Ceratech, Inc. has accepted another strategic equity investment, this time from Colombian cement producer Cementos Argos.

The Ceratech investment follows Argos’ recent expansion of their U.S. presence through a US$760m purchase of Lafarge assets in the southeastern US, the company noted.

The Ceratech investment is strategic in meeting Argos’ goal of building a competitive advantage based on sustainability. Ceratech said that its cement manufacturing process produces "sustainable cements" utilising 95 per cent waste fly ash generated by electric utilities. The ability to utilise volumes of fly ash reduces utilities’ waste fly ash disposal and in some cases may entirely eliminate land filling requirements. About three of every five tons of ash produced – approximately 42Mta – end up in a landfill. A ton of CTI "green cement" eliminates approximately 1,900lbs of landfill waste.

According to a release, the product is well-positioned for adoption by contractors, distributors and companies that are looking to new cement solutions that better conform and comply with green building initiatives. Production of Ceratech’s cement does not generate any CO2 emissions, whereas approximately a ton of CO2 is generated for every ton of conventionally produced Portland cement.
The two companies will cooperate to develop and distribute Ceratech’s cement through Argos’ established ready-mix channels throughout the mid-Atlantic, southeastern and southwestern US markets.

"This strategic investment being made by Argos shows how important innovative, sustainable construction products are to the industry," said Jon Hyman, Ceratech’s CEO. "Ours is the only cement on the market composed of more than 90 per cent fly ash. As the industry’s only carbon-free cement, we exceed the requirements for green building practices such as USGBC’s LEED rating system."