MC Magazine

People & Products

People & Products is a forum in MC magazine where NPCA members and nonprofit organizations can share information on new products, personnel promotions/acquisitions or service announcements concerning the precast concrete industry. Items are printed in the magazine on a space-available basis and do not include information about existing products. For possible inclusion, send your press releases to NPCA, Attn: MC Magazine, 10333 N. Meridian St. Suite 272, Indianapolis, IN 46290 or e-mail them to rhyink@precast.org.

Degussa hires three new professionals
Degussa Admixtures Inc. of Cleveland has hired three new professionals to the company’s Technology Innovation and Sustainability Group to provide additional strength and greater service in the areas of technical innovation, specification development, agency approvals, and technical support to engineers and customers.

Dr. Van Bui has joined the company as senior scientist and is responsible for overall support of engineering-related projects and expansion of technical innovation in new application technologies, such as SCC and pervious concrete. He holds a doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Wollongong in Australia. Throughout his 20-plus-year career, Bui has gained experience in both research institutions and industrial firms and is respected as a provider of engineering and quality control solutions.

Dr. Prakash Surali is new at Degussa, working as a senior project engineer. In this role, he will oversee all specification efforts directed to architects and engineers; provide advanced technical service to customers; and serve as technical consultant on marketing initiatives. Surali is a graduate of Bangalore University in India with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s in prestressed concrete, and he also earned a doctorate in concrete technology from Indian Institute of Science, India.

Dr. Phil Graham is working as specification manager, government approvals, and is responsible for product and program specification development at DOTs and other government agencies. Graham, a graduate of the University of Bradford, England, has more than 20 years of experience with engineered and specified construction products in the utility, chemical, industrial, transportation, military, government and nuclear markets throughout North America, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Wilbert Precast receives Business Excellence award
Wilbert Precast Inc. of Spokane, Wash., received the Agora Award for the medium-size business category from the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber’s annual awards ceremony June 1 in Spokane.

The Agora Awards are the highest accolades for the Spokane area, reflecting on business excellence and “celebrating entrepreneurs and organizations that make Spokane a vibrant business and cultural center.” Wilbert Precast received the award on the basis of 100 years of successful business, innovative production practices, standout employee relations and dedication to the community.

Wilbert Precast was founded in 1906 when it began manufacturing primarily burial vaults. Now under the fourth generation management of Dan Houk, the Wilbert Precast product line has greatly diversified, including branch plants in Yakima, Wash., and Lewiston, Idaho. The Spokane facility is an NPCA-certified plant.

Wilbert Precast has seen dramatic growth over the last two years, and Houk has strived to keep the company advanced in technology and production practices. “The Agora Award is the pinnacle of business excellence. I am proud of what our company has done over the years to receive such a prestigious award,” said Houk.

Komatsu’s EX20 debuts
Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. Inc., based in Covington, Ga., has introduced it new EX20 series of forklifts. The EX20 series has lifting capacities ranging from 22,000 to 35,000 pounds and has the most powerful engine in its class, says the company. The engine is a quiet, direct-injection diesel that meets strict EPA emission regulations, and a new transmission offers outstanding speed, acceleration and gradeability, according to the company. The operator-friendly design provides optimum visibility, maximum operator comfort and excellent maneuverability.

Easi-Set offers new restroom building
Easi-Set Industries of Midland, Va., has announced its newest product line in restroom buildings, the Double Outback. The Double Outback is constructed entirely of precast concrete and delivered as a preassembled unit. It provides durability, flexibility and cost effectiveness, says the company.

Easi-Set buildings use a patented post-tensioned roof system and offer vandal resistance with precast concrete construction, tamper-proof hinges, dead bolt locks and 18-gauge galvanized steel insulated doors.

For more information on Easi-Set transportable precast concrete building lines or licensing opportunities, call (800) 547-4045, e-mail info@easiset.com or visit www.easiset.com.

New Jersey precasters find ‘unified voice’
During the 2005 MCPX in Indianapolis, Kirby O’Malley, president of Garden State Precast, began his quest to create the next state precast concrete association. Only three months and one interest meeting later, the New Jersey Precast Concrete Association was born.

“Most of the governmental agencies don’t want to speak with the individual producer,” O’Malley said, describing the need for a state association for New Jersey and the surrounding area. “They want to speak with [state] associations.”

O’Malley will serve as chairman of the board, a two-year term. Jeff Hoffman of Flemington Precast will serve as vice chairman, Michael Dunbar of Dunbar Concrete will serve as secretary/treasurer and Barry Fleck of A.L. Patterson will serve as the associate leadership representative.

Mixer Systems’ batch plant now skid-mounted
Mixer Systems Inc. now offers its EconoBatch batch plant in a skid-mounted version that is prewired and prepiped for fast, easy installation, says the company. The new plant includes the features of the standard plant, such as split design aggregate bins, self-leveling load cells and low-profile bin loading height. It can be taken off the truck in this portable configuration as one entire unit and be in operation in a matter of hours.

Back to MC Magazine July/August 2005 Table of Contents