The concrete industry produces approximately 10 billion tons of concrete worldwide. In the U.S. the industry has an annual production of 500 million tons with an estimated value of $35 billion and employs more than 2 million employees. It is suggested that with the amount of the U.S.’s yearly production that it equals to about two tons for every man, woman and child. To produce these types of volumes, it requires vast amounts of natural resources to supply the aggregate needed as well as to make the cement. Concrete is used to build highways, streets and bridges, commercial, industrial, medical and educational structures, residential housing and other construction markets.
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) reports that there is an estimated 5,500 ready mixed concrete plants located throughout the country. They also report that the industry has around 55,000 ready mixed concrete mixer trucks that are used to deliver the material to the jobsite. It is critical to the success of the placement of the concrete to have plants located close to urban areas as well as to rural locations as the material needs to be delivered to the site in a timely manner. This means that concrete production facilities are typically located “within 60 to 90 minutes travelling distance from any construction project.” It is also interesting to note that approximately 75% of the cement shipped to the U.S. is used by the ready mixed concrete industry. In addition to the portland cement, concrete may also contain industrial byproducts such as fly ash derived from coal burning power plants and slag from the manufacturing of iron. Silica fume, a byproduct of the silicon and ferrosilicon alloy production, is used as a pozzolanic material for high performance concrete. The Conco Companies are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Sources: nrmca.org/concrete/data.asp columbia.edu/cu/civileng/meyer/publications/publications/83%20Concrete%20Materials%20and%20Sustainable%20Development.pdf
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The Conco Companies have an impressive fleet of modern, state-of-the-art concrete pumps in addition to Telebelts. We use this equipment to help us complete projects faster and more efficiently for our customers.
One of our more recent additions to our fleet is a couple of Telebelt® TB 105 Telescopic Belt Conveyors that are available from our Southern California and Washington State locations. The Telebelt is a versatile tool that can be used to convey a wide variety of materials ranging from sand all the way to 4-inch rock. It has an operating capacity of up to 360 cubic yards per hour and provides a cost-effective alternative to transporting materials with a crane and skid-steer. The belt conveyors can eliminate the labor-intensive process of having to re-handle the material and are ideal in congested jobsites with uneven, muddy ground. They can also be the solution in areas with low clearances or a tight access point as well as a job that requires material to be deposited below grade. Conco uses our Telebelts to assist with mat pours, large foundations and footings, and backfill. The 105 Telescopic Belt Conveyors come with a variety of hopper options and have a horizontal reach of 105 ft. and an 18” conveyor belt width. They can handle concrete from 0” to 12” slumps and can be setup and operated under heights as low as 16 ft. In addition to transporting concrete, the belt conveyors are used to transport rock, gravel, backfill and other materials. Our Telebelt® TB 110 offers many of the same benefits as the 105 Telescopic Belt Conveyors but with a capability of 5 cubic yards per minute. It too has an easy setup even in congested areas or rough terrain. Please visit our website for more information and specifications on our Telescope Belt Conveyors along with our concrete pumps. The Conco Companies are one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington. An interesting report from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) illustrates the various uses for portland cement as it is one of the key ingredients in concrete. They suggest that while concrete is very important to the way we live, and in fact surrounds us, it is often overlooked. They explain that concrete “makes our homes and offices durable and more resilient in natural disasters, it makes our roads and bridges strong and last longer, and thanks to its permanence and energy efficiency, it helps sustain our environment.”
