Concrete Openings March 2012

MARCH 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

President’s Page

jim dvoratchek CSDA President

L

ike me, you may be feeling that 2012 started at break-neck speed. The mild winter weather in the U.S. provided many concrete sawing and drilling contractors with more work opportunities than usual. This additional work has enabled contractors to retain employees who may have otherwise been laid off weeks, even months, earlier. Hopefully your concrete cutting business and employees benefitted from milder temperatures and less snowfall than in recent years.

Furthermore, I hope that work is increasing for everyone as we move into springtime.

No sooner had the year got underway, industry professionals headed to Las Vegas in January for the annual World of Concrete trade show and exhibition.

Now in its 38th year, this event continues to be an important part of the industry’s calendar. Attendance was up slightly from last year and my manufacturer friends told me that their order books filled up fast. This is certainly encouraging news for the industry. CSDA exhibited at World of Concrete and had several events going on during the show.

As the current CSDA President, I had the privilege of speaking at the association’s 40th Anniversary celebration, held at the CSDA exhibit booth. Rarely do I have

w ww. C SDA.ORG

any trouble telling people about the great achievements of the association, and this event was no different. In fact, some of the reasons I joined CSDA 23 years ago were evident at the show. CSDA held training classes to educate operators in sawing and drilling techniques, and to explain methods of estimating concrete cutting jobs to increase the bottom line. Training is crucial for everyone, and CSDA has always been a great advocate for operator and employee training. Networking has always been a huge benefit of being involved with the association, and the chance to meet with my peers at a CSDA Board meeting or spend time at the CSDA booth talking with friends and colleagues was great. There was a large crowd in attendance at the 40th Anniversary event, and I hope that everyone enjoyed the cake and champagne that was served.

Attention now turns to this month’s 40th Annual CSDA Convention and Tech Fair in Maui, Hawaii. The CSDA staff, Officers, Board and committee members have worked hard to stage an event worthy of a 40-year celebration, and registration numbers are set to break attendance records. This will be a historic convention in the association’s history, and I am proud to be CSDA President during the event. Wishing you all a profitable 2012.

c o n c r et e o pen i n g s | 1

The FORCE4® difference

Patented SealPRO® Technology

Precision engineered diamonds

Unique alloy chassis

Performance is in the details

FORCE4® with SealPRO ® Only FORCE4 Diamond Chains from ICS feature SealPro Technology, ensuring the longest life and overall reduction in chain stretch.

www.icsbestway.com © 2012 ICS | Blount, Inc. ICS and FORCE4 are trademarks of ICS.

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 a w i n g & d r i ll i n g a s s o c i a t 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

The Right Angle to Take

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 2012)

6

Cutting Contractor Renovates Building by the Lake

Kevin Baron Western Saw, Inc. kevinb@westernsaw.com Tim Beckman Cutting Edge Services Corporation beckman@cuttingedgeservices.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

Secure the Fort!

14

Jack Sondergard Central Concrete Cutting, Inc. jacksondergard@sprynet.com CSDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Terms expiring in 2013) Roger Allen Diamond Tools Technology roger@diamondtoolstechnology.com Ty Conner Austin Enterprise tconner@austin-enterprise.com

Building Gets Some Backbone at Historic Military Site

Cruising Down the Highway

24

CSDA Member Helps Provide a Smooth Ride

Mike Greene Greene’s, Inc. mikeg@greenesinc.com Larry Liddle Diamond Products Limited lliddle@diamondproducts.com Kellie Vazquez Holes Incorporated kvazquez@holesinc.com Kevin Warnecke ICS, Blount Inc. kwarnecke@icsbestway.com

w ww. C SDA.ORG

Forth Road Bridge

36

Diamond Tools Help Bridge the Gap

c o n c r et e o pen i n g s | 3

Concrete Openings Magazine Official Magazine of the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association Volume 21, Number 1 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.

Publisher Patrick O’Brien ASSOCIATE Editor Russell Hitchen CONCRETE CASE Contributors Adam Bathgate DJ Conlon Finlay Crocker Matthew Finnigan 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.

c o n t e n t s 12 Diamond Tools Are Forever

CSDA Celebrates 40 Years at World of Concrete

20 Tech Talk

Knowledge of Aggregates Can Improve Your Bottom Line

28 The Business of Business

Winning Profitable Work? Start with Strategy

30 Core Health

Make (and Keep) Your New Year’s Resolution

34 World of Concrete 2012 One Show, Many Opportunities

42 Safety Counts

Are You a Reasonably Prudent Employer?

45 OSHA/CSDA Alliance Latest 46 Insurance Corner The Effects of Litigation

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.

46 4 | m a r c h.1 2

Uncommon Bonds

Our Bond with Customers

Our Bond with the Industry

Our Bond Performance

Since 1969, we’ve been dedicated to the customer. From our commitment to on-time delivery to our reputation for service, we’ve spent years building relationships with our customers.

We are the largest American-owned diamond tool manufacturer in the U.S.A. Combined with our heavy involvement with CSDA...no one knows the market better than us.

100% virgin synthetic diamonds. Advanced production. No matter the job, we have a bit with the right bond performance for your job.

Such as our B2000 bond, which is ideal for hard aggregate concrete with heavy reinforcement.

Dixie Diamond...There’s Nothing Common About Us.

1.800.654.7224 | dixiediamond.com

The

Right Angle toTake

Cutting Contractor Renovates Building by the Lake

People often head to the lake for peace and quiet, to get away from things and relax.

One CSDA member, however, spent time down by the lake working with diamond tools to enhance the structural integrity of a large building. The contractor was required to core drill the existing slab foundation at 19 locations around the building so that strengthening pin piles could be installed. Time frames were tight and the building was to remain in operation during the work.

6 | m a r c h.1 2

A

ngle Lake is situated in SeaTac, Washington. The L-shaped expanse of water covers 90 acres and has a mixture of private residences and community facilities on its shores.

One of these facilities is owned by Lutheran Community Services (LCS) Northwest, a nonprofit human services agency serving communities throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The threestory, 32,000-square-foot building was purchased by LCS in 1999 and has undergone much renovation in the last five years, funded by an $8.5 million community campaign. In 2007, the building received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council.

By 2011, however, further renovations were required to strengthen the building’s structure in the event of strong seismic activity. The work included opening up 19 concrete areas in the existing foundation and slab to provide access for the installation of pin piles. The task was to create slots averaging 24 inches tall, 8 inches wide and 15 inches deep into the wall of the footings to allow access for 10-inch-diameter holes 24 to 36 inches deep. Steel tube columns were to be installed above the pin piles adjacent to existing tube steel columns before attachment plates were to be welded to the columns. Once completed, the exterior of the building was to be restored to pre-work conditions.

CASES

Photo courtesy of Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

CONCRETE

The Lutheran Community Services Building in SeaTac, Washington. w ww. C SDA.ORG

c o n c r et e o pen i n g s | 7

Slots were made measuring 24 inches tall, 8 inches wide and 15 inches deep.

Openings were made in the building’s foundation slab for seismic strengthening.

8 | m a r c h.1 2

CONCRETE

CASES

Having limited daytime access to the jobsite, and the stipulation that the building was to remain open through the majority of the work, created challenging work conditions for the team from NCC.

The contractor made 19 slot openings in the concrete for core drilling.

The work had extremely tight tolerances, as the new pin piles had to be placed and installed precisely to meet the steel tubing connection points in the foundation slab. In addition, certain parts of the building were to be shut down for brief periods while the construction work was being completed, and while the rest of the building was still in operation and open to the public. A specialist contractor was required who could meet these tolerances, stick to the strict time frame specified and provide minimum disruption to the day-to-day operations of the building.

CSDA member National Concrete Cutting, Inc. (NCC) of Milton, Washington, was hired by J.R. Abbott Construction, Inc. of Seattle to create the 19 slots and access core holes in the existing foundation and slab for the installation of pin piles. Other contractors had been considered for the work, but the traditional demolition methods employed by these contractors would not meet the structural or dimensional tolerances for the job, nor would they meet the desired noise levels of the building’s occupants. The diamond tools and equipment used by NCC offered reduced noise, less vibration and smaller amounts of dust and debris, so they were deemed the most suitable for the work. Cutting work began in July 2011 and was scheduled to take seven weeks to complete.

Matthew Finnigan, owner of National Concrete Cutting Inc., was confident of his team’s abilities. “We already had a good relationship with the general contractor, and they knew we were capable of performing the required work. Our quote for the job was good and they knew that we would do all we could in terms of schedule and flexibility to enable the job to be completed in a tight time window,” he said.

The cutting and coring work included elements of hand sawing, chain sawing and core drilling, along with some slab sawing. The process for each of the 19 areas began by hand sawing, chain sawing and breaking

w ww. C SDA.ORG

slots in the building’s concrete slab. A Handicut 20H hydraulic hand saw from GDM was used to cut the 24-inch-tall, 15-inch-wide and 8-inchdeep slots in the footings, along with a 880F4 concrete chain saw from ICS for the corner cuts. Hydraulic power came from a Dimas Model 2525 hydraulic pump, while the drilling equipment was attached to a 3-phase, 220-volt portable generator. Each slot took one operator approximately three hours to cut.

The contractor had a drilling operator ready to start work after each slot was created. The operator would core drill 10-inch-diameter holes in the slots at each of the 19 locations. Core depths varied from 24 to 36 inches around the foundation slab. The positioning and angle of the core bit had to be exact so that the new pin piles would meet the steel tubing connection points below. Operators used a Weka 220-volt core drill from Diamond Products to make the holes. Each access hole took between three and four hours to drill.

Having limited daytime access to the jobsite, and the stipulation that the building was to remain open through the majority of the work, created challenging work conditions for the team from NCC. Furthermore, the presence of employees and visitors to the building meant restricted noise hours on the job. NCC came up with a plan to complete the work on schedule using a combination of overtime hours, night work and weekend work. Typical shifts would consist of three operators working eight hours each day. This helped the contractor overcome the obstacles associated with the work and complete the project in a timely manner.

Another factor complicating the contractor’s work schedule was access to the 19 work areas around the building. NCC had to schedule work in line with the general contractor, who would prepare each location for cutting and coring by clearing the work area, opening up the exterior

c o n c r et e o pen i n g s | 9

Holes measuring 10 inches in diameter and up to 36 inches deep were made. of the building and allowing access for hydraulic and electrical lines. The cutting team encountered several stoppages due to access and owner schedules, but good planning before the start of work and employing flexible working hours ensured NCC did not fall behind.

Operators were provided with all the necessary items of personal protective equipment for the job, and were briefed daily about working at a location where members of the public would be close by. The contractor determined safe working distances, made sure that all equipment was guarded and clearly marked cords, water hoses and hydraulic lines. It was important to keep cords away from entrances and walkways to avoid creating trip hazards for the public or causing electrical shocks.

NCC was able to successfully navigate around the building, creating the 19 slots and the access core holes. The job was completed on time and within budget, taking seven weeks between July and September 2011. One minor change order was issued for the project, based on a need to move and adjust one pin pile work area, but impact to the overall work schedule was minimal.

“National Concrete Cutting did all the saw cutting and coring work on the LCS Structural Remediation project, and they came through with flying colors,” said Tim Strand, superintendant for J.R. Abbott Construction, Inc. “Without their efforts, we would not have been able to meet our tight schedule.”

Based on the success of this job, the general contractor plans to provide NCC with more concrete cutting work in the future. The building owners were also very pleased with the outcome of the work, which enabled the LCS building to remain operational throught the entire project.

“The crew assigned to this project performed admirably and were most responsive to the customer’s needs. We were pleased to have the opportunity to perform work on the project and look forward to continuing to do work for the general contractor. It was a job that highlighted the expertise of our seasoned operators while providing others with great on-the-job experience,” added Finnigan.

REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.concreteopenings.com/FORUM.CFM

1 0 | m arc h.12

Precision drilling with diamond tools was preferred to traditional demolition methods.

Company Profile National Concrete Cutting Inc. has been in business since 1947 and operates in the greater Puget Sound region with headquarters in Milton, Washington. The company was a founding member of CSDA in 1972 and, after some time away, rejoined the association in 2010 under new ownership.

National Concrete Cutting has 10 operators, 12 trucks and offers the concrete cutting services of slab sawing, core drilling, hand sawing, wall sawing and selective demolition.

Resources General Contractor: J.R. Abbott Construction, Inc. Sawing and Drilling Contractor: National Concrete Cutting Inc. Milton, Washington Phone: 800-551-0511 Email: matthewf@nationalconcretecuttinginc.com Website: www.nationalconcretecuttinginc.com Methods Used: Flat Sawing, Core Drilling, Hand Sawing, Chain Sawing

High Resolution = Better Results

Introducing the New StructureScanTM Mini HR

FDH Engineering, Baton Rouge, LA USA

This next generation in the StructureScan Mini Series uses a higher frequency antenna for improved resolution of closely spaced and near surface targets.

See the New StructureScan Mini HR at the CSDA Annual Meeting Grafscan, Brampton, Ontario Canada

Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. w ww. C SDA.ORG

www.geophysical.com • sales@geophysical.com

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 1 1

Diamond Tools are Forever CSDA Celebrates 40 Years at World of Concrete CSDA was out to prove that “Diamond Tools are Forever” at this year’s World of Concrete trade show and exhibition. In recognition of CSDA’s 40th Anniversary, the association hosted a celebration on Wednesday, January 25 at its exhibit booth in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Since no party is complete without great food and drinks, champagne and cake were served, as well as some other surprises.

Industry professionals from around the world and members of the press were in attendance. Everyone wanted to be part of the 40th Anniversary event, and were joined by CSDA Board and committee members, staff and past presidents of the association. A short presentation was made by CSDA President Jim Dvoratchek and Executive Director Pat O’Brien, before Jackie James, the show director CSDA Executive Director Pat O’Brien with Jim Dvoratchek, current CSDA President.

Jim Dvoratchek speaks to the attendees.

CSDA Estimating class.

1 2 | m arc h.12

of World of Concrete, thanked the association for its 35-year-long support of the show and presented O’Brien with a special award. “We at World of Concrete would like to thank CSDA for its many contributions in terms of education and training, and for its continued support of WOC. I congratulate the association on 40 years of excellent service to the industry,” said James.

Members of the CSDA Board of Directors and Past Presidents were presented with commemorative diamond-shaped crystals, including a “CSDA 1972–2012” enscription. To complete the celebration, Dvoratchek cut the custom CSDA 40th Anniversary cake and attendees raised their champagne flutes to another successful 40 years. As the event drew to a close, attendees mingled, professionals networked and all those involved with CSDA began looking ahead to the association’s 40th Annual Convention and Tech Fair in Maui, Hawaii on March 4-9.

Look out for coverage of this event in the June 2012 issue of Concrete Openings.

