STAR

Since its acquisition by Abacus Financial [http://www.Abacus-Financial.net] in early 2011, STAR Concrete Pumping continues its pursuit as a national leader in the concrete delivery and placement services industry. Mr. Branch will champion the company’s rapid growth while continuing its transition into new industry technologies. STAR Concrete Pumping is the 3rd largest concrete delivery and placement service in the United States.

At STAR Concrete Pumping, Mr. Branch has served various leadership positions in sales, operations, and management, excelling in every field throughout the entire organization.

Upon acceptance of his new position, Mr. Branch stated, “I am humbled to have been selected to this leadership position of trust. It is my personal goal to further organize and develop STAR into America’s single source concrete placement provider, while pursuing the highest levels of professionalism and technology within the concrete pumping industry.” With Mr. Branch’s years of experience, leadership, and talents, STAR may now focus on capitalizing and sustaining its vertical growth success.

His passion for the industry started while working part time for his father Clair Branch at Hydro Conduit during summers throughout high school and college.  In 1989, he relocated to Delaware to assist with the construction of Middletown Concrete Products and managed production of the small bore machine.  He returned to Houston in 1993 and held various positions with increasing responsibility and developed a specialty in the concrete pumping industry.  In 1998 he started Branch Concrete Pumping, LLC with Gary Nichols and Rusty Hicks and served as managing partner and General Manager until 2005.

Mr. Branch maintains strong ties with the local community, devoting personal time and precious resources to a variety of needed charities.  He is a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a Vice Chairman on the Breeders Greeters Committee and Committeeman on the Speakers Committee with his wife Lauri.  He is an avid horseman and enjoys riding.

Available on both IOS & Android smart-phone platforms, the APP’s easy to use format and highly intuitive design provides a new connection between Account Managers and customers seeking concrete placement or delivery service, regardless of site challenges, timing constraints, or other unique engineering requirements. “This powerful application provides each end user an opportunity to conduct business quickly and efficiently without sacrifice or having to employ multiple electronic devices” says Mitchel Palmer, spokesperson for STAR Concrete. “We must continue to move beyond the traditional methods of our industry to maintain our leadership role as “America’s Gold Standard”. STAR strives to embrace daily challenges and define opportunities. The new app’s are another STAR example of what can be accomplished when technology is made available. The new app’s will enhance our customer service goal of “providing the best concrete placement service in the United States and South America”.

In today’s dynamic and ever changing business environment, organizations are constantly seeking new methods to personalize and empower their workforce to suit an increasingly mobile lifestyle. Innovative companies such as STAR see an engaged workforce as a productive workforce and the STAR Concrete Pumping application helps them ensure their employees stay connected and engaged while away from the traditional office.

You may download this FREE app via the Android Marketplace or iTunes Store.

Android - https://market.android.com/details?id=com.morpheous.starPump
iPhone/iPad – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-concrete-pumping/id453215084?ls=1&mt=8

Please give us feedback on this exciting new way to communicate your concrete pumping needs.

With this acquisition, Abacus Financial has one of the concrete sector’s broadest portfolios of products, services and end-to-end solutions. The combined offerings are focused on helping clients accelerate growth, mitigate risks and lower costs.

The acquisition is the largest in the concrete sector for 2011. “This is a historic day for Abacus Financial & STAR Concrete Pumping Company, and for the clients we serve,” said the Chairman of Abacus Financial. “Independently, each company is a respected industry leader. Together, we are a continental leader, with the capability to serve our clients – whatever their size, location or industry – with one of the most comprehensive and competitive portfolios.”

STAR Concrete Pumping Company serves a wide variety of concrete professionals ranging from local concrete finishers, to regional and national ready-mix companies, to the largest national and international general contractors and construction managers. STAR Concrete Pumping Company will extend their national leadership role with the ability to provide complete lifecycle capabilities in the completion of refineries, chemical plants, bridges, highways, airports, smelters, power plants, high-rise structures, residential developments and a wide array of other projects throughout the United States, Canada, and the northern parts of South America.

