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Rock Solid is very conscious of the risks associated with manufacturing concrete. We understand how essential, how critical it is that concrete meet every plastic state and hardened state expectation. We realize that there is no room for error, especially on demanding projects where structural elements depend on the soundness of the material we produce. Because of this consciousness, Rock Solid has always declined to participate in projects where even 1% of doubt existed that we could be 100% successful.
Best in the Region
Quite simply, we produce the best concrete in the Northern Region, we give the best service, and we are best able to meet the changing demands of the dynamics of your project. Rock Solid is fully aware that Canada in 1994 began the process to adopt and is still transitioning to a “Performance Based” model of specifying concrete. We are very aware that the language of CSA A23.1/14 is performance in nature and the language of CSA A23.1/14 still has prescriptive leanings inductive of pre-1994 concepts.
Quoting from CSA A23.1:
"The adoption of a performance approach to supplying concrete and building a structure is an obvious departure from the traditional approach. Recent experience has demonstrated that success is achieved when the owner has confidence in the ability of the contractors and suppliers to meet the performance criteria, and the contractors and suppliers embrace the concept of quality control to the point where the quality control process not only identifies and corrects deficiencies, but provides persuasive evidence to the owner that the required performance will be met.”
Performance:
Performance is measurable, performance is documentable, performance is dependent on many details and therefore those producers who are able to manage all details the best will have the best performance.
With respect to CSA A23.1/14, the performance criteria for any project will be:
1. The project specifications for plastic concrete including: slump, air content, consistency, w/cm ratio, age of concrete, temperature, workability, place-ability, and finish-ability.
2. The project specifications for hardened concrete include: compression strength/flexural strength as requested, permeability, durability (freeze-thaw, chemical attack, wear resistance) and longevity.
Each of these requirements is measurable, and a producer who has successfully manufactured a product to meet these requirements has fulfilled the requirements of CSA A23.1/14.
In a performance environment the critical aspect is the ability of the concrete to meet the project specifications. To again quote CSA A23.1:
“The advantage of the performance approach is that the contractors and materials suppliers are free to use their expertise, innovative talent, and other resources at their disposal to design and deliver the product in the most efficient and economical manner. This is consistent with the owner’s interest, which is generally to own a structure that will fulfill his or her needs at reasonable cost. In most circumstances, the owner has no vested interest in the nature of the constituent materials or the methods used, provided that the performance requirements are met.”
Leader in the Industry:
Rock Solid Concrete is an industry leader in innovation. We have acquired the best emerging mixing technology and determinedly strived to master our technology. We have successfully become globally known as one of the best mobile mixing companies. Rock Solid understands the priorities for manufacturing concrete. These priorities in the manufacturing process help set our daily activities and establish the priorities for our staff.
The priorities Rock Solid appreciates are:
Raw material selection: Selection and quality management of raw materials is the single most important criteria for concrete quality. The Rock Solid Quality Control program states that all materials will meet the requirements of CSA A23.1/14, and our selection of materials meets all criteria including exposure class C1, S1, F1, and A1 and are certified by third party testing. We have selected and built relationships with our suppliers whereby our raw materials are the very best available in our region. Our choice of suppliers demonstrates our priorities of consistent and quality materials. Because our materials are exceptional, and the consistency is ideal Rock Solid has the ability to produce consistent reliable concrete.
Mix Designs:
By nature mix designs are scientific and with our ideally graded aggregates, cement content is calculable. Our mix designs effectively compliment project specifications and the needs of place-able/finish-able concrete. Our mix designs take into consideration all factors of the project. What appears to be an over design, is our realization and application of sound all encompassing design methods. We have designed our mixes to perform structurally, but we have also considered the workability and place-ability of the concrete. We understand the factors that cause shrinking; we have designed our mixes to minimize shrinkage as well.
Mixing of Concrete
Macro-mixing: Macro-mixing is the process to ensure all the components of concrete are equally distributed through the “batch” of concrete. Macro-mixing occurs during our proportioning of concrete. For quality concrete, macro-mixing is essential to ensure every cubic foot of concrete not only contains the identical constituents, but that throughout it is ideally homogenized. Historically this is a concern with traditional mixing processes because mixing is dependent on the speed of agitation, the length of agitation and the quality of the agitation equipment. In many European countries – drum mixed concrete is being fazed out and being replaced with central mixed or dynamic mixed concrete. Our mixing method meets the criteria of wet batch plants. Mixing of concrete is critical for consistent concrete. Unlike traditional drum mixed concrete we have no risk of over mixing nor under mixing. With our dynamic mixing technology the mixing of concrete is always consistent. Because we proportion aggregates continuously, every single cubic foot of concrete is identical. Our proportioning method in essence is the macro-mixing of concrete – where accurate measures of rock, sand, cements, water, and admixtures are added simultaneously. As the components are being added the micro mixing begins.
