Oldcastle APG, a CRH Company, recently closed on the Nampa, Idaho facility of Waupaca Northwoods LLC, a Wisconsin-based producer of soils, barks, mulches and decorative stone. The deal marks a Western states entry for the Oldcastle APG Lawn & Garden business, expanding the producer’s landscape materials portfolio across North America. Notes President Tim Ortman, “The addition of the Nampa facility’s reputable performance and quality assets will create new opportunities for customers to access our comprehensive suite of outdoor products in this growing region—furthering our mission to help customers ‘Live Well Outside.’”
Integration of the site into Oldcastle APG’s Lawn & Garden network extends visibility for current and potential customers seeking a full range of landscaping products, he adds.
Denver-based Summit Materials Inc. has appointed Marshall Moore as executive vice president and the newly created role of chief operations officer. He arrives with a 35-year track record of success in manufacturing and supply chain management, business process, operational excellence, product innovation, public affairs, strategy and business development. He most recently served in chief technology officer roles with Synthomer and Omnova Solutions, and gained polymers and specialty chemicals exposure in positions with Borden Chemicals, GE Plastics and Chemtura.
Arriscraft, the stone products group of clay and concrete masonry giant General Shale, has earned an Architectural Products 2023 Product Innovation Award for its Architectural Linear Series Brick (ALSB). “Over the past few years, the Series has been selected for many phenomenal designs,” says Arriscraft Director of Marketing Marta Zonneveld. “We are thrilled that this product has been officially recognized in the industry with this prestigious award.”
ALSB is a calcium silicate masonry product suitable for exterior and interior applications. Molded from sand, lime and pigment mixes, it features a unique distressed finish and lengths up to 23-5/8 inches for an ultra-contemporary finish. Prior to the ALSB introduction, very long brick with a characteristically weathered finish was available only from European operators. The series is produced at Arriscraft’s Cambridge, Ont. and Fort Valley, Ga. plants in a full range of designer or custom colors.
Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies, France-based developer of clinker-free concrete binders, has entered an agreement with a soon to be named partner that defines the main points of an exclusive licensing agreement, scheduled to be finalized by contract this quarter and covering construction of Hoffmann production units in Florida. The parties view the prospects for the production units and their low carbon concrete solutions against a backdrop of Inflation Reduction Act funding and incentives spanning the remainder of the decade.
The Florida operations will be built on the same model as H2 in Bournezeau, France, Hoffmann Green’s second production unit. The new plants will be funded and operated by the partner who will market Hoffmann Green’s decarbonated clinker-free cement throughout the Sunshine State. In exchange for industrial and technological transfer, Hoffmann Green will receive royalties generated by the licensing model.
“Following on from the contract signed with Shurfah in Saudi Arabia, we are delighted to continue our international expansion with the announcement of this future site in the United States,” note Hoffmann Green Co-Founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann. “This agreement with a Florida-based partner demonstrates the appeal, beyond our borders, of our clinker-free cement and our vertical production model. We are proud to be working alongside our partner to decarbonize the construction sector in a state as strategic as Florida, the third most populous state in the U.S.A.”
CRH, CATERPILLAR CHARGE ELECTRIC ROLLING STOCK
Caterpillar Inc. and Dublin-based CRH Plc have entered an electrification strategic agreement to advance deployment of zero-exhaust emissions solutions. The agreement will commence with deployment of 70- to 100-ton class Caterpillar battery electric off-highway trucks and charging solutions at a CRH Americas Materials Solutions site. The producer will also a) participate in Caterpillar’s Early Learner program for battery electric off-highway trucks, testing and validating the units in real-world applications; and, b) provide voice of customer feedback to address safety, performance, operational and compliance requirements for the aggregates industry.
“We are pleased to work with CRH, our first aggregates industry customer, to expand electrification solutions beyond mining,” says Caterpillar Resource Industries Group President Denise Johnson. “When it comes to sustainability, the quarry and aggregates industry requires diverse solutions. Our collaboration with CRH is an exciting opportunity to learn together and gain valuable insights into how our products can best support CRH’s long-term objectives to decarbonize its operations.”
The objectives entail greenhouse gas emissions reduction on both sides of the Atlantic. CRH management has set a target to deliver a 30 percent reduction in absolute carbon emissions by 2030 from a 2021 base year. “We recognize that collaboration and innovation are critical to delivering our industry-leading decarbonization targets and achieving our ambition of net-zero by 2050,” affirms CRH Americas Materials President Scott Parson. “Through this partnership with Caterpillar, we will advance the use of sustainable equipment in our operations and build on our shared commitment to a low-carbon future.”
ParkUSA, a Northwest Pipe Company and sister business of Utah’s Geneva Pipe, recently went live with a new website promoting product-based solutions and innovation for wastewater, stormwater quality, water distribution, precast utilities, and automatic controls. Enhancements include easy navigation to help customers find the products, resources, and support they need. Each dedicated product page includes informational text, detailed renders and descriptions of popular product models, plus searchable resources to quickly locate and download specs, drawings, flyers, and municipal resources. The site highlights the company’s in-house marketing team capabilities with new videos, photos, and product illustrations, or renderings. The team captures the functionality and benefits of many products with cut-away views and explainer videos. An interactive map on the ‘Contact Us’ page helps customers reach the sales managers for specific products in their region.
“We are pleased to launch this site to better showcase our product innovation and capabilities,” says Northwest Pipe CEO Scott Montross. “This project was a collaboration between our engineering and marketing teams to build a site that highlights our unique manufacturing capabilities, provides client resources, and matches our professional tone and brand values.”
Martin Marietta Materials Inc. closed in mid-January on Albert Frei & Sons Inc., a leading aggregates producer in Colorado with 60-plus years of high-quality, hard rock reserves. “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of AFS and welcome such a talented team to our company,” said Martin Marietta Chairman Ward Nye. “The acquisition, wholly consistent with our strategic plan, enhances our aggregates platform in the high-growth, Denver metropolitan area and strengthens our ability to deliver significant value for shareholders and customers.”