Ozinga recently broke ground on a low-carbon cement manufacturing facility in East Chicago.
The new plant will produce one million tons of low-carbon cementitious materials annually. With access to rail, truck and water via the Great Lakes and inland waterways, the facility will serve customers across the United States and Canada.
“Ozinga has always believed that true innovation isn’t just about progress, it’s about purpose,” said Marty Ozinga, Ozinga CEO, in a press release. “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.”
The East Chicago facility and its related operations are projected to create about 150 construction and long-term full-time jobs. Operations are expected to begin in 2026.
“This is the kind of investment that strengthens communities and provides real opportunity for local families,” Anthony Copeland, East Chicago mayor, said.
The East Chicago facility marks a milestone in the company’s mission to deliver net zero concrete by 2030. Traditional cement accounts for nearly 7% of global CO₂ emissions.
By producing domestic low-carbon cements, Ozinga aims to reduce dependence on imports and lower embodied carbon in construction materials, supporting environmental goals and economic resilience.
At the heart of the facility is the MVR5300-C6 vertical roller mill from Gebr. Pfeiffer. With six independent rollers, the mill maximizes energy efficiency while minimizing carbon emissions.
“This isn’t just a plant—it’s a technological milestone,” said Timothy Burden, Gebr. Pfeiffer Americas president, said. “The MVR5300-C6 sets a new benchmark for sustainable cement production.”
When fully operational, the plant is projected to offset more than 700,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, reducing the carbon footprint of U.S. construction.
Ozinga has partnered with Meta, the University of Illinois and others in the industry. The collaborations yielded AI-optimized low-carbon concrete, used in Meta’s DeKalb, Illinois data center, and enabled a 64% reduction in embodied carbon at the Amazon Web Services New Carlisle, Indiana data center.
