World Cement - North America 2018

40 / 84

North America 2018 38 \ World Cement
At the 50th anniversary, World Cement
provided a wide-ranging overview of the
first 50 years.1 Rather than recount those
conferences and the many volunteers and
attendees, who have experienced the
exceptional service provided to the cement
industry, this narrative will describe the past
10 years and the vision of the conference’s
volunteers going forward.
The last decade
Over the past decade, the conference has
been held in various cities around the US,
and twice in Canada. During this time, over
9000 attendees have taken advantage of
the conference programme. In the 59 years
leading up to this 60th conference, almost
39 000 people have attended the event.
The stated goal and primary purpose
of the conference is the exchange of
information relative to the cement industry.
This conference has significantly evolved
since its inception, yet maintains its original
technical focus through its six primary
working groups:
z Automation.
z Drives and Related Products.
z Power Distribution.
z General Practices.
z Maintenance and Safety.
z Environmental, Energy, and
Sustainability.
In addition to these, the CIC sponsors
two groups: the East Coast and the West
Coast sub-Committees. These volunteer
groups of around 20 members put on
regional conferences in alternating
years, with the re-established East Coast
Sub-Committee having its conference in
October 2018.
Over the past 10 years, the conference’s
management has invested significant time
deliberating how best to exchange current
technology information, as well as provide
a forum for industry subject matter experts
to share their knowledge and experiences.
The CIC and its two sub-committees are
guided by an Executive Committee made
up of several past CIC Chairpersons, PCA
representation, and past Conference Chairs.
This guidance establishes direction for the
various committees and working groups,
whose volunteer efforts put on these
conferences. Overall, this volunteer group
generates a significant amount of technical
60 years of the IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical
Conference.
1959: the first technical conference is held on 14 – 15 April in
Allentown, Pennsylvania.
1965: the conference passes 500 delegates for the first time,
attracting 601 delegates on its return to Allentown.
1968: the first spouses’ programme takes place in St Louis,
Missouri, with highlights including tours of downtown
St Louis, Gateway Arch, Forest Park, Northwest Plaza, and
Jefferson Memorial.
1969: the tenth anniversary conference visits Toronto,
Canada, which becomes the first non-US city to host the
conference.
1974: the conference crosses the southern US border for the
first time, heading to Mexico City.
1976: in addition to the national conference, the CIC
organises a European Cement Plant Tour, visiting locations in
Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain.
1983: the conference celebrates its 25th anniversary in
San Antonio, Texas, on 23 – 27 May.
1990: the tutorial programme is introduced to the
conference.
2001: the PCA’s cosponsorship of the conference is formalised.
2005: Lafarge hosts the conference’s first underground mine
tour.
2006: the conference passes 1000 delegates for the first time
in Phoenix, Arizona.
2008: simultaneous Spanish translation is offered for the
first time in Miami, Florida, during the 50th anniversary
conference.
2017: Calgary, Alberta, hosts the conference for the first time,
the ninth time Canada has hosted the conference. Delegates
tour Lafarge Canada’s Exshaw plant in the Canadian Rockies.
2018: the 60th anniversary conference takes place in the
home of country music, Nashville, Tennesee. The plant tour
visits the Nissan Smyrna car plant, one of the largest car
manufacturing facilities in the US.
2019: the conference returns to St Louis, Missouri, a city that
first hosted the conference in 1962. Next year’s plant tour will
visit LafargeHolcim’s Ste. Genevieve plant.