St Marys Cement considers options to enhance capacity

St Marys Cement Inc, part of Votorantim Cimentos, is considering modernising its cement plant in Charlevoix, Michigan, or reopening its Dixon facility in Illinois, on the back of recovering US demand.

Presenting a potential project during a public hearing with the Charlevoix Township Board of Trustees meeting, Marty Fallon, CEO of Votorantim Cement North America/St Marys Cement Inc, said the company is considering a US$130m upgrade to the Charlevoix plant which would increase production capacity from 1.3Mta to nearly 2Mta.

Local newspaper the Charlevoix Courier reported that the other option for St. Marys would be to reopen its plant in Dixon plant in Illinois. "We closed our facility in Dixon during the economic downturn," Mr Fallon said. "We now see the market recovering and with the demand for our materials coming back we have two options, expand in Charlevoix or reopen Dixon." 

Last month, the Dixon, Ill., Mayor Jim Burke said representatives from St. Marys Cement approached him five months ago to discuss restarting manufacturing operations in the town. Mayor Burke said talks were in very early stages. "We’re working with them to see if there are incentives to make it all work,” he added.