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Cemstone Showcases Sustainable Technologies at New Facility Cemstone Showcases Sustainable Technologies at New Facility
Mendota Heights, Minn. – October 22, 2008 – Cemstone, a leader in ready-mix, engineered and decorative concrete in the upper Midwest, held an Grand Opening on October 15 at its new batch plant facility located in Dayton, Minn. Constructed on the Twin Cities’ growing Northwest corridor, the batch plant reflects more than nine years of planning and preparation. The event was attended by more than 250 upper Midwest contractors, builders, industry professionals and public officials. The Grand Opening featured a presentation / illustrations on the many sustainable advantages of concrete paving over asphalt. There was also a pervious concrete demonstration that showcased how this environmentally friendly paving material reduces storm water runoff and replenishes aquifers. Because of its use of many locally sourced and sustainable materials, the plant will help many architects, engineers and builders earn LEED® credits. The LEED rating system promotes the use of sustainable materials and practices. (Cemstone’s LEED accredited professional helps customers take advantage of the many opportunities that concrete can contribute to earning LEED points.) “This is without a doubt our most advanced and environmentally friendly batch plant facility,” said Tim Becken, Cemstone’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “The permitting, design and construction was a nine year methodical process, and we believe the end result will serve our company, concrete contractors and the community at large for many years to come.” Among the notable features and their benefits engineered into the facility are the following:
Founded in 1927, Cemstone operates more than 50 ready-mix concrete plants in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. The company operates a fleet of blue Cemstone ready-mix trucks and offers a complete line concrete pumping capabilities, concrete block and masonry products as well as engineering services. It is the nation’s largest distributor of Reward® Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) used in the construction of concrete commercial buildings and homes. To learn more about Cemstone products and services, phone 1-800-CEMSTONE or visit www.cemstone.com. # # # New Photocatalytic Concrete Used for I-35W Bridge Sculptures Will Help Us All Breathe Easier
Mendota Heights, Minn. – October 6, 2008 – Cemstone, a leader in high performance concrete, engineering services and sustainable technologies, has become the first ready mix company in the U.S. to use a new form of concrete that removes carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxide from the atmosphere. Cemstone provided the photocatalytic concrete for a pair of 30-foot-tall sculptures that have been installed in the median of the new I-35W bridge in Minneapolis. The two sculptures, which mark the crossing of the Mississippi River, are constructed from a unique concrete that uses ultraviolet sunlight to promote and accelerate oxidation at the surface of the structures. In addition to keeping the sculptures a bright white color, the concrete allows for the conversion of smog-causing gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxide to higher oxidized states. This is the same process used by a catalytic converter in automobiles. The monuments, which are designed using the international cartographic symbol for water, were developed in partnership with FIGG, designers of the bridge, architect Oslund and Associates and concrete forming contractor Stonewerks. “Concrete has many environmental benefits as a sustainable building material, and this form of concrete takes environmental stewardship to another level,” said Thor Becken, president of Cemstone. “Not only are these monuments beautiful, but they will help clean the air we breathe for years to come.” The concrete’s performance is made possible through the application of a nanotechnology developed by Essroc Italcementi Group. This is the first use of this material in North America, and the first application in a self-consolidating concrete anywhere in the world. Kevin MacDonald, Cemstone vice president of engineering services, led the company’s effort to apply this new and innovative technology to the I-35W bridge. Founded in 1927, Cemstone operates more than 50 ready-mix concrete plants in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa. The company operates a fleet of blue Cemstone ready-mix trucks, offers a complete line of concrete pumping capabilities, engineering services, concrete block, masonry products and is the nation’s largest distributor of Reward® Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) used in the construction of concrete commercial buildings and homes. To learn more about Cemstone products and services, phone 1-800-CEMSTONE or visit www.cemstone.com. ### Kuhn Named Vice President and General Manager at Owatonna Concrete Products
