The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) – the global authority for the tilt-up industry – announces its first Chinese member, Shanghai Open Steel Structure Company Ltd. and the start of introductory relations of tilt-up construction designs and methods to one of the world’s largest construction markets.

“Shanghai Open Steel Structure Company joins a rapidly expanding list of international firms looking to the TCA for education, support and professional networking,” states Jim Baty, TCA Technical Director. TCA Managing Director, Mitch Bloomquist adds, “The purpose of the TCA is to represent the global expansion of tilt-up construction and to partner burgeoning markets with the experience of the many mature markets.”  Through this new affiliation, the TCA will begin working to introduce the many technologies unique to the tilt-up industry that TCA membership represents to the Chinese market through the interests and efforts of Shanghai Open Steel Structure Co. “The leading technology innovators for tilt-up construction and the manufacturers of the experienced products that have contributed to the reputation of this industry are found in our many TCA Global Associates member companies,” states Baty.  “We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with a leader in the Chinese market to further expand this recognition and influence the next major market potential for tilt-up construction. Together, the sensibility and variety that is known throughout North and Latin America will be aggressively pursued in this new market as a strong solution to their dramatic infrastructure and building needs.”

Shanghai Open Steel Structure Company, Ltd. and their location in China joins international TCA membership leaders in Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Historically, many other nations have demonstrated effective tilt-up development including the United Kingdom, Hungary, Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Argentina, Chile, Panama and Costa Rica.

According to Baty, the affiliation created with Shanghai Open Steel Structure Company, Ltd. ushers in the next major phase for both the tilt-up industry and the TCA. “We are very excited about our initial discussions with this company.  The domestic US market is dominated by construction of building envelopes using tilt-up load-bearing concrete walls and open web steel joist and girder roof systems. Our newest member, and first from China, specializes in this structural framework. It is a natural progression of their leadership in China to implement such an economical and structurally sophisticated system as tilt-up – a companion to their roof structure systems,” said Baty.

For more information about Shanghai Open Steel Structure Company, visit http://www.open-joist.com/english/index.asp.

About the TCA

TCA was founded in 1986 to improve the quality and acceptance of site-cast tilt-up construction, a construction method in which concrete wall panels are cast on-site and tilted into place. Tilt-Up construction is one of the fastest growing industries, combining the advantages of reasonable cost with low maintenance, durability, speed of construction and minimal capital investment.  For more information about the TCA, visit www.tilt-up.org or contact TCA headquarters at 319-895-6911 or info@tilt-up.org.