Displaying items by tag: Summit Materials
US: Continental Cement has ordered a Fuelflex Pyrolyzer alternative fuels combustion system from Denmark-based FLSmidth for installation at its Davenport plant in Buffalo, Iowa. The supplier says that its product offers a lower capital expenditure compared to competing systems, can control NOx emissions without the need for ammonia water and can be installed without a long shutdown period. This is the first commercial installation of the Fuelflex Pyrolyzer system following a pre-commercial installation at the Mannok cement plant in Northern Ireland, UK, in 2022.
David Loomes, the president of Continental Cement, said “We’re very excited about what the Fuelflex Pyrolyzer will do for our process.” He added, “We’re planning to achieve 55% fossil fuel replacement across the plant, utilising non-hazardous waste that would otherwise go to landfill or incinerators. The economic and environmental benefits of this technology are very significant and a key element of executing our carbon reduction commitment.” Continental Cement, a subsidiary of Summit Materials, has been incorporating waste materials as fuels for more than 30 years.
Jens Jonas Skov Larsen, Head of Capital Sales at FLSmidth, said “Mannok has called the Fuelflex Pyrolyzer a game-changer for the cement industry.” He continued, “This system effectively rearranges the order of the combustion process to make use of hot preheater meal, which is the heat source for the waste fuel pyrolysis. It’s a more efficient way of burning alternative fuels and it comes with a host of benefits, including reduced emissions and a more stable process.”
The installation at Davenport cement plant is expected to start operation in 2024. The full commercial launch for the system is scheduled by 2025. No value for the order has been disclosed.
US: Continental Cement will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 114,000t-capacity cement storage dome at its Davenport cement plant in Iowa on 20 March 2023. The dome will replace existing winter storage facilities at the plant, resulting in a safer and more efficient operation, according to the subsidiary of Summit Materials.
The company’s president, David Loomes, said "The investment by Summit Materials of US$30m in the largest cement storage dome in North America represents a strong vote of confidence in Continental Cement and a commitment to sustained operations and investment in the State of Iowa."
Continental Cement plans to invest an additional US$32m in an expansion to its Green America Recycling programme, whereby it expects to achieve an alternative fuel (AF) substitution rate of 55%.
100 Continental Cement workers go on strike
28 February 2023US: 100 Workers at Continental Cement's Hannibal cement plant in Missouri are on strike against alleged unfair labour practices. IndustriALL Global Union has accused the producer of restricting employees' say in schedules, overtime and cross training requirements at the plant, as well as of withholding information necessary for bargaining. The union additionally alleged that the company was discriminatory in its termination of contracts. The workers have continued to work amid on-going contract renegotiations following the expiry of a collective agreement between them and the producer in May 2022.
IndustriALL Global Union said "Continental Cement’s actions have left workers no other options but to make their voices heard by striking against unfair labour practices. We are determined to fight for the fair contract. It's time for Continental Cement to follow the law and negotiate in good faith for a fair contract.”
Filiberto Ruiz elected as chair of PCA
14 December 2022US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has elected Filiberto Ruiz as its next chair. He is the current vice-chair of the association and is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Votorantim Cimentos North America. He will succeed Ron Henley, the president of GCC of America, in the post.
Massimo Toso has been elected as the vice chair. He is the PCA’s Climate and Sustainability Council co-chair and is the president and CEO of Buzzi Unicem USA. David Loomes, the president of Continental Cement Company, has also joined the PCA board. He succeeds Tom Beck, the executive vice president of Summit Materials, who has stepped down from the board.
Summit converts Hannibal to PLC
23 August 2022US: Summit Materials has announced that its cement plant in Hannibal, Missouri, has been converted to produce 100% Portland limestone cement (PLC). Since 4 August 2022, the plant has only produced PLC, which has embodied CO2 emissions around 10% lower than ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The company said that the conversion marked an important step towards reaching its overall 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation targets, which were announced in April 2022.
The Hannibal plant is the company's second conversion to PLC in 2022. It earlier converted Continental Cement's Davenport plant to 100% PLC production in April 2022.
US: Summit Materials subsidiary Continental Cement’s 1.1Mt/yr Davenport, Iowa, cement plant has become the latest US cement plant to transition to 100% Portland limestone cement (PLC) production.
Summit Materials executive vice president Tom Beck said "Our transition to PLC at Davenport aligns with the Portland Cement Association (PCA)'s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality.” He continued “It is critical that the industry comes together and acts now to create sustainable building solutions for decades to come. The US cement and concrete industries can collectively address climate change, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate barriers that are restricting environmental progress through the continued adoption of product and manufacturing innovations."
US: Summit Materials' nine-month consolidated sales were US$1.68bn in the first nine months of 2021, up by 7.7% year-on-year from US$1.56bn in the corresponding period of 2020. The group's net income rose by 4.8% to US$110m from US$105m. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 31% to US$416m from US$319m.
The company's consolidated cement sales for the period were US$208m, up by 10% from US$189m. Its sales volumes rose by 6.5% to 1.8Mt from 1.69Mt.
US: Summit Materials’ net revenue grew by 11% year-on-year to US$882m in the first half of 2021 from US$794m in the same period in 2020. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 27% to US$209m from US$164m. Cement business revenue increased by 10% to US$126m from US$114m. Cement and concrete sales volumes increased by 10% to 1.05Mt and by 7% to 2.16Mm3 respectively.
"These results reflect our team's commitment to operational and commercial excellence, which delivered volume growth in most lines of business and pricing growth in all lines of business. Demand fundamentals remain strong in our rural and exurban markets, while most of the state Departments of Transportation that we serve have returned to typical letting and operating conditions,” said Anne Noonan, the chief executive officer of Summit Materials.
HeidelbergCement considering selling assets in California
23 December 2020US: HeidelbergCement is considering selling assets in California. Bloomberg News reports that it is working with Morgan Stanley on a potential divestment and it hopes to raise around US$1.5bn. It is reportedly approaching competitors including Martin Marietta Materials, Cemex, CRH, Summit Materials and LafargeHolcim, as well as companies in China and Latin America. The first bids are not expected until early 2021.
The Germany-based building materials company operates three integrated cement plants in California, as part of its Lehigh Hanson subsidiary, in addition to concrete and aggregates units. Divestment of these assets would focus the company instead on markets in the East Coast, Midwest and Canadian regions of North America.
In July 2020 HeidelbergCement announced that it had reduced its value of its assets by Euro3.4bn following a review. It blamed this on reduced demand for building materials due the coronavirus pandemic and the devaluation of its Hanson subsidiary in the UK, in part related to the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Summit Materials raises 2019 profit by 74% year-on-year
06 February 2020US: Summit Materials recorded a profit of US$59.1m in 2019, up by 74% from US$33.9m in 2018. Summit Materials’ CEO Tom Hill attributed the growth to ‘sustained public sector demand coupled with improved pricing.’ The Colorado-based construction materials company’s cement section contributed sales growth of 3.5% year-on-year to US$291m from US$281m in 2018, with a 2.8% in cement volumes and a 1.7% price increase.