contractor to complete the cutting work around the tunnel walls without positioning operators at height.
A custom wall saw attachment was fabricated and fitted to a demolition robot. The arm of the demolition robot moved through a 160-degree rotation, cutting in 8-foot-long sections.
CONSTRUCTION
THE ALL NEW BROKK 100: FOR THOSE HARD TO REACH PLACES. With a vertical reach of over 14 feet, the all new one-ton class B100 demolition robot is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the best-selling B90. Yet the B100 boasts a whopping 35% more hitting power and still fits easily through a 3'Â 0" doorway. Confined space concrete cutting, crushing, grinding and breaking never looked so good. Brokk. Bring it on.
Brokk Inc | 800.621.7856 | 360.794.1277 www.brokk.com | info@brokkinc.com
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CONCRETE
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CASES
SHIBUYA CORE DRILL MACHINES Powerful, yet lightweight and maneuverable - - The Professionals’ Choice!
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www.DITEQ.com The trenches were to housel plastic channels capable of collecting and diverting ground water from behind the tunnel wall. make 11.5-inch-wide by 8-inch-deep trenches in the tunnel walls to install plastic channels. These channels would allow groundwater to escape from behind the concrete lining of the tunnel and prevent water from dripping onto the roadway and freezing during cold weather—a serious driving hazard. However, due to the discovery of large amounts of steel reinforcement in the concrete, and the subsequent increase in required resources to complete the work, the plan was no longer an affordable option. The search began for a concrete cutting contractor who had the right tools, equipment and operators to complete the job on time and within budget. When the general contractor approached CSDA member Cuts, Inc. of Knoxville, Tennessee, with this challenge, the cutting contractor came up with an affordable solution. This solution consisted of creating a custom-made attachment for the company’s Brokk demolition robot, which would allow the contractor to complete the cutting work around the tunnel walls without positioning operators at height. The utilization of a remote-control
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demolition robot with a long reach and range of movements gave the operators of Cuts, Inc. the chance to perform wall sawing techniques while keeping a safe distance from the cutting area—avoiding any falling debris. The concrete lining of the tunnel walls was made up of crushed granite with ½-inchdiameter reinforcing rebar. This rebar ran for the entire length of the proposed cuts, which meant that attempting other cutting or breaking methods would have been extremely difficult and may have damaged the structural integrity of the original stone tunnel walls behind the concrete. Diamond sawing achieved the level of precision required for the job, while avoiding damaging the existing structure. New plastic channels were to be inserted into the 11.5-inch-wide openings and temporarily held in place until grouting could be completed. Conventional demolition methods like jackammering would have caused some of these new channels to loosen or fall out. First, Cuts, Inc. engineered the custom attachment for the diesel-powered Brokk 330 demolition robot. A Husqvarna WS482 HF
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hi-cycle wall saw was fitted to the attachment with a 32-inch-diameter Diamond Products blade capable of making the specified 8-inch-deep cuts. The attachment was capable of rotating 360 degrees and the arm of the robot could move sideways to create parallel cuts. Movement of the attachment and wall saw was remote controlled. By fitting the wall saw to the Brokk attachment, the contractor now had a way of positioning the saw at a set distance from the tunnel wall through a 160-degree rotation to make the required cuts. The weight of the demolition robot and the stability provided by its feet was enough to safely hold the saw in place, so no extra support structures were needed. Following some field tests, the attachment was ready to be used in the road tunnels of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The cutting contractor set up at the west entrance of the Big Witch Tunnel When cutting was complete, a second robot moved in to break out the concrete in the cut area. first. Operators positioned the Brokk at the tunnel mouth and worked inwards, creating 18 trenches each measuring 57 feet long. An 8-foot-long cut tunnel provided some shelter from the weather conditions, but temperawas made 8 inches deep in the tunnel wall, before the demolition robot tures still dipped as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit during work hours. was moved laterally by 11.5 inches to make a second cut of the same Despite some delays, the job was completed on time and came in length. This process was repeated until the whole trench was cut, then a under budget. This was largly due to time and resource savings gained Brokk 180 moved in to break out the concrete within the 11.5-inch-wide, through the use of the custom wall saw attachment on the Brokk unit. 57-foot-long area around the tunnel. Broken pieces of concrete were Cutting contractors continue to come up with innovative ways to collected and removed from site for safe disposal. perform their work. When faced with the challenge of tunnel cutting, this Cuts, Inc. then traveled along the Parkway to Ferrin Knob Tunnel, CSDA member had a vision. The vision became a reality and enabled the where operators created three trenches to the same dimensions as those work to be performed quicker and safer than other methods. at Big Witch Tunnel. Lighting at each location was provided by lights from the demolition robots and portable light towers. Truck-mounted generators supplied the necessary 480-volt, 3-phase power for the robots and Company Profile wall saw. In total, the contractor used the wall saw to make 2,052 feet of Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Cuts, Inc. is a new CSDA cuts at Big Witch Tunnel and 342 feet of cuts at Ferrin Knob Tunnel. The member for 2012. The company has been in business for team worked eight-hour shifts for 24 days to complete the work. eight years and offers the services of flat sawing, core drilling, One concern for the contractor, was how well the custom attachment wall sawing, wire sawing, hand sawing, grinding and floor would work on the jobsite. In particular, operators wondered how the preparation, selective demolition and excavation. Cuts, Inc. attachment would respond to the cutting of rebar as a wall saw track was has 12 employees, six trucks and services Tennessee, North not anchored to the concrete. However, the field testing of the attachment Carolina and other states in the southeast of the U.S. paid off and operators witnessed no movement in the attachment or the Resources demolition machine during the work. The use of this custom attachment meant that contractor eliminated the need to set up a track-mounted wall General Contractor: saw at several positions, leading to an notable increase in productivity. Aldridge Brothers, Inc. Some innovative engineering overcame the challenge of cutting the Sawing and Drilling Contractor: concrete in the tunnel walls, but the team from Cuts, Inc. also had to Cuts, Inc. deal with the elements while they worked close to the peaks of the Great Knoxville, Tennessee Smoky Mountains. The job was done during the months of January and Phone: 865-922-0800 February 2012 and operators encountered freezing temperatures out on Email: matt@cutsinc.org the Parkway, which led to some road closures and delays to the work. The Website: www.cutsinc.org Methods Used: Wall Sawing, Selective Demolition REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.concreteopenings.com/FORUM.CFM
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The Business of Business
Operational Strategies for Improved Performance DA A nnua l M e e ting 2 0 1 2 By Martin Rack and SteveC SGarrison
Increased Productivity in the Logistics Activities of the Operation Areas such as communication, vehicle management, equipment staging and setup on the job can improve the efficiency of any operation before cutting equipment is even switched on. Many of the tools available today for instant communication and tracking have dramatically improved the efficiency of cutting operations. In addition, regular vehicle maintenance programs minimize downtime related to vehicle use. Having an efficient and effective method of getting cutting equipment to the jobsite from a vehicle is an area where considerable savings can be achieved. However, the most efficient jobsite transport equipment has to be made available to cutting operators for these savings to occur.
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What is the biggest cost driver? 100%
diamond & equipment
repair
80%
60%
40%
20%
service van
total revenue per service van $200,000
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his article focuses on the operational strategies of concrete cutting businesses that have, or can utilize new technologies to improve business performance. Recently, many professional cutting contractors have elected to expand the services they provide in order to maintain sales levels experienced in the mid-2000s. Some of these contractors have found that even during a time of recovery in construction activity, it is hard to land work and even harder to profit from it. In order to operate and grow profitably, both contractors and suppliers must find ways to improve the products and services that ultimately help retain existing customers and assist in developing relationships with new customers. There are several primary areas of potential sales growth and profit improvement within a concrete cutting business, and a company owner should consider all of them. This article will focus on four in particular: • Increased productivity in the logistics activities of the operation • Increased productivity of the cutting equipment, diamond blades and bits • Increased services opportunity before the cutting operation starts • Increased services opportunity after the cutting operation is complete
Technology. Productivity.
labor
back office other return on sales
0%
Productivity and Technology | Siegenthaler, Garrison & Goedickemeier | www.hilti.com
Fig. 1: Breakdown of costs incurred by a representative professional concrete cutting contractor.
Once cutting equipment is on site, having equipment with a quick and easy setup will increase productivity all the way through its life span. It is also important to research the equipment on offer and base a decision on reliability as well as productivity. Equipment downtime is a very expensive proposition. Some of the costs associated with equipment downtime are obvious, such as lost revenue on the job for a period of time, parts costs, repair labor costs and part inventory costs. Perhaps more costly, can be the effect of this downtime on the relationship with the customer. Lengthy downtime through equipment failure serves as an opportunity for a competitor to do work and impress the customer. This can also lead to operator frustration at not being able to do the job. Focusing on continuous improvement in this area can pay very nice dividends.
Increased Productivity of the Cutting Equipment, Diamond Blades and Bits With substantial improvements in cutting speeds achieved in the last 10 years, there can be limited opportunities for major productivity gains in this area. However, close attention to
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maximizing cutting speeds can enable cutting jobs to be completed quicker and with lower labor costs. The percentage of costs associated with purchasing diamonds is shrinking, so with direct and indirect labor costs rising rapidly increasing productivity of equipment is a good way to achieve some profitable gains. Small percentage gains in this area provide greater benefit than larger percentage gains in other areas of the business. Companies that achieve substantial gains in productivity can transfer those gains into margin, market share and often, both. Recent developments in hi-cycle technology applied to coring and wall sawing operations have been making an impact for many cutting contractors. Hi-cycle equipment is an investment that can offer big gains in productivity. Today’s new lighter equipment, equipment transports and innovative modular approaches combine to provide substantially quicker setup beyond just eliminating hydraulic hoses and troublesome connections. On some jobs, a two-person task can be converted into a one-person task with the right equipment. In addition, hi-cycle cutting rates often outperform
those of more traditional 110-volt equipment or hydraulic units. These rates can be as much as a 3:1 ratio due, in part, to the electronic controls that keep the saw or drill operating at optimum power levels to achieve the fastest cutting rates. For example, an overall increase in productivity of around 15%, based on an eight-hour workday, can provide a return on equipment costs in four to six months. Productivity is affected by the ability of the equipment to perform and its availability to perform. A piece of equipment that has the ability to make short work of a project, but is not available because it is on the repair bench is of little benefit. Most hi-cycle cutting equipment is designed with electronic protection to minimize the chance of equipment damage, and by incorporating regular preventative maintenance and service programs, downtime related to equipment failure on the job can be dramatically reduced.
Increased Opportunities Before the Cutting Operation Starts Another way that many concrete cutting companies have increased the revenue and profitability of their businesses, is to expand revenue generating activities performed within their current customer base. Many specialty cutting contractors also offer extra services like ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanning and detection prior to their initial cutting operations. Many of these cutting companies have set up separate businesses for conducting this work, but the synergies between the two companies are usually very clear. Several CSDA manufacturer members offer a wide range of GPR equipment that can be utilized in this rapidly growing market segment. The use of GPR and other detection technologies to locate targets in concrete before sawing or drilling is not exactly new. In fact, in some markets, it has been commonplace for a while. However, despite it being best practice to scan around an estimated 80% of concrete cutting jobs, many of them are not scanned. Therefore, contractors are missing out on extra work that could be of importance to the job.
Increased Opportunities After the Cutting Has Been Performed Contractors have opportunities to perform even more work with established customers, where there is a good working relationship and the contractor’s reputation is strong. Providing those customers a unique opportunity to have more work done in a “turn key� manner, with a company they already know and trust, can be profitable and efficient for both companies involved. Some additional
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business of business operations currently being performed by cutting contractors include: • the removal of concrete cut on the job • the collection, removal and disposal of the slurry generated in the cutting operation • light to medium demolition of concrete structures using handheld breakers, robotic breakers, drop hammers and heavy duty concrete breaking equipment • the installation of engineered anchoring solutions that include chemical anchoring • the installation of “drop in firestop” devices and/or hole coverings The last two items listed above are relatively new opportunities that have developed recently. Architects, engineers and owners who are concerned that the systems they specified are installed properly on their project will include requirements in their specifications like: “THE CONTRACTOR SHALL ARRANGE FOR AN ANCHOR MANUFACTURER’S REPRESENTATIVE TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ALL ANCHORING PRODUCTS SPECIFIED. THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER OF RECORD MUST RECEIVE DOCUMENTED CONFIRMATION THAT ALL OF THE CONTRACTOR’S PERSONNEL WHO INSTALL ANCHORS ARE TRAINED PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF INSTALLING ANCHORS” Anchors only achieve their desired result when used in the right application and when installed correctly. These, and other requirements, often mean that general contractors, owners and subcontractors may benefit from outsourcing this service. This professional anchor installation service is even more appealing if the workforce of the owner, general or subcontractor changes regularly. Ensuring a well trained workforce with proper documented training can be challenging. This, and the fact that you may already be sawing or drilling the holes, could make this revenue opportunity interesting. Another service opportunity that may become more prevalent due to ongoing jobsite safety enforcement, is hole covering (OSHA Standard 1926.501(b) (4)). CSDA recently adopted new language in its core drilling specification CSDA-C-101 based on the issue of core hole ownership. While the coring contractor may create the opening, they cannot reasonably be expected to insure that a cover remains in place until the opening is permanently sealed—this could be weeks or months down the line. A copy of the updated specification is available on www.csda.org. Contractors
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who wish to familiarize themselves with this issue, can start by reviewing the OSHA Standard 1926.501(b) (4)) and the related links. http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/ owadisp.show_document?p_ table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=24973 One solution to the issue of hole coverings, is for the contractor to provide the service of installing an approved firestop device in the cored hole after drilling. This value added combination product serves the purpose of covering the hole and fire-stopping it at the same time. This is ideal for openings where plastic pipe is the intended penetrant. There have been many new revenue generating activities developed over the past five to seven years. This has enabled specialty professional concrete cutting contractors to expand their businesses to greater serve their existing customer base, either before or after the cutting/coring operation. This article provides a summary of just some of the new opportunities available, and provides food for thought as to which opportunities may be applicable to an individual business. Additionally, the opportunity to increase productivity
in logistics activities, cutting equipment and diamond purchases still presents opportunities for savings. By strategically employing some or all of these suggestions, productivity gains can be achieved.
