Alchatek Blog

Jump start your leak seal business at Alchemy-Spetec's Fall 2019 Training!  As stated in our blog post on Leak Seal Curriculum for 2019 Fall Training...

Get ready for a thorough education in polyurethane leak seal products and applications on Wednesday, October 9th (October 10th is geotech day), 2019 at Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience. Registration includes both days, but we’ll take a close look at the leak seal curriculum in today’s blog post…

The schedule on Wednesday, October 9th includes presentations on the Alchemy-Spetec leak seal product line, crack injection, curtain grouting, permeation grouting, pumps & packers, leak seal accessories and municipal applications. There will also be live injection demos, product mixing demos, and open discussions for sharing job related tips and solutions from the field.

In addition, you'll get an overview of geotech (concrete leveling & soil stabilization) products and procedures!  Here's a complete schedule for both days...

Wednesday Oct. 9th - Leak Seal

• Leak Seal Product Line Overview
• Curtain Grouting
• Permeation Grouting
• Leak-Seal Product Mixing
• Pump & Packer Overviews
• Leak-Seal Accessories
• Municipal Applications
• Live Injection Demos
• Open Discussions

Thursday Oct. 10th - Geotech

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Soil Stabilization
• Geotech Product Mixing
• Rig & Mobile System Overviews
• Geotechnical Accessories
• Slab Lifting Live Demo
• Deep Lift™ Overview
• Soil Testing with the
• GPR & Penetrometer
• Maintenance Discussions
• Pricing / Estimating / Cost Savings
• Open Discussions

Jump start your concrete leveling business at Alchemy-Spetec's Fall 2019 Training!  As stated in our blog post on Starting a Slab Lifting Business...

We can start you on the journey of total preparation for success in slab lifting. Our experienced technical consultants can educate you on the causes of settled slabs, the process of repairing them, and critical facts about the polymer material on which your jobs will rely. You'll learn about trailer rig options, the MixMaster slab lifting gun, pump options and accessory equipment. We also offer tips on markering your business, estimating materials for jobs, and essential techniques for avoiding on-the-job problems.

In addition, you'll get an overview of polyurethane leak seal products and procedures!  Here's a complete schedule for both days...

Wednesday Oct. 9th - Leak Seal

• Leak Seal Product Line Overview
• Curtain Grouting
• Permeation Grouting
• Leak-Seal Product Mixing
• Pump & Packer Overviews
• Leak-Seal Accessories
• Municipal Applications
• Live Injection Demos
• Open Discussions

Thursday Oct. 10th - Geotech

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Soil Stabilization
• Geotech Product Mixing
• Rig & Mobile System Overviews
• Geotechnical Accessories
• Slab Lifting Live Demo
• Deep Lift™ Overview
• Soil Testing with the
• GPR & Penetrometer
• Maintenance Discussions
• Pricing / Estimating / Cost Savings
• Open Discussions

We’re often contacted by spray foam contractors looking to add slab lifting to their skill set.  One of the first questions we’re asked is “what new equipment do I need?”  The answer is “not much”.  With just a few pieces of new equipment, an existing spray foam rig can be converted for slab lifting.  Here’s all the equipment you need:

• MixMaster Pro Slab Lifting Gun with Ports
• Titan 440 Flush Pump with Hose
• Dial Indicator Stand

Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight! Spray foam insulation guns are made for the simple process of spraying foam at constant pressures. The MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun designed to deal with changing pressures and back pressure without backing up or crossing over. Issues like leaky port connections, constant cleaning, and constant fumbling around with a clamp can drastical­ly reduce production - adding a lot of man hours to each project. Not to mention long nights spent rebuilding and cleaning the gun after EVERY job. Kiss all that goodbye, with a leak-proof gun that handles back pressure and is bulit to last! The Titan 440 is a pre-grout injection water flush pump for flushing Alchemy-Spetec’s MixMaster slab lifting gun. The Dial Indicator Stand provides real-time lift measurement during the concrete slab leveling process.

For more guidance on getting into the slab lifting business, contact Alchemy-Spetec’s industry-leading tech support team at 404-618-0438.

Want more information on equipping a rig for slab lifting?

Alchemy-Spetec is pleased to announce that our VP of Sales and Business Development, Jim Spiegel, recently completed Tier 1 of ICRI's Concrete Repair Technician Program.  As the industry leaders in technical support for contractors, distributors, and engineers, we pride ourselves in a company culture that encourages ongoing technical training for employees and executives. 

More on the ICRI Concrete Repair Technician Certification Program from ICRI website...

This online certification program was developed based on industry demand and...outlines repair inspector qualifications for the inspection of concrete repairs, and designates an individual who has been certified as an ICRI Concrete Surface Repair Technician, as a qualified inspector.

