Lafarge Canada Inc leads cement market in providing safe and sustainable bagged solutions

MONTREAL, July 9, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Lafarge Canada Inc announced three new additions to its packaged cement offerings in Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. Effective this month, Lafarge Canada will be selling 20kg Contempra (GU-L), 20kg High Early Cement (HE), and 30kg Silica Fume Cement (GUb-SF) bags in these key market areas.

"Lafarge is committed to building better cities and communities, and we are proud to lead our industry in offering these bagged products for our customers, "said Gurinder Girn, Vice President (Cement) on behalf of Lafarge Canada Inc. "We know from our research that using 20kg bags of our high quality cement is the right choice for our partners and our customers." These bagged products will be available in building supply outlets across Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.

Based on the Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety's (CCOHS) heavy lifting recommendations, Lafarge's 20kg packaged offering recognizes that people are at risk of seriously injuring their neck and back when repeatedly lifting heavy objects both at home and in the workplace. The Centre states that 23 kilograms is the most an individual should lift on a regular basis.

After studying customer usage of the traditional 40kg cement bags, Lafarge chose a 20kg bag so that mix designs can easily be adjusted. The new 20kg cement bag also follows a broader packaged good trend. From stones to flour, 20kg is a standard size for easy transport and use.  Lafarge has branded its 20kg offering as the Backsaver Bag, which was first developed and launched last year in Western Canada.

Contempra is contemporary cement engineered for today's needs. The use of Contempra cement in manufacturing concrete decreases CO₂ emissions by 10% while still producing concrete with the same level of strength and durability as the concrete produced with regular Portland cement. The durability characteristics and associated service life of concrete can be significantly improved when using Lafarge Silica Fume Cement.  Lafarge SF Cement is handled like normal portland cement and, therefore, eliminates the need for specialized equipment normally associated with handling silica fume.

"Lafarge is proud to add these focused solutions to our bagged cement offering," added Andrea Boddy, Director - Marketing and Technical Solutions (Cement), Eastern Canada. "We look forward to providing more value in safety and sustainability to our partners with these new innovative products as we continue together to build better cities and communities across Canada."

ABOUT LAFARGE CANADA INC.

Lafarge Canada Inc. is Canada's largest provider of solutions to the construction and development industry. With more than 6000 employees across Canada, our mission is to provide construction solutions that build better cities and communities. The cities where Canadians live, work, and raise their families along with the infrastructure that supports their communities such as roads, bridges, transportation links, water, and waste management benefit from the solutions provided by Lafarge.

Through our Sustainability Ambitions for 2020, Lafarge is committed to providing solutions using sustainable manufacturing practices and improving the environment in and around its operations. At locations across Canada, we have worked to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, restore wetlands for native plants and animals, and identify waste materials that can be recycled and used in our operations. More information is available on Lafarge Canada's website: www.lafarge-na.com

SOURCE: Lafarge Canada Inc.

Anne-Julie Gratton
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
[phone] or [email protected]