Top 10 Leaders Draft Chicago 2019 US Concrete | Page 2

Located near downtown
Chicago, the Elston teams manufac-
tures normal, medium, light weight,
and split face concrete. The conve-
nient location allows for quick deliv-
ery or pickup all over the city.
“Usually we’re able to deliver
concrete either the same day as the
order, or the next day, depending on
how busy we are, but most of the
time if you place an order, and you
call us in the morning, usually we’ll
be able to deliver it,” said Alex.
Because their fresh concrete is
mixed on site, customers only pay
for what they use. This works well
for smaller contractors who aren’t
always exactly sure about calcula-
tions, explained Lenny, vice-presi-
dent of Elston Materials. If
contractors require more concrete
than what had been requested,
they’ll normally have extra concrete
on the truck that they can supply.
This helps reduce waste; another
feat the team is proud of.
Flexibility is another trait that
sets them apart. They are able to
change the mix designs on the spot
if needed, which, again, helps keep
their waste to a minimum.
“You don’t have to be that accu-
rate when you order because you
can actually make more or less con-
crete right there on the site,” ex-
plained Lenny.
“Our trucks carry up to nine yards
of concrete, so we can deliver a
range from one to nine yards in
each truck.”
Being able to pour concrete on-
site means the company isn’t lim-
ited, and can handle any kind of
pour. Alex and Lenny think of their
trucks as “travelling plants” since
they can be loaded up on the plant
with dry material, and then mixed
with water at the actual job site.
This is where the concrete’s “hydra-
tion process” starts.
The trucks act as hydraulically
controlled concrete chutes that can
reach up to 18 feet. Customers ap-
preciate that their drivers are able to
control the chute and move it
around for them, resulting in less
work for the concrete crew who will
eventually place the concrete.
Another plus for the company is
the minimal clean out, since the
company works with chutes, rather
than large barrel mixers.
From a sustainability standpoint,
both brothers tout the fact that their
trucks can be refilled on a job site if
necessary, which saves them a lot
of travel time.
“Instead of ordering five or six
trucks on a job site, where you’re
putting all that ignition into the air,
our truck can just stay onsite,” said
Alex. “There’s less travel, less fuel,
and less ignition involved in the pro-
cess.”
Elston also prides itself on top-
of-the-line equipment trucks that
they like to keep as clean as possi-
ble since they “act as travelling bill-
boards”.
“We like to look professional. We
don’t like to see our trucks going
down the street looking all dirty and
sloppy – I think that says something
about your company. We like to
keep them clean and in good work-
ing order,” said Lenny.
The quality of materials is tested
regularly both in-house and inde-
pendently. Excellence in their pro-
cesses is one of the team’s core
values, along with remaining cus-
tomer-friendly and customer-orien-
tated. The company wants repeat
customers, and reminds their con-
crete drivers regularly that they are
the “number one salesmen out
there.”
“It simple: if the crew likes them,
they’ll keep ordering from us,” said
Alex.
Chicago Construction News — SPRING 2019 – 9