Frontline BioEnergy’s Iowa Pyrolysis Project Progresses

The Stine pyrolysis project, a collaboration between Stine Seed Farms and Frontline BioEnergy, will transform biomass into biochar and bio-oil. Frontline took the project from conception through detailed engineering and fabrication.

Work on the 9-module pyrolysis plant took place at Frontline’s headquarters in Nevada, Iowa. Stine Seed Farms is currently installing the equipment at its site. The two companies will partner to commission and start up the plant this summer.

“This project will bolster Iowa’s farming industry by creating a value-added market for corn stover and other unused biomass,” said Harry Stine, Stine’s CEO.

“The Stine Seed Farm 50 tons-per-day project is the next step to demonstrate the scalability and operability of this unique process. Frontline is pleased to partner with Stine and ISU on this cutting-edge innovation.”

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Vulcan To Acquire U.S. Concrete

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and EULESS, Texas, June 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC), a leading producer of construction aggregates, and U.S. Concrete, Inc. (NASDAQ: USCR), a leading supplier of aggregates and ready-mixed concrete, today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Vulcan will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of U.S. Concrete common stock for a purchase price of $74.00 per share in cash, which represents a total equity value of $1.294 billion. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the second half of 2021, subject to U.S. Concrete shareholder approval, regulatory clearance, and other customary closing conditions.

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Cement-Based Batteries Could Turn Concrete Buildings Into Giant Energy Stores

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have published unique research into the idea of rechargeable batteries made from cement. The team, led by Doctor Emma Zhang and Professor Luping Tang at the institution’s Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, believes the development of this technology may yield a future where twenty-story concrete buildings can store energy as one giant battery.

The concept for Chalmers’ battery system begins with a cement-based mixture, to which small amounts of short carbon fibers are added to increase the material’s conductivity. A metal-coated carbon fiber mesh is then embedded within the mixture, with iron for the anode and nickel for the cathode, forming a high-strength battery system on an architectural or urban scale.

Building's Hard Problem - Making Concrete Green

Today we use more concrete than any substance, other than water.

That means it accounts for about 8% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) we emit into the atmosphere. That is substantially more than the aviation industry, which makes up about 2.5% of emissions.

But some companies are developing concrete that has a much lower CO2 impact.

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Martin Marietta Announces Acquisition of Lehigh Hanson’s West Region Business

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE: MLM) (“Martin Marietta” or the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Martin Marietta will acquire Lehigh Hanson, Inc.’s West Region business (“Lehigh West Region”) for $2.3 billion in cash.

Ward Nye, Chairman, President and CEO of Martin Marietta, stated, “We continue to successfully execute on our strategic initiatives to enhance our footprint and responsibly expand our business. Lehigh’s West Region has leading positions in some of the nation’s most attractive markets, providing Martin Marietta with access to new geographies for continued industry-leading growth. With this acquisition, our Company will be well-positioned to capitalize on long-term demand drivers from increased state infrastructure investment in California and Arizona as well as continued private-sector growth across these regions. We are confident in our ability to quickly realize the benefits of this transaction following the same proven approach we took with our acquisitions of TXI and Bluegrass. Those purchases delivered significant value creation as will the addition of the Lehigh West Region as Martin Marietta SOARs to a Sustainable Future.”

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NCMA, ICPI align with NPCA, PCI for The Precast Show 2022

The National Concrete Masonry Association and the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute will join the National Precast Concrete Association and Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute at The Precast Show 2022, March 3-5 in Kansas City, Mo. With more than 100,000 square feet of exhibitor space and attendance of 5,000, The Precast Show is the largest precast-specific trade gathering in North America and, organizers notes, “the one place to find the most important suppliers and foremost equipment experts under one roof.”

“The Precast Show is the premier event within the concrete products industry,” says NCMA Chairman of the Board Rocky Jenkins (Fizzano Bros. Concrete Products, Philadelphia). “Our members will benefit greatly from the integration of ICON Expo into this event, as will the companies that supply our members, through increased exposure and the opportunity to come together with so many others across the industry.” 

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Solidia Names Oldcastle Veteran as CEO, Closes $78M Funding Round

Solidia Technologies has named Bryan Kalbfleisch as chief executive officer. He arrives from Summit Materials, where he served as president of the Texas Region and Alleyton Resource, Houston-based ready mixed concrete and aggregate producer. Prior to Summit, Kalbfleisch was president of Oldcastle Materials’ Arkansas-based APAC Central business. That appointment followed a tenure with Central Pre-Mix Concrete Co., an integrated Spokane, Wash. producer Oldcastle acquired in 1997.

“Joining Solidia provides me the rare privilege of helping move cement and concrete into their next generation with higher-performing materials that are better for industry, people, and the planet,” says Kalbfleisch. “Having devoted my career to this industry, I am excited to help build a new legacy for it with the support of some of the world’s most committed leaders in advancing sustainable innovation.”

