Masonry Magazine February 1994 Page. 48
gestions during these conversations.
Visit exhibitors twice. During your first visit, make a casual note of the products and services offered by exhibitors. Pick up literature. Ask a few questions. Later, study the material you pick up, make a list of more detailed questions, and plan for a return visit the next day when you'll be prepared to study specific products in greater depth.
Always wear your name tag. The more you're noticed, the more opportunities you'll have for interaction with your peers.
Stand in a strategic spot during coffee breaks and receptions. "Strategic spots" might include a location fifteen or twenty feet from elevator doors, near the entrances to meetings, or near the restroom corridor wherever a large number of people are likely to pass or congregate. Here, you'll have the opportunity to meet and talk with a large number of people.
Carry an ample supply of business cards. You never know when you'll have the opportunity to discuss a business deal, acquire information from an acquaintance, or set up post-convention business. From your handy supply, you can hand out cards to anyone who might need or want your address and telephone number later. And don't forget: a personal note or reference you jot on a business card will be kept much longer than a note your acquaintance writes on a piece of scrap paper.
Bring along your appointment calendar. You never know when you might have the opportunity to set up an important meeting with a vendor or colleague. If you carry your appointment calendar, be sure it fits in your pocket; that's the best way to.
During Construction Down One Percent
FOLLOWING the resurgent activity of recent months, the value of construction contracts in November eased back one percent, according to the F.W. Dodge Division of McGraw-Hill. A strengthening housing market was offset by lower totals for nonresidential building and nonbuilding construction (public works and utilities).
The latest month's data brought the seasonally adjusted Dodge Index back to 105 (1987-100), still very close to October's revised 106, which was the highest so far in 1993. "The slight correction in November is more a consolidation of recent gains rather than a loss of momentum," according to Dodge's Robert A. Murry. "The stronger pace of recovery, which began at midyear 1993, is still underway. Single family housing is going full throttle, and nonresidential building has at least stabilized even with an occasional step backward like November."
Non-Stop
SCAFFOLDING
The Fastes
Increase Production 20%-35%
When the wall is waist high to the bricklayer, he will produce more. Government studies, the experience of our customers, and our own experience have proven that point most convincingly. Actually, it's basic human nature. When the bending, reaching, and stooping are eliminated, a mason will fall into a fast, comfortable side-to-side rhythm when laying brick and block. He'll put in more units and be less tired at the end of the day. How much more production depends on the type of work. Production increases of 20% are common, while 35% is typical for blank walls like warehouses. Our users have reported production increases as high as 47% on 12" blocks.
When you calculate the labor savings from this feature alone, you will see that Non-Stop can easily pay for itself in the first 10 to 20 weeks. Some masonry contractors say that their scaffolding paid for itself on the first job.
Never Run Scaffold-High Again
Building a wall from the ground to scaffold-high and then moving your men is another unnecessary expense to eliminate from your operation. It tends to scatter your men, creates extra work for the laborers, and it wastes ten to fifteen minutes of production time getting the crew started again.
Using Non-Stop, you will set your scaffolding in place first, before any work begins. Stock it with materials and your masons start the wall right off the scaffold. Once they have reached a comfortable working height, their walk boards can be dropped in place in about 30 seconds and they continue working uninterrupted until the wall is topped out. Non-Stop gives you the ability to put your masons' walkboard as low as 4" off the ground.
Another standard feature Non Stop provides is the ability to add an extra walkboard for the masons. In many situations, like brick veneer with block back-up you must run the block up first. Using Non-Stop, you can run the block with 3 planks for the masons, let the scaffold down, and then run the brick with 2 planks, without moving or replumbing the scaffolding.
ARTHRITIS
FOUNDATION
Your Source for Help and Hope
The Arthritis Foundation teaches people with arthritis how to help themselves, with simple, effective and easy to learn methods.
If you have arthritis, or someone close to you does, contact your local chapter or call 1-800-283-7800.
48 MASONRY-JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 1994