At HR Cement, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and creating sustainable products.  Our new product Eco-cem utilises BFS, the best raw material for both durability and carbon reduction. BFS (Blast Furnace Slag) is produced when iron ore is smelted in a blast furnace. It’s a waste product that was once discarded, but now it is being used in the production of cement alternatives.

But how does slag make its way from a blast furnace to our cement production facilities in New Zealand?

Following smelting of the ore, the slag is poured off the top of the molten steel and immediately quenched in large volumes of water.  The resulting material looks like a lightly coloured course sand.  It is inert, non-reactive, and so easy to handle and transport

From the steel plant, it is loaded directly into the hold of a bulk freight ship and transported to New Zealand.

Once unloaded from the ship, we store it undercover in stockpiles before putting it through our mill and grinding it to a very fine powder to make Eco-cem.   It is ground even finer than GP cement to ensure there is a large surface area available to optimise the chemical reaction.

At HR Cement, we are proud to be at the forefront of the low carbon concrete movement. By producing materials like Eco-cem and promoting sustainable practices, we are doing our part to reduce our environmental impact and create a better future for all.