US slag cement shipments were up 12% year on year in 2016, according to the Slag Cement Association (SCA), on increased construction activity and growing recognition of the benefits of slag cement.
“Those of us in the concrete industry have long known that the use of slag cement increases the strength and durability of concrete at reduced environmental impact,” said Ed Griffiths, President of the SCA. “I am pleased that this 12% increase in shipments represents the strength of our economy and the increased understanding of the benefits of slag cement in the design, specification and construction communities.”
This growing appreciation of its benefits is likely to bring continued growth, according to the SCA. A key growth area is likely to be road construction and maintenance: “as street and highway agencies are becoming more focused on asset management, we believe that slag will play an even bigger role in the future.”
The SCA represents companies that produce and ship ground granulated blastfurnace slag in the US. It also runs the Slag Cement Project of the Year Awards, which this year will be presented at the American Concrete Institutes Convention in March. The awards recognise eight projects in the catagories of architectural design, concrete durability, green design, high performance, innovative applications, and sustainability.