CSDA did not just celebrate at World of Concrete, however. The association also educated during the show by holding two training classes. A three-day CSDA Hand Sawing & Drilling 101 class was held, along with a two-day CSDA Estimating class focusing on the role of an estimator. Content for the Hand Sawing & Drilling 101 class was split between the classroom and the slab, and students spent time in the mornings at the outdoor exhibit booths of several CSDA member companies to perform practical exercises.

One of the Hand Sawing & Drilling 101 class attendees, Deven Hall of Central Concrete Cutting in Edgar, Wisconsin, was very complimentary. He said, “This course was very helpful and gave me a lot of

knowledge. The online courses are good too, but being able to do the hands-on stuff and receive input from the instructors is great.”

Following the completion of the training classes, CSDA training instructor Rick Norland gave a 90-minute World of Concrete seminar on the subject of Utilizing Concrete Structure GPR Data to Avoid Hand Sawing & Drilling 101 class.

Problems on Friday, January 27. Norland presented bridge and highway condition survey data utilizing Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) at highway speeds and within lane closures. The object of the seminar was to define and understand the uses of GPR, recognize how to use such data to determine composition and condition of concrete structures and

CSDA Board members, Officers and Past Presidents with their awards (From left to right): Doug Walker, Jack Sondergard, Donna Harris, Judith O’Day, Mike Orzechowski, Tim Beckman, Mike Greene, Larry Liddle, Kellie Vazquez, Roger Allen, Kevin Baron, Ty Conner, Greg Broom and Ron Rapper. how to utilize GPR data to augment and correlate with Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and core data. The seminar also explored how to use GPR data to reduce the amount of FWD and core data required for pavement management systems.

In addition to these events, CSDA held two meetings during the show. The CSDA Board of Directors met before the 40th Anniversary celebration to review the association’s achievements in 2011 and discuss new business, while the CSDA Next Generation Committee held a meeting on Thursday, January 26. The Next Generation group first met at World of Concrete 2010, and within two short years, it has grown to around 40 members. Furthermore, the group became an official CSDA committee during the CSDA Winter Meetings in December 2011.

The purpose of the CSDA Next Generation Committee is to cultivate continuous leadership for CSDA through education, mentoring and networking. The committee is open to all members who wish to help lead the association through the next 40 years and beyond.

For the fifth consecutive year, representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were present at the CSDA exhibit booth as part of the OSHA/CSDA Alliance program.

Representatives like Don Evans were on hand to answer questions,

w ww. C SDA.ORG

Next Generation Committee members Erin O’Brien, Matt Dragon, Sid Kilgore, Keith Ripley and Kellie Vazquez. give advice and provide documentation. “Each year, I see the benefits of OSHA having representation at a trade show like World of Concrete.

By sharing booth space with CSDA, my colleagues and I are able to meet with contractors face-to-face, discuss their concerns and provide them with helpful documents. Just like CSDA, we are here to work with companies and provide a safer work environment for all those in the concrete sawing and drilling industry,” he said.

It was another successful show for CSDA, and it is hoped that the association will be providing even more programs and benefits to a larger membership by the time the next milestone—50 years— is reached. For more information about CSDA or any of its 40th Anniversary events, visit www.csda.org, email info@csda.org or call 727-577-5004.

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 1 3

Secure

1 4 | m arc h.12

CONCRETE

CASES

the Fort!

Building Gets Some Backbone at Historic Military Site

Photo courtesy of Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp.

There is a certain reassurance that comes from knowing a building can withstand earthquakes and explosions. For the new occupants of a renovation in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the reinforcement is welcomed as it ensures the old building does not sustain total damage from such events. Over the course of a few months in late 2011, core drilling techniques were employed from the roof straight down to the basement of this four-story building so it could undergo major structural reinforcement.

I

n order for 27 reinforcing stainless steel post tension cables to be installed within the exterior walls, holes measuring 4 inches in diameter needed to be created from the roof to the basement floor at 27 points around the building. Each access hole would be drilled through the masonry and measure 36 feet deep. Tolerances were tight, allowing only 0.25 inches from the specified path of the reinforcement. To preserve the historic nature of the building, great care was to be taken not to damage the exterior of the existing brickwork.

The 24,000-foot Riverside Apartments building was constructed in the 1920s as an officers’ quarters for the nearby U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. Having sat unused for 10 years, the building has been redeveloped into administrative space for the U.S. Army Force Management Support Agency (FMSA). The remodel means the building is up to modern codes and will be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building upon completion. The installation of the reinforcing steel cables will ensure the building will not collapse on its occupants in the event of a large explosion or earthquake.

Given the strict tolerances and the need to preserve the look of the Riverside Apartments building, there was a requirement to use techniques that would not disturb its external faces and would maintain the structural integrity of the walls. Professional tools were needed that could work in areas of limited access without producing excessive noise or vibration.

Core drilling within the exterior walls using diamond tools was chosen as the ideal method for this job. The general contractor for the project, Satterfield Pontikes of Houston, Texas, hired CSDA member K.C. Coring & Cutting Construction, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri, to do the work.

Left: The building was to be reinforced with post tension steel cables. w ww. C SDA.ORG

Core drilling would begin on the roof and go 36 feet deep through the wall.

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 1 5

Photo courtesy of Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp.

Operators drilled 4-inch-diameter holes at 27 locations in the building.

“The job had to include core drilling at a low vibration to keep the integrity of the walls and prevent damage. It was stressed to us that we should not interfere with the historical look of the building,” said Kenny Francis, owner of K.C. Coring & Cutting Construction. “We knew that our operators were more than capable of keeping within the quarter-inch tolerances and maintaining zero damage to the walls.”

The contractor’s first task was to fabricate two custom mouting plates for the drilling work. These steel plates were mounted on the roof at specified points so that the core drill rigs could be mounted onto them. Each plate measured 30 inches long, 30 inches wide and was made of 0.5-inchthick steel. The mounting plates made sure the drills were secured in place and helped set up for accurate drilling.

The team marked out drilling locations at each point on the roof, before creating 0.5-inch-diameter anchor holes 7 inches deep in the roof to attach the mounting plate and core drill rig. Operators used 0.5-inchdiameter quick bolts and threaded couplers to secure the plate and position the drill stand, before leveling the stand and carriage. The core bit was attached and made level with the exterior wall ready for drilling. Weep

1 6 | m arc h.12

holes were created at regular intervals of the drilling path using a hammer drill, which allowed water to drain out from the core hole during cutting.

Plastic sheeting was hung on the interior walls of the building to control water.

One Weka DK52 hi-cycle electric core drill by Diamond Products and one DD300 hi-cycle core drill by Hilti were setup to perform the drilling, and were fitted with 4-inch-diameter Core Bore core bits by Diamond Products. Once cutting had reached 3 feet, operators stopped to check that the cutting direction remained within the tolerances set and was not compromising the intergrity of the brickwork. This process was repeated 1 foot later, making slight adjustments as needed. There was some movement in the brickwork as the core bit worked its way down, but this was anticipated and would be corrected later.

From this point, 4 feet of continuous tubing was added to the core bit and the rig was leveled again before cutting recommenced. These sections of tubing were removed one piece at a time from the hole every 4 to 12 feet, and the cores were then removed. The tubing was also placed back in the cut hole piece by piece for cutting to start again. Operators

“We knew that our operators were more than capable of keeping within the quarter-inch tolerances and maintaining zero damage to the walls.”

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' 0" doorway.

Confined space concrete cutting, crushing, grinding and breaking never looked so good.

Brokk. Bring it on.

The drilling team averaged 2.5 feet per hour through the exterior brick wall.

w ww. C SDA.ORG

Brokk Inc | 800.621.7856 | 360.794.1277 www.brokk.com | info@brokkinc.com

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 1 7

averaged a cutting speed of 2.5 feet per hour.

A primary water source was provided through the drill rig, while more water was supplied to the core hole by threading a hose through one of the weep holes.

To collect any dust and debris formed by core drilling the walls, 24-inch-tall by 12-inchwide openings were made at the bottom of the wall in the basement area of the building. A gaspowered hand saw from Stihl was used to cut the rectangular openings before the cut area was demolished and removed. This method was employed by the contractor because a crane could not be used on site to pull the cores from the openings, plus some of the brick cores had broken up in the hole and would have been difficult to retrieve by any other method. It took two operators and one laborer two days to drill one of the 36-foot-deep core holes in the Riverside Apartments building. This process was then repeated at the other 26 locations.

Besides having to work within tight tolerances and guard against exterior damage, the cutting contractor had to prepare for the elements on the jobsite. As the work moved into the winter months, the overnight temperatures in Kansas began to fall below freezing and rain fall increased. Operators were equipped with rainwear and all 480-volt power cords were waterproofed. To prepare for freezing temperatures, the contractor drained water hoses at the end of every shift using compressed air.

Other challenges on the job included the retrieval of bit segments, which would sometimes come loose and drop down the hole while cutting through the brickwork. Lost segments were retrieved by the use of magnets and reattached to the bit. Also, due to limited access on the roof of the building, the contractor had to plan carefully where and how the core rig would be mounted to avoid disruption to other parts of the building. In addition, the cutting team had to go through rigorous daily checks because of the sensitive nature of the job location. Both operators and trucks were thoroughly searched before they could enter the governmentcontrolled site.

There were also safety concerns on the part of K.C. Coring & Cutting Construction, which were addressed by weekly site safety meetings and having employees well trained for the requirments of the job. As operators would be working from the roof, it was important for them to be aware of fall hazards and be mindful of the dangers associated with working at height. The contractor had to identify specific points on the roof that could be used to tie off

Water lines were cleared daily to avoid damage from below-freezing temperatures.

1 8 | m arc h.12

CONCRETE

CASES

Cores were pulled from the hole or collected via openings made at the basement level.

employees wearing safety harnesses. Inside the building, water was a concern. Any water applied to the drilling work would run through the brickwork in several directions, so it was important to avoid any eletrical sources on the floors below.

In total, the concrete cutting operators took 71 days to complete all of the required 36-foot-deep holes at 27 locations around the building.

This amounted to 972 feet of core drilling. In addition, operators created 140 holes in the exterior walls of the building to allow water and small debris to escape from the core hole. The job was completed as bid with no delays. The drilling team used a combination of advanced hi-cycle equipment from manufacturers like Hilti and Diamond Products together with innovative custom designs for the mounting of equipment and the retrieval of tools and segments.

“We were very satisfied with the outcome of the job at Fort Leavenworth. This was an extremely tough job, given all the factors involved, but we had a good crew in place and they stood up and delivered,” said Adam Bathgate, dispatcher for K.C. Coring & Cutting Construction, Inc. “This is our specialty and it couldn’t have gone any better,” he added.

This CSDA member was able to stand easy knowing its core drilling work had helped to secure the fort.

REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.concreteopenings.com/FORUM.CFM

w ww. C SDA.ORG

Company Profile K.C. Coring & Cutting Construction, Inc. has been a member of CSDA since 1979 and has been in business for 33 years.

The company is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and is part of The Coring & Cutting Group. The contractor has 23 trucks, 30 employees, and offers the services of slab sawing, core drilling, hand sawing, wall sawing, wire sawing, ground penetrating radar, selective demolition and egress window installation.

Resources General Contractor: Satterfield Pontikes Sawing and Drilling Contractor: K.C. Coring & Cutting Construction, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri Phone: 816-523-2015 Email: adam@sawconcrete.com Website: www.kccoringandcutting.com Methods Used: Core Drilling, Hand Sawing

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 1 9

Tech Talk Tech Talk is a regular feature of Concrete Openings magazine, focusing on equipment, maintenance and operational 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.

Knowledge of Aggregates Can Improve Your Bottom Line

Figure 1—Aggregate Map of the US

By Chris Priest

2 0 | m arc h.12

Association (IDA). These groups are more than willing to help you, but be advised that some of the information provided may refer to new concrete projects, not existing concrete. Most associations and manufacturers can also offer maps that show generalized locations of aggregates for a particular area. · Investigate for yourself—The most accurate way to determine a type of aggregate present on a jobsite, however, is to get a sample. While not always possible, providing an actual physical sample of the aggregate to a knowledgeable person can eliminate doubt. Start by cutting a small wedge or drilling a core sample of the concrete, then pouring water onto it to bring out the aggregates. This may help you, the contractor, figure out what type of aggregate you will be cutting. Alternatively, the sample can be sent to a diamond tool manufacturer, who will have the information at hand to choose the appropriate diamond bit, blade or wire for the application.

Some manufacturers may even have a representative visit the jobsite, if required.

There are several laboratory tests that can be used to determine types of aggregate, but the one most commonly used in the field is the Mohs scale scratch test. Should you wish to perform your own scratch test, kits are available for purchase through a variety of sources.

Mohs Hardness

I

n today’s tough economy, many concrete sawing and drilling companies are looking for ways to diversify in an effort to increase profitability. One way to add to the bottom line without investing in a new segment of business is to create greater efficiencies in existing sources of profit. Being knowledgeable about the types of aggregate present in your company’s service area is one easy way to add profitability to the bottom line. In order to achieve the best results when sawing or drilling, you need to know what you are cutting.

There are several ways to obtain information about the type of aggregate at your jobsite: · Geological charts—While this information is considered accurate in a general sense, it may not be as accurate when a detailed investigation is conducted. Currently, an increasing amount of aggregate is being shipped in from different states across the U.S., and geological charts will not reflect this movement. Maps such as Figure 1 can give you a general idea of what type of aggregate to expect, from soft, abrasive aggregate limestone to very hard aggregate like flint or chert. · Diamond blade manufacturers—Your manufacturer representative can be a great source of information on aggregates.

They should have a history of sales for most geographical areas, and should have information regarding the different types of aggregates found. Some manufacturers will even travel to jobsites to examine the aggregate for a particular job. It is to the manufacturer’s benefit to supply you with such information, so that they can equip you with a product that is best suited for the application. · Associations—There are several associations that can provide information about aggregate, although it may vary from state to state. Examples include the American Concrete Paving Association (ACPA), the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the Industrial Diamond

Aggregate Used in Concrete Mix

8

Very Hard Aggregate (Flint, Chert)

7

Hard Aggregate (Quarts, Hard Gravels)

6

Medium Hard Aggregate (Medium Gravels, Granites)

5

Medium/Soft Aggregate (Soft Granite, Dolomite)

4,3

Soft, Abrasive Aggregate Limestone

Mohs Hardness Testing The hardness of a mineral relates to its resistance from abrasion, and is defined in terms of Mohs hardness scale. This scale designates a value ranging from 1 to 10 (with .5 increments) for each mineral, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest. The following minerals are used as standards: 1 Talc 6 Feldspar 2 Gypsum 7 Quartz 3 Calcite 8 Topaz 4 Fluorite 9 Corundum 5 Apatite 10 Diamond

A mineral of a given hardness can scratch all minerals of a lesser hardness, but can scratch no minerals of a greater hardness. For example, corundum scratches topaz while

quartz does not. Minerals of equal hardness can scratch each other with difficulty. These hardness values are relative and do not denote absolute hardness. For instance, a diamond is much harder versus corundum than is topaz to quartz.

