Don’t forget to check out all of our Meet a Precaster blog posts and if you’re an NPCA producer member and would like to be featured in a future Meet a Precaster post, please send an email to NPCA’s assistant director of communication, Kirk Stelsel.

Q: Where are you located?
A: Lehighton, PA. In the heart of the lovely Pocono Mountains.

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: 33 years and going strong.

Q: How long have you been a member of NPCA?
A: Approximately 5 years.

Q: Why did you join NPCA and what are the best benefits?
A: As our client base grew, encompassing many of the DOTs in the Mid-Atlantic region, self certification for quality measures required having NPCA certified staff. One of the many reasons why we decided to join NPCA was the online Quality School. Nearly all of our QC technicians and batch plant employees are graduates of this schooling. More importantly, we continue to focus our efforts on quality control to provide our customers with better products.

Q: What products do you produce?
A: We produce all types of products, ranging from your run-of-the-mill precast sound wall to intricate, prestressed architectural products. We like to think of ourselves as a “niche-precaster” in the fact that we can produce complex pieces, maintain a fast-track construction schedule and keep our customer’s needs at the forefront.

Q: Have you introduced any new products lately?
A: We are currently in the process of becoming DOT approved for our new product “RETT-Wall.” This is a modular retaining wall system that can be used on projects where timeliness and flow of erection are of the essence. This product will be available in different architectural features or typical plain concrete. We are also finishing the approval process of becoming DOT approved for “Next Beam.” Although this product has not been widely adopted among the DOTs in our region, Slaw intends to become a premier producer of this product.

On the horizon is becoming a producer of precast/prestress pavement. This product is widely used in the Western states and we see it infiltrating more and more into our region.

Q: What are the top attributes to precast concrete?

A: There are many attributes to precast concrete. We believe it varies with the product, however the top attributes are custom products and timeliness of production. In addition, the endless possibilities that can be done with precast is a tremendous feature.

Q: What has your company do to fight off the recession?
A: Slaw has done many things to survive the recession. Foremost, we have gotten more quality driven. With projects being won or lost solely on the bottom line, we have not let this affect what we truly believe is most important to our client, a quality product. Even in tough economic times, Slaw has invested in schooling to have more of our quality control personnel become NPCA quality certified. Our sales staff has also gotten back to a basic fundamental of sales, “know you customer.” We are investing more time to create solid customer relations and adapt with the ever-changing market. Also, we are broadening our product line, as noted above, in an effort to expand our market base.

Q: What have you seen in your area as far as recovery?
A: We have been seeing a lot of transportation and bridge work breaking loose. Also, the private market is slightly on the rebound. We have been going after a few parking decks in our area as well as some custom buildings.

Q: What are you plans for the future?
A: Simple: Get better at what we do. Although our product speaks for itself, we believe that we can always get better. Whether it be investing in our employees, taking more time to look at the minutia of our product or sharpening our pencils on bids, Slaw maintains that this is our backbone and will lead our way into profitable years to come.

The opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the member, and not of NPCA or any of its employees.

Precast Concrete Covered Bridge

Precast concrete has long been a staple of our nation’s infrastructure. Thanks to its durability, dependability, quality and ease of installation, DOTs have used it for a wide range of applications, including walls, bridges, barriers and more.

While some precast elements dutifully do their job but go largely unnoticed as they blend into roadway landscapes, others stand out thanks to integral colors, unique shapes, insets and finishes that give them a dual purpose.

These components are much more than just dependable infrastructure. In Florida, for example, highway sound walls now come to life with inset regional wildlife such as manatees, alligators, fish and flamingos. Other states have chosen designs that reflect the surrounding aesthetics such as natural stone, wood texture or brick.

With precast concrete, you get the desired look paired with a long service life and fast installation. And many times precast concrete can be put into place in a fraction of the time of competing materials. One example is a soundwall system released recently by an NPCA member with an integrated column that serves as the foundation for the wall as well as the panel joint. Many variations of form-finished MSE and retaining walls are also available from precast manufactures across the country.

Precast Concrete Architectural Bridge

When it comes to bridges, precast concrete can convey a community’s architectural style, protect the environment, and span everything from gullies to gorges. Whether the product you need is a short-span bridge or a comprehensive solution that can traverse a major river, precast can provide the attractive, long-lasting design you need. A story in our Fall 2011 issue of Precast Solutions highlighted one such bridge in NJ.

Across the map, State DOTs and road agencies are gaining public approval and strong support for custom precast infrastructure. See more of what precast concrete can do for you.

