Division launched

US Aggregates has launched a new industrial minerals division.

One of the sites involved is in Portland.

US Aggregates announced the launch of Utilimin, which brings its industrial minerals sites in Portland and Cloverdale together under a unified brand.

“The launch of Utilimin reflects US Aggregates’ commitment to innovation and customer success,” said US Aggregates president Caleb Brown in a news release. “Utilimin’s products are reliable, versatile and built to perform. They are engineered to help manufacturers, builders and innovators maintain consistency, reduce downtime and meet their needs.”

In 2021, Portland Board of Zoning Appeals granted US Aggregates a special exception to allow mining on about 108 acres of property between county road 100 South and Tyson Road, just east of county road 200 West. It was part of a months-long process during which the company faced vocal opposition from residents in the area who cited concerns about potential damage from blasting, home values, dust and traffic. The company agreed to various stipulations, including providing compensation for adjacent homeowners loss of home value attributed to the quarry and setting allowed hours for operation and blasting before receiving approvals from Portland Plan Commission and Portland City Council.

At that time, the company said it planned to invest more than $10 million to expand the quarry and that the new site would add another 30 years of operation.

“I really feel like this is just a normal progression of the vision that we casted when we were going through the rezoning,” said business development manager Eric Reynolds during an interview Friday. “I feel like this is the culmination of all of that.”

“It shows that the company is committed and focused on keeping this location going for now and for many years,” he added.

The company had initially planned to move quickly into the 108 acres, but that process slowed a bit as it opened up a “wedge piece” of property.  Reynolds said that is likely a 5-to-7-year process.

Utilimin will specialize in precision-ground calcium from the Cloverdale site and dolomitic carbonates from Portland. Materials are available in multiple sizes, packaging formats and delivery modes.

US Aggregates had been involved with Utilimin through its Cloverdale site for years before recently buying out a minority owner to make the product line a new division of the company unified with the Portland location. The company’s goal is to have a more focused presence in the industrial mineral market and offer a wider variety of products.

Reynolds said many locations have the materials for construction aggregates, but that industrial minerals are more specialized and are not as widely available. While there may be an increase in production at the Portland plant, Reynolds said, the Utilimin brand is a move that provides long-term stability.

“We’re fortunate that we have it at this location,” he said. “It makes this location viable.”

“It's definitely a higher-value product than maybe what you would think for your construction aggregate,” he added.

Industrial minerals are used in a variety of applications, including instant-set cement, caulking, tapes, glues, putty and cast polymer items such as shower stalls and toilets. They can also be found in agricultural products such as fertilizers.

And US Aggregates, a subsidiary of The Heritage Group, is a supplier of materials for glass manufacturing, including the Ardagh Group facilities in Dunkirk and Winchester.

“You’re not going to see our product on the shelf,” said Reynolds. “But what that product goes into touches so many things.

“There’s just so many different applications.”