Martin Rack and Steve Garrison are employed by Hilti as sales managers for North America in the company’s diamond professional contractor division. Rack is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has been with Hilti for 28 years, while Garrison is based in Cypress, California and has been in the concrete cutting industry for almost 40 years. Rack continues to work with the CSDA Standards & Specifications Committee to produce technical documents, while Garrison is a CSDA Past President, current Board member and serves on several committees. Rack can be reached at martin.rack@hilti.com or 800-879-4000. Garrison can be reached at steve.garrison@hilti.com or 714-230-7410.
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Runway slab cutting at Darwin RAAF Base.
Diamond Tools Get Contractor Off to a Flying Start
A willingness to think beyond prescribed tender documents gave one CSDA member the advantage it needed to win a major job at an Australian military air base in January 2012. This cutting contractor was able to combine flexibility and innovation to create substantial time and cost savings for the job using diamond tools.
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T
he main project at the Darwin Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base was assigned to Macmahon Contractors Pty Ltd of West Perth, Australia, and involved removing an old fuel line and replacing it with a new one. The fuel line lay beneath a 600-millimeter-deep (23.6-inch) concrete apron used by Air Force fighter bombers during refuelling stops. CSDA member Super City Concrete Cutting of Ocean Grove, Victoria, Australia, was chosen to cut and remove the concrete apron of the runway so that the general contractor could replace the fuel line. “The existing fuel supply line was originally installed in 1964 and had come to the end of its serviceability,” said Jason Franken, manager of Super City Concrete Cutting. “As the fuel line needing replacement was under existing concrete aprons of the runway, we had to protect the integ-
C O N C R E T E rity of existing aprons by sawing and drilling, rather than jackhammering, which would have damaged the remaining curtain aprons.” Darwin RAAF Base is located in the city of Darwin and shares its runway with Darwin International Airport. The RAAF Base was established in 1940 and is home to the No. 13 Squadron. During World War II, the base hosted a large number of RAAF and U.S. Air Force units. It was an ideal location—a central point at one of the most northerly points in Australia—for Allied forces to launch missions to parts of Asia. The runway at the base, shared with the international airport, remains an important transport link for domestic travelers and international flights to southeast Asia. Tender documents originally identified a six-week program for Macmahon Contractors to complete the upgrade works. Super City differentiated its bid from the rest by contracting to do the specified work package in three weeks, utilizing diamond cutting techniques to cut the concrete and a drilling system that could create dowel bar holes and tie-in holes quickly. This provided the general contractor with the time frame necessary to remove and install the new fuel line within the six week schedule.
C A SES
The methods proposed by the cutting contractor would not only save time, resources and budget, but would minimize the amount of runway closures at the base. “We were selected because of our previous experience with airport projects and the large horsepower floor saws we use,” said Franken. “But what really won us the job was demonstrating our ability to diversify in terms of meeting project deadlines and introducing systems of work that showed we could meet those deadlines.” It was specified that anchor bar and dowel bar holes for the removal of cut sections would be diamond core drilled. However, due to the strict six-week schedule, the time required to complete this task would not have been achievable. The team from Super City was able to recommend an alternative drilling system that would meet the specified time frame. Super City Concrete Cutting ran a combination of five ride-on and walk-behind slab saws from Diamond Products. Operators began by making two parallel cuts measuring 740 meters long (2,427.8 feet) 900 millimeters apart (35.4 inches) across two areas of the refueling aprons, with the fuel line running underneath. The depth of cut in the concrete slab averaged 500 millimeters (19.7 inches). The contractor then used hydraulic bursting systems to break the cut area into 5-meter (16.4-
Slab saws were used to cut 500 millimeters deep (19.7 inches) through the concrete.
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Operators made two cuts 740 meters long (2,427 feet) to gain access to the fuel line running below the slab. foot) by 900-millimeter (35.4-inch) sections to make the removal process easier. Each of the 148 sections removed weighed approximately 7,000 kilograms (7 tons). The cutting work took a total of 11 days to complete. With the cutting work complete, the contractor began preparing the cut sections
The concrete cut had a tensile strength of 80 megapascals.
for removal as well as readying the remaining slab for the installation of new concrete upon replacement of the fuel line. A drilling machine created 3,800 holes measuring 45 millimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter and 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) deep. These holes were made for the installation of dowel bars and for the tie-in of
The contractor created 148 cut sections that weighed 7,000 kilograms (7 tons) each.
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replacement concrete to the remaining slab. This work was completed in 63 man hours over a duration of eight days. A significant challenge on this particular job, was the hardness of the aggregate being cut. The concrete had a tensile strength of 80 megapascals, which slowed cutting. Super City optimized cutting speed and blade life by listening to its experienced operators and taking on board the advice provided by the company’s knowledgeable suppliers. Operators used step cutting techniques and made 30-millimeter-deep (1.2-inch) passes for each run. Weather also played a factor, with the cutting team losing two days due to inclement weather—a traditional risk on any outdoor project for contractors. However, the main concern for the cutting contractor while working at the Darwin RAAF Base, was Foreign Object Debris (FOD) on the runway. This is a major issue for both military and civilian airlines, as any type of material or waste entering a jet engine during take-off or landing may contribute to the cause of engine failure. The cutting team had to make sure that any instances of FOD were kept to an absolute minimum, and the general contractor provided an industrial wet vacuum sweeper to collect slurry as it was created. If an incident of FOD had been attributed to the general contractor or sub-contractor, the guilty party would have been liable for repairs to the aircraft. To get work on the new fuel line at Darwin RAAF Base off to a flying start, Super City Concrete Cutting slab sawed approximately 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) at an average depth
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In total, 865,000 kilograms (865 tons) of concrete was removed during the work. of 500 millimeters (19.7 inches). The contractor also drilled 3,800 holes 45 millimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter to a depth of 250 millimeters (9.8 inches). In addition, the general contractor for the project removed 865,000 kilograms (865 tons) of concrete. The job was a success for the cutting contractor and Franken’s estimations about the time required were correct. “It’s always difficult to place a definitive time line on projects such as this. Time allowances are generally based on previous works that are similar in nature, and you work out procedures to maintain a certain type of program. So for this
job, we provided a program duration of three weeks to complete the sawing, bursting and anchor bar drilling for the project. We knew it was a bold move, but we knew we could do it.” Both the client and Macmahon Contractors were delighted with the successful outcome of the project. This CSDA member had a good combination of innovation, experience and resources to manage the project, and had the right tools and equipment to deliver the contracted work as required. The new fuel line is now in place and aircraft traveling in and out of the base can refuel and be ready for take off.
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Company Profile Super City Concrete Cutting has been a CSDA member since 1999 and is also a member of the Australian association. Based in Ocean Grove, Victoria, the company has been in business for 19 years and has a branch location in Darwin, Northern Territory. Super City offers the concrete cutting services of flat sawing, core drilling, wall sawing, wire sawing and hand sawing. The company has 20 employees and 20 trucks.
Session Locations: Olathe, KS Clearwater, FL
Resources General Contractor: Macmahon Contractors Pty Ltd Sawing and Drilling Contractor: Super City Concrete Cutting Ocean Grove, Australia Phone: 03 5248 8009 Email: supercity@bigpond.com Website: www.supercity.com.au Methods Used: Slab Sawing, Core Drilling
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Safety CountS
Haz Comm 2.0: OSHA Announces Final Hazard Communication Rule By Mark A. Lies II and Elizabeth Leifel Ash
A
fter many years of discussion and comment, OSHA has issued an 800+ page “Final Rule” revising the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 C.F.R. 1910.1200. The primary purpose of the revised rule is to improve employees’ understanding of health and physical hazards associated with chemical substances and to align requirements for communicating those standards with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Sawing and drilling contractors handling slurry, waste materials and chemicals should be aware of the requirements set and adhere to them. The Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on March 26, 2012 and is effective 60 days following publication—meaning this rule is now in effect. The rule contains milestones that will require employers to be fully compliant with all of the new requirements by 2016 (see table 1). The Final Rule also contains revisions to other OSHA standards, including chemicalspecific requirements such as those related to formaldehyde (1910.1048), asbestos (1910.1001, 1915.1001, and 1926.1101), benzene (1910.1028), hazardous waste operations and emergency response (1910.120,
1926.65) and process safety management (1910.119, 1926.64) to be consistent with the revised Hazard Communication Standard. Discussion Perhaps the most significant changes in the Final Rule relate to labeling of hazardous chemicals and the development of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (previously referred to as Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS). The Final Rule includes mandatory appendices related to labels on containers (Appendix C) and SDS (Appendix D), each of which contain very specific requirements that previously did not exist under Section 1910.1200. Chemical manufacturers are required to label containers of hazardous chemicals with the following information: 1 Product identifier 2 Signal word 3 Hazard statement(s) 4 Pictogram(s), precautionary statement(s) and 5 Name, address and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsible party The previous Hazard Communication Standard required only “appropriate hazard
Table 1
Effective Completion Date
Requirement(s)
Who
December 1, 2013
Train employees on the new label elements and SDS format.
Employers
Comply with all modified provisions of this final rule, except: Distributors may ship products labeled by manufacturers under the old system until December 1, 2015.
Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers
June 1, 2016
Update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.
Employers
Transition period
Comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final standard), or the current standard, or both.
All chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers
June 1, 2015 December 1, 2015
(U.S. Department of Labor, located at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/HCSFactsheet.html)
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FIRE hazard health hazard
instability
specific hazard
A typical hazard communication label
warnings.” Under the Final Rule, Appendix C gives very specific instructions as to the required verbiage and pictograms depending on the classification of the chemical hazard(s). Similarly, the Final Rule includes far more specific requirements for the SDS than the previous Hazard Communication Standard included with respect of MSDS. For example, the Final Rule requires information to be communicated on the SDS in a specific order, whereas the previous Hazard Communication Standard specified only the information that must be included on the MSDS without specifying an order or format. Mandatory Appendix D provides additional detail as to the required format and information for SDS. Enforcement Rules As most employers are or should be aware, the Hazard Communication Standard is one of the most frequently cited standards by OSHA. In addition, OSHA estimates that over 5 million workplaces in the United States would be affected by the revised Hazard Communication Standard. The previous Hazard Communication Standard was largely considered to be a “performance-oriented” standard, which contained general requirements and allowed employers the flexibility to determine the best way to comply with those general requirements. For example, under the previous standard, MSDS did not have to be in a particular format. Rather, the standard specified the
The Hazard Communication Standard affects all or nearly all employers, from chemical manufacturers to retailers to hotels whose employees work with cleaning agents. Employers must be aware of their obligations to communicate hazards of chemical substances or other hazardous materials. They must also have a process for updating existing labels, SDS, hazard assessments and training programs to comply with the new Hazard Communication Standard. To that end, it is recommended: • Employers should evaluate the workplace to identify hazardous chemicals or other hazardous materials to which employees may be exposed. • Chemical manufacturers and importers should develop a process for updating their chemical hazard analyses, labels and SDS. • Employers whose employees work with or around hazardous chemicals or other hazardous materials must ensure that they obtain updated SDS from the chemical manufacturer. • Employers should ensure that employees who work with or around hazardous chemicals are trained to recognize the pictograms and hazard warnings that will be required under the new Hazard Communication Standard. Employers should document this training and develop mechanisms to ensure that employees understand the hazards of working with or around hazardous chemicals.
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information required and then the chemical manufacturer or importer could develop MSDS in any particular format. Similarly, the previous standard contained general requirements for chemical labels, and left the precise methods of implementation to the employer’s discretion. The revised Hazard Communication Standard contains a great deal more specificity as to the particular format required both for the SDS and for chemical labels. As a consequence, employers who once argued that they had met the intent of the standard when defending against an OSHA citation will have fewer opportunities to assert such an argument. OSHA now has license to hold employers to the very specific requirements found in the new rule, and employers who violate those specific requirements would likely receive a citation. Thus, employers must be diligent in ensuring that they understand the new requirements for hazard classification and are positioned to comply with the new specific requirements in advance of the milestones outlined above.
