A look back

Early in my tenure I realized the job of President of RPA was going to be very challenging. Balancing many different, and often conflicting, interests can make it easy to become discouraged. Like others in the association I, at times, would question if all the time I was spending and the money contributed through assessments was really benefiting my company. After seeing the results of all this effort, the answer is still yes.

Since 1998 I have personally witnessed interest in Asphalt-Rubber grow in areas outside the southwest region of the United States and the State of Florida. This really struck me on two occasions.

First, in 1998 when the RPA staff decided we should hold an International Symposium. I suspected it might draw a few attendees from Canada and Mexico, and I was stunned when I learned we had registrants from 17 different countries around the world.

The second revelation of how much interest in Asphalt-Rubber exists around the world came as I attended AR 2000 in Portugal last November. During the four-day conference I witnessed people from thirty-three different countries, anxious to share their experiences and learn about the technology. Two of the presentations from the Republic of South Africa were extremely enlightening, as this country has been using Asphalt-Rubber far longer than some of the major user agencies in the United States.
Despite the euphoria and gratification I experienced at both conferences, the haunting question of "Why isn't there this much interest in the U.S?" always came to mind. There are several answers to this dilemma but the one I have come to appreciate most is really quite simple.

Former members of the Asphalt-Rubber industry had frequently found a way to shoot themselves in the foot. From their ill-conceived support of the federal mandate that was contained in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 to a hard determination to encourage the exclusivity of the product, the industry as a whole missed an opportunity for routine use in many areas.

Note I said "former" members as none of them are involved in the industry today. It took very little time before the new companies that came along after the Asphalt-Rubber patents expired to realize how this action had destroyed the credibility of the fledgling industry.

My predecessor, Jeffrey Smith, one of the first leaders of the industry to recognize the "folly" of federal activities, pulled the association out of Washington DC. He set it on a course of action to restore its credibility and share the changes and advances in the industry with our real customer bases, the state and local agencies.

Our distinguished Technical Advisory Board (TAB) gave us some very sound advice. "Do the research that needs to be done to prove the viability of the product. You can't wait for someone else to do it." From that sound counseling the RPA embarked on an ambitious program of research that few associations of similar size would dare undertake.

The contractors in our industry ponied up a special assessment on their blending equipment units to jump start our research program. In just three years we have accomplished some major projects.

We commissioned a "Life Cycle Cost Analysis" (Hicks/Epps), a "Quality Control, Quality Assurance" manual (Hicks/Epps), Texas A-R Project Review (Tahmoressi), Arizona A-R Project Review (ADOT/Morris/Carlson), California Fatigue Tests (Univ. of Alaska/Raad), "Development of a Mechanistic Design Method for Asphalt-Rubber Hot Mixes" (Sousa/Stubstad/Pais).

Available in the near future is a "Asphalt-Rubber Design Guide" which is being done in cooperation with the California Integrated Waste Management Board, the Northern California RAC Technology Center and RPA.

On the horizon is a five year research program developed by our TAB which will make this product more "user friendly" and compatible with today's paving standards. We are currently working on some exciting developments to assure that this industry's research will continue to be performed.

In addition to the research, the association has conducted or participated in at least a dozen workshops and/or conferences per year since 1997. We have created a website that has reached every corner of the globe and we have an ongoing technology transfer program to over 6,000 recipients through this newsletter. Most importantly, we have established the Association as the credible voice of this industry.
As I look back, I can say, yes, it has been worth the time and the money from my company FNF and all the companies that have banded together in "the industry."

Though my term is over, I am not finished with the labors, I will continue to serve RPA as Chairman of the Technical Advisory Board and the Environmental and Safety Committee. To all our membership, I say thanks for the opportunity to serve. And watch where you point any loaded guns.

Quantum Group acquires Technology Development

UTEK/Quantum Group - Left to right: Sam Reiber, vice president and general counsel (UTEK), Uwe Reischl, president (UTEK), John F. Pope, vice president - finance (Quantum Group), Dr. Clifford M. Gross, chairman and CEO (UTEK), Ehrenfried Liebich, chairman and CEO (Quantum Group), Keith J. Fryer, president and COO (Quantum Group).

The Quantum Group, Inc. has acquired Technology Development, Inc., from UTEK Corp. in a stock-for-stock transaction.

Technology Development holds a worldwide exclusive license from Dartmouth College for the ground surface applications of a novel ice adhesion modification system developed at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering.

Deicing is accomplished by using an electrochemical decomposition technology. In cold environments, it may provide important deicing advantages for new projects and existing roads, bridges, and other surfaces.

"We intend to seek sub-licensees for this technology as there are many potential applications in deicing bridges, roadways, and airport runways," said Keith Fryer, president.

The Quantum Group is focused on the acquisition and development of environmental technologies and products primarily related to waste tire and rubber recycling systems.