Precast Concrete Soundwall With Integrated Column

Q: Where are you located?
A: Aberdeen, Ms., about 30 minutes South of Tupelo, Miss. (Birthplace of Elvis Presley)

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: 33 Years

Q: How long have you been a member of NPCA?
A: 17 Years

Q: Why did you join NPCA and what are the best benefits?
A: We joined NPCA to gain all the many benefits (industry insight, networking, training and education, NPCA Plant Certification) they provide for any precaster wanting to make a superior product.

Q: What products do you produce?
A: Wastewater treatment plants; concrete septic tanks; grease interceptors; distribution boxes; sand/oil and oil/water interceptors; storm shelters; safe rooms; catch basins; grate inlets; curb inlets; chlorinators; custom structures available; utility vaults; communication vaults; storm & sanitary manholes, stone strong retaining wall system

Q: What are the top attributes of precast concrete?
A: Quality, speedy installation, cost effective, versatile, environmentally friendly

Q: What has your company done to fight off the recession?
A: Marketing, cost control, eliminating waste, streamline production

Q: What have you see in your area as far as recovery?
A: We are seeing a few less private sector projects going out for bid in the first quarter than last year, but will be optimistic that the rest of the year will as good or better.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Our plans are to expand our production area and grow our business in the existing product lines we produce. We are in the process updating our website to be more friendly to clients and specifiers.

Please check out our past Meet a Precaster blog posts and if you’re an NPCA producer member and would like to be featured in a future Meet a Precaster post, please send an email to NPCA’s assistant director of communication, Kirk Stelsel.

The opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the member, and not of NPCA or any of its employees.

“In France, the political cauldron seethes and bubbles with uncertainty. England and the English Empire is being sorely tried and exhausted in a social and economic struggle, with turmoil at home and uprising of her teeming millions in her far-flung Indian Empire.

“The United States is beset with racial, industrial and commercial chaos – drifting, we know not where. Russia hangs like a storm cloud on the horizon of Europe – dark and silent.

“It is a solemn moment, and no man can feel indifference, which happily no man pretends to feel in the issue of events. Of our own troubles, no man can see the end.”

For the most part, that could have been written today, but it first appeared as a column by the editor of Harper’s Magazine on Oct. 10, 1857 – nearly 165 years ago.

Titled “The Awful Uncertainty of the Future,” it is hands down one of the most gloom-and-doom pieces I’ve ever read. I first came across this piece in 1980, and I still remember it today because of its incredible morosity.

Throughout history, the world has faced ups and downs. Yet through world wars, global plagues and crushing depressions, we have prevailed. Our current economic situation is no exception. Better times lie ahead, and hard work, ingenuity and a willingness to adapt will be the tools that dig us out.

It also bears mentioning that the Harper’s piece was written four years berfore the start of the Civil War, yet the writer only hints at factors that would rip apart the United States. What we often perceive as our biggest threats are not always the real threats.

What were your biggest concerns in 2007? You weren’t likely spending much time worrying about a global economic meltdown. There were signs all around that the housing market was headed for a serious correction in the U.S., but few of us were predicting a collapse that would nearly bring down Wall Street and trigger five years of decline in the construction industry.

The point is, nobody can predict the future. All we can do is best position ourselves for success given the information at hand, and be ready to roll with the punches.

Ty Gable
President, National Precast Concrete Association

Spring is often thought of as a season of renewal. In the Midwest, the cold weather fades away, spring rains bring green grass and flowers and you can just feel a sense of positivity in the air. So while 2012 may already be well underway, I’d like you consider the start of spring a fresh start for you as well. As such, below are six things we should all stop doing through the next three quarters of 2012.

1. Stop believing the construction industry will come back to where it was in 2006 anytime soon.

A return to those levels is off in the horizon, if it even exists at all. We need to accept what we have and make the most of it.

2. Stop depending on others to fix industry problems. Fix them yourself.

Think about what you can do to benefit your company and the industry as a whole, whether that’s a hard look at quality, branching out to provide products that specifiers may not consider “precast” products, or actively promoting your business using all the tools available today.

3. Stop believing everyone in Washington doesn’t have a clue except your guy and realize there is a huge, systemic lack of courage and leadership.

I have close acquaintances with opposite political ties, and one thing we can agree on is the situation in Washington is dire. Apathy is no longer an option if we want a productive government that truly represents the needs of the country and its people.

