PBCO INC
Global Raw Material Merchant
We merchant industrial raw materials, byproducts, and recycled products, and coordinate the logistics of material transport and services on a global network.
- (716) 874- 2829
- Email: pbcollc@pbcoinc.com
- Fax: (716) 874- 2839
PBCo and ProMin Inc.
We’ve transported or imported over 35 million tons of bulk materials, originating both domestically and from around the world, to
locations throughout the United States, Canada and the Great Lakes.
Global Network, Deep Knowledge
Our History
PBCo has its roots in a business founded in 1930 by Paul Blum in Hanover, Germany, trading raw materials to the papermaking industry.
Our Team
Your team of seasoned experts in the areas of global trade and commerce, international and Great Lakes shipping, geology, finance, and transportation.
Our Impact
PBCo currently focuses primarily on domestically sourced raw materials including pre-calcined materials that reduce the CO2 foot print of cement production.
Quality assured products and services, delivered in a timely manner, at the lowest possible cost.
When supplying materials, PBCo act as merchant, retaining title, and taking full responsibility for all its products until the point of sale. Supporting and related services outlined below are designed to minimize direct and overhead costs of PBCo’s customers.
Proving the Economy of Scale
PBCo proved the economies of scale and recorded its largest shipment of bulk cement aboard m/v Great Glory, 71,200 MT, on a voyage from Sri Racha Thailand to Laplace LA. PBCo discharged this shipload and many, many other shiploads of cement mid-stream into river barges with final destinations throughout the Mississippi waterway system.
Our Products & Services
Sourcing and Resources
Together with its Geologists, Chemists, Engineers and Global Trading partners PBCO has evaluated and qualified hundreds of products, minerals, recycled/reclaimed materials, and pre-calcined materials for cement making. PBCo has developed and maintains an extensive database, mapping raw materials, cement and clinker to the needs and requirements of cement makers throughout North America.
Quality Control Programs
PBCo implements a quality control program for all of its products, services and projects. PBCo quality control programs also focus on the consistent supply of uncontaminated, re-claimed materials from landfills and from a variety of industry producers of such materials.
Shipping and Inland Barging
PBCo closely monitors the global bulk shipping market and alerts its customers to low cost freight opportunities across oceans and the Great Lakes. PBCo’s Chartering department is qualified and uniquely experienced in global and Great Lakes bulk carrier chartering (including self discharging and self- unloaders), operations and ship building as well as dock and terminal layout.
Stevedoring
PBCo provides mobile ship stevedoring services anywhere in the US and Canada. PBCo provides experienced qualified operators and equipment and related variety of services.
Plant and Terminal Delivery and Logistics Services
PBCo’s staff provides a complete menu of transportation and logistical services, up to and including acting as our customer’s international procurement department, managing all logistical arrangements from load port operations through vessel discharging, barging, railing and/or truck delivery to the customer’s site.
Cement, Clinker
PBCo sources bulk cement and cement clinker from first class producers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas with delivery by ship or inland barge to the USA and Canada. PBCo qualifies producers and quality assures its products match specific customers’ current production, including market color and ASTM C150 specification and logistics requirements.
Raw Materials, Reclaimed Materials
All PBCo naturally occurring mined minerals and reclaimed products carry uniform mineral content. PBCo products are screened or sorted, as necessary, to meet or exceed customer flow-ability and grind-ability requirements. Every ton is carefully selected and processed as required, to assure its suitability for its intended use.
Products Offered
• Conditioned & Reclaimed CCP Fly & Bottom Ash • Bauxite • Aluminum Slags • Spent Catalyst Fines • Silica Sand & Gravel • Recycled Refractory Materials • Frac SandsSilica Fume Slurry & Co-product • Feldspar • LMF Slag • Lime Cake • Aragonite • Gypsum & Anhydrite • Synthetic Gypsum • Blast & Electric Arc Furnace Slags • Ground and Granulated Blast Furnace Slags • Paint Rock • Iron Silica, Iron Sand & Tailings • Mill Scale • Iron Silicate • Cement Kiln Dust • Petcoke
Quality Control Programs
Inspection
Producing plants, mines and/or reclaiming processors are inspected and audited to ensure qualification.
Product Evaluation
Native products are evaluated and analyzed by nationally qualified laboratories.
Certificate Evaluation
Manufacturers’ Quality Certificates are evaluated. Monitoring, sampling and reporting programs are implemented.
TechnicalApprovals
Manufacturers’ Quality Certificates are evaluated. Monitoring, sampling and reporting programs are implemented.
Certification Coordination
Certification processes between State DOTs, product sources and local technical departments are coordinated.
