Lafarge expands concrete capacity to New Orleans
Lafarge North America announced it is making investments in additional ready-mix concrete plants and trucks to support its customers in New Orleans. Recognizing the potential for increased concrete demand in the New Orleans market, Lafarge is adding three fixed ready-mix plants to its operations and 25 supplemental trucks. In addition, the company has a large number of portable ready-mix plants ready for deployment to the New Orleans market. "We will be ready to serve the local construction teams in their effort to rebuild these communities," said Dominique Calabrese, president of Lafarge North America eastern division. "We know that our products will be an important component of the reconstruction, and we are rapidly securing the necessary materials and resources to provide reliable support to our customers and this region."
 

Katrina rebuilding bolsters cement consumption forecast

Portland Cement Association (PCA) predicts cement consumption this year to increase more than five percent over 2004 levels, despite this year's hurricanes. PCA’s Fall 2005 Economic Forecast projects that more than 120 million metric tons of cement will be used in 2005, an increase of 5.2% from 2004, with consumption rising an additional 3.7% in 2006. According to Ed Sullivan, chief economist for PCA, re-building New Orleans could consume 650,000 to 1.8 million tons of cement each year of an expected five-year process. more

Precast group helps victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita

In response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA) established the “Hurricane Precast Relief Fund,” in early September to assist the employees of its member companies located in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama impacted by the tragedy. NPCA members contributed $29,200 to assist precast company employees who lost their homes or possessions. NPCA recently distributed the donations to 39 employees at three precast plants. 

Concrete group writes letter to Mississippi newspapers

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration recently reported that the cycle of active hurricane seasons will continue into 2006 and beyond. In response, Robert Garbini, president of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) wrote a letter to the editors of newspapers in Mississippi urging the state government adopt a statewide minimum building code similar to the one recently adopted in Louisiana. read the letter

Masonry group issues news release in support of tougher codes

The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) issued a news release recently warning the U.S. Congress that catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina will be repeated unless the states in the Gulf Coast region immediately adopt anti-wind building codes and rigorously enforce them. Mark B. Hogan, president of NCMA pointed to the example of Florida's Hurricane Andrew where widespread devastation led to a comprehensive upgrade of building codes and enforcement that has proven successful. read the news release