A State-Of-The-Art Cement Company

Located on the site of an old rail town in northwestern Arizona, approximately 10 miles north of the town of Paulden, the Drake Cement facility was the first of its kind to be built in the state in over 50 years.

The plant is a state-of-the-art facility with a rated capacity of 660,000 tons of clinker production per year. In addition, several operating and pollution controls incorporated into the plant are so advanced that they are found in only a few other facilities worldwide.

Drake is building a very different cement company for the 21st century by focusing on service, quality, and social responsibility while being a responsible employer, neighbor, and corporate citizen.

Safety

We ensure safety is our top priority

Excellence

We strive for excellence in all we do

Respect

We respect our customers, employees, resources, and environment

Value

We add value by exceeding expectations

Drake Cement Products

Sustainability, flexibility, and durability are hallmarks of cement-based products in any number of applications. In addition, cement should be of the right quality and makeup to maximize overall performance.

The flagship Drake Cement product is type II/V portland cement that conforms to the physical and chemical requirements of ASTM C-150 for types I, II, and V, low alkali cements, as well as ASTM C 1157 for types GU, MS, and HS cement. Drake Cement type II/V can be used in any general construction application, including those with exposure to moderate or high levels of sulfates in soils and/or water. In addition, the low levels of alkalis in Drake Cement type II/V portland cement reduce the potential for damage due to alkali-silica reactivity (ASR).

The latest Drake Cement products are type IL and IP blends that use limestone and pozzolan to reduce the environmental impact of cement production. While they have many of the properties of traditional portland cement, these newer products take less energy to manufacture.

For full safety information, download our Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

For more technical information, download our Product Data Sheet or Contact Us to discuss how our products can meet your needs.

Drake Cement types

Cement Type IL

Our portland-limestone cement is the result of industry efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of cement production. The increased limestone content reduces the carbon dioxide emissions of the manufacturing process while maintaining its strength and functionality for applications typically handled by portland cement types I and II.

Cement Type IP

Drake portland-pozzolan cement is a blended product made with locally mined volcanic pozzolan. This product functions as an all-purpose cement ideal for general concreting and plastering. Like Type IL, Type IP cement takes less energy to produce, demonstrating Drake’s commitment to a sustainable future for the cement industry. 

Cement Type II/V

Our traditional portland cement type II/V has a low alkali content and moderate sulfate resistance, important attributes for construction in the western United States. This all-purpose product is perfect for structural concrete projects such as foundations, slabs, and footings. It is also commonly used for sidewalks, walls, and other structures.

Production Process Flow

Imported Ingredients

Alumina and iron are imported as minor processing additions.

Mining and Crushing

Limestone (calcium) and silica are mined from the quarry and conveyed to the plant.

Mining and Crushing

Limestone (calcium) and silica are mined from the quarry and conveyed to the plant.

Raw material storage

Limestone (calcium), iron, silica and alumina are stored in large silos.

Blending

All raw ingredients are blended in proportion to prepare for grinding.

Blending

All raw ingredients are blended in proportion to prepare for grinding.

Raw grinding

Raw ingredients are ground to fineness of baby powder and further blended into a homogeneous mixture.

Heating and Cooling

The ground mixture is fed into the kiln through a tall preheating tower, where it is heated and rapidly cooled to create clinker.

Heating and Cooling

The ground mixture is fed into the kiln through a tall preheating tower, where it is heated and rapidly cooled to create clinker.

Clinker storage

Clinker is stored in a large dome and silo waiting to be ground into cement.

Finish Grinding

Clinker is ground into the fine gray powder recognized as cement, adding a small amount of gypsum to control the time of setting.

Finish grinding

Clinker is ground into the fine gray powder recognized as cement, adding a small amount of gypsum to control the time of setting.

Cement Storage and Shipping

Finished cement is stored in a silo awaiting loading into trucks or rail cars.

