How is cement made?

Since ancient Greece and Rome, humankind has used cement for construction. However,
the process for making this quick-drying gray paste has changed significantly since those
times. The rudimentary methods of yesteryear are no longer used to work with limestone;
instead, special machinery is used to generate very fine powders in quantities never
before seen.

Starting in the 19th century, the industrialization of cement production has allowed this
material to become present in a wide variety of construction sites, and it has also been
used for aesthetic and utilitarian purposes in modern architecture.

How is construction cement made?

 The process begins in the quarry with the extraction of limestone and clay.
 The raw material is transported to a special plant, where it’s crushed.

 In pre-homogenization, gamma-ray equipment analyzes the raw material, and it is

then mixed with precise amounts of iron and limestone, which is determined
according to the type of cement being made.
 This rustic mixture is pulverized during grinding until a fine “flour” is obtained.
 Then, it goes to the homogenization silo.
 When subjected to high temperatures, it crystallizes and then cools, transforming
into a homogenized ground substance (small, gray round crystallized stones).
 Pre-grinding. After a certain amount of time in storage, the clinker passes through
a roller mill.
 During grinding, the clinker is ground with gypsum (the gypsum-to-clinker ratio
will determine the type of cement produced).
 Finally, the finished cement is packed and distributed in bags.