Source: Drexel University, Philadelphia 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.
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PCA’s Sullivan tells builders: Normal housing activity resumes 2016
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. Home foreclosures decreased dramatically in 2011, but industry experts caution that instead of a housing market improvement indicator, they reflect legal, process and “robo-signing” issues.
Read MoreEssroc Nazareth plant hit with $82K EPA fine for reporting violations
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. The EPA recently announced that Essroc Cement Corp. has agreed to pay a $82,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of toxic chemical reporting requirements at its manufacturing Nazareth, Pa. facility. According to EPA, Essroc failed to submit three years of required reports on a regulated toxic chemical (lead) that was processed at this…
Read MoreMexico’s Cemex fined for anti-competitive practices
Source: Reuters.com Mexico’s competition watchdog, known as Cofeco, fined cement giant Cemex 10.2 million pesos (US$800,500) for anticompetitive practices in a 2005 dispute regarding the company blocking a shipment of cheap Russian-made cement from entering the country. A rival group tried to import 26,000 tons of the Russian cement into Mexico, but the “Mary Nour” vessel was held up for…
Read MoreAsh Grove Montana City plant wins MSHA award
Source: Ash Grove Cement Co., Overland Park, Kan. The Ash Grove Cement Co.’s Montana City, Mont., plant was recognized for its outstanding safety record by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Mining Association as part of the Sentinels of Safety award program.
Read MoreLafarge Exshaw recognized for health & safety leadership
Source: Lafarge Canada Inc., Exshaw, Alberta More than 200,000 hours of safe operation were celebrated recently at Lafarge Canada’s Exshaw cement plant. The 150 laborers, equipment operators, millwrights, electricians, engineers and managers at the cement plant worked injury free for the better part of 2011and the streak continues into 2012.
Read MoreJudge denies Florida Cement and Concrete Antitrust plaintiffs class certification
An early-January ruling stands to significantly increase costs and complicate litigation burdens for In Re Florida Cement and Concrete Antitrust Litigation plaintiffs. Greatly streamlined from initial claims of a five-year scope and 10-defendant pool, the two-year-old case alleges a 2008–2009 concrete price-fixing conspiracy among Cemex Inc., Florida Rock Industries, VCNA Prestige Ready-Mix Florida Inc., and Tarmac America LLC.
Read MoreOutdated bidding polices for pavement costs taxpayers billions, says PCA Economist
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.
Read MoreFive 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.
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