Conventional
cast-in-place concrete and shotcrete share
many of the same properties but shotcrete provides an advantage in
placement. It bonds with most substrates
instantly or very rapidly, which makes it a good choice on complex forms or
shapes. Similarities to conventional concrete
include high strength, low permeability and high durability. It has a wide range of applications that
include repair or restoration, ground support, architectural and landscape restoration,
new construction and much more.
Shotcrete,
originally known as gunite, was developed by Dr. Carl E. Akely. In his process, the dry material was blown
out of a hose and water injected at the nozzle.
Akeley went on to patent his cement gun and the material he called Gunite. During that period, he created the Cement Gun
Company (now called Allentown Equipment).
In
the mid-1950s, a wet mix method was introduced to the construction
industry. The benefits were recognized immediately
and it was used on many projects. Shotcrete
became even more popular with the development of a rotary gun that had an open
hopper which allowed the material to be continuously fed.
The
American Shotcrete Association credits the technical advancements in materials
and equipment made in the 1970’s of providing an enormous improvement in the
application of shotcrete. They state
that, “Perhaps the most significant step in this period was the development of
efficient concrete pumps that could be used for wet shotcrete application.”
The
1980’s continued with advancements in the mixing and batching of ready mix
concrete and the development of admixtures that allowed for consistency,
hydration and performance. Today one of
the biggest changes to shotcrete applications is the ability of modern equipment
to pump any slump as well as to pump it over long distances and up into high-rise
construction projects.
The
Conco Companies are leading suppliers of concrete services for the Western
United States. 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, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.
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