Who are these guys?

[Paverman Dan]

They placed a big ad in ICPI magazine here in the Colonies . . . but their website is in German.

They claim to have some sort of a patent on "Piccolo" pavers . .


http://www.egner-pflastersteine.de/deutsch/egner.htm

THANKS

PMD



Edited By Paverman Dan on 1101939997

[Tony McC]

I don't speak German (as some of your more jingoistic countrymen are often keen to point out, I am to be eternally indebted to them for this fact) but they are just another German CBP manufacturer desperate for new markets.

I haven't had my copy of the ICPI mag yet - it usually lands here a fortnight after everyone over there has chucked it in the bin - so I haven't seen the ad, but I'll look out for it when it eventually arrives.

All sorts of different blocks are patented. The Tegula system is a patented product that is licensed to specific manufacturers in different countries. If someone in, say, Belgium comes up with a ravishing new block format, they patent it and then flog the licence to, f'rinstance, Marshalls or Agg Industries in the UK, and to Oldcastle or Unilock in the States, and someone else in Oz...it enables them to make money from the idea without having to touch any concrete.

The ad is probably intended to attract attention from the big manufacturers in North Americaland, so that they make an approach to Egners and start talking licence fees and reciprocal deals and big dinners. It's not really practical for a German manufacturer to ship concrete across the Atlantic - but then, I get weekly, almost daily, requests from Chinese and Indian manufacturers eager to ship concrete over to Europeland, so you never know - and the readership of ICPI mag in Germany must be pretty minimal, so I can only assume it's a case of dangling a fly over the big American trouts.

[Paverman Dan]

Yeah, and the Chinese get their cement from the U.S. and pay 15% more for it, which is why we have a cement shortage in the US! Just curious . . what kind of products are the Chinese offering?

Back to the Mystery Germans. . . .I picked up the patent part by the ad . . . and was able to click on the photos of their pavers on the website, but there's nothing on the site that tells me what is so different about their molds. I am intrigued.

You would THINK someone in the marketing deaprtment would say, "Let's make sure we have an English website before we spend money on an ad in an American magazine"!

Tony you are in for a treat. ICPI mag has a great article on slab and slab installation. I enjoy those magazines, their well researched articles, and their case studies. I reccomend anyone that installs in the US make sure they get a subscription to ICPI magazine, if they are not a member.

Tony, Do ICPI's British bretheren put out a similar periodical?



Edited By Paverman Dan on 1101940607

[Tony McC]

I think the ICPI mag is the best block paving mag in the world. It's well-written, informative, interesting and relevant. It appeals across the board, to contractors, designers, architects, town planners, and students of landscape trades. It features advertisements from a wide-ish range of manufacturers, provides handy links to tool and materials suppliers, and always has great photos of new design layouts that inspire contractors to think more about their own offerings. Although some of it is not relevant to me in Britain, I read it from cover to cover and always look forward to setting aside a leisurely lunch hour to pore over its contents.

In contrast, Interlay, the so-called independent trade body for block layers in Britain, which is actually owned and controlled by a clique of the larger manufacturers, publishes a quarterly (allegedly) mag by the name of Pave-It which seems to be a vehicle for blowing their own trumpet, publishing photos of the grinning big-wigs involved, and promoting sales of products from the manufacturers behind the organisation. There is virtually no in-depth coverage of techniques, new developments, classy jobs and no discussion forum or letters page - it's all about what wonderful chaps they all are and seems to be aimed primarily at architects and design office staff rather than the lads and lasses that actually work the sites.

If there's one thing the Brits do better than anyone else, it's the ability to form committees, and the incestuous relationship between Interlay (the layers organisation) and Interpave (the manufacturers dining club) is a prime example of this. Interlay has little or no relevance to the vast majority of block paving contractors in Britain, and that is a crime. We need a trade body that actively and demonstrably promotes best practice, competent training, certified qualifications and technical advice. What we have is a gentleman's club more interested in Big Dinners.

</end rant>


You can download the latest edition of Pave-It in PDF format from the Interpave website or use this link

[LandscapeMann]

"""I reccomend anyone that installs in the US make sure they get a subscription to ICPI magazine, if they are not a member."""

Paverman Dan,
Do you have any contact info for ICPI? Sorry to say I am not familiar with it. But I would like to learn more.
Thanks,
LM

[Paverman Dan]

www.icpi.org

202-712-9036

I would also ask about their certification program, and get certified. Its $250 for a two day class, theres a lot of manufacturers on the East Coast that host them.

[LandscapeMann]

PMD,
Excellent!!
I will look into getting certified ( I am already certified "crazy" ).

I am near Wash DC, funny that I had to go to a Irish web site to find out about the ICPI which is a stones throw away from me!

LM

[Tony McC]

The ICPI mag arrived while I was away in Ireland this week. I had a quick look at the article on slabs, and there's a couple of things that caught my eye as being 'iffy'. I'll have a proper read of it this weekend and post back next week.