About

Concrete Solutions International (CSI), based in Austin, Texas, licenses and markets an innovative technology to produce a sound-absorbing cementitious product called SoundSorb®. CSI promotes SoundSorb® on an international basis, forming strategic alliances with each concrete precast manufacturer to provide a value-added approach to each relationship.

Company History

CSI was founded in 1992 by Boone and Wendi Bucher after Wendi’s father, a recognized inventor holding over 20 construction related patents created a sound absorptive concrete, however, CSI found this first rendition of absorptive material needed to be more durable. After reviewing the material and sound absorptive market, the Bucher’s researched the ingredients needed to advance the original sound absorptive cementitious material, securing a patent on this advanced technology. This was after years of testing to meet and exceed all testing required for sound absorptive materials for the transportation industry. We realized the niche market for sound absorptive barriers was recognized as having the potential of developing into a full-fledged industry within the transportation sound barrier marketplace and proceeded to introduce the patented sound absorptive material as “SoundSorb.”

CSI is pleased to announce that Kyla Foxhoven, our granddaughter, is in the process of becoming a member of the CSI team seeking to expand the use of SoundSorb worldwide.

SoundSorb Recognition Established

The growth of the CSI is directly related to the transportation and engineering authorities’ recognition that SoundSorb® provides a low-cost, high-quality aesthetic solution to noise abatement to any precast or sound reflective wall system. The increased use of SoundSorb® may also be the result of the use of the new Traffic Noise Modeling Program by the DOTs. It provided transportation engineers with an opportunity to discover that sound absorptive wall finishes (inputting certain NRC values into the program) added to sound reflective concrete walls can reduce the height in some cases, significantly reducing overall construction costs of their project.

Additionally, there has been an increasing realization that eliminating noise rather than redirecting it back into the community is extremely important. California (the largest CMU/ reflective wall user) has experienced an overwhelming number of residential and commercial property owner complaints related to the noise reflected from the millions of square feet of previously installed masonry and precast noise reflective barriers. Rail and highway authorities worldwide began to include SoundSorb in-situ studies to assist their quest to attenuate noise on their high-profile transportation projects. Without exception, on all in-situ studies, SoundSorb exceeded all acoustic performance expectations, surpassing all transportation related specification requirements. SoundSorb proved to be the highest quality sound absorptive material worldwide.

SoundSorb’s success is tied to licensing quality precast noise wall manufacturers close to the transportation construction site, reducing the installation costs. Our precast licensees are committed to providing the end users with an exceptional sound absorptive wall that often reflects something about the community. CSI is pleased to provide SoundSorb® as the best all-around noise attenuation solution, as it’s a durable, sound absorptive and extremely low-cost textured/colorized finish for walls that absorb (rather than reflects) all the noise that impacts it. Having the lifecycle of concrete, SoundSorb® is a very cost-efficient aesthetic solution to noise abatement.

SoundSorb Technology Manufactured Near the Transportation Project Location

SoundSorb® manufacturers (CONCRETE PRECASTERS) worldwide are provided with a turnkey approach to estimating and bidding SoundSorb® noise abatement projects. CSI offers not only the highest quality sound absorptive finish, but also a variety of low-cost architectural colorized highly aesthetic textures reflecting the communities’ desires. The company’s unique approach in offering sound-absorptive finishes to wall panel designs responds to the market dynamics of this rapidly growing industry. There are many cost-effective concrete precast wall designs worldwide that have the capability of making their noise-reflective wall system sound absorptive, just by adding SoundSorb® acoustical material to their wall designs or Soundsorb cladding to existing walls.

CSI focuses on licensing SoundSorb concrete precast sound wall manufacturers close to the transportation project construction site to reduce the high cost of shipping concrete panels, while also supporting local community businesses. Local ingredients and labor are also utilized. The sound absorptive trend is quickly overtaking the sound reflective barrier specs as the common-sense solution to noise abatement. When incorporating SoundSorb into design plans, Design Engineers / Specifiers, be confident that the noise attenuation needed for their project will absolutely be achieved. Specifiers should work closely with CSI and CSI Licensees to achieve the most cost-effective design solution for their specific type of transportation projects.