To determine the hardness of a mineral relative to Mohs scale, perform a scratch test. Start by trying to scratch the glass plate provided in the test kit with your mineral.

This will quickly determine whether or not the mineral is harder or softer than 5:5; the approximate Mohs hardness of glass. Next, select the appropriate hardness pick.

To perform a scratch test, drag the hardness point with medium force across the surface of the mineral. If it does not scratch the mineral, then the mineral is harder than your point. Then try to scratch the mineral with the next harder point and so on until the hardness point scratches the mineral.

After testing the hardness of the mineral, you should add and subtract half a Mohs point either way to its tested value. This is an allowance to avoid inadvertently eliminating a mineral from consideration.

Tool Selection Once you have determined the aggregate type, there are many factors that affect the blade selection for sawing and drilling concrete. These factors include the size of the aggregate and the age of the concrete. In the concrete itself is sand, whether natural or quarried, and reinforcement that normally consists of steel rebar. These factors are important to consider, as even subtle changes in any of elements can effect cutting speed and the life of a diamond tool.

Another factor to consider when selecting the right diamond tool for a certain type of aggregate, is the equipment being used. Particular attention should be paid to the condition, power rating and recommended revolutions per minute for the equipment so that the correct bit, blade or wire is chosen. Operators are also significant factors in blade selection. The cutting technique of an experienced operator can differ from that of a novice cutter who may not know to change cutting approaches for different types of aggregate.

Some of these variables can be controlled while others cannot, but they all will affect the bottom line of the job. If you provide samples to your diamond manufacturers, they should be able to analyze the concrete and factor in other information about the job before giving their suggestions. The manufacturer should have all the necessary details to make a sound recommendation on the most cost efficient blade or bit for a particular job.

w ww. C SDA.ORG

INTRODUCING ARIX ™ GENERATION II

ARIX™, the original technology of diamond arrangement was first introduced by DITEQ at World of Concrete 2005. Advanced ARIX™ Generation II has enhanced metal bonds, ultra-precise diamond positioning and application specific segment designs. Try it and

The New C41AXW Wall Saw Blade utilizes GENERATION II technology

TryGENERATION II in DITEQ’s • Flat Saw • Wall Saw • Ring Saw Blades and • Core Bits

Diamonds are strategically placed throughout the segment

EQUIPMENT 866-688-1032 DIAMOND TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

www.DITEQ.com

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 2 1

TECH TA L K Making educated decisions based on sound information makes all the difference when trying to cut costs and increase profits. Aggregates vary in different regions, and sometimes, even within a specific market, the information you provide can make a significant difference in profit margins for the jobs. There is a large volume of flat sawing work performed on U.S. highways, so this is a good example of how variables, including type of aggregate, can change from state to state.

The following are examples of aggregates in different states, including the approximate blade cost for that area. These examples are based on conservative numbers, and will change depending on other variables.

Costing numbers are calculated by the inch foot cost—linear feet multiplied by depth.

Example A Virginia—60 percent of the state is quartzite “James River Gravel,” the material is hard and there is some abrasion. Average inch foot cost is approximately 9 to 13 cents per inch foot, but can go as high as 20 cents.

The other 40 percent is granite, sometimes referred as salt and pepper granite. This is medium hard and does have abrasion in the concrete. The average cost is 2 to 5 cents per inch foot. The following calculations show how this change in aggreagate will relate to your bottom line.

Example job A: 500,000 total inch feet (50,000 linear feet of 10-inch-thick concrete) # 1 – Quartzite (7-7.5 Mohs) – 500,000 x .13 = $65,000 (blade cost) # 2 – Granite (5-7 Mohs) – 500,000 x .05 = $25,000 Total difference in blade cost – $40,000 As Example A shows, not knowing the aggregates can make or break a job, not only in material cost but also labor cost. Some contractors can spend an additional third of their total job costs on labor because they did not consider that the harder material would take longer to cut.

Sawability Document Available Online One of the most difficult tasks for tool suppliers and contractors is to accurately predict costs on a given job when the difficulty of sawing the concrete structure, including the appropriate rate and expected blade life, is unknown prior to starting the job.

To assist industry professionals identify the correct type of aggregate for a given job, General Electric produced a document entitled Classification of the Sawability of Portland Cement Concretes Containing Various Aggregates. The document provides information and guidance on the selection of workpiece properties, flat sawing evaluation procedures and the influence of different types of aggregate on cutting. Several graphs and charts detail the effects of aggregate type on blade performance, variations of power requirements and other useful statistics.

A PDF version of this document has been uploaded to the Concrete Openings Website for readers to review and print. Please visit www.concreteopenings.com and click on the link to the right of the page under “Other Features.”

Mohs test scratch kit Example B Texas—Houston and surrounding areas has a lot of flint or chert, a hard and non-abrasive aggregate. The average inch foot cost is approximately 10 to 17 cents per inch foot. Meanwhile, the Dallas and Fort Worth areas contain limestone, a soft and abrasive aggregate with an average inch foot cost of 1 to 3 cents.

Example job B: 500,000 total inch feet (50,000 linear feet of 10-inch-thick concrete) # 1 – Flint (7-7.5 Mohs) – 500,000 x .17 = $85,000 # 2 – Limestone (5-6.5 Mohs) – 500,000 x .03 = $15,000 Total Difference in blade cost – $70,000 While these are merely examples, these types of circumstances are found in almost every region of the U.S. The variety of cutting conditions created by different aggregates affect everything from inch foot cost to labor cost to wear and tear on equipment. Some of the negative results associated with using blades and bits intended for softer aggregates to cut hard aggregates include blade hammering, loss of tension, segment loss, high labor cost, high diamond cost and excessive wear on the equipment.

When estimating costs and bidding on jobs, the type of aggregates should always be a primary consideration to protect and improve your bottom line. Diamond bit and blade costs can be kept to a minimum if you educate yourself about aggregates and other job conditions. You can also utilize resources throughout the industry, like concrete producers, blade manufacturers, trade associations and resource documents. It is beneficial to network with people experienced in your area.

While most people in the concrete cutting industry are aware of these variables, it is surprising how often the type of aggregate is not a primary consideration when bidding on a job—particularly large jobs.

Aggregate content in concrete is a major factor and can influence the profitability of a job.

Chris Priest is a regional sales manager for Multiquip/Sanders Blades based in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania. He has served on the CSDA Board of Directors and is a member of the association’s Election, Marketing and Membership committees.

Chris can be reached at 310-850-5483 or cpriest@multiquip.com.

2 2 | m arc h.12

Diamond Tools Technology

The Best Solution

Call Today!! 877-345-6DTT (388) www.diamondtoolstechnology.com For Canadian customers, please see our Canadian affiliate w ww. C SDA.ORG

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 2 3

Cruising Down the Highway CSDA Member Helps Provide a Smooth Ride

A

22-mile section of an interstate highway in Virginia was giving motorists a bumpy ride and required 70,000 square yards of repair work. The 8-inch-thick reinforced concrete surface had deteriorated and was badly damaged by the large volumes of traffic using this stretch of road. The state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) set about identifying problem areas before a professional cutter was brought in to help with the patching and repair work.

Interstate 85 (I-85) runs almost 669 miles from Montgomery, Alabama, to Petersburg, Virginia, passing through Georgia and the Carolinas along the way. One particular section of I-85, from mile marker 38 near the town of McKenney to exit 61, close to the city of Petersburg and just south of Richmond, was highlighted by the Virginia DOT as requiring immediate and extensive work to keep the two-lane highway safe for motorists.

Damaged or deteriorated areas of road were marked out in each lane, measuring 12 feet wide and anywhere from 6 to 800 feet in length. The marked patch areas were cut into 12-foot-wide by 6-foot-long sections, so that the old concrete could be removed and fit into a dump truck for disposal. The concrete was 8 inches thick and contained continuous steel 2 4 | m arc h.12

reinforcement. The patch areas also had 22-inch-long tie back areas on the ends. The steel reinforcement needed to be exposed at these tie back locations so that new steel rebar could be tied to it.

The project was awarded to Interstate Improvement, Inc. of Faribault, Minnesota, who acted as general contractor for the work. Interstate Improvement would be responsible for the removal of the old concrete surface and the installation of the new one, but needed a concrete cutting contractor to come in and cut out the patch sections and tie back areas first. The general contractor hired CSDA member Dan-Kel Concrete Cutting, Sawing & Scanning of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to handle the cutting work. A schedule was drawn up and a deadline of October 2012 was set for the completion of the repair work. The cutting contractor began work in May 2011.

D.J. Conlon, vice president of Dan-Kel, said, “Concrete cutting was chosen because it was the fastest and most accurate way to remove the damaged areas. The edges needed to be a clean, vertical face for the general contractor to pour new concrete against.”

CONCRETE

CASES

A total of 250,000 linear feet of concrete was cut a depth of 8 inches.

The cutting team worked day and night to keep ahead of schedule.

www. CSDA.ORG

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 2 5

Operators cut 70,000 square yards of concrete on I-85.

Speed was certainly a factor for the cutting team. Interstate Improvement specified that it wanted its team to replace a minimum of 1,000 square yards per day, so sawing was the best method to ensure the team could keep ahead of the general contractor’s work schedule. Jackhammers had been considered to break out the areas for patching, but this method would not have provided the required speed or precision offered by diamond tools.

First, the right side lane of the southbound I-85 was closed from exit 61 at Petersburg. The general contractor marked off the lane with cones and barriers so that work could commence. Dan-Kel worked with the general contractor to plan a work schedule before the cutting team mobilized. Cutting started at exit 61 and operators moved south towards mile marker 38. The contractor used FS6600 D flat saws from Husqvarna Construction Products fitted with 26-inch-diameter blades to make the cuts. Operators made two 6-foot-long cuts and two 12-foot-long cuts 8 inches deep through the concrete and embedded steel reinforcement. It took one operator under 10 minutes to cut the perimeter of a patch area.

For the tie back areas around the patches, operators made two 12-foot-long cuts 22 inches out from the corners of the 12-foot patch perimeter lines. The tie back cuts measured 3 inches deep, before operators made four plunge cuts 8 inches deep in the corners and in line with traffic. This enabled a demolition and removal team to hammer out the tie back areas and replace the old steel reinforcement.

2 6 | m arc h.12

Patch areas measured 12 feet long by 6 feet wide.

Some of the tie back areas were a challenge to cut. The cutting team was originally instructed to cut only 3 inches deep into the concrete to avoid the reinforcement. However, once the general contractor began pulling the panels from the ground, it was discovered that the steel ran high through the concrete and some had been cut. Fortunately, this only proved to be the case in a few patch areas and cutting continued without any further problems.

Once the perimeter cuts and tie back cuts had been made, the cutting team would head to the next marked area while the general contractor moved in to remove the old surface and pour in the new one.

Each poured patch area was covered with Burlap—the woven fabric used to manufacturer sandbags—until dry. The cutting contractor completed all concrete sawing work on the right lane before returning to exit 61 and working southbound in the left lane. This process was repeated for the northbound stretch of the I-85, starting at mile marker 38 and moving up to exit 61. Again, the right lane was cut first, followed by the left lane.

Dan-Kel typically ran two saws, but occasionally increased to three to keep well ahead of schedule. Operators worked in 10-hour shifts during a 20-hour work day for up to six days a week, cutting an average of 2,500 linear feet per shift, per saw. “The rate of production that Interstate Improvement commanded was impressive. We had to work overtime to stay ahead of them, but once we got going we cruised ahead,” said Conlon.

CONCRETE

CASES

Flat sawing work covering a distance of 22 miles in each lane of the highway.

There are always safety concerns when working on busy roadways, particularly an interstate. All saw operators and employees wore hard hats, safety glasses, class 2 hi-visibility vests and ear plugs. Work trucks also needed to be visible, and were equipped with flashing beacons. Interstate Improvement provided all necessary barriers for the work and lighting for night shifts. Each work week would begin on Monday with a safety meeting to address any potential hazards.

In total, Dan-Kel Concrete Cutting, Sawing & Scanning used four Husqvarna FS6600 D flat saws to cut approximately 250,000 linear feet of 8-inch-thick reinforced concrete. The general contractor removed 70,000 square yards of concrete from the cut areas. Despite being given until October 2012 to complete the work, the contractor had completed all specified cutting

by October 2011—a full year ahead of schedule—and is confident that this will lead to more work in the future.

“I was happy with the project. It is the largest project we have done to date, and was challenging, but we managed to stay ahead and keep everyone happy. It went just as planned,” concluded Conlon.

Concrete cutting on roads and highways provides many contractors with a healthy amount of business. Maintaining infrastructure is priority for many government organizations, and the speed, precision and efficiency of cutting concrete with diamond tools is ideal for such work. Commuters on I-85 can thank this CSDA member for helping to give them a smooth and safe ride.

REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.concreteopenings.com/FORUM.CFM

w ww. C SDA.ORG

Company Profile Dan-Kel Concrete Cutting, Sawing & Scanning was established in 1982 and has been a CSDA contractor member for seven years. The company is based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and also services the nearby states of North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Dan-Kel has eight operators, eight trucks and offers the concrete cutting services of slab sawing, core drilling, hand sawing, wall sawing, wire sawing, ground penetrating radar and concrete removal.

Resources General Contractor: Interstate Improvement, Inc. Sawing and Drilling Contractor: Dan-Kel Concrete Cutting, Sawing & Scanning Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Phone: 843-449-0199 Email: dmconlon@dankelconcrete.com Website: www.dankelconcrete.com Methods Used: Flat Sawing

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 2 7

The Business of Business

Winning Profitable Work?

Start With Strategy

By Cynthia Paul

I

ncreased project opportunities are bringing optimism and hope to an industry economically challenged over the last several years.

Architects and engineers are busy with new work, and some stalled projects are receiving new life. Contractors are struggling to pursue and estimate the work they have before them. All of this comes amid increased competition, low profit margins and smaller staff levels. Companies resized to fit a smaller market. Now the challenge is having the right resources to win the work needed to grow and thrive.

Contractors are feeling like they are back on the business development and estimating treadmill. They are trying to do emergency triage to determine which projects to pursue with great effort to bring creative solutions, develop stronger relationships and position to win, and which projects simply to estimate, hoping to win with the lowest bid.

Customers are clearly in the driver’s seat today. They are getting the best and frequently the biggest contractors, all struggling to be positioned to win work. A large part of the industry has been challenged with profit margins. Some projects were won with pricing levels that will prove devastating by project completion; others were won by innovative project approaches that will save customers both time and money. The challenge is that not every project and customer warrants the time and effort in creating a unique approach to build the relationships internally that will help you get positioned. Simply put, not all projects are created equal when it comes to your company’s time and resources. So how do you decide which ones to pursue?

