Ash Grove Dispatch - August 2023

DISPATCH

President and CEO of CAC, Adam Auer on the Concrete

Zero Action Plan

MORE DETAILS ON PAGE 4

Message from Monica

As the world grapples with the pressing challenge of climate change, the cement industry stands at a critical juncture to lead the transition toward a sustainable and greener future. The cement industry is a vital contributor to global development. As responsible leaders in the sector, it is imperative that we take bold and innovative steps to reduce our carbon footprint. The Cement Association of Canada’s Net-Zero Action Plan outlines a strategic pathway to achieve carbon neutrality, while fostering growth and maintaining the highest safety standards.

The Net-Zero Action Plan is an ambitious roadmap for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, but it cannot be achieved by industry action alone. This edition of The Dispatch will discuss the partnerships and collaborations essential to achieve our goals. Addressing climate change requires a united effort. We are committed to collaborating with stakeholders across the value chain – from raw material suppliers to

Employee Update

Ash Grove is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Gunn as the Market Manager for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, effective July 31, 2023, and reporting to Sy Steppacher. Richard brings a wealth of customer and logistics experience to the role, having served as president at Envana Energy Inc. and Northland Biodiesel Marketing Inc., where he worked closely with his customers to supply and install industrial petroleum storage and delivery systems, as well as fuel specialties such as additives and biofuels. He graduated as a Canadian Armed Forces Naval Engineer (2nd class), showcasing his diverse skill set. We are confident that Richard’s knowledge and experience will greatly contribute to the growth and success of Ash Grove.

contractors and policymakers – to promote sustainable practices and foster a circular economy approach.

Our Action Plan shows that emissions reductions (from our 2020 baseline) of 40% by 2030, 59% by 2040 and net-zero by 2050 are possible using today’s technologies. As new technologies are developed and proven, these reductions could accelerate.

We believe that we can drive real change by aligning our efforts within the framework of this Net-Zero Action Plan and leveraging the collective wisdom garnered at the GCCA CEO Leadership Gathering. We can create a more sustainable, greener and safer future for the cement and concrete industry.

Thank you for your attention, dedication and commitment to these critical matters. We eagerly await the opportunity to connect, collaborate and collectively shape a brighter future for our industry and planet.

Monica Manolas President - Ash Grove East

In addition, we would like to express our gratitude to Atif Asif for his valuable contributions to the Mississauga cement plant, where he served as Alternative Fuels Manager.

Atif initially relocated from Alberta to Ontario in early 2021 to join our Technical Services group before transitioning to the AFR department. We are delighted to share that Atif has recently accepted the AFR Commercial Manager position overseeing our West Region cement plants. We extend our best wishes to Atif as he embarks on this exciting new chapter in his career.

GCCA CEO Gathering and Leaders Conference

The importance of cement and concrete in our world cannot be understated. On the 13th and 14th of June 2023, CEOs and leaders from our industry gathered in Zurich, Switzerland, to discuss just that, as well as our net-zero transition goal. The conference was attended by world-class speakers ranging from national government and United Nations officials to leading academics, thinkers and environment experts.

It was a great way for all the industry leaders to connect with old and new friends and a great way to share their passion for achieving the goal of net-zero carbon emissions. With nearly 200 attendees, the conference was hosted at the Hyatt Regency Hotel & Circle Convention Centre, Zurich (Airport Circle District). The two-day event explored two main themes:

1. Day 1: - The essential role of concrete and our cement Industry.

2. Day 2: - Delivering, leveraging and prospering through the net zero transition.

The conference kicked off with a ‘Welcome’ message from the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. Using the QR code below, you can watch his address to the cement and concrete sector which encouraged the industry to work together with the government to decarbonize.

As the conference went on, a variety of speakers, such as Catherine McKenna, Canada’s Former Climate Minister and current Chair of the UN High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments, Jean Pierre Danthine, Economist and Former Deputy Chairman of Swiss National Bank, and François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, among many others, had the opportunity to address the crowd and speak on the topic of the essential role of concrete and achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

Hyatt Regency Hotel & Circle Convention Centre Zurich (Airport Circle District)

Source: Global Cement and Concrete Association

Scan and watch the Welcome Message

Scan and find the entire GCCA CEO gathering and Leaders Conference schedule

Concrete Zero Action Plan

The Cement Association of Canada is the voice of Canada’s cement industry. In its Concrete Zero Action Plan, it lays out the steps to be taken by industry members and partners to help Canada achieve its net-zero carbon goals as we continue to make concrete a versatile, durable, cost-effective, resilient and essential construction material.

