Heidelberg NA buys slag processing firm

Irving, Texas-based Heidelberg Materials North America has entered into a binding purchase agreement to acquire Walan Specialty Construction Products of Wilmington, Delaware.

That business consists of a three-year-old steel mill slag grinding plant with a vertical mill that has a capacity of 150,000 metric tons per year and is located near the Port of Wilmington.

“The acquisition of the Walan slag business is another milestone on Heidelberg Materials’ path to decarbonizing the built environment,” says Matteo Rozzanigo, president of Heidelberg Materials NA’s Northeast Region. “We are pleased to further enhance our low-carbon cementitious offerings in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. while also extending our market reach in this growing region of the country. We are excited for the opportunities and synergies ahead and look forward to welcoming the Walan employees and customers to Heidelberg Materials.”

Walan’s slag cement output is made from steelmaking byproducts and can enhance the strength and durability of concrete while shrinking its environmental footprint, according to the company.

The material produced by the Walan plant can be used to replace some of the conventional cement in a concrete mix, and its production requires far less energy and natural resources than the conventional cement it partially replaces, according to Heidelberg, which is part of the larger Germany-based Heidelberg organization.

The use of slag cement and other supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is a key part of Heidelberg Materials’ decarbonization strategy.

“Heidelberg Materials’ investment in the Walan slag business reflects our ongoing efforts to expand our portfolio of low-carbon products and drive sustainable and commercial value for our customers," Heidelberg Materials NA President and CEO Chris Ward says. "It is also the latest example of our focus on optimizing our positions in core markets through our disciplined pure-play growth strategy.”