Eleven concrete industry professionals, representing six companies from across the United States and Canada, immersed themselves in a week-long Concrete Materials Technology course. Held at the World Center of Concrete Technology in Alpena, Michigan topics ranged from material grading and blending, cementitious materials, lightweight aggregates, design mix development to admixes and pigments. Students also discussed producing and curing concrete masonry units, concrete products specifications and their multiple uses. Students were educated in a traditional classroom setting, with hands-on experience in the lab and utilizing a Besser equipped block plant. They also toured the Lafarge cement plant located on the shores of Lake Huron.
The graduation luncheon was attended by students, instructors, Besser and Alpena Community College representatives. After the ceremony course instructor, Jeff Oliver remarked, "The students in the class had an incredible thirst for knowledge. Their wide range of industry experience provided for lively discussions that drove the information taught in the classroom home." Don MacMaster, Dean of Workforce Development at Alpena Community College was also impressed and commented that, "Keeping current with industry knowledge is critical for the ongoing strength of the industry. It's wonderful to see attendance at the Blockmakers Workshops increasing as the construction industry begins to get on solid footing."
Future courses in 2013 are as follows:
- Vibrapac�, 11-15 February
- Electronic Controls, 4-8 March
- Executive Session, 9-11 April
- Concrete Masonry Technology, 6-10 May
- Vibrapac, 13-17 May
Register online or for more information contact Barb by phone +1.989.358.7359 or e-mail [email protected].
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