“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new era,” said Jason Smith, Vice President and General Manager of STAR Pumping. “Our clients will benefit from the breadth and depth of our solutions, our newly installed technologies, and our commitment to unsurpassed quality and our ability to provide truly national concrete service delivery. With the resources of Abacus Financial, we have an opportunity to truly redefine the North American concrete services market.”

The Chairman of STAR Concrete Pumping Company stated “Each of these changes collectively will result in a leaner, more responsive and cost effective end product coupled with greater management oversight resulting in a superior state of the art concrete placement and delivery service with exacting predictability and a better end product for our customers and clients”.

Immediate facility, equipment and personnel improvements were announced including:

• Re-Designed STARPumping.com (http://www.STARPumping.com) to include blogs, educational videos and equipment photos. The new website will act as a first strike marketing tool bringing in new business while showcasing its vast job portfolio. A new logo has also been unveiled as part of this acquisition.
• Immediate hiring of Jason D. Smith, Vice President and General Manager, responsibilities include all aspects of the day to day operations of the company. The high profile coveted leadership responsibilities include strategic planning, corporate team building, logistics, and organizational accountability, while focusing on company product and service pricing, growth, and profitability.

Mr. Smith’s distinguished background includes 22 years of dedicated operational expertise culminating to District Managing Director for his former employer FedEx Ground, Memphis Tennessee. Mr. Smith is a 1993 graduate of the University of Tennessee, majoring in Business Administration, logistics and transportation. Mr. Smith’s graduate studies include Executive Leadership Training in 2008 from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA.

• Immediate hiring of William A. Avelar, Business Development & Customer Services Director, responsibilities include employee accountability and productivity, operating efficiency, budgeting, logistics, equipment utilization, and teamwork, while focusing on core values of excellence and superior customer service.

Mr. Avelar’s distinguished background includes 25 years of dedicated construction operational and concrete pumping expertise which includes branch management, sales management, construction supervision, and concrete pumping. As a Rapor Institute graduate, he obtained two years of construction management training at Northern Arizona University. Mr. Avelar is also an operating engineer with a heavy equipment operator’s license.

• Facilities upgrade includes a new “cloud”  state of the art GPS tracking, billing, accounting, and payroll system that provides immediate accountability in real time. This allows dispatch managers to oversee the actual delivery and job site activity. The system provides a visual backup to be viewed later at any time in resolving potential disputes and  disagreements.
• Employee operator payroll is governed by the improved GPS system, eliminating the dated “time clock” presently used by much of the industry.
• STAR Concrete Pumping Company has teamed with Verizon to allow their employee communications to utilize the latest cell phone, laptop and tablet technology.
• STAR Concrete Pumping Company has teamed with Salesforce.com for each Business Development Representative.  This software, in real time, shall provide sales accountability.
• Equipment improvements include fuel saving reporting software for all trucks &  pumps.

STAR Concrete Pumping Company will be the best concrete pumping company in the United States, Canada, and northern South America by providing quality, customer oriented services to our customers.  By using teamwork, ACPA certified operators and modern technology; STAR will revolutionize the industry by providing a safe work environment and superior reliability.

STAR is highly regarded and experienced in all facets of our business, but there are areas in which we excel. Some of these areas include parking garages, waste and water treatment plants, high-rises, superstructures and industrial facilities. The specialty skills that STAR is especially recognized for include structural rehabilitation, facade restoration, surface coating and waterproofing, brick and block repairs and formed and poured applications.

What makes STAR Concrete Pumping different? We staff highly experienced and knowledgeable management, supervisory and skilled production personnel. We have the ability to complete work on time and within budget. STAR has the expertise to complete poured-in-place concrete utilizing our own skilled labor force. We have continued to demonstrate an exceptional safety experience record above the industry standards. All of these qualities contribute to the excellent reputation that we have earned.

STAR Concrete Pumping is going to expand and become one of the largest concrete establishments in the country. Through our STAR Alliance, we shall invest in and create a wide scope of business for our partners while infusing STAR Industries with the latest equipment and manpower ideas.  We would look forward to an opportunity of demonstrating our capabilities to you on your next project.

