The 600 Pound Gorilla ACO, a German-based company with manufacturing in Arizona, was the first modular trench drain manufacturer in the North American marketplace and initially found a home for their polymer concrete product line in construction markets that dealt with excavating, concrete placement and general contractors. They are the drainage leaders in the civil market; in […]
Author Archives: Michael Schroer
Cast Iron Grates, Decorative Grating, General Installation, Special Projects, Trench Drain Grates, Uncategorized
Universal Ductile Iron Trench Drain Grate (TDS 461D)
08
Nov
Nov
Previous articles I’ve written have discussed the evolution of the polymer concrete trench drain channel and how it came to the U.S. Market. The big takeaway is that the rise of modular trench drain started in Europe and migrated to the United States, bringing with them metric dimensional standards (channel length and width) which rendered each […]
Frequently Asked questions, Plastic Drains, Polymer Concrete Drains, Trench Drain Basics
Polymer Concrete Trench Drain – In the Beginning
05
Nov
Nov
The first time I learned of ACO and polymer concrete was in 1985 while on a tour of some silica mines in northeast Ohio. In that part of the country, the Sharon conglomerate crops out of the ground and is mined by a number of industrial mineral firms. The Best Silica Company, located in Chardon, […]
12
Feb
Feb
When renovating a bathroom shower, it’s tempting to build your design off stylish finishes and patterns. Unfortunately, work comes before play. Two questions will determine the correct linear shower drain for your project. 1.) What is the combined flow rate of the shower? In other words, you need to know your shower’s total outflow. If […]
Cast Iron Grates, Frame and Grate Systems, Large Modular Trench Drains
The Importance of Loading Dock Trench Drains
15
Jan
Jan
It’s a good idea to install trench drains in loading docks because most loading dock ramps slope downward toward the building so trucks can unload merchandise. When it rains, runoff water will flood the lower portion of the ramp unless a trench drain or catch basin is installed to drain the loading dock. I mention […]
04
Sep
Sep
Scotland – Home of Mary Queen of Scots, William Wallace and Nessie! Land of castles, lochs, peat bogs and spectacular ocean views. Mecca for the drinkers of Scotch whisky, and now, for the connoisseurs of organic pizza and craft beer. Black Isle Brewery had a unique vision of a brewery business back in 1998. Long […]
Destination Trench Drain, General Installation, Trench Drain Basics
3 Trench Drain Installation Tips You Need to Know
01
May
May
Since trench drains are part of the project’s foundation plan, they are literally the groundwork of their project. Entire projects can be “wounded” if the trench drain is dysfunctional. The drain installation has much to do with how functional the drain will be. And, drain installations can go horribly wrong. Here are three trench drain […]
09
Jan
Jan
I have had a visit to Portugal on my “bucket list” for some time now. Previously, I had visited Spain. On those occasions, I left feeling a sense of wonder. The rich history, dusty castles, classic art and fine foods all left me with a greater appreciation of the Old World and helped me mature […]
05
Dec
Dec
In the past couple years, I have had the opportunity to sell a bunch of Zurn Z882. This 12” wide, pre-sloped trench drain system is one of Zurn’s most commonly sold Perma-Trench product lines. It is used for applications that span a variety of residential, commercial, industrial and transportation applications. The standard grating that is […]
15
Aug
Aug
I recently visited the mountainous central region of Brazil to attend an exposition of Cachaça in the state capital, Belo Horizonte. I’m interested in the production of this local distilled sugarcane spirit used to make the famous drink, Caprihna. Brazil’s State Minas Gerais, or Minas for short, is world renown for cachaça production, though other […]