Different Results, Different Companies In the same economy, different companies get significantly different results. Where many contractors have struggled financially, others have positioned their companies quickly and are enjoying banner years. Of course, not all markets, geographic regions or market segments are created equal, which explains a bit of the difference in companies’ results. Your answers to the questions reveal much about your approach to business: “If you knew a year before the recession hit what the economic and

2 8 | m arc h.12

competitive environment would be today, what would you have done differently?” Would your answer change if asked, “What would you have done if you knew the depth and duration of the recession three years in advance?”

Most contractors quickly come up with concrete, specific actions they would take.

They would get better economic information early, make structural changes faster, shift into different market segments or increase their talent pool faster. Most of the changes people would make would negate much of the economic impact their companies experienced.

You are Designed Perfectly to Get the Results You are Getting If you want real change in outcome, you have to make real change in what you are doing. The key is not depending on afterthe-fact reactions to economic changes; it is making sure you anticipate the changes ahead and position your company for success. You must have confidence in your vision of the future. What most people see today is a slowly improving economy, packed with more project opportunities. Many competitors find themselves in dire need of backlog, whether they are a big or small company. All companies need to focus on doing what they can to find and win sensible work. What better place to get positioned quickly than the type of work you pursue and chase?

Winning Your Share of the Work Start with a clear strategy when you are trying to win your fair share—or better yet, more—of the work. Become clear about your market white spot, which is where you are the most successful winning work and where you are consistently able to make money.

Strategy answers the question of “how” you will win the work. It identifies the right target customers, projects and geographic areas.

Your go-to-market strategy needs to answer why the client would pick you over other qualified contractors. When a strategy is clear, you should be able to convey it to your team in a few sentences.

Each of your key markets needs a unique go-to-market strategy. The strategy needs to identify not only the kind of work, but also the type of customers, how to win them and the

business reason that will cause them to pick you. At times in the history of your firm, strong customer relationships alone would sustain and build backlogs. Today, it is a more complex environment than will be solved with simply a good business relationship. All companies have been impacted, more or less, by the economic winds buffeting the nation. When customers look at their construction projects, they sometimes think it would be easier to squeeze extra money out of those versus finding more savings in operations and administration. Even your customers’ customers are clamoring for cheaper, better, faster strategies.

Today, you need to give customers a business reason to pick you. The emotional connection of the business relationship needs to be coupled with the logic of how the deal serves the customer—something it can share with its senior team or board. In order to determine the business reason that will enable you to land a major project, find out more about your target customers—what is important to them, their strategic goals, challenges they are experiencing from their competitors and what customers are demanding of them. As you learn more, you will be able to find unique solutions that will resonate with these customers and get you selected. Discovering more about target customers might be the result of having fun golfing or some other recreational activity.

While having fun is certainly not the business reason, such time together provides the access to get to know your targets, find out what is important and share your story with them.

Think “Work Mix�

Effective management of work mix has always required planning business development and estimating efforts to target market segments, key customers, types of work and project size. Keeping a strong, consistent backlog is a profitable strategy. Backlog focus needs to also laser in on work from targeted, repeat customers; amount of work available with a limited field of qualified customers; likely competitive response; and strategies to fill holes that can appear. Build your get-work efforts to deliver a mix of work where you can be successful in both winning and building the work.

Rebuilding company capability and moving from right-sized in a smaller market to right-sized in a growing market requires growth and consistency in backlog. Identifying targeted work needed from each is the first step in winning your fair share of work. The second step is conducting a strategy session by market segment where you identify where you are similar to top competitors in your offerings, and where you can provide something different that is highly desired by the prospects in that segment.

Look at your company through the eyes of your customers. Customers always know more about competitors; they work with them, they gossip about them, they respond to the positioning of your competitors. Get input from customers as to your similarities and differences from your competitors. Do not be overly concerned if they tell you that your company is rock solid, but is pretty much on par with competitors. That is the challenge in much of the industry: To differentiate oneself from what often is viewed as a provider of commodity service. Without unique characteristics, you easily fall into the commodity trap.

Identifying areas where you are different comes from strategic thinking or strategic planning for most contractors, not from having your marketing department create a clever way to say what you are already doing. The need is to come up with differentiation in fact, not spin.

Plan on spending time to identify, challenge and target ways to be different. Focus on what you can provide that is not easily knocked off by competition. Lasting differentiation is usually based upon core competencies: What are you really good at doing? If you and your team can think of and quickly implement clear points of differentiation, so can your competitors.

Think of ways you do business and the systems, processes and capabilities that your company has that, when highly focused, could create an advantage. Those competitive advantages are always much more difficult and, therefore sustainable, opportunities for differentiation.

w ww. C SDA.ORG

Conclusion You wear many hats today. You are a strategic force inside your company and with customers. You are a hands-on, roll up your sleeves type of person who quickly hops in and gets the job done, whatever that job might be. Today, you also need to be a rainmaker for your organization, regardless of whether you view yourself in business development or not.

Customers want wider and deeper contact inside construction companies. Providing that is not only being responsive to the customer, it also sets you up with a significant opportunity to discover how to add value and win future work.

Think strategy when trying to win the work you want. Think broader than focusing on specific projects. Start with identifying your go-to-market strategy, then follow up with an internal strategy session identifying what you can provide customers that gives them the business excuse to bias work your way. You

can build on that approach by then holding a winning strategy session where you identify what you can provide to the customer on a specific job that is different than the pack of competitors nipping at your heals.

Get creative when devising ways to create an apple-to-oranges (versus an apple-toapple) comparison on projects in the mind of your customer. If you offer the same as what key competitors offer, then the only reasonable alternative available to the customer is to buy on price. Help your customers while helping yourself. Give customers a solid business reason to select you, at a price you both can live with. Last, do that in every market segment you choose to serve.

Cynthia Paul is a managing director at FMI Corporation. She may be reached at 303.398.7206 or via email at cpaul@fminet.com.

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 2 9

CORE HEALTH

Make (and Keep) Your New Year’s Resolution

By Erin O’Brien

M

ost of us, at some point in our lives, have made a New Year’s resolution. Maybe you made one this year, or even multiple resolutions. Maybe you gave up a long time ago when you realized you never kept them. If you did make a 2012 resolution, how is it going?

We are now a few months into 2012. If you haven’t been able to keep your resolution, don’t worry–only 64% of people who make resolutions keep them past the first month, and only 46% keep them after six months. In fact, 75% of people keep a resolution after the first week and only 71% keep it after the first two weeks. And when you look at how many people actually make a resolution–45% of the population–you are in good company if you are still working on it.

Fig. 1

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions Spend more time with friends and family Exercise/get in shape Lose weight Quit smoking Enjoy life more Get out of debt/better money management Quit drinking Learn something new Help others Get organized

So if most people fail, why make a resolution in the first place? When looking at a list of the most common resolutions made, most relate to some type of physical, mental, emotional or social health (see Fig. 1). Even a small positive change is still a positive change, so it certainly doesn’t hurt to set some goals to improve your health in 2012, and January 1st is a good place to start for some–or any time of the year.

3 0 | m arc h.12

2. Prepare for the change • Write down your goals • Make a plan of action—how will your keep your resolution?

3. Take action • Reward your successes • Seek social support 4. Maintenance • Avoid temptation • Don’t give up if you take a step back— identify what caused the relapse and take steps to avoid future situations that could cause another one

w ww. C SDA.ORG www.

CSDA.ORG

www.expertequipment.com

1. Understand change • Are you really ready to change your behavior?

• Is there anything preventing you from changing?

• What factors could trigger a relapse?

Cardi TP 400-EL 16" - 6" Deep

Cardi T1 PU-EL 3-Speed

Cardi T2-220-EL 3-Speed

Slider EZ Release Ring

Cardi T3-250-EL 2-Speed

Cardi T6-375-EL 3-Speed

!

NEW Roller Carriage 2-7/8" HDX

L 180

Cardi Vortex 625 6-Speed

Cardi BM 800-EL 3-Speed

Cardi BM1000-EL 4-Speed

Cardi T9-450-EL 4-Speed

Cardi FR 302 3-Speed

S A L E S • PA R T S • S E R V I C E

CALL 713-797-9886

www.expertequipment.com

In regards to physical health, a resolution is a good way to kick start a new exercise program, make over your current diet or make an overall pledge to get healthier. There are small steps you can take that will make a big difference. If your goal is to change your diet and lose weight, start by adding more fruits and vegetables to your meals, and reducing your intake of processed foods, red meat and alcohol. A healthy diet can consist of everything in moderation, but should focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein like chicken, turkey and fish. Changing your diet is an important component of losing weight and being healthier, but adding physical activity into your daily routine is also necessary. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily.

This can be accomplished by walking, jogging, participating in organized sports, biking, hiking, swimming or any other physical activity. Adding strength training to your routine two to three days per week will help build muscle strength and endurance, which in turn will help your body burn more calories.

For those looking to improve mental, emotional or social health, there are resolutions to help you achieve those goals as well. Make a goal to spend more time with friends or family, reduce your debt, get organized or do something to help others. Accomplishing any of these goals will reduce stress, improve self-confidence and raise your overall level of happiness. And achieving those goals is good for anyone’s health.

The important thing to remember when setting and working towards achieving a resolution, is to not let a small failure deter your from your goal. Setbacks happen, and if you can learn from the mistakes you made to ensure you don’t make them again, you can still achieve your goal.

Try following these simple guidelines to successfully set and achieve your resolution:

w w w. e x p e r t e q u i p m e n t . c o m C.O.ExpertEquipAd10.indd 1

People who make a New Year’s resolution are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who do not make a resolution. Set small goals at first—making a resolution that is too ambitious may actually deter you from accomplishing your goals. Whether it be to lose weight, stop smoking, spend more time with family or organize your closet, accomplishing any of these goals will improve your overall health and make for a happy, healthy 2012.

1/13/11 2:07 PM

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.

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 3 1

Ready for action.

3 2 | m arc h.12

Husqvarna’s extensive line of high frequency and hydraulic wall saws ensures there is a saw to meet your needs. The WS 482 high frequency wall saw boasts more power, larger blade size capacity (62") and offers the best power-to-weight ratio on the market.

The saw is operated by radio remote control. which allows total control of the sawing process and freedom to move around the job site. The WS 440 HF high frequency wall saw features a powerful, water-cooled electric motor that supplies constant high power to the spindle over a wide rpm range for faster and more efficient sawing. The motor generates 17hp to the shaft, despite the fact that the saw only weights 55 lbs.

HUSQVARNA CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS

w ww. C SDA.ORG

17400 West 119th Street • Olathe, Kansas 66061 • T 800-288-5040 • F 800-825-0028 2077 Bond Street • North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8 • T 800-461-9589 • F 800-728-1907 www.husqvarnacp.com c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 3 3 Copyright © 2012 Husqvarna AB (publ.). All rights reserved. Husqvarna is a registered trademark of Husqvarna AB (publ.).

of World

Concrete

2012

One Show, Many Opportunities Leading up to this year’s World of Concrete, organizers of the show urged industry professionals to “seize the opportunity.” For those who made the trip to Las Vegas, the event provided several opportunities for contractors in the concrete sawing and drilling industry to improve their cutting performance, expand on their range of services and one-up the competition.

For 38 years, the World of Concrete trade show and exhibition has been the stage for manufacturers to showcase their most innovative products and latest advancements. Between January 24th and 27th, 2012, over 52,000 attendees walked the floors of the Las Vegas Convention Center. They discovered what new products and services were being offered by manufacturers and distributors in more than 1,200 exhibit booths, covering over half a million square feet of floor space.

The Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association (CSDA) was part of the show, exhibiting in the Central Hall of the convention center. The association has been a cosponsor of World of Concrete for 35 years, and continues to support the show by promoting registration, exhibiting and holding training classes and Board meetings during the four-day event.

In addition, CSDA manufacturer and distributor members filled 43 exhibit booths, all looking to promote their tools and equipment.

Sawing Equipment Manufacturers continue to improve and refine equipment to help contractors maintain the highest levels of efficiency and safety on the jobsite, and several CSDA manufacturer members showcased their latest

3 4 | m arc h.12

innovative products at World of Concrete. Diamond Products displayed its new Fast-Cut SLR high speed hand saws. The 73-cc, gas-powered saws have a choice of 12- or 14-nch-diameter blades and have smooth start decompression valves to reduce startup force by 70 percent compared with other hand saws. Stihl introduced the latest addition to its line of hand saws during a press conference. The TS 500i is the company’s first electronically-controlled fuel injection cut-off saw. The 5.2-horsepower saw can fit a 14-inch-diameter blade and weighs just 22.5 pounds. ICS demonstrated the 4.2-horsepower 660GC concrete chain saw at its outdoor exhibit booth, allowing operators to cut up to 10 inches deep and perform accurate square corner cutting.

The collection and control of dust and silica was a focus for many sawing and drilling manufacturers, and Husqvarna displayed its dust-reducing attachment for the company’s K3000 line of handheld saws. The attachment has been designed to minimize dust and reduce clean-up time for the operator. Hilti used its outdoor exhibit space to demonstrate the capabilities of machines like the DS WS15 wire saw. The 500+ pound saw has a 15-kilowatt power range and has a maximum spindle speed of 1,700 revolutions per minute (RPM).

Core Drilling Concrete core drilling operators have an ever-increasing range of tools and equipment to complete their work. Expert Equipment Company introduced its new line of Cardi core drills at World of Concrete, which are available in two- or four-speed models. The

120-volt, 20-amp drills offer idle RPM of up to 1,720 RPM. Meanwhile, Pentruder continues to develop its range of hi-cycle core drills. The company exhibited its new, 15-speed MDU hi-cycle core drill at the show that run on 200-220-volt and 480-volt power and have brushless motors for reduced maintenance. Diteq Corporation showcased its range of Shibuya core drills, including the pistol-grip RH-1532 handheld drill. The 15-pound unit can produce up to 2,900 RPM under load and can accommodate a 4-inch-diameter bit while remaining handheld.

Selective Demolition World of Concrete 2012 was the venue for the introduction of the new B100 demolition robot from Brokk. The new machine runs on an electric, 480-volt, three-phase motor and is capable of 360-degree rotation. The one-ton class robot has a new control unit and has been designed to increase breaker productivity by 35 percent compared to its predecessor— the B90. Husqvarna also exhibited its range of demolitions robots, highlighting new crushers attachments for all three models—The DXR 140, 250 and 310. The 29.5-horsepower DXR 310 has a reach of 18 feet and can contract to 31 inches for confined spaces.

