New concrete plant for Mobile

Standard Concrete Products of Columbus, Ga., and the Alabama State Port Authority have entered into a purchase agreement to build a 200-worker cement import and concrete plant on a greenfield site owned by the port near Mobile.

Standard Concrete specializes in the production of pre-cast concrete pilings and bridge panels that are in high demand as part of the post-hurricane rebuilding effort.

James Lyons, executive director of the Port of Mobile, said the plant would benefit the port and the Alabama Department of Transportation because both agencies use the concrete pilings produced by Standard.

Standard Concrete, founded in 1951, also would produce concrete road panels and pre-stressed beams, which vary in length from 90 to 130ft. The products would leave the US$12.4m plant by truck and barge. The plant would be modelled on Standard facilities in Savannah, Ga., and Tampa, Fla. Standard wants to break ground on the new plant in early 2006, and may establish a temporary site for limited production until the plant is completed.