From their illustration, the PCA’s breakdown of how concrete is used includes 8.4% on water and waste systems, 8.9% for industrial and commercial buildings, 27.5% on one-and-two family houses, and 30.8% on the construction of highways, streets and bridges. The other 22.1% is used to build offices, hotels, hospitals, religious institutions, educational institutions and public utilities. Concrete is a mixture of cement paste (cement and water) and coarse and/or fine aggregate. Almost all modern cement is portland cement, which was patented in 1824 by the Englishman, Joseph Aspdin, who named it for its similarity to a building stone quarried on the Isle of Portland. The PCA also describes the various components of concrete as containing 7 to 15% cement, 14 to 21% water, 60 to 75% of aggregate and as much as 8% of air. At The Conco Companies, we have been involved in a wide range of projects from towering skyscrapers, to mixed-use high-rises, hospitals, educational, public utilities and parking structure projects. Conco Pumping is one of the largest pumping and belting companies in the United States and has a reputation for delivering first-class concrete pumping services since 1975. At Conco Reinforcing, we own and operate two state-of-the-art facilities that give us the resources to be a single source for all your rebar fabrication and installation needs regardless of the project size. Please visit our website to learn more about the various concrete services offered by Conco. Conco is one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Source: cement.org/civilization The Conco Companies, one of the West Coast’s largest commercial concrete contractors, is looking for interns and/or graduates to fill our Concrete Estimator positions. As our team is comprised of some of the top experts in the concrete industry, this is an excellent opportunity to learn from the best. In business since 1959, we have worked closely with contractors, developers, owners and engineers on various concrete methodologies in an effort to develop the best standards and practices in the industry today.
Conco is willing to train Concrete Estimators who will work with the East Bay Construction Company in one of their satellite offices in either Southern California or Seattle. Applicants with experience in concrete estimating and any prior employment or an internship with a construction company is a plus. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, On-Screen Takeoff and Auto Cad along with a familiarity of general knowledge in the construction industry and with industry standards is also a plus. All interested individuals should have the ability to apply a systematic and organized approach to monitoring and reviewing estimates. As a Concrete Estimator, your job duties will involve preparing a project’s estimate, bid and schedule for commercial construction projects as well as preparing RFI’s and overseeing the budgeting and financing of the project. Estimators are additionally responsible for interpreting plans and specifications, performing takeoffs and developing estimates. They will evaluate subcontract, vendor and supplier quotes. To be an effective Concrete Estimator, you must have good communication skills and be extremely detailed oriented. We seek talented individuals who have a strong desire to be a part of the challenging construction industry. Please visit our website to read the full details of the Concrete Estimator posting and for information on how to apply. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services throughout the Western U.S. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products and are now one of the foremost concrete contractors in the region. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, industrial and public works projects as well as parking structures. The Conco Companies have continued to extend their reach throughout the Western U.S. Our service areas include the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Diego, CA; Reno, NV; Seattle, WA; and Denver and Colorado Springs, CO. Our newest office is in Portland, Oregon. Furthermore, we are pleased to report that with a steady uptick in the construction markets of our service areas, all of our regional offices are staying busy.
One example of our growth is in the San Diego area where we are providing services for the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza at the San Diego International Airport. The $128 million project broke ground in September 2016 and is scheduled to be completed mid-2018. The parking structure will offer three floors of approximately 3,000 parking stalls, and as it is within walking distances of Terminal 2, will be convenient parking for travelers. Another new project out of our San Diego office is the Miramar Water Treatment Plant in the City of San Diego. The plant was originally constructed in 1962 and provides drinking water to an estimated 500,000 customers in the northern section of San Diego. The project includes the replacement of the Clearwells #1 and #2 built in 1959 and 1974 respectively, a new Chlorine Contact Chamber, an adjoining lift station, new maintenance and operation building, and a security guard shack. The estimated $89 million project was started in June 2016 and is expected to be completed by May 2020. Conco Pumping was also brought in on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project that will extend Trolley service from the Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego to the University City community. Mid-Coast Transit Constructors (MCTC), a fully integrated joint venture of Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. and Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog, is in charge of the light rail project. We are providing concrete pumping services under the direction of Malcolm Drilling, Condo-Johnson and Skanska. Furthermore, our San Diego crews are working on the Hedionda Lift Station project for the City of Carlsbad. This is the first time in many years that Conco has had the opportunity to work with the general contractor, Pulice Construction, on a water project. Other improvements in the project include the installation of an estimated two miles of new sewer pipeline. Please visit our website to learn more about Conco’s wide scope of projects. As one of the nation’s leading commercial concrete contractors, Conco offers a wide range of premium concrete services and products. Our large portfolio includes challenging projects both big and small including several of recent notable projects on the West Coast. Conco proudly serves California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. At The Conco Companies, we have a long history of adopting the latest concrete technologies as well as purchasing the latest state-of-the-art equipment to provide our customers with the best range of options for their project. One of the types of pumps that we find are very beneficial in projects with challenging placement specifications is our articulating boom pumps.