Kuhn will be responsible for managing and directing operations and customer development for Owatonna Concrete Products. The company offers a wide range of products and services, including aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, colored concrete, cement blocks, brick, landscape rock, masonry tools and products, and more. "Owatonna Concrete Products has a long and proud history serving southern Minnesota," said Thor Becken, president of parent company Cemstone Products Company. "Ken’s operational strengths and focus on customer service and support are strong skill sets he brings to his new responsibilities." Kuhn joined the industry in 1987, and most recently held the position of Business Development Manager for Cemstone. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in River Falls, and has served on the Aggregates and Ready Mix (ARM) Association Board of Directors for the Aggregates Committee. Founded in 1910, Owatonna Concrete Products’ main office is located at 639 Riverside Avenue in Owatonna. Batch plants are strategically located in Owatonna, Faribault, Waseca, Albert Lea and Kenyon. In addition, its full-service Steele Rice Contractor Supply Store offers contractors and homeowners a wide selection of professional grade tools and construction related equipment. To learn more about the company’s complete offerings, visit: owatonnaconcrete.com Cemstone Launches New Web Site Mendota Heights, Minn. – June 2, 2008 – Cemstone, a leader in ready-mix and decorative concrete and masonry products in the upper Midwest, has re-launched a more robust and easy to navigate web site at www.cemstone.com The site contains comprehensive information and interactive support for architects, engineers, contractors, builders and homeowners. Among the many features on the site are the following ten popular destinations:
“Building this site is a direct and ongoing response to feedback from our customers,” said Thor Becken, president of Cemstone. “It’s a hub location for engineers, builders, contractors and homeowners to become more informed about our commitment to quality products, support services and sustainable technologies.” Founded in 1927, Cemstone now operates more than 60 ready-mix concrete plants and locations in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa. The company operates a fleet of blue Cemstone ready-mix trucks, offers a complete line of block and masonry products and is the nation’s largest distributor for the past six years of Reward® Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) used in the construction of concrete commercial buildings and homes. To learn more about Cemstone products and services, phone 1-800-CEMSTONE or visit www.cemstone.com. New position encompasses strategic planning, sales, marketing and branding
In this newly created position, Fritz will be responsible for strategic planning, sales, marketing and branding for all products and services distributed through Cemstone Contractor Supply. CCS features 10,000 professional-grade items available through a network of stores, online, or direct distribution to job sites. In addition, he will supervise Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) Sales and Field Technicians, Decorative Concrete Specialists and Contractor Supply Sales Representatives. "Cemstone Contractor Supply is one of the upper Midwest’s leading suppliers of construction related products and services," said Eric Soe, Cemstone’s Sales Vice President. "Jason’s marketing skills and strategic vision will take CCS to a new level of service for both our commercial and residential customers." Fritz joined Cemstone in 1996, and most recently held the position of ICF Sales Manager for the company. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in River Falls. Fritz is currently serving his Fourth Term as Co-Chair of the Aggregates and Ready Mix (ARM) Association Residential Committee. In 2005 he received ARM’s “Promoter of the Year” award in recognition of his efforts to grow the market for energy efficient and environmentally friendly ICF structures. Founded in 1927, Cemstone now operates more than 20 CCS Stores and 60 ready-mix concrete plants in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa. The company operates a fleet of blue Cemstone ready-mix trucks, offers a complete line of block and masonry products and is the nation’s largest distributor for the past six years of Reward Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) used in the construction of concrete commercial buildings and homes. To learn more about Cemstone products and services, including its Contractor Supply Store network, phone 1-800-CEMSTONE or visit www.cemstone.com. Cemstone to Host Concrete And Masonry Expo April 3 Mendota Heights, Minn. – March 18, 2008 – Cemstone, a leader in ready-mix, engineered and decorative concrete in the upper Midwest, is holding a Concrete And Masonry Expo on April 3 at its Contractor Supply Store located at 2955 Eagandale Boulevard in Eagan, Minn. Contractors from residential and commercial markets will be able to meet representatives from more than 60 companies, featuring cutting-edge and high performance products such as wireless technology, decorative concrete, estimating and bidding tools, safety equipment, landscape / hardscape, finishing tools and equipment, forms and forming accessories, and more. More than 60 vendors will display and answer questions on their newest and most innovative products. In addition, each of the vendors will feature special volume discounts good only on April 3. Hundreds of builders, contractors, and architects are expected to attend. “Concrete And Masonry Day is one of the largest events of its kind in the upper Midwest,” said Thor Becken, president of Cemstone. