Holcim (US) Inc. announced that four of its plants have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) prestigious Energy Star. The plants are: Ste. Genevieve in Bloomsdale, Mo.; Holly Hill in Holly Hill, S.C.; Portland in Florence, Colo.; and Devil’s Slide in Morgan, Utah.
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New ASTM standard simulates shearing by cement paste
A new standard, ASTM C1738, Practice for High-Shear Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes, provides for preparing a mixture of cement paste that will simulate the shearing experienced by the cement paste in concrete, and was developed by Subcommittee C01.22 on Workability, part of ASTM’s Committee C01 on Cement.
Read MoreHolcim Canada dedicates a day to safety, focuses on learning
For the third consecutive year, Holcim (Canada) Inc., dedicated a day to Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). In September, all of its 3,000 employees took part in various activities to help them be more aware of the dangers that surround them in the workplace and work in a safer manner. This initiative complements the safety-related activities implemented throughout the year.
Read MoreGebr. Pfeiffer helps Monarch Cement Plant reduce emissions
Today’s plant upgrades are not always driven by a need to increase capacity, but rather a need to reduce emissions in order to meet new government standards. This was the case with the Monarch Cement Co of Humboldt, Kan., whose cement plant needed to improve the overall airflow in order to meet the new NESHAP (National Emission Standards for Hazardous…
Read MoreLafarge Group reorganizes management structure by country rather than product line
With a new focus meant to make the company more agile and responsive, Paris-based Lafarge Group leadership has decided to focus on its markets and its clients, hopefully resulting in accelerating the group’s development and profitability.
Read MoreLehigh Hanson chief to lawmakers: EPA regs could doom 18 cement plants
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 MoreCement 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.
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