Scanning and Detection Advancements in industry technology continue to move at a fast pace, particularly in the realm of ground penetrating radar (GPR). Geophysical Survey Sytems, Inc. (GSSI) introduced its new StructureScan Mini HR and demonstrated how the unit can detect rebar, post-tension cable and conduit up to 16 inches deep in concrete. Results are displayed on a

w ww. C SDA.ORG

5.7-inch color screen and are available in 2-D or 3-D. There was also new equipment on show at the MALA Geoscience booth, the CX12 concrete inspection tool. The user interface has been redesigned to make scanning and data interpretation easier for the operator, and the CX12 features new Windows-based software. The unit also has an electro-magnetic sensor to detect live conduits. Sensors & Software unveiled the latest version of its Conquest GPR system, designed to detect and produce results faster and more accurately than its predecessors, while James Instruments displayed its new V-Meter MK IV ultrasonic pulse velocity system. This is the latest in the V-Meter series and includes new VelocilinxTM software for improved detection.

There were several other CSDA members at World of Concrete with innovative products on show too. Some of these products can be found in the Industry Bits section of this magazine (page 48).

World of Concrete 2012 had some encouraging signs. Attendance was higher than last year’s show and there was also an increase in exhibitor space. This annual event provides professionals from the concrete sawing and drilling industry with many opportunities to improve and expand their businesses. Decision makers from cutting and coring companies descend on the Las Vegas Convention Center each year and realize the benefits of keeping up with the latest industry developments and investing in new equipment. It is one show with many opportunities. Seizing just one of these opportunities could lead to positive changes for any contractor

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 3 5

Forth Road Bridge Renovation Diamond Tools Help Bridge the Gap

3 6 | D ECE MBER.1 1

CONCRETE

CASES

Renovation work to a famous bridge in the United Kingdom involved around 17,000 meters (55,774 feet) of diamond drilling to facilitate the placement of steel reinforcement bars for strengthening of the bridge’s foundations.

F

rom around 1130 onwards, pilgrims traveling to St. Andrews crossed the Firth of Forth in Scotland using the “Queen’s Ferry,” a ferry service named after St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland. That all changed in 1964 with the completion of the construction of the Forth Road Bridge, which at that time was the 4th longest suspension bridge in the world spanning, over 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles). Today, this elegant and hard-working Scottish icon of engineering provides a safe crossing for more than 24 million vehicles each year and links the capital, Edinburgh with Fife and the North East of Scotland.

As part of a regular maintenance program, work commenced on site in May 2010 to replace all the bearings on both approach viaducts on the north and south of the Forth and will continue until the end of 2012. The approach viaducts are supported by reinforced concrete piers with steel

The total drilling distance for the job was approximately 17, 000 meters (55,774 feet).

Left: All bearings were to be replaced on both approach viaducts of the Forth Road Bridge.

www. CSDA.ORG

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 3 7

Operators core drilled 5.5-meter-deep (18-foot) holes in the bridge piers.

Holes measuring 57 millimeters (2.2 inches) in diameter were made to measure the depth and location of reinforcement.

3 8 | m arc h.12

CONCRETE bearings to allow the bridge deck to move to compensate for changes in temperature and traffic loading. The project involves jacking up the bridge deck to allow removal and replacement of the existing bearings, with the concrete being strengthened at the jacking points by the addition of reinforced concrete corbels added to each side of the piers.

CSDA member Core Cut Ltd, based in nearby Broxburn, West Lothian, is carrying out a package of subcontract works on behalf of main contractor, Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, having worked together previously on similarly technically demanding contracts. One of the main aspects of Core Cut’s work is the drilling of holes in the existing concrete piers to accommodate the placement of new steel reinforcement bars that would tie the new corbels to the existing structure.

The scope of work involves mapping the depth and location of the existing reinforcement within the bridge piers, drilling holes up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) deep and inserting new resinbonded rebar into the cored holes. Core Cut chose Hilti as its tool and equipment supplier, since it was one of the few companies that offered a complete range across all these activities.

Prior to commencement on site, a “mock pier” was built at nearby Rosyth in order to gauge the accuracy of the diamond drilled holes. Using a core bit guide previously developed by Hilti, a tolerance of ±10 millimeters (0.4 inches) was achieved while drilling horizontally to a depth of 5.5 meters (18 feet), the maximum for the job.

Mapping the depth and location of the existing reinforcement within the bridge piers is being carried out using Hilti’s PS 200 Ferroscan.

In this way, Core Cut operators work alongside Balfour Beatty site engineers to determine where best to drill holes for the post-installed reinforcing bars. A Hilti PR 25 rotating laser is then used to transfer levels around the pier at the required height and aid in setting the location of the holes to be drilled.

Once this is agreed, Core Cut then uses Hilti’s DD 200 diamond drilling system to core out the 57-millimeter-diameter (2.2-inch) holes to the depths and accuracy specified. On completion, the total distance drilled will be approximately 17,000 meters (55,774 feet).

When the holes are drilled, the additional reinforcing bars will be installed using Hilti HIT-RE 500 resin, which the company claims has high load values over a wide range of bar diameters, backed up by extensive test data.

Using a Hilti HIT-P8000 pneumatic dispenser and long lengths of hose, with piston plugs attached, ensures the resin is installed from the base of each hole. A precise volume of resin

w ww. C SDA.ORG

CASES

FOR ULTIMATE PRODUCT PERFORMANCE RELY ON NORTON SAWS, BLADES & BITS

ALL THE MUSCLE YOU NEED

TM

3-SPEED GEAR BOX FOR SAWS

X-BIT DRILL BIT SERIES

© Saint-Gobain Abrasives 2012

GMAX EARLY ENTRY BLADES

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 Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc.1345 South Acacia Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92831

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 3 9

Resin-bonded rebar was inserted in the core holes. is used to ensure that specified design loads are achieved. Five tubes measuring up to 1,400 milliliters (47 fluid ounces) are used on the larger diameter holes and a total of 5,500 liters (1,453 gallons) will be used on completion of the project.

Contracts Supervisor for Core Cut on the project, Peter Ferguson, said, “Our initial trials were critical to ensure every bar is installed correctly, our operators are well trained and know exactly what is required.” Every detail of the installation process was thought through even down to keeping the resin at a constant temperature in insulated crates at the work area to ensure easy and cost efficient use.

Alongside the strengthening works, Core Cut is also employed by Freyssinet U.K. to cut grooves for the installation of a cathodic protection system to reduce corrosion rates of the reinforcing bars within each pier.

To achieve this requirement, 12-meter-long (39.4-foot) grooves are cut at a 45-degree angle into the structure using a Hilti TS 20-E track saw to a depth of 45 millimeters (1.8 inches). Once again, accuracy and a precise depth of cut are needed to ensure the existing reinforcing bars are not damaged.

Project Manager for Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, Alan Brisbane, speaks highly of the relationship built with Core Cut on this project, “Finlay Crocker (managing director of Core Cut) and his team have helped in making an awkward and challenging job run smoothly and it is a pleasure to work with such a professional and conscientious contractor.”

REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.concreteopenings.com/FORUM.CFM

4 0 | m arc h.12

Company Profile Core Cut Ltd. is based in West Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom, with a support location in Sheffield, England. The contractor has been a CSDA member company for 16 years and has been in business since 1979. Core Cut Ltd. has 40 operators and offers the concrete cutting services of core drilling, slab sawing, hand sawing, wall sawing, wire sawing, selective demolition and floor polishing and preparation.

Resources General Contractor: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Sawing and Drilling Contractor: Core Cut Ltd. West Lothian, Scotland Phone: 44-1506 854 710 Email: finlay@corecut.co.uk Website: www.corecut.co.uk Methods Used: Core Drilling, Hand Sawing, Wall Sawing

w ww. C SDA.ORG

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 4 1

Safety CountS

Are You a Reasonably Prudent Employer?

Court Lowers “Burden” of Proof for OSHA Citations

By Mark Lies and Meagan Newman

S

hortly before the new year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit rendered an opinion that not only altered the agency’s burden of proof for OSHA citations, but effectively reduced that burden to little more than a semantic impediment.

In Compass Environmental, Inc. v. Occupational Safety and Health Commission; Department of Labor, No. 10-9541 (Dec. 19, 2011), the Court declared that OSHA, or the Secretary of Labor (the “Secretary”), need not establish the elements of the long-established fourpart Atlantic Battery test to prove a violation.

Instead, they must only prove that a “reasonably prudent employer” would have anticipated the hazard at issue and done more to prevent it. Further, the Court found this burden met where the Secretary had simply asserted that the employer, at issue, failed to act as a reasonably prudent employer. This was done without offering any evidence as to whether a reasonably prudent employer in the same industry would have even recognized the hazard and, if so, what protective measures, if any, would have been taken.

In effect, the employer’s liability is viewed in a vacuum, with no reference to some recognized norms of safety recognition in the employer’s industry. According to the Court, the Secretary only need to allege and prove that the specific employer’s actions were “imprudent” and the violation will stand. This decision not only represents a dramatic change to the proof necessary to sustain an OSHA violation, it also challenges traditional notions of due process and fairness when giving an employer notice of what conduct is permissible or prohibited. Such notice can often provide employers with an opportunity to act accordingly and become compliant.

under this test, the Secretary must prove “(a) the applicability of the cited standard, (b) the employer’s noncompliance with the standard’s terms, (c) employee access to the violative conditions and (d) the employer’s actual or constructive knowledge of the violation (i.e., the employer either knew, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence could have known, of the violative conditions).” Id. In the case of Compass Environmental, rather than applying the Atlantic Battery test, the Review Commission applied a training-specific test and focused on the issue of whether a “reasonably prudent employer” would have anticipated the exposure at issue and provided the exposed employee with training on this hazard. The 10th Circuit affirmed the Commission’s decision, stating that the Atlantic Battery test was not appropriate and that the Secretary need only establish that a reasonably prudent employer would have taken more action. While this is not the first time the Commission has applied this reasonably prudent employer test for a training violation, it appears that it is the first time a reviewing federal Court of Appeals has sanctioned its application in the absence of proof that Atlantic Battery test factors have been established. See Capform, Inc., 19 BNA OSHC 1364 (No. 99-0322, 2001); Baker Tank Co., 17 BNA OSHC 1177 (No. 90-1786, 1995).

While the 10th Circuit’s decision is significant for this change in burden of proof, it is also significant that the Court found the Secretary had met her burden without actually introducing any evidence of what a reasonably prudent employer in the employer’s industry would have done in the same or similar circumstances, as those encountered by Compass Environmental.

The Atlantic Battery Test

Bad Facts Make Bad Law in Compass Environmental

In Secretary v. Atlantic Battery Co., 16 BNA OSHC 2131, 2138 (1994), and several other cases that followed, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission set forth a four-part test for establishing violations of OSHA standards. To establish a violation of an occupational safety or health standard

In 2006, Compass Environmental began construction on an underground slurry wall at a surface mine in Colorado. A two-person excavator crew, consisting of the excavator operator and a trench hand, were tasked with digging a trench for the slurry wall. The trench hand was required to walk alongside the excavator and

4 2 | m arc h.12

periodically grease the excavator with a grease line, a rubber and metal hose with a dispensing nozzle. This line was attached to the excavator.

The trench hand also checked the trench depth and watched for problems that the operator could not see.

During the first week of the project, the company conducted a hazard assessment, prepared a Job Safety Analysis and provided training to employees regarding possible hazards. The trench hand was a new employee who had only joined the team a week into the project. The Job Safety Analysis for the excavation stated that the operator and trench hand were to maintain a clearance of 20 feet between the excavator and overhead power lines.

Because the trench hand joined the project after the initial training, he was given individual training. However, the record did not show that he received any instructions regarding the overhead power line. On March 18, 2006, the excavator operator—who had clearly been trained to maintain a safe distance from the power lines— moved the excavator close enough to the power line for an electric current to pass from

the line through to the trench hand standing by, resulting in the trench hand’s death.

OSHA investigated the incident and issued a two-item serious citation for failing to adequately train the operator and trench hand, and for failing to maintain proper clearance of the power line. After a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, the citations were vacated as to both the operator and trench hand.

However, OSHA only appealed the vacation of the citation that related to the training of the trench hand. The Review Commission reversed the Judge’s decision as to the trench hand’s training and affirmed that citation.

While there is no doubt that the events of that 2006 day were tragic, there is also no doubt that the employer conducted a hazard assessment, identified the possible hazard posed by overhead power lines and trained employees with respect to his hazard. While the trench hand may not have received this training, the excavator operator whose actions led directly to this accident did receive that training (OSHA did not appeal the vacation of the training citation as to the operator). Even though the operator was fully trained and his actions caused the excavator to contact the electrical line, OSHA maintained there was still a training violation as to the trench hand. He was never expected to perform work in proximity to the elevated electrical line, since he worked at ground level. It is on this point that the Court’s abandonment of the Atlantic Battery test and application of the “reasonably prudent employer” test leads to fundamental unfairness.

The Secretary was not put to her burden to show that the cited training standard applied to the trench hand. This was because he did not operate the excavator and had “access” to the hazard, as would have been required under Atlantic Battery. Therefore, the employer’s ability to defend itself was materially impaired.

Moreover, even though the Secretary conceded that she had the burden of at least showing that a “reasonably prudent employer in the industry” would have anticipated this sort of electrical hazard, and provided the trench hand with more training, she failed to introduce any evidence to satisfy this burden or any evidence from witnesses. To the contrary, the proof offered in this case indisputably showed that the excavator operator defied his training and years of experience.

While it may be a natural instinct to hold someone responsible when there is a fatality, the mere occurrence of a fatality does not establish a violation. It is critical to evaluate the employer’s conduct up to the time of the accident using established and recognized legal criteria and determine if there was any

w ww. C SDA.ORG

MALA CX12 Concrete Imaging System Scanning Structures for Non Destructive Evaluation

• 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 violation. In affirming the Review Commission’s decision in the Compass Environmental case, the Court has negatively impacted employers’ legal defenses to citations.

•

Recommendations

•

Employers can protect themselves by establishing an effective safety program. The following recommendations can be employed: • Require that a thorough hazard assessment for each worksite is performed.

• Include programs and procedures that address possible hazards and ensures that training is provided to all employees that may encounter those hazards.

• Communicate the importance of safety to employees and supervisors, both in writing and in action.

• Ensure employees and supervisors are properly trained (including addressing potential language barriers or literacy issues involving employees), have the necessary equipment and properly use it.

• Incorporate regular site inspections and work observations. Correct noted deficiencies in a timely manner.

•

Training and personal protective equipment requirements should be altered wherever site inspections and assessments identify new possible hazards.

Implement an effective and progressive disciplinary system that is routinely and consistently followed.

Documents all of the elements above.

Mark A. Lies II is a labor and employment law attorney and partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago, Illinois. He specializes in occupational safety and health law and related employment law and personal injury litigation. In addition, Seyfarth Shaw has assisted CSDA members by holding presentations and moderating roundtable discussions at annual conventions. He can be reached at 312-460-5877 or at mlies@seyfarth.com.