The Concrete Surface Repair Technician Certification Program is a competency-based program using current best practices for online training and evaluation. The Educational component is presented and tested online while the Performance component is tested both online through a knowledge exam and assessed by observable criteria (video submission or live recorded).

Tier 1 only applicants are those who may not be regularly engaged in concrete surface repair inspection and testing, yet have an active interest in learning more about the inspection and tests, be introduced to types of concrete deterioration, understand the requirements for a quality concrete surface repair, be aware of repair materials and methods, and be qualified to perform pre and post-placement inspections and testing.

Learn more about the ICRI Concrete Repair Technician Certification Program...

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Get ready for a thorough education in polyurethane slab lift/soil stabilization geotech products and applications on Thursday, October 10th (October 9th is leak seal day), 2019 at Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience. Registration includes both days, but we’ll take a close look at the geotech curriculum in today’s blog post…

The schedule on Thursday, October 10th includes education on the Alchemy-Spetec geotech product line, soil stabilization, slab lifting, the Deep Lift™ process, rig & mobile lifting systems, geotech accessories, soil testing (ground penetrating radar, penetrometer), pricing and estimating. There will also be live geotech demos, product mixing demos, and open discussions for sharing job related tips and solutions from the field.

Your instructors have years of experience providing technical support for contractors across the country. You can look forward to presentations, demos and/or discussions lead by Stephen C. Barton (President/CEO), Jim Spiegel (VP Sales & Business Development), Andy Powell (Southeastern Regional Manager), Anthony Sandone (Eastern Regional Manager), and Charlie Lerman (Western Regional Manager). 

Participants will receive a Samsung tablet loaded with leak seal training material.

Sign up while there's still space available...

Get ready for a thorough education in polyurethane leak seal products and applications on Wednesday, October 9th (October 10th is geotech day), 2019 at Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience. Registration includes both days, but we’ll take a close look at the leak seal curriculum in today’s blog post…

The schedule on Wednesday, October 9th includes presentations on the Alchemy-Spetec leak seal product line, crack injection, curtain grouting, permeation grouting, pumps & packers, leak seal accessories and municipal applications. There will also be live injection demos, product mixing demos, and open discussions for sharing job related tips and solutions from the field.

Your instructors have years of experience providing technical support for both contractors and distributors across the country. You can look forward to presentations, demos and/or discussions lead by Stephen C. Barton (President/CEO), Jim Spiegel (VP Sales & Business Development), Andy Powell (Southeastern Regional Manager), Anthony Sandone (Eastern Regional Manager), and Charlie Lerman (Western Regional Manager). 

Participants will receive a Samsung tablet loaded with leak seal training material.

Sign up while there's still space available...

As a member of the ICRI Board of Directors, I'm happy to share the following information about the upcoming ICRI Webinar: Specifying Concrete Repair.

Time and Date:
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
1-2 PM CDT / 2-3 PM EDT

This webinar will review issues that should be addressed when preparing a specification for concrete repair. ICRI developed an editable specification titled “Guide Specification for Structural Concrete Repairs” that can be used by design professionals. The webinar reviews the specification and discusses decisions that should be considered when developing a concrete repair specification.

Learning Objectives

1. Become familiar with ICRI Technical Guide No. 110.1, “Guide Specifications for Structural Concrete Repairs,” based on the CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) Masterformat.
2. Understand the breakdown of key information in the three parts of the specification: Part 1: General, Part 2: Products, and Part 3: Execution.
3. Understand the decisions made by the committee during the development of the specification. 
4. Be introduced to the decisions that will need to be made by the Design Professional when using the specification.
5. Learn the standard practices commonly used in the concrete repair industry, with options and commentary, and how to require them through specifications.

About the Presenter

Karl Rickert, PE, was born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Arnold, Maryland.  Thanks to familial connections, his father was a structural engineer. Karl obtained a job at Lamprecht Consultants, a structural engineering firm in Baltimore, where he worked during the summer after his junior year in high school until about 2 years after finishing college.

Between 1971 and 1975, Karl attended Drexel University, participated in their cooperative education program and became a student member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.  Following graduation with a BS in Civil Engineering, Karl spent the next 11 years gaining experience as a structural engineer through work at Lamprecht Consultants, Skarda & Rickert Structural Consultants, and Whitney, Bailey, Cox & Magnani.  In 1979, Karl became a registered professional engineer in the State of Maryland and is currently registered in eight states and the District of Columbia.  Karl completed an MS in structural engineering at George Washington University in 1984.

