Masonry Magazine April 1970 Page. 8
NADD Report
By: Patrick D. Whitehurst
Mr. Whitehurst is Executive Secretary of the National Association of Distributors and Dealers headquartered in McLean, Virginia. His column will be a regular monthly feature.
Washington, D. C. Today, in all segments of our industry, there is a vital need for cooperation and unity. For this reason NADD welcomes the opportunity to become a regular contributor to "Masonry."
Since its formation in 1956 the National Association of Distributors and Dealers of Structural Clay Products has become an increasingly important part of the masonry and clay products industry. NADD members representing companies from across the United States and Canada have created a coast-to-coast network that includes every marketing area in the entire country.
Our primary reason for existence of course is to promote the expanded use of our products through our educational and promotional programs and to build a strong association whose goals can be pursued and fulfilled.
To successfully fulfill these purposes, NAAD has been fortunate to receive the guidance and leadership of our industry's most dedicated men. NAAD and it's President, James R. Holman, work constantly to create and maintain liaison with the Mason Contractors Association of America, the Structural Clay Products Institute, and other leading masonry-oriented associations. The interplay of information thus established keeps every element of our part of the industry informed and alert to the demands of this ebullient era of growth and technological development.
It is obvious that the use of masonry, by the very nature of this country's economy, must grow; but it must grow-not just in numbers that keep pace with an expanding national housing demand-but by gaining a larger part of the total building output. The direction of growth must follow the most direct path the line of least resistance-and that can be achieved only with the least redundancy of effort by the (Continued on page 27)
Decorative Treatment for Blocks
Building blocks are being given a new decorative look by a grinding process which provides handsome, easy-to-clean concrete finishes.
Developed by 3M Company, the new process uses 3M coated abrasive belts to smooth the rough block surface and a clear finish to give extra sparkle to the block. Fed into a grinding machine, ordinary blocks come out with a sleek surface of exposed aggregate closely resembling terrazo.
The finished block, which can be precisely dimensioned also is designed to reduce post-construction costs, according to A. J. Eggert, marketing supervisor of 3M's Coated Abrasives & Related Products division. No painting of the block is required after construction, and the block can be easily cleaned and maintained because of its smooth surface.
Blocks can be ground in standard grinding machines modified especially for this purpose, 3M points out. Because they can be dimensioned to extremely close tolerances, manufacturers can prepare them more economically for structural applications such as for thinline adhesive systems and stressed floor and ceiling segments. Moreover, this process can eliminate chipping and cracking during grinding and thus results in additional cost-savings.
The new surfacing process gives the contractor and architect greater flexibility in working with building block, 3M points out. Because of their attractive finish and cleaning ease, the finished blocks already are being used for interiors of buildings such as churches, offices and schools.
Simple Method for Computing Wage Settlement Packages
How do you figure the average yearly value of a settlement package that increases some benefits immediately and defers other, dissimilar increases until the second year of the contract, and perhaps the third year as well?
Let's say a new, three-year contract provides a 16 cents an hour wage increase during its first year; 8 cents more in the second year; and another 6 cents during the third and final year. To add these increases and divide the total by the number of years the contract is in effect would give you an average of sorts, but not the true one. It would come out to 10 cents an hour (16+8+6+3), which is too low. This error is common. Frequently, it crops up in hasty, mass-media reports of contract settlements.
A more significant average is obtained by using this simple formula:
x(a)+y(b)+z(c)
where x, y and z, respectively, equal the wage increase each year; where a, b and c, respectively, equal the number of years each increase is in effect; and where q equals the total number of years all the increases are in effect. What you then get is: (16x3)+(8x2)+(6x1) 70=
6
6 = 11.67
The true average value, or cost, of these wage hikes over three years is thus 11.67 cents/hr.
The point, of course, is that the initial 16 cents an hour raise is in effect during the full three-year term of the contract; the second 8-cent addition is in effect for two years; and the final 6-cent installment for one. These cumulative factors can't be ignored in determining the real average.
masonry
April, 1970
Medusa Acquires General
The acquisition by Medusa Portland Cement Company, Cleveland, Ohio, of substantially all of the assets of General Stone & Materials Corporation, of Roanoke, Virginia, has become effective. The assets were acquired by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medusa which will continue the business of General Stone under its established name and under its present management.
Weather Radio
For those in the Midwest, ESSA has started broadcasting weather information on a 24-hour schedule. You can get this data by picking up station KWO39, 162.55 megahurts on your Weather Radio.