Dragon Cement and Concrete announced in early February that it will embark on a $50 million modernization of its cement plant in Thomaston, Maine, the first major expansion of New England's only cement plant since 1971. The upgrade, which will include a major overhaul and rebuilding of the plant, is expected to take 18 months. The project will result in jobs being maintained or added at the plant over the next 20 to 30 years, said company representatives.

The modernization will change the cement-making process from the wet, slurry-type process used now to a state-of-the-art dry process that will reduce the size of the kiln and increase production about 40 percent. To accommodate the increased production, new equipment such as a cement barge, rail cars, and storage capacity will be added. “We will be able to produce 700,000 tons of cement on the same amount of fuel currently used to produce 500,000 tons,” said Dragon President Joseph Koch. “This increased efficiency will result in a positive environmental benefit because while our production will increase, our emissions will not.”

With its headquarters in Portland, Maine, Dragon not only operates the sole cement plant in New England but also is the largest supplier of ready-mix concrete in Maine.