Innovative Product Development and Sustainability

Concrete Products in the Course of Time

Fig. 1 Advertising column made of precast 1935
[Betonsteinzeitung 1935].
Abb. 1 Anschlagsäule (Litfaßsäule) aus Betonstein 1935 [Betonsteinzeitung 1935,
Heft 1].

Fig. 2 Precast elements at
Trade show „Leipziger Herbstmesse“ 1935 [Betonsteinzeitung 1935, Heft 5].Abb 2 Betonsteinerzeugnisse auf der Leipziger Herbstmesse 1935 [Betonsteinzeitung 1935, Heft 5].

Fig. 3 Several products of precast industry – percentage of total amount 1939 [Beton-steinzeitung 1940, Heft 21].Abb. 3 Erzeugnisse der Betonsteinindustrie; wertmäßiger Anteil in Prozent der Gesamterzeugung 1939 [Betonsteinzeitung 1940, Heft 21].

Fig. 4 Advertising: standard cement 1940 [Betonsteinzeitung 1940, Heft 1].

Fig. 5 „Egg-layer“ for hollow blocks 1950 [Betonsteinzeitung 1950, Heft 9].

Fig. 6 Paving block machine for hollow blocks 1950 [Beton-steinzeitung 1950, Heft 9].

Fig. 7 Device for determination of density of no-slump concretes and for specimen production [21].
Abb. 7 Gerät zur Rohdichte-Bestimmung erdfeuchter Betone und Probekörperherstellung [21] .

Fig. 8 Correlation between w/c-ratio, packing density and compressive strength (28 days) [22].
Abb. 8 Zusammenhang zwischen w/z-Wert, Packungsdichte und 28-Tage-Druckfestigkeit [22].

Fig. 10 Vibration proctor [22].
Abb. 10 Rüttelproctor [22].

Fig. 12 Slabs produced in
wetcast [34].
Abb. 12 Betonplatten nach dem Wet-Cast-Verfahren [34].

Fig. 14 Natural stone embedded in concrete paving blocks - petented by O. Pötsch at 1900 [Betonsteinzeitung 6/1965].Abb. 14 In Beton eingesetzte Natursteine nach dem Patent von O. Pötsch um 1900
[Betonsteinzeitung 6/1965].

Fig. 14 Paving block with embedded granite in Büsum/
Germany at 1935 [Betonsteinzeitung 6/1965].Abb. 14 Betonpflasterstein mit einbetonierten Granit-
steinen in Büsum um 1935 [Betonsteinzeitung 6/1965].

Fig. 15 Interlocking paver
with I-shape for curves [BFT 5/1976].
Abb. 15 Verbundsteine in
I-Form mit Kurvensatz
[BFT 5/1976].

Abb. 16 Interlocking paver with S-shape for curves [BFT 9/1965].Abb. 16 Verbundsteine in S-Form mit Kurvensatz [BFT 9/1965].

Fig. 17 System of a paving block machine [BFT 11/2007].Abb. 17 Aufbau eines Stein-
fertigers für Schockvibration [BFT 11/2007].

Fig. 18 Quality control using vacuum lifting device [65].Abb. 18 Vakuum-Gerät für manuelle Qualitätskontrolle [65].

Fig. 19 Measurement for quality coontrol of no-slump concretes (density, compaction of core- and face-concrete) [BFT 4/2009 ].Abb. 19 Messgeräte für die Qualitätskontrolle erdfeuchter Produkte (Rohdichte sowie Verdichtungsqualität Vorsatz- und Kernbeton) [BFT 4/2009 ].

Fig. 20 Comparison of permeable and non-permeable areas [BFT 6/2005].
Abb. 20 Vergleich zwischen wasserdurchlässigen und
versiegelten Flächen
[BFT 6/2005].

Fig. 21 Ecological paving system as a clock face in a solar clock at „Landschaftspark Emscherbruch/Germany“ [BFT 9/2005].Abb. 21 Öko-Pflaster als „Zifferblatt“ für die Sonnenuhr auf der Bergehalde Hoheward im Landschaftspark Emscherbruch [BFT 9/2005].

 Concrete products have been manufactured for over 160 years. Concrete roof tiles and other concrete products (earlier called cement products) were manufactured by the casting method with Roman cement already before Portland cement was invented. A following step was manufacture of cast-cement pipes from very soft concrete, without compaction, which was a forerunner of self-compacting concrete. It is noteworthy that in the development years of cement application in Germany, the manufacture of concrete products played a prominent role as pacemaker for the introduction of concrete as a construction product. Among the most important concrete products were railroad sleepers, pumice planks, roof tiles, hollowcore floor slabs, gravestones, hollow blocks, guideposts, crash barriers, masonry blocks, slabs, pipes, stair steps, and animals troughs.

Some of the products listed above are now no longer or only rarely manufactured. Ongoing innovation by manufacturers, however, has meant development of many new products – paving blocks, for example. They enable aesthetic, functional, and ecological shaping of our environment. This is not the context for comprehensive presentation of the very broad spectrum of this fascinating development, with the result that the following article is by no means a complete and full survey.