Global Concrete News

US: Builders Supply Co. plans to invest US$10.6m in the construction of a new concrete block plant in Fort Payne, Alabama. Local press has reported that the plant is scheduled for commissioning in mid-2025 and will employ 10 people.

Builders Supply Co. president George Weatherly said “We are extremely proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned and operated local business. We are excited to reinvest in the future of our employees, our families and the communities in which we work and live.”

US: Chemicals company Cortec has recommended its MCI Technology range of admixtures, surface treatments and speciality solutions for reinforced concrete structures. The products contain amine carboxylates, which migrate through concrete to form a protective layer on steel reinforcements. Cortec says that the product is suited to use in vulnerable desalination plant components such as concrete piping and brine discharge chests. Product include USDA-certified bio-based MCI-2005, which meets ANSI/NSF Standard 61 for drinking water system components.

Latin America/Caribbean: Cemex Latam Holdings has partnered with Habitat for Humanity and the Inter-American Cement Federation (FICEM) to participate in the 100,000 Floors to Play initiative. The project aims to replace 100,000 homes’ dirt floors with concrete floors across the region by 2028. Cemex Latam Holdings’ existing concrete flooring programme in Colombia has already transformed 30Mm² of living space.

Cemex CEO Fernando Gonzalez Olivieri said "We are committed to creating a positive and lasting impact in communities around the world. We are proud to be part of this initiative that could improve the lives of thousands of families."

US: The City of Syracuse, New York, is pilot-testing a new method of infrastructure construction by incorporating recycled glass as a cement substitute in concrete, reports CNY Central newspaper. A patented process by recycling company KLAW Industries crushes glass into fine powder, reportedly replacing 20% of the cement in concrete from recent projects, including upgrades to pavements. The approach follows successful implementations in the City of Binghamton and by the New York State Department of Transportation, with support from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Clarkson University.

Department of Public Works Commissioner Jeremy Robinson said "We’re always looking for the most effective and sustainable approaches to constructing and maintaining city infrastructure. Based on the results of this testing, we can determine if the solution can be expanded to more sidewalks and, possibly, other applications.”

US: Cemex USA has supplied 42,800t of its Vertua reduced-CO₂ concrete to property developer Tishman Speyer for Phase 1 of the Mission Rock mixed-use development in San Francisco, California. Vertua concrete offers enhanced sustainability for construction projects compared to conventional concrete through its reduced emissions, energy efficiency, use of recycled materials, water conservation and design optimisation. Phase 1 of the project involved the construction of foundations for two blocks of apartments and an office block. Contractor Webcor first broke ground on the project in 2020.

Cemex USA West Regional President Francisco Rivera said "We are excited to contribute to a forward-thinking project such as Mission Rock by delivering our eco-conscious building materials, advancing sustainability efforts in San Francisco.