History
Mankind has been employing calcium (Ca) based binders as building materials since B.C. 3000. As for contemporary Portland cement, although it was first produced in 1824, the first concrete structure could not be built until 1857.

Production of ready mixed concrete initially had started in Germany, at the start of the 20th century (1903) and was put into use in the US within a few years. In 1924 the concrete truck- mixer was developed in the US for transporting concrete. Soon after the truck-mixer, German engineers received the patent of “Concrete Mortar Conveyor Pump” in 1927, for conveying concrete form the truck- mixer to the point of use. Many ready mixed concrete firms were established after the war, some of which are still in operation. Use and adoption of ready mixed concrete as basic building material for constructions in the following years did not take long, and in a short time, production and use of ready mixed concrete initiated in many countries.

Urbanization and infrastructure efforts that gained momentum with the start of the second half of the 20th century have instigated ready mixed concrete and concrete products to be produced in larger quantities and used more extensively. Consequently, many technological developments were achieved in this field.

Landmarks in the history of concrete

1848  First cement mill in operation (Britain)

1857  Discovery of reinforced concrete (France)

1865  Use of blast furnace slag in concrete together with Portland cement (Germany)

1903 Start of Ready Mixed Concrete industry (Germany)

1936  Use of chemical additives (USA)

1950  Experimental use of micro silica in long term tests (Norway)

1965  Use of super plasticizers in concrete (USA)

1971  1971 Use of micro silica in bearing systems (Norway)

1981  Use of mixture (PC+ micro silica +fly ash) cement for the first time (Iceland)

1992  Construction of the world’s highest concrete building (USA)

1993  Use of micro fibers in concrete (USA)