World of Concrete hosted a record-breaking auction for Concrete Industry Management (CIM).
The National Steering Committee for CIM — a business intensive program that awards students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management — raised more than $1.1 million in gross revenue at its annual auction, held in conjunction with World of Concrete on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
“The 2018 World of Concrete auction was our best ever,” said Mike Philipps, CIM auction committee chairman. “The results of this auction are indicative of the high value the concrete industry places on the CIM program. We had a record in terms of the value of donated items and attendees at the auction that helped make this year’s event a tremendous success.”
The signature auction item this year was a Mack Granite Axle Back model mounted with a McNeilus 10.5-cubic-yard M77 paver mixer.
Organizers of the annual concrete and masonry event estimate 60,000 concrete professionals and 1,500 suppliers from around the world attended this year’s expo. The event took place Jan. 23 to 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Wacker Neuson’s Trowel Challenge
Wacker Neuson’s Trowel Challenge returned this year with more than 100 operators from around the world competing on the reconfigured course that required operators to demonstrate their precision operating skills, as well as speed, when they navigated tight turns through the 1,750 square foot course.
The grand prize was a customized Wacker Neuson CRT48-37V ride-on trowel powered by a Vanguard Big Block V-twin engine. The competition was fierce with mere tenths of a second separating the top three finishers and only 6.6 seconds separating first and tenth place.
First Place
Derek Gromacki, PJ Dick, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Gromacki came into the finals with the fastest qualifying time of 37.539 seconds. He maintained his lead and took home the grand prize with a final run time of 36.765 and a total time of 74.304. Gromacki has been finishing concrete for 21 years and this is his first time participating in the Trowel Challenge.
Second Place
Josh Smith, H & M Precision Concrete, Greenville, OH
Smith was a returning participant to the Trowel Challenge. He took second place in 2016, as well as this year. Smith came into the finals with the fourth-place qualifying time of 39.505.
Third Place
Tai Johnson, V & G Concrete Construction, Melbourne, Australia
Johnson traveled the farthest distance to participate in the challenge. Johnson maintained his third-place qualifying spot of 38.858 with a final run time of 35.916 and a final total time of 74.774.
