There is no doubt that reducing the cement industry’s carbon footprint is a priority. The Portland Cement Association’s (PCA) Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality recently celebrated one year of progress. PCA said notable achievements over the past year across the value chain include: Multiple cement manufacturers in the United States, with support from the Department of Energy, have begun pilot projects…
Read MoreAuthor: Mark S. Kuhar
Talking Carbon
I’ll state the obvious: carbon is a hot topic right now. Portland Cement Association (PCA) Chairman Ron Henley (GCC America) told a New York Climate Week gathering that U.S. producers have exceeded expectations outlined nearly one year ago with release of the PCA Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality. That is good news. What is happening in the North American market is…
Read MoreRobust Anchor Design
Refractory Engineers’ And Managers’ Best Tips On Metallic Anchors. Edited by Mark S. Kuhar It is estimated that up to 40% of refractory lining failures can be attributed to a problem with the design of the anchor system or its improper installation. This is a significant number. When designing a refractory lining for an industrial application, anchor design becomes one…
Read MoreWhat to Expect Up the Road
Shipments of portland and blended cement increased by 4% in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared with that in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Annual consumption increased by 4% in 2021, compared with that of 2020. They obtained this information via its monthly survey of U.S. cement producers. But Portland Cement Association (PCA) Chief…
Read MoreCement Wars
Our feature on page 20 outlines the battle taking place out West between Sierra Club California and California’s cement producers.
Read MoreGuess What’s Coming Up The Road?
It’s a new year, and that means everyone has an analysis of the cement market. I attended the Intercem conference in Miami last October, and Colin Sutherland of SG Analytics assessed the market in coming years, stating that “After a long period of steady consumption growth, including 2018, our baseline forecast shows overall U.S. cement demand remaining more or less…
Read MoreBatteries and Carrots
Everything it seems runs on batteries and science has been working overtime to develop longer-lasting and easily rechargeable battery alternatives. But what if an entire building was a battery?
Read MoreBurning Tires: A Burning Concern
What happens when a cement plant wants to initiate a pilot project to burn tires for fuel? A lot of hell gets raised.
Read MoreAn Interview with James Toscas
New President and CEO of the Portland Cement Association Speaks Out On the Cement Industry, Its Regulatory Burden and Building Codes, Among Other Topics. By Mark S. Kuhar Congratulations on being named president and CEO of the Portland Cement Association. Can you tell our readers a little bit about your background? It’s a real honor to lead a prestigious organization…
Read MoreCreative Conveying
A Pipe Conveyor Replaces a Drag Chain Conveyor and Throws Schwenk Zement a Curve. By Mark S. Kuhar Schwenk Zement KG replaced its old drag chain conveyor line with a modern pipe conveyor from Beumer Group. Requiring a solution that would transport alternative fuels such as crushed plastic material, textiles and paper from the warehouse to the feeding system of…
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