Also known as roll-and-fold or Z-fold, articulating boom pumps are available in four-section multi-Z booms or five-section Z-Fold booms and provide us with lots of versatility and a large working range. The pump is it a good choice for hard-to-reach areas or when you need the ease of their maneuverability. In addition to providing a good vertical reach, articulating booms are very easy to transport as they fold into a compact size. At all of our pumping locations, we have a Putzmeister 28Z, which is the perfect example of the versatility of a four-section Multi-Z boom. Its compact size and great flexibility makes it a great choice for congested job sites. Features include the smallest front outrigger footprint of all models in its class, a smooth concrete flow, and a vertical reach of 89 feet 7 inches. Also since the 28Z does not need a large vertical clearance to unfold, it can be set up and used inside of a building. The versatility of the multi-Z’s configuration does not require the boom to be fully extended in order to pump; and as the longer, straighter pipe allows for a less stressful concrete flow, it can result in better wear on parts. The Putzmeister 28Z is also adaptable to a variety of material. Please visit our website to see our full list of concrete pumps and Telebelts that are available at each of our Southern California, Northern California and Washington State locations. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S. and got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We currently serve California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. The Conco Companies’ Martinez facility was recently honored as a recipient of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District’s Pollution Prevention Award. All private businesses and organizations located within the Central San’s service area are eligible to enter the annual event. Award recipients are recognized for going above and beyond in their business practices in regard to pollution prevention and environmental protection.
The steps the Martinez facility took that helped them to receive the award include using recycled water to wash their trucks. The facility is also pretreating the water before it enters into the storm drain with an innovative sand-oil interceptor and has installed a new sawdust collector. Another thing the facility has done is to install solar panels and made the change to LED lights to help reduce the amount of electricity they are using. Conco is honored to receive this award as we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operations throughout our entire organization, and whenever possible we invest in and implement “green” technologies. We understand that these decisions not only make good business sense but can make a difference in the environment as well as to the health and wellbeing of our workforce, other tradespeople and the general public. Please visit the Conco website to learn more about one of the largest commercial concrete contractors in the country. We have an exceptional team of talented professionals that know to create innovative, cost-effective solutions for the most challenging jobs. Contact the experts before you start your next project. Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We have built our reputation with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects and highways. The Conco Companies have four regional offices to serve California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. Many people have no idea what a concrete pump is and how it is used. Just as many people are unaware that concrete pump operators are one of the highest paid careers in the construction industry and that the industry is actively recruiting people who may be interested in a career as a concrete pump operator.
