What Goes Into Determining the Best Pump to Use?

As we discussed in a previous blog post, the Conco Companies have owned and operated one of the largest pumping companies in the Western United States for over 40 years.  Our overwhelming success and continued expansion has put us in a leadership role in the commercial concrete industry.   We have an impressive fleet of concrete pumps with eleven of them conveniently based out of Washington State to handle the needs of our customers in this area. 

So what are the actual criteria that we take into account when determining which concrete pumps to use on a particular job?  One of the first things we need to know is the concrete output required to get the job done and the delivery output needed in cubic yards per hour that will meet the specifications of the job.  Having this information, now the engineer knows the pumping volume that the boom truck must deliver to accomplish the task.  The cubic yard per hour output for each boom truck is provided by the manufacturer as well as other features and capabilities of each pump. 

Next the layout of the pumps at the jobsite needs to be figured out and how long of a boom will be required to reach all of the work areas.  A boom’s maximum reach is really 10 to 20 feet shorter as the boom travels horizontally as well as vertically (the reach is not directly straight out or straight up).  Furthermore properties of the concrete mix such as the type of aggregate or sand used have to be evaluated as some concrete designs require more pressure to pump.  

Other factors taken into account are conditions at the jobsite including the size, any overhead obstacles, amount of congestion on the site, and any obstacles along the sides of the area.  Also how much room is there to get concrete trucks on and off the site?  These are but a sampling of the many dynamics that experienced concrete contractors use to determine the size of the pumps and how many to use.  

Sources:

concreteconstruction.net/Images/What's%20New%20in%20Truck-Mounted%20Boom%20Pumps_tcm45-342799.pdf

Conco is a leading supplier 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.

Update on the Wilshire Grand Tower in L.A.

In order to open on schedule in early 2017, the new Wilshire Grand tower in downtown Los Angeles has been on an accelerated timetable from the start, which also includes the concrete services that are The Conco Companies’ responsibility.  After successfully breaking the world record for the largest continuous mat pour this past February, Conco is working to provide the rest of the concrete work on the new skyscraper.   

The ambitious project calls for a poured-in-place core wall going up the building that is surrounded by slab on metal deck.  The core of the tower will be 130 ft. X 35 ft. with some floors having walls up to 4 ft. thick.  Conco is on a 4-day core wall cycle, which means that every 4 days; concrete for a new floor is poured. 

The Wilshire Grand was designed by AC Martin Architects and the contractor on the project is the Turner Construction Co., one of the largest general contractors in the U.S.  The 1,100 ft. tall skyscraper will become the tallest building in the West upon completion, and as a result, is a complicated engineering project.  The tower had to be designed to sway during powerful Santa Ana winds, and also absorb ground movement from the strongest earthquakes. 

Furthermore the project is designed with green technology inside the building as well as the exterior.  It started with the “green deconstructing” of the old Wilshire Grand Hotel on the site in the fall of 2012.  Rather than imploding or demolishing it, the process enabled much of the old building materials to be recycled.  The combined steel and concrete that was recycled brought close to $4 million in revenue that was put back into the project. 

Highly energy efficient climate systems and innovative lighting will be used throughout the building.  With the addition of the green building techniques and material, the Wilshire Grand is on track to receive LEED Silver certification.   

Sources:

latimes.com/local/la-me-wilshire-grand-foundation-20140426-dto-htmlstory.html   

We have built our reputation in the Los Angeles area with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience.  We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

Benefits That Concrete Boom Pumps Bring to the Industry

Concrete boom pumps bring numerous advantages to today’s construction projects.  This is the primary reason that The Conco Companies continue to make capital investments in our equipment including new concrete pumps to better serve our customers in Southern and Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

One of the major benefits that modern boom pumps offer is that they place concrete faster than any other method of placement.  Furthermore the concrete requires less handling as the pump does the work of placing it directly where it is needed.  These cost-efficient pumps help projects to be completed faster and to require less manpower of which saves both time and money.

There is such a wide variety of concrete pumps on the market today that there is one designed to handle most any job specifications.  By using the long reach of a boom pump, it allows access to areas on jobsites that would otherwise be difficult to get to.  Boom pumps have the ability to place concrete on to the upper floors of extremely tall skyscrapers and other places that would be next to impossible using other methods. 

The pumps also mean less equipment is used and time is saved in moving those smaller pieces of machinery around a site and having to reset them up again.  There is even better quality control with pumped concrete and the result is a more durable, stronger product.  Less water is needed, which helps to prevent the shrinking and cracking that is common in concrete.  In addition placement is not affected by weather conditions so there are not as many delays in a project.   

Accuracy is also greatly improved by pumping concrete, which typically means fewer delays along the way and results in a more professional outcome.   Last but not least is the fact that pumping concrete is simply the most convenient way to do it. 

Sources:

concretebasics.org/articlesinfo/cp1.php#sthash.ZqQv3feG.dpuf

Conco is one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in the Western United States.  We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado and are experts at creating cost-effective solutions that take advantage of the most up-to-date techniques.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

The History of Concrete Pumps

As a leading commercial concrete contractor, the Conco Companies have had our share of challenging jobs placing concrete over our more than 50 years in the industry.  Our success can be attributed to not only our seasoned team of professional engineers, managers, and pump operators but also to our impressive inventory of pumps conveniently located in California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Nevada.

Many projects that have been built since the end of World War II would not have been possible without the use of concrete pumps.  Records show that the first patent for a concrete pump was applied for in 1913 by C. A. Cornell and S. A. McKee of the U.S. with little further development done at that time.  In 1927, after unsuccessfully attempting to lift concrete to the top of a war memorial in Germany, engineer Fritz Hell started working on a pump that would do that type of job.  Three years later the Rexnord Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin introduced the Pumpcrete.  Its inventor was C. W. LeValley. 

