Yellowknife (Aug 29/03) - How many construction workers does it take to operate an extruder?

Proform employees use a Comako Extruder to lay a concrete curb on Ptarmigan Road. The company has come to Yellowknife from Red Deer, Alta., every summer for the past four years to lay concrete with the extruder. - Merle Robillard/NNSL photo

More than one -- but for obvious reasons, says Lawrence Sutherland of Proform Concrete Ltd.

A team of workers is needed to ensure this machine performs its task of pouring concrete and making curbs.

The construction crew from Red Deer, Alta. has worked in Yellowknife the past four years building the city's curbs and sidewalks.

"We can pour anything from little curbs to airport runways," Sutherland says of the cumbersome square machine.

The string liner, will align metal stakes attached by string along the area where curbs are to be built.

The chute boy will stand at the front of the extruder to ensure concrete flows from a nearby truck onto a conveyor.

"It only takes about 15 minutes for one full truck of concrete to go into the extruder," Sutherland explains.

Next is the guy at the top, literally.

The sensor cranker's job is to be an extra set of eyes for the machine operator.

"He moves the sensors to ensure they are in the right spot and he measures from the string line to the concrete to ensure all is in place," he says.

Finally, three to four finishers working behind the extruder do the cosmetic work to create a smooth finish on the new curbs and sidewalks.

They cut edges, finish the area with a broom to smooth it and remove any small flaws.

"In one 12-hour day, we can build one and one-half kilometres of curb," Sutherland says.

"We've done 10 kilometres of work so far this year in Yellowknife and about 30 to 40 kilometres last year."

The most important job is done after the wet cement is complete.

"We have to leave a concrete watcher for six hours so there is no vandalism."

Sutherland says one thing is missing from the machine as it inches along Yellowknife's streets.

"When we go to other towns, we fly Harley's (Hard Rock Saloon) flag on it."