Grace Pursues Investment in Green Concrete Materials Company
COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 2008--W. R. Grace & Co.
(NYSE:GRA) today announced the completion of a strategic investment in
CERATECH, Inc., a Maryland-based firm that has developed green,
sustainable concrete admixture technologies for formulating high
strength, fast setting concrete primarily using fly ash, a waste
stream product from coal fired power plants. CERATECH technology
uniquely enables the production of environmentally friendly, high
performance concrete. Under terms of the investment, Grace also has
exclusive rights to market CERATECH products and technology in the
manufactured concrete market.
Grace currently manufactures a wide range of products for
commercial and residential construction markets, including concrete
admixtures, cement additives, roofing underlayments, fire protection
products, air barrier systems, and below grade structural
waterproofing systems. Collectively, these products help make homes
and buildings stronger, safer and more comfortable. CERATECH's green,
sustainable concrete admixture technology was first commercialized in
2001 in an effort to utilize waste stream fly ash to make high
performance concrete repair materials.
"Our investment in this new technology is the latest step in
expanding our portfolio of green materials for the construction
industry," said Andrew Bonham, President, Grace Construction Products.
"We expect CERATECH technology combined with Grace's extensive
technical expertise and strong customer relationships in the cement
and concrete industry will accelerate growth for both companies."
Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products
to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics;
silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide-range of
industrial applications; specialty chemicals, additives and building
materials for commercial and residential construction; and sealants
and coatings for food and beverage packaging. With annual sales of
more than $3.1 billion, Grace has about 6,500 employees and operations
in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at
www.grace.com.
CERATECH, Inc. is a worldwide manufacturer and supplier of
engineered, high performance cements for construction, transportation
and manufactured concrete industries. CERATECH was founded in 2001 and
has corporate offices in Baltimore, Maryland.
CONTACT: W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations:
Andrea Greenan
+1 410.531.4391
andrea.greenan@grace.com
or
Investor Relations:
Bridget Sarikas
+1 410.531.4194
bridget.sarikas@grace.com
SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.