Knife River Materials

Any story regarding innovation in the ready mix world should first start with how we have helped our customers. It is through innovation that we set ourselves apart from our competition to bring value added capabilities to the table. To provide a mix that makes the customer more successful should be our primary goal. Mix optimization can do many things of benefit for the customer. It can allow a reduction in effort to place and finish concrete, which is the primary benefit. When we do special things to mixes we can reduce a buyers cost through increased productivity with less assets, increase the number of projects a crew can finish in a week, and, most importantly, increase profitability for our customer, among other things.

This story starts with solving problems for our customers. Knife River has the resources to bring much to the table, being a national player in ready mix concrete. Jim Erbstoesser from the Fargo plant related the story of finishing problems of roller-screeded concrete for the parking lot for the Fargo Solid Waste facility. After discussion of the problem around the office, Jeff Eberhardt, Fargo Manager of Knife River Materials suggested the introduction of a small amount of viscosity modifying admixture as supplied by GRT Admixtures to improve the texture of the mix. When Erbstoesser called the Project Foreman to evaluate a certain modified load of concrete in the truck on the way to the construction site, the Foreman noted a marked improvement, completely eliminating the finishing problems. This project thereby was the first project in North Dakota to use the viscosity modifying admixture as a flatwork finishing aid, at least for Knife River Materials.

After more experimentation, it was decided to use the viscosity modifier to improve finishing of slip formed curb and gutter construction. The Curb & Gutter Foreman on this project noted an immediate improvement in finishing, with the beneficial reduction in paver tears.

The outcome of the use of this concrete admixture in an innovative manner provides an immediate benefit for Knife River Materials customers and potentially, for all who construct concrete pavements or curb & gutter. The obvious benefit is the reduction in effort, which translates to a reduction in cost to construct through potential time savings. This, then, relates to the benefit to do more work with less manpower and assets. A third benefit is providing the project owner with a higher quality surface finish (with minimization of over-working of the surface) compared to traditional concrete mixes. Knife River Materials continues to provide innovation to the concrete industry highlighted by examples provided by this Innovative Award application.