4. Stop waiting for the phone to ring.

I recently read a Thomas Friedman column in the New York Times titled “Average is Over.” It states, “Everyone needs to find their extra – their unique value contribution that makes them stand out in whatever is their field of employment.” I couldn’t agree more, and feel average is over for companies as well. If your company doesn’t find its “extra,” whether that’s thinking of complete solutions, investigating new markets and products, stepping out of its comfort zone and the traditional jobs it bids, or making the business easier to find* you’re in danger of becoming average.

*Hint: that’s no longer the yellow pages.

5. Stop thinking you’re just in the precast concrete business.

Look at your current products and think about complete solutions by identifying the peripheral products you can provide. Specifiers are more likely to go to the one-stop-shop. Make it easy for them.

6. Stop blaming the economy.

Like I said, the economy isn’t going anywhere in a hurry. It’s what we have, so rather than sit back and complain, take action and make your business the most attractive, quality, diverse, and complete solution it can be – and then get out there and promote it in every way available.

I think we all know what to do when life gives us lemons, and nothing is more refreshing in the spring than a tall glass of lemonade.

Ty Gable
President, National Precast Concrete Association

Q: Where are you located?
A: We have three locations Amesbury, Wilmington and Rochester, Mass.

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: Shea has been in business since 1949. In September 1999 we purchased a precaster (competitor) in Amesbury, and in 2010 we were looking to expand our product line into utility products and purchased Utility Precast in Rochester.

Q: How long have you been a member of NPCA?
A: 38 years

Q: Why did you join NPCA and what are the best benefits?
A: We joined for the networking, education, to find out latest technology, to help to make a difference in the market place, etc…

Q: What products do you produce?
A: We produce anything wet cast under the sun: Septic tanks, precast stairs, manholes, box culverts, retaining walls, precast buildings, barriers, utility manholes, etc…

Q: Have you introduced any new products lately?
A: Every year I look to add new products. Diversification is the key especially in times like this.  Also, our customers like going to just one source. Some of the latest products we’ve added are precast buildings, utility structures and DOT barriers.

Q: What are the top attributes of precast concrete?
A: Durability, ease of installation and customization.

Q: What has your company done to fight off the recession?
A: Diversification: We cover many markets in the residential, commercial, industrial and municipality markets.

Q: What have you see in your area as far as recovery?
A: My feeling is this is not a slow or down economy, this IS the economy. New England had a long run of exceptional growth that we just took advantage of, but luckily we were able to see the drop in enough time to expand our marketplace through product diversification and marketing to specifiers and new customers. We are looking at all projects, where in the past we may not have bothered.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: We plan to maintain our philosophy as a quality precaster and to continue to have a good working relationship with our customers and specifiers. We pride ourselves on being able to provide a quality product in a timely manner to meet our customers’ needs. And, as always, we are looking for other products that can help us continue to grow.

Please check out our past Meet a Precaster blog posts and if you’re an NPCA producer member and would like to be featured in a future Meet a Precaster post, please send an email to NPCA’s assistant director of communication, Kirk Stelsel.

The opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the member, and not of NPCA or any of its employees.

I thought of this recently as I was reading some of the recent jobs numbers and about the two-year transportation bill passed by the U.S. Senate – a $109 billion surface transportation bill. Construction is labor-intensive and requires manpower, but we first need to move some dirt. Unfortunately, a 2-year transportation bill won’t cut it. Why? Because major projects cannot be completed in such a short timeframe and may never be funded as a result. What we need is something like a six-year, properly funded bill so that states can plan. A long-term plan allows for projects that need long-term funding.

We are adding jobs – we added 227,000 in February according to the Wall Street Journal – but we’re not adding them fast enough. In fact, the same paper noted there are 5.25 million less jobs available than there were prior to the recession. What this equates to is a whole lot of people circling around looking for jobs but not nearly enough jobs to go around, and the music has stopped.

There are 23.5 million Americans out of work or underemployed, and according to the Washington Post more than 5 million people have been unemployed for longer than six months.

The unemployment rate is currently stagnant at 8.3% and in the construction industry we have fared far worse. The real unemployment number in construction is somewhere around 17.3%, up from the bottom of 22% we saw in 2009. In our industry, it’s not whether you’ll get one of the available chairs, it’s whether you can even find a chair at all.

Until we have a government that stops dawdling and passes real legislation that can have a lasting impact we will be left with the problem of too many people circling and not enough chairs to go around.

Ty Gable
President, National Precast Concrete Association

At their core, though, water towers are very functional and necessary. They supply the water pressure needed for the surrounding area and hold enough water for a typical day of use. To achieve the needed water pressure requires a building material strong enough to safely reach the specified height. In the past, this has typically been steel, but precast concrete may soon become the material of choice due to its inherent benefits of affordability, strength, durability, uniformity, quality and ease of installation.

