Displaying items by tag: Dragon Products
Dragon to close Thomaston cement plant
07 September 2023US: Dragon Products Company, a subsidiary of Giant Cement, has announced that it will close its plant located in Thomaston, Maine. The facility, which has been operational for almost 100 years, and has been under Dragon's ownership since 2006, will undergo a gradual shutdown, beginning in December 2023.
Dragon said that the closure had been prompted by the persistent escalation of operating and logistical costs, exerting a negative impact on the Thomaston plant's viability. "Despite our best efforts to adapt and navigate through these challenging circumstances, we have determined that these actions are necessary for the long-term sustainability of our business,” explained Roberto Polit, Vice President of Operations. Phased lay-offs are scheduled to commence in December 2023, with the process anticipated to conclude by the beginning of 2025.
"We extend our sincere gratitude to all employees who have contributed significantly to our plant in Thomaston," added Polit. "Their hard work, dedication, and commitment have been invaluable to our operations. We are also grateful for the support and understanding shown by the local community throughout the years."
US: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has fined Dragon Products for failure to comply with mine safety rules. The Maine Monitor newspaper has reported that inspectors issued 33 citations following an inspection of its quarry in May 2023.
Thomaston cement plant manager Jennifer Small said that the citations primarily relate to 'housekeeping,' and that the company has 'promptly addressed these citations and worked closely with the MSHA to improve plant safety.'
Dragon Products, a subsidiary of Giant Cement, paid mine safety fines worth US$150,000 in 2022, US$76,700 in 2021 and US$134,000 in 2020.
Dragon Products fined US$67,000 for air emissions breech
07 August 2020US: Dragon Products has been fined US$67,000 by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for exceeding air emissions regulations since 2013. Ammonia, carbon monoxide and particulate matter levels were all breeched, according to the Bangor Daily News newspaper. Other irregularities with standards were also noted, such as baghouse inlet temperature limits and clinker cooler opacity standards.
US: Dragon Products’ Thomaston cement plant in Maine restarted production in early May 2019. A fire damaged the unit in late March 2019, according to the Penobscot Bay Pilot. Plant employees and contractors spent six weeks repairing and replacing building structures, conduit and wires, motors, gearboxes, bearings, material transport equipment and other equipment.
US: A fire has damanged Dragon Products’ Thomaston cement plant in Maine. The incident took place on evening of 26 March 2019 following a spill of fuel oil, according to the Portland Press Herald newspaper. The blaze was stopped by firefighters as it started to enter a laboratory and control rooms. No employees were injured.
Plant manager Martin Turecky said that no customers would be affected by the fire and that it was continuing to distribute cement. He added that the cement grinding plant had not been affected. An investigation into how the fire started is underway.