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1/13/11 2:07 PM
Mark A. Lies II is a labor and employment law
Elizabeth Liefel Ash is an associate with Seyfarth
attorney and partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP in
Shaw. Her practice focuses on regulatory
Chicago, Illinois. He specializes in occupational
compliance and litigation, including occupational
safety and health law and related employment
safety and health and environmental matters.
law and personal injury litigation. In addition,
She can be reached at 312-460-5845 or at eash@
Seyfarth Shaw has assisted CSDA members by
seyfarth.com.
holding presentations and moderating roundtable discussions at annual conventions. He can be reached at 312-460-5877 or at mlies@seyfarth.com.
c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 2 9
CORE HEALTH
Identification and Management of Jobsite Seizures By Erin O’Brien
W
hile not common, a worker experiencing a seizure on the jobsite can pose a serious medical emergency to themselves or possibly others. It is important for co-workers to know how to identify a seizure and take proper steps to care for the person experiencing the seizure. This column will briefly discuss the medical definition of a seizure as well as the signs, symptoms and management of one. A seizure is defined as “a recurrent paroxysmal disorder of cerebral function characterized by sudden, brief attacks of altered consciousness, motor activity, sensory phenomena or inappropriate behavior caused by an abnormal excessive discharge of cerebral neurons.” In layman’s terms, a seizure is a neurological disorder where symptoms come on suddenly; the person does not have control over their movement, speech or behavior and often may lose consciousness. If the seizures occur on a regular basis or in some sort of pattern, the disorder is called epilepsy. Epilepsy is not a disease, but a symptom that can be caused by a large number of underlying disorders. The cause of the seizure varies from person to person. Most epileptic seizures are caused by a genetic predisposition, a low tolerance to having seizures or altered brain metabolism. Non-epileptic seizures can have many causes including: • Dehydration • Sleep deprivation • Head injury • Drug intoxication, especially from aminophylline or other anesthetics • Drug withdrawal (anticonvulsants, antidepressants or sedatives, such as alcohol, barbiturates and benzodiazepines) • Infections (encephalitis or meningitis) • Fever • Brain tumors • Parasitic infections (malaria) • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Seizures range in duration from a few seconds to several minutes. They can be mild, where the person may seem “out of it” for a few seconds, to severe where the person loses
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consciousness and experiences uncontrolled muscle contractions. A seizure can also be as subtle as a fleeting numbness over a part of the body, a brief or long-term loss of memory, visual changes or a sensation of fear and a total state of confusion. Some people are able to tell when a seizure is about to happen. Symptoms experienced by people who can predict a seizure coming on include: • Dizziness • Lightheadedness • Tightening of the chest • Experiencing events in slow motion There are approximately 1 million epileptics in the United States, with several thousands more suffering a one-time seizure every day. If one of your co-workers is a known epileptic, learn the signs and symptoms of a seizure so that you are able to identify when they are suffering from a seizure. If your co-worker is not a known epileptic, remember that a number of other conditions can cause a seizure. If you believe your co-worker is suffering from a seizure, take the following steps to ensure their safety and the safety of others: • Be emotionally composed • If possible, cushion your co-worker’s fall • Keep the person away from injuryproducing objects • Loosen restrictive clothing • Allow the person to awaken normally after the seizure, if consciousness was lost • Do not restrain the person during the seizure
A co-worker who is having a seizure may cry out, lose consciousness and fall to the ground, may appear confused or dazed and will not be able to respond to questions or direction. This person may also have violent convulsions, as the involuntary muscle contractions take place. Other times, your co-worker may not have any symptoms, but you may notice him or her blinking rapidly and be extremely confused for a few seconds and even lasting into hours. Following a seizure, your co-worker will often be very tired and confused. If the worker has a known history of seizures, no medical care is needed unless the worker was injured during the seizure. If it was the first known seizure, the worker should be taken to the hospital to investigate the underlying cause. A return to work that day is only recommended once the person feels they have returned to their normal state of consciousness. If in doubt, it is best to wait until the next day, or after they have been cleared for work by a physician. This is especially important for sawing and drilling operators working with machinery that may cause harm if not operated properly.
Erin O’Brien, MS, ATC is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Marketing Coordinator for O’Brien International, the association management company that manages the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association. O’Brien received her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Ohio University and her Master of Science degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida. She is a regular contributor to Concrete Openings magazine. She can be reached at erin@csda.org or 727-577-5002.
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Polished Performance
By Andy Bowman
S
ince the late 1990s, the growth of the polished concrete industry has accelerated rapidly, even through some trying economic times. Today, it is nearly impossible for any contractor in the commercial building trades not to acknowledge the advantages of this alternative system when comparing it to traditional commercial floor coverings. As a result, facility management professionals are beginning to understand the cost-effectiveness, turn-around time and reduced maintenance costs of polished concrete when they are considering a new floor system.
A growing number concrete sawing and drilling contractors are also adding polishing to their range of services with positive results. Like many applications, it is important to consider what value concrete polishing and floor preparation work will add to a business and what are the important things to think about when adding this service.
What are the reasons behind this growth?
When you consider the return on investment and include a minimal, regular maintenance program cost, you will find that dollar-for-dollar, polished concrete virtually stands alone at the top of every low-costinstalled commercial flooring category. In addition, there are many aesthetically appealing design options available. With these factors in mind, it is no wonder that the polished concrete industry is thriving. Many chemical manufacturers have added colored dyes and stains to their
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product offerings along with customized training programs that teach contractors how to successfully complete complex “color-and-design” projects. The diverse range of colors, extraordinary gloss levels achieved through polishing and ease of maintenance will continue to make polished concrete a flooring system on the rise. It also has the added benefit of being generally recognized as a sustainable flooring system.
What are the first steps you should take to assess your interest in the polished concrete business?
This is a very important question, and is one that has been discussed many times among existing polishing contractors. As is the case for almost every business on the planet, managing customer expectations is a top priority. Many polishing contractors will openly admit that they lost money on their first two or three jobs. Things like determining job site conditions, concrete hardness, appropriate tooling, floor preparation, edge work, joint reconditioning or clean-out-and-fill joints are just some of the challenges that make those first few projects an educational process. Smaller, openspace projects will offer a contractor the highest level of success before they move on to larger, more complex projects. To put that another way: crawl before you walk. In addition, make sure you educate yourself on all aspects of polished concrete—attend seminars, trade shows and industry events—to absorb as much knowledge and expertise as you can before embarking on your new venture.
Several polishing machines on the market today are designed to be universal by application; providing functions such as coatings removal (bump grinding), profiling and surface preparation through polishing. Contractors who use these machines say that they do an excellent job at all stages of operation. However, some machines are designed specifically to focus on one part of the operation and there can be advantages to using this equipment instead of an all-in-one machine. Equipment designed purely for polishing can do more square feet in a day than the universal machines, but an all-in-one machine still produces good quality polishing and may make financial sense for a new business. This is a good example of one of the many decisions you will have to make before starting up. Contractors that have a polishing machine will also have a specific machine for grinding as well. In this regard, you can use the more productive machine for each particular application, whether it be the removal of coatings or just plain polishing.
What assistance can you expect from equipment suppliers?
What amount of initial investment will you require for polishing equipment?
If you make the decision to purchase several pieces of essential equipment to launch a polishing business, you are generally looking at a minimum of $50,000 of initial investment. That investment may include, but is not limited to, a heavy duty planetary grinder, edge grinder, HEPA vacuum and enough tooling to execute test runs and provide you with the confidence to operate the equipment at a competent level. Familiarization with the equipment is a very good plan to have in place when you decide to make a purchase. Polishing a portion of your own warehouse or home is a perfect location to practice and perfect your technique. Proper technique is something that is acquired over time through many days, weeks and months of practice, so it is important for you to get in tune with your machine and develop these new skills.
How do you determine the best equipment available today, and if it is the right fit for your business?
In today’s market, you will see tools and equipment with added features and benefits that were not available to contractors just a few short years ago. If you have attended trade shows like World of Concrete recently and spoke with other contractors, you may have found that one of the biggest issues contractors have had with polishing equipment is durability. For the most part, equipment manufacturers have listened to these concerns and made a number of improvements. Keep in mind that machines are designed and built to satisfy a specific need.
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The scenario is a familiar one; you have successfully plugged in and powered up your new polishing equipment and your sales representative from the supplier is a new entry on your speed dial. You have called him after each grit pass during your test runs and explained to him, the best way you know how, the scratch pattern. After a long day of changing tools on your machine and spraying some kind of clear water-like material (densifier) on the concrete slab, you have amazed yourself as you can see the beginnings of what looks to be a reflection on the floor. Upon closer examination, you see areas where you may have been going too fast and you have not removed all of the scratches. In other areas, it looks wonderful with no scratches at all. You now consider what you were doing to produce such perfection and you have established the steps necessary to replicate the best results for your very first project, which may be days, or hours, away. You finally get to your much-anticipated first polishing project, get the machine plugged in and everything seems to be running smoothly. Then you discover that the concrete on the job site is much softer than the floor you practiced on. Initially, you are not concerned because the densifier that you purchased for the project claims that it can harden the softest of all concrete surfaces. During the grinding process, you are frequently going through diamonds and the customer keeps reminding you about that granite counter top finish you claimed you could produce. Unfortunately, many first time polishing projects have similar beginnings and endings. All of your intentions were sincere, but the end result was entirely opposite. The customer ended up with a horrible taste in their mouth about polished concrete in general, and you still owe $50,000 for the new equipment you have purchased. If you have any concerns or questions about the equipment, do not hesitate to contact your sales representative or other knowledgeable person at the supplier. This is their field of expertise and they are often more than willing to share information and provide helpful tips. Your successful completion of polishing jobs also reflects well on the manufacturer and the equipment they have built.
How can you make sure a project is being done correctly?
Managing the customers’ expectations, and ultimate satisfaction, has always been the most important goal in any business. The customer has the check book and they typically do not pay until they are satisfied. Educate yourself in customer expectation and carry a handbook on the necessary steps to follow to keep clients happy. This is vital in today’s world, where a bad customer experience can quickly be posted to the Internet and affect your reputation and future business prospects. The commonality that all polishing projects share are complex
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variables; such as concrete hardness, qualifying the project for the appropriate machine, the selection of diamonds and the type of densifier or hardener best suited for the project. In some cases, you may be working to customer specifications that do not match the working conditions of the facility. The next project will most certainly have a differing level of concrete hardness, which can significantly alter the approach to the other items mentioned. There is no finite set-up that covers all polishing jobs. Like concrete sawing and drilling projects, there are many elements to consider. Over time, you will learn how to “read” a job and select the correct tools, equipment and technique and make it a success.
How should you establish working guidelines for each project? It is always best practice to offer the customer a test sample, or a free demonstration if the project warrants it. This allows both the customer and contractor to examine the test specimen, or finished product if it is a free demo, and establish a baseline for the job. It is essential to have the customer sign a copy of the estimate to say they have inspected and approved the test polish sample. This approach will become a powerful management tool that can and will eliminate potential finger pointing during, or at the end of, a project.
What are the various chemical materials in the market today?
The chemistry used for hardening and densifying concrete is evolving rapidly. Major chemical manufacturers continue to improve upon their formulas to make products more reactive and more user friendly. Offering contractors products that reduce or possibly eliminate some of the variable elements of problematic slab conditions, like densifiers or hardeners to soften or harden aggregate, is the new trend. In spite of spiraling growth within the industry, the level of competition in the market place is driving new advanced engineered chemistry and polished systems that continue to make it an affordable option for contractors that want to add to their range of services. Education and training programs are a great way to give your polishing business an advantage over the rest. Continuing education on the latest products, together with a good mix of polishing fundamentals, is a fantastic approach to grow your business in the polishing industry. Organizations like the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association (CSDA) have scheduled a concrete polishing course for 2013, and participation
Polish Your Skills at CSDA’s Concrete Polishing Class February 6-7, 2013 World of Concrete Las Vegas, Nevada. CSDA is pleased to announce that the association’s first Concrete Polishing Class will be held at World of Concrete 2013 This class will provide an introduction of the concrete polishing industry and fundamentals of concrete; diamond tool technology, diamond selection process; practical applications and maintaining polished surfaces. It gives a summary of the various types of concrete grinders, hand polishers, vacuum systems, burnishers and auto scrubbers on the market. The class also includes instruction on the applications and components associated with this type of equipment, like diamond selection, abrasive pad selection and how diamonds work with each type of grinder. Classroom and hands-on training is provided regarding the set up, operation and troubleshooting of polishing equipment, while discussion will focus on the differences between wet and dry concrete polishing. All this, plus time will be taken to cover the estimating and bidding process for concrete polishing jobs. The class has a maximum limit of 25 students and costs $785 per student. For more information, call 727-577-5004 or visit www.csda.org to download the CSDA 2012-2013 training brochure. Begin your registration process today and polish your skills!
is encouraged. As with other CSDA training and certification classes, instruction will be provided by industry professionals with real-world experience. Understanding the potential growth opportunities associated with polishing concrete, developing a solid business plan and, finally, educating yourself on sound polishing techniques will create a recipe for success. This part of the industry continues to grow at a fast pace, and there is lots of potential work out there if you decide to add polishing to your service offerings. Andy Bowman is the owner of GMI Engineered Products based in Bluffton, Ohio. He has 12 years experience of concrete polishing and has been working with the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association to establish structured training in polishing techniques for cutting contractors. Bowman recently presented to the CSDA Board of Directors during the CSDA Summer Meetings in Atlanta, Georgia. He can be reached at 419-408-5906 or by email at andy_bowman@gmi-floors.com.
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The concrete well cap measured 480 cubic meters (16,951 cubic feet).
Job Well Done
Concrete Well Cap Removed Using Diamond Tools
A 17½-horsepower hydraulic chain saw was used to make the cuts. 3 8 | s e pte mbe r.12
C O N C R E T E
C A SES
Matte & Associates planned to cut the well cap into 37 sections for removal.
Following the collapse of a bridge while under construction, a large concrete well cap measuring 480 cubic meters (16,951 cubic feet) was to be demolished and removed. However, two 4.5-meter-diameter (14.8 feet) well foundations below the cap remained undamaged and were to be reused in the reconstruction of the bridge, so the general contractor had to look beyond traditional demolition methods.