Meagan Newman is an associate with Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Ms. Newman’s practice focuses on environmental and occupational safety and health law and related litigation. She can be reached at 312-460-5968.

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 4 3

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 4 4 | m arc h.12

NDT_ConcOpenings:Layout 1

1/12/11

9:40 AM

Page 1

The James R-Meter MK III & Mini R-Meter STRENGTH

OSHA/CSDA Alliance Latest Ren t Un al Ava its ilab le

R-Meter MK III

A “serious” violation is defined by OSHA as “one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.”

Most Advanced Rebar Locator

1926.451 Scaffolding 1926.501 Fall Protection 1910.1200 Hazard Communication 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout 1926.1053 Ladders 1910.305 Electrical – Wiring Methods 1910.178 Powered Industrial Trucks 1910.212 Machine Guarding 1910.134 Respiratory Protection 1910.303 Electrical – General Requirements

6,365 6,186 3,969 2,936 2,858 2,852 2,590 2,449 2,378 2,213

Top 10 Willful Violations, Fiscal Year 2011 A “willful” violation is defined by OSHA as one “committed with an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and requirements.”

Standard

www.NDTjames.com • email:info@NDTjames.com

www.NDTjames.eu • email:europe@NDTjames.eu

3727 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL 60618

Windmolen 22, 7609 NN Almelo, The Netherlands

800-426-6500 • 773-463-6565

+31 (0)548 659032

Test Well. Build Well.

Thank You CSDA Manufacturers!

Violations

1. 1926.652 Excavation – Protective Systems 2. 1926.501 Fall Protection 3. 1910.119 Process Safety Management—

Hazardous Chemicals 4. 1910.272 Grain Handling Facilities 5. 1926.1101 Asbestos 6. 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout 7. 1910.212 Machine Guarding 8. 1926.651 Specific Excavation Requirements 9. 1904.7 General Recording Criteria 10. 5(a)(1) General Duty Clause

84 67 45 42 37 36 25 24 23 22

The OSHA/CSDA Alliance has released Best Practice documents on electrical safety and ladder safety, which are available to download in PDF format. In addition, CSDA has 33 industry Standards, Specifications and Best Practice documents available online. CSDA members also have 100 Toolbox Safety Tips at their disposal, which cover all of the areas included in OSHA’s Top 10 Serious Violations list.

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.

w ww. C SDA.ORG

An Economical Rebar Locator for Professionals

MOISTURE

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Violations

Mini R-Meter

CORROSION

Standard

ULTRASONICS

Top 10 Serious Violations, Fiscal Year 2011

LOCATORS

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.

CSDA would like to thank manufacturer members who donated equipment, personnel or both for the November 2011 Operator Certification classes. The classes could not be held without this help, and all contributions are appreciated. Thank you to Diamond Products, Diamond Tech, Hilti, Husqvarna, ICS, Blount, K2 Diamond, Multiquip/Sanders Saws, Norton and Stihl for providing equipment. Also, thank you to the following individuals who donated their time to the class: Rick Glidewell (Hilti), Mike Hogan (Diamond Products), Dave Sather (K2 Diamond), Richard Tremain (Husqvarna) and Kevin Warnecke (ICS, Blount).

For more information about CSDA Operator Certification, call 727-577-5004 or visit www.csda.org and click on “Training.”

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 4 5

Insurance CornER

The Effects of Litigation

By Michael Logan

T

he purpose of this article is to provide insight into the damaging effect OSHA citations can have on a company once a lawsuit is filed because of a jobsite injury. Despite the initial financial burden of paying any assessed penalties, the consequences of receiving an OSHA violation can linger on and resurface during the litigation process. It is hoped that this article will arm concrete sawing and drilling contractors with knowledge about the potential negative impact of an OSHA citation. Furthermore, it may encourage a number of these contractors to take all efforts necessary to ensure compliance.

Cases litigated in several states have involved not only catastrophic injuries, but also resulting affects of non-compliance with OSHA requirements. A recent example involves a trial in West Virginia, where the client, a general contractor, was to defend against a lawsuit filed on behalf of an injured roofer. The employee had fallen from the roof because he failed to wear the proper fall protection. Following the incident, OSHA investigated and cited the client for “Other Than Serious” violations.

Much of the trial was focused on the citations issued against the client, despite the contention that the civil lawsuit was unrelated to the OSHA investigation. The attorney on behalf of the injured employee emphasized the fact that, “the government found reason to believe this company was non-compliant.” Although a defense verdict was obtained, the plaintiff was able to create his case through the citations even though the fall had virtually nothing to do with the citations. Fortunately, in this case, the jury sided with the defenses raised and blamed the injured party for the incident.

There have also been cases that could have been defended, but for the fact that OSHA conducted investigations that resulted in citations. When an unfortunate incident occurs where a person is severely injured and OSHA becomes involved, it can sometimes become too burdensome to avoid a jury that will focus on the fact citations were issued against a company. The violations themselves, coupled with the sympathy factor involved with an injury, can result in a substantial financial impact on the settlement amount.

4 6 | m arc h.12

What Happens Following an OSHA Citation?

Typically, after a citation has been issued following an incident, OSHA will proceed by the assessment of a penalty or request work stoppage through a form of injunction. More often than not, OSHA violations are handled through the assessment of fines rather than by work stoppage. An injunction is only necessary for violations claiming to constitute an immediate danger that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm. In addition, companies will be requested to “abate” the violation quickly in order to continue operations. This action should be used cautiously, in order to avoid the correction from being used against the company later in the OSHA proceeding, or in civil litigation as an “admission” of fault.

There is a direct correlation between the type of violation assessed and the penalty amount imposed. Violations can range from willful or repeat, serious, other than serious and failure to correct. Understanding the distinctions between these types of violations and the penalties involved is important for contractors at every level. For example, an employer receiving a willful or repeat violation can be subject to a civil penalty from $5,000 to $70,000 for each violation cited, depending on their

severity. A serious and other than serious violation can carry a civil penalty of up to $7,000 per violation. In the aggregate, numerous violations can cost companies millions of dollars. In fact, OSHA lists its top enforcement cases. BP Products North America was levied a total penalty of $81,340,000 for the Gulf Coast oil spill in 2010.

Needless to say, the amount of the fine can multiply quickly when injuries occur.

There are obvious differences between the various levels of violation. From a civil litigation standpoint, a willful citation is the equivalent of recklessness while the serious citation has been compared to negligence. Keep in mind that a willful violation can be assessed if it resulted from a conscious disregard of the regulation, i.e. the employer knew about the violation and didn’t take any action to correct it. However, a serious violation will generally be assessed if the employer did not have knowledge of the violation and it resulted from mere carelessness.

It is also important for employers to understand that they have a right to contest any OSHA citation and the proposed penalty within 15 days. Although the proposed penalty of the citation may seem negligible compared to the cost of hiring counsel to defend against the citation, consulting legal counsel and conducting a thorough investigation is suggested. It is important to note that, regardless of the clas-

sification of the citation and the related amount of the penalty (i.e. “serious” or “not serious”), an employer is at risk of being assessed with a repeat citation for a similar violation. Even a “not serious” citation can be used as the basis for a repeat citation, which can occur on an entirely different jobsite. Thus, for employers with various jobsites spanning several different states, this significantly increases the risk of receiving repeat violations.

Effect of OSHA violations on litigation There are countless reasons why employers are concerned about OSHA citations, including financial penalties and the fear of repeat violations. However, the more subtle risk of an OSHA citation is the effect it can have on subsequent civil litigation resulting from workplace accidents.

OSHA citations are often issued following a workplace incident when an employee is injured. This is to punish the employer and deter similar future activity, so it is no surprise that valiant attempts are made by the injured employee, through his or her attorney, to admit the citations as evidence in a civil trial. This ensures a jury will hear about any and all violations assessed by the government. These citations are generally sought to be admitted as (1) evidence of negligence per se (as a matter of law) and (2) evidence that the employer failed to meet its legally required standard of care in a negligence action. Both can have a severe impact to the defense of a case.

In civil litigation, the ability to introduce evidence of negligence per se gives the injured employee a definitive advantage at trial and in negotiations. The introduction of this kind of evidence can automatically satisfy the injured employee’s burden of proving negligence. It therefore places the burden on the defending employer to prove they were not negligent. This is no easy task, especially when the injured party’s attorney presents a citation to the jury.

Over the years, courts throughout the U.S. have given differing opinions on whether an OSHA violation constituted negligence as a matter of law. As many of the cases dealing with this issue also include violations of related federal and state statutes, and are brought in various state and federal courts, the resulting decisions can vary. Recently, however, the courts have rendered opinions that OSHA citations can be construed as negligence as a matter of law if certain requirements are met. First, if sufficient proof of the violation is presented. Next, if the violated regulation was designed to protect the injured person bringing suit. Finally, if the violated regulation was designed to protect against the injury or

w ww. C SDA.ORG

• Compact and lightweight

• Data maintenance and replay

• Detects both metallic and non-metallic objects

• Wireless printing • Expanded image processing capabilities

• Expanded depth display and calibration value

• Stored user settings

Call 1-800-839-7016

or visit www.proceq.com for details

harm that was sustained. These requirements are typically brought into evidence at trial through testimony of the injured person, other employees on scene and the inspector involved in the investigation.

Additionally, OSHA violations have also been proffered in civil litigation to demonstrate that the employer breached a duty of care owed to the injured employee. Depending on the facts of a given case, some courts have stated that the standard of care of an OSHA regulation can be “borrowed” for use as evidence of the standard of care owed to a plaintiff in a specific case.

It is of utmost importance to comply with OSHA standards in order to protect employees and others on or near the worksite. However,

should an incident occur, a thorough investigation should ensue with these principals in mind.

There are wide-reaching financial effects OSHA violations can have years down the line should litigation arise.

Michael Logan is an attorney with Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP. Michael is based in the firm’s West Palm Beach, Florida practice, part of a network of practices across the U.S. A significant portion

of

his

practice

involves

commercial

trucking, premises liability and construction defect claims. Michael presented to the CSDA Board in 2008, and can be reached at 561-515-4000 or michael.logan@wilsonelser.com.

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 4 7

Industry Bits

Dixie Diamond Unveils New Blade Design Dixie Diamond Manufacturing expects much success from the release of its Copperhead flat saw blade design. The blade design is available in diameters between 20 and 36 inches for concrete cutting applications. However, larger diameters are available for cutting hard rock. Segment height is approximately 0.5 inches. Copper plugs allow full blade use without core cracks, even in very hard aggregates like bridge decks or rock. The blade design reduces vibration, which prevents core cracks and dampens noise levels. The plugs also strengthen the blade landings, helping to keep these landings more rigid. Rivets are installed on flush cut round gullet holes, and are pressed using custom presses to the shape of the gullets. For more information, call 800-654-7224 or visit www.dixiediamond.com.

Brokk 100 Launched at World of Concrete Brokk AB officially introduced the Brokk 100 demolition machine during a press conference at World of Concrete in Las Vegas. The allnew, 2,183-pound Brokk 100 replaces the Brokk 90 machine. The 20-horsepower machine has a brand new, state-of-the-art digital remotecontrol box that allows the operator to stay clear of any hazards on the jobsite and monitor some of the key functions of the machine on an LCD display. It is the first Brokk to deliver the flexibility of true 360-degree working performance, without compromising stability, productivity or reliability. The low-profile configuration, less than 4 feet high, allows access into confined work areas, while the lower center of gravity provides greater stability. A new load-sensing hydraulic system with improved hydraulic capacity helps generate 35 percent greater breaking power when paired with the included SB152 breaker.

Maximum horizontal reach is 12.1 feet, while vertical reach is 14.1 feet. Two power levels are offered: 16- and 32-amp. When electric power supply is limited, the machine offers the option to “gear down” and work using only 16 amps. For more information, call 800621-7856, email info@brokkinc.com, or visit www.brokk.com.

4 8 | m arc h.12

New Drilling Machine from Husqvarna Husqvarna Construction Products has launched the first drilling machine with an electronic system for accurate positioning, the DM 220. The drill’s electronic positioning system allows the operator to focus on drilling while controlling the machine’s position. The DM 220 is equipped with ergonomic handles for increased comfort and stability and the front handle can be turned 360 degrees, which can be useful when drilling in confined areas. An electronic positioning system shows when the machine is in a vertical or horizontal position, and a LED indicator replaces the standard bubble level for more accurate readings. The LED can also be calibrated to help guide the operator while angle drilling. The Elgard™ function significantly increases the motor’s operating life by protecting it from overload while LED indicators show the machine’s load. SmartStart™ reduces the speed of the drill to make starting a hole easier while Softstart™, an electronic current limiter, is designed to facilitate a smooth start. A three-speed, water-cooled gearbox ensures optimal drilling performance for a variety of applications. The drill also has an integrated dust collection system. For more information, contact Cate Stratemeier at 913-928-1442 or email cate.stratemeier@husqvarna.com.

Stihl Introduces Electronically Controlled Cut-Off Saw Stihl unveiled its TS 500i Stihl CutquikÂŽ cut-off machine at World of Concrete.

The saw features the handheld outdoor power equipment industry’s first electronically controlled fuel-injection system. The TS 500i increases power by 17 percent and cutting speed by 15 percent while only increasing weight by six percent, as compared to the Stihl TS 420. The handheld saw has a 5.2-horsepower engine, weighs 22.5 pounds and can accommodate a 14-inch-diameter blade to cut up to 5 inches deep in concrete. The TS 500i eliminates the need for a choke, simplifying the starting procedure. The X2 air filtration system maintains an incredible 99.96 percent cleaning efficiency. The Stihl computer-mapped fuel injection system continuously and precisely determines fuel mixture, injected quantity, injection and ignition timing. An electronic water control feature allows for easy and efficient water flow adjustment while cutting. For more information, call 800-467-8445 or visit www.stihlusa.com/TS-500i.

New Line of Diamond Blades from Hilti Hilti introduces its new line of Super Premium (SP) and Universal Premium (UP) diamond blades, designed for all kinds of cutting applications in a variety of base materials, including reinforced concrete. The Super Premium blades feature Equidist technology. With Equidist, all diamonds in each segment are spaced accurately at regular intervals. This segment spacing ensures consistent cutting performance over the entire life of the blade and to make the blade more suitable for universal use. SP diamond blades can perform in concrete, concrete block, brick and natural stone.

The blades also provide up to 50 percent faster cutting speeds and up to 50 percent longer life than comparative super premium blades. The UP blades are standard blades for cutting a variety of base materials such as concrete, masonry and asphalt. They provide versatility while delivering of speed and life span. The blades are specifically designed for use with all Hilti handheld diamond cutting tools including angle grinders, electric cutters and gas saws. 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.

