Ozinga has officially broken ground on a pioneering low-carbon cement manufacturing facility in East Chicago, Indiana.
Featuring one of North America’s largest vertical roller mills, the state-of-the-art plant will produce one million tons of low-carbon cementitious materials annually, marking a transformative step in sustainable construction and American manufacturing.
Strategically positioned with direct access to rail, truck, and water via the Great Lakes and inland waterways, the facility will serve customers across the United States and Canada. This investment underscores Ozinga’s commitment to advancing sustainable infrastructure, reinforcing supply chain resilience, and strengthening domestic production.
“Ozinga has always believed that true innovation isn’t just about progress—it’s about purpose,” said Marty Ozinga, CEO of Ozinga. “This facility is more than a plant. It’s a commitment to the future of American manufacturing, to sustainable building, and to strengthening American communities for generations to come.”
Investing in American Jobs and Sustainability
The East Chicago facility and its operations are expected to create approximately 150 construction and long-term full-time jobs, supporting regional economic growth. Operations are slated to begin in 2026.
“This is the kind of investment that strengthens communities and provides real opportunity for local families,” said Anthony Copeland, Mayor of East Chicago.
With over 2,500 employees nationwide, Ozinga remains dedicated to sustainability, community development, and innovation. The new facility is a key milestone in the company’s mission to deliver net-zero concrete by 2030.
Strengthening Supply Chains & Reducing Carbon Emissions
Concrete is the backbone of modern infrastructure, essential to homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges. Yet, traditional Portland cement—the core ingredient—accounts for nearly 7% of global CO₂ emissions. In 2024, the United States imported nearly 30 million tons of cement, making infrastructure projects susceptible to supply chain instability and trade volatility.
By producing domestic low-carbon cement, Ozinga’s East Chicago facility directly addresses these challenges. The plant will reduce reliance on imports while significantly lowering embodied carbon in construction materials—fostering both environmental progress and economic resilience.
North America’s Largest Low-Carbon Vertical Roller Mill
At the heart of the facility is the MVR5300-C6 vertical roller mill from Gebr. Pfeiffer—the largest of its kind in North America. Featuring six independent rollers and unparalleled throughput capacity, the mill maximizes energy efficiency while minimizing carbon emissions.
“This isn’t just a plant—it’s a technological milestone,” said Timothy Burden, President of Gebr. Pfeiffer Americas. “The MVR5300-C6 sets a new benchmark for sustainable cement production.”
The facility will produce ASTM C989-compliant low-carbon slag cement, alongside proprietary blends under Ozinga’s CarbonSense™ brand, meeting ASTM C1157 performance standards and reducing embodied carbon by up to 80%. Once fully operational, the plant is projected to offset more than 700,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually—marking a significant step in reducing the carbon footprint of U.S. construction.
Innovation Through Collaboration
Ozinga’s leadership in sustainable building materials has been bolstered by partnerships with Meta, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and other industry leaders. These collaborations have yielded AI-optimized low-carbon concrete used in Meta’s DeKalb, IL data center and achieved a 64% reduction in embodied carbon at the award-winning Amazon Web Services New Carlisle, IN data center—setting a new industry benchmark.
With rising demand for low-carbon concrete in data centers and mission-critical infrastructure projects across North America, Ozinga’s new facility stands ready to meet the challenge.
Join the Movement Toward Low-Carbon Construction
Ozinga’s new low-carbon cement mill is more than just a manufacturing milestone—it’s a pivotal step toward a cleaner, more sustainable construction industry. Organizations striving to meet ambitious carbon reduction targets can partner with Ozinga for low-carbon materials and innovative supply chain solutions.
For more information on Ozinga’s sustainable building materials and how they can help achieve your carbon reduction goals, please visit Ozinga.com.
Photo Credit: Ozinga
