ACPA’s Annual Meeting Provides Venue for Pipe Machine Purchase

Cy Thomson, Vice President/General Manage Oldcastle Precast - Stockton, Gary Ericson, Director of Sales Pipe & Precast and Ryan Suszek, Director of Pipe & Precast met several times while attending the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) annual meeting on Amelia Island, Florida. As a result, Oldcastle Precast is moving forward with the purchase of an Advantage Series A-48 BiDi® for the Stockton, California plant to replace their existing 30 year old PH 48 machine.  The Oldcastle Senior Management Team formally approved the purchase this week. Oldcastle is looking forward to increasing production and improving control of the manufacturing process with their new BiDi and Vision 3 Automation. The machine is scheduled for commissioning in August 2015. In-depth, multi-day meetings like this one, held during the ACPA annual meeting, are one of the many benefits inherent with association events.  The formal activities of the meeting, conducted from 17-19 March 2015, included the presentation of awards and in-depth reports from staff and guests on the successes of the past year, research and development and what the future holds for the industry. As an event sponsor Besser Company, and the Besser staff present, was thanked and recognized throughout the meeting. The annual ACPA Research & Education Foundation’s Raffle rose over $140,000. According to Matt Childs, ACPA President, “The funds raised enable the Foundation to continue its mission of supporting the long-term competitiveness of the precast concrete pipe and box culvert industry in the United States, including the thousands of men and women employed in and supported by the industry. The funds raised at this year’s auction will allow the Foundation to conduct important structural and materials research that will ensure that concrete pipe remains the product of choice used in America’s vast network of sewers and culverts.”  Besser donated a multi-day pipe plant evaluation which was won by Brian Rhees from Oldcastle. The Oldcastle location he selects will get an in-depth evaluation of the plant’s equipment, concrete mix design, production techniques and procedures. A formal report will identify issues and present recommendations for replacement parts, technical service and staff training. The Annual Convention was also the venue for the Board of Directors to meet. The seventeen member Board, comprised of producer and associate members, met to discuss the current and future activities of the ACPA.  Gary Ericson is one of two people representing the associate members on the board. His four year term runs until March 2018. The next ACPA Annual Convention is being held 20-23 March 2016 in Tucson, Arizona. [caption id="attachment_4461" align="alignnone" width="350"] Ryan & Melodi Suszek and Cetta & Gary Ericson[/caption]