Masonry Magazine May 2007 Page. 70
News
present a discussion panel of general contractors (GC). The GCs answered mason contractors' questions ranging from "What is your perception of mason contractors in general?" to "What does it take to get on your preferred list of subcontractors?" The common theme in the GC's answers was reliability and relationships, although they also expressed concerns about being controlled by their customer's bottom line.
In April, the membership networking evening will have two topics: construction plans for Denver's commuter rail system and an update on RMMI's workforce development project.
RMMI is a non-profit organization of more than 100 companies throughout the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. The organization includes brick and concrete masonry manufacturers, stone producers, masonry contractors, suppliers and associates. For more information, please visit www.rmmi.org.
St. Louis
The 10th annual North American Masonry Conference (NAMC) will be held in St. Louis, June 3-6, 2007. The conference will be hosted by the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) and sponsored by The Masonry Society and related masonry organizations. The conference will feature speakers, technical sessions, field trips and other special events.
For more information, please visit www.masonrysociety.org/namc.
Industry News
QUIKRETE Launches Redesigned Website
The QUIKRETE® Companies has launched its redesigned website, www.QUIKRETE.com. Created to better serve its customer base, the new site has been redesigned to provide faster and easier access to information about QUIKRETE and its products.
Divided into "On the Job" and "At Home" sections, the redesigned website navigates customers directly to the relevant information they need. Professionals can educate themselves about each product by referencing technical data specific to their building segment, while homeowners can gain project inspiration through an interactive "virtual home" and a diverse project library. These features, in addition to plant locations and a contact page, allow professionals and homeowners to obtain technical expertise, thoughtful advice and a prompt response to their questions.
Multiquip Helps Customers Combat Equipment Theft
Multiquip Inc. announced that it will register equipment that it sells with the National Equipment Register (NER) to help its customers combat equipment theft.
NER is a database company dedicated to helping equipment owners deter theft and recover stolen equipment. The partnership strictly limits NER's use of this information to helping a police officer identify the true owner of a machine 24 hours a day.
NER has helped recover more than $13 million of stolen equipment by providing law enforcement with the information that they need to quickly identify a machine and its owner at any time, day or night. This partnership guarantees identification for any Multiquip machine and police will be encouraged to look at more Multiquip machines due to the greater likelihood of success. Multiquip machines have just become a much worse risk for equipment thieves.
Successful Hardscape North America Launch
More than 1,700 industry professionals attended the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) inaugural Hardscape North America show at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, March 7-10.
The tradeshow provided an excellent opportunity for contractors to network with key manufacturers and suppliers of hardscaping products, construction equipment, vehicles and service while gaining valuable knowledge through educational seminars, exhibits and certification courses.
To improve their ability to install top-notch residential and commercial applications, contractors made the hands-on training classes sold-out events for 2007. The Hands-on Best Practices for Paver Installation sold out, as did the NCMA SRW Installer Education and Certification Program. Two additional ICPI Level I Concrete Paver Installer Certification Programs were added to accommodate demand.
More than 95 exhibitors displayed state-of-the-art products and equipment. In addition to the indoor exhibition, an outdoor exhibit area enabled contractors to "touch and feel tools and allowed exhibitors to showcase their equipment in typical site conditions.
Next year's Hardscape North America will be held at the Nashville Convention Center, Feb. 27-March 1, 2008.