Every year THE CONCRETE PRODUCER compiles its annual TCP 100 list as a reference for our readers, as well as a recognition of the industry's leaders (to see a few of the past TCP 100 lists, scroll down).
The 2009 TCP 100: Slimming Down
As many hit the gym and balance their diets for a last chance at a summer body, the concrete industry also has slimmed down. But this weight loss came without choice, thanks to the nation's worst economy since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Not surprisingly, the TCP100, The Concrete Producer's annual survey of revenue, showed 2009 was another disappointing year. Many producers have tightened their belts and are left wondering what kind of future awaits them. Some saw a remarkable 50% plunge in revenue from 2008 to 2009, while a few actually held steady. Revenue for the public companies on our list fell 21%. The bottom may have been reached this spring when Houston-based U.S. Concrete, No. 18 on our list, filed for bankruptcy.
David Bloxom, owner of Speed Fab-Crete Corp., a precast producer in Fort Worth, Texas, may have summed it up best: "Profitability is down, competition is fierce, and job payments are slow."
When President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February 2009, the construction industry hoped it would rain down instant relief. One and a half years later, producers are still feeling the recessionary crunch and wondering where all of that money went.
"The stimulus programs by the U.S. administration failed to provide a boost to the construction sector to the extent hoped for," Holcim stated in its annual report. "In light of substantial government deficits, political decision- makers and authorities concentrated less on enacting infrastructure projects and more on honoring social services." But even with the U.S. economy growing at a meager 2.4% annual rate in this year's second quarter, calls for more stimulus spending will probably not be heeded as worries about deficit spending grow.
The Portland Cement Association claims that nearly $60 billion of the stimulus plan is targeted directly at infrastructure investment, although the exact amount is still highly debated. Many observers also estimate that only about one-half of the stimulus funds have been distributed, meaning more business should be in the pipeline.
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2010 TCP 100 List
To view the complete list of this year's TCP 100 click here.
Methodology
We rank the TCP100 by total revenue, not just concrete sales. Our goal is to show the wide spectrum of companies involved in the industry, whether concrete represents their entire business or just a part. Producers are included by their parent companies' names.
Past TCP 100 Lists
Joe Greco Jr. sighs when asked about the state of the concrete industry. The president of Greco Bros. Ready Mix Concrete in Ozone Park, N.Y., chuckles and says in a thick New York accent, "Oh boy, oh boy. I don't know where it's headed," his friendly timbre showing only a trace of distress. Click here to read the complete article.
A painter can portray whatever he likes on a blank canvas. But businesses or whole industries do not have the luxury of starting from a clean slate. They must take what is given and make the best of it. Click here to read the complete article.
Audax Group. Park Avenue Equity Partners. ShoreView Industries. These are some of the biggest names in today's concrete industry, but you won't find them painted on a ready-mix drum. That's because one of the world's most plentiful building materials has caught the eye of a group of people far away from dusty jobsites: private investors. Click here to read the complete article.
The skylines of the nation's cities glisten with concrete buildings that reach to the stars. Much of the material supplied for these super-structures comes from batch plants operated by skilled technicians, and then transported to jobsites by drivers, some of whom have toiled for producers for decades. Click here to read the complete article.
When all was said and done, many producers hit home runs. The biggest hitters comprise THE CONCRETE PRODUCER's Fourth Annual TCP 100 survey of the North American concrete industry's largest producers.The full text of this article is available as a PDF document. To download the PDF version of the article
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Cautious optimism prevailed among the TCP 100-THE CONCRETE PRODUCER's third annual survey of North America's top producers, ranked by 2003 revenue. The full text of this article is available as a PDF document. To download the PDF version of the article
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In 2002 the fear of the unknown seized the nation. Iraq was on many minds and a military buildup siphoned government funds from transportation and construction. A general reluctance to commit to large projects slowed many aspects of construction. Despite these factors, the 2003 TCP 100 report showed that there was still strength in concrete amid uncertain times. The full text of this article is available as a PDF document. To download the PDF version of the article
Click here.
