Precast Face Slices by Hanson Brick and Central Precast offer architects convenience and flexibility to create unique buildings
With Freedom from Weather and Labour Delays Precast Product Gives Construction Managers Ease of Mind

STREETSVILLE, Ontario, May 24, 2006
Hanson Brick has joined with Central Precast Inc. to integrate locally-produced clay brick Face Slices with concrete, creating one-of-a-kind precast panels that give institutional, commercial and industrial buildings in Ontario and Quebec the look of brick with about one-third the construction time.

"Integrating brick and precast concrete offers the best of both worlds - the visual interest and beauty of clay brick, combined with the strength, ease and economy of precast concrete," says Clyde Ellis, commercial business development manager for Hanson Brick, the largest brick manufacturer in North America. "Hanson Brick's manufacturing expertise lends itself well to supplying quality Face Slices to this ever-growing market."

Canada's relatively short construction season creates a challenge for architects and construction managers. The solution that Hanson Brick and Central Precast can offer is to imbed 1-inch thick clay brick slices into precast concrete panels off-site and in a controlled environment. This gives construction managers freedom from weather delays.

Hanson Bricks five plants in Ontario and Quebec ensure that its Face Slices won't suffer from delivery delays to Central Precast. The slices also give designers a local material solution and are available in any size, dimension, texture or colour.

In addition to construction efficiency, architect David Bull, principal associate with Cuhaci and Associates Inc. in Ottawa, says he appreciates the design flexibility of precast Face Slices. He chose rectangular Copper Matt (orange-brown) face brick for the bulk of the facade on the Roger Guindon Hall addition under construction at the University of Ottawa. He also alternated square Copper Matt and Sunnydale (yellow) face brick above the windows to create an accent and sense of visual rhythm.

"We used colours to get a pattern in the brick and to help it blend with surrounding buildings" Bull said. "The precast product also offered us speed of construction. Would we do it again? Absolutely."

Along with ease of installation, precast Face Slices allow for a streamlined job site. Additionally, precast Face Slices are ideal for tall buildings that would prove both difficult and time consuming for traditional site laid-up masonry, Ellis said.

Hanson Brick is North America's largest brick manufacturer, with approximately 1,600 employees and operations across the United States and Canada. The company provides its customers with superior selection and service, offering more than 1,000 styles of brick in five regional brick collections. Hanson Brick is based in Charlotte, N.C.

Hanson Brick is part of Hanson, one of the world's largest suppliers of heavy building materials to the construction industry. Hanson produces aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel), ready-mixed and precast concrete, asphalt and cement-related materials and a range of building products including concrete pipes, concrete pavers, tiles and clay bricks.

Hanson is part of the HeidelbergCement Group, which employs 70,000 people across five continents. Heidelberg has leading positions in concrete and heavy building products and is the global leader in aggregates.

Further information on Hanson can be found at na.hansonbrick.com

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