In its Winter 2012 edition of Form + Function, a quarterly newsletter, Hamilton Forms featured one such project in Ontario, Canada. The article cites long-time use of precast concrete for water storage tanks, and outlines why it may become the material of choice for water towers. The featured tower’s base is constructed of 16 conical precast segments, and the platform, or stem, is also being constructed of precast concrete.

As the economic recession drags on, and sales of traditional precast concrete products continue to lag, precast manufacturers are increasingly finding new markets that can be served by these versatile products. Examples where precast has replaced other materials are becoming more prevalent, such as the Indianapolis Super Bowl Walk project featured in the Fall 2011 issue of Precast Solutions. In addition, plants are taking on more custom projects or starting new product lines that better match the evolving needs of their communities.

Whatever the need, precast concrete is always up for the challenge. With an almost endless array of possible shapes, sizes, colors and finishes, as well as durability, strength and quality, no other building material can match the functionality and versatility of precast concrete.

It may seem like a premature question while the construction sector is still languishing, but sowing some seeds for the future will help you reap benefits down the road. In my last post, we compared economic recessions to hurricanes. In this post, we’ll look at surviving the third and final phase and the paradoxes of the industry moving forward.

The protracted construction recession will continue to thin the herd, leaving fewer contractors and precasters. Logically, this would mean competition will be down but the reality is competition will be up. That’s because the survivors have learned the importance of diversification. They’re not specializing like their fathers or grandfathers, but generalizing by manufacturing new products, bidding projects father from home and staying hungry for new work.

With fewer plants in the mix it may also seem like good employees will be easy to find, but they’ll be harder than ever to find. Unfortunately, many talented and experienced people have found places in other industries. This means you’re going to have to search harder, and will be expected to provide an increased level of value and reward. Attracting top talent will be more important than ever, as you’ll see below.

Lastly, as meaningful recovery begins, pent-up demand will involve public works opportunities, right? In a perfect world, yes, but in our world the need is great but the ability to fund this pent-up demand is challenged by a government whose citizens are fed up with deficit spending.

When they do spend, private and public construction buyers are going to want increased quality, better performance and proven sustainability benefits. Thanks to the internet and the way it’s opening the door to information, they are going to be more demanding and educated than ever. You need to educate buyers on the benefits of precast wherever they choose to go for information. If you haven’t done this type of marketing before, checkout the resources we offer to educate and train your employees, stay on top of industry trends, and to make the case for precast concrete.

Like a hurricane bearing down on the coast, change is inevitable and can’t be stopped. But you can embrace the post-recession economy by adapting.

What do you think about the future of this industry? Please feel free to agree, disagree or provide your opinion in the comments section below.

Ty Gable
President, National Precast Concrete Association

Q: Where are you located?
A: We are in Rock Island, Tenn., in the center of the geographic triangle created by Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: Since 2003.

Q: How long have you been a member of NPCA?
A: We joined NPCA in December of 2011.

Q: Why did you join NPCA and what are the best benefits?
A: We joined NPCA to expand our industry knowledge, gain access to important data and associate with other folks in the same industry.

Q: What products do you produce?
A: We produce residential foundations, commercial foundations, segmented retaining walls, and MSE panels (spring of 2012).

Q: Have you introduced any new products lately?
A: We are currently in the final stages of product introductions, with plans to produce MSE walls, sound barrier walls, lintels and girders.

Q: What are the top attributes of precast concrete?
A: Well, when we sell a lot of it, it pays our bills (joke). Precast concrete has consistent quality, durability, there is less field labor to manage and it offers speed of installation and decreased cycle time for builds.

Q: What has your company done to fight off the recession?
A: We have focused on market share, not volume. We restructured to allow smaller projects, which were more prominent, to become a staple of our business, and have invested heavily in our people.

Q: What have you see in your area as far as recovery?
A: We are seeing the recovery as a trickle that doesn’t backslide. It seems to slightly increase each quarter with little backsliding, which was common the past three years after brief spurts of growth.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: We plan to focus on the execution of daily tasks, to build our team of quality people, diversify our production capabilities, deliver the best customer service in the industry and build our business one day at a time, one customer at a time with the utmost in customer satisfaction.

Please check out our past Meet a Precaster blog posts and if you’re an NPCA producer member and would like to be featured in a future Meet a Precaster post, please send an email to NPCA’s assistant director of communication, Kirk Stelsel.

The opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the member, and not of NPCA or any of its employees.