Displaying items by tag: US
Elex starts up electrostatic precipitator at National Cement’s Ragland plant in Alabama
12 April 2022US: Switzerland-based Elex has completed a cold start-up of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) it has supplied to National Cement’s Ragland plant in Alabama. The ESP will be used for primary dedusting and it has a separation area of approximately 7000m2. The cement plant, owned by France-based Vicat, is currently building a new 5000t/day production line that is due to be commissioned in mid-2022.
ThyssenKrupp Polysius secures order for two roll units
07 April 2022US: ThyssenKrupp Polysius has won an order for the supply of two of its roll units with compound cast roll bodies at a US cement facility. The equipment will form part of a Polycom high-pressure grinding roll. ThyssenKrupp Polysius’ Germany and US service teams will collaborate on the order, for delivery in March 2023.
US: Cemex has increased production of Portland limestone cement (PLC) at its Lyons plant in Colorado. PLC is expected to become the plant’s primary product by the summer of 2022. The blended cement has been produced at the site for over 15 years. However, Cemex says it is growing production to meet the company’s carbon reduction goals and meet increased demand for lower carbon materials.
Cemex USA has also increased PLC production at its plants in Brooksville, Florida, and Demopolis, Alabama. The start of PLC production or further increases is planned for other cement plants later in 2022.
US: Drake Cement despatched 80,000t of cement in March 2022, its highest ever figure. The company has congratulated colleagues on the record volumes.
US lime producers announce price rises
06 April 2022US: Lhoist North America and Mississippi Lime Company have announced price increases for their products subject to existing contractual obligations.
Lhoist North America increased its prices by 10% for lime, limestone and clay products from the start of April 2022. It blamed this on inflation upon the cost of chemical additives, electricity, explosives, diesel, mining equipment, spare parts, inbound transportation, mining services and other inputs.
Mississippi Lime Company has announced that it will increase its prices by 7% from the start of May 2022. It cited a combination of market demand, inflation and supply chain issues.
Argos Florida Cement secures Slag Cement Association’s Durability and Infrastructure awards
04 April 2022US: Cementos Argos subsidiary Argos Florida Cement has won the Slag Cement Association (SCA)’s Durability and Infrastructure awards at its 2022 Sustainable Concrete Project of the Year Awards. The producer won the awards for its supply of slag cement to two projects in Florida in 2021. Its involvement in the American Bridge Company’s SR 679 Pinellas Bayway Bridge – Structure E replacement won it the Durability award, while its involvement in Superior Paving’s State Road 52 realignment. Argos Florida Cement congratulated its customers, who also received the awards.
US: Summit Materials subsidiary Continental Cement’s 1.1Mt/yr Davenport, Iowa, cement plant has become the latest US cement plant to transition to 100% Portland limestone cement (PLC) production.
Summit Materials executive vice president Tom Beck said "Our transition to PLC at Davenport aligns with the Portland Cement Association (PCA)'s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality.” He continued “It is critical that the industry comes together and acts now to create sustainable building solutions for decades to come. The US cement and concrete industries can collectively address climate change, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate barriers that are restricting environmental progress through the continued adoption of product and manufacturing innovations."
LafargeHolcim US becomes Holcim US
01 April 2022US: Holcim has announced the rebranding of its US-based LafargeHolcim US subsidiary to Holcim US. The name change is the first in any region since parent company LafargeHolcim became Holcim in July 2021. The producer says that this regional rebrand marks a ‘significant milestone’ towards establishing a shared purpose and vision across its global operations.
Holcim will continue to work towards becoming the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions through building progress for people and the planet.
CalTransport approves Portland limestone cement use
29 March 2022US: The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) has approved the use of Portland limestone cement (PLC) in its projects. The California Nevada Cement Association (CNCA) says that the move has the potential to eliminate 25,500t/yr of CO2 emissions.
The CNCA plans to achieve cement and concrete carbon neutrality by 2045 through three priority actions. These are investment in promising and critical long-term technologies (crucially carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies), increased alternative fuel (AF) substitution and the acceptance of PLC for CalTrans projects. Thus, the latest CalTrans decision marks the establishment of one pillar of the CNCA’s ambitious plan for net zero.
US: Argos USA has agreed to sell a total of 23 US ready-mix concrete batching plants to Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete for US$93m. 18of the plants are situated in North Carolina and the remainder in Southwest Florida. The El Colombiano newspaper has reported that the deal includes a five-year cement supply agreement for all 23 plants. Cementos Argos said that the divestment is part of its plan to divest assets in suburban markets or that are not already integrated into its production and logistics chain.