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President's Message
I love history. Admittedly some parts are more interesting than others, but that doesn't make any generation less relevant than another in the timeline of humanity. With 2017 being the 60th
year for the Florida Prestressed Concrete Association, it kind of makes me wonder if the folks who founded this group had any idea what the industry would look like now, or in the time since.
Looking back at a list of past presidents recently, I can only recognize names of men I knew personally on that list having served from about 1977 on, but even by then they were building on a foundation already 20 years old at that point. The men who came before were the true pioneers in prestressed concrete. Times change, people change, technology has surely changed; but the need for leadership will never change.
I for one am thankful to those men and women who answered the call and shepherded FPCA over these 60 years (some more than once). The industry nationally and internationally is better off for their contributions. At the next milestone anniversary in 2032 I can't help but believe that someone will say the same about us.
Lenny Salvo, President of the Board
Coreslab Structures (Orlando)
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- Membership: Chair by Mr. Martin Smith, American Cement Company
- We are currently 11 Producers and 39 Associate Members strong. We continues to solicit industry supporters to work together to increase precast/prestressed concrete products share by providing technical education to our customers. See all the benefits of being member of FPCA. Click here to join as member.
- Education: Chair by Mr. Lloyd Kennedy, Finfrock Industries
- PCI Big Beam Competition -
- USF, under direction of Dr. Rajah Sen, had 6 teams and was able to narrow down to top 2 with 1 alternative. Phillip Walker, Transystem, Ryan Cartwright, Standard Concrete, and Diep Tu were judges. Students will be working with Standard Concrete Products with Ryan.
- FIU, under the direction of Dr. David Garber, had 3 teams and was able to narrow down to 1. The team is working with Coreslab Structures (Miami) with Luis Compres, Project Mgr.
- FIU's Prestressed Concrete course under Dr. David Garber is attended by 7 undergraduates and 9 graduates. Dr. Garber is using PCI's Prestressed in a Box. I'm also working with Dr. Garber & ASCE Student Chapter to coordinate/plan for a precast/prestressed concrete field day on campus in the Fall 2017.
- UF - I'm working with Dr. Trey Hamilton & Dr. Kurt Gurley to introduce precast/prestressed 101 to undergrad students in the Fall 2017. Similar arrangement with Dr. James Sullivan with the Rinker's School of Building Construction.
- UNF - Dr. Adel El-Safty is our champion at UNF, however he had been on sabatical over the last 12 months, but he's back and welcomed FPCA support and participation in the Fall. I will continue to work with Dr. El-Safty over the summer to set goals.
- Marketing: Chair by Mr. Vern Smith, Coreslab Structures (Tampa)
- In March, a presentation on parking garage was made to the membership of ACI Central FL Chapter with 15 in attendance.
- In April, a presentation was made to ATKINS' Architecture Division in Tampa with 6 in attendance.
- AIA National Conference in Orlando - I participated at the PCI booth for the 2-1/2-day event with a possible 6 leads in Florida for presentation.
- Website: Visit our new website at www.myFPCA.org.
- FDOT Liaison: Chair by Mr. Kurt Podoll, Standard Concrete Products
- We had a joint meeting with FDOT personnel from both Central Structural Design Group and State Materials Office (SMO) on Tues., April 25th at the Turnpike headquarters off of Turkey Lake Service Plaza. Items of discussion are as follows:
- Bubbling and cracking of expoxy at FL-I-Beam's ends - Industry will propose experimental testing procedure to FDOT.
- Deck beams potential - Department is interested in feedback from industry as to the feasibility of pre-casting the deck beam.
- FL slab beams - Department is interested in potential innovative ideas and benefits of eliminate topping. Fragility of the lip is a concern during form removal.
- UHPC Guidelines - Ultra-High Performance Concrete, Department recommends getting together with FPCA & FTBA to review and develop guidelines. Department will coordinate this meeting between all parties.
- FL-I-Beam camper and dunnage adjustment - Revision to specification will be provided to industry for comment as to dunnage adjustment to promote positive camber growth, when necessary.
- Review of 8.4.2 Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC) spread tolerances - SMO will work with Central Construction Office to ensure a "clean" version is available online.
- Using yearly averages for fly ash specific gravity when qualifying mix in MAC system - SMO would like to obtain, at minimum, 90 days averages from suppliers to make determination.
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 PCI's Update
- 55th Annual PCI Design Award - 2018 Design Awards submission site is now open. Click here to learn more.
- The Tour 2017 - an exclusive PCI Producer Member only productivity and quality improvement event, specifically designed for precast plant personnel. Click here to learn more.
- PCI Design Handbook - Eigth Edition - Presale - MEMBERS-ONLY - Buy now for only $195! Visit PCI Bookstore, offer is available through July 2017.
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Member Highlight
Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company
Please join us in welcoming the support of Oklahoma Steel & Wire Co. as one of our new Associate Members, although they have served Florida market for over 25 years.
The Moore family began in the steel and wire industry in the early 1960's by owning and operating Seymour Manufacturing in Seymour, Iowa. With expansion into wire panels, farm gates and grain stirring equipment, the company expanded further into Farm Equipment Manufacturing Company, which eventually became what is now Iowa Steel and Wire.
In 1979, B. L. Moore and his brother-in-law, Robert Lockridge, founded Oklahoma Steel and Wire located in Madill, Oklahoma, with the sole purpose of manufacturing livestock panels. Both companies shared in steady expansion and soon included a comprehensive product line to agricultural and industrial markets. Today these two facilities produce in excess of 200,000 tons of steel per year and employ more than 400 people.
Market demand created the need for a rod source to assure both companies a sufficient, reliable supply of steel rods to meet their expanding market. In 2004, Mid American Steel and Wire, in Madill, Oklahoma, was established, employing 100 additional employees. In 2010 to keep pace in an ever changing steel market, construction of a melt shop division was completed and production started. These companies will keep Oklahoma Steel and Iowa Steel supplied with wire rods and allows them to stay competitive in the market place.
Although Bob Lockridge lost his battle with cancer in 1982, Max Moore losing his life in a mid-air collision in 2000, and in early 2010 the passing of B.L. Moore the family continues to own and direct the daily operations of both wire plants. The family's philosophy of continuous improvement on products and service, along with the strong commitment to their employees and their customers has guided Oklahoma Steel and Wire and Iowa Steel and Wire in becoming industry leaders.
Contact Chad Taylor at (800) 654-4164 for more information.
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Industry News
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OSHA announced that it is delaying implementation of the new Construction standard for silica dust from June 23 until September 23, 2017. Click
here to read more.
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Marriott adopts modular construction:
The hotel giant embraces prefab methods to save on cost and construction time. Click here to read more.
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Florida Building Commission Stands Strong for Students. Click here to read more.
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Florida Officials Come Together to Discuss MIT Study That Would Bring Florida Significant Cost-Savings in Hazard Mitigation. Click here to read more.
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Producer Members
(For contact information, click
here)
Cement Industries - Ft. Myers
Coreslab Structures - Orlando, Tampa, Miami
Colonial Precast Concrete - Placida
Dura-Stress - Leesburg
Finfrock Industries - Apopka
Gate Precast Co. - Jacksonville, Kissimmee
Metromont Corp. - Bartow
Pre-Cast Specialties - Pompano Beach
Spancrete - Sebring
STABIL Precast Products - St. Petersburg
Standard Concrete Products - Tampa
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