Masonry Magazine July 1973 Page. 14
CONCRETE MASONRY
Supply & Demand
By PAUL LENCHUK
President
National Concrete Masonry Association
As the word "shortage" has become increasingly commonplace in our every day language, it seems that only the hint of a shortage of some type of supply creates the impression that the problem has reached crisis proportions. Such rumors have at times been heard about most every product used in construction including concrete masonry. During the past year, a few areas, most notably Florida, have experienced shortages of concrete block, and possibly because Florida uses more block than any other state in the country, it has often been assumed that the problem was nationwide. However, 1972 was a record-breaking year for the concrete masonry industry. Some 3.75 billion units were produced, and sales volume reached $1 billion for the first time in the industry's history. Based on all indications during the first half of this year, 1973 production and sales will set further new reords, with production close to 4 billion units.
Where shortages have existed, in Florida for example, the problem is rapidly being alleviated. The shortages occurred primarily because the demand exceeded the supply of cement available to produce block. But with substantial imports of cement from abroad and expansion of domestic cement manufacturing facilities, block producers affected by the lack of cement are now close to keeping pace with current demand. New machines, capable of 20% faster production are also being installed, as are whole new automated plants.
Another area of supply where shortages have been encountered has been coloring compounds and pigments, particularly those that are imported. With the dramatic increase in demand and production of concrete masonry facing units such as split block, slump block, concrete brick and customized units, coloring materials are playing a far greater role in the industry's supply picture. This will remain a serious problem since there is a world shortage of oxides. But alternatives in the use of other raw materials are helping alleviate this shortage. The most noticeable problem that might be experienced would be in attempting to match the color of block for an addition to a previously built structure.
The supply of energy does, of course, also influence block plants in regard to curing, materials handling and delivery. But no significant shortages of any duration have yet been reported. Should the energy shortage worsen, the greatest effect would be on plants producing autoclaved block which now accounts for less than 20% of the industry's volume. However, in all other plants, alternatives could quickly and economically be brought into play to cure block atmospherically. This would increase the time between order and delivery at worst!
Unless there should be an unforseen and general shortage of raw materials, the block industry is more than able to meet current demands from the standpoint of plant production capacity and is gearing up to meet even greater challenges in the future. There are possibilities of spot shortages of cement this year but only limited areas of the U.S. will be affected. Orders for new machinery and equipment displayed at NCMA's 1973 Concrete Industries Exposition held in Miami Beach last January exceeded all previous records as block producers from over the country prepared to implement plans for new plant construction and expansion of existing facilities. Over 1700 plants are now in operation in the U.S. with approximately 2500 block machines.
Although the concrete masonry industry is experiencing its greatest growth in history, the future is not being faced with complacency. In addition to modernizing and expanding plant facilities, producers are doing a far more sophisticated and aggressive job of marketing. They are beginning to cover wider marketing areas than in the past. Many producers are also expanding and diversifying their product lines to include more specialty units for both veneer and through-the-wall use. Concrete brick production has substantially increased with the development of new franchised and non-proprietary products as well as special facing processes for standard block units that simulate the appearance of brick. And concrete brick producers in a number of cases are expanding their brick manufacturing capacities while many other plants are now introducing concrete brick to their product lines.
NCMA is also developing plans to serve the block industry's anticipated growth in the future. Land has recently been purchased in the vicinity of Washington's Dulles Airport for a new research and development laboratory and construction will begin soon. This much needed facility will enable NCMA to conduct a vastly increased research program for product improvement and innovations as well as structural tests for market expansion. During the last year, we commissioned the renowned structural engineer, Fazlur Khan, to conduct feasibility studies for load bearing concrete masonry structures of 50 stories and higher. Early reports on the studies look quite promising. In addition, NCMA will soon step up its capability to expand the industry's market potential by employing full-time staff (Continued on page 30)