Masonry Magazine March 2005 Page. 54
News
Industry News continued from page 51 in the position as Chairman of the Board of Rental Service Corporation. He will also continue to work with special assignments and will report to the President and CEO of the Atlas Copco Group.
Acme Brick's Kanopolis Plant
Celebrates 30 Years of Accident-free Manufacturing
On Nov. 9, Acme Brick Company executives joined employees of Acme's Kanopolis, Kan., plant to celebrate a historic event in the plant's history 30 accident-free years. Employees of this Acme Brick plant achieved this milestone without a lost-time accident on Nov. 7, 2004.
Celebration of the Kanopolis safety record began with a dinner at the American Legion Hall in Ellsworth, Kan., followed by service awards. Some of the awards included 35 years of service to Kenny Pflughoeft and Delbert Wheeler, 30 years of service to Richard Modrow, and 25 years of service to Benjamin Deiser.
The road to this event began in 1974 when plant employees and management began to focus on the issue of safety and how to make it an everyday concern. As the Kanopolis safety record lengthened, Acme's then-Vice President of Manufacturing and General Production Manager, John Koch, began to use the plant as a company-wide model based on their safety emphasis and for the related programs Kanopolis management had put in place. As a result, Acme has a lost-time accident rate that is significantly lower than that for both general industry and the brick industry.
Today, every Acme plant has weekly or daily safety meetings, and all plants and sales offices participate in an annual "Safety Day." Acme Brick Company has several other plants that have completed many years without a lost-time accident.
TCT Brick/Block Saw Blade
Strong and effective Pink Label reciprocating saw blades designed to cut in masonry.
The standard blades are from 6 to 15-3/4 inches and the high blades, which are ideal for cutting in blocks, are from 12 or 17-3/4 inches long.
The carbide teeth on these blades are self-sharpening, which help make this a fast and effective.
DANISH TOOL SHOP
www.danishtoolshop.com
CIRCLE 270 ON READER SERVICE CARD
52 Masonry March 2005
Palmetto Brick Company
Announces $25 Million Expansion
Palmetto Brick Company announced a $25 million expansion to its Cheraw, S.C., headquarters, increasing residential and commercial brick production by 50%, from 100 to 150 million brick per year. The company expects to add 20 new employees to fulfill the organization's increased manufacturing capacity.
Construction of the new plant is expected to last 10 months, and production will begin in October 2005. The expanded facilities will produce modular engineer, closure and utility sizes, creating six to seven new types of brick. The new facility will focus on commercial brick manufacturing, allowing the current plant to expand its residential brick output.
Palmetto Brick began planning for this company expansion in early 2003. The new facility will be located on the premises of the current manufacturing site at the corporate headquarters and will include two separate production buildings. Once completed, there will be a building dedicated strictly to manufacturing residential brick and one for commercial brick. The breakdown for residential to commercial production will be 50/50.
Bricklayers Appoint Political
Operative Kevin Flynn as Political Director
The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) announced that Kevin Flynn, who recently served as the BAC's National Coordinator for the Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign, has been appointed as the national Political Director. He previously served as Deputy Political Director where he was responsible for legislative strategy in the House and the Senate.
"Kevin brings an invaluable combination of electoral and legislative experience," said James Boland, BAC Secretary Treasurer. "He also has unique insights into the concerns of our rank and file members, having worked in the construction field since 1983 as a mason tender." Flynn attended St. Louis University and Washington University, and graduated with a degree in communications from Maryville University in St. Louis. He is currently pursuing a master's degree from the National Labor College at the Meany Center in Silver Spring, Md.
Founded in 1865, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents masonry craftworkers across the United States and Canada including bricklayers, stone and marble masons, cement masons, plasterers, tilesetters, terrazzo and mosaic workers, and pointers/cleaners/caulkers. The BAC is the oldest continuous union in North America.
For more information, visit www.bacweb.org.
www.masoncontractors.org