The pilot project “catch4climate”, for which four cement manufacturers have joined forces, is actively tackling the capturing of CO2 and its subsequent industrial use. At the site of the cement plant at Mergelstetten in southern Germany, the consortium intends to build and operate its own demonstration plant on a semi-industrial scale, where the so-called oxyfuel process for CO2 separation will be applied. In the future, the CO2 captured at Mergelstetten will be used to produce so-called “reFuels” with the help of renewable electrical energy and turned into climate-neutral synthetic fuels such as kerosene for air traffic.
The cement industry is intensively researching solutions, to bring the CO2 emissions, which are inevitably arising during the burning of limestone, into the product cycle or to use them for new products. For this, the CO2 has to be captured during the cement production process. In order to demonstrate such processes in practice, the four European cement manufacturers Buzzi Unicem SpA - Dyckerhoff GmbH, HeidelbergCement AG, SCHWENK Zement KG and Vicat S.A. founded the joint venture company CI4C - Cement Innovation for Climate – at the end of 2019. The "catch4climate" project is intended to create the basis for a large-scale application of CO2 capture technologies in cement plants, in order to enable the CO2 to be used later as a raw material in other processes (CCU, CCS).
The Oxyfuel process (from Oxy = oxygen and fuel) is a clinker burning process in which pure oxygen is introduced into the cement kiln instead of air. Thanks to the pure oxygen, no other components like nitrogen gets into the burning process and with this, a highly concentrated CO2 is created. The aim is to capture almost 100 percent of the CO2 emissions from a cement plant in a cost-effective manner. By using this technology, the European cement industry could achieve a significant reduction in process-related CO2 emissions and thus make an important contribution to climate protection. The realization of this project is still subject to the public research funding to be applied for.
The CI4C consortium has already entered the planning phase and is cooperating closely with the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in the “catch4climate” pilot project in Mergelstetten. A corresponding “Letter of Intent” was signed on November 18, 2020 in Stuttgart together with the Prime Minister and the Transport Minister of the federal state.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded its 2020 ENERGY STAR® certification to Buzzi Unicem USA plants in Chattanooga, TN and Festus, MO.  This certification is awarded to a facility for superior energy performance in comparison to similar plants.
This marks the twelfth consecutive year the Chattanooga and Festus plants have received certification.
In order to qualify for ENERGY STAR recognition, cement plants must score at least 75 on the Energy Performance Indicator (EPI), used by the EPA to measure energy efficiency.  In addition, the plant must have a satisfactory environmental compliance record for the past 3 years.  Receipt of the ENERGY STAR certification means these two plants perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide.
The ENERGY STAR program focuses on strategic energy management and emphasizes the importance of demonstrating environmental leadership for future generations.

The pilot plant for the CLEANKER project was inaugurated at Buzzi Unicem’s Vernasca facility on Friday, October 9. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate a technology for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) in cement plants.
After three very busy years of work and engineering we have finally arrived at the crucial phase, namely testing within an industrial setting the applicability of the Calcium Looping technology for capturing carbon dioxide released during the cement production process. The series of tests will be conducted in the manner typical of research projects, with short and long tests to be performed over a period of approximately 10 months, with a total actual operating time of one month at most. The time between each test will vary depending upon the analysis of the data collected in the previous series so that the operating parameters can be optimally calibrated before performing the next set of tests. 
The CLEANKER (CLEAN- clinKER) project will allow us to estimate the modifications and expenditures that will be required for existing cement plants, as well as their operational costs in order to also assess the economic sustainability of the CO2 capture technology.
During the morning, several speakers took to the podium to address the following topics: “CCUS – Capture, Use and Storage of CO2 – a technological challenge and an opportunity for industry”, presented by Stefano Consonni, President of LEAP; “CCUS in the cement industry”, by Luigi Buzzi, Group Technical Director; “CLEANKER: technology, experimentation and future prospects”, by Matteo Romano from the Polytechnic University of Milan; “CLEANKER: technological successes achieved”, by Giovanni Cinti and Guido Pellegrino from Italcementi, and “The European, national and regional vision for the fight against climate change”, by Riccardo Basosi, Marcello Capra, Attilio Raimondi and Sandro Fuzzi.
The mayor of Vernasca, Giuseppe Sidoli, also offered words of appreciation for all the partners involved in this important, innovative project. 
The event was covered by the local media with the goal of creating a better understanding among the local communities of the importance of this research project. Fabio Lunardini, a journalist from the Libertà newspaper, interviewed Antonio Buzzi, the COO of Cement Italy, and Professor Stefano Consonni.
The meeting, which was attended by over 50 people, concluded with the ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the plant.

