Local construction company owner’s invention spins into a global
winner
April 24, 2008
By Jamie Busen
What began as a personal project to help in his
own business has led to global sales for a local developer.
Joe Churchill, president of Churchill Construction,
crafted a tool in 2000 to ease some of his workers' construction efforts. He
named it the Spin Screed, and founded Spin Screed Inc. a year later when his
wife, Marlene, suggested he start selling the tool.
Since then the couple has seen overall sales
increase around 55 percent each year. And the Spin Screed is being used at its
biggest project yet -- leveling the concrete floor of a three-mile-long high
speed rapid transit tunnel in
"This is really exciting for us,"
Churchill said at a demonstration of his product Wednesday morning. "I've
really enjoyed building homes, but eventually I'll phase out of that. I'm very
happy with this."
The Spin Screed is a tool used to level freshly
poured concrete. The device consists of an aluminum piping tube turned by an
electric motor.
It's been used throughout the continental
Churchill estimates that 25 percent of his market
is in
The tool was designed locally and is manufactured
locally by Koening Machine and Welding with parts
supplied by Quincy Foundry and Pattern Inc., Awerkamp
Machine and James Supply among others.
Marlene Churchill, co-owner, said they've probably
sold more than 1,000 since the company's inception.
Joe Churchill said he's been told the tool is
putting the workers "ahead of schedule" on the $100 million Canadian
tunnel and is flattening "better than expected."
"We think everything is excellent,"
Marlene Churchill said. "(The Spin Screed) helps those young workers, too,
who haven't had a chance to ruin their backs and knees yet. The jobs are easier
to do."
Joe Churchill has been busy making other attachments
for the tool, including his latest one, the GutterBuilder.
The middle of the tube is thicker so it can put grooves in the concrete for
gutters.
He hopes he'll continue to develop and design
additional attachments.
The tool is sold as a 20-foot tool or 22-foot
tool, the latter costing $1,339. It ships from the company's distribution
center on
The Churchills have
traveled all over, attending construction conferences and talking about the
product. Joe Churchill has even heard the words "spin screed" used
generically -- not talking about his product specifically.
But that's OK with him.
"Sure," he said with a laugh.
"That's what I want."
On the web: www.spinscreen.com