Lehigh Hanson Inc., a supplier of cement, concrete and related building materials, has announced plans to expand its operations in Mitchell, investing more than $600 million in its Lehigh Cement Company plant and creating up to 52 new jobs by 2022.
“Lehigh Cement Company began operating in Indiana in 1902, and this investment represents a commitment to long-term growth in southern Indiana, propelling the company forward for its next 100 years,” Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger said in a statement. “Choosing Indiana for Lehigh Hanson’s largest modernization effort in North America is a true testament to our pro-growth business climate and a dedicated and skilled workforce. I’m confident that Hoosiers will continue to play a key role in the company’s success for generations to come.”
Lehigh Hanson, which is a part of Germany-based HeidelbergCement, will construct a new plant on its 2,500-acre property at 180 N. Meridian Rd. in Mitchell, where cement has been manufactured for more than 100 years. The new facility will allow the company to expand and modernize its current operations.
The project, which is the largest expansion and modernization Lehigh Hanson has undertaken in North America, will increase the facility’s production capacity more than threefold to 2.8 million tons while also significantly reducing energy usage and emissions per ton of cement produced. The enhanced plant will feature state-of-the-art technology to improve operating efficiencies, allowing Lehigh Hanson to better supply cement for the continued growth of the Midwest market.
“The modernization of the Mitchell plant will enable us to produce cement more efficiently and sustainably through the use of state-of-the-art technology and the latest in environmental controls and systems,” said Jon Morrish, president and CEO of Lehigh Hanson. “The capabilities of the new plant will enable us to better serve our existing customer base in the Midwest while also expanding our reach in this growing market.”
Lehigh Hanson anticipates completing the air permitting process in the summer of 2019, with construction then scheduled to begin in 2020 and to be finished by the end of 2022. The new, expanded plant will allow the company to add 52 new full-time jobs at the plant, growing its current team of about 120 associates.
Lehigh Hanson and Lehigh Cement Company are affiliated companies of HeidelbergCement – one of the largest global integrated manufacturers of building materials, with leading market positions in aggregates, cement and ready mixed concrete.
Lehigh Cement Company is among the leading producers of bulk cement in North America with plants and distribution terminals located across the United States and Canada. The company manufactures and distributes a variety of cements, including portland cement for traditional uses as well as masonry products, custom-colored, blended and slag cements. The products are used in the production of ready-mixed concrete, paving applications, concrete pipe, masonry products, oil and gas drilling, precast concrete structures and soil stabilization.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) says it has offered Lehigh Hanson as much as $1.1 million in conditional incentives through the Hoosier Business Investment (HBI) tax credit program based on the company’s investment and expansion plans. The Lawrence County Council will consider additional incentives processed through the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council, and Duke Energy has approved additional incentives to offset a portion of the energy costs.
“We appreciate the support of local officials in making this expansion and modernization a reality,” said Jerry Miller, plant manager of Lehigh Cement Compay in Mitchell. “We are thankful for the state of Indiana’s commitment to economic development and its supportive business climate which helped make this opportunity an attractive investment. Lehigh Hanson’s investment is not only in the Mitchell plant, but also in the Mitchell community, and our dedicated and hardworking employees will continue contributing to the positive legacy of Lehigh in Mitchell for years to come.
