The Americas

Several companies in North America have developed ways to create greener, more environmentally friendly concrete.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it will limit greenhouse gas emissions from major new sources of pollution.

The impact of the recession is being felt across America this week, as 500 employees of Ash Grove Cement are laid off at nine of its ten plants. The shutdowns are temporary, but no date has been projected for restarting production.

USGS data shows aggregate consumption increased in Q2, but is still a long way behind 2008 figures. The growth could be a standard seasonal increase or a sign of the beginnings of recovery. The cement industry has also shown signs of improvement, but stimulatory efforts have so far had little impact.

Recent allegations of falsified concrete testing results have led New York city to set up its own laboratory and audit unit. Some 80 buildings will be retested to ensure their structural integrity.

Pan Pacific Aggregates has announced that it has received approval from the City of Abbotsford Council to reopen its Pumptown Quarry in British Columbia. Operating conditions include the completion of an access by-pass road and a limitation of operating hours. The quarry is expected to begin operations in October 2009, following the completion of development work.

The long running Thorndyke Resource proposal for a pit-to-pier mining project in Washington state has found a new partner in Canada’s Athabasca Minerals. The project is in its seventh year of county approvals and environmental reviews.

The outlook for gypsum demand appears to be showing signs of improvement as the housing market begins its recovery, but poor capacity utilisation continues to raise doubts over the pricing of the mineral.

Bulk solids such as limestone, clay, gypsum, and slag tend to hang up in silos, plug in chutes, and spill or emit dust from conveyors. These problems cause many cement plants to operate inefficiently, often requiring costly labour to keep these raw materials flowing through equipment. Most of these solids handling problems are the result of one or more of the five common mistakes made in the cement industry.

The recycling of alternative fuels has been utilised in many cement kilns around the world in recent years. Fuel costs have soared and where opportunities have existed, manufacturers have been able to improve their bottom line by implementing various systems to facilitate firing of these alternative fuels, and within environmental limits. Yet is it enough?