The Portland Cement Association (PCA) named the winners of its Energy and Environment Awards and Chairman’s Safety and Safety Innovation Awards at its 2024 Cement Fly-In in Washington, D.C.
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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 MoreJetstream 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.…
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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 MoreTotal 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 MoreThe 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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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