Cool stuff you might have missed

So much industry news and information to peruse and read — so little time. Here are few articles that we thought worth highlighting.

Hot weather concreting – methods for success.
Various adverse effects on the properties and serviceability of concrete are brought on by hot weather. Just one of those is the effect on strength. Read more

5 Green Construction Practices that are becoming Standard Commercial Construction Procedures
Anyone in the commercial construction industry knows there are a variety of certifications and designations that individuals, companies and projects can achieve to show they follow a high level of green commercial construction practices. Read more

Revolutionary concrete topping is an Eco-friendly terrazzo replacement
In 2010 Antex Western was remodelling its head office in Winnipeg and hoping to divert 100% of its construction waste from landfill … Read more

It’s not just the underpinning anymore…

Concrete is being used in whole new ways. We want conform to be a part of that.

Check out these stylish interiors with exposed concrete walls and floors.

Aside from architectural finishes, concrete is also being used to build low-cost social housing and to reconstruct cities after natural disasters. Regional materials are being used to create distinctive buildings. 

There’s an increasing trend toward using concrete to create retail locations. Take a look at the new minimalist boutiques springing up in major cities like Dubai and San Francisco.

Contractors who embrace changes in concrete use will find whole new markets.

Concrete has been around for more than 2,000 years. And while it’s still essential for bridges and roads and sidewalks, entirely new ways of using concrete are also gaining traction.

With the use of new dyes and creative finishing techniques — and of course, the right concrete forms and overlays, concrete has greater versatility than ever before as a decorative surface in residential, hospitality, institutional and multi-use projects.

High-end contemporary designs are showcasing concrete for accent walls, kitchen backsplashes and even entire bathrooms, from floor to walls to counters and sinks. Smooth and polished or rough and rugged, concrete is showing up in places where it’s never been seen before.

In this market, plain plyform panels just aren’t good enough. The quality architectural finishes end-users want require concrete forming overlays that can yield satiny finishes, matte or semi-gloss, and specific types of textures and designs that demand the best in conform panels and overlays.

Adapting to new environments to enhance real-world performance

Continual changes in concrete mixes, building products and methods, regional weather patterns and more, together, keep us on our toes at Arclin. In fact, we’re continually looking at our product attributes to ensure optimal performance for our customers — and theirs.

Most recently, Arclin has been focused on developing its next generation of EPIC® overlays for concrete forming. With greater internal bonds, better water resistance and improved ability to stand up to even the harshest concrete mixes, the new EPIC suite is being designed to offer the best in-field performance yet.

Epic 3333
New generation MDO

• Highly chemical resistant
• Extremely durable even when used with aggressive concrete mixes
• Water resistance enhances form-oil performance in the field
• Stronger internal bonds – faster, easier and more reuses in the field

Epic 3323 MDO

• Stronger internal bonds – faster, easier and more reuses in the field
• Enhanced cushion sheet performance in HDO/HAO panel constructions

Epic Enhanced Flow MDO
New Arclin-developed resin allows faster cure, better saturation and more uniform paper for more consistent field performance.

Visit Arclin at the World of Concrete to see the new EPIC suite!

Just as we thought the online “Cyber Monday” shopping day might overtake the “Black Friday” shopping frenzy, another trend — decidedly analog — is taking hold:

Internet retail giants such as Birchbox, Garnet Hill, Blue Nile and yes, even Amazon, are opening brick-and-mortar stores.

Despite significant gains in online shopping in recent years, still, more than 90% of purchases are being made off-line — that is, in real stores. In real buildings. And as the millennial generation moves into urban centers, forsaking suburbs and traditional shopping malls, retailers are following, fueling yet more development.

That’s good news for the construction industry. And, certainly, for those of us in the concreted slice of that business.

Big-box retailers have been expanding at a rapid pace, too. All this expansion adds up to projected retail construction growth that will top out at just over 10% this year and rise by about 9% in 2016, according to the American Institute of Architects’ most recent Consensus Construction Forecast. (Consensus Construction Forecast Jan. 2015)

This promises healthy gains in the concrete industry. The Portland Cement Association projects 6.5% growth in the use of cement in construction next year.

Now that’s a trend we can buy into.

Creating the best conform panel requires technical know-how, and sometimes, a little collaboration.

From the manufacture of conform overlays to the production of the panels, Arclin and its customers have one goal: To ensure the end-use customer is satisfied with the product and the resulting concrete finish.

Achieving the goal of producing a panel that performs requires that the panel manufacturer and Arclin work together to take into account such issues as:

• The type of pressing equipment used.
• Temperature, humidity and other environmental factors in the panel plant.
• The quality and type of backing panel for the overlay.

