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We invite comparison of the Con-Cure
System with any other maturity system. Many people ask us "What's so special
about your system?" Here are a few of the things we think are important to know
before buying just any maturity system:
Is the Con-Cure System really better?
Because we built our system for us to use
when we conduct on-site maturity testing,
the Con-Cure system is designed with several features in mind:
Accuracy. Above all, the system has to be accurate. The other systems on
the market have serious limitations on the accuracy of the measurements. For example, the
Con-Cure system allows for several keys that are "dialed in" to match the
conditions of any jobsite. No other system has so many keys. And compare the Con-Cure
thermistor probes to any thermocouple for accuracy.
Output. Once the test is conducted, getting fast, easy-to-read output is
very important. The Con-Cure system’s output consists of full-color graphs of all of
the results including temperature history and maturity so everyone on the project is kept
informed. A specially-designed report template is provided for easy printouts.
Size & Ruggedness. We needed meters that were pocket-sized, rugged
and weather-protected. We couldn’t afford to replace damaged meters every time they
got wet. And lugging a bulky, fragile maturity meter around a jobsite is just not an
option for us.
Cost. We wanted to be able to place many meters in each job—and
have many jobs going at once. Spending over $1,500 per meter didn’t seem like the
smartest thing to do.
Compare the Con-Cure system with any
other maturity meter.
You’ll see why Con-Cure is the fastest growing company in this
market.
Comparison Worksheet
Feature |
Con-Cure System |
Typical
Maturity Meter |
Benefit |
| Size & Weight |
Smaller than a pack of
cigarettes |
About the size of a small
shoebox |
Smaller is better when
deploying meters. |
| Cost of Meter |
$479 or less per meter |
$1,200-$1,800 ea. |
Lower cost means better
coverage for large jobs and smaller up-front investment for smaller contractors |
| Type of Sensor |
Thermistor (better than ± 0.1° C accuracy) |
Thermocouple (± 5° C on average) |
Thermistor is much more
accurate. Pre-assembled, pre-calibrated. No "strip-twist-solder-coat with
plastic" routine. |
| Sensor Corrosion
Protection |
Epoxy-embedded thermistor
will not corrode, even under long-term use |
Thermocouples prone to
corrosion in strongly alkaline concrete environment |
Better technology means
better results. Allows long-term monitoring if desired. Zero drift. |
| Maturity Equations,
Variables |
All, independently accessible
at all times. |
Choice of one when
purchasing |
Allows fine-tuning to any
job site or ambient condition. Increased accuracy. |
| Instructional Training |
On-site Certification
training is included. |
Training is not included. |
Well-trained users mean
shorter learning curve and better results immediately. |
| Reporting & Graphing |
Full-color graphics and
exceptional data handling |
Data not saved— simple
printout of raw data only with special printer. |
Tracking historical results
is easier with saved data. Much easier to see trends and problems when data is clearly
presented in color graphs. |
| Weatherproofing |
Well-protected from moisture
and shock |
Must be well-protected from
wetness. |
Better weatherproofing is
always advantageous and a protection of your investment. |
| Battery Life |
More than 4 years* |
Must be checked after each
use |
Lower maintenance cost and
much greater reliability—dead batteries mean lost data. |
| Theft Deterrence |
Small, nondescript
"box" not prone to theft—can be hidden easily |
Theft common because meter
appears "valuable" |
High-tech device cloaked in
a decidedly low-tech box means less interest from curious eyes. |
| Multiple Readings |
Readings may be taken as long
as cable is intact—months or years if desired |
Once meter is stopped, no
further readings can be made. |
Readings can be taken as
often as desired to better determine optimal time for stressing or stripping. Merging data
files is very useful. |
- Experience in actually doing this testing in the field under MANY
situations. When it comes to trusting the company you buy from,
doesn't it make sense to rely on the one company that has actually performed this
testing on real jobs? We've used our own system to conduct more than 30,000 maturity
tests since 1995. Our focus has been high-risk structural applications but our
experience extends to everything from pavement patches to high percentage slag mixes for
mass concrete and precast. Just call us to find out more.
- Reusable sensors with exceptional accuracy.
Why sacrifice the thermistors when in many cases you can retrieve them by
encasing the probes in a small sleeve? We typically reuse the sensors 5-10 times
before they begin to show signs of wear. This keeps your costs down a lot compared
to embedding expensive "horse pills."
Consider this: Coverage is a critical element in successful
maturity testing. Placing more probes per pour is always better, so keep your
cost-per-pour down by using reusable sensors. You are likely to monitor more
locations in this way--which is much better!
- Small single channel devices rather than one big multi-channel
unit. We tried the multi-channel method but did not like
having wires strung all over our jobsites. Placing individual meters exactly where
we need them is better all the way around.
- Lower cost per maturity meter than bigger units. With
lower costs you can plan to have more meters deployed, which is always a good thing.
- Nondescript "black box" is easily hidden.
Sometimes, it's best to tuck the maturity meter out of sight. Our system is
specifically designed to allow easy "hiding" plus be rather "low-tech"
looking on the outside. The units just don't look valuable--so they get left alone.
- Long-life battery means your data is safe.
Battery lasts about 5+ years* in normal use. No hassles with recharging or running
power cords through the job site.
- Remarkable software designed by front-line users allows
sophisticated data handling and predictive modeling. Our software is
clearly the key to our system. It was designed by the people who actually DO this
testing. Our biggest fans are those who have used other systems and then appreciate
just how good our software is when they see it.
- Remote launching means you don't even need a computer to start
the maturity meters. You can set up your maturity system to begin logging
in the field--far away from your office if you like. Or, simply set the units to
begin recording at a specific time when you know the pour has started. Nothing
could be easier.
- All the data is presented graphically so trends can be spotted
instantly. This is a huge part of our system--you get not just a
bunch of numbers but a clear, graphical presentation of the data. It's easier to
understand maturity when you can see the results on your screen.
- Full on-site certification training is included with most
systems. OK, so you've decided to give maturity testing a try.
Have you read ASTM C1074 yet? Do you know exactly how to go about doing this
testing? How long will it take you to become comfortable in the results you're
getting? Our training is designed to help shorten your learning curve and improve
your ROI immediately. It's money well-spent to get up-to-speed quickly. Plus,
we will even help you create your first maturity curve while we're there. NO ONE
ELSE offers this service. NO ONE.
* ZoneCure® maturity meters
operate on two easy-to-replace C-cell batteries, lasting approximately 30 weeks on
average.
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