Concrete Contractor magazine, renowned for delivering practical information to construction professionals in the concrete industry, recently featured Lacy Construction in January 2016 edition, focusing on the company’s expertise in 3D screeding systems. Lacy was among four contractors featured in the informative article.
Screeding, or cutting off excess wet concrete to create a smooth surface, has become an evolved, sophisticated process. Traditionally, contractors would use a flat board or an aluminum screed to level the concrete. However, through the years, technology has improved the process, leading to better results with less labor and reduced materials — a cost savings that Lacy Construction is happy to pass onto its clients.
The magazine looked to Mel Griess, Vice President of Operations at Lacy Construction, to shed insight on the latest technology, particularly GPS/laser-controlled 3D screeding.
Lacy Construction has been using a wireless, remote-controlled Ligchine Screed Saver MAX since the fall of 2014. And Lacy made sure the system had all of the top bells and whistles. The MAX’s standard rubber drive wheels were upgraded with tracks, and the Topcon Millimeter GPS/Laser System was added to create a high-tech system.
The purchase of the Ligchine screeding, Griess says, allowed the company to place concrete parking lots at 100 feet wide and 300 feet long. Prior to the technology, Griess, a certified ACI Flatwork contractor with 31 years at Lacy, recalls the days of truss screed work. Back then, to ensure quality, Lacy would place concrete at no more than 40 feet wide. Boy, how times have changed for this 70-year-old construction company! The MAX can produce up to 200 square feet per screed pass!
“The are a lot of ups and downs in parking lots, and the GPS feature has allowed us to perform the job more efficiently,” Griess told the magazine. “And our customers are amazed at how flat the final product displays.” In fact, the GPS system allows Lacy to digitally map the topography of a jobsite before ever pouring a section of cement.
If you’re curious how the system works, Ligchine offers a slick animation to help you appreciate this technology even more. Check it out at bit.ly/screeding. Want to read the full Concrete Contractor article? Enjoy … bit.ly/screeding-article.