Innovative Low CO2 Concrete Mixes Saved 108.7 Million Pounds of CO2 Emissions Across Six Schools; Aridus® Rapid Drying Concrete Cut Construction Schedule by 30% for Billy Earl Dade Middle School
EULESS, Texas, Aug. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Redi-Mix, LLC, a business unit of U.S. Concrete, Inc. (Nasdaq:USCR), today announced that it delivered its sustainable, low-CO2 concrete to six Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) schools, for a net savings of 108.7 million pounds of CO2 emissions. It was also announced that U.S. Concrete's Aridus® Rapid Drying Concrete was used at the Billy Earl Dade Middle School construction project to address aggressive scheduling requirements, cutting the construction schedule by 30 percent and yielding a similar reduction in construction overhead costs.
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U.S. Concrete's Low CO2 Concrete Mixes Reduce Carbon Footprint for Dallas Schools
U.S. Concrete's National Research Laboratory, USC Technologies, Inc., developed a low-CO2 concrete technology and process, known as EF Technology®, to reduce carbon emissions. This process cuts the Portland cement content, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and uses cement replacement materials. These engineered mixes not only deliver carbon emissions savings, as compared to traditional concrete, but also deliver many higher-performing characteristics. Since 2009, U.S. Concrete and its operating companies have saved more than 1 million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
To address the Dallas Independent School District's sustainability goals, low-CO2 mixes were selected for six of the district's schools, and the majority of the materials were locally sourced. U.S. Concrete's local business unit, Redi-Mix, LLC, delivered these sustainable mixes to the following schools: Billy Earl Dade Middle School, Clinton P. Russell Elementary School, Ebby Halliday Elementary School, Thelma Page Richardson Elementary School, W.H. Adamson High School and Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School.
U.S. Concrete's Aridus Rapid Drying Concrete Cuts Construction Schedule and Costs for Billy Earl Dade Middle School
The original construction schedule for the Billy Earl Dade Middle School was 14 months, risking failure to meet today's August 26, 2013, opening date. Working closely with the general contractor Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc., and joint venture architects Kell Muñoz and KAI Texas, the construction team selected U.S. Concrete's Aridus Rapid Drying Concrete to shorten the construction schedule. The use of Aridus Rapid Drying Concrete cut the construction schedule by 30 percent (from 14 months to 10 months) and resulted in similar reductions in construction overhead costs.
Aridus Rapid Drying Concrete was developed and patented by U.S. Concrete's National Research Laboratory, USC Technologies, Inc., to address recent changes in environmental government regulations that limit or restrict Vapor Organic Compounds (VOCs) in flooring adhesives. While these new formulations can reduce the environmental impact of new flooring installations, the new adhesives are less durable and more susceptible to moisture-related issues. As a result, contractors have been forced to combat the problems by adding sealers or lengthening the drying time of the concrete, in hopes of reducing the risk of liabilities associated with the failures of floor coverings. In addition, these remedies increase the construction time and costs associated with the projects.
Aridus Rapid Drying Concrete consumes the excess water and accelerates the drying time, eliminating extended drying times and the need for costly and time-consuming topical products such as epoxies. As a result, Aridus Rapid Drying Concrete not only prevents moisture-related flooring covering failures, but also allows contractors to reduce construction schedules and costs. This has led to architects and contractors specifying Aridus Rapid Drying Concrete for their flooring projects nationwide. To view Project Profiles, visit www.us-concrete.com/Aridus.
"We have seen, first-hand, projects negatively impacted by the changes in adhesives and the resulting emulsification. Aridus Rapid Drying Concrete not only prevents moisture-related floor covering failures, but it significantly reduced the construction schedule for this project," said architect Randy Barnett with KAI Texas. "Within 21 days we were able to achieve the acceptable standard of measures to start receiving the floor. This was phenomenal. It typically takes anywhere between four to six months, even as much as eight months, to get below 80 percent relative humidity inside standard concrete."
ABOUT U.S. CONCRETE
U.S. Concrete, Inc. (Nasdaq:USCR) services the construction industry in several major markets in the United States through its two business segments: ready-mixed concrete and aggregate products. The company has 105 fixed and 11 portable ready-mixed concrete plants and seven producing aggregates facilities. During 2012, U.S. Concrete produced approximately 4.8 million cubic yards of ready-mixed concrete and approximately 3.3 million tons of aggregates. For more information on U.S. Concrete, visit www.us-concrete.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains various forward-looking statements and information that are based on management's belief, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these statements and cautions you not to rely unduly on them. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the stability of the business; encouraging nature of second quarter volume and pricing increases; ready-mix backlog; ability to maintain our cost structure and the improvements achieved during our restructuring and monitor fixed costs; ability to maximize liquidity, manage variable costs, control capital spending and monitor working capital usage; and the adequacy of current liquidity. Although U.S. Concrete believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other matters: general and regional economic conditions; the level of activity in the construction industry; the ability of U.S. Concrete to complete acquisitions and to effectively integrate the operations of acquired companies; development of adequate management infrastructure; departure of key personnel; access to labor; union disruption; competitive factors; government regulations; exposure to environmental and other liabilities; the cyclical and seasonal nature of U.S. Concrete's business; adverse weather conditions; the availability and pricing of raw materials; the availability of refinancing alternatives; and general risks related to the industry and markets in which U.S. Concrete operates. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those expected. These risks, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in U.S. Concrete's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including U.S. Concrete's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
