On January 12, 2006, Keystone Cement announced a $165 million modernization project at its Bath, Pennsylvania facility. Upon completion of the project, Keystone will join its sister company, Giant Cement in Harleyville, South Carolina, as one of the most technologically advanced cement plants in the United States. The new facility will enable Keystone to serve the growing needs of its customers while reducing plant emissions.

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell recently announced that the state will invest $7 million in support of the Keystone project. In a press release, Governor Rendell emphasized the strong economic progress that Pennsylvania has made in the last three years. Keystone has contributed to that progress by adding more than $50 million annually to the state’s economy and employing over 180 people. With its expanded facility, Keystone’s positive impact on the state's economy will be even greater.

Keystone will increase cement production and energy efficiency in the new facility by replacing its two wet-process kilns with a single dry preheater-precalciner kiln. A 5000-hp ball mill and two 20,000-ton clinker silos will also be installed. Combined with modernized  control technology, these upgrades will boost cement production by 40-50%. The United States currently imports 20% of its cement consumption, and with its improved facility, Keystone will now be able to meet some of the need domestically.

Construction is projected to be completed early in 2009, and the project will require approximately one million man-hours. The substantial number of additional jobs during the construction phase of the project will significantly benefit the surrounding Lehigh Valley.