What is the most valuable material on earth?

If you answer by the gram, you might guess diamonds. Or google will tell you a list of rare elements produced in a lab. But if we reconsider the question by which material makes the greatest economic impact, I’d argue that the answer is concrete.

Of course, concrete is more affordable than diamonds. It’s produced using raw materials that are abundant almost everywhere on earth. That affordability and versatility are exactly what makes concrete so valuable. As I outlined in this previous article, precast concrete is crucial to the infrastructure and economy of our nation.

The concrete industry is equally, if not more, important to our home, the State of Texas. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a proclamation declaring, “Concrete is an integral component of our nation’s infrastructure, and reinforced concrete pipe and precast concrete products are of vital importance to sustainable communities and to the health, safety and well-being of the people of Texas.”

Texas has been the leading producer of ready-mix concrete in the United States since 2014, and most concrete batch plants bring an average of 20 skilled labor positions with an average annual salary of at least $50,000, according to the Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association. And that economic impact ripples throughout the state.

An independent analysis found that in 2018, the reinforced concrete pipe industry alone generated 4,960 local jobs and paid $341 million in wages and benefits. It also found that the reinforced concrete pipe industry generated $617 million in state GDP creation.

We’re proud of the part that AmeriTex plays in our state’s economy, and in the lives of our team members. They’ve helped revolutionize how reinforced concrete pipe is made with our state-of-the-art equipment and innovative processes. But more importantly, they make it happen every day with their know-how and hard work.

That spirit is truly our most valuable asset.

Focused on your success,

Rocky

Rocky Lorenz is Chief Operating Officer at AmeriTex Pipe & Products. With over 13 years of industry experience, his technical and logistical knowledge has helped him earn a reputation for completing projects ahead of schedule and under budget.