Home foreclosures decreased dramatically in 2011, but industry experts are cautioning that this is not a reflection of improvements in the housing market, but a result of legal, process and “robo-signing” issues. At the 2012 International Builders’ Show in Orlando recently, Ed Sullivan, chief economist for Portland Cement Association, said that the 1.9 million foreclosures reported in 2011 is understated…
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Drexel engineers develop cement with 97% smaller carbon dioxide, energy footprint
Drexel University engineers are claiming to have found a way to improve upon portland cement. In research recently published in Cement and Concrete Composites the group served up a recipe for cement that is more energy efficient and cost effective to produce than masonry’s most prevalent bonding compound.
Read MorePCA chief economist expects modest cement consumption for 2012 forecast
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. Stronger than expected job creation and the beginning of a construction industry recovery means gains in real construction spending will materialize this year—after seven years of consecutive declines. According to the new forecast from PCA, increases in cement consumption will follow. PCA revised its fall forecast upward from 1.1 percent, to a modest 3.7…
Read MoreCemex leads Cement Industry Environment and Energy Awards
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. Four cement plants received special recognition for their commitment to improving the environment and their communities at the 11th Annual Cement Industry Environment and Energy Awards, sponsored by PCA and Concrete Products’ sister publication Cement Americas at the association’s recent spring meeting in Chicago. Of the six total top awards, Cemex’s Louisville facility took…
Read MoreHolcim (US) corporate staff marks parent’s centennial anniversary with community service
To mark the 100-year anniversary of parent company Holcim Ltd., the Waltham-based headquarters of Holcim (US) Inc. is participating in a year-long community service initiative called Together for Communities, in which Holcim employees lead local volunteer projects around Massachusetts.
Read MoreCTS prevails in decade-long Ultimax patent litigation
Source: CTS Cement Manufacturing Corp., Cypress, Calif. Putting an end to a 10-year-old patent litigation brought by Ultimax, Hassan Kunbargi, Heartland Cement Sales Company and the K.A. Group against CTS Cement Manufacturing, manufacturers of Rapid Set Cement, its Chairman Edward K. Rice, and a number of CTS customers, Judge Andrew J. Guilford of the U.S. District Court for the Central…
Read MoreCohrs elected PCA vce chair
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. Meeting in Chicago recently, the PCA Board of Directors elected Cary Cohrs, president of American Cement Company, vice chair of PCA. Cohrs has been a member of the PCA board since 2008 and serves on the Executive Committee, Government Affairs Council, and as co-chair of the Manufacturing Technical Committee. Aris Papadopoulos of Titan America…
Read MorePCA recognizes cement terminals’ safety records
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. PCA recognized four cement terminals that had the best safety records in North America during PCA’s Spring Meeting in Chicago last week. For U.S. operations, three categories of terminals, based on employee work hours, were considered for this prestigious award.
Read MoreLafarge NA headquarters shift: Dulles to O’Hare
Sources: State of Illinois; Staff reports A state incentive package valued at $6.3 million over 10 years, coupled with skilled-workforce availability and the prospect of closer proximity to a larger portion of its customers, has compelled Lafarge North America to move its northern Virginia headquarters to a location near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Read MoreTXI Package Products deal nets Bonsal American five Texas bagging plants
Sources: Bonsal American, Inc., Charlotte, N.C.; Staff reports Oldcastle’s Bonsal American business has acquired the TXI Package Products unit of TXI Operations, LP, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Texas Industries, Inc. The transaction spans five plants specializing in dry mix concrete and other packaged products located around Texas’ three major markets: Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston and Austin/San Antonio.
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