Over 2 million tv spectators watched the Superquark episode on Rai1 on August 26, which highlighted the innovation and ambition of the European research project Cleanker, being tested at the Buzzi Unicem cement plant in Vernasca.
The journalists Paolo Magliocco and Daniela Franco, with an speech by the LEAP researcher Martina Fantini, who is in charge of the scientific coordination of the project, explained how this initiative aims to isolate the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by the cement plant during the production process, before it is released into the atmosphere.
The evocative name, Cleanker stands for Clean clinker production by calcium looping process, ie producing "clean clinker", capturing the CO2 generated by the production process, through the regenerative calcium cycle technology. The goal is to isolate the CO2 from gases, concentrating it over 90% and subsequently making it available for underground storage or for reuse in other industrial areas, such as synthesis processes or production of green fuels.
The pilot plant will be inaugurated this coming October and in the same month will start a phase of experimental and analysis campaigns that will last one year, to be closed by 2021.
If expectations are confirmed, Cleanker could represent an important innovation for the cement sector and for the protection of the environment.
The Superquark episode is available at this link (report starts from minute 43').

For some months now, 150 Dyckerhoff Beton truck mixers operating as part of a joint venture with the Koch logistics company have been equipped with the Axion turn assist system.
In concentrated urban areas, drivers of heavy-duty vehicles are frequently at risk of not being aware of the presence of cyclists and pedestrians, giving rise to dangerous situations. The cause of these accidents is attributed to the so-called "blind spots", in other words the areas immediately in front of, behind or at the sides of the vehicle that the driver cannot see with standard mirrors. 
The Axion system consists of a camera installed on the right side of the cab so the driver can check a pre-determined area, a monitor in the middle of the dashboard that displays the images transmitted by the camera, and a control unit.
As the vehicle is turning, the side camera monitors the area at the side of the vehicle, which is specified at the time of installation.
A software algorithm allows the turn assist system to detect movements that are categorized as dangerous and warns the driver by an indicator light installed on the front pillar, at the same height as the right-side mirror, as well as an audible beep.
The monitoring system is activated as soon as the right-hand turn signal is operated or when the steering angle is greater than 7 degrees even without the signal engaged.
The blind spot, which is displayed on the monitor while driving, is constantly checked by the side camera and so is always under control by the driver. 
Safety behind the truck mixers is ensured by a rearview camera that is installed on all trucks in the joint venture partnership.
We hope that other companies will soon follow Dyckerhoff Beton example. 

On June 9, Marco Borroni was elected the President of ERMCO, the European Association of Ready-mix Concrete Manufacturers, which comprises 25 Member countries.
The Director of Operations and Plants Design of Unical, Marco Borroni has been a member of the General Board of ATECAP (Technical Economic Association for Ready-mixed Concrete) since 2008, has represented Italy on the board of ERMCO since 2012, and has been a member of the GCCA (Global Cement and Concrete Association) Working Group since 2018.
As part of his mandate, the new President will continue the work of his predecessors by focusing on two fundamental aspects for the growth of the sector: sustainability and digitization.
In his inaugural speech, Marco Borroni stated:
“With respect to sustainability, we must analyze our value chain and maximize the results of our actions on the strength of our synergies with EFCA, the European Federation of Concrete Admixtures, Cembureau, the European Cement Association which, like us, is a member of the ECP, the European Concrete Platform, and with GCCA, the Global Cement and Concrete Association. To strengthen the digital aspect, a key role will be played by the DigiPLACE framework, a large EU-funded program for the digitization of the construction sector, and we will continue our activities with the BIM working group."
Borroni concludes:
"Our goal is to ensure that concrete is established as the preferred building material in the construction industry."

