Is cement and concrete the same thing? No, cement is the "glue" used to make concrete. The cement in concrete is what gives concrete its strength and durability. Concrete without cement is like bread without flour. What is portland cement? Portland cement is a manufactured product made in several steps. First we carefully blend limestone with shale or clay and iron to a desired chemical composition. We then grind it to a fine powder called raw meal. We feed the raw meal to a rotary kiln that is fired by coal, natural gas or another high energy fuel. The temperatures in the kiln reach about 2,800° F. At these temperatures the raw meal undergoes a chemical reaction and forms a new product called clinker. The clinker is mixed with about 5% gypsum and ground to a fine powder called portland cement. How do I make a small batch of concrete for various jobs around the house? A good rule of thumb for small batches of concrete is: 1 part portland cement, 2 parts sand, 3 parts gravel and just enough water to make it workable (not soupy). Be careful to protect your skin from the wet concrete as it is a strong base that will cause alkali burns. If you get a small amount on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. What does the new proposed Mountain Cement plant mean for folks in Laramie? Economic security, jobs, and better jobs all around. Mountain Cement currently operates the plant to meet all National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The new plant will allow us to do even more for the environment. Laramie and Albany County are clean air areas and will stay that way. What does the new plant mean for Mountain Cement? Strategically we will be stronger. We’ll be able to meet the future needs of all of our Rocky Mountain customers in an environmentally friendly way. It means a great deal to our employees as well. It is an opportunity for them to continue receiving new training, work with modern new equipment and reinforce our commitment to added strength in the market place. The community can take pride in this outcome, as can our economic partners in the community who are doing so much to make sure our kids have jobs for the future. Do you anticipate lower emissions with the new plant? Mountain Cements’ modernization will result in better control of emissions – helping Wyoming’s environment stay clean – while producing cement and jobs that will help the economy stay strong. You can’t build it without a plan – we have the best engineers planning the best plant for Laramie. Yes, modernization will benefit emissions. What about emissions of the current plant? Mountain Cement will continue to meet or exceed all National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Our future plans to modernize do nothing to change our ongoing commitment to environmental achievement and compliance. Home | Our Company | Sales & Products | Locations | FAQ | Helpful Links | Contact New Plant Update | Committment to The Environment | In The Community | Careers Copyright © 2006 All rights reserved Mountain Cement This site is designed, hosted and maintained by GMD Technologies