The Concrete Evidence: Global Concrete Curbing & Slipform Paving.

Curb Appeal USA's Operation Franchise Advertisement.

2009-06-23T17:43:00.001-07:00

US Soldiers returning to civilian life are the perfect type of people to run their own businesses. The combination of discipline and leadership that it takes to have a career in the military makes our servicemen and women prime candidates for entrepreneurship. The all-inclusive packages from Curb Appeal USA include everything a retired or discharged member of the Armed Forces would need to set up their own landscape concrete curbing business. Curb Appeal takes care of the machines, accessories and even the branding without ever charging a franchise fee. Besides that, we've never heard of anyone getting themselves into the line of fire while pouring curb so it would be safe to call concrete edging a safer occupation than combat.

For those coming from the Corps of Engineers or other branch that involves construction or heavy equipment, Curb Appeal can custom tailor a business package featuring the ProCurb line of commercial curb machines to get the individual started with a turnkey business that can offer slipform paving contracting all over the world.

Starting today Curb Appeal will be offering special package prices to military personnel who'd like to start their own concrete edging business.

Upcoming Training in Merrillville, Indiana

2009-06-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

Rodger Taylor is going to do Curb Appeal's next training for Walker Construction, a family owned concrete contractor in Indiana. He will be showing them how to use their custom white PC 600, slip form curber. It will be goodbye to the old way of things for Walker soon, no more hand formed curbs. Now he will be able to put out 2500 feet of curb and gutter per day with only a 4 man crew. Exciting stuff! Check back for more pictures soon. Hopefully we don't get a repeat of the mix fiasco that we experienced in Nanjing and get a concrete explosion!

Curb Machine Shootout by Chief Engineer Ed Taylor.

2009-06-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

First up, The PC600 vs. the Curb Fox 5000

1. Note the size of the drive tires - the PC600's are twice as wide, meaning they provide twice the traction and flotation.

2. As with all these models from curb fox, mbw, lee boy, etc., they
Require a minimum of two people to run the machine, and in most
Cases they require three people.

3. Curb fox shows the conveyor as an option, but if you look at the Front of their machine, it is almost impossible to get the truck Close enough to the hopper without the conveyor. Our pc 200/400/600 models can be fed from the front, back, or either side. With a Hopper height of only 39 inches or less, getting material into the ProCurb machines is a no-brainer.

4. With only 12 inch lift cylinders, and using what looks like in the Pictures to be 3 to 4 inches on flat ground, there are only 8inches of lift. This limits the curb fox 2000/3000/5000/ from pouringinto a corner. Lifting up and backing out over what was just poured is impossible. It is also impossible for the mbw, with the tire on the side drive unit, to back out because of the tire on the Left side of the mold. This also means that without a 180 degree Rotary actuator, the machine cannot turn 90 degrees to pull off The curb by driving forward at the end of a run without leaving Extra footage to be hand-formed.

Pro curb 200 hopper lowered to pouring position pro curb 200 hopper raised to maximum height

5. As a safety matter, the operator cannot see the next 10 feet in
Front of the curb fox 3000/5000 and since the chute man has his
Back to the truck driver, he cannot see obstacles in the front.
The curb fox 2000 must be steered manually from the front and
The curb fox 3000 has, for front operation mechanical steering,
Handles so while being operated their back is to the truck
Driver.

6. As a practical matter, cleaning all the exposed areas and having
Unprotected hoses, fittings, wires and the feed back unit on the
Front of the wheel assembly, causes concern about damage due
To the ready mix truck backing up or merely running into it with
The paver.

7. Curb and gutter limits for the curb fox 3000/5000 are 24 inches, as
Opposed to 36 inches with the pc 600.

8. The pc 400/600 models are equipped with standard auto-rear
Steering. No other machine in this class even has manual rear
Steering. This also allows the pc 400/600 to back down a string
Line for faster set up and a more accurate finished product.

9. When the curb fox 3000/5000 comes to a catch basin on a straight
Run, to lift the mold, the steering sensor must be turned off
Because the entire machine does the lifting and the sensors must
Come offline. The pc 200/400/600 hopper and mold can lift from
14 to 20 inches respectively, and the front and back steering
Sensors are still in contact with the string line. This means that
When the curb fox 3000/5000 travels down the line the 6 feet or
So it takes to clear the obstacle, the curber is being manually
Steered. Once the mold is lowered onto the line, the back of
The curb will not be the same distance from the line that it was
Before going offline. Even if the manual placement was exact,
Because of the yaw of the side-pour mold, with no auto-rear
Steering to compensate, the curb will be at least three quarters
Of an inch too far out and will take at least 6 feet to stabilize.