If the ongoing triple-threat disaster in Japan were a movie monster, now would be when the international authorities deployed a giant super gun to stop the creature. In this case, it is hoped that the giant Putzmeister super pump will be able to tame the situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Lifting off for transport from America two days ago carried by the massive Russian Antonov An-124 cargo plane, the 190,000-pound pump intended to eventually encase the reactors in concrete uses a boom that extends 225 feet and can be operated remotely from up to two miles away. With a name only an old school vaudevillian could love, even if the mechanism is successful in its task it will then be dismantled and disposed of due to high radiation contamination.

Concrete pumps apply pressure to a column of fresh concrete in a pipe, forcing the concrete through a lubricated pipe. Concrete pumps are often used to reach places that are difficult or impossible to reach by other concrete placement methods. For example, concrete pumping is often used on high-rise projects. Pumping is also used when the space available for construction equipment is limited. Approximately 1/4 of all concrete placed in the United States is placed by concrete pumping.

Advantages of Using Concrete Pumps

• Pumping placement is faster than placement by other methods.
• Pumped concrete can be placed in areas that are difficult or impossible to reach by other placement methods.
• Pumping often results in a savings in manpower and equipment cost and cycle time.
• Pumping can take place under any weather conditions, including snow and rain, since the concrete is protected from the elements during transport to the placement area.
• Pumping can be used when the space available for construction equipment is limited.
• Pumping concrete frees cranes and hoists for other construction operations, such as delivering materials.
• Pumped concrete can be easier to handle because the flow of concrete is directed to the exact spot of placement (whereas cranes and conveyors deposit large piles of concrete that must be moved manually).
• Few obstacles can block a concrete pumping pipeline. Pipelines can corner sharply, pass through narrow spaces, travel over or under walls, etc.
• A continuous supply of pumped concrete can help set a steady work pace for the placement crew, thereby increasing productivity.
• A contractor can vary the placement speed or add lines to fit the pace of the job.
• Flow of concrete remains steady and controlled.
• Pumping concrete allows a contractor to place floor slabs on upper floors before completing the concrete work on lower floors. This provides protection from weather when working on lower floors.
• For large pours, multiple pumps can be set up, allowing several trucks to discharge at the same time.

Concrete Mix Design for Concrete Pumps

The concrete mix design must be correctly proportioned so that the concrete will flow easily and uniformly through the pipe. The pipeline diameter should be 3-1/2 to 4 times greater than the maximum aggregate size for pumped concrete. This helps ensure that the pipeline will not become clogged. Another factor in mix design is the slump of the pumped concrete. A higher slump will cause concrete to flow more readily, making the concrete easier to pump.

However, an excessively high slump can cause the concrete to separate, resulting in plugs in the pump or line. What makes concrete Pumpable? Pumpable concrete can be pushed under pressure through a pipeline as a cylinder, separate from the pipeline wall by a lubricating layer of water, cement, and sand (mortar). A concrete mix must be such that the concrete can pass through reducers in the pipeline system, and can go around bends in the line. In order to obtain this type of pumpability, the mix must be dense, cohesive, and have sufficient mortar. (Mortar required depends on the line size, efficiency of concrete pump, and pressure available for pumping concrete).

Concrete Pump Location

The most important consideration relating to pump location is pump accessibility. Ideally, space for two concrete trucks – one unloading and one ready to unload – should be provided at the pump hopper. Usually, pumps should be located as closely as possible to the area to be concreted last.

Effects of Weather Extremes

Hot Weather: Since concrete sets faster in hot weather, slow or intermittent pumping is necessary if delays in placement are anticipated. Also, wet burlap can be wrapped around pipelines to cool the concrete by evaporation. Cold Weather: During cold weather, concrete is in danger of freezing in exposed lines. Exposed lines should be run through enclosures or wrapped in insulation to prevent freezing.

By Jake Mooney
Originally Published Apr 10, 2011 at nymag.com

(Photo: Courtesy of Putzmeister)

When you need to spray a lot of water or concrete, the world’s largest pump (nickname: “the Juggernaut”) can come in handy. The hard part: getting it to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, where it’s expected to join the radiation-fighting efforts this week.

