Eco Material Technologies has officially opened a new pilot processing center and expanded its testing laboratory at its Materials Testing and Research Facility in Taylorsville, Georgia. The CRH-owned firm rolled out a 16,400 square foot research hub that brings advanced research, pilot production, and technical services under one roof. This move could reshape how greener cement reaches job sites across North America.
What’s Inside The New Georgia Pilot Plant
The grand opening took place on May 14, 2026 at the Materials Testing and Research Facility, known across the industry as MTRF. The Taylorsville site now carries both AASHTO and CCRL accreditation for its testing work, two of the most respected stamps in cement quality control.
This is the largest single upgrade to MTRF in its history, blending research, production, and customer support in one continuous space.
The lab already tests more coal ash products than any other facility in the United States. Each year, the team processes more than 3,500 samples of coal combustion products, pozzolans, and building products for clients of every size.
Technical service representatives also prepare and test concrete trial batches for customers. That helps ready mix, precast, and paving contractors prove the value of using SCMs before pouring on real projects.
Why The Expansion Matters For Concrete And Climate
Cement production accounts for roughly 8% of global carbon emissions. Supplementary cementitious materials, often called SCMs, help cut that footprint by replacing chunks of traditional portland cement in concrete mixes.
Eco Material’s products can swap out anywhere from 25% to 100% of portland cement, depending on the project. That switch can deliver up to an 80% drop in cement related emissions, based on company data shared during its Oregon plant launch last year.
The new Taylorsville hub will support a long checklist of upgrades for the wider building industry.
- Pilot production of next generation cementitious materials
- Wider testing for paste, mortar, and full scale concrete
- Validated mix designs for ready mix and precast customers
- Larger capacity for harvested ash, natural pozzolans, and other industrial inputs
- Faster movement from lab discovery to job site delivery
Demand for SCMs is climbing as states pour federal infrastructure dollars into roads, bridges, and water projects. Eco Material holds more than 50% market share in fly ash for concrete production and has held that lead for over two decades.
The Tech And Tools Powering The New Hub
The new hub is packed with serious gear that will impress even seasoned plant operators. It features a ball mill, classifier, rotary dryer, and the proprietary ES ECOsystem carbon offloading system.
Engineers can now check composition, reactivity, strength gain, and durability much faster than before. That speed matters because contractors need consistent materials they can trust on highways, bridges, airports, and tall buildings.
| Equipment | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Ball mill and classifier | Refines particle size for stronger cement blends |
| Rotary dryer | Prepares moist raw materials for further processing |
| ES ECOsystem | Captures and offloads carbon during processing |
| AASHTO and CCRL accreditation | Validates testing accuracy for federal projects |
The integrated workflow means a single sample can move from raw resource to validated product without ever leaving the building. That is a big deal in a sector where lab to field delays often slow down construction schedules.
CRH Backing And The Road Ahead
The opening arrives roughly seven months after CRH closed its $2.1 billion buyout of Eco Material in September 2025. That deal brought more than 1,100 Eco Material employees and a national network of over 125 utility source locations, production facilities, and terminals into the CRH family.
Grant Quasha said the Taylorsville site is well positioned to lead innovation alongside lab resources from Ash Grove and CRH. The shared bench of scientists gives Eco Material a wider talent pool for huge infrastructure jobs.
Since 2000, Eco Material has supplied roughly 200 million tons of material for concrete production across the United States and Canada. The company says it has cut greenhouse gas emissions from concrete by more than 200 million tons over 25 years, a figure comparable to Spain’s annual carbon footprint.
The Georgia move follows Eco Material’s first Pacific Northwest plant in Lakeview, Oregon, which can produce up to 300,000 tons of low carbon cement substitutes each year. The company also runs a logistics network with 58 terminals, 4,000 railcars, and 400 trucks to deliver material quickly.
The expansion in Taylorsville is more than a ribbon cutting for Eco Material Technologies. It is a clear signal that low carbon concrete is moving from pilot projects into mainstream construction sites. For workers in Georgia, customers across the country, and communities counting on stronger roads and bridges, this is a step toward a cleaner and more reliable building future. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Do you believe greener cement can truly replace traditional concrete on a large scale?
