The Buzzi Unicem USA manufacturing facilities in Chattanooga, TN, Festus, MO, and Maryneal, TX have earned 2018 ENERGY STAR® certifications from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recognizing their superior energy performance among similar facilities in the industry. In fact, ENERGY STAR certified plants perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide.

This is the tenth consecutive year that these facilities have earned the ENERGY STAR recognition. In meeting these strict qualifications, these facilities are saving energy, conserving resources and helping protect the environment by using less energy than peer facilities.

For more than 20 years, EPA's ENERGY STAR program has been America's resource for saving energy and protecting the environment. Today, thousands of facility owners and managers use ENERGY STAR to improve the energy performance of their buildings and plants.

Buzzi Unicem has recently joined the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). Founded in early 2018, the association currently includes among its membership 16 leading companies in the cement and concrete production sector, representing over 30% of the global production capacity.

GCCA's mission is to interact with international institutions and major stakeholders to ensure that cement and concrete are recognized as essential elements in achieving the objectives of sustainable development, and to coordinate the efforts of the building industry to improve and innovate its production processes.

Needless to say, GCCA is working closely with the national and regional associations already in existence. The US-based Portland Cement Association (PCA) was the first such association to join the GCCA.

The Portland Cement Association (PCA), founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America's cement manufacturers. The Association promotes safety, sustainability, and innovation in all aspects of construction, fosters continuous improvement in cement manufacturing and distribution, and generally promotes economic growth and sound infrastructure investment.  
 
Annually PCA recognizes industry leadership and innovation through their Sustainable Manufacturing Awards program in the areas of: 

Environment and Energy (E&E) 

Safety Innovation, and 

Safety Performance 

On April 9 Buzzi Unicem USA was the recipient of 2019 Awards in the E&E and Safety Innovation categories.  

The Buzzi Unicem Greencastle Plant won the 2019 E&E Land Stewardship award for outstanding achievement in community relations  for their work with the not-for-profit People Pathways organization in constructing a 2.6-mile smooth packed stone section of the Putnam Nature Trail. Buzzi Unicem USA staff and People Pathways completed installation over a former railroad bed (aka "rails-to-trails" project) and improved the trail with native trees and prairie vegetation, interpretive signage, benches, birdhouses and other features. 

The Buzzi Unicem Festus Plant won the 2019 Safety Innovation Award in Pyro-processing for their Automated Clinker Cooler Sampler.  The Sampler system is designed as a simple singleaction tray sampler that is hydraulically operated to capture clinker discharged from the kiln. Once the device collects clinker it deposits the sample into a chute by means of a pusher plate, where it is then conveyed to the clinker analyzer.  This automated system eliminates the need for manual collection from the clinker cooler itself. 

On Thursday, April 25th, the Stockertown Plant welcomed 18 future workers, along with some of their parents, for the annual Bring Your Children to Work Day.  Children, ages 4 – 16, representing both the plant and the BUUSA Corporate office, participated in a day that showcased the work that is conducted at the plant. 

The day started with a safety overview by Environmental Manager, Keith Williams, followed by a tour of plant operations with Plant Manager, Bruce Keim, including presentations at the Hercules Meadow Pavilion, by plant management (Bill Fink (Quality Control Manager), Adam Estrella (Quarry Manager), Jacob Tufano (Production Manager), Mike Knight (Storeroom Clerk), Cavin Israel (Maintenance Engineer) and Trevor Stone (Production Superintendent)., on their roles and their career path to and within Buzzi Unicem USA.  Amy Kowalski (Corporate HR Manager), also provided some information about jobs at the corporate office. Afterwards, the group helped plant white pine seedlings along the northeastern edge of the Meadows area and were provided participation gifts to thank them for their efforts.   

Thanks to Krista Karasek and Amy Kowalski for organizing/providing an interesting and fun day for the children, and parents! 

To honor Franco Buzzi’s memory, Buzzi Unicem has developed an initiative that reflects things that Franco loved: the company, to which he dedicated his life; brilliant young people who could represent the company’s future nourishment; the USA and in particular Texas.

This is why Buzzi Unicem will award every year, on a continuing basis, a scholarship that will provide the employees’ sons and daughters with the unique opportunity to attend a Master in Business and Administration at the prestigious McCombs School of Business - University of Texas, at Austin.

We chose one of the best schools in the USA: it ranks #15 in US News 2014 Best Business School ranking and #20 as for selectiveness, as it only accepts 24% of applicants. Austin is a vibrant, friendly city, with a high quality of life and a dynamic business ecosystem.

The program we selected is a 2-year, full-time MBA, that Buzzi Unicem will fully fund, thus covering not only tuition and fees, but also standard ancillary costs (travel, insurance, living costs, etc.). All employees’ sons and daughters, from all of the group’s countries, can apply. They must meet the requirements set by the Business School’s admissions criteria, regarding age, bachelor’s degree, work experience, English proficiency and analytical skills.

Transparency and fairness are key to us, so Buzzi Unicem will not in any way be involved in the evaluation and selection process. That process will be managed in full by the University of Texas. The only way to submit the application is online, on the school’s website. Once the selection phase is complete, the first endowed student will attend the MBA program according to the university schedule.

As a company, we are proud to launch this project. We know for sure that this could be a turnaround opportunity for focused, committed people. And we like to think of Franco as a significant part of this growth process, too.