THE PUMP

The Putzmeister 70Z-meter is a truck-mounted concrete pump so named because its folding boom is 70 meters long (almost 230 feet) and shaped like a Z. (It can also turn into an A, if that’s your pleasure.) Made in Germany since 2008, 70Zs are usually used for pouring concrete into high or hard-to-reach places and can be operated by remote control. Only three exist.

The company also made the eleven pumps used to bury the Chernobyl reactor.

Putzmeister is German for “Plaster Master.”

THE INSPIRATION

When the head of Putzmeister’s Japanese division saw news reports about problems hosing down the Fukushima Daiichi reactor’s spent fuel, he redirected a 58-meter unit, then on a cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean, to the scene; it arrived on March 22. Things went well enough that the company offered the 70Zs too.

THE PROBLEM

The two 70Zs Japan needed were still an ocean away. Putzmeister bought back one from a Sacramento construction company and got the South Carolina outfit that was leasing the other to end its contract early. The Japanese say they don’t yet need the third 70Z, but it could be sent later.

$2-plus million:cost of a new 70Z.

MOVING THE DAMN THINGS: Part 1

The pumps are on wheels ­(each one has ten axles), but they weigh 190,000 pounds. Because of its weight, the South Carolina machine was illegal on Georgia roads; Putzmeister secured a special permit from the governor to drive it to the Atlanta airport.

“At four bucks a gallon, it’s painful to the wallet.” —Pat Barber, president of a company that helped with the transfer to Atlanta.

70Z’s max speed: 55 mph

Mileage: 2–3 mpg

MOVING THE DAMN THINGS: Part 2

Both pumps were scheduled to fly to Japan on Saturday aboard Ukraine-made Antonov AN-225 planes, the biggest planes in the world and the only ones capacious enough for the job. Each flight will cost $1.3 million; Tokyo Electric Power Company, the plant’s owner, is paying (and reimbursing what Putzmeister spent to secure the pumps).

A typical Atlanta-Japan flight takes fifteen hours. because of the pump’s weight, the plane transporting that 70z from Georgia will need to make three refueling stops before arriving in Tokyo 48 hours later.

THE NEW JOB SITE

The trucks can pump about 700 gallons of water a minute, nearly three times as much as most fire engines. They may also be used to pour concrete to entomb the reactors. There are no plans to bring the pumps back from Japan, says Putzmeister America president Dave Adams.

“We’re not sure what condition they would be in after being on this job site,” says Adams.

CONCRETE PUMPING ADVANTAGES

Pumping concrete in place allows for improved construction times, reduced cost, and more aggressive engineering projects to be accomplished than would ever be possible without it. The concrete pump placing method also allows for quicker return on investment for companies and individuals hiring the concrete work, as efficiency is greatly improved.

FIVE TYPES OF CONCRETE PUMPS

TRUCK-MOUNTED BOOM CONCRETE PUMP

The first type of concrete pump is attached to a truck. It is known as a truck-mounted boom concrete pump because it uses a wireless remote-controlled articulating robotic arm (called a boom) to place concrete with pinpoint accuracy. Boom pumps can be found in various sizes and are used on most of the larger construction projects such as high rise buildings as they are capable of pumping at very high volumes and because of the labor saving nature of the placing boom. They are a revolutionary alternative to the truck-mounted concrete line pumps. Some hydraulically driven boom concrete pump models have pumped structural concrete at outputs exceeding 150 cubic yards per hour. Boom trucks are self-contained units consisting of a truck and frame, and the pump itself. Boom trucks are used for concrete pours for everything from slabs and medium high-rise buildings, to large volume commercial and industrial projects. They range from single-axle truck mounted pumps used for their high maneuverability, suitability for confined areas, and cost/performance value, to huge, six-axle rigs used for their powerful pumps and long reach on high-rise and other large-scale projects. Booms for these trucks can come in configurations of three and four sections, with a low unfolding height of about 16 feet. This low unfolding height is ideal for placing concrete in confined areas. Longer, five-part booms can reach up or out more than 200 feet. Because of their reach, boom trucks often remain in the same place for an entire pour. This allows ready mix trucks to discharge their loads directly into the pumps hopper at one central location and helps to create a more efficient jobsite traffic flow. Most manufacturers offer a variety of options, from chassis and pump size, to boom configurations, remote control, and outrigger options.