Many of the early innovations in pump designs were done by the Germans along with other Europeans as they had the need for such equipment during their reconstruction period following WWII.  Information from Ritchiewiki Everything About Equipment site, says the first hydraulic pump was developed by the Torket Company of Germany in the 1950s using water to operate.  They add that in 1957, “the Schwing Company manufactured a fully hydraulic double-cylinder pump that used an oil-operated ram with a water-flushed cylinder.”

During the 1980s and 90s, many of the largest manufacturers of concrete pumps were located in Germany and Japan.  Today manufacturers are located across the globe with the U.S. having several major manufacturers as most large construction projects rely on pumps to place the concrete such as skyscrapers, bridge pilings, dams, and tunnels.  The ability to pour concrete using modern, state-of-the-art pumps saves projects both time and money.

Sources:

ritchiewiki.com/wiki/index.php/Concrete_Pump

concretepumping.com/dictionary/index.php/The_PumpCrete_by_Rexnord_

or_Chain_Belt_is_believed_to_be_the_worlds_first_Concrete_Pump_1930

For over 50 years, Conco has provided premium concrete services throughout the Western United States and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in the Seattle area.  We partner with clients on every project from the pre-construction stage right through to final completion to maximize efficiency and ensure goals and budgets are met.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

How Do We Determine Which Pump to Use?

For any of you following our articles on Conco Now or our blog posts, you know that we have an impressive fleet of concrete pumps that has allowed us to successfully operate one of the largest concrete pumping companies in the U.S. for more than 40 years.  In fact in Southern California alone, we house 15 pumps manufactured by two of the top names in the industry, Putzmeister and Schwing.  So with all of the pumps that we own, how do we determine which is the best pump or pumps to use on a particular job?

This is where our experts come in.  They know how to deliver cost-effective solutions for even the most challenging projects.  Our experienced team designs customized plans for each specific project, which includes calculating the needs of a job right down to the type of equipment to use that allows us to meet deadlines and handle access difficulties.

By owning such a large range of different sized pumps, we are able to use the proper equipment to place concrete in the fastest, most efficient manner.  Some of our pumps are specifically designed to maneuver in tight spaces and within small jobsites while the reach of our long booms make them the appropriate choice for other projects. 

This is why it is so imperative to have a team of professional concrete contractors that have the experience to analyze all aspects of the job’s specifications to determine which boom truck has the capability and features to most efficiently handle the job.  Making the right selection of equipment before the job is started is critical to staying on budget and meeting timelines as well as providing a safe environment for our employees and the rest of the workforce at the jobsite. 

The Conco Companies have built an outstanding reputation in the Los Angeles area with our superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services.  We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

Shortages of Concrete Pump Operators in the U.S.

The Conco Companies have an advantage in being one of the largest pumping companies in the Western U.S. serving customers in Southern and Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.  As a result, we are not as affected as other smaller companies by the statistics indicating an overwhelming lack of qualified pump operators in the U.S.   

According to the American Concrete Pumping Association’s Summer 2014 edition of Concrete Pumping, there is a real shortage of trained pump operators in the industry but they along with others are working to address the problem.  The American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA) offers safety and training programs and is the only nationally recognized organization that provides safety certification to pump operators.   

The ACPA cites other organizations that are working to make people aware of the profession and encourage them to join the field.  One website, MyMajors.com offers students a free quiz that helps to identify an aptitude for a particular career path.  According to their site, they provide “student-friendly assessment technology and access to information about a variety of majors at a broad range of institutions.”   One of the career options includes pump operator and they describe what the job responsibilities are and how to go about getting the proper training.   

The article mentions ConcreteCareers.com as a good source for finding already qualified pump operators.  They have strong ties with the ACPA and their website states, “Since 1976, Concrete Careers has been a supplement to the concrete industry’s human resource expertise by identifying and matching individual talents, abilities and experiences for specific staffing requirements.”

The article finishes up with an interesting discussion on the importance of retaining employees.  The recommendations include ensuring all employees are adequately trained and receive on-going safety and technical training.  This is something we do at Conco on a regular basis.   We are proud of the fact that every one of our concrete pump operators are ACPA certified and that our pumping division completed 2013 without a single lost time accident. 

Sources:  mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=216900

The Conco Companies are one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in the Western United States.  We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado and are experts at creating cost-effective solutions that take advantage of the most up-to-date techniques.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

Applications for Shotcrete

 

So where and when is shotcrete likely to be used?  Since it has the same structural characteristics as traditional cast-in-place walls, the range of applications include shear walls, retaining walls, architectural walls, slope pavement, and soil nailing.  In addition shotcrete can often be the best choice for situations that have extreme operating environments such as chemical plants, gas-fired electrical generators and hydroelectric plants.  One of the biggest advantages to shotcrete is the fact that it almost eliminates the forming process altogether so labor cost and time is greatly reduced. 

At The Conco Companies, we have an extensive background in placing shotcrete on numerous projects.  One such project was in the City of Burien, Washington that sits below the Cascade Mountain range and boasts a downtown that has Mount Rainier as a backdrop. When it came time to build a parking garage to support the bus transit center, the city wanted to avoid a structure with stark concrete walls. 

This is where Conco’s expertise helped to turn the building into a piece of art that highlighted the city’s most visible landmark and surrounding mountain ranges.  We created sculpted shotcrete murals that depicted views of the Cascades, Olympics, and Mount Rainier on all four sides of the building.

The shear-walls were shot from the outside of the building and the area’s where the murals were going to be located were left with a scratch finish to allow the proper bonding of the mural work to the structural shotcrete wall.  Be sure to take a look at the pictures of the finished product on our website of the sculpted shotcrete mural walls.

 

Conco is a leading supplier 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.