Innovation on the Road: A Visit to Maymead's Asphalt Lab

In a special field episode of The Hot Mix Podcast, the hosts took the podcast on the road to Hickory, North Carolina, to visit one of the region's premier asphalt labs: Maymead. Led by QC Manager Wes Partin, the visit provided an inside look at the intricacies of modern asphalt production and the critical role of mix design in infrastructure.

A Journey from the Interstate to Leadership

Wes Partin's career is a testament to the power of initiative and mentorship. Starting in 1999, working on barrels on the interstate, Wes was introduced to the lab environment by a mentor who had spent fifty years in the industry. It was a perfect fit. 

“I took to it like a fish in water,” Wes told the hosts.

Since then, Wes has risen to manage sixteen laboratories for Maymead—a family-owned company with roots dating back to the 18th century—with a seventeenth facility currently on the way.

Managing at Scale

Managing nearly twenty labs across North Carolina and Tennessee presents significant geographical challenges. Wes has overcome these hurdles by spearheading a new shift in their use of technology.

“I found just going to a cloud-based service for all of our computers helps reduce that challenge," he informed us.

By moving from paper-based records to a digital, real-time SharePoint system, Wes can monitor tests and communicate with technicians across the entire footprint from a single location, ensuring quality and consistency without the need for constant travel.

Technological Advancements in the Lab

The Maymead lab showcases the evolution of testing technology. While maintaining a high level of organization and "flow," the facility has moved away from old-school Marshall mix designs in favor of modern gyratory compactors. Key highlights of their current setup include:

  • The AutoRice Station: Described as a new favorite tool, this automated system simplifies Maximum Specific Gravity (Rice) testing, making the process significantly more efficient. 
  • InstroTek CoreDryPRO: A high-performance unit used for drying samples with speed and precision.
  • Innovative Cooling Stations: A space-saving setup that allows the gyratory and rice stations to share a centralized cooling area.

The Human Element of Quality Control

Despite the technological leaps, Wes emphasizes that initiative remains the most important quality for a lab technician. 

"The first thing I look for is initiative,” he said. “This job, you work by yourself a lot... You're kind of in your own little bubble here."

Working in that "bubble" requires individuals who can manage themselves and prioritize accuracy. For Wes, the ultimate goal is helping to ensure that the infrastructure we rely on is built to last. 

His final piece of advice for those in the industry? "Keep God close... It takes a lot of prayer and a lot of patience, but it can be done."

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