Filter with a Little Luck

Many asphalt professionals are familiar with Luck Stone of Richmond, Virginia. The largest and oldest division of Luck Companies has a solid business with three generations behind it in the aggregate world. Now it has a new launch in its Luck Ecosystems, a purpose-driven business with the goal to improve the environment by transforming raw materials from the company’s quarry operations into performance media to optimize sports field play surfaces, support organic plant growth and naturally filter stormwater.

Joe Carnahan, general manager of Luck Ecosystems shared with AsphaltPro that the timing was right to bring Luck Ecosystems to market. “Our timing to launch Luck Ecosystems is right because of the growing need for high quality stormwater and growing media products due to EPA’s mandate to clean the Chesapeake Bay, and state regulation such as the Virginia Stormwater Management Program.”

Carnahan discussed the range of players who can assist. “Our customers include civil engineers, construction managers, site developers, landscape architects and sports field maintenance personnel, which demonstrates the diversity of the products that we offer to solve specific application challenges. What these customers have in common is the need for eco-friendly materials that perform consistently well, even in the most demanding and unpredictable environments.”

The company didn’t leap into this part of the sustainable marketplace without looking first. “Luck Stone decided to work with experts from Virginia Tech because we needed guidance from people who understand the physical and chemical characteristics of soils and related industries as well as market needs,” Carnahan said. “Initially, this effort began simply as an attempt to do something different with out overburden than semi-permanently stockpile it on our properties. We experimented with products and proved to ourselves we could create a successful business. By chance, our effort to explore this industry and create business is well-timed with EPA’s mandate to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay. We are excited to create a business that has the true opportunity to have the positive impact on the world by optimizing recreation and cleaning stormwater.”

For the operation at the Luck Ecosystems site, there are six raw feed bins that feed a twin-shaft pugmill, capable of producing 300 tons per hour of engineered soil. “Generally, we blend soil (overburden), organic matter, aggregate fines, natural sands, manufactured sands, and many other products depending on the products we are producing.”

Carnahan further noted that the product expertise of the Luck Ecosystems team, as well as the rigorous testing and advanced custom-blending capability offered by the business, ensures consistent, readily-available product. Then Luck Stone’s extensive quarry network provides the natural resources and proven distribution system for timely delivery. One of the family of brands Luck Ecosystems now offers is its RainScape, which is specifically for stormwater management. The company released a statement about RainScape:

There’s a growing need for communities and municipalities to implement strategic stormwater management initiatives with advanced filtration products that trap nutrients and sediments during drainage. Through its RainScape product family, Luck Ecosystems offers several specialty products that provide safe, natural water filtration for a healthier environment. Also, there are several green construction products to help engineers meet and exceed regulatory guidelines for removing water pollutants and adopting sustainable building practices.

Carnahan shared that Luck Ecosystems has sales associates who are able to assist contractors in demonstrating the use of RainScape—and other—products to owners, agencies, MPOs, etc. “Our sales associates also conduct presentations to engineers and other designers so details, like LEED credits, can be thought of during the design stage.”

For the asphalt contractor building porous pavement structures, Luck Stone still meets your needs. “Luck Stone will continue to provide the base layers in porous asphalt pavement structure and any other type of aggregate product needed,” Carnahan shared. “Luck Ecosystems and Luck Stone will work closely together if a project requires alternative products such as structured soils, biofiltration media, etc. We work hard to ensure the customer’s experience is flawless when the two businesses overlap.

“The team at Luck Ecosystems takes a lot of pride in our ability to repurpose natural resources into products that not only result in better living for the communities we serve, but also protect the landscape and waterways of our environment.”