Rinker acquires Keys Concrete
Rinker Materials recently acquired Keys Concrete, one of the largest independent concrete and block manufacturers in Florida.
Keys Concrete operates two block plants - incorporating three production lines - and five concrete plants in the fast-growing Tampa Bay region, on the Florida west coast.
With sales revenues around US$75 million a year, the acquisition builds on other bolt-on acquisitions within the same regional area, including Mid-Coast Concrete in June 2001, Acme Readymix last year and Cemex’s Brooksville concrete plant earlier this year. These, in turn, followed the US$348 million acquisition in July 2000 of Florida Crushed Stone Company, which enabled Rinker Materials to develop a strong aggregates and cement supply position in central western Florida.
Keys Concrete was a major customer of Rinker Materials, buying most of its cement and aggregates from the group. These volumes are expected to grow in line with the market.
Rinker CEO safety and health awards 2005
MyRinker would like to apologise to the team at Cache Creek for running an incorrect photo in the CEO Safety and Health Awards issue last year. The correct photo is now included with this story.
Set on the western edge of the Sacramento, California valley, the 21 employees of West Division’s Cache Creek quarry quietly go about mining aggregates with a safety record that’s loud and clear.
Recipient of the YEM 05 CEO Safety and Health Award for Most Improved Performance in the small facility category, the quarry worked 49,199 manhours last year without one recordable injury.
According to production manager Mark Hirzy, “It’s all about personal responsibility and taking responsibility for your co-workers. Treat people with respect, establish clear expectations, procedures and communicate with each other.”
With over 800 acres of operations including processing equipment dating back to 1970, having a competent professional workforce is critical. “Safety is a core part of everyone’s job. We are expected to produce a good quality product at low cost and do it safely. We are paid to be professionals and being a professional means being safe,” added Hirzy.
At Cache Creek the team doesn’t just rely on professional judgement, they focus on key work procedures such as lock-out/tag-out, fall protection, JHAs and weekly safety meetings. There is a zero tolerance approach to violations of life safety rules. As production has increased and some critical retirements occurred, new hires have been integrated into the work culture through an informal mentoring system. While teamwork is an often over-used term, it seems to be the genuine article here.
As stated by David Chavez, safety director for the West Division, “They have total buy-in to the safety system and great leadership from Vince Bush, Mark Hirzy and their supervisors. Others should learn from them.”
To learn more about Cache Creek’s safety success, call Mark Hirzy at 530/666-2137.
