The Speaker will be Rich Gardner of FiberForce by ABC Polymer, who will be speaking on the topic of concrete slab design utilizing fiber reinforcement including steel fibers, synthetic fibers, and blends of steel and synthetic fibers as the concrete reinforcing component. This presentation will illustrate for the Design Professional, Concrete Contractor and Ready Mix Producer the practical features and enhancements that fibers can bring to reinforced concrete slabs. From its inception, the perceived value of fiber reinforcement has been viewed in a very narrow scope. Recent Design, Testing and Verification developments for fiber reinforced systems will give the design professional greater flexibility in their efforts to design functional and cost-effective concrete slabs. Mr. Gardner will highlight the current state-of-the-art for various reinforcing systems, expose myths regarding the use of steel fiber reinforcement and provide the audience with a current view of where this unique construction component is

headed. More specifically, Mr. Gardner will address some of the recent challenges in the market place, such as volatile and escalating steel pricing & labor shortages, minimizing/eliminating curling issues by eliminating control joints, and designing slabs to achieve the correct end use. He will provide suggestions aimed at allowing contractors to conveniently place both concrete and reinforcement

Mr. Gardner is Technical Sales Manager for FiberForce by ABC Polymer. He began his construction career in 1992 with Calumet Construction Corporation as an estimator and project manager. After being in the general construction business for almost 15 years, Rich then started in the ready mixed concrete industry. With 13 years in the concrete industry, he now covers Indiana, Illinois, and western Ohio for FiberForce by ABC Polymers.