MARCH 2020
GOING CLEAN
CONCRETE INDUSTRY TAKES AIM AT CARBON EMISSIONS 28
IN THIS ISSUE: www.on-sitemag.com 31 CCE picks
up momentum | 33 Innovation on the WoC show floor
CONCRETE NEWS
New deicing pad at Calgary airport marks largest use of clean concrete tech in Canada
PHOTO: CARBONCURE
With temperatures routinely falling into the negative double digits, deicing planes flying out of the Calgary International Airport is a major priority through much of the winter. Mobile deicing crews previously shuffled from gate to gate to prepare planes ahead of departures, but the recent addition of a new deicing pad at the Western Canada airline hub has centralized the process. The major construction project also hit a new Canadian high water mark for the use of an increasingly popular concrete
technology capable of trapping carbon dioxide. The pouring process for YYC ‘s East Deicing Apron took about two months and required 25,300 cubic metres of concrete. All of that concrete was produced using Nova Scotia cleantech firm CarbonCure’s technology that injects CO2 into the concrete during the mixing process. The process sequesters the greenhouse gas, which is taken from waste streams at industrial facilities, lowering the overall carbon footprint of the concrete.
Crews poured concrete for the apron project at the Calgary airport over an approximately two-month period.
“This is yet another instance of CarbonCure concrete easily meeting rigorous performance standards, including the top-tier design and engineering standards required for airport paving,” Robert Niven, the company’s founder and CEO, said in a release. To date, the tens of thousands of cubic metres required for the new deicing apron is the largest pour of the company’s concrete in Canada. Globally, it’s eclipsed only by an office tower project in Atlanta that used 33,000 cubic metres of the company’s CO2-injected concrete. PCL served as the general contractor for the East Deicing Apron, employing an on-site batch plant to produce a steady steam of concrete at the airport in August and September last year. Outbound planes have begun using the new deicing facility in recent weeks. In terms of emissions avoided compared to conventional concrete, the project trapped 160 tonnes of CO2, translating to the amount absorbed by a 209 acre forest over the course of a year, the company said. While CarbonCure’s process does not offset the emissions generated during the cement manufacturing process – a major contributor to climate change – it lessens the carbon footprint of concrete.
Lehigh studying carbon capture at Alberta cement plant, targeting up to 95 per cent of CO2 emissions A new study into the feasibility of commercial-scale carbon capture technology got underway last week at the Lehigh Cement plant in Edmonton. Lehigh has teamed up with International CCS Knowledge Centre, a group founded by Saskatchewan utility SaskPower and mining firm BHP, on a project aiming to capture between 90 and 95 per cent of the carbon dioxide from flue gas at the cement production facility. The partners said it’s the first time in North America a full-scale carbon capture solution has been explored at a cement plant. A subsidiary of the HeidelbergCement Group, Lehigh produces a range of cement products – the majority of which are used to make ready-mix concrete for construction. While concrete is a fundamental building material, it’s also a well-known source of carbon emissions. The energy-intensive cement production
28 / MARCH 2020
process is mainly to blame for this. The new study builds on some of the lessons learned at the Boundary Dam 3 CCS Facility, which saw saw carbon capture technology installed at a coal plant near Estvan, Sask. in 2014. Though successful in capturing 90 per cent of the plant’s CO2 emissions, the project was costly and SaskPower has not yet retrofitted further coal plants with the technology. At the Lehigh facility, the study includes design, cost estimates and the mapping out of a business case for the use of carbon capture. A pre-feasibility study has already been completed and Lehigh estimates the project could capture 600,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. The company said capturing post-combustion flue gas from the cement plant will be similar to how the gas is captured at the Saskatchewan coal generating station.
