Summit Materials closes on $450 million Lafarge plant, terminal network deal

Sources: Summit Materials Inc., Denver; CP staff

In a July 17 transaction with LafargeHolcim Ltd., Summit Materials acquired Lafarge North America’s Davenport, Iowa cement plant, along with a West Des Moines, Iowa, and six Mississippi River terminals. The companies announced the deal just ahead of an early-May U.S. Federal Trade Commission order stipulating plant and terminal sale within 10 days of the Lafarge S.A. and Holcim Ltd. merger, consummated July 8.

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Construction rebound raises St. Lawrence Seaway rock, powder volumes

Source: Chamber of Marine Commerce, Ottawa

A U.S. construction surge has boosted bulk material transfer through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway since the start of the 2015 season. Officials report dry bulk cargo volume of nearly 3 million metric tons, up 7.5 percent through the first part of the season, April–June, against figures for the same period in 2014. Materials leading the way in volume gains are stone, with 102,000 metric tons delivered through June, up 24 percent from last year, and cementitious materials, with 563,000 metric tons, a 9.5 percent jump.

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CityMix agreement ushers EPS giant into recycled-foam aggregate production

Source: Insulfoam, Dixon, Calif.

Under an exclusive agreement with Seattle-based CityMix Inc., Insulfoam is processing a lightweight concrete additive at its northern California expanded polystyrene (EPS) plant, with options for production throughout the U.S. The patented CityMix process makes use of the 1–2 percent of Insulfoam’s in-plant waste that cannot otherwise be recycled into high-quality EPS insulation or geofoam lightweight fill.

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Prestressed poles, repurposed as artificial reefs, prove conducive to marine species

Source: Florida Power & Light Co., Juno Beach, Fla.

Florida Power & Light’s artificial reef program, utilizing discarded concrete transmission poles to enhance South Florida’s marine environment, received the Industry Excellence Award, Environmental category, in an annual Southeastern Electric Exchange program.

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