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ebuilding of the 1.5-kilometer (4,921.3-foot) Kota Bridge in western India is scheduled for completion in November 2012, five years after work originally commenced. The bridge is being built to allow road traffic to cross the Chambal River near the town of Kota. On December 24, 2009, the cable-stayed bridge collapsed during construction. The project was placed on hold while an investigation into the cause of the collapse took place, and a number of changes in design were implemented. Most of the collapsed bridge sections were broken up on the ground where they had landed using jackhammers and wrecking balls, but the well cap had to be handled with greater precision and care in order to be reused. The structural integrity of two 4.5-meter-diameter (14.8 feet) well foundations below the cap were to remain intact, so any demolition method used had to feature minimal vibration.
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CSDA member Matte & Associates of Mumbai, India, was contracted by the joint bridge-building team of Hyundai Engineering and Gammon India to work on the well cap in December 2011. The job was scheduled for completion in 45 days. Matte planned to cut the concrete structure into several small pieces using diamond wire sawing techniques, so that the cut sections could be removed by crane. “There was only one real way to meet the customer’s requirements, and that was wire sawing,” says Shriram Matte, company owner. “We could use the wire saw to remove the large pieces of reinforced concrete very quickly. This method offered reduced down time compared with other demolition methods suggested.” The well cap measured 16 meters long (52.5 feet), 7.5 meters wide (24.6 feet) and tapered in height from 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) on the longest sides to 5 meters (16.4 feet) at the center. The cutting contractor planned to divide the cap into 37 separate pieces weighing between 15 and 40
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Wire sawing techniques were used to create precise cuts through the structure. tons. The terrain surrounding the well cap was extremely uneven as a result of other demolition works, making it difficult to transport equipment and position cranes on the jobsite. However, Matte & Associates succeeded in setting up the wire saw and work commenced. First, operators used hydraulic core drills from Hilti to create 250-millimeter-diameter
(9.8-inch) holes in the concrete structure. These holes were used to insert plunge columns for dividing the cap into segments. Wherever possible, the contractor also created horizontal holes measuring 52 millimeters (2 inches) in diameter and 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) deep. This was done to intersect the vertical core holes and create runs for the diamond wire. Opera-
tors then set up the pulleys for the wire runs and began cutting two wedge-shaped pieces from the top of the cap, taking six hours to cut each one. Anchors were attached to the cut pieces so that they could be attached to crane rigging for removal from the work area. The cutting and removal process was then repeated for the other 35 sections. Six more wedge-shaped pieces were removed from the tapered edges of the well cap first, leaving 29 remaining sections that were cuboid in shape. The maximum size of a single cut on the job was 75 square meters (807.3 square feet), which was done simultaneously with a second wire saw cut on the vertical side. The cutting team then affixed 25-millimeter-diameter (1-inch) reinforcement bar hooks by chemical grout so that the cut pieces could be lifted by a 200-ton crane. The cutting and removal of the 37 concrete well cap sections left just two pieces in place, which were 4.5-meter (14.8-foot) square sections covering the well foundations. Both pieces were removed using breakers and excavators. In total, Matte & Associates cut 486 square meters (5,231.3 square feet) of reinforced concrete. The contractor also core
Parts of the damaged well cap were removed until just two remaining pieces were left to cove the well foundations.
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Cut sections, each weighing between 15 and 40 tons, were removed by crane.
drilled 31 meters (101.7 feet) of the structure at a diameter of 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) and created 50-millimeter-diameter (2-inch) holes that totaled 121 meters (397 feet). The total volume of concrete cut and removed from site was 480 cubic meters (16,951 cubic feet). The advantage provided by this particular job, was that the work area was already a construction zone so there were no safety concerns about surrounding buildings, structures or members of the public. Operators were provided with personal protective equipment and the contractor was pleased to report there were no accidents or near misses during the work. Matte & Associates used six wire saws from Tyrolit, including four SK-SD models, one WCH-14 and one SB model. The diamond wire used was 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) in diameter and was 270 meters (885.8 feet) long, supplied by Tyrolit and Diamond Pauber. For the plunge sawing, the contractor used a Tyrolit plunge column and all core drilling was done using a DD-200 core drill from Hilti.
The job was completed in 37 days as specified by the customer and was completed within budget. The customer was impressed with the contractor’s speed and execution, and awarded two additional jobs based on the success of the well cap removal project. “This was a very unusual job for us. It was a challenge to plan and complete the cutting of this large piece of concrete, but the use of our plunge wire saw system helped a lot. We were satisfied with our work and the customer was happy with our efforts also,” Matte concluded. Concrete cutting with diamond tools continues to offer architects, engineers and general contractors a faster, cleaner and more efficient alternative to traditional demolition methods. The cap removal at the Kota Bridge is another example of a job well done!
Matte & Associates has been a CSDA member for three years. The company is based in Mumbai, India with a branch location in Nagpur, and has been in business since 2005. The contractor offers the services of flat sawing, core drilling, wall sawing, wire sawing, selective demolition and excavation. Matte & Associates has 20 full-time operators.
Resources General Contractor: Hyundai Engineering and Gammon India Sawing and Drilling Contractor: Matte & Associates Mumbai, India Phone: 91-222 445 9682 Email: rammatte@gmail.com Website: www.mattedemolitions.com
REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.concreteopenings.com/FORUM.CFM
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Company Profile
Methods Used: Wall Sawing, Selective Demolition
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Tech Talk Tech Talk is a regular feature of Concrete Openings magazine, focusing on equipment, maintenance and technical issues of interest to concrete cutting contractors. Readers wishing to have a particular subject addressed can call or email CSDA with their suggestions at 727-577-5004 or rhitchen@concreteopenings.com.
Selecting the Right Blade for the Job By Martin Rack and Steve Garrison
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uring the course of the last several years, many questions have been posed on the subject of selecting the most cost effective blade width and diameter for cutting operations. There certainly are a wide range of blade widths being used by cutting contractors on service work and project specific work. In addition, there are differing practices and opinions about the starting blade diameters used in various parts of the country as well as the range of diameters best suited for step cutting. This article will attempt to provide reasoning and logic to the most common practices being used today for blade selection, by providing answers to several specific questions posed by professional concrete cutters. Q: It seems to me, that the thinner the blade the faster the cutting will be, since the blade will be removing less material in making the cut. Isn’t this the most productive way to cut, and the most economical, since the thinner blades cost less to purchase? A: 25 years ago, the price of diamonds and the resulting price of the diamond blade was much higher. A thinner blade cost much less back then. Today, the cost difference between widths is minimal. Another factor today is that the horsepower and weight of the saw being used is substantially higher. An 18-inch-diameter by 0.125-inch-wide blade will utilize a 0.095- to 0.105-inch-wide core, depending on the blade manufacturer. Utilizing a 0.140-inch blade or even a 0.155-inch blade will provide a substantially thicker, stiffer and more stable core. The core used on an 18-inchdiameter by 0.155-inch blade will be approximately 25% thicker than the core used on an 18-inch by 0.125-inch blade. Since the thinner cores tend to flex more when being lowered into the cut and when being pushed by the saw propulsion system, the blade life on the thinner blade can be substantially lower. The resulting cut may not be much narrower than the cut made by the 0.155-inch blade. One other benefit of using a blade of this thickness as a starter blade, is that if you later determine that the depth of concrete is better suited to a larger
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diameter, wider blade, you have already precut with a sufficiently wide starter blade. The same reasoning is true for larger diameter blades. It is generally better to cut with 36-inch by 0.187inch blades than 36-inch by 0.170-inch blades, since the core will likely be thicker and more stable in the cut. Q: Most of the cured and asphalt sawing that I perform is to a depth of 7 inches or less. What is the most cost effective blade diameter and width I should be using? A: Since a 20-inch-diameter blade will cut to a depth of 7 inches or more on almost all service saws, many cutters tend to start cutting with a blade this size—even in the toughest aggregate in the country. Some cutters start with 18-inch-diameter blades and some jump to 24 inches or 26 inches for making initial cuts. Most cutters that start cutting with 26-inchdiameter blades are cutting in soft, favorable aggregates. Since the weight of the saw is not well positioned over the blade when a 26-inchdiameter blade is making the initial cut, the available horsepower cannot be fully utilized. This can affect productivity on larger jobs if the contractor encounters concrete with a tougher aggregate or concrete with a higher than expected amount of steel bar. Most cutters use service blades that are 0.155 inches or even 0.170 inches in width, depending on the horsepower and weight of the saw. Q: It used to be that cutters would “step cut” starting with a 14-inch-diameter blade, then move to a 20-inch, a 26-inch and finally a 30-inch or 36-inch blade for sawing to a depth of 15 inches. Is that still the most cost effective way to cut to that depth? A: Blade costs were substantially higher 25 years ago than today, and the saws produced were lower in horsepower and generally set up with higher rpm range. This meant that the most effective starting diameter blade would be 14 inches. Generally, starting with a 14-inch-diameter blade provided the lowest diamond cost per inch foot. Today’s saws are higher horsepower and more commonly set up with larger blade guards from the manufacturer. As a result, they are set up with lower rpms than
before, making larger starting diameter blades more economical than in years past. The most common approach to deep sawing, to a 15-inch depth for example, is to start with an 18-inch or 20-inch-diameter by 0.187-inch wide blade, then move to a 26-inch by 0.187-inch blade and finally to a 36-inch by 0.187-inch blade. In “critically hard” aggregate, some cutters also use a 30-inch or 32-inch blade between the 26-inch and 36-inch blade. Q: What should be the diameters and widths I use when I need to saw to a depth of 27 inches? Do I need to use wider segments on the smaller diameter blades to insure that the larger blades can be slipped into the cut when I put them on the saw? A: Since the largest blade diameter being used in this application is a 60-inch-diameter blade, the rest of the sizes and widths selected should be based on what is best suited for this blade diameter and in the pre-cutting process. A 60-inch blade is an expensive machining tool and care should be taken to get the full use of it. Many cutting contractors utilize a 60 inch diameter by 0.250-inch-wide blade so that they can utilize as thick a core as possible for good support of the blade. A thicker core will hold tension more effectively and provide more protection against undercutting, both of which can decrease blade life and dramati-
cally increase the inch per foot cost of this large diameter blade. Having plenty of side clearance between the core and the segment is very important in maximizing the use of the entire segment before losing side clearance. The following is a sample set of deep-cutting blades: 20 by 0.250 inches, 30 by 0.250 inches, 36 by 0.250 inches, 42 by 0.250 inches, 48 by 0.250 inches, 54 by 0.250 inches and 60 by 0.250 inches. Increasingly, contractors are using the same width all the way through the deep set instead of utilizing thicker blades to make the initial cuts. Multiple pre-cuts made before cutting with larger diameter blades will widen the cut enough to minimize the need for wider initial cuts, which was the common method in the past. In fact, in some of the hardest aggregate in the country 15-inch -deep cutting is done with 20 by 0.155-inch, then 26 by 0.155-inch, 30 by 0.175-inch and finally 36 by 0.175-inch blades. The narrower blade widens the initial cut enough to enable the use of the wider, larger blades. Q: Why not just start with a 26-inch-diameter blade, or even larger, when cutting deep and save all that time changing blade diameters? We do this on wall saw blades, why not flat saw blades? A: As long as the initial cuts are fairly shallow, this method can be used in softer aggregate with a sacrifice in cutting speed. This is because the weight of the saw is not over the blade shaft where it can enable the saw to make full use of the available torque. However, the time saved in changing blades can offset the lost productivity of the slower cutting rates in the first 4-5 inches of cutting depth on short runs. One other consideration when starting with a larger blade, is that if the saw is set up for an rpm that is slower than the optimum for a 20-inch-diameter blade, then starting with a 26-inch blade would be a good alternative. This may prevent having the 20-inch blade wear away more quickly with a lower rpm. Q: What blade specifications, diameters and widths should I use for cutting 6 inches of asphalt over 9 inches of concrete? A: It is always best to use an asphalt blade to cut the asphalt and a concrete blade to cut the concrete. Most cutters utilize a 20-inch-diameter by 0.187-inch or 0.210-inch-wide asphalt blade for cutting down to the concrete, then switch to a concrete blade to complete the cut. Using a wider asphalt blade in this application can be helpful, especially in hot weather that can cause the asphalt to “close up” as the operator is cutting the concrete portion of the cut. Q: When we are step cutting in our wall sawing operation, do we need to use a wider segment for the smaller diameter
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• Locate rebar, post tension cable, and other structures in minutes • Determine slab thickness and depth to cover • Detect live conduits with EM Sensor Mala Geoscience USA, Inc. 465 Deanna Lane • Charleston, SC 29492 Phone: (843) 852-5021 • Fax: (843) 284-0684 • www.malags.com • sales.usa@malags.com blades than for the largest diameter blades that we will use? A: As with the deep cutting in the flat sawing operations, it is not necessary to utilize wider blades for starter blades when making thick wall saw cuts. Unlike flat sawing, wall saws do travel on a track and will make straighter, truer cuts than concrete saws that are not guided by track. However, almost all of today’s wall saw blades have sandwich segments that utilize higher concentrations of diamonds and tougher bonds in the outside “sandwich” layers. This enables the segments to hold much closer to their original widths throughout their life span. Q: What blade diameters and widths should we utilize to wall saw to a depth of 27 inches? A: There are two possible answers. If the cutter is chain sawing to square the corners, then the blade diameters must all be 0.250-inch-wide in order to accommodate the chain bar and chain into the cut for squaring corners. If not, the thinnest recommended width for the set is 0.210 inches. Even if one is not chain sawing the corners, using 0.250inch blades for the entire set will provide added
clearance between the core and the segments so that the large diameter blades can be completely consumed. Of course, there may be specific situations and conditions that would cause blade diameters and widths to be different from what is reported or recommended in this article. Be sure to consult diamond blade suppliers for specific recommendations related to the specific equipment being used and the sawing conditions on the jobsite.