Concrete Zero also shares the journey we have been on as an industry. We have already begun our transition to lower-carbon fuel sources, carbon-reduced cements and clean technologies. Cementbased materials—including ready-mixed, precast and masonry concrete—have also been implementing carbon reductions in their product composition and manufacturing processes. The industry has been on the leading edge of transparently disclosing and verifying carbon reductions. Our Action Plan lays the foundation for what we will do next and our role in delivering solutions to climate change.

Road to Net-Zero

How we’ll reduce emissions

This Action Plan is organized based on the cement and concrete value chain, identifying at each stage where emissions reductions will occur.

“We have already begun our transition to lower-carbon fuel sources, carbon-reduced cements, and clean technologies.”

What Net-Zero Means to the Industry

Net-zero is the industry’s shared commitment.

The operations and products of the entire industry are examined for opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions, across the entire lifecycle, to zero.

Concrete Zero in Numbers

While carbon capture, use and storage are included in our actions to reach net-zero, the purchase of offsets does not, and nor has the industry, accounted for avoided emissions that arise from the use of our products.

Achieving Concrete Zero

The net-zero Action Plan is an ambitious roadmap for achieving net-zero by 2050, but it cannot be achieved by industry action alone.

Partnerships and collaboration will be essential. The following list of recommendations are focused on specific, enabling actions that will minimize the challenges faced by the cement and concrete industry and unlock its full potential to meet its goals.

ACTIONS FROM GOVERNMENTS

1. Government policy must be ambitious, predictable, and durable.

2. Government funding programs focused on supporting the deployment of near- and net-zero emission industrial technologies.

3. Continued government investments in clean energy infrastructure.

4. Government support for research, development, and demonstration.

5. Accelerated adoption of lowcarbon concretes through codes, standards, specifications, and public procurement.

The net-zero Action Plan details how Canada’s cement and concrete industry plans to achieve net-zero concrete by 2050. Below are the breakdowns for cement and carbon uptake by decade.

Cement

ACTIONS FROM BOTH GOVERNMENTS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR

6. Policies that create differentiated markets for near- and net-zero emissions material production.

7. Make net-zero an essential design parameter in all infrastructure projects.

8. Adopt performance-based standards for all building materials.

Carbon Uptake

ACTIONS FROM THE CEMENT AND CONCRETE INDUSTRY

9. Continue to build collaborative partnerships along the value chain.

10. Increase education, awareness, and dialogue in communities across Canada.

Source: Cement Association of Canada, Canada’s cement and concrete industry action plan to net to net-zero

ASK THE TECH TEAM

Hot-Weather Concreting

Hot weather conditions negatively impact the quality of concrete by accelerating moisture loss and cement hydration at higher temperatures, which occur when the air temperature is 28°C or above.

Help Tech Team!

My concrete is blistering as bad as my skin under this extreme sun! I have sunscreen for protection, but what can I do for my concrete?

Sincerely,

Sunny Burns

Detrimental hot weather conditions include:

High ambient and concrete temperatures

Low relative humidity

High wind speed

Solar radiation

Increased water demand

Accelerated slump loss

Faster setting

Potential Solutions

CHILLED WATER, ICE OR LIQUID NITROGEN

In hot weather conditions, it is typically necessary to artificially cool the concrete to achieve high-quality freshly mixed concrete. The optimal temperature range for maximizing beneficial mix properties is usually between 10°C and 15°C. However, attaining this temperature is not always feasible, so methods like using ice or liquid nitrogen should be considered for cooling the concrete. However, liquid nitrogen can be very expensive. From an economical perspective, it is often more plausible use a water chiller or ice.

COOLING CONCRETE MATERIALS

To cool concrete, the common approach involves reducing the temperature of the concrete components before mixing. In hot weather, it’s important to keep the aggregates and mixing water as cool as possible, as they have a more significant impact on the concrete temperature after mixing compared to other ingredients. Moreover, maintaining the aggregates in a saturated surface dry (SSD) state will help prevent them from absorbing mixing water and further help with slump retention and the reduction of plastic shrinkage cracking. This can be done simply by placing a sprinkler on your coarse aggregate storage pile.

Plastic/shrinkage cracking

The need for immediate early curing

Difficulties in controlling entrained air

Higher concrete temperature resulting in long-term strength loss

Increased potential for thermal cracking

Decreased strength due to a higher water-to-cementitious ratio

Reduced durability

Increased permeability

Uneven surface appearance

Heightened drying shrinkage and uncontrolled cracking

Reduced wear resistance

ADMIXTURES

In specific situations, the utilization of a retarding admixture can be advantageous for prolonging the setting time of concrete. It’s important to note that a retarder can help prolong workability but can also leave the surface more exposed to evaporation for a longer period, increasing your probability of shrinkage cracking. The use of an evaporation retarder can also help with preventing surface and shrinkage cracking. This admixture coats the water molecules on the surface of concrete to slow the evaporation process, giving your team more time to complete the pour before starting the final finishing process.

