Explosion rocks Essroc plant As this issue of Cement Americas went to press, an explosion shook Essroc's Logansport, Ind. plant that was seen for more than 12 miles around. Apparently, a rail car carrying waste fuels-5% toluene diisocyanate and 95% stoddard solvent-exploded just after midnight on Feb. 18, sending a fireball into the sky.

Early reports indicate that no one was injured as a result of the blast, the cause of which still remains unknown. According to a report in the Indianapolis Star/News, the blast ripped the rail car in half and launched one section more than 300 yards through the air.

Emergency workers said that debris and contamination from the explosion stayed on plant grounds. Residents of nearby towns were evacuated for several hours as a precaution. Latest reports indicate that Essroc was expecting the plant, which was not seriously damaged, to reopen within a week.

Lafarge to acquire Atlantic Lafarge Canada announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Atlantic Group Limited and Atlantic Gypsum Resources of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Atlantic's assets include a wallboard manufacturing plant, a mineral quarry, and several related assets. Lafarge Gypsum, a division of Lafarge Canada, said it plans to significantly upgrade Atlantic's facilities. With these additions, Lafarge seeks to strengthen its market position in Newfoundland, while expanding the company's market coverage in Quebec and the Maritime provinces.

ASTM developing guide on waste management The American Society for Testing and Materials Committee D-34 On Waste Management is developing a new industry guidebook on the Characterization of Non-Hazardous Materials in the Manufacture of Cement. The guide will provide cement manufacturers and waste management companies with a road map for the characterization of nonhazardous waste materials as raw material substitutes in the cement producing process. Organized in 1898, Committee D-34 is one of 130 ASTM technical standards writing committees. For more information, contact Bruce Pederson at (+1) 610-832-9666.

Cement Americas on the web Cement Americas will soon be accessible through the World Wide Web. By logging onto www.cementamericas.com, those interested in the North, Central, and South American cement industries will be able to get up-to-date industry news; industry links; new products and literature descriptions; a calender of upcoming events; details on International Cement '99; information on the North American Cement Directory and companion map; and subscription forms.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions concerning the site, call Marc Schoenberg, assistant editor, Cement Americas, at (+1) 312-609-4258.

BMH and Gamma-Metrics to jointly market product BMH and Gamma-Metrics have agreed to jointly market the SmartStack for preblending applications in the cement industry. The two companies claim that the application will result in more stable kiln operation, higher productivity, and possibility the reduction of capital investment for the construction of new plants.

SmartStack is a stacker/reclaimer system that is said to economically achieve chemistry targets in raw material stockpiles. StartStack also combines the process control software and on-line materials analysis systems of Gamma-Metrics with the prehomogenizing materials handling equipment of BMH.

Kaiser changes name to Hanson Kaiser Sand & Gravel Co. has changed its name to Hanson Aggregates/Mid-Pacific Region, P. O. Box 580, Pleasanton, CA 94566-0808; 925-846-8800 (tel); 925-426-4198 (fax). Kaiser Cement Corp., as well, will now be known as Hanson Permanente Cement, P. O. Box 309, Pleasanton, CA 94566-0030; phone: 925-846-8800; fax: 925-426-4040.

Wall Street Journal's 1999 Latin American forecast The Wall Street Journal predicts that after years of growth the Latin American region will face economic decline in 1999. "For most of the region, 1999 promises to be a period of high interest rates, scarce credit, and rock bottom commodities prices-choking off nearly all growth." This prediction, however, offered no comment as to the state of the materials, building or cement industries in the region for 1999. The editors at Cement Americas predict a 5.1% increase in regional cement production for 1999.

Brush Creek to buy U.S. Cement & McLaughlin Brush Creek Mining and Development, Inc. announced that it is has reached an agreement to purchase both U.S. Cement and McLaughlin Engineering and Mining, Inc. Brush Creek president, Larry Stockett, said that the cash for the acquisition will come from a line of credit using U.S. Cement company assets as collateral. U.S. Cement also has agreed to be acquired by Brush Creek. As well, Brush Creek will acquire 100% of McLaughlin from its shareholders for $10 million cash. The closing is still subject to approval of the acquisition by the company's shareholders.

Weston and Spectrum form marketing alliance Roy F. Weston, Inc., an infrastructure redevelopment firm, announced that the company formed a strategic marketing alliance with Spectrum Environmental Sciences of Frederick, Md. Spectrum specializes in environmental compliance and management services and has additional offices in Texas and Mexico. Weston and Spectrum will seek to offer comprehensive environmental services with an emphasis on air quality, ISO 140001 certification, and compliance management. The initial focus of the companies, however, will be to assist the cement industry in meeting existing and future environmental regulatory requirements.

Envantage wins energy contract with Roanoke Envantage, a division of Viriginia Power, received an energy performance contract from Roanoke Cement Co. In the deal, Envantage will replace some production equipment at Roanoke's Cloverdale, Va. cement production facility. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. However, Envantage guaranteed that Roanoke will recoup its energy investment in less than four years. The new equipment is scheduled for installation in early 1999.

Pallet retrieval/recovery system lowers costs According to the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, a growing number of cement companies are now using pallet retrieval and recovery systems to lower their costs. New market research reveals that one out of every five pallet users currently employs, or plans to employ, such a system. This is nearly triple the number compared to just two years ago when one out of every 14 companies used or planned to use the system.