Cementitious savings

Over the past year, cement prices in the US have been forced higher due to an increase in global demand. To help minimise the impact of these price increases, the Rinker Materials Hydro Conduit Concrete Pipe and Products Division has developed cement usage savings without affecting product quality.

Using a team consisting of top technical resources, a series of initiatives were tailored to specific pipe plants. These initiatives included changes to mix designs by increasing the usage of lower cost flyash and high early strength cement.

Net cementitious savings (cost savings) have been achieved in 28 pipe plants in the current financial year, with major successes in Cleveland, Columbus, the Carolinas, Kansas City, Miami and Los Angeles. Year to date savings exceed US$1.5 million.

Zero4Life 24/7

We often speak about the importance of safety in the work place, but what about safety at home? Innovative thinking is essential when approaching safety at both work and home.

Rinker Materials’ Wauregan plant “Safety at Home” program was recently recognised for such innovative thinking. Selected from six finalists, the Wauregan operations were awarded the Individual Plant Safety Idea Award from the American Concrete Pipe Association’s (ACPA) annual Short Course School in Indianapolis.

Presented by Mark Caro, safety coordinator at the plant, the program highlights the need to continually encourage employees and their families about safety at work and home.

Other awards include third place for the Miami pipe plant in the individual plant category with their “ZIDS Photo Review” program – where photos of plant activity are used for safety meetings.

ACPA also announced the winners of their annual “Lowest Injury Rates” industry awards, based on man-hours worked at facilities. Rinker Materials Hydro Conduit won four of the seven categories: class 25 – Fort Wayne, class 50 – Indianapolis-Holt Road, class 75 – Charlotte, and class 200 – Houston.

“The recognition by our industry association is a testament to our hard work and commitment to safety,” says Rich Holston, Rinker Materials Hydro Conduit director of safety, health and environment. “Rinker Materials continues to strive to protect our employees at work and at home.”

Gluing Florida’s marine life back together

Not only is Rinker Materials helping build roads, towns and cities across the US, they are also helping build marine wildlife habitats under the sea – by donating Type II cement to the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary’s Reef Restoration Program.

From left to right – Timothy R E Keeney, NOAA deputy assistant secretary for oceans and atmosphere, Harold Hudson, NOAA reef restoration biologist, Mark Wells, Rinker Materials Miami cement terminal manager, Billy Causey, superintendent Florida Keys national marine sanctuary, and Marshall Jones, deputy director US fish and wildlife service.

Using the cement, or Rinker Materials’ “glue” as it’s commonly known, Harold Hudson, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reef restoration biologist, the “Reef Doctor”, is able to restore and repair Florida’s damaged coral reefs; damaged primarily due to boating accidents. Thanks to this continued coral reef restoration, marine wildlife now flourishes in the keys, helping both tourism and fishing industries in South Florida. The Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary focuses on preservation and protection of the coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass. The coral reef ecosystem is home to one third of Florida’s threatened and endangered species. It can take years for some corals to grow one inch (two centimetres).

“After the hurricanes came through Florida last year, we expected to have considerable damage to the already repaired reefs,” says Harold, “but surprisingly, none of the restored reefs were damaged. This was a true testament to the quality of Rinker’s cement.”

Rinker Materials representatives were presented with an appreciation award by Billy Causey, Florida Keys’ marine sanctuary superintendent, at the recent NOAAs annual US coral reef task force meeting.