Alchatek Blog

Many of the contractors I’ve worked with over the years have had to give a presentation at one time or another. In some cases they need to make a pitch to a potential client (for example at municipality or state agency contract meetings). In other cases they have the opportunity to market their services by giving presentations at trade shows, “lunch and learn” seminars, webinars, home owner association meetings, professional association events, etc.

Presentation opportunities can sometimes arise on short notice. This is why you can benefit from creating presentations ahead of time. If you’d like, you can ask our marketing team to critique your presentation. You can also inquire about getting a member of our sales team to co-present when an opportunity does come along.

Incorporate the following tips to create a powerful presentation for your contracting business. Some of these suggestions may seem contrary to everyday conventional practice, but who wants a run of the mill presentation? We’ve tested this approach time and time again, with consistent positive results. It will be worth your while to at least give it a shot.

Less Words

As a detail oriented professional, you may be inclined to pack your presentation slides with lots of text in order to get all your important points across. This is not the most effective way to give a presentation. It can lead to information overload and a drowsy, impatient audience. When creating a presentation, you want to condense the information and only include text that is absolutely essential.

Powerful Images

Now that you have seriously scaled back your text use, the next step is to make the presentation livelier. The audience needs to be actively engaged rather than bombarded with data. If you associate a powerful image with each essential point, the audience is better able to visualize and remember the concept.

Engaging Stories

Once you have simplified your text and added visually striking images, you can add extra punch by incorporating stories to get your points across. As a contractor you probably have many stories from the trenches. Telling a story is a surefire way to make sure a message sticks.

White Paper Instead of Note-Taking

One thing that dilutes the impact of even the most powerful presentations is audience note-taking. This habit guarantees that half their time is spent looking down at their desk rather than paying attention to you. That’s why it’s helpful to prepare a whitepaper (basically a multi-page essay with any essential graphics) that summarizes all the key points from your presentation. Inform the audience up front that there is no need to take notes, as they will receive a written summary afterwards. Explain to them that they’ll get a lot more out of the presentation if they provide their full attention.

Conclusion

Since I believe in giving credit where credit is due, I'd like to acknowlede that most of these ideas came from the book Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds.

For more tips on how to create a powerful presentation for your contracting business, or to inquire about co-presenting with one of our specialists, give us a call at 404-618-0438.

Want more ideas for marketing your contracting business?

Aging sewer and storm water systems across the country are plagued by infiltration and inflow; especially in areas with high water tables and sandy soils. Over time, compacted soils around catch basins, manholes, and culverts relax and result in deflection of joints and pipe connections. The end result is infiltration of ground water into the storm and waste water systems. This infiltration erodes the soils surrounding below grade drainage structures resulting in sinkholes, settling roadways, and property damage; not to mention the extra cost of treating that uninvited ground water.

The solution is a combination of sealing leaking joints both from within the drainage structures and through point grouting from street level. Expansive polyurethanes such as AP Seal 500 and AP Fill 700 produced by Alchemy-Spetec can be injected directly into pipe and manhole connections where they react with infiltrating water and expand to seal off leaking joints. Additional point grouting from street level fills voids and permeates loose soils. This relieves hydrostatic pressure from the structures and strengthens the ground to support the above roadways and sidewalks.

For below grade structures that a man can safely enter, direct polyurethane injection is the best option. Holes can be drilled directly into the joints or leaking cracks, injection ports are then installed, and AP Seal 500 is directly injected to permanently seal active leaks.

If interior access is limited, point grouting technique can be implemented. This involved driving pipes into the vicinity of the active leaks on the outside of the structures and injecting AP Fill 700.
 

If you would like to discuss either of these products or procedures, please call us at 404-618-0438.

Want more info on infrastructure leak seal and void fill?

In previous blog posts we’ve discussed marketing your concrete repair business using referral sites, a blog, and social media. Each approach has its own set of benefits. This blog post will be focused on the advantages of marketing your contracting business at home shows.

Home shows are a fairly well known marketing method. But if you’re new to the industry, this is a subject worth reviewing. Home shows provide face to face contact with potential customers who are looking for home repair solutions. Many attendees at home shows are actually in the stages of remodeling, landscaping and decorating their homes. This could even be your chance to converse with other businesses and potentially form new contacts.

This face to face approach is valuable as customers are able to see product demonstrations up close, ask in depth questions and get to know you a little. Some shows offer additional promotional material specific to your business. This can include anything from listing your business on the show website, sending out direct newsletters, temporary custom websites, exhibit workshops, and news releases.

Want more suggestions for marketing your contracting business?

