Roanoke Cement sues Riverton Corp. Virginia-based Roanoke Cement Co. filed suit against rival cement maker Riverton Corp., alleging that the latter interfered with Roanoke's efforts to locate a cement distribution facility at the Kelly Industrial Park in Warren County, Va.

Roanoke began efforts in 1998 to secure a site in Warren County that would allow it to expand distribution capabilities in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. The suit, alleging tortious interference with economic relationships and conspiracy to injure another in business, was filed on Oct. 28, 1999 in Frederick County Circuit Court.

State officials tour cement plant Key Alabama Department of Transportation officials, representatives of the Corps of Engineers, and architects and engineers throughout the state gathered at Holnam's Theodore plant in Mobile recently. The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) hosted the event.

At the event, Robert Taylor, Alabama director for ACPA, discussed the benefits of using concrete for highway intersections, industrial access roads, and other heavy traffic areas.

RHI AG acquires Harbison-Walker RHI AG, a Vienna-based industrial firm with holdings throughout the world, acquired Global Industrial Technologies and its major asset, Harbison-Walker Refractories Co.

Harbison-Walker is a Pittsburgh-based producer of industrial furnace linings. Before its acquisition by RHI, H-W was North America's oldest refractories company and the fifth largest in the world.

The resulting combined refractories companies, which will be known as RHI Refractories America, Inc., will have operating offices in Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

International Cement 2000 call for papers International Cement 2000, the 36th annual cement seminar (sponsored by Cement Americas) will be held Dec. 3-6, 2000 at the Charleston Area Convention Center, Charleston, S.C.

We invite anyone wishing to present a paper at this year's event to contact us. We're looking for presentations on the following topics:

* Innovations in cement processing;

* Equipment recently installed in a cement plant that has helped to improve production and reduce costs;

* The Latin American cement industry;

* Utilizing waste products in cement kilns;

* Marketing ideas that work for the cement industry;

* Innovative material-handling techniques at the cement plant or at terminals; and

* The impact that Asian cement may have on the markets of the Americas.

If you have suggestions for presentations, please send us an outline or abstract, or give us a call to discuss your idea. Suggestions should be sent to:

Steven Prokopy, Editor

Cement Americas

29 North Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606, USA

telephone: (+1) 312-609-4335

fax: (+1) 312-726-4107

e-mail: steven_prokopy@intertec.com