The panel maker in turn must get answers from the end-user about what they need and expect, including:

• How many reuses does the customer want from a panel?
• Is the concrete high alkaline?
• What concrete finish does the customer want? Smooth, architectural, brushed, etc?
• What are the conditions on the jobsite? Tough weather and methods of storage can affect a panel’s life and performance

That need for collaboration to ensure the best possible results inspired Arclin to build a sales team that combines technical, sales and account support—so that customer and end-user needs are considered right along with logistics and quality control. “A consolidated approach ensures everything from manufacturing to delivery and downstream product performance are equally important ” says Arclin Technical Sales Manager Mike Bunn. “That makes us all part of a knowledgeable team, and Arclin offers a 24-7 support system ,” he says.

Enhancements to Arclin’s EPIC® suite of concrete forming overlays:

Commercial construction is still rising—and taking demand for concrete with it

Source: AIA

• Concrete lasts. Just look at Rome’s Coliseum, still standing after more than 2,000 years.
• Concrete’s thermal mass helps reduce energy use in buildings by minimizing temperature swings.
• Waste materials such as fly ash and iron slag can be safely added to concrete to strengthen the mix and keep these materials out of landfills.
• Concrete’s natural light color reflects heat during the day and reduces the need for exterior building lights at night.
• Concrete is usually manufactured locally, reducing energy use in transporting building materials over long distances.

Arclin’s EPIC® suite of concrete forming overlays have long set the standard for extending panel life and producing high quality finishes. But they do their part to keep concrete green, too. EPIC overlays last longer and perform better, creating less jobsite waste, reducing material usage and lowering labor costs. EPIC overlays can extend panel life from 5 -10 times for MDO and 10 – 20 times for HDO over the life of non-overlaid BB Plyform panels.

EPIC Overlays carry Arclin’s exclusive E-Gen® designation, reserved for products that are specifically engineered to meet or exceed existing product performance standards and to reduce manufacturing and downstream environmental impact.

Recently Arclin has devised a groundbreaking new resin system that strengthens panels and enhances durability and performance—even on the highest alkaline concrete mixes.

Arclin also enhanced its overlay base papers by combining a variety of wood fibers that stand up to moisture and tough weather without separating or delaminating

That means that panels carrying our EPIC overlays are tougher than ever, will last even longer and perform better, while continuing to reduce material waste and labor costs.

• EPIC® Medium Density Overlay 3333 (MDO)
• Enhanced alkalinity resistance and internal bond
• For a smooth, matte concrete finish
• Has the Arclin “cross-cut” advantage

• EPIC® Enhanced Flow Medium Density Overlay 3369 (Natural Kraft) and 3379 (Green) (MDO)
• Formulated with a high flow phenolic resin system for increased caustic resistance and reuse
• For a smooth, matte concrete finish
• Has the Arclin “Cross-Cut” advantage

• EPIC® High Alkaline Overlay 2600 (HAO)
• For aggressive, high alkaline concrete mix designs
• Can provide semi- and high-gloss finish when combined with the appropriate substrate and pressing surface

• EPIC® Coated Concrete Form Overlay 4098 (CCFO)
• Coated with alkaline resistant phenolic resin for improved caustic resistance
• Can provide high quality concrete finish when combined with the appropriate substrate and pressing surface
• Has the Arclin “Cross-Cut” advantage

• EPIC® High Density Overlay 2252/2253 (HDO)
• Available with standard and premium resin contents
• For smooth, low- and semi-gloss finishes
• Can provide architectural finish when combined with the appropriate substrate and pressing surface

Arclin’s workhorse just gets better

At Arclin we’re always looking for ways to make great products even better, to find new applications for proven chemistries, to put our expertise and knowledge to work in new markets.

But sometimes it’s important to pause and acknowledge those products with consistent, proven performance — like our workhorse EPIC^® HDO’s used in 2252 & 2253 HDO panel construction.

Arclin has a strong family of concrete forming overlays, each with its own advantage in various applications. But the HDO overlay, says Mike Bunn, Technical Sales Manager — Plywood, is the product “you can use anywhere, anytime. And especially where you want a better finish.”

Bunn explains, “HDO consistently outperforms one of its primary competitive products — non-overlaid BB-OES — in the field. HDO gives many more pours and yields a much better finish on concrete than plywood, so it’s great for commercial, institutional and multifamily projects. Because of its extended life and quality of finish, HDO remains a great value.”

EPIC® HDO:

Extends panel life by up to 10 times that of non-overlaid BB-OES panels

Resists high-alkaline concrete better than BB-OES plyform

Available with FSC chain of custody certification

May contribute to LEED MR Credits 2.1 and 2.2 for waste reduction and MR Credits 3.1 and 3.2 for material reuse

Carries Arclin’s E-Gen® designation