Martin Rack and Steve Garrison are employed by Hilti as sales managers for North America in the company’s diamond professional contractor division. Rack is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has been with Hilti for 28 years, while Garrison is based in Cypress, California and has been in the concrete cutting industry for almost 40 years. Rack continues to work with the CSDA Standards & Specifications Committee to produce technical documents, while Garrison is a CSDA Past President, current Board member and serves on several committees. Rack can be reached at martin.rack@hilti.com or 800-879-4000. Garrison can be reached at steve. garrison@hilti.com or 714-230-7410.
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OSHA/CSDA Alliance Latest The Alliance between the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association (CSDA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now in its sixth year and continues to educate contractors, prevent on-the-job accidents and injuries and provide vital materials to advance a safe work environment for sawing and drilling professionals. Here is the latest news from the Alliance Program.
High Visibility Clothing Safety Document Released Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners’ Alliance has developed a brochure called High Visibility Clothing for Heavy and Highway Construction that is used as part of a toolbox talk in the highway and bridge construction industry. The brochure, which was designed for workers and employers, provides the definition and the explanation of high visibility garments in highway construction, including the most commonly used Class II Vest. The information in the brochure is based on the most commonly referenced industry standard issued by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and known as the ANSI/ISEA 107 Standard or “American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear.” The standard provides performance criteria for the materials to be used in high visibility personal protective equipment, specifies minimum areas and, where appropriate, recommends placement of the materials.
New Best Practice on Aggressive Driving and Road Rage The Alliance released a new Best Practice document in June on the subject of Aggressive Driving and Road Rage. This brings the total number of safety documents released by the OSHA/CSDA Alliance to ten. The document details some of the situations that can lead to aggressive driving and road rage, then suggests how drivers can avoid these situations occurring. For more information about the OSHA/CSDA Alliance program, or to view documents released by this partnership, visit www.csda.org and click on the “OSHA Alliance” link under “Safety” or call 727-577-5004.
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SOCIAL MEDIA FOCUS
Making Sense of Social Media By Sue Ann Kern
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e are inherently social creatures. As such, we rely on interpersonal communication to survive and thrive. Think back to your world history classes and how ancient man created the alphabet. He used things like smoke signals and hieroglyphics to communicate with others for protection, trade and posterity. It has been proven across the centuries that having a strong social network can help you live a longer, happier and healthier life. Today, we often rely on our friends and those in our social network for help with other, less life-threatening situations. If you want to find the best restaurant to go to, or which dealership to visit to buy a new car, the chances are you will ask friends. However, businesses use different methods. Polls, focus groups and surveys are some of the ways businesses find out what their customers want. They also share coupons and discounts to encourage new clients and reward existing or returning ones. Social networks have been used to communicate and ask for suggestions, referrals or help for a long time. Similarly, business owners have known for some time that creating a personal relationship with clients is an important factor in building success. If you stop and consider these points, the basic concept behind social media has been around much longer than you perhaps first thought.
Where is Your Advertising Dollar Going? Think about the billions of dollars spent each year on TV commercials featuring highpaid celebrities or incredible special effects. Now think about what you do when one of these commercials comes on during your favorite show or sports event. You, along with millions of other viewers, either fast forward your recorded show, change channel momentarily, go to the kitchen or pay a visit to the restroom. It is hard to imagine exactly how much money is wasted on these ads that very few people see, unless it is the Super Bowl where the ads have become part of the tradition. What about radio? How many people today prefer to listen to CDs, MP3 players or commercial-free satellite radio instead of AM of FM stations that feature regular commercial breaks? Then there is the deluge of direct mail, or junk mail, that clogs our mailboxes and in
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boxes. It seems that for most people, junk mail goes straight to the recycle bin in our driveways or on our computers. Many of us do not want piles of directories, brochures or fliers taking up room in our homes and hard drives. Consider this: do you know where to find your phone book? Are you still receiving a phone book? Now consider social media. Like most other forms of social networking, Internet-based social media is basically free. Some websites offer premium accounts for a price, but they are not necessary for most people. The information you post on a social media site is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your message can reach clients and prospects any time, any day. It does not get thrown out with the garbage. It is not lost once the commercial ends. In addition, potential customer reach is unlimited with social media. It takes the same amount of time and energy to reach your clients across the other side of the world as it does to reach those who are right across town.
Social Media is Everywhere In just a few short years, social media has become part of our jargon and daily activity. Today, people are expected to participate in social media the way they are expected to have an email address or cell phone. The Pew Research Center recently found that two-thirds of adult Internet users now use a social networking site like Facebook or LinkedIn. It has also been revealed that people spend an average of over five hours per month on social media sites. These statistics show us that social media is here to stay, in some shape or form. You can embrace it or fight it, but you cannot ignore it. There are literally thousands of social media sites out there. Which of these site would be considered the best for you and your business?
The Big Four A good start point for anyone looking to enter into the world of social media, is to look for the most popular sites. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube are considered by many to be the “big four” social media sites. They dominate the social media world. It is important for any business owner to understand how to use these four sites in their marketing mix. Facebook is the by far the most popular site right now. With over 900 million users, it is the top social media platform and also the top internet site. Facebook is very popular for communicating with friends, families and longlost high schoolmates. It is a very colorful, visual and entertaining site and it is easy to share photos, links and videos with those in your “friends list.” Facebook users not only use the site for personal communications, but also for connecting with businesses. Users can “like” a business and become a “fan” with the click of a button, which links their personal profile to the company’s Facebook page and gives that business permission to share information. A savvy business will utilize this opportunity to share information about its products and services, market and community, as well as creating a dialogue with fans to learn what they like, do not like and—most important of all— what they want. More than half of consumers (56%) say they use the Facebook pages of popular retailers to keep up to date on sales and promotions. Facebook paid advertising has proven very lucrative for businesses. LinkedIn is a very powerful business networking social media site. Whereas Facebook is about individuals sharing their daily adventures, or breakfast of choice, LinkedIn
Join CSDA’s Social Network! is about individuals sharing business strategies and concepts. Facebook pages are about businesses while LinkedIn is focused on the individual. It is basically an online, interactive resume where users can showcase their expertise, provide a work history and network with other business contacts. Over 120 million users from over 200 countries and 170 industries, with executives from every Fortune 500 company, participate in LinkedIn. Professionals spend more time on LinkedIn (nearly 300 minutes per month) than online with the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Forbes websites combined. LinkedIn is based on the concept of “six degrees of separation,” but only uses three degrees. The concept is that anyone can be connected to anyone else if you follow their trail of friends, work colleagues and other contacts. By connecting with another LinkedIn user (first degree), you have access to all of their connections (second degree) and to all of their connections (third degree). For example, I am connected to nearly 600 people, and through them I have a total network of almost 6 million professionals. If I want to meet someone at a company in Los Angeles or London, the chances are that one of these 6 million people knows that person and can make an introduction. In one respect, LinkedIn has redefined cold calling. LinkedIn allows you to share information about your business and market. Through the “groups” and “answers” features, you can discuss relevant topics that will help others see you are, indeed, someone who knows their stuff and is worth connecting with. This site has become invaluable for those looking for a job, as well as those looking to fill vacancies at their business with highly qualified individuals. What is it about Twitter that has so many people in a twit? Whereas Facebook may be compared to a cocktail party and LinkedIn to a black tie event, Twitter is often compared to a frat party. Everyone talks at the same time and has a blast! With over 140 million active users and more than 55 million tweets per day, adult usage of Twitter has doubled in the past year. Twitter is a perfect example of instant gratification. It is simple, straight-forward and easy to use. It is also a valuable search engine. Not only can you search on topics and find websites and blogs, you can find opinions. Users tweet not just about a product or article, but about what they thought about the product they used or the article they read. Facebook and LinkedIn do not offer such powerful search tools. Twitter allows you to share interesting and compelling information and have public or
The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association has a Facebook page and YouTube channel that is regularly updated with the latest news and events from the association, its partners and affiliate organizations. There is also a separate Facebook page for the CSDA Next Generation. Readers of Concrete Openings are encouraged to “like” the association’s Facebook pages to see notifications about
private conversations with others about a given topic. It has also become a significant customer service and lead generation tool. Businesses that monitor Twitter can find customers that are experiencing a problem or those that are offering praise. They can see if someone needs a special service that they offer and then come to their “rescue.” YouTube has become the world’s second largest search engine after displacing Yahoo in 2010. An incredible 500 years (equal to 262 million minutes) of YouTube video are watched every day on Facebook, and over 700 YouTube videos are shared on Twitter each minute. At this point, many reading this may stop and ask “why?” One personal theory on this subject is that people are too lazy to read anymore. It is so much easier to watch a video than it is to sit and read a document. Likewise, we continue to develop skills that help us to multitask in such a fast-paced world. We can watch a video while washing the dishes, feeding the kids or brushing our teeth. The most popular videos are between three and four minutes long and the topics run the gamut. Show off your latest project. Create a “how-to” video discussing how to use one of your products. Share interviews and testimonials. Anything you can put into an article for a magazine or email blast can also be taped and uploaded to YouTube. Videos can be inexpensive to create—you do not need a professional studio. You simply need a video camera (or even a web-cam) and a microphone. Then you can share the video on all of your other social media sites and business website. Other up-and-coming social media sites to consider are Google+ and Pinterest. It would be near impossible to talk about all other current social media sites, so I encourage you to explore some of them for yourself and see if any would be suitable for your business. There is also a good chance that there will be more social media sites launched by the time this article goes to print.
CSDA, including details of upcoming meetings and training classes together with exclusive sneak-peeks at new documents, event photos and cover designs. Other information posted consists of promotions and free offers from partner organizations like OSHA. For more information, visit www.csda. org and click on the social media icons in the footer of the home page or call 727-577-5004.
Where do I Start? Participating in social media can feel overwhelming. You may feel like you have enough responsibilities associated with your business already, so where will you find the time maintain social media sites for your company? There are thousands of social media sites out there, with something advantageous about every single one. Do not feel like you have to participate in several of these in order to have a presence. It is impossible to be effective on more than a few sites simultaneously. At some point, you will be all “media” and no “social.” Consider the four sites discussed in this article and see which fits your business model best, then start from there. Once you have your social media plan in place, it is important to remember not to get sucked in and allow it to consume too much of your time. Make the effort to build your profiles completely and understand how to use the site. Next, allocate time in your schedule to check your profiles for a few minutes each day, or a few times a week. Respond to comments and post something creative, interesting and engaging, then log out and do what you need to do to run your business. Most important of all, have fun with social media. There is no other means of communication that allows you to interact and create relationships with so many people—whether they be in your neighborhood or on the other side of the world.
Sue Ann Kern is a trainer, consultant and professional speaker on social media. Through her company, Face It! Social Media, she helps businesses and individuals to promote their products, services and themselves through Social Media. Kern earned her degree in Electrical Engineering and spent the early part of her career as a digital designer and programmer. She recently gave a presentation and workshop at the 40th CSDA Convention and Tech Fair in Hawaii and her book, Facebook for Smart People, was published this year. Sue Ann can be reached at 435-201-8610 or by email at sueann@faceitsocialmedia.com.
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Industry Bits DD 150-U Diamond Coring System from Hilti The DD 150-U diamond coring system allows operators to drill by hand or with a core stand in wet or dry conditions. This system has a 6-inch-diameter capacity for drilling holes commonly used for anchor holes, blind holes and through holes. The DD 150-U can core a variety of base materials from concrete and reinforced concrete to brick, concrete block and natural stone. Designed to perform wet drilling, the coring system is suitable for rig-based drilling in concrete for pipe penetrations in plumbing, heating and air conditioning installations, cable trays and ducts and for the installation of railings and barriers. It can also be adjusted for hand guided, dry drilling applications and can be used in conjunction with Hilti’s dust removal system. The DD 150-U features three-speed gearing for optimum drilling speeds and has a 360-degree adjustable side handle with integrated dust and water management functions. For more information, contact Hilti customer service at 800-879-8000 in the U.S., 800-461-3028 in Canada or visit www.us.hilti.com in the U.S. or www.hilti.ca in Canada.
New Series of Diamond Blades Introduced by Norton Norton Pro Diamond is pleased to introduce a new series of diamond saw blades for the professional user. Paradigm blades are available in sizes from 14 to 54 inches in diameter and are suitable for use with standard 35-horsepower walk behind saws for concrete cutting applications. New segment technology gives the Paradigm blade series 20% longer life than its predecessors and provides increased blade speeds even in the hardest aggregates. Standard radius drop segments are available on blades 24 inches in diameter and larger. For more information, call 800-854-3281 or visit www.nortonprodiamond.com.