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CCE
BUILDING MOMENTUM
Third annual Canadian Concrete Expo shows no sign of slowing down
M
ore than 6,100 attendees and exhibitors from across Canada came out to see a diverse array of concrete-focused products, services, demos and educational sessions at the 2020 Canadian Concrete Expo. The crowds packed the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont. Jan. 22-23, pushing the annual show to new heights in terms of attendees, exhibitors and floor space. “The growth that the show has experienced year over year since the inaugural show in 2018 demonstrates that we are officially Canada’s national concrete construction trade show,” says Stuart Galloway, president of 2020 Show Productions. “Also, the number of media outlets present at the show more than doubled year over year. Putting exhibitors in close contact with so many publications that are interested in concrete is a significant marketing bonus to our exhibitors.” Ontario’s unpredictable winter weather also finally got the memo this year, sparing attendees the precarious slippery drive seen on day one of the show during each of its first two years. The concrete industry braved the weather then, and they certainly didn’t shy away from the expo this January, filling the show floor – about twice as large as last year’s – throughout the two-day event. Industry professionals on the lookout for the latest in safety equipment, formwork, mixers, pump trucks, loaders, mobile apps and curing solutions, were among the diverse crowd. Attendees also got to take advantage of an expanded catalog of educational sessions and a pair of new networking events this year, while equipment demonstrations by the likes of Bay-Lynx, Manulift and BIK Hydraulics, ran through both days of the show. Continuing to build a strong following from the concrete industry across the country, the Canadian Concrete Expo will be returning to the International Centre for its fourth edition Feb. 11-12, 2021. Show organizer 2020 Show Productions is already planning a pair of new components for the show, including an aggregates section and a masonry pavillion. “The show is also moving the show dates to Thursday and Friday,” Galloway says. “This gives people who fly into the show one more day at the office prior to the show and encourages attendees to tie their business trip with a weekend of enjoyment in Toronto.”
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WOC
SET FOR EXPANSION World of Concrete closes out 45th edition, eyes 2021
A
blustery desert day in Las Vegas kept the biggest crowds indoors on day one of World of Concrete 2020 this February, but attendees fanned out across all 700,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space the remainder of the week as the Nevada temperatures inched back up. Approximately 1,300 separate exhibitors and 54,000 registered professionals packed the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 45th edition of the annual event catering to the concrete and masonry industries. While that figure is down slightly from the crowd of about 60,500 that attended last year, show organizer Informa Markets is looking ahead to next year with high expectations. “This year has been a very successful event – the industry continues to evolve and grow stronger as we enter a new decade,” said Jackie James, the group director for World of Concrete, in a release. “The construction industry remains strong along with the economy and we cannot wait until WOC 2021, with the new expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall to showcase our leading industry suppliers in this state-ofthe-art facility.” Along with the busy show floor, as at past shows, this year’s event featured a comprehensive educational component. Informa said it’s already booked in about more than half a million square feet of space for next year – enough to project World of Concrete 2021 will be the largest in more than a decade. Next year’s event will take place Jan. 19-22 in Vegas.
Canadian mason team takes second place Mario and Michael Alves of A&M Masonry in Hamilton, Ont. left Las Vegas last winter on a high. The mason and tender team earned first place in the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 – referred to in the industry as the “Super Bowl” of masonry. The world champions were back to defend their title this year at the high-profile event as thousands of spectators gathered at the Bronze Lot looked on. They faced off against more than two-dozen competitors, most from south of the border. With an hour to build a 26-foot-long brick wall as large as possible, with as few errors as possible, the competition tests skill, speed and stamina. As the 60-minute time limit expired and masons laid their final bricks, the competition’s judges began to tally the scores. Alves’s brick count sat at 735, a couple dozen shy of his total a year earlier. The Ontario team came close to repeating as champions, but finished just short in second place. Instead, taking the 2020 crown were mason Fred Campbell and tender Tony Shelton, both from CreaOve Masonry in Greeneville, Tenn. The team from the southeast state laid 756 bricks over the course of the hour. The win was familiar territory for 47-year-old Campbell, who has won the competition on two other occasions.
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WOC
ON THE SHOW FLOOR
Equipment manufacturers and technology providers had a lot to show off at World of Concrete 2020 AQUAJET
BROKK
The 5,070-pound Aqua Cutter 710V was the centrepiece of hydrodemolition robot maker Aquajet’s booth at World of Concrete 2020. Capable of reaching as high as 23 feet, the 710V is equipped with a long-lasting ceramic nozzle. It’s able to remove as much as 35 cubic feet of concrete per hour using water jets up to 40,000-psi. The remote controlled robot cleans and descales rebar as it breaks up concrete, making it ideal for rehab projects.
