GARDEN GROVE, Calif. – CTS Cement Manufacturing Corp., a leader in very-rapid-hardening concrete products, has achieved a major milestone with the grand opening of its largest production facility to date. Located in Cordele, Ga. – strategically positioned between Atlanta and Florida – the rail-accessible plant will produce the full range of Rapid Set® products for distribution to customers throughout the Southeast, Puerto Rico, and Europe via the nearby Port of Savannah.
Rapid Set® products, including cements, concretes, and mortars, have seen steady sales growth since their introduction in the mid-1970s. The new Cordele facility is the culmination of a multiyear capital investment strategy designed to expand and streamline U.S. production and distribution to meet increasing demand.
As one of the most advanced blending and packaging facilities in the United States, the 146-acre site features cutting-edge technology, including twelve 75-ton process tower silos and a 120,000-square-foot warehouse with nine loading docks. Three automated production lines, managed from a centralized control center, utilize state-of-the-art process-management software to ensure precise drying, batching, weighing, mixing, and packaging.
Already North America’s largest producer of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, CTS Cement’s new facility increases overall packaged goods production capacity by 25% and has created more than 30 local jobs in Cordele.
“Given our commitment to sustainability, we’re particularly proud to have repurposed a site with existing industrial infrastructure,” says President & CEO Ken Vallens. “After a rigorous four-year search, we found the ideal location here in the ‘Heart of Georgia.’”
“Our community is excited to welcome CTS,” says Dickie Dowdy, Chairman of the Cordele-Crisp County Industrial Development Authority. “CTS is a top-tier company that’s brought high-quality jobs and innovation to our area.”
For nearly five decades, Rapid Set® products have provided a more sustainable and durable alternative to traditional ordinary portland cement (OPC). With a 27% lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to OPC and 20% lower than portland limestone cement (PLC), Rapid Set® CSA cement offers both environmental and performance advantages. The very-rapid-hardening cement (per ASTM C1600) also boasts superior resistance to chlorides, alkali-silica
reaction (ASR), sulfates, shrinkage cracking, and freeze-thaw damage. Unlike other CSA cements, Rapid Set® is a standalone cement that requires no additives or binders to achieve structural strength quickly.
Rapid Set® cement is the core ingredient in a variety of products used for concrete construction, repair, and restoration. With compressive strengths reaching up to 4500 psi in just 1.5 hours—compared to 28 days for portland cement concrete—Rapid Set® products enable faster project delivery without compromising durability. These benefits have driven double-digit sales growth year-over-year, as contractors, public agencies, and homeowners increasingly adopt the technology.
CTS Cement’s growth strategy extends beyond this new facility. In 2023, the company acquired J.E. Tomes, a specialty cement products manufacturer based near Chicago, Ill., to strengthen its product offerings and market reach. CTS also operates production facilities in Gardena, Calif.; Mexico, Mo.; and Nazareth, Pa.
CTS is an employee-owned company employing nearly 280 people across North America. “Our continued growth is a testament to the quality of our products, our culture of innovation, and the commitment of our employee-owners,” Vallens adds.
Questions? Contact Vice President of Marketing Janet Ong Zimmerman at 714-793-1010 or jong@ctscement.com.
About CTS Cement Manufacturing Corp.
CTS Cement Manufacturing Corp. produces Rapid Set® professional-grade CSA cement products and Komponent® shrinkage-compensating portland cement additives for new construction and concrete repair and restoration. Architects, engineers, owners, and contractors trust our products to deliver durable, efficient, and aesthetically superior results. Follow us and learn more on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
