US: Ozinga celebrated the opening of its new slag-based low-carbon cement mill in East Chicago, Indiana, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on 13 October 2026. It said that the mill would strengthen the domestic supply chain for building materials, promoting Midwestern construction and advancing innovation in US infrastructure. The plant will produce 1Mt/yr of ASTM C989-compliant slag cement, as well as proprietary blends under Ozinga's CarbonSense brand, reportedly delivering up to 80% reductions in embodied carbon over traditional Portland cement mixes. Once fully operational, the plant is projected to offset more than 0.7Mt/yr of CO emissions.
"We built this mill in the heart of the Midwest because we believe it is central to producing high-performing, American-made materials that will be the foundation of US infrastructure for years to come," said CEO Marty Ozinga. "We are taking the cement-to-concrete process from start to finish - with American ownership at every step of the domestic supply chain, with homegrown scientific innovation and with American workers all the way. Our message to the market is clear: We have new domestic capacity to meet your needs for reliable, sustainable and cost-effective materials.”
Ozinga's private investment in the project was supported by state, federal and local public officials, including the East Chicago City Council. On-site water access and rail transportation will be key factors that will help to lower the total embodied carbon impact of the product. At full operation, the plant will create approximately 50 permanent union jobs between the mill and Ozinga's Burns Harbour operation at the site of the Cleveland Cliffs steel mill, where the slag is initially processed.