Ill winds blow good to home improvement industry
Last year’s hurricane season helped drive spending on home-improvement products in 2004 to an estimated $271.4 billion, a record high, reports the Home Improvement Research Institute. Go to article ›››

Report bullish on Asia, forecasts lower demand for portland cement
World demand for cement and concrete additives is forecast to rise 6.8 percent per year through 2008 to $6.7 billion, a big improvement over 1998-2003, according to a new study from market research firm The Freedonia Group Inc. Go to article ›››

Green homes a perfect fit at Yellowstone
Quad-Lock Building Systems Ltd. claimed its share of the credit when two single-family residences in Yellowstone National Park earned LEED certification. The houses were constructed with Quad-Lock insulating concrete forms. Go to article ›››

Graco gobbles Gusmer
Fluid handling equipment manufacturer Graco Inc. purchased Gusmer Corp. and, in a related transaction, Gusmer Europe S.L. Go to article ›››

ISPC creates new company
International Surface Preparation Corp. has spun off a cut-wire abrasives company, Abrasive Materials LLC. Go to article ›››

Colorado firm names president
Concrete contractor Colorado Hardscapes Inc. has named chief operating officer Andrew “A.J.” Fox as its new president. Go to article ›››

New faces at Degussa
Degussa Admixtures Inc. has added two new product line managers to its Technology Innovation and Sustainability Group. Go to article ›››

Vic hires purchasing director
Vic International Corp., a global distributor of concrete polishing and stone and tile fabrication products, has named Johnny E. Blalock director of purchasing. Blalock was formerly a temporary buyer-planner with Sea Ray. Go to article ›››

New markets for Multiquip
Multiquip Inc. has begun marketing light and medium construction equipment to building professionals throughout the Middle East and in select Eastern European companies. Go to article ›››

Blastrac selects distributors
Blastrac has named new specialized distributors for the Pacific Northwest and Florida. Kodiak Equipment, based in Kent, Wash., will serve Alaska, Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho and British Columbia, Canada. Standard Sand & Silica Co., with locations in Miami, Jacksonville and Haines City, Fla., will serve the state of Florida.
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Trade shows break records in 2005
More than 124,220 industry professionals from around the world attended the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005 and IFPE 2005 trade expositions in March. This is a big improvement over the 2002 shows, which attracted about 108,770 attendees.
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Charity work earns MAPEI president kudos
Nick Di Tempora, president of MAPEI Americas, was named “2005 Man of the Year” by Boys’ Towns of Italy Inc., the oldest American charity in service abroad.
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Wildlife council names chair
The Wildlife Habitat Council board of directors has elected David W. Carroll as its new chairman. Go to article ›››