Following its recent rebrand and continuing its commitment to building progress for people and the planet, Holcim US transitioned its Joppa cement plant in Grand Chain, Ill., to OneCem portland-limestone cement (PLC) production.
The announcement follows the successful transitions to the lower CO2-intensive product at its Texas, Missouri and Michigan facilities.
“As a leader in our industry, it’s our responsibility to build a path for others to follow by setting the bar for product innovation and improvement,” said Michel Klenk, plant manager, Holcim US. “OneCem fits the bill as a low-carbon product that allows for sustained performance with lower emissions – a major demand in the industry as we help our customers achieve significant emissions reductions while delivering products that continue to meet or exceed their exacting specifications.”
OneCem has been rigorously tested and proven to serve as an effective alternative for traditional portland cement, said Holcim. The high-performance blended material is manufactured with 10% finely ground high-quality limestone, resulting in a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of portland cement. OneCem’s performance allows it to be used in virtually any cement-based application, from residential construction to large-scale infrastructure projects.
The Joppa plant – which produces 500,000 metric tons of cement annually – was constructed in 1963 and supplies cement along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers from Minneapolis to the Gulf of Mexico and as far east as Pittsburgh. The OneCem transition builds on the plant’s existing environmental sustainability initiatives, which include the operation of a Selective Catalytic Reducer to help control emissions.
By shifting operations to the low-carbon OneCem product, the Joppa cement plant will effectively reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 35,000 metric tons each year, equivalent to removing more than 7,600 cars off our nation’s roadways for an entire year.
