26th June 1997 Concrete Turns to Gold at Parkes Mr. Ron Horner from Cabonne Contractors who originally carried out the surface earthworks at North Parkes Gold Mine site for the past three years was asked to tender 12 months ago for the civil work in the adjacent E26 underground mine construction. This is when Ron met a challenge. The mine owners wanted a 3.85 metre wide concrete pavement laid in the underground mine at the 9800 level which is 500 metres below the surface and 5 kilometres from the mine opening. The pour consisted of 80 mpa concrete with a pavement depth of 340mm and 3.85 metres wide. The mine owners insisted that a test pour be completed immediately so they could assess whether such a pavement would be suitable. Ron rang Advanced Building Systems (ABS) at 2.00 pm on Friday, 7th June 1996. Ron had heard of the performance of the Allen Razorback Air Screed. Ron said "What can you do for us, we need a new screed immediately." Advanced Building Systems Managing Director, Malcolm Davis, said "We can't put a new screed together in time for you to pick it up tomorrow morning at 8.30 am, but we can loan you a screed which will be available to be picked up at 8.30 am tomorrow." Ron Horner said the ABS team gave him the best service he has ever had. The screed performed perfectly. After excavating and blowing the loose rock and hammering any high rock from the floor, a 15 mpa binding layer was placed to a 10mm tolerance prior to forming and bracing the sides. The pour was programmed for the June Queen's Birthday long weekend, however, there was a late specification change made by the Mine Engineers at 10.00 am on Friday, 7th June, and the pour was to take place at 8.00 am on Sunday, 9th June. "We let our fingers do the walking," Ron said, and after explaining to Malcolm Davis the urgency of the matter he agreed to work a night shift crew and have the screed built to our specification ready for pick up at 8.30 am on Saturday the 8th June. The Allen Razorback Screed did the job and was delivered 500 kilometres away from Sydney by Saturday afternoon well in time for the Sunday pour. "The first staging of 5 kilometres of underground road pavement construction went without a hitch and now we are ready for the next pour. ABS in the meantime built our new screed, delivered it to the site at Parkes and swapped it over." Ron says "Many thanks to Advanced Building Systems Pty. Limited for the co-operation and customer service, as this type of understanding builds a Nation". To obtain the best in service Contact ABS Now