Sonotube® Meet
your match, Ceme-Tube™.
by Shelley Hawes
While
laying footings in wet land for his cabin in northern Minnesota,
Jim Bradac was troubled by the complications of pouring concrete
into traditional cardboard Sonotubes®. The material quickly
became flimsy, and pouring had to be done immediately after
placement to properly set. Bradac had to believe there was
an alternative, something as simple as waterproof forms must
certainly be available. It only made sense.
After careful patent research, Bradac
discovered there was really no product available to pour
concrete into that was manufactured out of plastic. “I
can literally say this is the first to replace traditional
cardboard forming tubes.” With
a background in the stainless steel commercial restaurant equipment
sales for over sixteen years, he set a side a lot of time and
money to invest in research and development of a simple product
that would solve his problem. If a guy trying to lay footings
for his cabin was having these frustrations, certainly the
construction industry at large would benefit as well.
Great Showing at World of Concrete
“This is a pretty simple
invention.” After
spending about $30,000 of his own money on a mold, Bradac
made a prototype and took it out to World of Concrete. Not
officially even in business yet, and with no inventory of
product to fill orders, he wanted to see what kind of response
the Ceme-Tube™ would generate. From show opening to close,
the Ceme-Tube™ attracted a crowd at his booth at all times. “The
whole idea of the show was to see how well they’d be
received. Contractors were all over them,” Bradac says
with a smile.
Bradac came up with the idea in 2004,
and is now setting up distribution throughout the USA. Locally,
there are several distributors in Wisconsin and Minn, with
Farrell Equipment contractor supply in Eau Claire, La Crosse
and Wausau, being one. Cemstone, Brock White and Advanced Shoring
also carries the Ceme-Tube™ line and Bradac hopes to soon
see them prominently displayed in showrooms throughout the
country.
Impervious to Moisture, Ceme-Tube™ can be filled Anytime
What makes Ceme-Tube™ unique
is not just its durability, but it can be installed, completely
backfilled and filled with concrete at any later date. Impervious
to moisture, it can be installed in wet ground conditions and
maintain its form.
The standard Ceme-Tube™ is made from
HDPE plastic and is available in 8”, 10”, 12”,
18”,
24” and 30” diameters and 4 foot in
length. The integral collar end allows for stacking piers up
to 20’ in one pour. (The 30” only
stacks to 12’) Once desired length is installed, excess
is easily cut with common power tools. The Ceme-Tube™ can
be stripped using any type cutting or grinding wheel, and needs
to only be cut 90% through, as scoring with a utility knife
the tube will split open, trouble free.
The Ceme-Tube™ works well with manufactured
footings like Bigfoot and is exceptional for underwater dock
installation. Optional domed top caps are available to keep
out rain and dirt and prevent accidents with children and animals.
Pour
in Place Bollards
Ceme-Tube™ also
makes the Pour in Place Bollard. It is 8” in
diameter, and 4’ in length. Upon filling with re-bar
and concrete, the installation is complete. A highly visible,
reflective caution yellow color is molded throughout the plastic,
not just surface applied, and is also available in custom colors.
The outside is smooth and seamless and once finished, the Bollard
Ceme-Tube™ provides a maintenance
free, aesthetically pleasing product. Concrete or asphalt will
not adhere to its sides which eliminates friction frost heaving,
and the cost is a quarter the price of a steel pipe that still
requires regular maintenance painting.
The Light Pole Ceme-Tube™
As if the tubes and Bollards
aren’t exciting enough,
The Light Pole Ceme-TubeTM steals the show! Designed to produce
a base for parking lot light poles, these specially designed
18”, 24”, and 30” diameter models
are also manufactured in reflective caution yellow, which contains
strong UV inhibitors to protect from fading. Visually appealing
and minimizing installation labor, the top perimeter has an
integral radius which transitions the sides of the Ceme-Tube™ to the top surface smoothly. A 17” diameter hole is provided
on the top to facilitate pouring, finishing and light pole
installation.
The smooth seamless walls of the
finished light pole base are extremely heavy to resist dents
and chips from vehicle contact. There are no visible air
pockets in the concrete, they never require painting and
are also available in custom colors. For more information
visit or call 715.377.2133. Ceme-Tube™ are currently available through Cemstone and Farrell Equipment
800.533.0909. Mention you learned of Ceme- TubeTM in Construction
Guide, so they know where you found them! |
