US cement company Ash Grove Cement has acquired Geofortis LLC. Geofortis operates a raw natural pozzolan grinding and classification line and a nearby deposit in Toole, Utah. Since production began in 2021, Geofortis has obtained approvals for its complementary cementitious material from agencies in California, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah.
Serge Smith, Ash Grove’s president, commented that the acquisition of this company aligns perfectly with Ash Grove’s long-term growth strategy and commitment to sustainability. The high-quality pozzolan products complement the existing portfolio and will allow them to offer more environmentally friendly solutions to their customers. It also reinforces their dedication to developing sustainable solutions that build, connect, and improve the world.
In addition to fly ash substitution, raw or calcined natural pozzolans (metakaolin) are emerging in the market as a partial replacement for Portland cement in concrete mix designs for projects that must meet low carbon material requirements. The American Concrete Institute and Natural Pozzolan Association Committee for Standards Development work has brought Geofortis and Ash Grove together, increasing the permits for material processing.
Geofortis’ in-house research and development team consists of engineers and scientists working in Reno and Utah to evaluate natural pozzolan sources and optimize product development. The company has conducted extensive testing for over 6 years to identify and demonstrate the effectiveness of their natural pozzolans for superior concrete performance. The company has worked with major concrete producers to confirm their results and establish a market presence. Thanks to all of this, they are able to demonstrate the benefits of their products both in the laboratory, in their pilot scale plant and in large scale concrete pours.
Their labs are fully equipped to perform mortar and concrete testing using ASTM and AASHTO methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), ASR expansion, compressive strength, particle size distributions (PSD) and more.
Ash Grove Cement is part of the CRH Group, a leader and pioneer in the cement industry. For over 142 years, they have been providing cement-based materials to build roads, bridges, commercial and industrial complexes, homes, and other structures critical to the economic vitality and quality of life in the United States. Ash Grove ships cement from twelve cement plants and its network of terminals located throughout the Midwest, Texas, and the West, and is one of the largest cement producers in North America, with the addition of operations in Florida, the U.S. Great Lakes and Canada.
What they do as a company, they consider essential to life and existence because their materials, products and services define how the world is built and that is why it is important to be aware of this and continue joining forces towards a calcination process for their rotary kilns that is increasingly efficient, sustainable and more environmentally friendly.
Therefore, in their operations, every time they do something, they always go further and strive to improve it. They dedicate the necessary time to think, imagine and reinvent solutions for the built environment, creating homes, buildings and infrastructure that stand the test of time.
To generate a greater impact, they work hand in hand with their partners, customers, suppliers, and all stakeholders, shaping solutions and knowledge worldwide. Seal Plus by Motofrenos has had the privilege of supporting Ash Grove in different projects to reduce false air in their rotary kilns with our rotary equipment seal solution.
Source: https://www.cemnet.com/ and https://www.ashgrove.com/