DDM Appoints Barnette to Inside Sales Team Dixie Diamond Manufacturing (DDM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Barnette to the company’s inside sales team. Barnette’s background includes over 27 years experience in the diamond blade/construction products industry. He previously held positions with Saint-Gobain Abrasives in manufacturing, research & development and product engineering. Tim is now settled in Gainesville, Georgia, and is based at DDM’s headquarters in Atlanta. For more information, call 800-654-7224 or visit www.dixiediamond.com. Tim Barnette
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CC1900XL Early Entry Walk Behind Saw from Diamond Products Diamond Products introduces the new Core Cut CC1900XL early entry walk behind saw for the professional user. This self-propelled saw is suitable for cutting green concrete in early entry applications to a maximum cutting depth of 3.5 inches with a 14-inchdiameter blade. It can accommodate blades from 0.110 to 0.250 inches in thickness. The CC1900XL has a replaceable, long-lasting skid plate with side shields to allow the operator to get on the slab extra early, and has an upcut design to keep slurry from going back in the cut. An electric actuator raises and lowers the saw and skid plate and the saw is fitted with a mechanical front pointer. The saw also features an adjustable handle for ease of operator use. For more information, call 800-321-5336 or visit www.diamondproducts.com.
Air Concrete Chain Saw from CS Unitec CS Unitec’s pneumatic concrete chain saw with an AirFORCE F4™ Diamond Chain is suitable for cutting reinforced concrete, brick, block, concrete pipe and natural stone. The CS 536163-2 air saw plunge cuts up to 15 inches deep in one pass and can cut mechanical openings, irregular shapes and square corners up to 14 inches with no overcuts. Its 6.5-horsepower air motor has a speed of 5,700 RPM when not under load. The saw can be used handheld or with an optional SpeedHook® guide to make straight cuts through walls and other surfaces. This saw operates at 124 cubic feet per minute at 90 pounds per square inch air pressure. Noise level is 88 decibels at 3 feet. The saw features a chain-based water distribution system for lubrication between bar and chain, and there are two types of chain available. AirFORCE Premium saw chains cut concrete with heavy steel reinforcement, while AirFORCE Standard is a general purpose diamond chain for reinforced concrete. For more information, call 800-700-5919 or email info@csunitec.com.
Wolverine Equipment Introduces Vertical Electric Power Pack Wolverine Equipment is pleased to introduce the newest addition to its line of hydraulic power packs. The vertical electric hydraulic power pack is built on a compact and portable hand-cart frame. The pack measures 21 inches tall, 18 inches wide and weighs 282 pounds, and is designed to be easily transported and maneuvered. It is suitable for hand sawing or core drilling inside buildings, underground locations or in other enclosed spaces. The electric motor eliminates concerns about exhaust fumes and fuel consumption, while minimizing noise output. Key features of the power pack include an automatic low-oil shutdown and a fully adjustable flow from 4 to 14 gallons per minute. The unit has a powdercoated steel frame and is available in a 15- or 20-horsepower model. For more information, contact Bill Darling at 253-867-6209 or email bill@wolverineequipment.com.
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Multiquip/Sanders Introduces SITS-S Shallow Joint Sawing System Multiquip/Sanders has developed the patented SITS-S shallow joint three-piece sawing system to saw joints and sealant reservoirs in one pass. The system consists of three elements; one center core and two inner cores that interlock with each other to create a single step blade. The system has been designed to eliminate widening operations and the need for duel crews or joint washing. When cutting green concrete or reflective sawing in asphalt overlays, the reservoir is centered on the cut without spalling or raveling. Dry cutting blades are also available, and the two outer cores or the inner core can be replaced to add to the contractor’s return on investment. The SITS-S system comes in two reservoir widths; 0.5 and 0.625 inches. Blades have a 14-inch nominal diameter and are capable of creating 0.625-inch-deep reservoirs with an overall joint depth of 1.25 inches. Speeds range from 2,728 to 3,274 rpm and the system is compatible with most saws on the market. For more information, call 800-486-0207 or visit www.multiquip.com.
Husqvarna Appoints New District Sales Manager Mike Fedunok has joined Husqvarna as a district sales manager for the northeast region of the United States, covering New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Fedunok has over 23 years experience in the sawing and drilling industry and has Mike Fedunok previously served as a project manager for a cutting contractor. He is familiar with core drilling, flat sawing and wire sawing techniques and has worked in the Operators Union Local 66. For more information, contact Cate Stratemeier at 913-928-1442 or email cate.stratemeier@husqvarnagroup.com. c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 4 9
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New Sales Manager Appointed by K2 Diamond K2 Diamond is pleased to announce the addition of David Levene to the company’s sales team, having been appointed as K2’s new territory sales manager. Based in the Dallas Metro area of Texas, Levene will cover the territory of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He joins K2 Diamond with eight years experience of professional concrete cutting, dealing with all phases of field and management work. He has sound knowledge of sawing and drilling applications and, through his experiences in the field, appreciates the challenges facing contractors. Levene is responsible for all sales and technical support for the company’s tools and equipment. For more information, contact David at 310-863-7249 or email david.levene@k2diamond.com. David Levene
Dust Suppression Accessories Available from Traxx Traxx Construction Products has a new range of tower mounts for atomized misting equipment manufactured by Dust Control Technology. The tower mounts are designed to withstand wind loads of at least 100 miles per hour and are constructed of carbon steel pipe, hot dip galvanized to resist corrosion. There are currently three tower sizes available—6-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch diameters— and are available up to 20 feet tall. Hoses and power cords can be routed inside the tower for protection, and flange-mounted units feature programmable oscillation with a customersettable range from 0-359 degrees rotation. The towers come with a manual jack and a remote control electric jack is available as an optional extra. Climbing rungs, work platforms, booster pumps and additive metering systems are also optional. For more information, email darren.williams@traxxcp.com.au or visit www.traxxcp.com
Diamond Tools Technology Adds to Sales Group
Pentruder Expands Product Line Pentruder, Inc. has announced the expansion of its product line to include diamond wire and saw blades designed to maximize the performance of high-end cutting equipment. Diamond wire by WIDECUT and wire accessories are now available, along with Pentruder diamond blades with ARIX technology. Sintered and electroplated diamond wire is available with bead sizes range from 10.2 to 12 millimeters (0.4 and 0.5 inches) in diameter. Wire can be ordered to custom lengths. The Arix blades range in size from 14 to 63 inches in diameter with thicknesses between 0.08 and 0.25 inches. Flushcut patterns are also available. Each of the new diamond tools available from Pentruder has been selected after careful evaluation and has demonstrated the ability to meet the demands of highhorsepower sawing. For more information, please contact Terry Martin at 562-445-6429 or email terry@pentruderinc.com.
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Diamond Tools Technology (DTT) is pleased to announce the addition of Dan Dennison to its sales group. Dan has four years of diamond blade sales experience with Hoffman Diamond Products and has a history of providing superior customer service within his service areas. He will be a great asset to DTT, as the company continues to expand its sales team and remain focused on supporting the professional sawing and drilling industry. Dan is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will service northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. For more information, contact Mark Turner at mark@diamondtoolstechnology.com or call 877-345-6388.
Dan Dennison
IN D US T R Y
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ARIX™Precise diamond
arrangement throughout the segment. Now available in diamond wire.
Hilti Introduces New Demolition Hammer The new Hilti TE 500-AVR demolition hammer weighs 12.6 pounds with 5.5 foot pounds of impact energy. The unit is suitable for applications such as concrete repair work and surface preparation, plaster and tile removal, creating wall breaches and through penetrations in walls and floors. A built-in Active Vibration Reduction (AVR) system features a fully decoupled handle, designed to minimize vibration and allow for longer periods of continuous use. Other features of the TE 500-AVR include an active cooling system that keeps the motor, electronics and hammering mechanism cooler for added durability and longer tool life, as well as a side handle with full radial and axial adjustments that provide a secure grip in virtually any position. For more information, contact Hilti customer service at 800-879-8000 in the U.S., 800-461-3028 in Canada or visit www.us.hilti.com in the U.S. or www.hilti.ca in Canada.
ARIX wire now gives you the speed of electroplated wire with the life of sintered wire. Discover the DITEQ
866-688-1032 DIAMOND TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
www.DITEQ.com
DIAMOND TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
Scott Houston
Houston Appointed to the DITEQ Sales Team HiperfloorTM System from Husqvarna Husqvarna Construction Products has been receiving positive reviews from contractors about the company’s HiperfloorTM concrete polishing system. The system is designed to transform existing concrete substrate into wear-resistant floors with increased strength. The system comprises of a grinder and polisher like the 17-horsepower PG 680, which offers a grinding width of 27 inches, a grouting chemical like GM 3000, some HiperhardTM concrete hardner and HiperguardTM for water and stain resistance. When comparing polished concrete to other floor surfaces like vinyl, carpet and resin, the costs associated with maintaining or repairing the concrete are much lower than the other materials—even over a short period of time, like seven years. The system also produces a much higher slip coefficient than vinyl and resin, with a dry HiperfloorTM surface producing a slip coefficient of 65 compared to only 50 for the other two materials. For more information, call 800-288-5040 or visit www.husqvarnacp.com. w ww. c o n c re te ope n in gs.com
DITEQ is pleased to announce the addition of Scott Houston to the company’s sales team. Scott resides in Kensington, Connecticut, and is responsible for both distribution/ rental and professional customers in New England. He brings with him vast experience and knowledge of construction equipment and diamond tools, having been in the construction industry for over 30 years. Scott’s appointment is a positive step in expanding the DITEQ brand throughout the New England area. For more information, call 866-6881032 or email www.diteq.com.
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IN D US T R Y
New Camlock System Introduced by Expert Equipment Expert Equipment introduces a quick connect dovetail camlock system for its core drill rig. The newly developed system is designed for the Cardi Vortex 625 and the Cardi T9 and T6 series. The system allows the operator to split the weight when removing the drill motor and carriage from the column. If mounting a core drill on a wall where the operator has to use ladders or scaffold, the camlock system makes it easier to slide on the roller carriage first and use the quick connect to attach the drill after. Two spacers allow the operator to change the drilling capability from 14 to 22 or 26 inches in diameter within seconds. For more information, call 713-797-9886 or email expertequipment@sbcglobal.net.
B I T S
FOr ULTiMATE PrODUCT PErFOrMANCE RELy on noRton SAwS, BLAdES & BItS
ALL THE MUSCLE YOU NEEDTM 3-SPEED GEAR BOX FOR SAWS
VMAX DIAMOND BLADE
SETTING A NEW STANDARD
nEw PRodUCt InnoVAtIon
nEw PRodUCt InnoVAtIon
Our expanded offering of saws, diamond blades and core bits provides a single source for professional cutting and drilling contractors. Numerous product upgrades help improve performance while ultimately increasing productivity. For all your job site requirements, choose Norton. Call us at 1 800 854-3281, or visit us online at www.nortonprodiamond.com
EDCO Introduces QR Code Decals EDCO now includes Quick Response Code (QRC) decals on its machines. These QRC decals provide customers with jobsite advice and problem-solving tips. Users can access training videos, parts specifications, manuals and helpful information without leaving the work area. This gives rental store employees the opportunity to train customers via QRC before they leave the store. Given the increasing use of QRCs and mobile technology, EDCO has incorporated these codes into print advertising, catalogs and trade show displays as well. For more information, contact Jason Stanczyk at 800-638-3326 or email jstanczyk@edcoinc.com.
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Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc.1345 South Acacia Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92831
www.nortonprodiamond.com
Š Saint-Gobain Abrasives 2012
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FMI and AGCA Release 2012 Business Development Survey Results In May, FMI Corporation and the Associated General Contractors of America announced the results of the AGC-FMI 2012 Business Development Survey. The survey was launched in late 2011 to better understand how successful firms were utilizing their business development initiatives to navigate the currently challenging economic climate. Responses came from chief executive officers, presidents, business owners, executives and other business development professionals from across the industry. Companies surveyed consisted of general contractors and subcontractors. According to the Census Bureau, construction spending has stalled at $800 billion annually during the past two years. That is two-thirds of its peak volume of nearly $1.2 trillion in 2006. Competition amongst contractors remains intense as companies fight for a decreasing amount of projects. However, pockets of growth can be found behind these numbers. Some firms continue to make money, maintain healthy backlogs and pursue strategic goals. The results of the AGC-FMI 2012 Business Development Survey give people an insight into how these successful companies have differentiated themselves from the rest through good business development.
Multiquip Unveils H2G EarthSmart™ Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Generator Multiquip has unveiled a prototype of the MQ H2G EarthSmart™ Hydrogen fuel-cell powered Generator. The H2G is environmentallyfriendly, pollution-free and does not produce particulate emission. Because the machine does not use fossil fuel sources, no combustion occurs in the process, making it safer for use in any environment, indoors or out. The generator can operate for up to 26 hours at full load and has a low noise level of 44 decibels at 23 feet. For more information, email sales@multiquip.com or visit www.multiquip.com.
NDA Announces New Board of Directors The National Demolition Association announces the addition of four new demolition professionals to its 2012-2013 Board of Directors. Newly named to the Board are Alfred Gorick, Jr. of Gorick Construction Co., Inc., New York; Scott Homrich of Homrich Wrecking Inc., Michigan; Richard Lorenz of Central Environmental Services, Florida and Craig Sessler of Sessler Wrecking, New York. Continuing as the Association’s officers are Don Rachel of Rachel Contracting, LLC, Minnesota as President; Jeff Kroeker of Kroeker, Inc. Demolition & Recycling Contractors, California as Vice President; Peter Banks of CEI Boston LLC, Massachusetts as Secretary; Scott Knightly of Envirovantage, New Hampshire as Treasurer and Paymond Passeno of Bierlein Companies, Inc., Michigan as Past President. Michael R. Taylor, CAE, continues to serve as Executive Director. For more information visit www.demolitionassociation.com or call 800-541-2412.
