Five decades ago, CTS Cement Manufacturing Corp. introduced North America to a faster-hardening, longer-lasting alternative to portland cement for concrete construction and repair: Rapid Set® calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement. Unlike other CSA cements, it’s a “standalone” cement that requires no additives or additional binders to quickly achieve structural strength. To use it, you mix, place and finish it similarly to portland cement.
As public agencies, contractors, and homeowners learn about and take advantage of these benefits, CTS is experiencing year-over-year double-digit growth. As North America’s leading manufacturer, the company is meeting this growing demand by adding a fourth blending-and-packaging plant to its locations in Mexico, Mo.; Nazareth, Pa.; and Gardena, Calif.
CTS has completed the acquisition of toll packager JE Tomes in Blue Island, Ill., a city about 16 miles south of downtown Chicago. In addition to a four-acre blending-and-packaging facility that supplies three Home Depot regional distribution centers in Illinois and Ohio, the purchase includes almost 40 shotcrete, masonry, and other products Tomes developed and has offered since Joseph Tomes III founded the company in 1988. These products, which have a loyal customer base throughout the greater Chicagoland area, will continue to be produced using the same formulations and rebranded as CTS-Tomes.
Former JE Tomes General Manager Chris White has been named both director and general manager of CTS-Tomes.
What’s in store for the new facility
Initially, the facility will produce and distribute Rapid Set Concrete Mix and Rapid Set Mortar Mix for structural repair; Rapid Set Cement All multipurpose repair material and non-shrink grout; and Rapid Set® Concrete Leveler and Rapid Set LevelFlor self-leveling flooring underlayments. More products will follow as CTS implements planned production capacity and efficiency improvements.
“In addition to building a successful business manufacturing, promoting, and selling quality concrete repair materials, JE Tomes has been a key packaging partner for us for almost 20 years,” says CTS Cement Manufacturing President and CEO Ken Vallens. “This purchase adds not only property and equipment to our expanding U.S. production network, but also a well-respected product portfolio and a talented team that shares the same service-oriented values that have shaped CTS’ success. This is just one step in our strategic plan to better serve customers by streamlining production and distribution.”
About CTS Cement Manufacturing
CTS Cement Manufacturing, North America’s leading manufacturer of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, is meeting increasing demand by expanding its U.S. network of blending-and-packaging operations. In January, the company completed the acquisition of the JE Tomes blending, packaging, and distribution facility just outside of Chicago. Photo: Clark Wismer