Economic Impact Analysis
Economic impacts to every project are analyzed and recommendations for low cost solutions are provided. We specialize in identifying potential problems.
Early Detection
Programs are developed to provide for the early detection and analysis of potential technical problems.
Support
Programs are developed to provide for the early detection and analysis of potential technical problems.
Sourcing & Resources
Quality Assured Products
PBCo provides its customers with quality assured products and services, delivered in a timely manner at the lowest possible cost. PBCo has developed and maintains an extensive database, mapping raw materials, cement and clinker to the needs and requirements of cement makers throughout North America.
Expansive Network
PBCO has developed long-term relationships and holds multi-year purchase agreements with a number of producers, miners and contractors, ensuring stable pricing and long term availability.
Shipping Knowledge
Shipping and delivery contracts are fully integrated with purchase agreements, quality control programs and plant delivery schedules. Our services include several modes of transportation relying on expert material movement.
Logistics Services
PBCo’s staff provides a complete menu of transportation and logistical services, up to and including acting as our customer’s international procurement department, managing all logistical arrangements from load port operations through vessel discharging, barging, railing and/or truck delivery to the customer’s site. Related services include:
Negotiating Costs
Negotiating lowest costs contracts and managing all logistical and operational activities for the inland transportation of materials throughout North America utilizing: inland and coastal barge carriers, short line and main line railroads, and trucking.
Requirement Focused
Maintaining inventories, stockpiles and coordinating delivery of products to plants and terminals to meet specific daily requirements.
Contracting
Contracting with fully trained and certified carriers and owner-operators. Using only truckers that are fully insured, site specific trained and fully informed of our customers expectations before their arrival.
Shipping and Inland Barging
Economy of Scale
Chartering with 1st class Owner/Operators and Brokers on a variety of vessel sizes.Identifying lowest cost ocean shipping and inland transportation alternatives.
Analysis & Trends
World bulk shipping market analysis and trends.
Freight Estimates
Ocean, Great Lakes and inland river barging and freight estimates. Identifying lowest cost ocean shipping and inland transportation alternatives.
Layout Inspections & Development
Port, Berth Terminal, layout, inspection and development.
Vetting & Verification
Vetting and verifying the suitability and capability of ship owners and ships. Providing ship and barge cargo quantity and quality surveys.
Scheduling and Logistics
Developing and maintaining schedules based on customer requirements, cargo quantities, shipper’s production capabilities, stem requirements, load and discharge rates and ocean routing or inland river steaming times.
Tracking
Distributing schedules and compulsory notices to shippers, receivers and agents. Online delivery tracking, updating ETAs at least daily.
Stevedoring
PBCo provides mobile ship stevedoring services anywhere in the US and Canada. PBCo provides experienced qualified operators and equipment and the related following services:
Superintendents
Shore Captains and Cargo Superintendents.
Administrative Reporting
Preparing and auditing laytime, demurrage and dispatch statements.
Resolution Services
Resolving operating and equipment problems. Managing cargo quality and damage issues.
Coordination
Developing and coordinating discharge plans, ship and cargo arrival inspections. Management of all stevedoring activities.
Support Staffing
Providing qualified, operators and skilled operational, administrative and legal support.
Our Story
PBCo has its roots in a business founded in 1930 by Paul Blum in Hannover Germany, trading raw materials to the paper making industry. In its early years, PBCo specialized in the trading of industrial chemicals and raw materials, successfully capitalizing on Buffalo’s industrial base of steel, chemicals and abrasives. In 1969, PBCo began building a successful business selling iron oxide to the cement industry. PBCo also began supplying gypsum to cement producers along the US Eastern seaboard. By
the late 1980s, PBCo’s business was now entirely built on supplying gypsum, iron oxide, cement and clinker to cement manufacturers throughout North America. PBCo offered significant technical expertise and unique quality assurance programs to its customers, complementing its purchase and delivery of bulk materials.
The company became known for its commitment to maintaining the lowest prices possible for quality products.
By 1999 the company was shipping in excess of 4.9 million tons of products per year, making it the largest independent importer of cement and related products in the U.S.
As a new century began, changes were in store for PBCo’s corporate structure. In early 2001 Ross Eckert, a successful Western New York business leader with strong ties to the concrete and cement industries, joined PBCo as President and CEO. In April of 2002 Ross acquired the Company from its then owner, Bernie Blum.
To date ProMin a PBCo affiliate company has chartered and received 1,430 ship loads of bulk products and is currently delivering more than 46,000 tons per month by truck domestically to the North American cement industry.
PBCo continues to evolve both in its products and services. PBCo currently focuses primarily on domestically sourced raw materials including pre-calcined materials that reduce the CO2 foot print of cement production.
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