The Latest From Neuvokas

Not ready to try GatorBar? Read this.
With steel prices climbing, there couldn’t be a better time to give GatorBar a try on your next concrete project. Because I know you won’t take it from me, I’m bringing in some back up on this one. The following testimonial came after Steve had a great call with our friend Rob at ICS, Inc in North...
The Rusty Signature of Steel Rebar
Work never stops when you’re running a growing business, and sometimes a weekend trip for travel hockey turns into a marketing opportunity. Our CEO, Erik Kiilunen, recently found himself at the Cornerstone Community Center in Ashwaubenon, WI, where two of his boys were playing in a hockey...
Neuvokas Team works to expand manufacturing capabilities
The bench work is complete and the initial lab results are in! The team at Neuvokas has made their first effort to expand their manufacturing platform. The first attempt to make a two-dimensional profile, other than round has proven successful. The guys had a little spare time (between 3 am and 5...
WCCHC Day of Caring 2017
This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center Day of Caring. WCCHC is a non-profit organization providing a wide range of health care services to the Waianae Coast of Oahu. Since 1993, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company (HDCC) along with their family,...
Welcome Parr Lumber!
Parr Lumber, the 17th largest independent lumber chain in the United States gave the nod to GatorBar. Parr Lumber will begin selling GatorBar in the great Pacific Northwest corner of the good old USA starting in October. We are excited to work with Parr to get them started!
GatorBar Vs. Welded Wire mesh
Erik was out of town the other week and happened to stumble across a pile of crumbled concrete in New Hampshire. He stopped by to check it out, and of course, take advantage of a perfect real world example. Welded wire mesh, though inexpensive, is not your best option for reinforcing a slab for...
Neuvokas reaches 150 feet per minute process speed
After recent improvements to our now patented manufacturing process, Neuvokas reached a significant milestone: We can now make GatorBar at 150 feet per minute! This is FIVE TIMES faster than our original manufacturing process. Not to mention the fact that we were already blowing the doors off of...
2017 Brings New Partnerships and Distribution
If you’ve ever been involved in a start-up from the ground up, there’s one feeling that’s pretty relatable. It’s the feeling that you’re flying 60 mph downhill in the back of a red wagon with Calvin and Hobbes at the wheel. The rocks and bumps knock you around a bit, but the excitement of reaching...
2016 Q4: Ending the year in a big way
While 2016 as a whole had its ups and downs (the media made it out to be pretty tumultuous), it sure ended on a positive note for Neuvokas! No, we didn’t buy Play-Doh or rent stress relief puppies for our employees post-election. Let’s be honest, that was pretty ridiculous. Instead, we sold tons of...
FIND US AT WORLD OF CONCRETE 2017, BOOTH N3245!
World of Concrete 2017 is quickly approaching! For the first time Neuvokas – GatorBar will have a booth, so we’re in full pre-game mode. And since we don't want your World of Concrete trip to be incomplete, we're letting you sign up for your free GatorBar tee ahead of time! We hope to see you all...
WELCOME LARRY! FEATURED PROJECTS & UPCOMING EVENTS YOU CAN'T MISS!
Well kids, August 2016 is gonzo. In its place are thousands of fresh and weathered “Techies” (Michigan Tech University students), roaming around Houghton. Gone are “quick” trips to Walmart since there seems to be more Techies in Walmart than on campus. Oh, the joys of Back to School in a small...
JULY '16 REVIEW: GATORBAR BEING TESTED IN RAMMED EARTH & TILT-UP APPLICATIONS & A FEATURED PROJECT
I hope you all appreciated your freedom and experienced your fair share of fireworks for Independence Day. The fact that we get to wake up every day and decide how we want to spend our life is pretty awesome. We often lose sight of how wonderful it is to be free when the media is a constant outpour...
A NEW ROAD FOR NEUVOKAS, QUITE LITERALLY
My top priority for July is definitely making fresh lines on the new pavement outside of Neuvokas with my long board. After hours, of course. Or maybe it'll be my daily lunch break ritual. We'll have to see; I'll keep you posted. In August of 2015, MDOT awarded a grant to support Neuvokas...
GATORBAR™ USED IN FIRST MDOT PROJECT, NSF GRANTEE CONFERENCE & MORE
Since my office at Neuvokas is the only office regulated by an AC unit, this summer is off to a great start. And, well, the Yoop (Upper Peninsula of MI) is beautiful in the summer. But mainly, things are picking up at Neuvokas! Customer Appreciation: Last month, I promised to share the details of...
THE HALLS RIVER PROJECT: A WIN FOR FRP COMPOSITES IN THE U.S.
Steel reinforced concrete is known to be the most tried and true method of construction. We have tried it for over 100 years and found that one thing remains true: embedded steel will corrode, causing early failure of the concrete around it. Contrary to what you see in the media, the US isn’t very...
GATORBAR™ NOW AVAILABLE IN LOWE'S! MI50 & OTHER NEWS
Well guys, May has come to a close whether you like it or not! In the U.P. it’s definitely a good thing. Snow in May is fairly common, but, June? I think we’re finally in the clear. Bring on the sunshine and pesky flying creatures! I’ll trade my shovel for a fly swatter and bug dope any day of the...
NON-CONDUCTIVE REINFORCEMENT SPECIFIED TO REDUCE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY STRAY VOLTAGE
A customer recently used GatorBar™ to fulfill a building specification for a milking parlor on a dairy farm. The concrete reinforcement was to be non-conductive to help reduce stray voltage. This intrigued us, so we did a little digging... Stray current is a phenomenon that occurs on modern farms...
GATORBAR ON COVER OF CONCRETE CONTRACTOR APRIL/MAY EDITION & MORE
Time is flying by faster than a hungry cheetah here at Neuvokas (Is it the same everywhere else?). In any case, here's a little recap of events that took place in the month of April... Customer Appreciation: We were excited to deliver GatorBar™ to Oostburg Concrete Products of Oostburg Wisconsin...
CIGMAT CONF., MICHIGAN 50, UPCOMING ARTICLES
And just like that, Q1 of 2016 came to a close! Time really does fly when you're having fun (working your tail off so you live to see tomorrow). Here's a little recap of events at Neuvokas in March: CIGMAT Conference Wrap-up: To start off the month, Neuvokas made an appearance at the 21st Annual...
100 YEARS OF PRACTICE DOESN’T MAKE PERFECT: TOP 3 REASONS TO CONSIDER FRP REINFORCEMENT OVER STEEL
FRP rebar has been around for decades, but has been used very seldom in comparison to “good ol’ steel” rebar. Lately, advancements in the composites industry are bringing the price point for such materials down, and there has never been a better time to start considering this alternative material...

Rob Swanson

Owner, ICS Inc

Just sending out a quick note about the GatorBar.

The guys love it, they were already saying 40% labor savings on the first day, and by the end of that week they didn’t want to ever see steel on our flat work jobs again. My guys have been working with steel for 15+ years and the acceptance of GatorBar started within minutes, and as we know change comes hard in this industry.

Just landed a 30,000 sq. ft. job with 1 ft. OC #4 bar and the General Contractor signed off on using GatorBar instead. The guys were extra happy!!! as that would have been a back breaking event for sure.

For any company that ties up a lot of bar or a little it’s a NO BRAINER even if steel comes back down in $$$ we won’t go back to steel for our flat work.

Thanks for all your help, and keep cranking out that GatorBar.

Rob Swanson ICS INC.