It’s been a busy and productive year for our aggregates team, with our 50 quarries across our CEMEX USA operations. As we look forward to continued success and exciting projects in the new year, we want to highlight some of our favorite achievements and photos from 2017.
In 2017, CEMEX USA announced an expansion of its Southern California network with plans for a state-of-the-art rail-served distribution terminal in Los Angeles and a new aggregate loading system at its quarry in Victorville, Calif. to bring high-quality aggregates to metro Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Construction at the Victorville Quarry is wrapping up and the rail line and distribution terminal is expected to be operational in 2018.
The CEMEX USA Lytle Creek Quarry near Rialto, Calif. received the 2017 California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA) Excellence in Safety Award in the large aggregates category for the Quarry’s focus to safety. CalCIMA also honored Gary Clay, fleet maintenance manager – west region, with the “Spirit of the Industry” award for demonstrating professional core values of integrity, leadership and commitment.
CEMEX’s Balcones Quarry continued funding of a series of hands-on educator workshops that promote protection and conservation of the Edwards Aquifer near San Antonio, Texas, via a $45,000 donation. This was the second of three-annual donations supporting the Edwards Aquifer Conservancy (EAC)-led CEMEX Educator Excursion Series program. EAC supports and benefits the Edwards Aquifer and its surrounding habitat located in Bexar and Comal Counties.
The U.S. Geological Survey included three CEMEX quarries in its list of top 25 crushed stone operations in its latest rankings, with the Balcones Quarry in New Braunfels, Tex., ranking number one in the U.S. for production volume. FEC Quarry in Miami ranked fourth, and Krome Quarry in Florida ranked 21st. The Balcones Quarry is a leader in providing crushed stone for aggregates projects in the growing state, producing approximately 10-12 million tons of limestone materials each year. FEC Quarry in Florida supplies crushed stone across Florida for new buildings and critical roads. Earlier this year, the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) named FEC Quarry as a Bronze Community Relations Award winner.
Representatives from CEMEX USA hosted dozens of aggregates industry experts at the Balcones Quarry in New Braunfels, Texas, as part of the annual Quarry Academy educational seminar presented by Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology and Dyno Nobel. The more than 130 Academy participants received an up-close look at the new fully automated and highly efficient aggregates wash plant at Balcones Quarry along with the facility’s new high-performance water recycle and fines recovery plant, which has decreased the company’s reliance on water from local aquifer sources by 90%.
The Lytle Creek Quarry hosted the 4th annual Run Around the Rocks Event, drawing nearly 300 participants from Rialto, Calif., and surrounding communities. The 5k walk/run event benefited the Rialto Unified School District’s STEM program.
CEMEX USA continued to foster its 15-year partnership with Belen Jesuit’s Rowing Team for the 2017-2018 athletic year. The CEMEX SCL Quarry has provided an ideal practice location for the award-winning team, storage for equipment, onsite electricity in shared facilities and initiation of repairs in support of Belen Jesuit Athletics since 2002.
What's Planned for 2018?
- Q1: CEMEX USA will continue to roll out a new line of aggregates called Neogem in select U.S. markets, including California, Arizona, Texas and Florida. This is a continuation of the Neogem launch in the U.K. earlier this year. We look forward to sharing media materials soon.
- Q1: Attendance at various industry events and conferences, including the AGG1 Academy & Expo in Houston in March. What events are you attending? Let us know and we can connect you with one of our market leaders.
- Q1-Q3: Launch of L.A. rail line and distribution center that expand its Southern California network and position CEMEX to more efficiently deliver high-quality aggregates to metro Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Construction at the Victorville Quarry, including the addition of a new aggregate loading system, is wrapping up this year.
