Products, Vendors, CAD Files, Spec Sheets and More...
Sign up for LAWeekly newsletter
Residents of Gainesville, Fla., home to the University of Florida, have noticed the sudden appearance of red-brick crosswalks cropping up throughout Alachua County?EUR??,,????'?????< Several years ago the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization requested that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) use brick or a brick substitute at intersections in Gainesville, Fla., the idea being that brick clearly defines crosswalks from the road and is aesthetically pleasing in contrast to the asphalt. However, the FDOT stopped using real bricks for crosswalks years ago because of some expensive replacement efforts in Tallahassee, where brick pavers settled unevenly and made the walkways uneven and unsafe. The FDOT has been casting about for some good synthetic alternatives at the right price. The least expensive product FDOT has found is $7 to $8 per sq. ft., with the more expensive materials at $13 to $14 per sq. ft. Intersection sizes vary, but a recent crosswalk for one local intersection required 3,684 square feet of pavers. At the $7 rate that?EUR??,,????'?????< Of course price is not the only consideration. DOT field tests a product for three years before it is willing to give its seal of approval for durability and safety. In the case of Gainesville, a FDOT engineer told the Gainesville media only one product had met its criteria thus far. Alternatives to brick-like products have been tried. An epoxy was poured over asphalt to simulate brick, but quickly wore off. Other materials have proven too slick.
Several years ago the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization requested that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) use brick or a brick substitute at intersections in Gainesville, Fla., the idea being that brick clearly defines crosswalks from the road and is aesthetically pleasing in contrast to the asphalt. However, the FDOT stopped using real bricks for crosswalks years ago because of some expensive replacement efforts in Tallahassee, where brick pavers settled unevenly and made the walkways uneven and unsafe.
The FDOT has been casting about for some good synthetic alternatives at the right price. The least expensive product FDOT has found is $7 to $8 per sq. ft., with the more expensive materials at $13 to $14 per sq. ft. Intersection sizes vary, but a recent crosswalk for one local intersection required 3,684 square feet of pavers. At the $7 rate that?EUR??,,????'?????<
Of course price is not the only consideration. DOT field tests a product for three years before it is willing to give its seal of approval for durability and safety. In the case of Gainesville, a FDOT engineer told the Gainesville media only one product had met its criteria thus far. Alternatives to brick-like products have been tried. An epoxy was poured over asphalt to simulate brick, but quickly wore off. Other materials have proven too slick.
If you?EUR??,,????'?????< Stephen Sears, director of marketing for the Brick Industry Association, notes that General Shale is one of the 10 major players in the U.S. brick industry evolving through use of robotic technology. This technology is allowing manufacturers to offer more colors and variety. General Shale produces eight colors and two sizes of brick. Its production boost is directly related to millions of dollars of investment in new automation and a new kiln to fire bricks. Brick manufacturers are using robotic setters and dehackers to precisely control drying and firing. Brick makers are also using another technology?EUR??,,????'?????< A new RFID system (HackTrac Work in Progress, developed by Stark Solutions, Greenville, S.C.) centers around high-temperature-resistant tags mounted on kiln cars to automatically track brick as it moves through the stages of brick making. It allows operators to view where products and kiln cars are (in real time) and to plan and schedule production more effectively, all the while receiving data for quality control. Ron Daily of the Richtex Plant 4 in Columbia, S.C., estimates that 79% of U.S. brick plants use some type of dehacking method, 21% use an automated system and less than 1% use robotics. Robotics, first used in the brick industry in 1997, are growing in popularity. Over 100 robots are in operation in North America.
Stephen Sears, director of marketing for the Brick Industry Association, notes that General Shale is one of the 10 major players in the U.S. brick industry evolving through use of robotic technology. This technology is allowing manufacturers to offer more colors and variety. General Shale produces eight colors and two sizes of brick. Its production boost is directly related to millions of dollars of investment in new automation and a new kiln to fire bricks.
Brick manufacturers are using robotic setters and dehackers to precisely control drying and firing. Brick makers are also using another technology?EUR??,,????'?????<
A new RFID system (HackTrac Work in Progress, developed by Stark Solutions, Greenville, S.C.) centers around high-temperature-resistant tags mounted on kiln cars to automatically track brick as it moves through the stages of brick making. It allows operators to view where products and kiln cars are (in real time) and to plan and schedule production more effectively, all the while receiving data for quality control.
Ron Daily of the Richtex Plant 4 in Columbia, S.C., estimates that 79% of U.S. brick plants use some type of dehacking method, 21% use an automated system and less than 1% use robotics.
Robotics, first used in the brick industry in 1997, are growing in popularity. Over 100 robots are in operation in North America.
Reading Rock, Inc. has entered into a sales, marketing and manufacturing partnership with Illinois Brick Co., announced Gordon Rich, Reading Rock owner and president. This partnership covers the Illinois, Southern Wisconsin and Northwest Indiana territories.
Reading Rock, established in 1947, is based in Cincinnati.
Rich expects the partnership to accelerate his company?EUR??,,????'?????<
Rich said clients will have more hardscape product options from Illinois Brick?EUR??,,????'?????<
For more information, visit www.readingrock.com
Raleigh, North Carolina
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
Sign up to receive Landscape Architect and Specifier News Magazine, LA Weekly and More...
Invalid Verification Code
Please enter the Verification Code below
You are now subcribed to LASN. You can also search and download CAD files and spec sheets from LADetails.
