< PreviousPromoting the Benefits of a Superior Material MAY 201940The New England Concrete Manufacturers Association (NECMA) was incorporated in 1966 as the New England Concrete Masonry Association and is based in Massachusetts. For over fifty years, NECMA has been promoting the value of concrete structural systems for their strength, durability, value, energy efficiency, low maintenance, water resistance, and ability to be formed into various shapes and sizes.Written by Anne Lindert-WentzellAncient Romans were aware of concrete’s many architectural applications and used it extensively, examples of which remain to this day. One of the most impressive testaments to this material’s defiance of time is Rome’s breathtaking Pantheon, constructed approximately two thousand years ago. 41CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS The unreinforced dome of this feat of engineering was con-structed from concrete, the world’s most widely used human-made material because of its unique properties. This fact comes as no surprise to NECMA.NECMA was established to promote, “concrete masonry at the very beginning,” says Larry Nicolai, the association’s president. A conglomeration of individual concrete manufacturers in New England acknowledged, “the need to collaborate in order to affect promotion beyond what they could do as an individ-ual company.” It has forty-two members offering services in concrete masonry units (CMUs), segmental retaining wall units (SRWs), and paving. Its objectives are education, innovation, market research, and, “the promotion of the products that manufacturers are now producing,” says Larry. He says that, several years ago, the board of directors, “recognized the change in products that our members were manufacturing,” explaining that at one point, CMUs were used in vertical construction for single residen-tial buildings, multiple-story apartments and condominiums, basements, and commercial buildings. “The growth of the hardscape industry has really been signifi-cant,” he adds. Hardscape includes structures such as retaining walls, paths, driveways, and stairs that are part of landscaping. “A number of manufacturers have shifted quite a bit of their emphasis to hardscapes.” Larry says that the growth of this sector is due to consumers – homeowners, landscape architects, and municipalities – rec-ognizing, “what the benefits of interlocking concrete pavers, permeable pavement, and landscape retaining walls can do in terms of the esthetics, the expansion of outdoor living areas, and also the performance over other types of materials.”Concrete products come in various shapes, sizes, finishes, textures, and colors that can be, “assembled and laid in patterns. You can integrate banding and colors and create graphics, mosaics, and zones in pavements in particular. But we’re also seeing that being done in retaining walls.” Retaining walls, which also come in various sizes, finishes, and colors, can serve a functional purpose in holding back earth and expand-ing usable space while providing safety to any given area by preventing earth movement. NECMA is advancing education about the industry through its alignment with numerous vocational and trade schools and, “providing products to support the masonry programs,” says Larry. He notes that, for a long time, masonry programs “NECMA is advancing education about the industry through its alignment with numerous vocational and trade schools.”MAY 201942consisted of concrete, masonry units, and brick in vertical appli-cations in buildings. With a growing market interest in hard-scape products, many of these schools have acted of their own accord, providing instructors with hardscape curriculums. “As the industry is looking at the potential for growth, we recog-nize the need to develop a strong workforce which has interest and skills in building hardscape projects. We have committed to develop a comprehensive curriculum that would introduce the complete A to Z aspects of building pavements, retaining wall, raised patios, outdoor kitchens, natural stone walls, and veneers. It’s a major undertaking for us.” As the Essex County Sheriff’s Department was looking for a means to educate their pre-released prisoners so that, “They could be meaningful citizens again in the community in which they resided,” says Larry. “We work with them in developing a curriculum.” Grants are approved through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, awarded by the U.S. gov-ernment to various states and allocated to career and technical programs. “We’re awarding money to actually proceed with the program.” One month into the program, there are approximately twelve prisoners engaged in the program. “It’s going extremely well, and the students are very excited and enthusiastic to learn the skills that they can then take and implement when they get back to society,” continues Larry. Other Massachusetts sheriff departments are watching the program closely. “Workforce development is such an important need… Hardscape [and] landscape construction is a wonderful trade. We know that it’s rewarding; it’s satisfying and financially can be very successful.” But finding skilled workers is a challenge for the industry he acknowledges. “Not only for horizontal construction such as hardscapes but also for vertical construction as well. Having people willing to learn the trade, to learn the skills is very difficult. We’re competing with high technology. We’re competing with a message from politicians that unless you go to college, you’re