APE APE December 2019 | Page 6

COVER STORY Advertorial PAVING CARLSON’S WAY Carlson Readies for Next Decade Behind Growing Paver Line I f there is one thing the Pacific Northwest is known for, it’s the leg- endarily dreary weather. Rain and overcast skies dominate the forecast for half the year, made even more op- pressive by the shortened days of winter. Thankfully, there’s also some good cof- fee. But even against this backdrop, the spirit at Carlson Paving Products couldn’t be brighter. Acquired by Astec Industries in 2000, Carlson is currently building a cutting-edge factory near its Tacoma, Washington headquarters. As they wit- ness the construction of the company’s impressive new facility, the Carlson em- ployees brim with confidence and ex- www.callape.com By Travis Colwell citement. For them, the new structure symbolizes the next chapter in the com- pany’s already-impressive history. “This represents one of the largest projects by Astec Industries,” explains Travis Colwell, Marketing Coordinator for Carlson. “Our roots have always run deep in Tacoma, and we are thrilled to be able to expand our company right here in our hometown.” The growth of Carlson and the expan- sion of its manufacturing footprint has been not only been a testament to the men and women who build the com- pany’s leading products, but also gives form to the company’s emergence as an international leader in commercial pav- er platforms. [6] Since its entrance into the market 2008, Carlson’s commercial paver lineup has grown to include platforms like the CP100 II and newly debuted CP60 and CP65 international pavers. Laying the Foundation The story of Carlson’s growth and eventual factory expansion started in the mid-2000s as the company looked into new opportunities to expand its product line. Since the early 1980s, Carlson had been known for one prod- uct above all others – the front-mount asphalt screed. The global market leader in front-mount platforms, Carl- son looked at new product possibilities through the same lens it had when de- signing new generation asphalt screeds, explained Colwell. “Whether the first front-mounted hy- draulic extensions to be put on a screed, or the first manufacturer to introduce a 1.800.210.5923