Three of six Cement and Concrete projects named as funding candidates in a $6 billion Energy Department Office of Clean Energy Demonstration (OCED) program entail production of calcined clay or limestone calcined clay (LC3) as an alternative to conventional portland cement clinker. Producers behind the Industrial Demonstrations Program-themed projects are positioned to negotiate with OCED officials awards where cost-sharing terms…
Read MoreDay: June 17, 2024
Jetstream of Houston Announces MagJet X40 Gen 2 for Surface Cleaning
Jetstream of Houston LLP, a manufacturer of industrial high-pressure waterblasting equipment, parts and accessories, announces the next generation of the MagJet X40 waterblasting tool featuring high-speed rotation for cleaning industrial surfaces. The MagJet X40 Gen 2 rotates in a 360-degree pattern at 1,500-3,000 rpm, doubling the typical operating speed of the previous model without diminishing the lifespan of the tool.…
Read MoreNew Investments In The Cement Industry Of Brazil
By Mauro Nogarin According to data from the National Union of the Cement Industry (SNIC), cement sales in February 2024 totaled 4.6 million tons, thus registering an increase of 3.9% compared to the same month in 2023. However, the cement production outlook for 2024 is 62 million tons, 2% more than last year. The North Region had an increase in…
Read MoreConstruction Starts Gain 6% in April; Highways Up
Total construction starts rose 6% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.13 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts gained 17%, nonbuilding starts were 4% higher, while residential starts slipped 1%. On a year-to-date basis through April total construction starts were up 13% from the first four months of 2023. Residential starts were up 22%,…
Read MoreAggregates, Cement Production Fall in First Quarter
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the estimated U.S. output of construction aggregates produced and shipped for consumption in the first quarter of 2024 was 455 million metric tons (Mt), a decrease of 3.9% compared with that of the same period of 2023. Major companies reported significant decreases in construction aggregates shipments due to poor weather conditions (Martin Marietta Materials,…
Read MorePCA’s Sullivan Projects Repeat of 2023 Construction Market Force Duel
Following the Federal Reserve’s recent signaling of a single 2024 interest rate cut, Portland Cement Association (PCA) Chief Economist Ed Sullivan sees a return this year of two forces – one exposed to, the other mostly shielded from borrowing costs – that shaped 2023 private and public construction activity. High interest rates drove down residential and commercial building volume last…
Read MoreTips for Efficient Conveyor Discharge
When Bulk Handlers Need Help Reducing Dust At The Conveyor Discharge Point, They Need Answers Fast. Edited by Mark S. Kuhar Every day, bulk handlers struggle with the conveyor discharge zone emitting dust, carryback, and spillage, some of the leading problems that cause equipment breakdowns, workplace safety violations and raise the cost of operation. Martin Engineering’s decades of research and…
Read MoreElectric Cement Production: The Technologies
Electrification Is Increasingly Being Mentioned In Discussions Around The Decarbonization Of Cement. By Jonathan Rowland Electrification of process heat is still very much in the nascent stages of development in the cement industry. It’s not without interest, however. According to the experts at the European Cement Research Academy (ECRA), electrification of cement production “appears promising.” Researchers Sebastian Quevedo Parra and…
Read MoreSustainability in Action: A Cement Industry Update
Research, Benchmarks and Plant Projects are Ongoing As The Industry Tackles Sustainability Challenges. By Mark S. Kuhar Whether it is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Climate and Energy Benchmarking; or innovative developments at the plant level, the cement industry is continuously working to reduce its carbon footprint. Here are some of the latest developments. CCUS Opportunities in the Cement IndustryAccording…
Read MoreDOE Advances Heidelberg Materials’ $1B Carbon Capture Project
U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Infrastructure David Crane announced his agency’s plan to negotiate an award up to $500 million to help fund a full-scale carbon dioxide capture, transport and storage facility at Heidelberg Materials’ recently upgraded Mitchell, Ind., cement plant. He outlined the prospective award during a March 25 gathering of 100-plus at the 2.4-million-mtpy capacity operation.…
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