POLYCARBOXYLATES VS. LIGNAN-BASED WATER REDUCERS

When a decrease in slump needs to be counteracted by adding more water, water reducers can be utilized to maintain the desired strength and slump. Furthermore, water reducers contribute to enhancing the overall durability of the concrete, particularly in high-temperature conditions as they allow the end user to maintain the designated water-to-cement ratio. Unlike a lignan-based water reducer, which can retard the concrete if concentrations are too high, polycarboxylate can more effectively achieve slump while maintaining plastic concrete set time.

These conditions can lead to challenges in fresh concrete, such as:

Adding water to concrete onsite can have adverse effects on the hardened concrete’s properties and serviceability, including:

Manitoba Residential Project with Multicrete Precast

Multicrete Precast Inc. –1918 St. Mary’s on the Red River, Winnipeg

Winnipeg, a city known for its rich history and vibrant culture, is set to welcome a modern project that will redefine urban living. Ash Grove’s long-time customer, Multicrete Precast Inc., a division of Multicrete Systems, has embarked on an ambitious journey at 1918 St. Mary’s Road on the Red River, breathing life into a once dormant land with their innovative precast construction expertise.

The proposed project aims to construct two multi-family residential buildings, designed to elevate the city’s shoreline with their modern elegance. At eight stories high, the first building will boast 164 units, while a second six-story adjacent structure will offer 75 equally inviting residences.

What sets this project apart from conventional designs (within Winnipeg) is the innovative use of precast

concrete elements skillfully crafted and supplied by Multicrete Precast Inc. The first phase of construction, currently underway, requires 4,000 cubic meters of concrete precast components, which include piles, columns, beams, hollowcore slabs, stairs, and structural wall panels. A cast-in-place underground parkade forms an essential foundation,

Multicrete Precast’s production facility in Winnipeg stands as a testament to the company’s dedication to excellence. Boasting over 56,000 square feet of casting floor space, the facility covers 30 acres of land for product storage and fulfillment. Its 1,500-linear-foot crane stands as a symbol of strength, ready to bear the weight of heavy loads up to 100 tons, facilitating the smooth execution of this grand project.

supporting the buildings and accommodating the residents’ parking needs seamlessly. The month of October promises to witness a flurry of activity, as most of the precast elements make their way to the site for erection.

As Winnipeg’s shoreline transforms, thanks to Multicrete Precast’s vision and ingenuity, the 1918 St. Mary’s Road on the Red project will stand as a symbol of urban living. This remarkable development, marked by innovative precast construction, sets a new standard for residential projects, reflecting the company’s dedication to sustainability, efficiency and design excellence. Ash Grove is proud to work with our partner, Multicrete Precast Inc., to supply our high-quality cement and supplementary cementitious materials for this project.

The proposed project aims to construct two multifamily residential buildings, designed to elevate the city’s shoreline with their modern elegance.

Go Behind the Scenes in Mississauga with a Plant Tour

At Ash Grove, we strive to provide our customers with the ultimate experience when it comes to how cement is made. Reviewing a process flow chart in a book is one thing, but nothing beats seeing the actual cement manufacturing process inperson and as it happens. That’s why the Technical Services team invites you and your employees to visit Ash Grove Mississauga cement plant!

During your visit you will be able to go behind the scenes to see first-hand how our products are made. You may wonder, for example, why we have shutdowns or why certain processes take longer. Explaining some of this over

the phone or by email can be complicated and can even lead to misunderstandings. However, through a plant tour, we can explain our operations and processes in detail, in an engaging and interactive setting and answer any questions you may have.

If you want to learn more about the cement manufacturing process, please reach out to our Technical Services team members Robert Richer or Jasmine Samadi to schedule a tour.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Sincerely, The Technical Services Team

Mississauga Plant

Product Declaration Improved by 11%

Mississauga Product GWPs

were able to improve the GWP on our GUL by 11%. On our path to carbon neutrality by 2050, and as we continue to improve the plant, we will continue to update our EPD to give our customers the best advantage when bidding on low carbon concrete projects. kg CO2 eq 817 799 780 442 742 For more information on low carbon concrete, EPDs and how to calculate the GWP of your mix design, we invite you to reach out to the Ash Grove Technical Services team.

August 2023 | ASH GROVE DISPATCH | 9

Gord and John’s RV Adventure

Welcome back to the second installment of Gord and John’s Excellent Adventures! This time, we’ll take you on our unforgettable journey to Nashville, TN for the CMCA AGM. Get ready to chuckle, raise an eyebrow at our mishaps and be entertained by the incredible memories we made in the latest chapter of our ongoing adventure!