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Sales Continue to Increase Among Concrete Paver Contractors Despite Significant Workforce Shortage

Gross sales for concrete paver contractors in the United States and Canada increased by 7.8% during 2020, while four of every five contractors reported difficulty in recruiting and hiring quality employees, according to a new survey soon to be released by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI).

“Contractors in the segmental concrete pavement industry are experiencing significant growth in sales,” said Marshall Brown, ICPI Board Chair. “However, this report also confirms a challenge for our industry. There is a large shortage of skilled installers. That is why ICPI has launched a workforce development program to attract more people into the industry and better train the people who are already involved. We have developed a career resource website hardscapingis.com, as well as an online learning center, The Hardscape Institute, where people can better access the industry’s top education programs. We are also working on marketing materials to help member contractors recruit more young people into the craft.”

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ACI Foundation Funds Eight Research Projects

The ACI Foundation’s concrete research council (CRC) has selected eight research projects to receive grants this year based on their impact to the industry.

The foundation – part of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) – is committed to progress in the industry by contributing financially to necessary research.

The CRC seeks research projects that further the knowledge and sustainability of concrete materials, construction and structures in coordination with ACI technical committees where possible.

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Boral Weighs Options for North American Fly Ash Business

The Australian parent company of Georgia-based Boral North America has begun a review of Boral Resources to explore “value creation opportunities.” With 120-plus fly ash collection, processing or distribution sites across the U.S., the business accounted for about $470 million of Boral North America’s $1.56 billion in FY2020 sales.

“We have conducted a detailed study of the U.S. fly ash industry and remain confident in the long term demand dynamics, including significant incremental growth potential from the government’s proposed new infrastructure program,” says Boral Ltd. CEO Zlatko Todorcevski. “New opportunities for supply exist from harvesting landfills, imports and natural pozzolans, which we expect will more than offset the decline in fresh fly ash supply as the U.S. transitions away from coal fired power generation. As we continue to build our alternative supply strategy, strategic alliances and opportunities for partnership will be considered in parallel with divestment options or continued ownership.”

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XPRIZE Announces the Two Winners of $20M NRG Cosia Carbon XPRIZE

Both $7.5M Grand Prize Winners Developed Technologies Focused on Decarbonizing Concrete, the World’s Largest Material Industry

 XPRIZE, the global leader in designing and implementing innovative competition models to solve the world’s grandest challenges, today announced that CarbonCure Technologies and CarbonBuilt have won the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, a prize that set out to convert CO2 emissions into valuable products. 

Selected by a panel of independent judges, both winning teams developed solutions aimed at reducing CO2 emissions associated with traditional concrete, which is currently the world’s most abundant human-made material and accounts for seven percent of all global CO2 emissions. The two team’s award-winning technologies will be, and already are, game-changers for global decarbonization and the fight against climate change. 

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Startup Creates Concrete That Reduces Carbon Emissions

The company, which was spun off in late 2019 from a UCLA research team led by civil engineer professor Gaurav Sant, has developed a process for injecting concrete with carbon dioxide emissions from power plants or other industrial facilities.
The idea is to sequester the carbon dioxide emissions into concrete that can then be sold to builders and other construction contractors. This process reduces the cost for cement, concrete, power generation and other industrial plant operators to comply with mandates to reduce carbon emissions.

CarbonBuilt’s approach has been to use low-cost hydrated lime as a base material for the manufacture of concrete, then inject carbon dioxide emissions from an industrial process to cure the concrete into usable form.
Carbon dioxide ends up permanently stored in the concrete, reducing emissions from the concrete manufacture process by 50% to 70%.

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Evercast expands in the Carolinas, acquiring Precast Supply Co.

Evercast, a leading specialty precast and prestressed concrete producer in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, has acquired Precast Supply Co. of Concord, N.C. The transaction complements the suitor’s existing product offerings; adds to its portfolio of precast and prestressed production brands, all primarily geared to drainage, transportation and utility markets; and, better positions the business “to ensure projects are completed on time, with the best possible materials, bringing quality and attention to detail that differentiates it from its competitors.”

“Precast Supply Company’s dedication to producing quality products along with their people-first approach to business are great additions to our family,” says Evercast CEO Jeff Chastain. “Together we will be a stronger organization, focused on becoming our customers’ strategic partner of choice.”

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Tarmac First to Launch 50% Recycled Content Packing for Cement Products

Tarmac has become the first major cement manufacturer in the UK to move to 50% recycled plastic in its packaging with the rollout of new all-weather, fully recyclable hybrid bags.

