Boral is a Fly Ash devotee.
In the USA (and Australia) fly ash is an integral factor in their vertically integrated business structure where it delivers them high margins & cost competitiveness on projects.
In Oz they control a supply of high quality fly ash through their 50% ownership with Cement Australia Pty Ltd in
www.flyashaustralia.com.au
In the US, Boral's takeover of Headwaters in 2016 increased their control of US Flyash supplies from ~15% to over 60%; as well as delivering a well established R&D & marketing operation. The price paid was widely seen as expensive but some justified due to high margins possible by exploiting their dominant position in the flyash business (
https://www.livewiremarkets.com/wir...priced-acquisition-of-headwaters-incorporated)
The advantages of pozzolanic concretes are widely recognised (environmental/GHG, cost margins, ultimate strength & durability) and use increasingly government mandated. Attaining these advantages hinges on careful management of:
1.the quality of the flyash
2.mix composition
3.potential downside with delays in early strength
These three areas are the focus of Boral, and particularly Boral Material Technologies
www.boralmt.com
Intriguingly, BMT's Corporate Office is San Antonio, TX 78216
& Regional Sales Offices are
Denver, CO 800 255-0663
Atlanta, GA 800 241-4943
San Antonio, TX 800 292-5354
An investigation of boralmt.com shows they are active in researching pozzolanic concrete & aggregate applications. This extends to interacting with DOTS (notably GDOT), amongst other authorities towards proving up these developments.
Boral is management focussed, with its research & technical capacity (both US & OZ) an important facet of the business. At the same time they are frontline operators in every concrete construction material sector including readymix, block & tile construction, prestress (Is Valley Prestress a tx collaborator?)
Edencrete has the potential to address (the) one notable shortcoming of pozzolanic concretes ie, delayed/early strength
Edencrete may also bolster the other attributes of pozzolanic concretes (strength, permeability, durability) as well as increasing abrasion resistance.
Ideally, Edencrete + high quality flyash pozzolanic could deliver the ultimate high strength concrete...the concrete holy grail
Are Boral quietly running the research ruler over all things Edencrete?
Are the current "complex" test under some degree of Boral control/discretion, recognising that Eden's tech could pique the interest of industry competitors.
If current testing proves Edencrete as complementary to US pozzolanic concrete mixtures it follows that Boral would seek to cement the competitive advantage it holds through its current dominant vertical control of US Fly Ash supply & marketting chain.
This (currently unquantified) competitive advantage would arguably be directly and readily transferable to NSW where Boral have the supply of quality Flyash secured, an undeniable industry presence and a mountain of work to tender on.....
Raving
