The recent passage of “Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011” (H.R. 2681) by the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power is being touted as a significant step toward regulations that protect American lives and American jobs.
Read MoreDay: September 29, 2011
Cement Totals
Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico were about 7.3 million mt in June 2011, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This was 2.8% lower compared with shipments for June 2010. Total shipments for the year through June were approximately 32.1 million mt, slightly lower than the same period in 2010.
Read MoreHolcim’s Akermann to retire; Fontana named new CEO
Zurich, Switzerland-based Holcim’s long-serving Chief Executive Markus Akermann, who has been working for the company since 1978 and has been CEO since 2002, announced he would retire in early 2012, and while his retirement came as no surprise, the choice for his replacement was to many in the industry. The company named French stainless steel producer Aperam head Bernard Fontana…
Read MoreIEEE West Coast Cement Conference
The 2011 IEEE West Coast Cement Industry Conference, October 13–14 in Texarkana, Texas, will feature a Dust Collection workshop, technical program and tour of the Ash Grove Cement plant in Foreman, Ark. Scheduled technical presentations include: Bulk Solid Alternative Fuel Use in Cement Plants; Mining Efficiency in Cement Plants: Teamwork pays off; Principles in Compressed Air Improvement Projects–A CalPortland Case…
Read MoreCement consumption forecast drops; lower prospective highway funding culprit
Uncertainty regarding highway spending legislation and government policy related to the debt crisis has caused the Portland Cement Association cement consumption forecast to be downgraded from a 1.4% increase over 2010 figures to 0.2% for 2011.
Read MoreAlternative energy sources prove beneficial in reducing GHGs
A study released recently by an independent research center reveals using household garbage, tires, and even plastic to manufacture cement would produce fewer greenhouse gases and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill than the fossil fuels currently used. Conducted by the London, Ontario-based Network for Business Sustainability, a non-profit research group based at the Richard Ivey School of…
Read MoreResearch confirms cement industry’s energy thrift
An Environmental Protection Agency-commissioned survey finds energy intensity in cement production dropped 13% from 1997–2007. Duke University researchers compared producer-collected energy usage data against Department of Commerce figures, confirming a 1%-plus improvement trend per year to factor into EPA’s cement industry energy curve. The power savings equate to a reduction of almost 1.5 million metric tons of energy-related carbon.
Read MoreCemex gets approval for Fairborn quarry expansion
According to reports in the local Ohio media, Cemex USA’s Fairborn plant in Xenia was given the green light for its quarry expansion request. The Xenia Township zoning board allowed the company to rezone 290 acres of land for mining, despite pleas from dozens of residents who spoke out against the expansion during a hearing at Central State University.
Read MoreCSA, codes enable Lafarge Canada to up limestone content in cement
In response to ever-increasing market demand for sustainable building solutions, Lafarge North America recently introduced a new portland-limestone cement (PLC) commercial offering in Canada. Widely used in Europe for over 25 years, PLC is a new category of cement that provides performance similar to conventional portland cement with up to 10% less CO2 emissions.
Read MoreMinerals group gauges per capita cement, aggregate consumption
The Mineral Information Institute’s latest “Minerals Baby” notes that 38,052 lb. of new minerals must be provided for every person in the United States to make the items used daily.
Read More