Download Our Production Process Flow

Drake Portland Cement

Consistency

Drake Cement Type II/V Portland Cement meets the physical and chemical requirements of ASTM C-150 for Types I, II, and V, low alkali cements, as well as ASTM C-1157 for Types GU, MS, HS cements.

Applications

Drake Cement Type II/V and Type IL Portland Cement can be used in general construction applications including those with exposure to moderate or high levels of sulfates in soils and/or water.

Durability

Drake Cement Type II/V Portland Cement has a low alkali level, reducing the potential for damage due to alkali-silica reactivity (ASR). Drake Type IL and IP cement blends are also very durable.

Quality

Production and truck samples of all Drake products are tested in our certified cement laboratory. Additional market samples are regularly tested to evaluate field performance.

Buy Local

Drake Cement products are manufactured at the Drake Plant near Paulden, AZ, helping to sustain the local economy. Buying local supports your community.

Sustainability

Drake produces cement at the newest cement plant in the state with state-of-the-art  equipment and pollution controls are so advanced they are found in only a few other facilities throughout the world.

Serious Economic Development

Drake Cement LLC is focused on providing high-quality Portland cement products at competitive prices while improving the local availability of this building material so critical to the fast-growing southwestern United States.

During the construction phase, at one of the most economically depressed times in our nation’s history, the Drake plant created over 600 high paying jobs for the local area. Over the long term, the Drake plant will provide dozens of new, high quality manufacturing jobs and economic development in northern Arizona. 

In addition, Drake’s high capacity rail switching facility, located on the BNSF mainline railway, will create further development by offering other potential industries access to raw materials, energy, and distribution capabilities near the attractive Interstate 40 and US 93 transportation corridors.

Drake’s Cement Plant Earned a 2020 and 2021 Energy Star Certificate

Drake has earned 2020 ENERGY STAR® certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency! The ENERGY STAR label on display at our plant represents proven, verified superior energy performance over a 12-month period. In fact, ENERGY STAR certified plants perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide!

This is the first year that Drake has earned the ENERGY STAR. By meeting these strict standards, Drake is saving energy, saving money, and helping protect the environment by using less energy than similar facilities.

For more than 20 years, EPA’s ENERGY STAR program has been America’s resource for saving energy and protecting the environment. Today, thousands of facility owners and managers use ENERGY STAR to improve the energy performance of their buildings and plants

2020 Energy Star Certified Facility Black
2021 Energy Certified Facility Matching Logo

Quality

Drake Cement is dedicated to providing the highest quality products in the industry. Our quality control laboratory is staffed by some of the industry’s leading professionals and technicians utilizing state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that you, the customer, always receive a quality product.

Consistent quality comes from the commitment to the SERV ethos that every team member at Drake upholds.

drake employee testing cement materials

Certificate of Accreditation

Our cement products have been recognized by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and have earned the AASHTO Certificate of Accreditation.

Emblem Logo White CTA

Ready to Get Started?

Experience Drake’s Commitment to Excellence

Social Responsibility

Drake’s state-of-the-art facility allows us to provide a wide variety of solutions to the cement and construction materials industries. Our focus on service and quality, as well as our unique culture of environmental and social responsibility, makes clear Drake Cement’s commitment to being not only the best material supplier but a responsible employer, neighbor, and corporate citizen within our industry.

Find out more about Drake and how we are building a very different kind of cement company for the 21st century.

Latest Blog Posts

Learn More About How Drake Is Supporting the Communities That We Serve and More!

Emblem Logo Red CTA

Take Your Career to the Next Level

Consider Drake for Your Next Career Move

We offer a positive and rewarding work environment, incredible benefits, competitive pay, tuition reimbursement program, and much more!

Our Locations

Multiple Strategic Locations to Best Serve You

Scottsdale, AZ
Corporate Office

21803 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 220
Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Paulden, AZ
Cement Plant

5001 E Drake Rd
Paulden, AZ 86334