As a technical consultant I am able to document significant repairs in action while advising customers on on polyurethane application. In this case we were dealing with a water filled void.

Water filed voids can be filled with two component polymer foam designed to work in wet conditions. AP 475 foam will cure to 90% full strength in 15 minutes. Polyurethane foam conforms to void shape more accurately than cement grout, and - unlike cement - it doesn't shrink or sink over time.

Take a look at the video to see for yourself...

In the video clip at the bottom of this post, you'll see polyurethane being used to seal air leaks in new manholes before they were vacuum tested. I was on this "do or die" job as a consultant. Apparently they had been having trouble with the first type of product they tried.

I remember stepping out of my truck and being greeted by our customer with the words, "I don't wanna' hear can't! I don't wanna hear won't! We gotta make this work!" Based on my experience working with polyurthane, I wasn't too worried. It all worked out in the end and the manholes passed the vacuum seal tests. Take a look at the video for an overview of the polyurethane leak seal process...

Want in-depth info on polyurethane leak seal?

While consulting with a customer on a recent job, I happened to capture a great video clip of the MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun in action. I've included the footage at the bottom of this blog post. It's important to note that this video was NOT sped up. You'll see a slab lifted in real time by the MixMaster Pro.

This two-component resin injection gun is manufactured specifically for lifting concrete slabs, and is designed to handle back-pressure. 

Want more info on the MixMaster Pro?

Back in 2012, after three decades in the industry, I decided to start Alchemy Polymers. I wanted to focus specifically on injection resins for sealing leaks, stabilizing soil, and lifting/leveling concrete slabs. Armed with a clear vision for higher quality products and better tech support, my team and I have dedicated ourselves to providing customers with the powerful polymers and painless procedures they need to achieve the rapid results their projects demand. Due to this laser focus, we’ve experienced tremendous growth in just a few short years. I’d like to take a moment and thank all of the contractors, municipal managers and engineers who have supported us over the past half a decade.

Our success hasn’t gone unnoticed. This past spring I was approached by Resiplast US/Spetec to discuss a potential partnership. ResiplastUS/Spetec is widely known for their extensive line of polyurethane and acrylic leak seal and water stop products. After months of discussions, negotiations and planning, I’m pleased to announce that Alchemy Polymers and Resiplast US/Spetec will join to form a new business called Alchemy-Spetec. What this means for you: More products to choose from and more technical staff to help with your questions and projects.

I'll leave you with the official press release below...

Joint Venture Between Alchemy Polymers and Resiplast US

Resiplast US Inc. (HQ in Cyprus Texas) and Alchemy Polymers (HQ in Tucker Georgia) have concluded a joint-venture by which the business activities of Resiplast US Inc. and those of Alchemy Polymers will be centralized in a new company: Alchemy-Spetec. 

The joint-venture will be created on a 50/50 basis and will be led by Stephen Barton, the owner and managing director of Alchemy Polymers. 

Resiplast US Inc. started its activities in the United States early 2014 selling the Spetec range of injection resins manufactured in the Belgian production unit of Resiplast. 

Because of the increased business activity of Resiplast in the States, the company decided to start local manufacturing of these products in the States, hence the creation of the joint-venture. 

The Spetec range of products will be produced in the factory of Alchemy Polymers, which will be contributed to the new company. In addition, Alchemy-Spetec will allow Alchemy Polymers and Resiplast to manufacture and market complementary products and to drastically strengthen their presence in the US market. 

The integration and strengthening of the commercial teams of Alchemy Polymers and Resiplast US will be a benefit to the growth of the new company in the market. 

Resiplast Inc. is a subsidiary of the Belgian Koramic Construction Chemicals.

Quote from Stephen Barton, owner and managing director of Alchemy Polymers:

“I am very happy with the alliance with the Koramic-group and more specifically with the engagement of the management team of Koramic Construction Chemicals. Besides bringing in a complementary and new range of products, they contribute to the new company with a vast knowledge and experience in our industry.” 

Quote from Guy Colson, CEO of Koramic Construction Chemicals: 

“I am very pleased that I can work together with Stephen Barton who I’ve come to know as an excellent entrepreneur and manager. The synergies created by this joint-venture will provide extra benefits for our customers. Together we will be able to grow our joint business faster."

Alchemy Polymers is a U.S. based manufacturer of polyurethane resins. The company started in 2013 and specializes in injection resins for soil stabilization, slab lifting and leak sealing. 

