Seventh precaster to join organization in last two years
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (April 16, 2015) — Kerkstra Precast has become the seventh precast concrete manufacturer to join AltusGroup in the past two years, bringing the total number of North American precasters in the organization to an all-time high of 19.
Kerkstra will manufacture CarbonCast® High Performance Insulated Wall Panels and CarbonCast Insulated Architectural Cladding in its Grandville, Mich., production facility just southwest of Grand Rapids. With more than 50 years in the construction products business, Kerkstra Precast specializes in structural and architectural precast for a wide variety of building types in the Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois markets.
The CarbonCast portfolio of enclosure products uses C-GRID carbon fiber grid as a shear connector to provide outstanding thermal efficiency, continuous insulation and full composite action to exterior walls while maintaining the remarkable aesthetic flexibility of precast concrete. The trend for thermal and energy efficient enclosures is anticipated to continue into the foreseeable future.
“Another high-quality precaster in the Midwest gives architects and the entire building team another source for CarbonCast technology in a part of the country that recognizes the inherent value of precast concrete,” said John Carson, Executive Director of AltusGroup. “The proven team at Kerkstra will definitely add to our technical and marketing resources moving forward.”
Greg Kerkstra, president of Kerkstra Precast, said, “CarbonCast will be an excellent technology addition to the Kerkstra portfolio and further position us for the increasing demands for higher performance precast products in the Midwest. The technology has proven itself to be highly efficient, effective and cost-competitive versus other systems in the marketplace. We are excited to see our customers benefit from this new technology.”
AltusGroup precast concrete manufacturers have installed more than 34 million square feet of CarbonCast surface area on over 900 structures since introducing the technology in 2004.
About AltusGroup
The first-ever national partnership of precast companies, AltusGroup was founded in 2003 to develop, manufacture and market precast innovations such as the award-winning CarbonCast® line of products featuring C-GRID carbon fiber grid reinforcing. With more than two dozen structural and architectural locations in the United States, the 19 North American and three international AltusGroup companies have an unparalleled network of manufacturing plants, technical staff and sales personnel to ensure architects, engineers and contractors get the help they need—and the quality and performance they expect—when they select CarbonCast products. For more information, visit altusprecast.com or call 866-GO-ALTUS.
(Editors’ note: Since issuing a news release in November 2014 about Armtec becoming the 19th AltusGroup precaster, one of our companies – Central Pre-Mix – has elected to identify itself as a plant location of its parent company, Oldcastle Precast – Building Systems Division, as opposed to a separate precaster which would lower the previous count to 18.)
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