The Concrete Corner - May

Welcome to The Concrete Corner! This monthly newsletter highlights Ozark Ready Mix, Fischer Concrete Services, and all things concrete and concrete products. In this newsletter, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at our concrete operations, meet outstanding individuals and businesses, and stay current on concrete news and trends throughout the Midwest and the United States. Hopefully, this will be mildly informative, and a little entertaining. However, just like the ready-mix concrete business, I offer no guarantees!

In this month’s The Concrete Corner newsletter presented by Shumaker Industries:

• Sierra 2024 Safety Kickoff

• Load and Go at KC-MO

• Pouring Into Northwest Arkansas

• Fleet Upgrade  

• White Cement

Sierra 2024 Safety Kickoff - Be Intentional; Be Aware; Be Safe

Sierra Ready Mix recently held their annual Safety Kickoff event, reinforcing the company’s commitment to a culture of safety. The interactive experience featured five hands-on stations covering crucial safety aspects in the ready-mix concrete industry. Team members rotated through stations focused on the Smith System of defensive driving, personal well-being, Goal 360 truck inspections, pump truck safety protocols, and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and chute handling.

The peer-led training provided valuable real-world insights and fostered camaraderie among team members. Our team departed with enhanced knowledge, and a renewed dedication to upholding Sierra’s exemplary safety standards. This engaging experience underscored Sierra’s commitment to investing in its most vital asset - its people. This annual tradition highlights Sierra Ready Mix’s prioritization of safety as the foundation for operational excellence.

Load and Go at KC-MO

Ozark Ready Mix has continued to streamline our truck cleaning operations by installing our second Load & Go truck wash system from Shumaker Industries at our Kansas City, MO plant. The Shumaker team had the automated drive-through wash system installed and running in just a couple of days. The wash process takes less than 60 seconds while utilizing only around 35 gallons of water - a remarkable reduction in time and water consumption compared to the traditional washdown methods.

Uncovering Northwest Arkansas

We are excited to welcome the outstanding team from ProMix Concrete to our Ozark Ready Mix division! With this addition, Ozark Ready Mix will establish a strong presence in the booming Northwest Arkansas region. The ProMix team will allow us to efficiently serve the concrete needs of Lowell, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, and surrounding communities. We look forward to combining our resources and expertise to provide an unmatched level of product quality and customer service throughout Northwest Arkansas.

Be sure to check out the locations tab on our website for an overview of our growing presence in MO, KS, and now Northwest Arkansas!

The First Wave of New Trucks Roll In

For many years, Ozark Ready Mix has prioritized investing in our equipment and fleet to ensure our team is driving the safest and best trucks on the road. Our long-standing relationship with Con-Tech has been built with their commitment to quality, durability, and innovation. We’re excited that the first group of our 2024 model year Con-Tech mixers are now arriving at our Kansas City operations. Con-Tech’s dedication to continuously improving its mixers aligns with our mission to deliver the highest quality ready-mix concrete solutions to our customers. We have a couple of standout trucks that will be highlighted next month…Stay tuned!

Did you know…Lehigh White Cement Company is the sole manufacturer of white cement in the United States, with production plants in Waco, Texas, and York, Pennsylvania. White cement is ideal for precast concrete dock blocks and dock flooring systems. Its high reflectivity helps cool boat docks by reflecting sunlight, reducing heat absorption compared to traditional gray concrete. This energy-efficient property makes white cement attractive for outdoor applications like docks exposed to direct sunlight.

See you next month for another peek behind the concrete curtain!

Kenny Jackson!