Koramic Construction Chemicals, a division of the Koramic Group, combines the activities of all construction chemical related business of the group; its main brands are Spetec, Resiplast and Cermix. Koramic Construction Chemicals has factories in Belgium, France, Switzerland and Turkey. Spetec specifically focuses on injection resins for leak sealing and soil stabilization. The Koramic Group is a Belgian privately owned group active in a wide range of industrial activities and employing > 6000 people in 15 countries. 

Alchemy-Spetec is the first industrial company of the Koramic Group in the States.

For more information, please contact :

Stephen Barton
404-618-0431
sbarton@alchemypolymers.com                                                              

Guy Colson
+32477873983
Guy.Colson@koramic.be

Want in-depth info on slab lift, leak seal and soil stabilization solutions?

Since we haven’t discussed it very much in our blog posts, you may be surprised to learn how much we have to offer on large scale and international projects. In this post I’ll share a list of recent examples to provide a sense of how we can assist in these types of situations.

New York City, New York - Metropolitan Transit Authority

AP Seal 500 leak seal resin was used to repair thousands of feet of cracks through­out new subway tunnels.

Toquepala, Peru - Southern Peru Copper Mine

On this job, we provided the crew with AP Lift 440 rigid polyurethane foam to stabilize loose soil beneath a concrete building. We also provided on-site consulting services.

Guangzhou, China - Guangzhou Highway

We provided AP Lift 475 foam and on-site consultation for soil stabilization and the lifting of a bridge approach slab.

Saskatchewan, Canada – MGM Seed and Grain

AP Lift 440 was used to level 900,000 lbs of interior sunken concrete slabs. We also provided on-site technical consulting. Later, 24” thick slabs supporting grain silos were raised and stabilized.

Tijuana, Mexico – Federal Courthouse

On this project, AP Soil 600 stabilization foam was used to shore up the foundation beneath a sinking multi-story concrete building.

Cincinnati, Ohio – Cincinnati Zoo

In the African Lion Exhibit there was a leak in the concrete moat that surrounds the enclosure. AP Seal 500 was applied to the problem areas to stop the water flow and prevent the unnecessary loss of water.

Conclusion

Regardless of the location or size of your job, we’re here to help. We have extensive experience consulting on locations all over the globe and our products are proven performers on the largest, most challenging projects.

Want more in-depth info on AP products?

We've partnered with Accord Financial Group to assist our customers with equipment financing.  Here's what makes them unique...

• Financing equipment purchases since 1992
• Average 1,000 transactions per year
• $300,000,000 total financings
• Nation-wide coverage
• Both new and used equipment
• About any kind of capital asset — from $5,000 to $1,000,000
• A portfolio of programs accommodate different customer sizes, types of business, and credit quality
• Unique payment structures are available for differing customer needs
• Great terms for customers with stronger credit
• For challenged credits, they take the time to get to know a customer's special strengths

Want to discuss financing your next equipment purchase?

As the end of the year approaches, it feels appropriate to take a look back at some the most popular Alchemy Polymers blog posts.  A quick look at the stats on the day I write this article reveals the top posts to be Slab Jacking with Polyurethane Foam – How Strong is Strong Enough?, Stop Erosion Through Your Seawall with Polyurethane and Permeation vs. Compaction Grouting in Sandy Soils.

Slab Jacking with Polyurethane Foam – How Strong is Strong Enough?

This is one of our earlier posts and it still proves to be immensely popular. It's not hard to figure why so many people look into an article on this particular subject. One of the first questions to come to mind for anyone new to this "foam" technology is - will it hold up? The answer, of course, is a resounding YES! In this post I explain why that is the case. If you're interested in the strengths of our various lifting foams, how they hold up compared to clay and bedrock, and what types of jobs you can do with them - you need to read Slab Jacking with Polyurethane Foam – How Strong is Strong Enough?

Stop Erosion Through Your Seawall with Polyurethane

This post lays out the causes of seawall erosion, the costs of replacement, and the case for repair with polyurethane resin. More and more people are repairing seawalls with our environmentally safe polymers. We have a great deal of literature and information regarding this process if you're interested. In the meantime, for a basic overview, check out Stop Erosion Through Your Seawall with Polyurethane.

Permeation vs. Compaction Grouting in Sandy Soils

This article compares two different types of soil stabilization techniques for sandy soils: permeation grouting and compaction grouting (aka fracture grouting). Permeation grouting is done using a one component, low viscosity resin that slowly soaks into the soils with minimal disruption. Compaction/fracture grouting is done using a plural component, high viscosity resin that pushes the soil together in a more forceful manner. For more on this subject, read Permeation vs. Compaction Grouting in Sandy Soils.

Want more in-depth info on slab jacking, seawall repair and soil stabilization?