Sources: CP staff; Essroc Italcementi Group, Nazareth, Pa.
Essroc Cement has integrated a 500,000 metric ton/year capacity, Camden, N.J., slag cement grinding operation into its Northeast and Mid-Atlantic powder network. It closed on the former St. Lawrence Cement and Holcim (US) Inc. mill, located along the Delaware River directly across from Philadelphia, in a deal with the newly formed LafargeHolcim Ltd.
Essroc markets ground granulated blast furnace (GGBF) slag cement under the i.tech Slag brand. “The Camden operation allows [us] to provide a more comprehensive product offering to our customers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets,” says Essroc CEO Francesco Carantani. “This strategic acquisition demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest level of customer and technical service. With the focus on sustainability and durability, there is a projected growth in the demand and usage of slag cement.” Combined with the company’s Picton, Ont., San Juan, P.R., and Middlebranch, Ohio, operations, he adds, Camden positions Essroc with annual GGBF slag cement production capacity exceeding 750,000 metric tons.
Essroc Italcementi is one of four approved buyers of Holcim (US) and Lafarge North America assets whose planned sale anchored a U.S. Federal Trade Commission consent agreement with merger-bound Holcim Ltd. and Lafarge Group. The agency also stipulated unloading of the Holcim (US) Chicago Skyway slag cement plant, Dallas-based Eagle Materials—parent of Illinois Cement Co.—the suitor. The Chicago Skyway and Camden plants are located about five miles and 75 miles, respectively, from Lafarge North America’s Chicago and Sparrows Point, Md., GGBF slag cement properties. They remain part of the LafargeHolcim portfolio, along with a Holcim (US) slag cement mill in Birmingham, Ala.