AXIM Admixtures Utilized in Lowe's Distibution Center

Project:
Lowe's Regional Distribution Center

Location:
Pittston, PA, USA

Owner:
Lowe's Home Centers Inc.

Concrete Producer:
Coon Industries, Inc.

Concrete Contractor:
Baker Concrete Construction, Inc.

Project Engineer:
H M Architects / Engineers, Inc.

Engineering Firm:
Thomas Graham Civil Design

Construction Managers:
Pike Company

Products:
CATEXOL 2000 SCA
CATEXOL 3000 GP
CATEXOL 1000 R
CATEXOL A.E. 260
DURAFLUX 33

Situation:
Lowe's Home Centers Inc. planned to build a new 1,582,113 square-foot distribution center that would service the northeast region of the U.S. on 131 acres in the CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park in Pittston, PA. The huge open floor plan called for a 10-inch concrete slab. The engineers and architects were concerned about dying shrinkage of the concrete and turn to AXIM and ESSROC for solutions.

Challenge:
Over 40,000 cubic yards of were poured for the concrete slab. The requirements called for low levels of dying shrinkage. Tests were performed by AXIM and ESSROC to utilize a product that could significantly reduce dying shrinkage cracks.

Solution:
The concrete contractor, Coon Industries, turned to AXIM's and ESSROC's new solution service — AXSIS — for assistance. ESSROC's Territory Manager and AXIM's Regional Technology Manager, proposed a combination of products for the job. Most critically was the introduction of CATEXOL 2000 SCA, Shrinkage Compensating Admixture for Non Air-Entrained Concrete. CATEXOL 2000 SCA was able to reduce the drying shrinkage by up to 40 percent. Over 66,000 gallons of CATEXOL 2000 SCA was used on the job.

Highlights:
During the concrete pour, the AXSIS staff was on site to perform various tests on the materials. Lowe's Home Centers is the world's second largest home improvement retailer. Its 1.5-million-square-foot distribution center in Pittston will create at least 700 full-time jobs which will serve the growing number of Lowe's stores in the northeast region of the U.S. The distribution center is scheduled to open in 2008. The company has 11 regional centers and 17 other distribution sites scattered across the United States.