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS: Let’s start from the beginning. We (John and Gord) had this fantastic idea to take a road trip to Nashville. Our buddies from Merkley Supply, Paul Mutter and John Raponi, agreed that a road trip would be a blast. But you know what would make it even better? Driving down in an RV. What could go wrong? Right at the start, that RV decided to give us a bit of trouble – the battery died on us! We didn’t let that dampen our spirits. We quickly resolved the issue by grabbing a new battery from the nearest Costco. With determination and teamwork, we were back on the road soon!

DAY 2 Golf and Good Times: We can’t back down from a challenge. After a night of hearing those loud trucks rumbling by, we stopped in Columbus for a delicious breakfast to fuel our Adventure. Our next stop was The Golf Club at Stonelick Hills near Cincinnati. Picture this - a marshal thought it best to park our trusty RV in its fancy zone,

away from the regular parking lot. Well, that added to our confidence and swagger on the golf course. We swung our clubs with skill and conquered the course, feeling like true champions.

DAY 3 Golf Royalty and Parking Mishaps: Our journey continued as we reached the Chariot Run Golf Club in Indiana, feeling like the kings of the fairway. It seemed like we had our exclusive parking area everywhere we went! We played golf with confidence, basking in the admiration of fellow golfers who couldn’t help but envy our skills. We stumbled upon a Mexican joint in Carrollton, Kentucky, by chance. Let us tell you, they served margaritas so massive they could make a grown man question his life choices. These frozen margaritas were like Mount Everest in a glass, challenging us to conquer their icy summit. But being the intrepid adventurers we are, we couldn’t resist the temptation. Brain freeze struck us both like a lightning bolt as we took the first big sips. The agony was real and we couldn’t help but laugh at our predicament. It felt like our brains were in a frosty standoff with the frozen margaritas. Lesson learned: next time, we’ll take it slow with the frozen delights! After conquering the icy margaritas,

we continued our journey, undeterred and ready for whatever came our way. Now, here’s where things got interesting. When we arrived at the General Butler State Resort Park, yours truly mistakenly parked in someone else’s reserved spot. We laughed at the mix-up, imagining the surprise on the rightful owner’s face. We quickly corrected the mistake and carried on with our spirits undeterred.

DAY 4 Nashville, Baby! Finally, we reached our destination - Nashville, the city of dreams and incredible country music. We checked into our cozy Airbnb (as many of you know, Gord loves an inconveniently located Airbnb) and wasted no time immersing ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Broadway. The streets were alive with the sounds of live music as we strolled around, laughing, singing and fully embracing the lively energy of the city.

DAY 5 Feasting Fit for Kings:

We organized a grand dinner at Jimmy Kelly’s Steak House for our Merkley friends and some Ottawa masons. Laughter filled the room as we indulged in mouthwatering meals and shared stories like old friends.

John Gordon

Women in Trades

Our businesses in Ontario recently gathered at DFA’s Milton Quarry for the ‘Women in Trades’ event to educate the next generation of workers about the many opportunities here at CRH Canada.

To kick off the event, Jessica Racovali, Metro Superintendent at Dufferin Concrete, and Greg Webster, Plant Supervisor at Dufferin Concrete, introduced the companies and provided students with an overview of what they would see and do during their time at the quarry. Almost 75 female high school students interested in the skilled trades were welcomed into the event, which was open to multiple schools under the Toronto District School Board. Students got to visit the quarry and take photos in the photo booth,

plant milkweed to attract monarch butterflies and so on.

During the event, students had the opportunity to meet and greet representatives from Dufferin Aggregates, Dufferin Construction, Dufferin Concrete, Ontario Redi-mix, Ash Grove Cement and CRH Canada to discuss various opportunities, including coop opportunities. They also received branded swag from the companies’ booths.

We concluded the day with the highly anticipated raffle, where students had the

chance to win some cool items from the businesses, including tickets to the Toronto Blue Jays!

We at CRH Canada are proud to see the amazing

leaders at our businesses taking pride in their work and training the next generation of leaders. Please join us in congratulating all the teams who worked together to make this event a great success.

Ash Grove Mississauga Cement Plant Open House

You’re invited to join us for an Open House at our Mississauga facility. Take a guided bus tour, learn how cement is made, visit our informative displays, see the big machines, meet our people and community partners, and enjoy lunch.

The theme for this year’s Open House is Investing In Our Future. Learn about what we are doing to reduce our environmental footprint and how we are helping local birds, bugs and wildlife through our

award-nominated Flyway Habitat Project. You can also meet our friends from The Riverwood Conservancy, The Canadian Peregrine Foundation and Credit Valley Conservation.

When: Saturday, September 30, 2023 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, rain or shine! Where: 2391 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga, ON L5J 1K1 Who: Family friendly. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, contact Binari Senaviratna at 647-785-1952 or Binari.Senaviratna@ashgrove.com

We invite you to bring non-perishable food items to our Open House to be donated to Compass Food Bank.