not going to be successful. It’s a significant disservice, I think.” “We’re not the only industry that is launching these workforce initiatives,” he adds. “If we don’t have the workers who have the skills to install our products, then our market is not going to grow. We hear it from contractors. We need help.”As part of this educational undertaking, NECMA works in conjunction with other national associations such as the Interlocking Concrete Paving Institute (ICPI) and the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) to enable access to some of the technical and course materials these two asso-ciations have developed for contractors and, “implementing that into the course that we are putting together,” adds Larry. “The information that we pass along to the end user is not just from an individual company. But it’s information that has been funded through research and validated by national organizations.” 43CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS The association also works in conjunction with the Massachusetts Trowel Trades Association (MTTA). Certified trowel trade instructors provide a curriculum that applies stan-dards of the masonry industry and the department of educa-tion to further the learning experience in regional technical schools and approved apprenticeship training programs. NECMA is also a member of the Fire Safety Construction Advisory Council which promotes the protection of lives and property. “There are some competing materials, in particular, the wood industry, that has gained considerable ground from touting their fire resistance,” explains Larry. “As a result, there have been a number of structures that have now been built with wood where previously they would have been built with CMUs.” Larry explains that the rationale for this is that wood, drywall, and suppression systems are used to minimize fire damage and protect lives, health, and safety. “When you think of concrete, it’s really a superior material because, in itself, it does all of what other types of materials need in combination with additional materials.” CMUs are structural and can be made into tall structures without the need for steel beam construction. Wood construc-tion relies on drywall to suppress fires, unlike CMUs. “CMUs are fire resistant by their very nature. They’re fire resistant whether in the wall of sitting on the ground.” As for being more environ-mentally friendly, the industry is working on CMUs, “to improve thermal resistance and insulation.”In addition, CMUs are produced from local materials. “They’re not harvested from forests out in the Midwest or from Canada.” They also come in various sizes, colors, and finishes and it is important to, “remind architects and engineers of the value of CMU construction. The superiority of it, particularly with fire, is what the Fire Safety Council is really all about.” NECMA feels that it has a substantial role to play with respect to government agencies and building code stipulations. It has a program on which it has been working that is nearing com-pletion, referred to as the Check-Off Program. Legislation that is, “passed by Congress, signed by the President and is funding that goes back into the national organization that will use that money for promotion, education, [and research].”Both lawmakers and government officials need to be aware of the concrete products on which codes are applied, explains “CMUs are structural and can be made into tall structures without the need for steel beam construction.”MAY 201944Larry. “Because our industry is made up of so many individual companies, we really haven’t had the united effort or the funds to really implement an effective program. This is exactly what the Check-Off Program is going to do. It will provide funds nationally [and] regionally to make the case of the value and benefits of building with CMUs… unfortunately, decisions are being made based on budget.” He states that this is important especially when speaking about schools and children’s’ lives. With funding from the Check-Off Program, “We’re going to be able to get this to the people that are going to go to the school committees and say, stop fooling around with our children’s lives. Build with the right material.” NECMA owns and operates the Northeast Hardscape Expo, which recently celebrated its third year. This trade show and educational forum is specifically designed for landscape and hardscape professionals. Included were demonstrations, seminars, and certification classes, for example. The expo generates funds that NECMA uses to develop educational programs for vocational schools. Larry says that he is, “very enthusiastic about the promises in our industry in regaining the market share for CMUs and cer-tainly expanding the use of hardscape products across all type of consumers and into the municipal and commercial market… With revenue, we can continue to re-invest in our industry, continue to hire good people to work for us and be profitable.” “The growth of the hardscape industry has really been significant.”Bon Tool Company is a third-generation family business founded in 1958 and a global leader in manufacturing quality trowel tools for professionals in the construction industry. Formerly known as Masonry Specialty Company, Bon Tool was renamed in 1987 to better represent the wide selection of tools made for multiple construction trades. Bon operates two facilities in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, has a distribution center in Henderson, Nevada, and another smaller distribution facility in Chennai, India.Three generations46Written by Anne Lindert-WentzellHenry Ford once said that ‘You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.’ Actions speak louder than words, so a strong reputation derives from deliv-ering the very best in quality and customer service, creating loyal customers who willingly sing the praises of your brand. For over sixty years, Bon Tool Company has been doing just that which has allowed the company to distinguish itself from the rest. John Bongiovanni, president and grandson of founder Carl Bongiovanni, says that the company was established, “on the backbone of the corner pole system which is still used today by bricklayers. Everything we were doing in the early years was geared toward the masonry, brick, and block laying industry.” Corner poles are also called speed poles or masonry guides. The metal posts are attached to the building and the founda-tion with mason’s lines connected between them to indicate perfectly level and plumb rows. The alignment system allows masons to construct a wall with straighter and more even courses and to do it far faster than traditional methods.In the 1970s, Bon Tool began offering concrete and plastering tools and, “catering to all the trowel trades,” explains John. Such trades include concrete, flooring, masonry, drywall, roofing, hardscape, stucco and plaster. “We responded to market demands to develop an entire line of decorative concrete tools [and] materials which are all marketed under our affili-ated brand called BonWay™. It is has grown to be a full line of approximately 500 items,” says John.Paula Wight, public relations, adds that as the company grew, it starting adding accessories for the trowel trade. “As our product lines have grown, we’ve also continued to add items that would serve those lines.” Such items include safety gear, tool bags, and general construction layout tools, for example which are used by most all construction trades.Bon Tool has over six thousand products and growing. “We look at our product lines as industry-specific,” explains John. “We have also come up with some different brands which gear more toward the quality or specifics of the product.” Paula adds that Bon Tool uses brands to better identify quality or value, “and not necessarily a price point,” noting that some brands are imports while others are made in the United States. “Very few of our tools are geared toward a homeowner,” aside from the company’s thrifty line which is a small line for the do-it-yourselfer. “Typically, we keep everything in a good, better, and best category,” says John, clarifying that the Bon Trade Tough line provides a good economical option for professionals; Bon would be considered the better category; and Bon Pro Plus is the best in terms of quality and value. Some items may have a change in materials, a nicer handle, or made from heavier gauge steel, “which will drive the price up a little bit. But for the professional, that’s often what they’re looking for. That’s who we’re really catering to.” Bon’s full product line is quite large so separating it into segments helps to distinguish the tools. For example, “Our line of construction bars and sledges is branded Bon RiverWorks for products made in the USA and Bon Lancer for similar products that are imported. This naming distinction helps our customers better compare the options available to them.” Bon Tool’s location, about eighteen miles from Pittsburgh, enables quick and efficient service. For several decades, the company’s sales had a focus on markets in the mid-Atlantic “We’re often trying to accommodate a special need or produce something to customer specifics.”Bon incorporated Masonry Specialty47CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS responsibilities involves spot checks. Further analyses of designed tools are, “taken to 3D print to make sure components will fit together. We’ll do some prototyping, and then it hits our production line. And then we’re ready to roll from there. With help from our engineering team we are able to turn our product drawings into graphic renderings which gives us a full 360-degrees ability to review the drawings.” Ergonomic design is an important consideration for some products since poorly designed hand-held tools can lead to muscular stress, especially after repetitive use. The company has devised a patented Comfort Wave handle that is used on its concrete edgers and groovers and more.” The unique arched back and finger holds on the underside make it a more comfortable and slip-free handle,” says Paula. “The edger and groover handle is definitely a winner,” John adds. “We relied on the professionals’ feedback, and got it right! Over the years, we’ve gotten to know a lot about the end users, so we’re able to leverage them for that feedback… We’re often trying to accommodate a special need or produce something to customer specifics.” The company’s innovation goes beyond tool design. “Our mar-keting team was the first in our industry to print a full-color catalogue and publish a website.” The company has a firm commitment in, “promoting workforce development and supporting vocational training. It’s truly one of the biggest and most important contributions we can make to the industries that we cater to,” says John. Since its incep-tion, Bon Tool has been a sponsor and technical committee member for Skills USA’s masonry competition for high school and post-secondary students. Bon Tool is a proud member of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and