GSSI Introduces StructureScan Mini HR at World of Concrete

Expert Equipment Introduces Drill Stand Expert Equipment Company of Houston, Texas, introduces the X5R-34 drill stand from Cardi. The X5R-34 is a lightweight drill stand for the professional user. The drill stand features a roller carriage, a 2-inch square steel column bolt-on gear rack, small anchor base, wheel kit, quick connect and, for the first time, an adjustable handle instead of ceiling jack. The X5R-34 stand has been designed to be compatible with the new 20-amp Cardi Vortex 420 four-speed drill. The drill can create holes up to 12 inches in diameters. The X5R-34 drill stand weighs 30 pounds while the complete rig weighs 60 pounds. For more information, please call 713-797-9886 or e-mail info@expertequipment.com

www. CSDA.ORG

GSSI announced a new addition to its line of ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems for concrete imaging at World of Concrete. Extending its StructureScan Mini offerings, GSSI introduced its new StructureScan Mini HR (high resolution). Suitable for complex areas, the StructureScan Mini HR can delineate small targets with vertical and horizontal resolution. The system has a 2,600-megahertz antenna and can locate rebar, conduits and post-tension cables in depths of up to 16 inches. The StructureScan Mini HR is available in two models; 2-D, for real-time target location and 3-D, for an x-ray like image.

The system has a 2-gigabyte memory, a 5.7-inch, full-color screen, SD card and USB ports and a 2.5-hour battery life. The StructureScan Mini HR comes complete with a dual battery charger, two batteries, a rugged carrying case and a GPR starter pack. For more information, please call 603-893-1109 or visit www.geophysical.com.

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 4 9

INDUSTRY

B ITS CS Unitec Introduces Slurry Vacuum The CS 2000 from CS Unitec is a water recycling and slurry containment vacuum. It is ideal for contractors using wetworking tools, such as diamond core drills, masonry saws and wet grinders. The CS 2000 functions as a portable water supply.

Slurry is trapped in a porous filter bag for easy disposal. A continuous loop system returns the water back into the vacuum for delivery back to the tool. The CS 2000 vacuum features an integrated sump pump that can either discharge the water or recycle it back to the 13-gallon stainless steel canister for reuse. The unit pumps 78 gallons per minute (GPM) at ground level and has a maximum water lift of 18 feet. Delivery is 10.5 GPM at 10 feet. For normal wet/dry vacuuming, the motor and pump operate from two independent switches. The CS 2000 can be used indoors or out and includes a portable cart with large wheels, locking front casters and a 26-foot power cord.

The stainless steel tank can either be tilted for emptying water or lifted out of the cart. The system includes vacuum hose, water recycling/discharge hose and slurry filter bags. For more information, call 800-700-5919 or email info@csunitec.com

EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT CO., INC. SAWS • BITS • BLADES DS-18 and C-10 Ideal for slab cutting, patch repairs, traffic loop installation, trenching, restoration and repair, crack repair

DRILL RIGS Ideal for Plumbers, Railing installers, Sign installers, Welders and Concrete core engineers

DS-18

C-10 DRILL RIG

Hylant Group Acquires International Captive Alliance Group, LLC Hylant Group (Hylant), one of the nation’s largest privately held insurance brokerage firms, has acquired the International Captive Alliance Group, LLC (ICAG), a captive insurance broker providing alternative property and casualty insurance solutions to members of the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association (CSDA). The acquisition will allow Hylant to provide enhanced coverages and services to members of CSDA. Hylant has also entered into an arrangement with CSDA to be the association’s endorsed property, casualty and employee benefits insurance broker.

In addition to the established captive, this arrangement will enable CSDA to provide its members broader coverages, favorable pricing, loss control and claim services.

Founded in 1935, Hylant Group is a full-service insurance brokerage with 12 offices in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee, and employs more than 570 employees. As a member of the Worldwide Broker Network, Hylant offers complete risk management services, employee benefits consultation, loss control, healthcare management and insurance solutions for businesses and individuals. For more information, please visit www.hylant.com or call 734-846-2100.

cut • remove • repair • restore • install 1-800-638-3326 • edcoinc.com contrxsystems.com

James Instruments, Inc. Releases V-Meter MK IV™ James Instruments, Inc. announces the release of the V-Meter MK IV™ ultrasonic pulse velocity system for finding voids, crack and determining material properties in concrete, wood, ceramic, masonry and other coarse grain materials. The new system features a direct digital read-out of transit time and wave form on daylight a display, back lit LCD. The unit has a rugged, splashresistant case for tough construction environments, and is portable and light weight with both a rechargeable battery and a standard AC power supply. The V-Meter MK IV includes a signal and trigger output for use with an external oscilloscope or other data input device. Digital calibration means no special bar required. Trigger levels and signal amplification can be digitally adjusted. The system conforms to ASTM C-597, BS 1881-203 and other international standards. Velocilinx™ software allows complete control of the system as well as data upload to a computer for data analysis.

The unit can also calculate modulus of elasticity of material using optional S-Wave transducers. For more information, contact Michael Hoag at 773-368-8594 or email mike@ndtjames.com.

5 0 | m arc h.12

Need a Cutting Contractor?

Architects, engineers, general contractors and government officials: visit www.csda.org and submit your job for a bid request. Let CSDA’s specialist contractors come to you!

INDUSTRY Hi-Cycle Drill Introduced

by Pentruder Pentruder, Inc. is pleased to introduce the new MDU hi-cycle drill, a concept that has been perfected during a two-year development program. The MDU drill offers 15 speeds plus reverse, a wide RPM range and a user-friendly control panel with easy-to-adjust knobs for controlling amperage and RPM to the core bit. The unit incorporates a long-life hi-cycle motor that will run from three different voltage sources; 200-220 volt single phase, 200-220 volt 3-phase and 480 volt 3-phase power. The motor is also capable of running from 400 cycle power sources. The spindle gearbox is quickly and easily removed by loosening two securing bolts. Three spindles are available: the SL, rated at 100-450 RPM; the SM for use at 200-900 RPM; and the SH for 320-1,440 RPM coring. The military-grade frequency inverter, brushless fully-encapsulated motor and extremely rugged design all contribute to low maintenance and high reliability.

For more information, call 562-445-6429 or email terry@pentruderinc.com.

B ITS

FASTEST BIT ON THE MARKET

C-52 is the proven choice of the CSDA Professional since 2004. Now its time to try the C-51 - with an “overdrive” segment pattern it’s even faster and more aggressive in hard concrete with heavy rebar.

.420” segment height

C51/C52 Double Pointed Bit  PRO V Stocked in sizes up to 30”

(larger sizes available by special order)

EQUIPMENT 866-688-1032 DIAMOND TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

www.DITEQ.com

Advanced Design for Bosch Core Bits The new Bosch SDS-plus®, SDS-max® and spline core bits employ advanced design features for both standard and heavy-duty applications. SDS-plus rotary hammer core bits include a new two-piece Speed Core™ assembly. This two-piece design and integrated SDS-plus core shank speed up assembly and disassembly. The Bosch wave design provides 40 percent more efficiency versus a conventional core-bit design.

Asymmetrical carbide teeth translate to faster cutting and longer bit life. Applications for the larger SDS-max core bit include running pipes and plastic tubing through cement and concrete, including foundations. The SDS-plus line includes 12 bits, measuring 1 to 4.4 inches in diameter. The full-line Bosch SDS-max offering ranges from 1.75 to 6 inches in diameter. Maximum core depth is 2.6 inches and drill bit maximum speed is 600 rpm.

For more information, visit www.boschtools. com or call 877-267-2499.

w ww. C SDA.ORG

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 5 1

INDUSTRY

B ITS

Husqvarna Construction Products Appoints Two Ron Rapper has been appointed to business development manager of Husqvarna Construction Products, based in Olathe, Kansas. In this role, he will be responsible for helping to develop sales strategies and grow the heavy user business in North America.

Ron has been a part of the Husqvarna team since 2001 and brings over 20 years of experience in sales and management. He previously held the role of director of heavy user sales. He is a CSDA Board member and has been an active member of the association since 1993, chairing the CSDA Training Committee for 10 years. Ryan Wesselschmidt has been appointed to director, heavy user sales. Ryan will be responsible for leading the sales Ron Rapper efforts for professional construction equipment across the United States. He previously held the role of distribution regional manager-east and eastern national accounts manager. Ryan has been a part of the Husqvarna team since 2001 and brings 10 years of experience in sales and management.

For more information, contact Cate Ryan Wesselschmidt Stratemeier at 913-928-1442 or email cate.stratemeier@husqvarna.com.

5 2 | m arc h.12

New Grinder Leveling Kit from EDCO EDCO-Equipment Development Company, Inc. (EDCO) introduces the EDCO Turbo Grinder leveling kit for the professional user. The kit is compatible with the company’s range of turbo grinders, and ensures level grinding regardless of the height of accessories being used. The turbo grinder leveling kit attaches to the machine’s rear axel and creates a multi-level grinding machine. Level grinding is more productive, quicker and easier on the operator. The leveling kit is also available on the new TG-10 grinders. EDCO’s turbo grinders use a variety of accessories to quickly remove high spots, uneven joints, epoxy, urethane and other difficult coverings from concrete surfaces. For more information, contact Jason Stanczyk at 800-638-3326 or visit www.edcoinc.com.

INDUSTRY

B ITS

Peter Wyatt, 1935–2012

New Laser Welding Machine from Dr. Fritsch Dr. Fritsch is pleased to introduce the new BSM 300. The machine features a new centric clamping system. Core drills with diameters from 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) up to 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) can be clamped without changing the fixtures. This leads to increased flexibility and reduced set-up times. Flying optics are attached to three axes, allowing diamond segments to be welded fast and directly on to the core. Welding position is measured 2-dimensionally and corrected prior to each welding process. The machine also features an automatic axial run-out correction, making it possible to guarantee a high and constant welding quality and higher production security. Net welding time is half that of previous BSM machines and productivity is higher. For more information, email pia.ruof@dr-fritsch.de or visit www.dr-fritsch.de.

w ww. C SDA.ORG

Peter Francis Wyatt, an industry professional of West Boylston, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

His death was related to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Lewy Body Disease, illnesses he fought for several years. Peter is survived by his wife of 42 years, Barbara (Nowak) Wyatt; their two sons, Bradford and Zachary; their daughter, Carrie, and their respective grandchildren. Peter was raised in the cities of Springfield and Spencer, both in Massachusetts. At 18, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as a radio operator during the Korean War. After the Air Force, Peter returned to Worcester and graduated from the New England School of Accounting in 1959. In 1964, Peter used a personal loan to co-found New England Diamond (N-E-D) Corporation.

He worked there for the rest of his career, retiring as President in 2005. Peter helped build N-E-D into one of the largest privately-owned American manufacturers Peter Wyatt of diamond tools, with over 100 employees and six service centers across the United States. He was always proud to put “Made right in USA” flag labels on Worcester-manufactured products. Peter was well known in the industry and will be missed by those who knew him. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army at 640 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608 or the BeLike-Brit Foundation, which is building an orphanage in Haiti, Britney Gengel’s Poorest of Poor Fund, Inc, PO Box 355, Rutland, MA 01543.

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 5 3

INDUSTRY

B ITS

Concrete Grinder Introduced by CS Unitec CS Unitec introduces the EBS 180 H, a 7-inch hand-held concrete grinder. The new machine can be used to prepare new concrete surfaces before applying new paints or coatings. This EBS 180 H has a 20-amp, 2,500-watt motor to enable a high load capacity, running 7-inch-diameter diamond wheels at 9,500 RPM. It is designed for hard jobs such as the grinding of two-component adhesives or leveling concrete. The grinder comes with a built-in vacuum port for dust-free operation when connected to an industrial vacuum. The EBS 180 H has an integrated shock absorbing system to reduce vibration and ergonomically designed side handles for handling and control. An adjustable brush shield matches the height of the grinder to the wear of the diamond wheel to protect against dust and debris. The front edge of the dust guard is removable to allow grinding right up to the wall. For more information, contact Tom Carroll at 800-700-5919 or info@csunitec.com.

Cary Evert (second from left), President and CEO of Hilti North America, and William Caporizzo (second from right), New York City division manager, accept the Great Place to Work Award for ranking 15th on the international best employers survey.

Hilti Ranks 15th in International Employer Survey A first in the company’s history, Hilti has achieved a top ranking in the Great Place to Work Institute’s international best employer survey. This comes on the heels of Hilti achieving top rankings in both national and European employer surveys conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony held in New York in late 2011.

Hilti placed 15th in the “multinational workplaces” category and was the second-highest ranked European company on the list. To qualify for participation, companies had to have appeared on at least five national Great Place to Work lists. National rankings are mainly based on interviews carried out with randomly selected employees. Results of these interviews count for two-thirds of the scoring. Questions focus on topics including believability, respect, fairness and team orientation. 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.

U.K. Contractor Expands Services CSDA member D-Drill (Master Drillers) Limited, based in Coventry, England, began 2012 by investing over £1 million (approximately $1.6 million) in new services and branch expansions. A deal has been completed to purchase Highway Systems, a cracking and seating business, and the company has bought land to construct a purpose-built, 5,800-square-foot office and depot in the town of Wigan. Both acquisitions are located in the north west of England, where the company aims to expand its operations and increase staffing levels as well as its other U.K. offices. D-Drill has also launched a new fire-stopping service on the back of its latest investments, to offer further options to clients. For more information, visit www.d-drill.co.uk or email coventry@d-drill.co.uk.

5 4 | m arc h.12

New CSDA Insurance Program available for all members from Apollo General Coverage is available in all 50 states with no size qualification. This program is specially designed for Concrete & Sawing Contractors. Coverages available are General Liab., Auto Liab., Prop. & Equip., Bonding-Surety, Excess & Work Comp with low Deductibles.

Apollo General was formed in 1965 as an independent agency. Our goal was to write like, kind and similar accounts that could one day benefit from the expanded coverage and stable premiums afforded to members of a national insurance program. Apollo stayed the course and today we offer several industry specific Package Programs designed for Demolition, C&D Recycling, Crane & Rigging Contractors; as well as, Messenger & Couriers.

Apollo’s Program success allowed us to work as a full service Brokerage offering a wide range of commercial insurance products and services.

Apollo’s experienced, professional staff will help you with direct access to our Specialty Programs and our A rated insurance companies.

Contact us today, or ask your agent to contact us, to take advantage of our Programs enhanced coverage’s and the industries historic low rates.

Please call Jerilee Lewis at Ext. 18 P.O. Box 1508, Sonoma, CA 95476 License #0606980 Phone 800-624-5829 • Fax 707-996-7912

w ww. C SDA.ORG

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 5 5

CertifiCATION Operator 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.

A.E. Brice & Associates, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland

Coring & Cutting of Springfield, Inc. Nixa, Missouri

Hard Rock Sawing & Drilling Specialist Co. Keshena, Wisconsin

Advanced Coring & Cutting Corp.

