Professional information – indispensable:
111 years of ZKG Cement Lime Gypsum
The first issue of Zement magazine – the forerunner of today’s ZKG Cement Lime Gypsum – was published in 1911. This issue of ZKG is dedicated to this anniversary. Why celebrate 111 years? Well the ZKG team agreed, 111 is a nice number – and there are definitely other connections. The first issue of Zement magazine appeared in 1911. And what certainly seems unbelievable to us today, it appeared weekly, at that time under the title “CEMENT – Mitteilungen der Centralstelle zur Förderung der deutschen Portland-Cement-Industrie; Organ der Vereins Deutscher Portland-Cement-Fabrikanten”. This was the long subtitle of the journal, which was divided into two parts: the technical part and the economic and legal part. Under the latter, topics on current social challenges can also be found, the range of topics addressed was really wide. Everything related to economic development and also the welfare of workers was interesting. In the archives of the ZKG editorial office are the issues since 1917, rescued years ago from a Swiss warehouse that was to be put to another use. 1927 is the title of the journal “Zement und Zementverarbeitung” (Cement and Cement Processing), published by Zementverlag G. M. B. H. in Charlottenburg.
Over the years, the journal has changed and developed. In May 1948, the first issue of the first edition appeared, “ZEMENT KALK GIPS – Forschung, Herstellung, Verwendung”. Now also no longer as a weekly newsletter, but as a technical journal with mainly scientific-technical topics and monthly publication. After the Second World War, the economy developed rapidly, there was the economic miracle. All this cannot happen without the construction industry, which in turn needs building materials, one of the most important for concrete buildings is cement. Large quantities of cement are needed and so the expansion and enlargement of the plants are the main focus.
Internationality is also on the rise. Thus, since 1976, there was an English-language translation, which was attached to the magazine on green pages. From 1992, ZKG was then published bilingually – in German/English – and the Englisch term Cement Lime Gypsum now also appeared in addition to the title above the magazine. The internationality of the cement groups is also reflected in ZKG. In addition, topics such as new, more sustainable cement types, plant efficiency and the use of alternative fuels are increasingly dominating events in ZKG. Topics that are also more topical today than ever before.
From 2014, the journal then became a purely English-language ZKG, with the German-language section being dropped. Thus, many more topics can be addressed and articles published in today’s ZKG. This is reflected, even after 111 years, in a wide range of articles on cements with new compositions, on energy recovery, on the use of secondary raw materials and, most recently, on the use of CO2 for the production of basic organic substances (see article on p. 66).
