October 19, 2015 – Concrete Products

Cemex RM plants’ nuts & bolts improvements comfortably pace Energy Star goals

October 19, 2015 Concrete News

Sources: Cemex USA, Houston; Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff

Replacement and use of more energy efficient parts and equipment such as dust collectors, conveyor belt pulleys, and lighting have enabled Cemex USA ready mixed plants in La Porte, Mission and Rosenburg, Texas, to cut their energy intensity by an average of 21 percent and meet EPA’s Energy Star Challenge for Industry. The reduced power consumption is more than double the Challenge benchmark, which calls for candidates to clip energy use by 10 percent over five years.

Productivity up, energy consumption down in portland cement milling

October 19, 2015 Concrete News

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.; CP staff

PCA’s latest U.S. Labor-Energy Input Survey shows the amount of energy required to produce one ton of portland cement—4.4 million Btu, on average—dropped 1.1 percent in 2014 from previous levels, and equates to domestic plants’ most energy efficient year on record.

Forterra branding decouples Hanson Building Products, HeidelbergCement

October 19, 2015 Concrete News

Sources: CP staff; Forterra Building Products Ltd., Irving, Texas

Officials characterize Hanson Building Products’ new name, derived from “giving form” (For-) and “the earth” (terra), as capturing the company’s essence and purpose. The Forterra brand spans the 130-plus facilities under the producer’s five U.S. and Canadian divisions—Brick, Pipe & Precast, Pressure Pipe, Roof Tile and Structural Precast—plus the masonry- and precast-driven United Kingdom Building Products division.