Farmingdale, New Jersey

Coring & Cutting Services, Inc. Bentonville, Arkansas

Holes Incorporated Houston, Texas

Ambercroft Labourers’ 506 Training Centre Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Coring & Cutting Services, Inc. Jacksonville, Arkansas

Holes of San Antonio, Inc. San Antonio, Texas

Atlantic Concrete Cutting, Inc. Mt. Holly, New Jersey

Cut-Rite Concrete Cutting Corp.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

International Drilling & Sawing, Inc. Montgomery, Alabama

B.T. Rentals Limited Woodbrook, Trinidad & Tobago

Cutting Edge Services Corp.

Batavia, Ohio

K.C. Coring & Cutting Construction, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri

C.P. Allen Construction, Inc. Daphne, Alabama

DARI Concrete Sawing and Drilling Raleigh, North Carolina

Lombardo Diamond Core Drilling Co., Inc. Santa Clara, California

C.P. Allen Construction, Inc. Bessemer, Alabama

DeAndrea Coring & Sawing, Inc. Henderson, Colorado

M6 Concrete Cutting & Coring Wichita, Kansas

Cal West Concrete Cutting, Inc. Manteca, California

Delta Contractors & Associates, LLC Baltimore, Maryland

Oklahoma Coring & Cutting, Inc. Arcadia, Oklahoma

Cal West Concrete Cutting, Inc. Union City, California

Derrick Concrete Cutting & Construction Ltd. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Pacific Concrete Cutting & Coring, Inc. Lihue, Hawaii

Central Concrete Cutting, Inc. Edgar, Wisconsin

Dixie Concrete Cutting Co., Inc. College Park, Georgia

Penhall Company/Concrete Coring Company of Hawaii Aiea, Hawaii

Con-Cor Company, Inc. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

Dixie Concrete Cutting, Inc. Greenville, South Carolina

Professional Concrete Sawing Erie, Pennsylvania

Concrete Cutting & Breaking Co. Jacksonville, Florida

East Coast Concrete Specialities, Inc. Jessup, Maryland

Roughneck Concrete Drilling & Sawing Morton Grove, Illinois

Concrete Cutting Specialists, Inc. Freeland, Michigan

Eastern Concrete Cutting Corp.

Long Island City, New York

True Line Coring & Cutting of Chattanooga, LLC Chattanooga, Tennessee

Concrete Penetrating Co. Dallas, Texas

Gronemeier Concrete Cutting, Inc. Bloomington, Illinois

True Line Coring & Cutting of Knoxville, LLC Knoxville, Tennessee

Concrete Renovation, Inc. San Antonio, Texas

Hafner and Son, Inc. Northampton, Pennsylvania

True Line Coring & Cutting of Nashville, LLC Nashville, Tennessee

Core Solutions Ltd. Maraval, Trinidad & Tobago

Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Inc. Wheeling, Illinois

COMPANY Certification 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.

LEVEL ONE

LEVEL TWO

LEVEL THREE

AUSTIN ENTERPRISE Bakersfield, California

Holes Incorporated Houston, Texas

Atlantic Concrete Cutting, Inc. Mount Holly, New Jersey

Concrete Renovation, Inc. San Antonio, Texas Cutting Edge Services Corp.

Batavia, Ohio WESTCOAST CUTTING & CORING, LTD. Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

5 6 | m arc h.12

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 Contractors Concrete Coring Company of NH Nashua, New Hampshire Concrete Saw & Core, Inc. North Platte, Nebraska ConCut Southeast, Inc. Jacksonville, Florida

R & K Concrete Cutting, Inc. North Las Vegas, Nevada Saw Jockey Salt Lake City, Utah Slab Services, LLC Spring, Texas

Overseas Contractor

Cut and Core Concrete Cutting, LLC Madison Heights, Michigan

Furofix Engenharia Ltda.

Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Gratton Concrete Sawing & Drilling, LLC Pomfret Center, Connecticut

Online Concrete Cutting Services Pty. Ltd. Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Henriksen Contracting, LLC Grimes, Iowa

Manufacturer

Midwest Construction Co. Milford, Ohio

Disco Abrasive America, Inc. Long Beach, California

Neil’s Concrete Cutting, Inc. Taylorsville, Utah

Affiliate

Precision Concrete Cutting Billings, Montana Quick Cuts Concrete Cutting Services, LLC Belvidere, Illinois

Member Benefit Partnerships

Dr. Fritsch Sondermaschinen GmbH Fellbach, Germany McKay Lodge Conservation Lab, Inc. Oberlin, Ohio

CSDA has partnered with Staples Advantage to give members access to more than 30,000 products and real-time inventory updates. Go green and consolidate orders to save even more with the Staples Advantage program.

• Discounts averaging 60% off over 4,000 catalog items • Discounts averaging 40% off the large stock catalog

MEMBER TESTIMONIAL

• Multiple ordering channels: online, fax or phone

Prior to entering the concrete cutting business, I was an active member of a similar organization that focused on the heavy equipment distribution business. Over the years, it became clear that the leaders of that industry were the members of the association. As a result, I entered the concrete sawing and drilling business knowing it was an intelligent move to join CSDA. The organization represents the leading companies in the industry, so Matthew Finnigan the decision to join was an easy one. Through my early involvement in CSDA I have benefited from bouncing ideas off of industry peers and being involved in committee work at the annual convention and at quarterly meetings. I have also used CSDA’s Toolbox Safety Tips for company training.

As is true of most things, you only get back what you put into something. In the case of CSDA, to date I have received more than I have given, but I believe it is incumbent upon those who are industry leaders to give of their time and expertise to improve the industry as a whole. In the coming years I plan on giving back so that others may receive as much valuable information as I have.

• One stop for all your business needs: office supplies, digital copy and print, furniture, promotional products, technology, cleaning/breakroom supplies and more.

• Save an additional 7% on all orders over $150 For more information on this program, contact Linda Rose at linda.rose@staples.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.

Matthew Finnigan National Concrete Cutting Inc. Milton, Washington matthewf@nationalconcretecuttinginc.com

w ww. C SDA.ORG

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 5 7

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

CSD A • 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

5 8 | m arc h.12

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.

Find a Member Online 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.

Visit www.csda.org and click on the map icon to get started.

www. CSDA.ORG

c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 5 9

Calendar 2012 March 5–6 CSDA Spring Meetings Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa Ka’anapali Beach, HI Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

CSDA SUMMER MEETINGS June 7–8

March 6 IACDS Annual Meeting Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa Ka’anapali Beach, HI Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

March 7–9 CSDA 2012 Convention and Tech Fair Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa Ka’anapali Beach, HI Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

March 11–14 National Demolition Association 2012 Convention The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center & Grand Hyatt Hotel San Antonio, TX Tel: 800-541-2412 www.demolitionassociation.com

May 7–10 International Concrete Sustainability Conference Renaissance Seattle Hotel Seattle, WA Tel: 240-485-1152 www.concretetechnologyforum.org

June 7–8

November 13–14

CSDA Summer Meetings Loews Atlanta Hotel Atlanta, GA Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

CSDA Estimating Class St. Petersburg College Clearwater, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

August 29–31

December 6–7

Our World in Concrete and Structures Conference Singapore Tel: 65-6733 2922 www.cipremier.com

CSDA Winter Meetings Westin Kierland Resort & Spa Scottsdale, AZ Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

September 6–7

2013

CSDA Fall Meetings Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago, IL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

November 12–17 CSDA Operator Certification 201 St. Petersburg College Clearwater, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

OPERATOR CERTIFICATION 201 November 12–17 6 0 | m arc h.12

February 4–8 World of Concrete Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 972-536-6379 www.worldofconcrete.com

February 28–March 2 CSDA 2013 Convention and Tech Fair Hawks Cay Island Resort Duck Key, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org

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

www. CSDA.ORG

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

EMAIL

54 Apollo General Insurance Agency, Inc.

707-996-2912

jerilee@apgen.com

17

Brokk, Inc.

800-621-7856

peter@brokkinc.com

44

Diamond Pauber srl

39-05 85 830425

info@diamondpauber.it

52, 53, Inside Front Cover

Diamond Products

800-321-5336

jpalmer@diamondproducts.com

23

Diamond Tools Technology

612-408-9253

roger@diamondtoolstechnology.com

21, 51

DITEQ Corporation

816-246-5515

jmiller@diteq.com

5

Dixie Diamond Manufacturing

678-296-3751

skilgore@dixiediamond.com

50 EDCO-Equipment Development Co., Inc.

301-663-1600

moran@edcoinc.com

31 Expert Equipment Company

713-797-9886

expertequipment@sbcglobal.net

11 Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (GSSI)

603-893-1109

harmonj@geophysical.com

29 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

45

James Instruments, Inc.

773-463-6565

angie@ndtjames.com

43

MALA Geoscience

843-852-3281

sales.usa@malags.com

39 Norton Pro Diamond

800-854-3281

mark.s.pendergrass@saint-gobain.com

41 Pentruder, Inc.

562-445-6429

terry@pentruderinc.com

47 Proceq

800-839-7016 paul.siwek@proceq.com

55 Sensors & Software

905-624-8909

sales@sensoft.ca

63 Toolgal USA Corp/DCI

706-283-9556

admin@toolgalusa.com

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.

Business for Sale

Equipment for Sale

Established over 20 years in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Used equipment includes three gas-powered flat saws and one electric flat saw with 10- to 65-horsepower engines that can cut up to 14.5 inches deep; two 115-volt electric core drills, one hydraulic core drill with two stands, one handheld core drill and a selection of bits from 2 to 24 inches in diameter; one hydraulic hand saw and track-mounted wall saw, one gas-powered unit with a 100-foot hose; one 5-kilowatt, 40-amp Honda generator; two trailers; one pressure washer, two hammer drills and a Bosch chipping hammer. Various other tools and equipment available as part of the sale.

Asking price $50,000. Business and equipment to be sold as a whole— no piecemeal sales. For more information, contact Hans Johnson at 727-797-3691.

• One Cushion Cut HP635 groover • Two Meco 72-horsepower ride-on saws • One Diamond Products 6530 diesel flat saw • One Husqvarna 6560 diesel flat saw • Four hydraulic hand saws by GDM and Cushion Cut • One hicycle generator • One Burke A-Seal machine 3078 • One hydraulic lift machine for PCC removal • One TBG130 transverse bridge deck groover • One 4,500-gallon recirculating semi-tanker with trailer Photographs of equipment available upon request.

For more information, contact Ty Conner of Austin Enterprise at 661-589-1001 or email tconner@austin-enterprise.com.

6 2 | m arc h.12

TOOLGAL USA DIVISION

I C D

FEEL THE FORCE in

TO

OLG

AL

ALL NEW CHAIN DESIGN For EVERY saw on the market!!! type

TOOLGAL

Larger Chassis and Segments 3D TOOLGAL

Uniformed Diamond Technology TOOLGAL

Improved Bi-directional Chain Comes in 3 Bonds: GREAT WHITE BLUE SHARK TIGER SHARK

WE ARE CHAINS 877-778-3765 w ww. C SDA.ORG

www.dciconcretechain.com

info@dciconcretechain.com c o n c ret e o p en i n g s | 6 3

director’s dialogue

CSDA Turns 40 Years Young

Patrick o’brien Executive Director

T

his year, CSDA turns 40 and is transforming itself to meet the challenges of the next 40 years. It all began in Southern California in 1972, when Les Kuzmick, Sr. of Cushion Cut had a vision to form a cohesive group of contractors and manufacturers to provide a forum to promote the concrete cutting industry, share information and introduce new technologies. The association has grown and changed many times since it was formed. CSDA membership today of 500 companies includes contractors, manufacturers, distributors and affiliated members and is many times larger than the 18 original charter members that met at the Los Angeles Airport on May 19, 1972.

CSDA has always been mindful of its mission to promote the selection of professional sawing and drilling contractors and their methods. For many years contractors focused on providing excellence in flat sawing, wall sawing and core drilling work. This proved quite profitable and the industry grew from its humble beginnings to a major segment of the construction industry.

Times have changed, and today’s sawing and drilling contractors have had to offer a more complete package of services to the general contractor. Wire sawing was introduced and has established itself as a major offering to complete the range of cutting services offered. Many cutting contractors offer numerous other services such as ground penetrating radar, selective demolition, concrete flatwork and recycling.

6 4 | m arc h.12

The original CSDA logo featured core drill bits inside of a saw blade, which dated back to the formation of the association. It was reflective of the services offered by cutting contractors at the time, but no longer reflects today’s market. In 2011, with the 40th Anniversary approaching, the CSDA Board tasked the Marketing Committee to “rebrand” the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association.

The objective was to refresh the look of the CSDA logo and make more visible the letters CSDA since this is how many members say they think about CSDA—not the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association. In addition, a logo was needed that more accurately describe the actual “business” of the CSDA membership—not just a blade and a core bit.

The logo also had to be easier to read and apply to a variety of marketing materials, from hard hat decals to letterhead and envelopes.

The rebranding and new logo is being introduced to the membership at the 40th Anniversary Convention in March. It is a perfect time to celebrate the first 40 years while introducing a new identity as CSDA heads into the next 40 years. Concrete Openings features the new logo and identity, and you will see more materials coming out with this new look throughout the year.

Please join me in celebrating a great first 40 years for CSDA and in celebrating the new identity that will take CSDA into the next 40 years.

Happy 40th CSDA!

Hilti.

Outperform.

Outlast.

Inside insight.

Hilti. Outperform. Outlast.

Providing crystal clear 2D or 3D images of objects concealed in concrete, the new Hilti PS 1000 X-Scan Radar Detection System takes non-destructive inspection of concrete to another level.

Hilti, Inc. (U.S.) 1-800-879-8000 www.us.hilti.com • en español 1-800-879-5000 • Hilti (Canada) Corp. 1-800-363-4458 www.hilti.ca

Nothing stands in its way.

The largest robot in Husqvarna’s line of demolition robots, the DXR 310 is built to handle demolition and light excavation work indoors and outdoors. The new DCR 300 crusher is one of the strongest of its size on the market thanks to its high power to weight ratio.

The telescopic boom has a range of approximately 18', including breaker, and the individually controlled outriggers enable the robot to work on uneven surfaces and close to walls. This highly maneuverable machine can pass through normal-sized doorways and climb stairs. The low-profile body ensures operators can see over it when working creating a safer and more efficient working environment. The DXR 310 is controlled by a unique, user-friendly remote control featuring Bluetooth technology, an innovation for this type of machine. Husqvarna’s DXR 310 was built to be sturdy, powerful and smart.

Built for demolition.

HUSQVARNA CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS 17400 West 119th Street • Olathe, Kansas 66061 • T 800-288-5040 • F 800-825-0028

www.husqvarnacp.com

Copyright © 2012 Husqvarna AB (publ.). All rights reserved. Husqvarna is a registered trademark of Husqvarna AB (publ.).