10. The curb fox 2000/3000/5000 has no driveway cutter.Curb Appeal have curb
Cutters available for all of our models. The curb cutter will
Eliminate one person when doing subdivision work, not to mention
The $10 - $20 saved on concrete that is not wasted on each
Driveway.

11. The most obvious difference in my opinion is, the entire line of
Curb fox equipment is 10 years behind in engineering products
That have the look and performance of products needed for
Today’s market. Our pro curb series line of products is now, and
Will always be, slightly ahead of their time.

12. All of the other machines now available use electronic control
Systems made by companies for many different applications
that are not needed by curb machines. We, on the other hand,
Developed our own system for our machine line. This 25-year
Evolution has led us to produce the most efficient, least
Problematic, system available at any price in the world. Curb Appeal has
Progressed beyond the standard of the industry with our
Magneto resistive sensors from hall effect.

13. The pro curb series is the only line of curb machines designed
For not just functioning as the cutting edge in slip form pavers,
But also with an effort to facilitate shipping by commercial
Carrier, air, or by ship containers. (see pages 10 and 11 for
Containerized machine placement in cargo containers).

All of our machines are totally flat on the bottom with no
Protrusions, wires, brackets or hoses. This means that any of
Our models can be banded directly to a standard 4x4 foot pallet
For shipping, and with the pallet removed they can be loaded and
Unloaded with a forklift

Pro curb models can also be hoisted with straps from four tie points also designed for lifting.

Also:

14. The pro curb pc-600 features engine placement that pulls cool
Air from around the hopper, keeping the concrete in the hopper
Cooler, allowing more time between trucks before concrete
Sets up. The lee boy and mbw machines both have engines under
The hoppers, generating heat that affects the concrete.

15. The length of the nose on the leeboy and mbw is around 38
Inches, as opposed to 15 inches on the pc-600, making pouring from
The front of the truck difficult.

16. The hydraulic tank on the curb fox 3000 and 5000 make it
Impossible to pour from any position except from the right side.

Next up: The PC600 vs. the Lee Boy.

17. The lee boy machine, as far as i know, is not even a factor at this
Time. Since the purchase of lee boy by a foreign company, the
Company has only sold 4 machines and now the line is for all
Practical purposes, shut down

That being said, the major differences between the PC600 and the Lee Boy are as follows:

A. On the lb-24, the engine is mounted under the hopper, making
Service difficult. Because the engine is mounted under
The hopper, the heat generated by the engine will heat the
Concrete to 150 degrees.
Page 6

B. Because of the length of the hood on the lb-24, pouring
Directly into the hopper is problematic with most older ready
Mix trucks.

C. In the event of any electronic problem, due to the complexity
Of the control system, the engine will not start.

D. The hopper has a hinge allowing it pick up on one side to clear
The curb but as it swings in an arc, on most curbs, it pushes
Over the curb and makes the unit about 6 inches wider. When
Fully raised, about 14 inches wider. On all of our units,Curb Appeal
Can raise the hopper and mold starting with the pc- 200 16
Inches, the pc-400 18 inches, and the pc- 600 20 inches. All of
This is accomplished without lifting the frame, engine and
Components, keeping the center of gravity low to the ground.

E. The main feature missing from all machines in our class is the
Ability to steer the rear wheels. The pro curb pc-400 and pc-
600 both come standard with auto-back steering, making our
Units pour the straightest curb in our class. This also means
That with the flip of a switch, the units can back down the line
In reverse into a corner automatically.

F. All of our models have rotary actuators instead of cylinders
For steering, allowing 90 degree turning in both directions.

G. No machines have the latest in sensor technology except
Our pro-curb series. The use of hall effect sensors has been
Around for years. Curb Appeal have developed the next generation of
No-contact sensors, using magneto resistive technology (we
Are currently preparing the patent application).

(Full disclosure: I designed the lee boy machine back in 2003 and sold out to them In 2005.)

Next: The PC600 vs. The MBW Curb & Gutter.

