Each year in the United States, more than $35 billion in direct property loss is caused by natural disasters. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increase, enhanced resilience for community continuity has become a high priority in cities throughout the nation.
Read MoreMonth: May 2012
Two Holcim plants recognized for safety, environmental performance at PCA spring meeting
Holcim (US) Inc. announced recently that two of its plants—Holly Hill in Holly Hill, S.C., and Theodore in Theodore, Ala., were recognized during the Portland Cement Association’s (PCA) Spring board of directors meeting in Chicago on April 16.
Read MoreAsh Grove Durkee plant wins company’s top energy award
Ash Grove Cement Company’s Durkee, Ore., plant won top honors in the company’s annual Maintenance Excellence Program (MEP) competition for 2011. According to Ash Grove Assistant Vice President of Manufacturing Bruce Newell, “Our Durkee, Ore., plant was the MEP award recipient in 2010 and continued in its quest to keep the trophy there by maintaining a high standard of performance…
Read MoreMexico’s Cemex fined for anti-competitive practices
According to a report on 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…
Read MoreFree webinar highlights interplay of resilience, sustainable communities
The inter-dependence of sustainable communities with resilient construction will be examined during “Resilience for Sustainable Communities,” a free webinar was held by Portland Cement Association on April 10, from 2:30–4 p.m. (CDT).
Read MoreDespite improvements to economy, foreclosures continue to drag down housing starts, prices
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…
Read MoreAsh Grove Leamington plant wins top safety award
Ash Grove Cement Co.’s Leamington, Utah, plant won top honors in the company’s annual L.T. Sunderland Safety Excellence Award competition for 2011. Since 2006, eight Ash Grove cement manufacturing plants and two grinding facilities have competed to earn the award. Each facility is evaluated on an extensive matrix of data that is focused on health and safety process and results.
Read MoreLafarge Exshaw recognized for health & safety leadership
More than 200,000 hours of safe operation were celebrated recently at Lafarge Canada’s Exshaw cement plant in Alberta. 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 MoreAsh Grove Montana City plant wins MSHA award
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 MoreEssroc Nazareth plant hit with $82K EPA fine for reporting violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that Essroc Cement Corp. has agreed to pay an $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 facility.
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