Spancrete
Encyclopedia
Spancrete, located in Waukesha, Wisconsin
, is a provider of architectural and structural precast concrete
, and was an early pioneer of prestressed precast concrete. Spancrete is used throughout the world in the construction of multifamily housing, hotels, bridges, roads, stadiums, parking decks and event venues.
By 1951, West Allis Concrete Products had grown so large that expansion was needed. Part of this growth was due to large orders from Milwaukee County to build Milwaukee County Stadium
, home of the then-Milwaukee Braves (later the Milwaukee Brewers
); and Chicago
to provide concrete risers for Comiskey Park
, home of the Chicago White Sox
. The company also provided concrete for many Milwaukee-area homes, schools and hospitals, as well as buildings at Wisconsin State Fair Park
and many area Kohl’s stores.
During its expansion in the early 1950s, Nagy bought other concrete
facilities, including Genesee Sand and Gravel Company and the Farchione Block Company.
In 1953, Nagy traveled to Germany
, where he purchased a unique precast concrete manufacturing machine from a German inventor and brought it to the US. Nagy used the machine to make prestressed, precast hollowcore concrete slabs, which he called “Spancrete,” and the company was born.
Oscillating cores in the extruder created voids in the concrete, making it forty-five percent lighter, and the process resulted in hollowcore, prestressed concrete slabs that were incredibly strong, durable, fireproof, light and could be cut to various size specifications.
Florida Precast Industries, Inc. – A manufacturer of Spancrete hollowcore plank and slabs.
Spancrete Machinery – Manufactures and sells Spancrete machines to licensees worldwide in New York
, California
, Spain
, Japan
, Egypt
, Korea
, China
, Australia
, Turkey
, Mexico
, Israel
. Trinidad
, Denmark
, Germany
and Switzerland
.
Spancrete Manufacturers’ Association – Since 1960, the Spancrete Manufacturers’ Association has helped to focus the attention of the construction industry on prestressed precast concrete.
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
, is a provider of architectural and structural precast concrete
Precast concrete
By producing precast concrete in a controlled environment , the precast concrete is afforded the opportunity to properly cure and be closely monitored by plant employees. Utilizing a Precast Concrete system offers many potential advantages over site casting of concrete...
, and was an early pioneer of prestressed precast concrete. Spancrete is used throughout the world in the construction of multifamily housing, hotels, bridges, roads, stadiums, parking decks and event venues.
Founding and early history
Henry Nagy originally founded the West Allis Concrete Products company in 1946. The company was a major supplier of concrete block for the post-war era construction boom, manufacturing as many as 1,000 concrete blocks each day.By 1951, West Allis Concrete Products had grown so large that expansion was needed. Part of this growth was due to large orders from Milwaukee County to build Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events...
, home of the then-Milwaukee Braves (later the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
); and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to provide concrete risers for Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
, home of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. The company also provided concrete for many Milwaukee-area homes, schools and hospitals, as well as buildings at Wisconsin State Fair Park
Wisconsin State Fair Park
The Wisconsin State Fair Park is a fairgrounds and exhibition center in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wisconsin, USA. It has been the location of the Wisconsin State Fair since 1892. It also hosts other venues such as the Milwaukee Mile, the oldest continuously operating motor speedway in...
and many area Kohl’s stores.
During its expansion in the early 1950s, Nagy bought other concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
facilities, including Genesee Sand and Gravel Company and the Farchione Block Company.
In 1953, Nagy traveled to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where he purchased a unique precast concrete manufacturing machine from a German inventor and brought it to the US. Nagy used the machine to make prestressed, precast hollowcore concrete slabs, which he called “Spancrete,” and the company was born.
The Spancrete Process
The Spancrete machine was mounted on a gantry that ran on rails 328 feet long down each pouring bed. The slipformer was suspended over the pouring beds and was filled through three separate hoppers. High-tensile steel strands were stretched across, and after the concrete was placed and cured the strands were released, creating a compressive stress that gave Spancrete built-in tensile strength.Oscillating cores in the extruder created voids in the concrete, making it forty-five percent lighter, and the process resulted in hollowcore, prestressed concrete slabs that were incredibly strong, durable, fireproof, light and could be cut to various size specifications.
Spancrete Today
The third generation of the Nagy family owns and operates Spancrete and its subsidiaries, including:Florida Precast Industries, Inc. – A manufacturer of Spancrete hollowcore plank and slabs.
Spancrete Machinery – Manufactures and sells Spancrete machines to licensees worldwide in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Spancrete Manufacturers’ Association – Since 1960, the Spancrete Manufacturers’ Association has helped to focus the attention of the construction industry on prestressed precast concrete.