Back in October of 2016, the ACPA (American Concrete Pumping Association) implemented the new “Workforce Development Program” that is designed to help members recruit new labor to fill open positions. Representatives of the program as well as members are attending trade shows and job fairs to promote concrete pumping careers. The group is also using using social media as a way to garner more attention. Furthermore, the ACPA has improved their online ACPA Career Center (at ConcretePumpers.com.) to allow members to post job openings and job-seekers to post resumes. Based on the increase in the number of resumes that have been posted over the last year, the Workforce Development Program is working. In addition ties have been established with several technical schools and programs in order to introduce students to the benefits of a concrete pumping career. One of the relationships forged is with the Heavy Construction Academy in Brentwood, New Hampshire, which runs a 6-week training program. The academy has students from around the country including many vets who are taking advantage of the G.I. bill to fund their training. The Workforce Develment Program’s newly appointed coordinator is Chay Ibarra who will carry on the work started by one of the program’s developers and its first coordinator, Sidney Andrews. She is working closely with Andrews and the Board to define the program’s goals. At The Conco Companies, we are continuously seeking experienced carpenters, cement masons, ironworkers, laborers and operating engineers. Please see our website for more details. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Colorado. Source:mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=440368#{"issue_id":440368,"page":26} Over the last several years, we have experienced a dwindling number of new workers seeking careers in the construction industry. Some think this may be due to young people entering the job market feeling that construction work is not a glamorous or lucrative profession. The problem has come to a head as older, experienced tradespeople retire and not enough people are stepping into the jobs causing a shortage in experienced cement masons, carpenters and ironworkers.
Another area experiencing shortages is in qualified construction truck drivers that haul materials such as steel, aggregates, cement and ready-mixed concrete. In fact we have heard stories from concrete producers about how they have had trucks parked without qualified drivers to drive them. They have also found themselves in the position of running out of raw materials due to the shortage of material haulers. Many in the industry fear that the problem may stem from companies such as Amazon and Walmart that can offer steadier work than the construction industry. A recent article from the Business Insider says that the shortage of skilled construction workers may slow the hurricane recovery efforts from Harvey. It reports on a survey from the Associated General Contractors of America that even before the hurricane, Texas, which is in the middle of a building boom, was having trouble filling positons as reported by 69% of the contractors. Another quarterly report from the USG Corporation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that surveys contractors to gauge sentiment and measure the health of the industry supports that finding. It discovered that “60% of contractors reported difficulty finding skilled workers in the third quarter of 2017 due to an ongoing skilled labor shortage.” Additionally 91% surveyed said they were somewhat concerned about the skill level of their work force. The Conco Companies are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the complete concrete package for the Levi’s Stadium along with other notable projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Sources: businessinsider.com/r-construction-worker-shortage-could-weigh-on-harvey-recovery-2017-9 fortune.com/2017/09/18/hurricane-maria-hurricane-jose-construction-jobs/ Recently The Conco Companies announced the topping out of the East County Detention Center, a 500,000 SF expansion and replacement to the existing Riverside County Jail. The project’s General Contractor is Clark Construction and the architect is HOK. The $330 million project will add another 1,626 beds to the facility once it is complete.
Since the jail is located in Indio, CA, one of the most challenging aspects to the job was safely dealing with an average temperature of around 100°F and sometimes reaching as high as 120°F. To ensure the safety of all the workers, we had a full-time safety manager on site. Furthermore, all Conco employees as well as our subcontracted employees followed the ACI’s Hot Weather Concreting procedures. Workers were provided with lots of water, rest and shade as well as educated to recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses in themselves or in a co-worker. Our hard-working crews formed, pumped and placed 55,000 CY on the project, which also includes the construction a 990-stall concrete parking structure adjacent to the new facility. We also used our pumps to pour piles 60’ below ground-level for Becho, another one of our trade partner on the job. Phase One of the project includes a three-story administration and support building with an extension of the existing below grade tunnel. Phase Two includes a four-story structure consisting of two housing units and mezzanine levels. The entire project is expected to be completed this winter. To celebrate the topping out of the structure and as a thank you to our crews and their families, we held a Pre-Father’s Day Company picnic at Prado Dam. Over 250 people showed up to enjoy the hotdogs, BBQ, and other treats. Prizes were awarded and games were played by the kids and grownups alike. Please visit Conco’s website to learn more about the various scope of our large portfolio and the range of our professional concrete solutions. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S and we got our start in the Bay Area in 1959. Our success has come from offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products and we are now one of the region’s top commercial concrete contractors. We currently serve the areas of Southern and Northern California, Oregon, Washington Colorado, and Nevada. |
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