Latest Portland cement Stories

Plants Commended for Benefiting Local Communities, Global Environment SKOKIE, Ill., April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Five cement plants received special recognition for their commitment to improving the environment and their communities at the 12(th) Annual Cement Industry Environment and Energy Awards, presented by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine at PCA's Spring Meeting in Chicago, April 29, 2013. The awards honor individual cement...

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) The challenge of making concrete greener—reducing its sizable carbon footprint without compromising performance—is just like the world's most ubiquitous manufactured material—hard! But, according to a new report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the potential engineering performance, energy-efficiency and environmental benefits make it a challenge worth tackling. Many factors determine the...

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found that a pavement property called deflection could save more that $15 billion in annual fuel costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A study released today focuses on the interplay between a vehicle and the road, and how that interplay can affect fuel consumption. Known as pavement-vehicle interaction, it is seen in three forms: roughness, texture and...

LONDON, January 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Portland Cement Association (PCA) expects strong growth in cement consumption in 2013 due to improving economic fundamentals, pent-up demand and diminished economic uncertainty. The strong growth in cement consumption should benefit companies such as CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) and Texas Industries Inc. (NYSE: TXI). Analysts at StockCall.com released two comprehensive research reports on CEMEX and Texas Industries which can be...

2013 Housing Starts Approach the One Million Mark SKOKIE, Ill., Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Since 2005, tepid economic growth and high foreclosure rates have depressed home prices, bloating inventories and preventing start activity. In 2013, economists are revising nearly a decade of pessimism and forecasting growth throughout the residential construction industry. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130118/DC44695) A new report from the Portland Cement...

Strong Economic Momentum Expected to Spillover to Construction SKOKIE, Ill., Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Improving underlying economic fundamentals, the existence of large pent-up demand balances, and the diminishment of economic fiscal cliff uncertainty will combine to result in strong growth rates in 2013 and an increase in cement consumption. According to the latest forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA), there will be an 8.1 percent growth in cement...

Cement Consumption Will Rise or Fall Based on Timing of Resolution SKOKIE, Ill., Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Although cement consumption and overall U.S. construction activity increased significantly more than expected in 2012, these gains would be immediately erased in 2013 if the fiscal cliff is not resolved in a timely manner. A forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) expects a 7.5 percent jump in cement consumption in 2012, up 50 basis points from...

Congressional uncertainty could curtail future growth SKOKIE, Ill., Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the first half of 2012 experiencing favorable weather conditions, gains in residential and nonresidential construction activity and robust gains in cement intensities, the new forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) nearly doubles the expected increase in cement consumption for the year. PCA revised its spring forecast upward, anticipating a 6.9 percent...

WALTHAM, Mass., July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Holcim (US) announced today that Holcim (US) employee John Sommers has been awarded the 2012 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Meritorious Service Award. Sommers received this award on May 16, 2012 at the 2012 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical Conference in San Antonio, TX.<s> </s> The Meritorious Service Award recognizes a member of the IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Committee who has made significant contributions to the...

PCA Campaign Urges Changes to State's Road Construction Procedure COLUMBUS, Ohio , July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Road construction bidding policies that allow contractors to increase their final bill based on the current price of oil is costing the state of Ohio millions of dollars with each project. The Ohio Department of Transportation policy, which is contrary to federal highway recommendations, cost the state nearly $37 million in change orders during 2009-2010....