Small enough to fit through interior doorways and work in confined spaces, the Brokk 70 remote-controlled demolition robot was among the highlights Brokk showcased at World of Concrete this year. The compact electric robot is armed with a new intelligent power management system that delivers twice the power of its predecessor. With a base weight of 1,235 pounds it can be taken into regular passenger elevators, making it ideal for top-down demolition projects.
BOBCAT The new Bobcat R-Series compact loaders are a revolution in both form and function, the company says. Designed to tackle everyday work and the toughest challenges, these next generation loaders include several machine and feature changes focused on quality, reliability and durability. The R-Series loaders are designed for comfort with their all-around visibility, numerous options and roomy environment. Features include an optional clear-side enclosure, mesh-free windows and new cab design.
BAY-LYNX
DOOSAN INFRACORE
Built with Hardox 450 – a lightweight steel known for its flexibility – Ontario-based manufacturer Bay-Lynx showed off its new Titan volumetric concrete mixer at World of Concrete 2020. Being slimmer, the mixer can carry more material while saving on fuel. Meanwhile, its BatchPro Connect system automates the mixing process, translating to considerable time savings. Bay-Lynx says the Titan has twice the lifespan of a standard mixer.
Focussing on increased manoeuvrability, Doosan Infracore highlighted its new reduced tail swing DX62R-3 at this year’s show. The mini excavator has just 4.9 inches of side overhang, giving operators more flexibility in confined spaces. Among other changes, the company’s engineers moved the machine’s swing center forward 11 inches to improve reach while maintaining balance. The DX62R-3 is designed to excel on the increasing number of projects in tight urban areas.
34 / MARCH 2020
GIATEC Concrete testing technology firm Giatec introduced an entirely redesigned version of its flagship SmartRock sensor at World of Concrete. Building off the success of its predecessor, the new version has a wireless signal five-times as powerful, capable of transmitting precise data as concrete cures and hardens up to 40 feet away. The company also released a new version of its mobile app based on the input of thousands active users.
HILTI
GOMACO Concrete paving equipment maker Gomaco has introduced a new high-production screed capable of advancing up to four feet in a single pass, dramatically speeding up the finishing process. The truss-mounted screed, designed for paving bridge decks, flat slabs and floors, compacts and finishes the concrete in a single pass using a five-foot finishing cylinder. A six-foot trailing screed provides the final finish to the surface.
With job sites going increasingly digital, tool maker Hilti is building out its technology offering. The company launched a new “smart” fastener system at World of Concrete that can digitally document anchors by leveraging the Internet of Things. The TraceFast system uses a data matrix codes to ensure every fastener is unique and identifiable. By powering up the company’s app, workers or inspectors can then scan the code using their smart phone, bringing up the fastener’s details.
NEW RB611T LARGEST JAW SIZE OF ANY BATTERY POWERED REBAR TYING TOOL ON THE MARKET. TIES UP TO #9 x #10 REBAR*. *Varies by rebar manufacturer.
MAX developed the World’s First battery powered rebar tying tool. Since then MAX Rebar Tying Tools have revolutionized rebar tying all around the world. MAX has continued improving rebar tying technology, which led to the invention of the Twintier RB611T, a dual wire feeding rebar tier. The latest technology allows 4,000 ties per charge, while delivering just the right amount of wire for added productivity and cost savings. These innovative features make the Twintier the best and most innovative and efficient rebar tier in the industry. Today, MAX manufactures a full line of rebar guns that can tie between mesh up to #9 x #10 rebar.*
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WOC LIUGONG LiuGong North America showed off a range of equipment at this year’s World of Concrete, including its largest excavator, the 950E. With an operating weight of 105,822 pounds and 375.5 horsepower engine, the 950E has a bucket capacity of up to 4.2 cubic yards. LiuGong also brought its mid-sized 915E, three wheel loader models and its first-ever compact track loader.
