Vicat Cement

Vicat Cement is a French company manufacturing cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete in four continents.

History

The company was established in 1853 by Joseph Vicat (1821-1902), son of Louis Vicat, the cement-making pioneer. His cement plant was at Genevrey-de-Vif south of Grenoble (Isère). It used an argillaceous limestone that Joseph Vicat had established as suitable by chemical analysis. The company expanded in 1922 with the construction of a plant at Montalieu nearby. In 1968, HeidelbergCement bought a stake in the company, which eventually grew to 35%. Major expansion began in 1968 with the construction of another plant in the Grenoble area and with a program of acquisitions throughout France. In 1974, overseas investment began with the acquisition of National Cement at Ragland, Alabama. Further acquisitions followed in California, Turkey, Senegal, Switzerland and Egypt. HeidelbergCement sold its share of the company in 2007.

Geographical spread

Today, the company claims a cement manufacturing capacity of 21 million tonnes per annum (2007), from 12 integrated cement plants and one clinker grinding plant.

In France:
* Créchy, Allier, at coord|46|15|01|N|3|25|27|E|region:FR_type:landmark
* La Grave de Peille, Alpes Maritimes, at coord|43|47|39|N|7|22|26|E|region:FR_type:landmark
* Montalieu, Isère, at coord|45|48|16|N|5|25|19|E|region:FR_type:landmark
* Saint-Égrève, Isère, at coord|45|13|50|N|5|40|4|E|region:FR_type:landmark
* Xeuilley, Meurthe-et-Moselle, at coord|48|33|45|N|6|6|36|E|region:FR_type:landmark

In Egypt:
* Arish, North Sinai, at coord|30|43|21|N|33|47|12|E|region:EG_type:landmark

In Italy (grinding only):
* Oristano, Sardinia, at coord|39|52|N|8|33|E|region:IT_type:landmark

In Senegal:
* Rufisque, Dakar, at coord|14|42|29|N|17|14|55|W|region:SN_type:landmark

In Switzerland:
* Reuchenette, Berne, at coord|47|11|7|N|7|14|54|E|region:CH_type:landmark

In Turkey:
* Elmadağ, Ankara, at coord|39|56|41|N|33|11|31|E|region:TR_type:landmark
* Konya, at coord|37|56|23|N|32|32|4|E|region:TR_type:landmark

In USA:
* Lebec, California, at coord|34|49|12|N|118|44|59|W|region:US_type:landmark
* Ragland, Alabama, at coord|33|44|04|N|86|9|14|W|region:US_type:landmark

They also make "Ciment Prompt" - a fast-setting natural cement, at La Perelle, by burning at moderate temperature an unground argillaceous limestone obtained from an underground mine in the Chartreuse Mountains.

The company makes 9.7 million cubic metres per annum (2007) of ready-mix concrete in 4 countries.

External links

* [http://www.vicat.com/index.html Vicat website]