Micro-mixing:
Micro-mixing is the process whereby the cement components are combined with water and turned into a paste – that paste is then distributed to coat every single aggregate particle and the remainder of the paste is dispersed to complete the compaction. At the same time admixtures are evenly and accurately dispensed. The plasticizers come into contact with the cement particles and the dispersion (repelling) occurs. The air entrainment micro bubbles occur by friction. Our friction in our mixers is consistent, that means our air entrainment is consistent and tests have proven that our air void structure is ideal. The micro-mixing is what occurs in our mixing chambers and ensures that every single aggregate particle is coated with cement paste, admixtures including air entrainment are utilized consistently, and the final product is completely homogenous.
Notable feature:
By comparing traditional drum mixed process with our innovative technology – if we proportion the same rock in the same proportion with the same sand in the same proportion with the same cement in the same proportion with the same water in our technology as with a drum mixer, then we test the concrete. It should be noted that every single time our concrete would break at a higher strength. We have tested and proven we are 10-25% stronger in normal distribution environments.
Quality Management:
Quality Management is a verb – it is more than a document or goal, it is fully engrained in every aspect of our business. The largest component of concrete is the rock and sand, however the most variable component of concrete is the rock and sand because of variations in aggregate seams in the aggregate quarries. Our process requires our operators to visually watch the aggregates, the cement, the water and the admixtures as they are dispensed. At the same time our operators are monitoring the concrete as it is produced. Our materials are: inspected and tested by our producers, inspected by our full time aggregate haulers (they are not permitted to carry any product other than Rock Solid products), inspected by our leaders, and inspected by each operator as the product is loaded onto our trucks. Each of our materials are certified by independent labs for the application. We test and mitigate for AAR, and build our product to meet our customers’ needs. Quality management is provable by historical performance.
Historical Performance: Historical performance is a positive indicator of future performance. Our past performance with 3rd party testing and in-house testing is as follows:
2017 to date - 100%,
2016 - 100%,
2015 - 100%,
2014 - 100%,
2013 - 100%,
2012 - 100%,
2011 - 100%,
2010 - 100%
Future Performance: Assurance of future of Performance is confidence in the producer. With a positive historical track record, a very good future performance is attainable, but only if the producer is willing and endeavors to manage every aspect of the business identical to the previous years. We are willing and we will. We have proven to our current customers and will prove that not only are we a reputable and reliable producer, but we will prove that our technology is superior and our product is superior to traditional processes.
Advantages to Rock Solid’s involvement:
• A competitive environment is created for the entire project over the entire project scope and geography. Competition breeds enhanced quality, improved service, better value and most importantly – accountability.
• The only producer spanning the entire region of the project is utilized creating “relationship” advantages.
• Future projects by having a consistent and reliable mobile concrete supply are possible. This includes the ability to create a competitive environment where one does not currently exist in any region of Canada.
• A decision to use performance evaluation methods for innovative processes would be made.
• Our capacity and ability to deliver more concrete in a shorter time would create the standard.
• Realizing the advantages of “no waste”, “ no balance loads”, “no expired concrete”, “no rejected concrete”, and “on-site” mix design selection occurs.
• The hometown advantages, where we know other businesses, have relationships with leadership, and know a large portion of the population would exist.
• The preferred supplier, the supplier of choice for most contractors would be considered. We supplied over 80% of the commercial projects in our region last year, including Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta School’s.
• The supplier of choice for the Town of Athabasca, the Lion’s Club, the Rotary, and many others would be evaluated.
• A choice would be made to include the performance of the only supplier in the region with a perfect third party test record, raising the expectations of the project.
• The Only supplier of concrete in the region with its own concrete lab and concrete cylinder press in the region would be evaluated.
• And a choice would be made to consider the only award winning concrete producer of integrity in the region.
Because we believe the term “Certify” is not intended to be defined in an isolated or momentary way but that certify, essentially, in a performance environment is ‘ongoing’ or ‘continuously’. We therefore believe each batch of concrete, each cubic meter must be certified by the producer to meet the project specifications. Owners and contractors need to have the assurance that all concrete will meet their specification. If a producer certifies their equipment once does that ensure all concrete will meet the expectations?
In Conclusion,
Rock Solid’s technology provides efficiencies that the entire project can realize. We have provided acres of concrete and saved up to 27% over traditional methods. We have produced concrete at rates where – quoting from our customers “it would take 2 batch plants to keep up with you”. Even in close proximity to existing batch plants we have been able to produce at rates faster that 15 and 20 large drums could deliver, this with 1 mixer and 3 people.
By thoroughly evaluating (with trail batching) Rock Solid and our technology, future projects will have increased Competition and non-competitive forces eliminated. We have raised the bar for quality in the region, we have established the expectations for service in the area, and we have determined the price structure in the region. We have produced concrete over the entire region of this project (with the exception of the most isolated regions in the north but have produced further north than these regions), and have operations spanning the region.
Lastly, is there value to have a partnership with a concrete producer who is capable of producing concrete in any region, at any capacity, for any duration with unparalleled quality and consistency?
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