2019 Sustainability Awards Winners
Producer Category
1st Place Plant
Bates Precast Concrete Inc., Lake Park, GA
Sustainable Recycling
Very little goes to waste at Bates Precast. The company’s extensive recycling measures include capturing and filtering their mixer truck washout water. The filtered water is recycled to dampen aggregate used in production. The washout is sold to contractors as driveway fill. Test cylinders and damaged concrete are also sold to contractors for fill. In addition, Bates has instituted extensive recycling of tires, cardboard and wooden pallets that has paid off in a safer yard. Thanks to the recycling efforts, costs for water, electricity, waste production and garbage removal have all decreased. With less clutter around the plant, safety has improved as well. The plant has logged more than 1,000 days without a recordable incident.
Bates’ extensive recycling program includes selling test cylinders to contractors for fill.
1st Place Project
H2 Pre-Cast Inc., East Wenatchee, WA
Wilbert Precast Inc., Spokane, WA
I-90 Animal Crossing
Keeping both motorists and wildlife safe along the corridor between Seattle and Spokane has become a growing problem in the state as traffic has increased, particularly when elk are migrating. Thanks to the work of H2 Precast and Wilbert Precast, elk and other wildlife no longer need to trek across a major highway, and motorists won’t have to worry about coming face-to-face with a serious accident. H2 cast the arched sections that form twin tunnels and Wilbert created the wall to form a bridge over I-90 that the elk naturally migrate across without realizing there’s a road below. The crossing is covered in vegetation to imitate the natural surroundings of the forest.
Wall structure from Wilbert
The project is the first of its kind in the state, and the state’s department of transportation is looking at adding more wildlife crossings to ensure the safe passage of animals and commuters.
Tunnel components from H2 Precast
Associate Category
1st Place Plant
Taylor Machine Works Inc., Louisville, MS
Production Facility Efficiency Improvements
Taylor’s push for a more sustainable plant resulted in many improvements that make its products and workplace stronger, safer and more efficient. The company moved to energy- and time-saving fiber laser technology to cut parts rather than traditional plasma cutters. The also company designed and built an innovative gantry-style dual bead sub-arc welder that eliminates slag and spatter, reduces clean-up time, reduces worker fatigue and greatly increases productivity. The induction heating innovation also eliminates large propane blower pre-heaters.
The Dual Gantry Subarc uses induction pre-heat, saving time and energy.
Taylor also implemented LED lighting that saves more than $4,600 dollars per year and reduces eye strain and fatigue. In addition, a new generation solar array grid should pay for itself in four years but has an estimated lifespan of 25 to greatly offset the plant’s energy needs.
1st Place Product
Full Circle Water, St. Joseph, MN
Water Recycling Solutions
Full Circle developed the Slurry Silo for concrete producers who were looking for water recycling solutions. Using decanting technology and polymers for coagulating slurry to help it settle faster, the Slurry Silo became a solution that worked for both precast and ready-mixed concrete. As more concrete cutters and paver producers grappled with recycling their water, the Slurry Silo established itself as a capable stand-alone product. Or it can be paired with a filter press as part of a more comprehensive solution. The simple design, low maintenance component and affordability are added benefits appreciated by manufacturers.
A slurry silo developed by Full Circle Water
2018 Sustainability Awards Winners
Producer Category
1st Place Plant
Columbia Precast Products, Woodland, Wash.
Get SMaRT! – Columbia Precast Takes Sustainability to New Level
1st Place Project
Garden State Precast, Wall Township, New Jersey
From Reject to Reef – Garden State Helps Create a Fisherman’s Paradise
Associate Category
1st Place Product
Matec America, High Point, N.C.
Reduce & Reuse – Matec America’s Process Water Filtration System