Graymont (PA) Inc. publicly launched a new state-of-the-art Lime Kiln at its Pleasant Gap Plant today and positioned itself for another 50 years of lime production in Centre County.
“The $69 million investment in this new kiln provides the opportunity to keep about 200 direct and indirect jobs in this region,” said Plant Manager Marc Messenger.
The company officially unveiled the new kiln at a dedication ceremony attended by employees, project partners, plant neighbors, government officials and elected representatives.
Graymont Chairman Tony Graham said the company knew when it bought the lime operations in Centre County in 1998 that a major investment in facilities and changes in operating procedures was required.
“Without this new kiln and significant investment in Pleasant Gap, the future of lime production in Centre County was, to say the least, uncertain. Today we are celebrating our future,” he said at the unveiling ceremony.
Company President and CEO Stuart Wolfe told invited guests that the new kiln will significantly increase the plant’s energy efficiency, lower overall emissions and position the company as the pre-eminent supplier of high quality lime products in the U.S. North East.
The new kiln has the capacity to increase production of quality lime by up to 35%, and at the same time will use only half the amount of fuel per ton of lime as the existing facilities.
Graymont is a private family-owned company. It is the third largest lime producer in North America, operates 15 lime plants throughout the United States and Canada, and is a major partner in Grupo Calidra, Mexico’s largest lime producing company. Commercial lime production has been ongoing in Centre County since 1863 and the Pleasant Gap plant and mine has been in operation since 1950.
A century ago, limestone was used mostly in construction and the manufacture of steel. Today, lime and its derivatives form one of the basic building blocks of every industrial economy in the world. Lime has a key role to play in water and sewage treatment, environmental rehabilitation, acid rain reduction and acid mine drainage mitigation. Lime is an essential element in production of steel, alumina, pulp, paper, gold and copper.
For further information, please call Marc Messenger at (814) 357 4500.
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