Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/218643
Armtec manufactured, delivered and installed 50m long, 90 tonne, 2400mm deep NU girders for the BNSF Overhead which is part of the South Fraser Perimeter Road Project (SFPR). The SFPR project is a design-build project by FTG Constructors. Photo courtesy Armtec. and now uses it regularly. Besides streamlining the forming process, the system can act as a wind barrier, provide a storage platform and improve safety. Another, more locally-sourced innovation, which combines the practical with the esthetic, was developed at Tri-Con Concrete Finishing Co. Ltd. and involves a joint-free floor that doesn't buckle or crack, yet has no saw-cut control. Noting that attempts at a one-size-fits-all approach won't work, Tri-Con president Frank Guida says the system has various applications. Large warehouses with few or no saw-cuts are easier on equipment like I forklifts. Also, smooth, joint-free surfaces are a natural choice for some sports arenas. He cautions, though, "There's a lot of interest in joint-free, but you have to take it slowly. One bad job could hurt a lot." More product innovation than system, Maxxon Corporation's Level-Right LDF (low density fill) is the newest addition to the company's Level-Right line. It is a lightweight product made from cement and a proprietary aggregate. It is suited for deep-fill applications and is designed to be capped with a Maxxon underlayment, says Dave Nicholson, international technical manager at Maxxon. When it comes to esthetics – and, some would argue, practicality as well – two of the hottest trends right now are in concrete dyes and stains. "They have become very popular. All kinds of looks and colours are possible. It's a cost-effective way of getting bold looks. It's also a way to achieve a special look for an outdoor space," says Nick Adams, VP marketing at The Euclid Chemical Company. Startling effects, he says, are possible, as new products roll out to meet the demand for dram and novelty. Metal FX is one such new product. It provides metallic effects and is from Increte Systems, a division of Euclid. Demand for esthetically-oriented products can come from unexpected sources. "At the Edmonton Valley Zoo, we were re-doing the front entrance adding a decorative concrete path. The idea was to mirror the river and land plots along its bank. For the river, we used blue and green glass. Then, we sandblasted it with walnut shells – they're less abrasive than sand – to take off the top layer of concrete and expose the embedded glass. For the land, we used a kind of brown finish and did saw-cuts," says Scott Mitchell, a partner at Blacktop Paving Inc. n I t t f f t s r 36/ december 2013 Concrete Towne Millwork qrt.indd 1 p26-37Concrete_Arch wood.indd 36 i s A 12-10-29 1:49 PM 13-11-15 3:41 PM