In 1986, Karl founded Rickert Engineering, Inc. and continues to serve as President of the firm.  Karl completed an MBA at Loyola College in Baltimore in 1994 and has maintained memberships in professional organizations including ACI, ACEC, AISC, ASCE, CSI, ICRI, and NSPE.  He has been an officer at the local level of several of these organizations and is currently active on committees (past-chair of Committee 110) at the national level of the International Concrete Repair Institute.  He is also currently serving on the Maryland Board of Professional Engineers.

Leak Seal & Geotech Products & Procedures

October 9th & 10th, 2019 at Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA

Get ready for a thorough education in Leak Seal, Slab Lifting, Soil Stabilization and the Alchemy-Spetec Deep Lift™ process. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience.

Wednesday - Leak Seal

• Leak Seal Product Line Overview
• Curtain Grouting
• Permeation Grouting
• Leak-Seal Product Mixing
• Pump & Packer Overviews
• Leak-Seal Accessories
• Municipal Applications
• Live Injection Demos
• Open Discussions

Thursday - Geotech

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Soil Stabilization
• Geotech Product Mixing
• Rig & Mobile System Overviews
• Geotechnical Accessories
• Slab Lifting Live Demo
• Deep Lift™ Overview
• Soil Testing with the
• GPR & Penetrometer
• Maintenance Discussions
• Pricing / Estimating / Cost Savings
• Open Discussions

Participants receive a Samsung tablet loaded with training material.

Your Instructors:

Stephen C. Barton (President/CEO), Jim Spiegel (VP Sales & Business Development), Andy Powell (Southeastern Regional Manager), Anthony Sandone (Eastern Regional Manager), Charlie Lerman (Western Regional Manager), and Michael Binyaminov (Western Sales Representative). 

Alchemy-Spetec is pleased to announce a customized version of the popular Estimate Rocket invoicing, client management and CRM tool for contractors.  The custom version includes material estimating calculators for Alchemy-Spetec geotech polyurethanes.  These calculators make it easy to figure out the amount of material you'll need for any given job.  Sign up now via this Alchemy-Spetec link to get the customized version!  (Visiting the Estimate Rocket site in any manner aside from the links we provide will get you the generic, non-customized version.)

Paperless Workflow

Creating impressive proposals has never been easier with Estimate Rocket’s easy-to-use business templates. Leave a lasting impression with professional paperless estimates and invoices you can create and deliver to clients in seconds. 

Job & Client Management

Keep your clients most important information organized and at your fingertips 24/7. The system automatically saves and organizes current and previous jobs, contact information, notes, and more.

Powerful CRM Tools

Stay connected with customer relationship management tools that keep you more responsive than ever before. Automated reminders and appointment scheduling let you know when to take action. Automated Follow-Ups stay in touch with your customers automatically.

Team Collaboration

Bring your entire team with an easy to use web-portal where crews can view appointments, field estimators can build estimates, and accountants can send out invoices.

Financial Reports

View up to the minute reports and know exactly where every job stands. Advanced reporting gives greater depth with detailed job statistics. Easily export to QuickBooks or other accounting software that imports CSV files.

Access on Any Device

Whether you’re on site with a customer or back in the office, you always have complete access to all features. Estimate Rocket works on Mac, PC, iOS, Android, Blackberry and any other web-enabled device.

AS Material Estimation Calculators

As mentioned previously, the Alchemy-Spetec customized version of Estimate Rocket features AS geotech material estimation calculators built in!

The Never-Ending Story

Over the last few years I have heard different versions of this story over and over again. It is usually shared at our weekly company-wide meeting. "So and so switched from the competition because they couldn't get the technical support they needed. A contractor I am working with had too many call-backs on his jobs because the foam from their previous supplier wasn't holding up after installation. My new customer said the equipment they bought from Company X is unreliable and frustrating to use." The list goes on.

Investment Brings Profit

The one thing all these new Alchemy-Spetec customers tend to have in common is that they started out trying to cut corners on material and equipment costs. They initially tried buying from the low price leaders in the industry, only to discover the hard way that you get what you pay for. Finally motivated to pay for quality, they are now enjoying maximum efficiency on the job with reliable equipment and durable high-strength polyurethane foam. Many new customers also express appreciation for the continued tech support and marketing assistance they recieve from Alchemy-Spetec. It's a big contrast from the "thanks for the check, we'll see ya' later" approach that many manufacturers have. The irony in all this is that the added value of top quality foam, equipment, tech support and marketing assistance more than makes up for the price difference. These new customers are turbo-charging their business with a new level of efficiency and productivity. It's actually fun to watch and gratifying to hear the feedback.

If you're one of those reformed bargain seekers checking out our site because you initially "got what you paid for", call us today at 404-618-0438 and let's discuss turbo-charging YOUR business!

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec slab lifting products?