A. The mbw cannot pour curb and gutter without an optional
Bolt-on side drive unit. This side drive consists of a frame, an
Extra drive tire, lift cylinder, hopper and mold. It takes about
1 hour to add the side drive unit. The machine requires a 20 inch
Minimum graded area behind the curb. That creates extra work
For the grading contractor, and it will become a problem with
Back-filling the curb and with compaction.
Page 7

B. As with the curb fox machines, it is difficult to get concrete
Into any of the lee boy and mbw curbers. For most trucks, the
Only position would be to the right and ahead of the machine.

C. Single person operation is almost impossible.

D. With the side drive attached, backing into a corner is time-
Consuming and difficult without rear steering.

E. The control system is 20 year old technology, using points
And pots for control.

F. With the engine under the hopper, the mold and hopper are
Super heated by the engine.

G. With no safe place for the chute man to stand (either on the
Ground behind the chute or on the other side behind the
Truck), it is hard to communicate with the driver.

H. Rack and pinion steering on the mbw will not turn nearly as tight in either direction and is notorious for seal failure.

I. The location of the radiator is a problem, in that concrete spilling over the hopper can eventually be sucked in by the
Fan and clog the radiator cooling fins.

(I designed the mbw machines back in 1988 and sold the rights in 1992. At The time, it was the best and most versatile small slip form paver in The world. I worked for mbw for 9 years in all 50 states, and at that Time, 32 countries. In that 9 years of travel, i found out that not all Countries are fortunate enough to have the latest and greatest of Support equipment. Enough said.)

And Finally, the PC200 vs. Everything in it's class:

The PC200 is designed to be an entry level slipform paver to out-
Perform the auger machines like the curb tack 3000, the gomaco
Curb cadet, the curb fox 2000 and all of the on-asphalt machines
(power curber, miller, etc.).

1. Because of the use of a hydraulic vibrator, pouring over
Horizontal and vertical steel is simple. This is a problem with any
Machine using an auger for compaction.

2. Because of our patented design, the frame remains on the
Ground and the hopper lifts 14 inches while remaining flat at all
Times.

3. The drive system on our PC200 is the same exact system as on our pc
400 and pc 600 machines.

4. No machine ever built is easier to dump concrete into, as shown
By the images on page 2.

5. No known machine can turn as tight a radius as the PC200 (10
Inches).

6. Ours is the only small machine that can be equipped with a front
Steering and radius sensor for automatic steering.

7. Because Curb Appeal uses rotary actuators on all of our models, Curb Appeal machines have
The ability to turn out 90 degrees, left and right.

8. With the help of our remote operating station on the front of
All our models, once the vibrators, speed and auto controls are
On and the adjustments are satisfactory, the main panel power
Switch can be turned off. This will stop the pour instantly. By
Walking to the front of the hopper and turning on the remote
Power switch, the pour will resume with no evidence of having
Stopped at all. Our machine can also be steered from the
Front, using the remote steer switch for loading or manually
Following a mark on the pavement.

Press play for more photos:

9. Below-grade pours and trench pours can be made easily with the
Aid of an adapter drop ring, or a special mold.

10. The curb fox 2000 has a manual steering yoke that must be
Physically pushed back and forth to control the steering.

Legendary industry guru, and Curb Appeal Chief Engineer, Ed Taylor is a concrete pioneer and designed one of the world's first curb and gutter machines more than 30 years ago.

Old School.

2009-06-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Saw an old issue of the Oregon Building Record newspaper from 1914 today and noticed this ad:

The "Money Maker" title reminded me of the Curb Appeal USA "Turn Concrete Into Cash" slogan. Almost a hundred years later and we still haven't paved everything

The feature where the machine can be loaded or dumped from either side reminded me of a very similar feature of the Curb Appeal Pro Curb Machines where they can have concrete dumped into them from the front, back, left or right. This really sets them apart in terms versatility and crew visibility/ safety.

Good examples (press play):

The PC400 Brings High Tech Slipform Paving To China.

2009-06-12T01:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a slideshow and some photos we took while showcasing our PC400 Curb Machine in Nanjing China at the Crouching Dragon Lake development. The Chinese are used to the precast block and mortar method of laying curb so they were in for quite a show with our machine. We loved China, had a great time with our hosts and can't wait to go back and start pouring curb at huge job sites all over the country!

Samtech Qatar Showcases Ground-Breaking New Curbing Technology.

2009-06-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

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Doha, Qatar – 13th April 2008 – Thursday, 10th April, the last day of Project Qatar saw the demonstration of a revolutionary new curbing technology from Samtech Qatar and their partners, Curb Appeal USA. Hundreds of industry professionals watched as the automatic curbing machine laid curb on the go at 30 feet a minute, manned only by a single operator.