HUSQVARNA Equipment manufacturer Husqvarna used World of Concrete 2020 as a launching pad for a new lineup of eight floor grinders. The diverse new line ranges from the compact PG 540 to the PG 830, the largest and most powerful model. All eight models are sealed against dust and slurry and designed to handle easily. At the top end of the lineup, powerful motor options enable productivity up to 36 per cent greater than previous models.
The Advantage is KRYTON The ability to more easily monitor concrete as it cures is an increasingly important aspect on jobs of all sizes. With this goal in mind, concrete technology firm Kryton introduced its latest product, Maturix Smart Concrete Sensors, at this year’s show. The sensors can display temperature and strength readings in real-time via Sigfox’s IoT network. With the exception of a sacrificial thermocouple wires, the sensors are also reusable, allowing customers to keep costs low.
Experience For 20 years, Vacuworx has set the standard for vacuum lifting in the field. But we offer more than just the best vacuum lifting systems on the market, available to buy or rent and ready to ship when you need them. We also deliver unparalleled service and technical support, backed by experience no one can copy. Find out how much faster, safer and smarter your crew can be using Vacuworx lifting systems and put the Vacuworx Advantage to work for you.
vacuworx.com on-sitemag.com / 37
WOC QUIKRETE MAX More than 25 years after inventing the rebar tying tool category, Max is taking its next step forward with its TwinTier RB401T-E. The height adjustable, stand-up tool is designed to save workers from bending over or applying any pressure to tie rebar. It uses a contact trigger system and shoots a pair of ties in less than a second. The new TwinTier is expected to be available this summer.
Among a range of new products introduced at World of Concrete, Quikrete premiered a new version of its Rapid Road Repair line, this time with a new calcium aluminate cement based formulation that also features fast-setting cements and alkali resistant glass fibers. The company said Rapid Road Repair – CA gives contractors up to 30 minutes more of working time, as well as greater high-early compressive strength and increased tensile strength.
SOMERO
MINNICH MANUFACTURING A new gas-powered backpack concrete vibrator was the highlight at Minnich Manufacturing’s booth this February in Las Vegas. A 50 cc Honda GX50 general-purpose engine powers the backpack vibrator, which has a fully adjustable harness, relocatable throttle and weighs 20.5-pounds. The new vibrator joins Minnich’s current 35 cc model and offers easy starting, simple maintenance and low fuel and oil consumption.
The Somero Sky Screed 25 is the first knuckle boom, laser screed machine allow screeding on structural high-rise and slab-on-grade applications. The equipment manufacturer displayed the versatile machine designed to save time and deliver high floor quality at this year’s show. With three lower frame stabilizers and an upper frame and screed head that rotate 360 degrees, it’s engineered to work around obstacles such as columns while screeding in any direction.
PUTZMEISTER Concrete pump manufacturer Putzmeister is helping all its boom pump customers transition to smarter job sites. The company announced at World of Concrete it’s making its telemetry offerings, such as machine cockpit, standard on all its pumps. The system displays real-time information about key operating figures, shows warning messages and allows for remote diagnostics of machine faults. Along with coming standard on new pumps, Putzmeister said existing machines can be retrofitted to include the module.
38 / MARCH 2020
VACUWORX The next generation of battery-powered lifters from Vacuworx weighs in at just 25 pounds, yet it generates enough power to lift up to 2,500 pounds. The company showed off its PHD Portable Vacuum Lifting System at World of Concrete 2020. Building off previous models, the new system includes a remote control and can be used on more host machines and in more applications. The PHD also features two dual-stage vacuum pumps to build vacuum faster.
WIRTGEN Offering a first look at its new WPS 62i placer/ spreader, Wirtgen displayed an inset concrete paving train at this year’s show. Ideal for jobs with preplaced reinforcing steel, the company’s new WPS 62i/WPS 62 takes on the first position in the Wirtgen paving train, placing and spreading concrete fed from the side. Available with two different scraping units, the machine can work with widths between 12 and 24 feet, laying concrete up to 20 inches thick.