Buzzi Unicem purchases Ozinga cement terminal in northern Illinois

Source: Buzzi Unicem USA, Bethlehem, Pa.

Buzzi Unicem has completed the acquisition it began in December of a 30,000-ton cement storage dome and distribution terminal in Joliet, Ill., from Ozinga Bros. This is the latest addition to the company’s extensive Mississippi River-based terminal network. According to Buzzi Unicem, the Joliet terminal has not shipped product for more than two years, after a maintenance breakdown forced its closure. A major player in northern Illinois and Indiana ready mixed, Ozinga did repair the facility, but never reopened it due to declining demand.

Jointly owned by Wiesbaden, Germany-based Dyckerhoff and Italy’s Buzzi Unicem S.p.A., Buzzi Unicem USA has immediately begun shipping Type-I/II low-alkali cement by barge from its newly expanded, 2.4 million-ton/year-capacity Selma Plant in Festus, Mo. Located along the Des Plaines River, about 50 miles southwest of Chicago, the Joliet terminal allows the company to significantly expand distribution in Illinois. Buzzi Unicem plans to install an automated self-service kiosk for 24-hour, 7-day/week loading by early spring 2011. The company also will continue to supply customers in northern and central Illinois from its Oglesby, Ill., rail terminal.

The Joliet facility will be managed by Scott Richardson, a 10-year Buzzi Unicem veteran who last managed the company’s Natchez, Miss., terminal. In addition to the Oglesby and Festus plants and Joliet and Natchez terminals, the producer’s Mississippi River milling and distribution network includes an additional cement plant in Cape Girardeau, Mo., as well as terminals in St. Louis (2), Memphis (2), Little Rock, Ark., Paducah, Ky., Burnside, La., New Orleans, and Orange, Texas.