Cemex marked the 50th anniversary of its Balcones Quarry in New Braunfels, Texas, holding an event to celebrate the facility’s milestone while looking toward the operation’s future.
Employees, including Cemex USA Regional President – Texas and New Mexico Region Joel Galassini, attended the celebration, which included a planned quarry blast.
“The Balcones Quarry has provided critical building materials for projects across Texas for decades, and it has set high standards for innovation and sustainability,” Galassini said. “The community has grown up around this quarry, and the quarry has evolved with it. We’re proud to be a member of the New Braunfels community, offering quality jobs and operating in a way that positively affects the area.”
Balcones Quarry began operations in 1968. Cemex purchased the quarry along with the neighboring cement plant in 1994. The quarry currently processes more than 10 million tons of crushed limestone annually and supports infrastructure, residential and commercial projects across Texas.
The United States Geological Survey recently ranked Cemex’s Balcones Quarry as the top crushed stone producer in the nation in terms of volume.
Cemex focuses on sustainability and environmentally-friendly operations at the facility. In 2016, Balcones Quarry opened a state-of-the-art water recycling plant at the quarry to dramatically cut reliance on local water sources.
Recently, Cemex opened its Wildlife Habitat Center adjacent to the quarry to promote conservation and sustainability. The center includes about 17 acres of restored prairie, pollinator gardens and meadows planted with native plants. An education center and wheelchair-accessible produce garden are also on the site.
“Balcones Quarry is a shining example of what an operation can be when it is fully integrated into a community,” said Cemex USA President Ignacio Madridejos. “It not only supports the region with high-quality aggregates, but exemplifies what CEMEX strives to do in every community in which we live and operate by being a good neighbor.”