Ready Mixed Concrete Prices were up 5% in Q1 of 2020 vs. Q1 2019

The $126.09 weighted average selling price per cubic yard, reported by the concrete producers tracked in the Concrete Financial Insights Index, in the first quarter of 2020 was $5.97 per cyd. higher than the price in the same three months of the prior year.

This $126.09 weighted average selling price of ready-mix concrete reported by the companies in the Concrete Financial Insights Index is also up when compared to the preceding quarter. The average price of $126.09 during Q1 of 2020 is up by $3.26 per cubic yard, or 2.7%, over the selling price of $122.83 in the fourth quarter of 2019. 

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USIPA: EU Recognizes Biomass is Integral to Energy Transition

The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association welcomed today’s EU Biodiversity Strategy which acknowledges that sustainable biomass will be integral to achieving Europe’s carbon reduction and biodiversity goals. This communication from the European Commission outlines its vision to combat climate change and biodiversity loss, and is part of a multi-step legislative process that will unfold over the coming years. 

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Development of Elon Musk's Innovative Underground Transportation System Achieves Milestone

LAS VEGAS, May 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Construction is complete on the second of two vehicular tunnels that make up Elon Musk's innovative underground transportation system located beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) campus, symbolizing the strength and resiliency of the destination.

The boring machine today broke through the concrete wall near the 1.4 million square foot West Hall convention center expansion, which is currently more than 80 percent complete, signaling the completion of excavation for the two one-way tunnels known as the Convention Center Loop. The West Hall expansion and Convention Center Loop are scheduled to debut to the public in January 2021 and are part of the destination's investment in bringing fun and groundbreaking transportation solutions to the meetings and conventions industry.

"This milestone not only helps usher in the future of transportation in Las Vegas, but it signals the destination's ability to push through during trying times and continue to meet the evolving needs of our visitors," said Steve Hill, LVCVA CEO and president.

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HeidelbergCement can COPE with COVID-19 as results climb 4%

Compared with a strong January and February 2019, HeidelbergCement sales volumes increased in all business lines in the first two months of 2020. From mid-March, however, company sales volumes were significantly impaired by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, such as state-imposed production downtimes and construction stoppages on significant infrastructure projects.

“With COPE, we have launched a comprehensive action plan across the Group at the end of February that focuses on cost savings and on maintaining our high level of liquidity. This includes, for example, minimising all non-essential expenses, reducing personnel costs, voluntary reductions in management salaries, restrictions on investments, and reduced tax payments. Our objective is to reduce expenses by €1 billion with these measures.” - Dr. Dominik von Achten

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World's Hardest Concrete with Improved Impact Resistance for Disaster Prevention

A research team including Kanazawa University tests the impact response of the world’s hardest concrete. Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world and consequently is being continuously developed to fulfill modern-day requirements. Efforts to improve concrete strength have led to reports of porosity-free concrete (PFC), the hardest concrete tested to date. Some of the basic properties of PFC have already been explored, and now a team including Kanazawa University has probed the impact response of this innovative material. Their findings are published in the International Journal of Civil Engineering.

The way in which PFC is prepared leads to very few voids in the final material, which gives it its high strength — 400 MPa can be applied to PFC before it fails, compared with 20-30 MPa for standard concrete. Some of the basic material properties of steel fiber-reinforced PFC have already been reported; now the researchers have evaluated the impact response of a range of PFC preparations with different steel fiber contents and section heights.

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GCCA Releases New Industry Biodiversity Guidelines

The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has published new guidelines aimed at further improving the biodiversity performance of the industry’s quarries. The guidelines support the association’s Sustainability Charter implementation and represent a collaborative effort by member companies to improve overall performance in biodiversity management and quarry rehabilitation.

Benjamin Sporton, GCCA chief executive, said: “These new guidelines are an important example of the ongoing collaborative work being undertaken by GCCA members to bring about improvements in performance across our industry. Biodiversity is just one area where collaboration and the sharing of good practice can bring about very positive outcomes for stakeholders including the local communities where our members operate.”   

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U.S. Concrete Announces First Quarter 2020 Results

 U.S. Concrete, Inc. (NASDAQ: USCR), a leading producer of construction materials in select major markets across the United States, today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Ronnie Pruitt, President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Concrete, Inc. highlighted, "We are very pleased with our financial results for the first quarter, which we accomplished in spite of significant rainfall in Texas and the initial impacts of COVID-19.

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Eagle Materials delays its aggregates business split as COVID-19 virus crisis continues

US building materials group Eagle Materials has announced, in a statement released to the New York Stock Exchange this week, that it is delaying the separation of its aggregates division.

Previous deadlines now look impossible to achieve: “Eagle Materials remains committed to the separation,” says the statement, “and reaffirms that the strategic rationale for the separation is unchanged, although the timing for the expected completion of the separation has become uncertain.

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Sequatchie Concrete Service; Announces the Acquisition of WDC Block in Rockmart, GA

ROCKMART, GA: Today Sequatchie Concrete Service, Inc. announces the acquisition of WDC Block in Rockmart, Georgia. The acquisition took place March 13, 2020.

“This acquisition places our concrete masonry business firmly in North Georgia with a focus from the Northern part of Atlanta back to our home market of Chattanooga.” says Company President, Jesse Slaton.

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Instone, Brookstone Partners Portfolio Company, Completes Acquisition of Northeast Masonry Distributors

Instone, a portfolio company of Brookstone Partners, acquired Northeast Masonry Distributors (“NMD”) of Plainville, MA in November 2019.

Instone is the premier wholesale distributor of manufactured and natural thin veneer stone in the United States. By acquiring NMD, it now provides quality products for both the horizontal and vertical applications. NMD is the largest wholesale distributor of Natural Stone for landscaping in New England.

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DOT announces $1B in funding to target infrastructure upgrades

Department of Transportation (DOT) officials said $1 billion is available to the nation’s infrastructure upgrade effort. Officials recently issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) via the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. “BUILD grants will upgrade infrastructure across America, making our transportation systems safer and more efficient,” Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said. The funds are designated for Read More

U.S. Concrete Announces Retirement of William J. Sandbrook as Chief Executive Officer and Succession of Ronnie Pruitt as Chief Executive Officer

- Transition follows last year's promotion of Ronnie Pruitt to President - (PRNewsfoto/U.S. Concrete, Inc.) NEWS PROVIDED BY U.S. Concrete, Inc.

Feb 13, 2020, 06:00 ET
EULESS, Texas, Feb. 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Concrete, Inc. (NASDAQ: USCR) ("U.S. Concrete" or the "Company"), today announced that William J. Sandbrook has notified the Company's Board of Directors of his decision to retire as Chief Executive Officer effective April 3, 2020. Mr. Sandbrook will continue to serve as the Company's Chairman of the Board until the Company's annual meeting of stockholders in May 2020. Mr. Sandbrook will stand for reelection as a director … Read More

Oldcastle APG Acquires Eagle Bay Hardscapes/Allied Concrete Products

ATLANTA, April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Oldcastle APG is pleased to announce the acquisition of Allied Concrete Products, enhancing our customer's experience by expanding product options and distribution. Since 1945, Allied has been an established leader in hardscapes under the Eagle Bay® brand, along with Allied concrete masonry and lightweight aggregates in the Richmond/Tidewater region.

In addition to expanding product offerings, the acquisition will… Read More

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