The Portland Cement Association (PCA), founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America's cement manufacturers. The Association promotes safety, sustainability, and innovation in all aspects of construction, fosters continuous improvement in cement manufacturing and distribution, and generally promotes economic growth and sound infrastructure investment. 
The annual PCA Chairman's Safety Performance Awards recognize outstanding safety performance in the manufacturing of Portland cement. A total of 11 winners were selected from nearly 100 cement facilities across the US, found to be the highest performers in safety in 2019.
For the third time in four years, Buzzi Unicem’s Chattanooga Plant was one of the units honored with this award, having completed 234,669 man-hours of work in 2019 without any reportable accidents.

Peterbilt Trucks proudly displayed this Alamo Concrete truck with a Beck Industrial Mixer at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas during March 2020.  All three of these companies are based in Texas.
With safety as a top priority, Buzzi Unicem continues to update its fleet in Texas with the safest equipment possible. 
CONEXPO is the largest construction trade show in North America, focusing on construction and construction material industries and it is held every three years.  At the show, latest innovations, technologies, equipment, products and services pertaining to the construction industry are showcased.  Alamo Concrete representatives attended the show to gain this valuable insight and bring ideas back to incorporate in our business.

The renovations to give a new visual lift to the lobby of the Casale Monferrato headquarters began in the spring of 2019. The goal was to freshen up the area by illustrating the history and identity of the company, using the best technology available today, and to highlight its connection to the past and confidence in the future. 
The work was divided into two phases, the first of which involved renovating the entrance, while the second consisted of creating a large interactive wall.

The first phase completely transformed the visual impact on visitors when they pass through the entrance doors. The walls feature a beautiful display of enlarged photos of the plants, a planisphere showing the countries where the group is present, the Company’s Vision statement, the cement production cycle and the composition and uses of cement. One wall is dedicated entirely to the company’s products. 
The second phase of the renovation involved the creation of a 12 m2 multimedia wall, dubbed the “video wall”, which visually presents the history of Buzzi Unicem and displays, in both Italian and English, facts, figures and photos to recount the group international presence. By design, the theme areas of the interactive HD screens are intended to expand. More topics will be added shortly.  

The new PCA campaign, named “Shaped by Concrete” was unveiled to the public with a “soft launch” during the World of Concrete in Las Vegas.
“Shaped by Concrete” is a new educational campaign to increase awareness of the sustainability, resiliency and durability of concrete made with cement.
With impacts from climate change, growing population and accelerating urbanization creating demand for safe, affordable housing, there has never been a more important time to explain how concrete can be the material of choice for virtually every type of construction.
The full launch of the campaign is targeted for early March, during the PCA meetings and CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020 in Las Vegas.

For additional review:

Web: https://www.shapedbyconcrete.com/#about-intro
 

The James Simon Gallery is the new, impressive building constructed at the entrance of Museum Island in Berlin. The complex was built as a visitor reception and information center and provides a number of essential services for the other buildings on Museum Island. Besides the admissions cashier area, the Gallery's 4,600 m² includes a café, a store, a 300-seat conference room and a temporary exhibit room.
The gallery is named after James Henry Simon (1851-1932), an important patron of the arts during the Empire era, who gifted most of his art collections to museums in Berlin. The most famous piece is the bust of Nefertiti, discovered in 1913 during an excavation financed by Simon himself and now on display at the Neues Museum.  
The elegant colonnades of architectural concrete made with Dyckerhoff WEISS are the most distinctive feature of the structure, which was designed by the Chipperfield firm. 
The columns in the courtyard, the grand staircase, and the cladding on the terrace are also made with Dyckerhoff WEISS.
The precast elements in architectural concrete were supplied by the Dreßler Bau firm in Stockstadt. The marble chips added as an aggregate confer a cream color to the elements, which harmonizes well with the other buildings on Museum Island and meet the highest requirements for exposed concrete, with a sandblasted finish that vitalizes the appearance of the material used.

Photo:Dreßler Bau GmbH, Germany