Around Qatar and the Middle East, curb is currently laid by an army of laborers who painstakingly place pre-cast concrete blocks one by one.

Not only is this practice slow and labor-intensive, it also results in considerable wastage of concrete in the form of rejected blocks as well as during the manufacturing process. “This technology is going to really have an impact on the industry,” said one industry insider who watched the machine in action. “It’s a serious upgrade to the way things are being done in this part of the world at the moment.”

Samtech Qatar and partners Curb Appeal had exactly that in mind when they began planning to bring the technology to Qatar.

While Samtech is a local company with Mr. Ammar Ammar at the helm, Curb Appeal is an American company that has been designing, developing and manufacturing curbing machines specifically for the landscaping industry for the last seven years, giving shape to lawns, parks and some of the finest luxury resorts and hotels. Its president, Steve Caldwell, was in Doha for Project Qatar 2008 with partner and designer of the curbing machines, Ed Taylor, who has spent the last 38 years designing and perfecting commercial curbing machines around the world.

"Our alliance brings us together as the only manufacturer of concrete curbing machines in the world whose operations span the whole gamut from landscape to curb & gutters, which is the largest curb that can be poured,” says Caldwell. Curb Appeal’s machines have found wide acceptance in the USA and elsewhere, and are currently in active use in all 50 US states and in 30 other countries around the globe. The equipment is capable of reproducing hundreds of styles and shapes of curb, including all types of pre cast designs that are currently in use in Qatar.

Already on his third trip to Doha in the last nine months, Caldwell has been working hard with support from Samtech to lay a solid foundation for operations in Qatar and the Middle East. Samtech will serve as the regional partner, distributor and service agent for Curb Appeal products for the entire GCC region, with Qatar being the hub thanks to its central location and favorable business environment. “We’re in the process of talking to several contractors in Qatar and elsewhere in the GCC,” says Caldwell, “and we’re eagerly waiting to begin operations as soon as all the details are sorted out. We are ready, willing and able to provide turnkey solutions as well as sales, servicing, repairs and spare parts.”

The biggest of Curb Appeal’s three machines, the PC 600, is capable of pouring up to 48 inches wide at a speed of 30 feet every minute. “This is the same capability you’ll find in the bigger machines on the market that take large crews to run and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars,” points out Caldwell. “The PC 600 delivers the same performance at fraction of the cost and takes just one man to run.” Capable of laying over 1.5 km of curbing in a single day, an increase in production of over 1000% over conventional methods is achievable. In addition, wastage is almost completely eliminated. “You can actually calculate your concrete requirements and end up within a few feet of your target distance at the end of the day,” says Taylor, the designer of the machine. Another key benefit is that the machine compacts the concrete by vibrating it at very high RPMs to make it much stronger than pre-cast blocks. The machine is also capable of pouring over rebars for added strength if required.

All three models feature an independently floating hopper that adjusts its elevation as the machine moves over uneven terrain, resulting in the laid curb being perfectly even. A trademark hoist system called the LiftOff is available separately to load and unload the machines from any kind of truck, and an innovative new concrete additive called X-Factor eliminates shrinkage and triples the strength of the concrete, as well as being a sealer and possessing waterproofing properties. It also drastically reduces efflorescence.

With so many improvements over existing technology, Curb Appeal’s curbing machines are all set to make their mark in Qatar’s burgeoning construction & building industry. It is only a matter of time before the company commences operations. One industry observer put it best: “This is not just an upgrade in technology, it’s a paradigm shift. These machines are going to turn the dynamics of the industry on their head.”

Different Looks For The PC600 Curb Machine.

2009-06-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

White & Blue model used by RJ Fuhs.

Custom drab green PC600 with star and black trim. Bulletproof model with rocket launcher currently in development :)

The PC200 In Mazatlan.

2009-06-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

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Check out that turning radius on the PC200 Curb Machine from Curb Appeal International.

First Post.

2009-06-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks for checking out our blog! We'll be posting stories, photos and movies of our travels around the world putting our commercial curb machines to the test at the toughest jobs and exotic locations on the planet. We'll be showcasing real world studies from actual job sites around the globe with our own photos, words and videos. This is a site made by concrete industry pros for concrete industry pros, not web designers so bear with us! Your comments and questions are encouraged!