Cement News tagged under: North America

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ASTM International welcomes Andrew G Kireta Jr as President

27 March 2024, Published under Cement News

ASTM International has appointed Andrew G Kireta Jr as the organisation’s new president, effective 1 May 2024. Kireta’s background in standards development and familiarity with the organisation uniquely positions him to lead ASTM International into future growth and innovation. He will succeed Katharine Morgan, who served in the role since 2017 and will retire after a distinguished 40-year career with ASTM.  “We are thrilled to welcome Andy as president of ASTM International,” says Bill G...

US pledges US$1.2bn in funding for PCA decarbonisation projects

26 March 2024, Published under Cement News

The US Energy Department has announced more than US$1.2bn in federal funding for four decarbonisation projects in the US cement industry. In total, the energy department has pledged US$6bn in funding for 33 industrial projects designed to reduce carbon emissions across not only the cement industry but also iron and steel, concrete, aluminium, chemicals, food and beverages, and pulp and paper, which collectively account for around one third of US carbon emissions.  Commenting on the announ...

Brimstone secures US$189m to decarbonise cement industry

26 March 2024, Published under Cement News

Brimstone , the California-based building materials company that specialises in low-carbon cement production, has been awarded an investment of US$189m by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). The funding is to be used to finance the construction of a commercial-scale cement plant which incorporates Brimstone’s advanced decarbonisation technology.  The proposed plant would produce up to 140,000tpa of high-quality ordinary Portland cement (OPC) wh...

CEMEX reveals strategy for EBITDA growth

22 March 2024, Published under Cement News

CEMEX has outlined its strategy to achieve high single-digit EBITDA growth in the medium term. According to the company, since 2020 it has focussed on rebalancing its portfolio towards the US, increasing its percentage of EBITDA contribution from 24 to 29 per cent. CEMEX now intends to increase this to 40 per cent by expanding its growth capex and investing divestment proceeds to the region.  Speaking at an investor day in New York, Fernando A González, CEO at CEMEX, said that the focus...

Heidelberg Materials opens new bagging centre at Mitchell plant

21 March 2024, Published under Cement News

Heidelberg Materials North America has installed a state-of-the-art packaging system at its Mitchell plant in Indiana, the second-largest cement plant in North America. The new bagging centre and rotating packaging system features a Ventomatic GIROMAT EVO V12 Rotary Packer, representing the latest technology. The 12-spout automated rotating packaging system can fill 3600 bags/h. Another technological advancement is the bagging centre’s automated kiosk system, which will facilitate produc...

EPA recognises ENERGY STAR cement plants

20 March 2024, Published under Cement News

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognised 103 manufacturing plants that earned the agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2023, an accolade reserved for manufacturing plants in the top 25 per cent in terms of energy efficiency in their sector. Of the 11 cement plants receiving this year's accolade, Ash Grove ’s Seattle plant was recognised for its efforts to save energy by increasing the amount of limestone in its Portland limestone cement. Meanwhile, GCC ’s Rapid Ci...

PyroGenesis signs contract for plasma torch project

18 March 2024, Published under Cement News

Canada-based PyroGenesis, a specialist in advanced plasma processes, has signed a contract with a US structural materials company to design and build a system tailored for laboratory-scale cement production applications. The system will include a plasma torch, a refractory furnace, and the required gas, power, and cooling components and peripherals. The system was contracted to provide the client with the increased power and heat levels required for advanced cement development and testing, ...

Furno Brick's 'mini kiln' enables compact, scalable cement production

14 March 2024, Published under Cement News

US-based Furno, a start-up aiming to mitigate climate change through its novel combustion technology, has launched its end-to-end cement production unit, the Furno Brick. According to the company, the Furno Brick is the world’s first modular and carbon-neutral cement plant that scales in demand, dramatically reducing the barrier to entry and unlocking local or small-scale cement production.  Furno’s novel kiln and combustion technology allows for efficient cement production using gas-base...

Holcim North America introduces ECOAsh beneficiated ash

13 March 2024, Published under Cement News

Holcim North America has announced the introduction of ECOAsh beneficiated ash within its Lafarge Western Canada operations. According to Holcim, with plans for future expansion into the US, this strategic move not only demonstrates Holcim North America's dedication to sustainability but also positions the company as an early adopter of innovative technology aimed at decarbonising the construction industry ECOAsh embodies a circular and innovative solution, representing a significant l...

Breedon enters US with BMC Enterprises acquisition

07 March 2024, Published under Cement News

Breedon Group has announced its acquisition of BMC Enterprises Inc (BMC) for US$300m, marking the group’s entry into the US. BMC is a supplier of ready-mixed concrete, aggregates and building products, headquartered in St Louis, Missouri. The deal gives Breedon the opportunity to launch a scalable third platform. "This transaction will give us a platform that is well-placed to grow in the highly-fragmented US construction market, is culturally aligned with Breedon and has a familiar pe...