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for our customers to learn about new products and services that can help them build new sales, while making connections with hundreds of fellow contractors.” Concrete And Masonry Day begins at 9:00 am and lunch will be provided. RSVPs must be received by March 24 by calling 651-686-4203. For more details, parking and driving direction visit www.cemstone.com Cemstone’s Thor Becken Recognized As Top Industry Influencer At World of Concrete in Las Vegas
The honorees were chosen for fundamentally transforming the concrete industry. The Concrete Producer’s editor Rick Yelton said, “These influencers have adopted leadership styles that are marked by consensus building. A desire to improve the entire industry, not just a market segment, drives them. They believe that lasting change must be built on a foundation of education.” Yelton went on to further praise Becken “Thor Becken is perhaps our industry’s best example of a Renaissance man. His industry involvement spans across the traditional boundaries followed by most producers. His openness to new methods has empowered Becken to adopt a novel approach to branding and marketing. And even more importantly, he has been sharing this with fellow producers.” Other recipients of this year’s award include Gene Martineau of the Concrete Industry Management program, Bill Holden of Block USA, and Sidney Freeman of the Precast / Prestressed Concrete Institute, and a volunteer committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Cemstone is a leader in ready-mixed, engineered and decorative concrete in the upper Midwest. The company operates concrete batch plants in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. In addition, the company supplies sand, gravel, aggregate products, masonry products, concrete pumping services, insulating concrete forms (ICFs), architectural concrete and proprietary high-performance mixes. Cemstone also offers more than 10,000 professional-grade concrete and masonry items online and through its network of Contractor Supply Stores. To learn more about Cemstone products and services, phone 1-800-CEMSTONE or visit www.cemstone.com. ### Industry leading contractor and homeowner web site draws more than 1 million visits each month Mendota Heights, Minn. (December 19, 2007) – Cemstone, a leading supplier of ready-mixed, engineered and decorative concrete in the Upper Midwest, today announced that the winners of its 2007 Decorative Concrete Awards contest are now featured on the Concrete Network web site, at www.concretenetwork.com. The site attracts an average of more than 1 million visits each month. Photos of all eight winning entries are included on a slide show, alongside comments from the judges.
The 2007 Decorative Concrete Awards recognizes excellence in the design and use of decorative concrete in residential and commercial construction. The winners were selected from nearly 70 contractor entries that featured Cemstone-supplied colored, stamped and/or stained concrete. The contest was independently judged by a panel of Twin Cities-based landscape architects, and recognized creativity and excellence in four categories: Residential Exteriors, Residential Interiors, Commercial Exteriors and Commercial Interiors. "With more than one million visits per month, the Concrete Network is the most popular decorative concrete web site in the country, and will generate awareness for the craftsmanship and creativity shown by our customers in the upper Midwest, said Thor Becken, president of Cemstone. “We expect this exposure will help build more interest in the endless array of design possibilities offered by colored, stamped and stained concrete." The winning entries, photos and comments from the judges can also be viewed at www.cemstone.com/decorativeawards. Sponsors of the Decorative Concrete Contractor Awards Contest are American Express, Soff-Cut®, Scofield® Systems and BASF. Cemstone is a leader in ready-mixed, engineered and decorative concrete in the upper Midwest. Established in 1999 The Concrete Network’s purpose is to educate consumers, builders, and contractors on popular decorative techniques and applications. These include stamped concrete, stained concrete floors, concrete countertops, polished concrete, and much more. In July 2007 The Concrete Network Website had over 1.3 million visitors researching decorative concrete. Decorative concrete projects throughout the region recognized for creativity and excellence Mendota Heights, Minn. (November 28, 2007) – Cemstone, a leading supplier of ready-mixed, engineered and decorative concrete in the Upper Midwest, today announced the winners of its 2007 Decorative Concrete Awards, which recognizes excellence in the design and use of decorative concrete in residential and commercial construction. The winners were selected from nearly 70 contractor entries that featured Cemstone-supplied colored, stamped and/or stained concrete.
