Concrete Pipe Week Designated

The third full week in August has been designated as Concrete Pipe Week in the United States. Matt Childs, PE, President of the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA), stated, “Concrete Pipe Week serves to recognize the contributions of concrete pipe manufacturers who provide quality product to public and private owners who design, build, plan, operate, and maintain the transportation, water supply, water treatment and solid waste disposal system, and other structures and facilities essential to the US economy and way of life.” This inaugural observance is designed to educate communities and their leaders on the importance of buried infrastructure and its concrete pipe and precast manufacturers. It will take place from 16-22 August 2015. To date, the Governors of Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin have signed proclamations and a resolution was signed by Louisiana’s State House making Concrete Pipe Week official in their states. ACPA, founded 101 years ago, is currently comprised of 54 producer members in the USA, 11 producer members in Canada, and 20 producer members located outside of North America along with 57 associate (supplier) members. Besser is a longstanding active member of the ACPA. Gary Ericson, Director of Sales Pipe & Precast, serves on the board of directors, Scott Kennedy, Technical Service Representative and Grant Fluent, Sales Representative, both instruct during the annual pipe school and Jerry Cowden is a past-president, having served while a producer member. Brief History of ACPA The American Concrete Pipe Association was originally conceived in 1907 by a small group of concrete farm drain tile manufacturers as the Interstate Cement Tile Manufacturers Association in Ames, Iowa. The group needed some means of exchanging ideas and establishing a high quality, standardized products. In 1914, the organization was renamed the American Concrete Pipe Association. Throughout the 20th century, the concrete pipe industry has experienced tremendous growth. As more and more people moved from farms to cities, it created increased demand for concrete sewer and drainage products. The introduction of the automobile and subsequent highway development extended the uses of concrete pipe storm drains and culverts. There are currently over 400 plants operated by ACPA members in the United States and Canada. Over 40 countries are represented in the membership of the American Concrete Pipe Association. ACPA's international headquarters are located in Irving, Texas USA. For more information visit their website, www.concrete-pipe.org.