Gareth Osborne, senior marketing manager in Tarmac's Cement and Lime business, said: "Our Blue Circle products have a proud history of innovation and we're excited to launch these new eco bags which are a significant step in our sustainability journey, at the same time as providing the weatherproof and robust packaging that our customers want and need.

"As one of the leading packed cement manufacturers in the UK, it's important that we continually take steps to contribute to the circular economy. Increasing the amount of recycled content in packaging materials and helping raise awareness of how our bags can be recycled by customers is a key part of this."

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PCI of Georgia/Carolinas Names New Executive Director, Ray Clark

The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute of Georgia/Carolinas has named Ray Clark as its new Executive Director. Clark most recently had been president of U.S. Formliner since 2012.

In all, he has 22 years of experience in the precast concrete industry. In addition to his business leadership roles, he has served as an associate director on the Georgia/Carolinas PCI Board of Directors and was chair of its Education Committee. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the PCI Foundation, as well as the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA), and Canadian Precast Concrete Institute (CPCI).

“I am confident my professional business experience, coupled with my substantial association leadership, both past and present, will make a great fit for this role and provide the continued advancement for the association,” said Clark. “What I have done well throughout my career is also what I will do well as the Executive Director – unite like-minded professionals behind goals, strategies, and action to promote and enhance the precast concrete industry in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.”

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Hanson Aggregates Joins Low Carbon Cluster Project

The region HyNet North West covers – which stretches from Flintshire and Wrexham, through Cheshire, Liverpool and Greater Manchester into Lancashire – has the largest concentration of advanced manufacturing and chemical production in the UK, including Hanson’s Padeswood cement works, near Mold in Flintshire.

The project is intended to reduce regional CO2 emissions by up to 10 million tonnes – including 800,000 tonnes from Hanson’s Padeswood plant – every year by 2030; the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.

“Our involvement in the HyNet North West project is the latest example of our commitment to cutting CO2 emissions,” said Hanson CEO Simon Willis.

“CCS at our cement plants will be a key part of our roadmap to achieve net zero carbon by 2050. The first step would be for us to carry out a feasibility study, this would give us a clear design basis and cost estimate for a capture plant and connection to the planned HyNet North West CO2 network and storage system.”

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November Cement Shipments Up 9%

Total shipments of portland and blended cement, including imports, in the United States and Puerto Rico in November 2020 were 8.6 million metric tons (Mt), a 9% increase from shipments in November 2019, according to the most recent USGS Mineral Industry Survey. Shipments for the year through November totaled 95.3 Mt, a slight increase from those for the same period in 2019. 

The leading producing states for portland and blended cement in November 2020 were, in descending order, Texas, Missouri, California, Florida and Alabama. The leading cement-consuming states (Texas, California, Florida, Ohio and Georgia) received 40% of November shipments.

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Fabcon Gains NE Market Share in Oldcastle Infrastructure NY Plant Deal

Fabcon has stepped up its Northeast presence by acquiring Oldcastle Infrastructure Building Systems Division assets, primarily a Selkirk, N.Y. plant specializing in precast, prestressed hollowcore plank, beam and wall panels. The operation considerably increases New York and New England contract prospects beyond those of Fabcon’s easternmost site in Mahanoy City, Pa. 

“This acquisition represents our continued investment in the Fabcon business and growth strategy,” says Chief Executive Officer Mike Rafi. “The Building Systems Division product line and its strategically located facility will expand our capacity for wall panels and our portfolio, which brings value to customers.” 

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Forterra Enters Into Definitive Agreement to Be Acquired by Quikrete

Forterra Inc. a leading manufacturer of water and drainage infrastructure pipe and products in the United States and Eastern Canada, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Quikrete Holdings, Inc. (“Quikrete”) will acquire all outstanding shares of Forterra for $24.00 per share in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $2.74 billion, including outstanding debt.

“Forterra and Quikrete are an ideal strategic fit, and this combination is a natural next step for our company, enabling us to better serve our customers across the company on their concrete projects from start to finish. We are excited to grow our capabilities in the potable water distribution market through Forterra’s well-respected U.S. Pipe business,” said Will Magill, CEO of Quikrete Holdings, Inc. “We are excited to welcome the Forterra team and bring our two great companies together.”

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New Mix Could Double Concrete's Carbon Uptake

A team lead by Mirian Velay-Lizancos, an assistant professor of civil engineering at Purdue, proposes adding small amounts of nanoscale titanium dioxide to the cement paste that makes up concrete. The team found that titanium dioxide, a powdery substance known best for its uses in sunscreen, paints, plastics and food preservatives, enhances concrete’s natural ability to sequester carbon dioxide.

The team discovered that adding only small amounts of nano-titanium dioxide nearly doubles concrete’s absorption of the problematic greenhouse gas. The study recently appeared in the scientific journal Construction and Building Materials. A YouTube video of the work is available.

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