Putzmeister Pumps at the Center of Leap-Frogging Concrete Pour in Georgia April 2004

STURTEVANT, Wis. (March 29, 2004) – Upscale housing and quality schools continue to draw families to the unincorporated East Cobb area of metropolitan Atlanta. This area also is easily accessible to the North Georgia Mountains, home of numerous festivals and breathtaking scenery.

But recent growth has resulted in the clearing of many trees. This is particularly evident in neighborhoods sprouting up along Lower Roswell Road, an area where retention ponds now are mandated. These ponds absorb runoff water from large subdivisions and other developments and, thus, prevent flooding.

Construction of not one retention pond, but two were required at the Hayward Square Subdivision. And because of access problems, pouring concrete to form one of the ponds, a 350 x 50-foot basin, proved more challenging than most for the general contractor, Ranger Foundations, Cartersville, Ga. Access to one side of the basin was limited because dirt already had been moved into the area, curbs installed and piping laid.

The pumping contractor on the job was USA Concrete Pumping, also of Cartersville. USA Concrete solved the access problem by using two Putzmeister 32X-150 Enterprise TM boom pumps and leap-frogging concrete from one of the pump’s hoppers to the other. In this way, concrete walls were poured at the side of the pond basin that was most difficult to reach. Meanwhile, a Putzmeister 38Z-Meter simultaneously pumped on the other side of the pond, where access was not an issue.

“It was far less costly and less time consuming to use two pumps leap-frogging and avoid the pipe, instead of excavating again,” said Don Wheeler, USA Concrete general manager. Wheeler also noted his crew battled a tight construction schedule.

Along with restricted access, mud and a 45-degree slope created additional challenges on the worksite. Driven in on the steep incline, one of the Enterprise boom pumps got stuck. Extra dunnage helped stabilize the unit’s outriggers. Later, a track hoe with cable was needed to extricate the boom pump.

The other Enterprise boom pump was positioned atop the grade and smoothly pumped more than 300 yards of concrete into the hopper of the unit below.

“The Putzmeister pumps reliably handled the seven-hour continuous pour without a single hitch. It’s just another success story about the value of pumps for getting a job done more efficiently and cost-effectively compared to other alternatives,” Wheeler said.

USA Concrete only had been in business for eight months when the owner, BJ Thompson, decided that he needed pumps to service his foundation business more effectively. He purchased his first two Putzmeister units in the summer of 2003 and has added two more to his fleet since then.

Thompson has joined forces with two other pumping companies in the area to assist customers. If one company cannot help a customer, they call within the group for a pump, the use of which is invoiced to the original pumping company. It is an unwritten rule not to steal customers, Thompson said, and the alliance has been busy servicing its customer’s needs more effectively.

“I was amazed by the genuine cooperation among these pumpers to band together and keep satisfaction so high among their customer base,” said Greg Etue, Putzmeister’s regional sales manager for the Southeast.

JOB SPECS: General contractor: Ranger Foundations, Cartersville, Ga. Pumping contractor: USA Concrete Pumping, Cartersville, Ga. Ready-mix supplier: RMC Allied, Atlanta, Ga. Equipment: Putzmeister 38Z-Meter concrete boom pump and two 32X-150 Enterprise concrete boom pumps