As oil prices rise and refineries adopt new technologies, industry experts are seeing a direct impact on the costs for states to build and maintain roads and highways. The lower “initial bid” of asphalt roads has disappeared, yet industry experts say many state departments of transportation (DOTs) have not changed their bidding policies.
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Five Cemex sites certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council
Five of Cemex’s sites in the United States have earned certification with the Wildlife Habitat Council for superior management of wildlife enhancement and land conservation projects. The five sites are cement manufacturing plants in Fairborn, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky. and the FEC Quarry, 474 Sand Mine, and Brooksville Quarry in Florida.
Read MoreScott named PCA senior VP of Government Affairs
Portland Cement Association appointed Gregory M. Scott senior vice president of government affairs on Jan. 1, 2012. He will head the association’s Washington office and represent PCA and its members before Congress, the Administration and the White House.
Read MoreLafarge Edmonton plants recognized for health & safety leadership
More than 400,000 hours of safe operation are being celebrated this week at Lafarge Canada aggregate sites in the Edmonton area (Andrew, Fort Saskatchewan, Onoway, Ponoka, Tommahawk) and at its precast concrete operation. These hours include work with industrial equipment such as conveyors, cranes, crushers, high-stressed cable and 50-ton loaders, all of which require trained staff to maneuver safely.
Read MoreCalPortland agrees to pay $1.4 million to settle Clean Air Act violations
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in mid-December that CalPortland Company (CPC) has agreed to pay a $1.425 million penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its cement plant in Mojave, Calif. In addition to the penalty, CPC will spend an estimated $1.3 million on pollution controls that will…
Read MoreCanadian cement consumption to decline
According to a recent report by Portland Cement Association Market Intelligence, the typical economic growth supporters of employment and energy sector investment have not translated into Canadian cement demand this year, and a 0.8% decline in consumption is forecast for 2011, followed by a moderate rebound of a 1.2% in 2012.
Read MoreASTM raises bar to generous threshold for C595’s ground limestone content
In a move that will provide the opportunity for the cement and concrete industries to reduce products’ carbon footprint, a proposal was approved to permit up to 15% ground limestone in blended cements under ASTM C595 (Blended Hydraulic Cements), with the resulting product characterized as limestone blended cements. Similar revisions are being made to the equivalent AASHTO standard by the…
Read MoreFLSmidth awarded two cement projects in Brazil
Copenhagen-based FLSmidth has signed a contract for two cement projects worth a total of US$132 million with the company Cimpor Cimentos do Brasil Ltda in Brazil. The contract comprises equipment for the Caxitu project, a new greenfield cement plant in Paraiba State near the town of Joâo Pessoa, and for a new kiln line project at the Cezarina cement plant…
Read MoreHolcim to invest nearly $400 million in Ecuador
In an effort to continue its commitment to the development of the construction industry in Ecuador, in late 2012, Holcim Equador will initiate an investment of nearly US$400 million to start building the second phase of its main cement plant expansion project in Guayaquil, an effort that will allow the South American country to sustain its growth in the coming…
Read MoreAsh Grove Seattle plant wins Workplace Safety Award
The Ash Grove Cement Co.’s Seattle, Wash., plant received the Association of Washington Business’ Better Workplace Safety Award from Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire (D). “We are honored that our company’s comprehensive safety program has been recognized by the Association of Washington Business,” said Plant Manager Todd Hinton. “This is an important recognition for our team’s efforts because safety is a…
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