PLACEMENT BOOM CONCRETE PUMP

The second type of concrete pump is known as a placement boom and basically has the same guts inside as the truck-mounted boom concrete pump and operate similarly. These types of booms are used on jobs where the confines of the construction site will not permit the use of a larger boom or line pump. Placement booms are usually placed on the jobsite with a large crane, in many cases on top of a multi-story building as its being constructed and moving up into the sky. Placement booms are the ideal method of choice for placement of concrete during multi-story building projects. Separate concrete placing booms can be used when a boom truck is unavailable, or in situations where the boom truck may not be able to conveniently access the pour site. Combined with the right concrete pump, these placing booms provide a systematic method of concrete distribution. For instance, contractors use the truck-mounted pump with placing boom in its conventional mode for part of a day on slab pours or other ground level placements and quickly remove the boom (with the aid of a tower crane) for remote placements later in the day. Typically, the boom is remounted on a pedestal, which can be located hundreds of feet from the pump and connected with a pipeline. Here are some mounting options for placing booms: Cross frame: Foundation mounting with bolted cross frame. Crane tower mount: Boom and mast mounted on crane tower. Side mount: Mast mounted to the side of a structure with brackets. Wedge mount: Boom and mast inserted in floor slab with wedges. Ballasted cross frame: Zero elevation ballasted cross frame. Ballasted methods may also use the boom mounted on a freestanding mast. Anchored: Boom and mast are anchored to a supporting surface.

TRUCK-MOUNTED LINE CONCRETE PUMP

The third type of concrete pump is skid mounted on a flatbed truck and known as a truck-mounted line pump, truck-mounted slick line pump, truck-mounted concrete pump, or city pump, and is used in the same fashion as a trailer-mounted concrete pump. These pumps require steel or rubber concrete placing hoses to be manually attached to the outlet of the machine. Those hoses are linked together and lead to wherever the concrete needs to be placed. Line pumps normally pump concrete at lower volumes than boom pumps and are used for smaller volume concrete placing applications such as swimming pools, sidewalks, and single family home concrete slabs and most ground slabs. These types of pumps are usually wireless remote-controlled but can also be bypassed and used manually through the pumps electrical box controller.

TRAILER-MOUNTED LINE CONCRETE PUMP

The fourth type of concrete pump is placed on a trailer, and it is commonly referred to as a line pump, slick line pump, or trailer-mounted concrete pump. These pumps require steel or rubber concrete placing hoses to be manually attached to the outlet of the machine. Those hoses are linked together and lead to wherever the concrete needs to be placed. Line pumps normally pump concrete at lower volumes than boom pumps and are used for smaller volume concrete placing applications such as swimming pools, sidewalks, and single family home concrete slabs and most ground slabs. These types of pumps are usually wireless remote-controlled but can also be bypassed and used manually through the pumps electrical controller.

SKID MOUNTED LINE CONCRETE PUMP

The fifth type of concrete pumps are skid or rail mounted concrete pumps, usually transported and moved around by forklifts or cranes. These pumps are used the same as truck-mounted and trailer mounted concrete line pumps and require steel or rubber concrete placing hoses to be manually attached to the outlet of the machine. Those hoses are linked together and lead to wherever the concrete needs to be placed. These pumps normally pump concrete at lower volumes than boom pumps and are used for smaller volume concrete placing applications such as underground concrete pumping, shotcreting, and grout pumping. These types of pumps are usually wireless remote-controlled but can also be bypassed and used manually through the pumps electrical box controller. These pumps go where truck and trailer mounted pumps cannot. These types of pumps perform well in mines and tunnels because of their compact nature. These pumps are uncommon except on specialized jobsites such as mines and tunnels.

It happens just like that, fast!

