Concrete Users See Long, Slow Recovery
Concrete people say the housing sector, one of the hardest-hit construction sectors, is holding back a recovery. “The housing market is definitely not on the way back up,” said Kevin L. Klein, vice president of engineering for slipform-paver producer Gomaco Corp., Ida Grove, Iowa. “I’m thinking it’s still going to be another two to three years.” Gomaco was one of more than 1,000 vendors displaying goods at this year’s annual World of Concrete, held January 18-21 in Las Vegas. In addition to a slow housing recovery, show attendees said, future road and bridge construction remains uncertain. “We are still in the midst of the largest decline in our history,” noted Ed Sullivan, chief economist of Skokie, Ill.-based Portland Cement Association.