CalPortland Curtails Production Operations at its Colton Cement Plant

November 20, 2009

Plant will operate as a grinding facility and cement distribution center


CalPortland Company President/CEO James Repman announced today that it will temporarily curtail kiln operations at the Colton Cement Plant in Colton, California the oldest operating cement plant west of the Rockies, which at full operations produces over 800,000 tons of cement a year. The Colton Cement Plant opened in 1891. Today, 94 employees will be laid off. The planned action is expected to be temporary. We expect the kilns will be turned back on and clinker production to continue in the future, but there is no definite date that will occur. CalPortland plans to temporarily operate the Colton plant as a grinding facility and distribution center.

This drastic move has been necessitated by the deep recession currently gripping the country which has hit the construction industry the hardest. Shipments of cement in the southwest region of the country have decreased by 60% from their pre-recession levels. On Tuesday of this week Repman testified before the California Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations urging the State to invest more heavily in its aging infrastructure and create jobs at the same time.

“This morning was one of the most difficult announcements in my career spanning more than 30 years in this industry,” stated Repman. “It comes at a time that California is at the highest unemployment rate since 1940. It may be difficult for these employees to find employment in the Inland Empire close to where they live. CalPortland is providing outplacement assistance and is working with local groups and organizations to help these employees during these very difficult economic times.”

“The Colton Plant has a long history in the Inland Empire and is seen as a family. Many of our employees are second and third generation sometimes working at the same time as their grandfather, father, brother, sister, and/or spouse, “ stated United Steel Workers Representative Dennis Carlson a Colton plant employee whose father also worked at the plant 35 years. These are excellent manufacturing jobs with high wages and excellent benefits. These are jobs that have been recommended to friends, neighbors, and children for more than 118 years.”

The Colton Plant pumps $183 million into the local economy during full operations. This provides a sizable income stream to local businesses. It takes a substantial amount of consumables to operate a mining and manufacturing facility. Much of that equipment the support services, supplies and materials are purchased locally.

CalPortland is an environmental leader recognized by local, state, and national organizations for its energy and recycling efforts. During peak operations the Colton plant recycles more than 3 million tires that would normally end up in area landfills by using them for energy in the kilns. The plant also recycles numerous other materials to make specialty cements. And for each of the past five years, CalPortland has been designated by the US EPA as an Energy Star Partner of the Year and Sustaining Partner. The Colton Plant is also Energy Star certified just like the appliances you see at your local retail stores with the energy star sticker. In addition, CalPortland has also received the coveted Flex Your Power Award.

CalPortland has been noted for its philanthropic efforts over the years having donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local non-profit groups and organizations in the Colton area including recent sizable contributions to the new Observatory at California State University at San Bernardino and the Centennial Complex at Loma Linda University.

For More Information, contact
Susan Patane, VP Communications
626) 221-6603
spatane@calportland.com