Remember to read the pump manufacturer’s operating manual before cleaning or repairing your concrete pump. If you have to service the pump and need to put your hands near moving parts, always shut off the pump engine and remove the key and make sure all pressure is at zero.

Most pumping companies will see a steady growth in pump jobs due to the summer months ahead. This is a great time of year to service your pumps and equipment. With more pump jobs it means more money. Don’t forget to invest back into your equipment. Don’t get out on a job and have a problem that could have been avoided.

Check your hoses for wear spots, and holes in the hose. Also, check the hose ends including the inside. Look for thin metal. Check your reducer and the ends of the reducers. Periodically lightly tap your reducers with a hammer. You can actually hear a very bright “ting” if the metal is getting too worn. When this happens, replace it. Here’s a little side note. Did you hear about the guy who lost his vision due to the hose exploding open in his face. His employer had no workman’s comp and either did the general contractor. Don’t gamble in this business. People can get injured and killed.

Here’s a good habit to get into.

Start off with good hoses and clamps. When setting up a job, roll out the hose from one end and when rolling it up, roll it from the other end. That way you can inspect both ends daily. If you come across a bad hose, spray paint it to mark it and put it aside. Then either fix it, cut it into two hoses, or throw it away. If the concrete hose clogs, a damaged or worn hose could burst with the possibility of causing property damage, personal injury or even death. Same thing with the reducers or elbows.. Don’t take chances. Fix it or throw it away. Once again, invest in your equipment.

Pump Maintenance / When was the last time you changed your hydraulic oil?

Don’t forget to check your pumps owner’s manual on when to change the hydraulic fluid, motor oil and all your filters including hydraulic filter, motor oil filter, air filter and fuel filter. Check all your hydraulic hoses and fittings, loose nuts and bolts, loose wires and fittings, etc. Also, always keep an eye on your accumulator pressure. Don’t pump with low accumulator pressure. If you are running low on pressure, charge your accumulator according to your pump manufacturers guidelines. By maintaining your pump you will be able to offer your customers quality and well maintained equipment. Then down the road if you decide to sell your pump you’ll be happy you maintained it. Just keep this in mind. A well maintained pump gets top dollar in the used concrete pumping market.

Where do I purchase washout bags?

The bags generally used are 3 mil contractor bags. You can purchase them at hardware stores such as Home Depot, etc. Don’t use the basic garbage bags, they’re too thin. Make sure you use the 3 mil bags. Only fill about1/4 to 1/3 of the bag or you won’t be able to lift it.

Where do I buy bentonite slurry for the pump hose?

Most concrete pump operators agree the best slurry for the hose is bentonite clay. Bentonite sometimes can be a little hard to come by if you don’t know where to purchase it. Look in your yellow pages under clay. If you have no luck there, try looking under Water Well Supplies or Drilling Supplies. Bentonite is used for drilling purposes and you can generally buy it by the bag or pallet. You can expect to spend between $5.00 to $8.00 per 50 lb bag. You can also use “cement” or “masonry fire clay”. You can also check with your pump manufacturer and see if they offer pump hose slurry for sale. There are a few companies that sell slurry by individual packages. One small bag for each job. It can be a little more money but some people really like it. Just remember when you use slurry, pump it into a bag or someplace other than into the concrete forms.

I’ve noticed sometimes that the first 2 or 3 concrete hoses from the pump moves a lot while pumping. Is that normal? Yes, but try this. If you are using a smaller hose, for instance a 2 ½ inch hose, start off with 25 ft. to 50 ft. of 3 inch hose and then add the 2 ½ inch for the remainder. The bigger hose will relieve some of the pressure. If you are using a concrete grout pump with a 2 inch hose, try starting off with 25 ft. of 2 ½ inch. If you’re really noticing a lot of hose movement, slow down the concrete output. Don’t slow down the engine, just the concrete volume. Always remember to keep the hoses from being damaged by rubbing against sharp objects such as corners, sharp rocks, etc. and also make sure what’s underneath the hose isn’t getting damaged either, such as a concrete driveway, lawns, plants, etc.