Asphalt Industry News March 2006

Black says highway contractors are facing much higher material price increases than other sectors of the construction industry. Material prices for non-residential construction were up 7.6 percent in 2005, maintenance and repair construction material prices were up 8.7 percent, and residential construction material prices increased 7.9 percent. These differences are due to the different types of materials used in the construction process, she says.

Ingersoll Rand Celebrates Milestone
Blaw-Knox marks 75th anniversary
Ingersoll Rand Co. is preparing to celebrate a major milestone in the paving industry with the company's Blaw-Knox product line.

Ingersoll Rand purchased Blaw-Knox in 1995, and for the last decade has been committed to honoring their strong heritage in the paving industry. This year marks the 75th anniversary of Blaw-Knox's entrance into asphalt paving equipment and Ingersoll Rand is leading the celebration by reflecting on their legacy in the road construction industry.

In 1931, Blaw-Knox introduced the Ord Finisher for asphalt paving. The machine was the first paver constructed with ends resting on forms that could be raised or lowered. This technology made it possible for the use of multi-lifts without resetting the forms.

Ingersoll Rand invites all paving professionals to celebrate the heritage of Blaw-Knox products throughout 2006, and asks customers to share information on:

• The oldest Blaw-Knox paver in operation
• The oldest Blaw-Knox paver in existence
• The most unique application in which a Blaw-Knox paver was used
• The most unique jobsite on which a Blaw-Knox paver was used

In addition to these categories, customers and dealers are encouraged to submit unique stories or experiences with Blaw-Knox or Ingersoll Rand paving equipment.

Submissions can be entered on the Ingersoll Rand Blaw-Knox 75th Anniversary website, www.ir-bk75.com.

Ingersoll Rand will publish articles, photos, and interviews based on information customers submit. Prizes will also be awarded to those whose stories are used during the celebration.

Broce Hits Milestone
Company to display 10,000th broom
Broce Mfg. Co., Dodge City, KS, will have its commemorative 10,000th broom, Model 350, on display at World of Asphalt along with the Model 250 three-wheel broom. Also on display will be the Mk 1 Material Transfer Sweeper, first introduced at ConExpo 2005. Broce will also participate in the World of Asphalt equipment demonstration project.

Blacklidge to Build Polymer Handling Facilities
P2GTR may revolutionize polymer industry
Blacklidge Emulsions Inc. of Gulfport, MS announced the completion of a License Agreement with PRIME Plex LLC, Los Angeles, CA, an affiliate of Ecostar Science and Technology (Lockheed Missiles & Space Company spin-off), to build polymer handling facilities throughout the Southeastern United States to integrate a new polymer composite of worldwide significance.

The new invention, P2GTR, utilizes recycled tires ground up to a 30 mesh size particle (about the size of a small grain of sand) as the base material. The process uses an electro magnetic reactor and water to disintegrate the ground tire rubber into a nano-size devulcanized polymer composite made up of Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR), Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS), and other tire components.

The process allows the polymer to retain elastomeric and durability characteristics that are present in tires. Until now, these characteristics have not been able to be retained in other tire recycling or devulcanizing methods.

Over 50 billion pounds of virgin polymers are used per year worldwide, primarily in roads, roofing, car parts and new tires. The new recycled composite P2GTR may be cross linked to accommodate any of these industrial uses at a considerable cost savings.

Tests have revealed performance of the P2GTR composite to be better than that of the original manufactured polymer due to specialized crosslink technology used to alter and finalize characteristics of the polymer composite for specific uses.

Ronnie Blacklidge, president of Blacklidge Emulsions Inc. says the joint venture was a natural with Blacklidge Emulsions Inc., a leader in polymer modified asphalts and PRIME Plex, a company translating aerospace "trickle-down" technology into practical daily applications.