Ozinga Breaks Ground on North America's Largest Low-Carbon Cement Mill

CHICAGO, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ozinga has officially broken ground on a cutting-edge low-carbon cement manufacturing facility in East Chicago, Indiana. Equipped with one of North America's largest vertical roller mills, the new plant will produce one million tons of low-carbon cementitious materials annually.

Strategically located with direct access to rail, truck, and water (via the Great Lakes and the inland waterways of the U.S.), the facility will serve customers across the United States and Canada, reinforcing Ozinga's commitment to sustainable infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and American manufacturing.

"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 Communities and American Manufacturing

The East Chicago facility and its related operations are projected to create approximately 150 construction and long-term full-time jobs, fueling regional economic growth. Operations are expected 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 continues to prioritize sustainability, community development, and innovation. The East Chicago facility marks a major milestone in the company's mission to deliver net zero concrete by 2030.

Reducing Emissions, Strengthening Supply Chains

Concrete is the backbone of modern infrastructure essential to homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges. Yet traditional Portland cement, its core ingredient, accounts for nearly 7% of global CO₂ emissions. In 2024, the United States imported nearly 30 million tons of cement, leaving infrastructure projects vulnerable to supply chain instability and trade volatility.

Ozinga's East Chicago facility directly addresses this challenge. By producing domestic low-carbon cements, it will reduce dependence on imports and dramatically lower embodied carbon in construction materials, supporting both environmental goals and economic resilience.

Powered by 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. With six independent rollers and unmatched 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, as well as proprietary blends under Ozinga's CarbonSense™ brand, meeting ASTM C1157 performance standards and delivering up to 80% reductions in embodied carbon. Once fully operational, the plant is projected to offset more than 700,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of U.S. construction.

Driving Innovation Through Collaboration

Ozinga's leadership in sustainable building materials has been strengthened 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 enabled a 64% reduction in embodied carbon at the award-winning Amazon Web Services New Carlisle, IN data center, setting a new industry benchmark.

The new East Chicago facility is a timely response to the growing demand for low-carbon concrete in data center construction and other mission-critical infrastructure projects across North America.

About Ozinga
Ozinga is a fifth-generation, family-owned American company providing concrete, bulk materials, and construction solutions for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Committed to service, learning, and entrepreneurship, Ozinga continues to develop environmentally responsible products and practices that make a positive impact and shape the future of the built environment.

Contact: Joe Brettell
Prosody Consulting
(571) 230-3411
[email protected] 

SOURCE Ozinga