Pre-cast concrete construction is widely used for food plants, but the technique leaves pock marks that serve as excellent nesting places for insect larvae. For the Tolleson plant, concrete specialists at Younglove Construction Co. recommended using self-compacting concrete to eliminate the bug-hole problem and speed completion.
Self-compacting concrete relies on super-plasticizers in the mix to create concrete weighing two tons per cubic yard. Beefy metal forms are required, and the engineered panels must be pre-cast off site. For the Tolleson project, Younglove relied on Coreslab Structures Inc. in Phoenix to deliver 360 panels measuring up to 10 ft. by 65 ft.