Results show that 74% of companies reported profits had declined or remained flat compared with two years ago, yet 83% of respondents were profitable or broke even in the last fiscal year. With regard to business development, companies have been spending a greater percentage of revenue on targeting and winning work compared with FMI’s 2005 report. All those who responded reported spending some amount of money on business development, but where the 2005 report showed that 69% only spent up to 1% on this activity, the 2012 shows this number has dropped to 27%. The general trend is that companies are spending more to win work. CSDA members can download a PDF of the full 28-page AGC-FMI 2012 Business Development Survey document from the Member Section of the CSDA Website. The link can be found under the latest CSDA News. For help viewing this document or problems accessing the Member Section, call 727-577-5004 or email info@csda.org.
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National Sawing and Drilling Association Formed in Russia The first Russian trade association for the concrete sawing and drilling industry was formed in July. Industry representatives met at the Moscow State Construction University and founded the National Association of Concrete Drilling and Sawing (NACDS). The process to register the association with official government organizations is now underway. NACDS was formed with eight founding companies, and one of the first goals is to promote the association and grow membership. Dr Andrey Kossolapov was elected as President of the newly-formed association. For more information, email andreykossolapov@yahoo.com.
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CertifiCATION Operator Certification
COMPANY Certification
Companies listed here have invested time and money to send their operators to CSDA’s Operator Certification. If you are committed to professionalism in the concrete cutting industry, consider sending your operators through the training programs offered by the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association.
The CSDA Company Certification Program is the first of its kind in the industry. This 3-tier program has been created for cutting contractors to provide owners, architects, engineers, general contractors and government officials with a valuable pre-qualification tool that acknowledges sound business practices. It is available to all sawing and drilling contractors.
abc cutting contractors birmingham Bessemer, Alabama
Dixie Concrete Cutting, Inc. Greenville, South Carolina
abc cutting contractors mobile Daphine, Alabama
East Coast Concrete Specialities, Inc. Jessup, Maryland
A.E. Brice & Associates, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland
Eastern Concrete Cutting Corp. Long Island City, New York
Advanced Coring & Cutting Corp. Farmingdale, New Jersey
Gronemeier Concrete Cutting, Inc. Bloomington, Illinois
Atlantic Concrete Cutting, Inc. Mt. Holly, New Jersey
Hafner and Son, Inc. Northampton, Pennsylvania
LEVEL THREE
B.T. Rentals Limited Woodbrook, Trinidad & Tobago
Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Inc. Wheeling, Illinois
Atlantic Concrete Cutting, Inc. Mount Holly, New Jersey
Cal West Concrete Cutting, Inc. Manteca, California
Hard Rock Sawing & Drilling Specialist Co. Keshena, Wisconsin
Cal West Concrete Cutting, Inc. Union City, California
Holes Incorporated Houston, Texas
Central Concrete Cutting, Inc. Edgar, Wisconsin
Holes of San Antonio, Inc. San Antonio, Texas
Con-Cor Company, Inc. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
International Drilling & Sawing, Inc. Montgomery, Alabama
Concrete Cutting & Breaking Co. Jacksonville, Florida
j-ray contractors, llc Marrero, Louisiana
Concrete Cutting Specialists, Inc. Freeland, Michigan
K.C. Coring & Cutting Construction, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri
Concrete Penetrating Co. Dallas, Texas
LIUNA local 506 Training Centre Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Concrete Renovation, Inc. San Antonio, Texas
Lombardo Diamond Core Drilling Co., Inc. Santa Clara, California
Core Solutions Ltd. Maraval, Trinidad & Tobago
M6 Concrete Cutting & Coring Wichita, Kansas
Coring & Cutting of Springfield, Inc. Nixa, Missouri
Oklahoma Coring & Cutting, Inc. Arcadia, Oklahoma
Coring & Cutting Services, Inc. Bentonville, Arkansas
Pacific Concrete Cutting & Coring, Inc. Lihue, Hawaii
Coring & Cutting Services, Inc. Jacksonville, Arkansas
Penhall Company/Concrete Coring Company of Hawaii Aiea, Hawaii
Cut-Rite Concrete Cutting Corp. Pawtucket, Rhode Island Cutting Edge Services Corp. Batavia, Ohio d.m. conlon/dan-kel concrete coring, sawing & scanning Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
PG cutting services Lake Elsinore, California Professional Concrete Sawing Erie, Pennsylvania quick cuts concrete cutting services, llc Belvidere, Illinois
DARI Concrete Sawing and Drilling Raleigh, North Carolina
Roughneck Concrete Drilling & Sawing Morton Grove, Illinois
DeAndrea Coring & Sawing, Inc. Henderson, Colorado
True Line Coring & Cutting of Chattanooga, LLC Chattanooga, Tennessee
Delta Contractors & Associates, LLC Baltimore, Maryland
True Line Coring & Cutting of Knoxville, LLC Knoxville, Tennessee
Dixie Concrete Cutting Co., Inc. College Park, Georgia
True Line Coring & Cutting of Nashville, LLC Nashville, Tennessee
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LEVEL TWO de andrea coring & sawing, inc. Henderson, Colorado hard rock concrete cutters, inc. Wheeling, Illinois Holes Incorporated Houston, Texas
LEVEL ONE AUSTIN ENTERPRISE Bakersfield, California central concrete cutting, inc. Edgar, Wisconsin Concrete Renovation, Inc. San Antonio, Texas Cutting Edge Services Corp. Batavia, Ohio WESTCOAST CUTTING & CORING, LTD. Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
membership NEW MEMBERS The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association is a nonprofit trade association of contractors, manufacturers, distributors and affiliates from the construction and renovation industry. Membership in CSDA is open to concrete cutting contractors, manufacturers and distributors of concrete cutting equipment and affiliated companies who provide products and services to the concrete sawing and drilling industry. Founded in 1972, CSDA reached the milestone of 500 member companies in 2006.
North American Contractor
Overseas Contractor
Amec Contracting Ltd Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Q&A Coring Cutting & Sealing Parys, South Africa
Garrard Building Contractors, LLC Winter Haven, Florida
Tianco, Inc. Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Jamie Kichman New Enterprise, Pennsylvania
Affiliate
K&H Concrete Cutting, Inc. Moline, Michigan
Member Benefit Partnerships
SIS, LLC Birmingham, Alabama
Prime Cuts Concrete Sawing & Coring Lake Elsinore, California Speedy Concrete Cutting Ft Lauderdale, Florida
MEMBER TESTIMONIAL My first experience with CSDA was back in the 1970s. I worked as a dispatcher for a member company, and I was invited to attend a few regional meetings. It was clear from these early days that the association was working hard to move the industry forward. I started my company in 1990 and joined CSDA five years later. Since becoming a contractor member, I have used the association’s programs and member benefits to better myself and my company. I have had operators attend CSDA training classes to improve their knowledge and performance. There is Mike Greene always something new to learn in this industry, and training is a good way to keep up-to-speed with things. I regularly use the safety documents and Toolbox Safety Tips provided by CSDA to educate my employees and make sure they are following safe practices while on jobsites. The CSDA Safety Manual is also extremely useful. Through my involvement with CSDA, I have had the opportunity to meet with contractors from all over the country who go through the same things as I do with my business. I attend the annual conventions and gain a great deal of helpful information from participating in roundtable discussions and walking around the Tech Fair. Everyone is focused on the industry and I learn a lot from my peers. I currently serve on the CSDA Board of Directors, which gives me the chance to see all of the hard work that committee members do to keep the association and our industry ahead of the rest. Mike Greene Greene’s, Inc. Woods Cross, Utah mikeg@greenesinc.com
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V-Belt Global Supply is a wholesale distributor of industrial, agricultural and lawn & turf belts. The company provides belts and metal power drive part solutions to industry and individuals at discounted prices. Product lines include, but are not limited to: • Cogged belts • Cogged banded belts • Conventional belts • Kevlar banded belts • Timing belts Shipping and Invoicing Options: • Drop shipping available • 30 net terms available • Free shipping on orders over $299 via UPS Ground (continental U.S. only) CSDA members receive an additional 10% discount by typing in code CSDA2012 when purchasing through www.vbeltsupply.com. Phone orders will receive the same discount if the code is provided to the sales representative. For more information about this promotion, call 888-291-5450 or email salesteam@vbeltsupply.com. For information about CSDA’s other partnerships and member benefits, visit www.csda.org and click on “Member Benefits” under the Members button or call 727-577-5004.
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SOURCE: JS13
Membership Application
PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY
$550
$1,170
$850
$895
$1,445
$1,085
$1,350
$2,145
$1,605
$1,820
$3,460
$2,285
$4,645
$2,890
$5,770
$375
$675
$2,590
*AFFILIATE: A person, firm, corporation, society, government agency or other organization providing services to the concrete sawing and drilling industry.
CHECK ENCLOSED (US FUNDS)
VISA
MASTERCARD
DISCOVER
$130
CSDA • 1 3 5 7 7 F e at h e r S o u n d D r i v e , S u i t e 5 6 0 , C l e a r w at e r , F l 3 3 7 6 2 t e l : 7 2 7 . 5 7 7 . 5 0 0 4 fa x : 7 2 7 . 5 7 7 . 5 0 1 2 w w w. cs d a . o r g
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BENEFITS Member Benefits
Member Benefit Programs
Networking at the Annual Convention and Quarterly Meetings
The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association negotiates member benefit programs with national vendors in order to provide cost-savings opportunities for CSDA Members.
The number one benefit for members has always been the opportunity to network with cutting professionals at the annual convention and quarterly meetings. This networking provides opportunities to forge new relationships and learn from other experienced professionals.
CSDA Training and Certification Programs Over 2,000 members have graduated from more than 20 classroom, hands-on and online training programs: Cutting Edge, Slab Sawing & Drilling, Wall Sawing, Wire Sawing, Operator Certification, OSHA Construction Safety and Estimating. CSDA offers online training at www. csdatraining.com for those not able to afford the time or the money to send operators to remote classes. The CSDA Company Certification 3-tier audit program has been developed to provide owners, architects, engineers, general contractors and government officials with a valuable prequalification tool, to qualify that hiring a certified company will ensure a demonstrated capability from a sawing and drilling professional.
CSDA Safety Resources and Toolbox Safety Tips (TSTs) The 230-page CSDA Safety Manual, CSDA 57-page Safety Handbook and five safety DVDs are designed specifically for concrete cutters and are available to members at a significant discount. TSTs can be used in employee safety meetings and can be an important part of your company’s safety program. CSDA has released a total of 100 TSTs since the program began. A new TST is released every month.
CSDA and
CSDA Insurance Program The CSDA Insurance Program is a multi-line insurance program available to CSDA members. The program provides service philosophies and practices defined by people in the industry, policy holder influence, a customized policy form, streamlined coverage documents and a centralized claims service center. Unlike many programs, the CSDA Insurance Program provides a broad range of coverage or “lines.”
UPS Freight UPS Freight offers members customized savings starting at 70% on less-than-truckload freight shipments inbound, outbound and third party billing. Shipments are guaranteed on-time at no additional charge and UPS offers complete, reliable offshore coverage. All U.S. and Canadian companies are eligible for this program.
LegalShieldSM Members receive services from a nationwide network of Provider Law Firms. In the event of an emergency, whatever the day or hour, members can receive legal advice. LegalShield offers valuable legal plans and business consulting resources specially designed for small business. Have a lawyer go over contracts or documents before you sign them, assist with collections and much more. Other benefits and programs can be reviewed by visiting the CSDA Website at www.csda.org or call the CSDA office at 727-577-5004.
Join CSDA and Get the Rest of 2012 FREE! Website
The CSDA Website at www.csda.org contains a wealth of information available 24/7 in the “Members” section. The online discussion boards also provide members a forum to discuss technical issues, sell equipment, hire employees or any other relevant topics. at www.concreteopenings.com is the only professional magazine dedicated to concrete cutting with a circulation of 17,000 per issue. Members can advertise at significant discounts and use the opportunity to have their job stories reach over 7,000 architects, engineers, general contractors and government officials.
Right now CSDA is offering companies a chance to save on membership dues Join CSDA now and receive: • The remaining months of 2012 FREE • Membership for all of 2013 • Notification of job leads from architects, engineers, general contractors and government officials • Member-only online access to CSDA Toolbox Safety Tips, Specifications, Standards and Best Practices • Assistance from industry peers through the CSDA Membership Directory, Mentor Program and the Next Generation Group. An online application is available at www.csda.org. For more information, contact the CSDA office at 727-577-5004 Become a member of the Association of Cutting Professionals today!
