Trailblazers seeking a faster, safer and less costly way to build concrete shear walls in seismic-zone high-rises have pioneered the use of steel fibers as link-beam reinforcing-steel "decongestants."

Related Links: Tony Illia's WOC 2013 Photo Gallery Cement Use to Climb 8% in 2013 Putzmeister Expands Into Ready-Mix Trucks Ahern Rentals' Sales Soar Despite Bankruptcy New Bricklaying Champion Crowned Utah Case Dealership's Fifth Generation Hilti Introduces Hollow Drill Bit STIHL Unveils The Rock Boss Wagner Meters Launches Rapid Moisture Tester Brokk Highlights New Demolition Machine Chicago Pneumatic Unveils New Breaker After a long, harsh downturn, concrete contractors and suppliers are looking up as they face a "huge pent-up demand," said Portland Cement Association chief economist Ed Sullivan, who spoke Feb. 5 at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas."The

Illustration courtesy of MIT/Mehdi Akbarian Pavement deflection produces the effect of a car rolling uphill, hurting fuel economy. Related Links: Concrete Goes To College Download MIT's Pavement Report Fuel economy has been largely the province of automakers and government initiatives, such as Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. However, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are looking at ways to boost fuel efficiency and cut greenhouse- gas emissions by building better roads.Pavement design can play an important role in fuel economy, researchers say. "The understanding has always been that roughness matters more than deflection" when it comes to fuel usage,

Photo by Tudor Van Hampton Navistar's switch to SCR will impact supply deals, such as the truck it makes for Caterpillar. Related Links: Navistar Goes It Alone In 2011 Navistar Submits 13-Liter Engine for EPA Certification Navistar International Corp. is abandoning its decade-long Class 8 diesel-truck-engine strategy and turning to rival and onetime supplier Cummins Inc. for a viable solution. The move marks a setback for the Lisle, Ill.-based Navistar, which had been bullish about exhaust-gas-recirculation, or EGR, its in-cylinder technology worth about $700 million in development costs since 2001. The truck engines still do not meet Environmental Protection Agency

Photo by AP/Wideworld Vulcan says Martin Marietta Materials' takeover offer undervalues its reserves. Some analysts say a combined company with a larger market share would provide pricing leverage. Related Links: Investors Sue Vulcan Materials Over Hostile Bid By Martin Marietta Floods Along the Mississippi Disrupt Construction Supply Chain Martin Marietta Materials Inc.'s hostile takeover of rival aggregate supplier Vulcan Materials Co. has been dealt a setback.On May 4, Delaware Chancery Court Judge Leo E. Strine Jr. took the unusual step of imposing a four-month ban on Martin Marietta's bid efforts, saying the Raleigh, N.C.-based firm "improperly disclosed confidential information."Martin Marietta

This week we look at an articulated dump truck from Doosan and a tandem vibratory roller from Bomag. Click on the image to begin the slide show.

Related Links: Engineering News Record Product Snapshot Archive This week we look at flux-coated wire, an impact driver, air compressors, a work light, a demolition hammer and insulation foam.

This week we look at a new excavator from Hitachi and a new series of total stations from Sokkia. Click here to begin the slide show.

Linea Plus is an in-wall radiator unit that features Low-H2O technology, which allows the unit to heat quickly with relatively low energy consumption. It is well suited for use in low-temperature hydronic systems and with renewable-energy sources, such as solar or geothermal. The Linea Plus' design allows for any kind of pipe or vent to be hidden behind the front panel. It has a maximum surface temperature of 109° F, even when the water temperature is 194° F. It is available as a freestanding or wall unit in 25 different colors. Jaga North America; www.jaga-usa.com Featuring an integrated LED driver,

Photo by Tudor Van Hampton Attendance at this year's World of Concrete is expected to reach 50,000, slightly higher than last year's 48,554. Related Links: Clean Diesels Debut at World of Concrete New Concrete Transit Mixers Get a Turn McCarrans $99 Million Air Traffic Tower Takes Shape The annual World of Concrete show opened its doors with moods and traffic slightly higher than last year."There is a tinge of optimism," said Ed Sullivan, chief economist for the Skokie, Ill.-based Portland Cement Association, on the first day of this year's show in Las Vegas. "Only recently have we seen the job