sponsors the association’s masonry skills challenge during the World of Concrete’s annual international event. This challenge is a competition for those with first, second, or third-year experience as masonry apprentices. In addition, Bon Tool’s sales manager, “chairs [the] workforce development committee for the Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association (PCMA),” says John. Bon Tool is also, “a and East Coast regions, “in part because of our proximity and familiarity of the marketplace,” says John. In 2007, Bon Tool established a distribution center in Las Vegas, Nevada, “to cut down on the transit time for orders shipping to the West Coast. Not only did it give us better service to the West Coast, but it also gave us better visibility and helped educate us on what types of products contractors of this region prefer,” he adds. “We learned a lot about geographic difference by becoming more implanted with the western industry.” For example, as sales in western states grew, the company was able to acknowledge that magnesium floats used for smooth-ing and leveling concrete before finishing are popular across much of the United States but less so in the southwest, where wood floats are used. “It took us a little while to ‘clean up’ our offering and to suggest the right mix at the right price. But now, California, Nevada, Arizona, and other parts of the West Coast are some of our top performing regions,” says John. The company employs an excellent engineering depart-ment that oversees quality control standards and who rou-tinely research new materials. Part of the engineering team’s “Bon Tool is a proud member of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and sponsors the association’s masonry skills challenge.”MAY 201948 lifetime supporter of the National Masonry Instructor’s Association (NMIA), which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year. The association was organized with the help of my father with the goal to connect the education community with pertinent businesses that could help support instructors efforts and promote quality training programs.” Over two years ago, Bon Tool established the Carl A. Bongiovanni Scholarship for Pennsylvania’s high school students to receive post-secondary funding for further education in the construc-tion industry. “Both my grandfather and my father knew that supporting vocational training was an important part of the industry,” says John. Along with the associations mentioned above, Bon Tool is a member of national associations such as Allied Recycled Aggregates (ARA); Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA); Associated General Contractors (AGC); and the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI). “Our affiliation with these national associations as well as the support of regional associations provide an important two-way street of communication,” says John. “We understand the importance of giving back to the communities. It also ensures that we are in the loop on trends and concerns of the persons working in the trades.”“We do consider ourselves a leader in the industry, so it’s impor-tant to be a part of those national groups,” Paula adds. To be deemed a global leader in the industry is an accolade of which Bon Tool is particularly proud. Traditionally, Canada and Europe have been the company’s largest export markets, “but we take advantage of many other opportunities presented to us that further our global reach,” says John. Numerous tradeshows are part of the initiatives to extend that global reach, and the distribution and warehouse facility in India, “promotes and educates the construction industry in India, the Middle East, and other surrounding countries,” explains John. “More recently, we hired a salesperson from Mexico, with a background in the Latin American construction market, and he has been able to grow our presence in Mexico and Latin/South America rather quickly.” And a number of acquisitions over the years have been made, “for different strategic reasons,” he continues. The Wha-Lite brand, lightweight floats for applications of stucco, plaster and concrete, was the result of a Chicago company acquisition which was, “One of the first companies to use magnesium for plastering and concrete tools.” Another recent acquisition in 2016, was that of Spray-Sok which was, “An interesting company out of California,” says John. This company manufactures headgear to be worn when spraying or painting and is a popular product. This headgear is used, “in the asphalt industry [or] anywhere where you’re concerned with getting splatter in your hair. You throw it away when you’re done.” This headgear is also available in fire resistant material for welders, firefighters, or automobile racers, for example. This product “opened industries to us that we do not traditionally cater to,” adds John. “But our product line is so broad and so varied that we find crossover in all kinds of different and unin-tended industries as well.”John believes that reaching a seventy or seventy-five-year legacy and beyond is a realistic future for Bon Tool Company. “The integrity with which we conduct our business each and every day is the same as that set by my father and grandfather before me,” he affirms. “We’re going to aim to distinguish our-selves on the quality and the expansive product line that we offer. We’re going to provide innovation, value, [and] service that’s second to none.”49CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS Next >