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Calendar 2012 September 6–7 CSDA Fall Meetings Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago, IL Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org
September 6–7 Demcon 2012 InfraCity Stockholm, Sweden Tel: 46-8 585 700 46 www.demcon.se
September 20–23 ASCC Annual Conference Wyndham Lisle–Chicago Hotel Chicago, IL Tel: 866-788-2722 www.ascconline.org
October 2–4 Infra Oman Oman International Exhibition Center Sultanate of Oman www.alnimrexpo.com/infraoman/
October 11–12 CSDA Slab Sawing 101 Training Class Husqvarna Construction Products Olathe, KS Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
October 11–14 International Concrete Polishing & Staining Conference Gwinnett Center Duluth, GA Tel: 716-228-0265 www.icpsc365.com
December 6–7
November 5–6 CSDA Slab Sawing and Drilling 201 Operator Certification St. Petersburg College Clearwater, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
November 7–8 CSDA Wall Sawing 201 Operator Certification St. Petersburg College Clearwater, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
November 7–9 2012 Design-Build Conference & Expo Hilton New Orleans Riverside New Orleans, LA Tel: 202-682-0110 www.bdia.org
November 9–10 CSDA Wire Sawing 201 Operator Certification St. Petersburg College Clearwater, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
slab sawing 101 training class October 11–12
CSDA winter MEETINGS
December 6–7
February 26–27
CSDA Winter Meetings Westin Kierland Resort & Spa Scottsdale, AZ Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org
CSDA Spring Meetings Hawks Cay Island Resort Duck Key, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
2013
February 28–March 2
February 5–8 World of Concrete Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 972-536-6379 www.worldofconcrete.com
February 5–6 CSDA Core Drilling 201 Operator Certification Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
March 18–20 2013 Design-Build in Transportation Conference Hilton Walt Disney World Orlando, FL Tel: 202-478-2662 www.designbuildtransportation.com
March 23–26
CSDA Estimating Class Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
National Demolition Association 2013 Convention San Diego Convention Center and Hilton Bayfront Hotel San Diego, California Tel: 800-541-2412 www.demolitionassociation.com
February 6–7
April 15–21
CSDA CONCRETE polishing Class Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
Bauma 2013 Munich, Germany Tel: 49-89 949 11348 www.bauma.de/en
February 6–7
February 6 CSDA Board Meeting Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
February 7 CSDA Next Generation Meeting Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
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CSDA 2013 Convention and Tech Fair Hawks Cay Island Resort Duck Key, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
April 22 IACDS Annual Meeting Munich, Germany www.iacds.org
May 6–8 International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Conference 2013 De Doelen Congress Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands Tel: 31 182 320516 Email: secretary@iabse2013rotterdam.nl http://www.iabse2013rotterdam.nl/
ADVERTISING and readership
the official magazine of the concrete sawing & drilling association
Want to Target the Specialized Industry of Sawing & Drilling?
Readership by Profession
Circulation 17,000+ minimum, per issue
Advertising in Concrete Openings magazine is the only way to reach the specialty market of sawing and drilling contractors who cut concrete, asphalt or masonry because it is the only magazine in the market specifically targeted to this segment of the sawing and drilling industry.
How Do You Reach 17,000+ Sawing and Drilling Professionals?
10,500+
8%
6,500+ general contractors, engineers, architects and government officials who specify sawing and drilling
40%
Website
Each issue of Concrete Openings magazine is sent to more than 10,500 sawing and drilling operators, manufacturers of sawing and drilling equipment and suppliers to the industry and more than 6,500 specifiers of concrete cutting services around the world.
Who Reads the Magazine? Concrete Openings reaches sawing and drilling contractors, as well as specifiers of sawing and drilling services including engineers, architects, general contractors and governmental agencies. Why waste your message on unnecessary circulation? Advertising in Concrete Openings guarantees a targeted audience of industry professionals.
Concrete Openings has its own website. Advertisers have direct links to their websites placed on our Advertisers page as a complimentary addition to ad placement. A full copy of the magazine is also available for visitors to read on the website. Visitors to the site can now access our advertisers at the touch of a button. The Concrete Openings Website also has advertising opportunities available throughout the year. Visit www.concreteopenings.com for more information.
Readership Per Issue In a recent poll, a section of Concrete Openings subscribers revealed that 66% pass on their copy of the magazine to at least one other person, with almost 25% stating that the magazine is passed on to four or more people each issue. This translates to an average of 3.75 people reading each issue of the magazine for a total readership per year of approximately 60,000.
Not a Subscriber? Get your free subscription today! Visit www.concreteopenings.com and click “subscribe”.
the official magazine of the concrete sawing & drilling association
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52%
member and prospective member companies made up of sawing and drilling contractors,manufacturers, distributors and affiliates
• Specifiers • Cutting Contractors • Manufacturers, Distributors
96
The number of countries where Concrete Openings subscribers receive their copies.
Do you “Like” CSDA? CSDA is on Facebook, and we hope you “like” it! The CSDA page is packed with all the latest news, updates, photos and videos from the association and Concrete Openings magazine. Look out for exclusive content and become “friends” with others who are looking to network and promote the sawing and drilling industry. Join our growing fan base and stay in touch with the association through your PC, laptop or mobile device.
c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 6 1
ADVERTISers To receive additional information about products advertised in this issue, visit the advertisers page on concreteopenings.com, or contact the vendors below. PAGE ADVERTISER
PHONE
45
707-996-2912
jerileel@apgen.com
16 Brokk, Inc.
Apollo General Insurance Agency, Inc.
877-276-5548
peter@brokkinc.com
19 CS Unitec
800-700-5919
info@csunitec.com
63
Diamond Pauber srl
39-05 85 830425
info@diamondpauber.it
31, Inside Front Cover
Diamond Products
800-321-5336
jpalmer@diamondproducts.com
37
Diamond Tools Technology
612-408-9253
roger@diamondtoolstechnology.com
17, 51
DITEQ Corporation
816-246-5515
jmiller@diteq.com
5
Dixie Diamond Manufacturing
678-296-3751
skilgore@dixiediamond.com
27 EDCO-Equipment Development Co., Inc.
301-663-1600
moran@edcoinc.com
29 Expert Equipment Company
713-797-9886
expertequipment@sbcglobal.net
55 Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (GSSI)
603-893-1109
harmonj@geophysical.com
21 Glacier Diamond, Inc.
714-854-9600
glacierana@att.net
21 Grabber Power Products
480-967-2545
jorge@grabberpower.com
Inside Back Cover
Hilti North America
918-872-3079
claire.combs@hilti.com
32, 33, Outside Back Cover
Husqvarna Construction Products
913-928-1442
cate.stratemeier@husqvarna.com
2 ICS, Blount Inc.
503-653-4644
joet@icsbestway.com
43 MALA GeoScience USA, Inc.
843-852-5021
sales.usa@malags.com
53 Norton Pro Diamond
800-854-3281
mark.s.pendergrass@saint-gobain.com
12 Pentruder, Inc.
562-445-6429
terry@pentruderinc.com
52 Sensors & Software
905-624-8909
sales@sensoft.ca
44 Toolgal USA Corp/DCI
706-283-9556
admin@toolgalusa.com
11
Western Saw
805-981-0999
cole@westernsaw.com
23
World of Concrete
727-577-5004
info@csda.org
CUTTERS CORNER This classified section is for use by anyone who wants to sell or buy used equipment, post help wanted ads or advertise business opportunities. Anyone interested in placing ads should send copy to Concrete Openings Classifieds, 13577 Feather Sound Dr., Suite 560, Clearwater, FL 33762. Copy can also be faxed to 727-577-5012 or emailed to rhitchen@concreteopenings.com. Cost: $100 for 10 lines for members; $200 for non-members. Additional lines $10 each. Copy must be in the CSDA office no later than the first day of the month preceding publication.
Concrete Cutters and Baseball Players Wanted Breakthrough NQ Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s leading concrete cutting and core drilling companies based in Clifton Beach, Queensland, with an additional location in Garbutt, is looking for experienced cutters to join the company. The applicant should be skilled in hand, slab, trackmounted and ring sawing, be proficient in core drilling and feel like a new challenge and change in lifestyle. If he or she enjoys playing baseball, then they can join an ex-Olympian and play for the Breakthrough Bandits. The applicant must be enthusiastic, physically fit, punctual and have a current driver’s license. The company can offer an attractive package to the right person, including assistance with Visas. For more information, or to submit a resume, email hr@breakthroughnq.com.
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Equipment for Sale Ohio Concrete Sawing and Drilling has excess equipment for sale, including: • 200-gallon aluminum water tanks for vans - $650 • John Deere 80-horsepower hydraulic power units - from $6,000 • 4-speed Sanders Saws diesel powered saws - from $6,000 • Complete grooving and grinding setup with two running HG130 grooving machines and a third machine that runs a 5,000-gallon tanker that separates slurry, extra grinding heads and miscellaneous parts asking $170,000 The company is also seeking polishing equipment. For more information, contact Skip Aston at 419-345-3444 or email skipaston@ohioconcrete.com.
Business for Sale Family owned and operated concrete cutting business located in central Florida. The company was established in 2004, has a solid reputation, a good client base and has much potential for growth within the industry. The sale includes all equipment, including a truck trailer, slab saws, hydraulic hand saws, core drill rigs, handheld core drills, hydraulic power units, generators and other miscellaneous tools and equipment. Serious inquiries only. For more information, call Rick at 863-529-6252 or email qualityconcretecuttingllc@yahoo.com.
WHEN THE SIZE IS NOT A PROBLEM!
“ … with its 20 mm in diameter it can make very large cuts, it’s very helpful when we have to do particular jobs. Unique.,, Francesco, Italia
“… if we cut steel we have no problems using this electroplated diamond wire with conical beads.”
Adam, New Zeland
“… cutting concrete and reinforced concrete it has become simple, the only problem we have is to choose between cutting speed or tool’s life.”
Yuri, Ucraina
“… contingencies are always around the corner, but if we have the right solution we can rest quiet. With the thin wires it’s all much simpler.”
Mark, Holland DIAMOND PAUBER srl Via Aprilia, 5 - 54100 Massa (MS) Italia - t +39 0585 830425 - f +39 0585 830000 pauber@diamondpauber.it - www.diamondpauber.it w ww. c o n c re te ope n in gs.com
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director’s dialogue
CSDA is Growing
Patrick o’brien Executive Director
P
revious Director’s Dialogues have addressed some of the changes that CSDA contractors face in the construction industry. Many of these changes have come about in recent years, but are likely to become commonplace as we move into the future. As a result, CSDA has also changed the way it does business. The association must always respond to the changes faced by its members or find itself left behind by a fast-paced industry. CSDA is making plans to further expand the membership categories beyond just North American Contractors. The last few releases of the CSDA Membership Directory have listed services offered by contractors such as flat sawing, core drilling, wall sawing, wire sawing, selective demolition, curb cutting and ground penetrating radar. These days, general contractors are asking sawing and drilling contractors to provide more than just cutting services and this trend is likely to increase. Today, people are looking for contractors who can offer a one-stop-shop of services. The imaging of concrete structures, where contractors utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology, has not only led to a growing number of firms adding this service, but also led to the emergence of new companies that specifically offer GPR services. Inquiries received by CSDA now ask for specific services such as imaging. In response, the CSDA Membership Committee is considering a proposal to add a new membership category for this group of professionals. CSDA has already published Best Practice CSDA-BP-007: Ground Penetrating Radar for Concrete Scanning. Specific training and other services will be added to serve this new group of contractors.
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Another service that many contractors have added, or are looking to add, is concrete polishing. This segment of the construction industry is expanding rapidly and has many facets that are unique to this type of work. The committee is considering adding a concrete polishing category as well. CSDA issued Specification CSDA-PC-113: Polished Concrete in 2008 and more documents are planned as well as operator training courses. The first concrete polishing training course will be offered at the February 5-8, 2013 World of Concrete along with a certification course on core drilling and an estimating class. This direction fits well with the future direction for training in the construction industry and for CSDA members. In this issue of Concrete Openings you will find an article entitled Polished Performance. It was written by Andy Bowman, who will instruct the concrete polishing course at World of Concrete. The course will cover the various types of concrete grinders, hand polishers, vacuum systems, burnishers and auto scrubbers on the market as well as hands-on instruction on set-up, operation and troubleshooting. Also included will be a focus on the differences between wet and dry polishing and guidance on the estimating and bidding process for polishing jobs. CSDA’s focus will always be on the sawing and drilling industry, but as our contractors expand into other facets of the construction industry, CSDA intends to be there to serve the membership and the industry in the best way possible.
Hilti Diamond Core Bits
A new class of performance.
Hilti. Outperform. Outlast.
Hilti diamond core bits come in two specifications: one for extremely fast coring progress in all applications and thus maximum productivity, the other for long life. Featruring new segment geometry, Hilti core bits have been optimized for easy hole starting and maximum coring efficiency. Contact your Hilti representative today for complete details on our lineup of diamond core bits for the professional user.
Hilti Diamond Systems 1-800-879-4000 www.us.hilti.com • www.hilti.ca
Cut deep.
When you need to cut more than a few inches, Husqvarna’s extensive line of power cutters has you covered. The K 970 Ring and the hydraulic K 3600 MK II allow cutting up to 10", twice the depth of a traditional power cutter. They are perfect for contractors who have to adjust window and door openings. The power cutters are also able to handle heavy-user, precast and even ductile iron pipe applications. The K 970 Chain is ideal for cutting small, irregular openings. It finishes corners and avoids overcutting, making it an excellent companion to a wall saw. The saw can cut as deep as 15" from one side. Our deepest cutters, the K 760 Cut-n-Break and Electric K 3000 Cut-n-Break, are intuitive, economical and versatile saws that make cuts up to 16" deep. The twin blade configuration enables high cutting speed and power to cut through a variety of materials.
Giving you options.
Not only will our saws cut to the required depth, but their reliability, ergonomics, efficiency and power set them apart from competitors. HUSQVARNA CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS 17400 West 119th Street • Olathe, Kansas 66061 • T 800-288-5040 • F 800-825-0028 • www.husqvarnacp.com 2077 Bond Street • North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8 • T 800-461-9589 • F 800-728-1907 • www.husqvarnacp.ca Copyright © 2012 Husqvarna AB (publ.). All rights reserved. Husqvarna is a registered trademark of Husqvarna AB (publ.).