The contest, which was independently judged by a panel of Twin Cities-based landscape architects, recognized creativity and excellence in four categories: Residential Exteriors, Residential Interiors, Commercial Exteriors and Commercial Interiors. The Grand Prize and First Prize winners are as follows: Residential Exteriors First Prize: Solid Concrete Studios of St. Paul, MN. This fountain was recognized for it’s great creativity and use of color and texture. The judges added: “Warm and inviting. Excellent finish work. Great walls and fountain feature.” Residential Interiors First Prize: Allstate Decorative Concrete of Cokato, MN. This colored basement floor features a highly detailed coat of arms. The judges said: “This creative and whimsical use of colored concrete provides a rich, warm depth to the first floor basement.” Commercial Exteriors First Prize: Solid Concrete Studios of St. Paul, MN. Situated on the grounds of St. Francis Regional Hospital, this complicated design won over the judges, who said: “Very creative and well executed. Great use of several materials to create this layered look of stratigraphy which provides a nice interplay of shadows.” Commercial Interiors First Prize: Kuha Concrete of Forest Lake, MN. This project featured the remodeling of a recreation products retailer through the use of decorative concrete, leading the judges to say: “Very nice quality finishing, nice colors, great execution, sun and dolphins were wonderful. Very creative.” "We created this contest to recognize the amazing creativity and craftsmanship of decorative concrete contractors, and we’re proud to recognize this beautiful work by our customers," said Thor Becken, president of Cemstone. “There is an endless array of design possibilities offered by colored, stamped and stained concrete, and with nearly 70 projects entered the response from our customers was beyond expectations." The winning entries, photos and comments from the judges can be viewed at www.cemstone.com/decorativeawards. Contractors and homeowners are also invited to visit one of Cemstone’s Contractor Supply Stores for ideas and tips from the experts on how to use decorative concrete to help achieve a higher level of beauty, functionality and value for any residential or commercial project. Sponsors of the Decorative Concrete Contractor Awards Contest are American Express, Soff-Cut®, Scofield® Systems and BASF. Winners in each category received American Express gift cards. Cemstone is a leader in ready-mixed, engineered and decorative concrete in the upper Midwest. Celebrating 80 years of excellence in 2007, the company operates concrete batch plants in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. In addition, the company supplies sand, gravel, aggregate products, masonry products, concrete pumping services, insulating concrete forms (ICFs), architectural concrete and proprietary high-performance mixes. Cemstone also offers more than 10,000 professional-grade concrete and masonry items online and through its network of Contractor Supply Stores. To learn more about Cemstone products and services, phone 1-800-CEMSTONE or visit www.cemstone.com Company selected for Minnesota Twins and U. of M. Golden Gophers Stadiums
The Minnesota Twins ballpark, located in the historic warehouse district of Minneapolis, is scheduled for completion in time for major league baseball’s Opening Day in April 2010. The new stadium will feature seating for 42,000 fans and open concourses throughout the facility providing a 360-degree view of the playing field. TCF Bank Stadium™, the new football home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, will be located on campus and is scheduled to open in August of 2009. The stadium will be a split bowl design wrapped in a brick facade with arched portals reminiscent of the University’s historic Memorial Stadium.
"We’re excited and honored to play an important role in bringing outdoor major league baseball and on-campus Big 10 football back to Minnesota," said Thor Becken, president of Cemstone. "Our ability to provide quality products, engineering support services, concrete placing, strategically located facilities and highly-trained employees were keys to our being selected." Cemstone is a leader in ready-mixed, engineered and architectural concrete in the upper Midwest. Celebrating 80 years of excellence in 2007, the company operates concrete batch plants in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. In addition, the company supplies sand, gravel, aggregate products, concrete pumping services, insulating concrete forms (ICFs), decorative concrete and proprietary high-performance mixes. Cemstone also offers more than 10,000 professional-grade concrete and masonry items online and through its network of Contractor Supply Stores. To learn more about Cemstone products and services, phone 1-800-CEMSTONE or visit www.cemstone.com
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Owatonna, Minn.– June 16, 2008– Owatonna Concrete Products LLC, serving the commercial, agricultural, industrial and residential markets in southern Minnesota has named Ken Kuhn to the position of Vice President/General Manager.
Mendota Heights, Minn. – May 22, 2008. Cemstone, a Midwest leading supplier of construction related products, high performance/decorative concrete and Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF’s) has promoted Jason Fritz to the position of Sales Manager, Cemstone Contractor Supply (CCS).
Mendota Heights, Minn. – January 24, 2008 – Cemstone, a leading supplier of ready-mixed, engineered and decorative concrete in the Upper Midwest, today announced that its president, Thor Becken, was recognized by the editors of The Concrete Producer and Concrete Construction magazines as one of five top influencers who are leading the concrete industry. The publications held a reception to recognize these influencers at the World of Concrete exposition in Las Vegas on January 23.
Mendota Heights, Minn. – November 13, 2007 Cemstone has been chosen as the primary supplier of concrete for the new stadiums of the Minnesota Twins and University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. In total, Cemstone will pour more than 130,000 cubic yards of concrete in the new facilities. 
Cemstone will be working with a variety of contractors, including Mortensen, Ames, Atlas, Nordic Contracting, Kraemer and Sons and Graham-PennCo for the Twins stadium and Veit Companies, Nordic Contracting and Gresser Companies for TCF Bank Stadium. 