Innovations in Packaging

Words: Dan KamysOctober 2008

Mortars

Purchasing cement in plastic bags can save time, money

By Lori L. Kardos and Anand Sundaresan

mortar-sb3 When selecting masonry cement mix, the type of packaging material used might not be your first consideration. But packaging can have a significant impact on the performance of cement and may, potentially, reduce product loss. Paper cement bags can become damaged from contact with rain or standing water and may be susceptible to tears or punctures, while plastic cement bags offer a barrier against the elements and have additional toughness protection against rips. Consider the following scenarios when you're thinking about choosing a plastic cement bag over paper. Case #1: It's not uncommon to dispose of cement bags sitting on a pallet because of rain pooling around the load, or to have to pick out the good bags because the load was rained on the day before. In fact, unless you're planning to use the cement on the day the distributor sends over a load without pallet covers, you're forced to find a roof to avoid product loss. Paper bags don't protect the cement from moisture if they're stored outside. Plastic bags offer a long-term moisture barrier that can prevent the cement from turning lumpy when exposed to the elements. Case #2: Dry cement can be lost when paper bags tear during routine handling. While breakability is useful when emptying contents into a mixer, that same feature can result in a tear that weakens the bag and causes it to break before it reaches the mixer. If the cement is being transported from a distributor or brick dealer, a small puncture can become a large rip from wind exposure on the back of a truck. Plastic bags offer strong resistance to tears or punctures during transport and handling. At the same time, perforations in the bag help it break easily at the mixer, not before. The moisture barrier afforded by plastic bags is useful for more than just product storage. Transporting cement becomes much more convenient when moisture damage is of no concern. The cement bags can be shipped on open beds, with no need for a topsheet to protect them from the elements.
Lori L. Kardos is application & LDPE technology leader, Industrial & Consumer Packaging, for The Dow Chemical Co. Anand Sundaresan, is NA market manager for Heavy Duty Shipping Sacks, The Dow Chemical Co. Return to Table of Contents
About: Side Story
Managing the Mysterious Job Site Slowdown
August 2026

Every contractor knows the feeling. A job looks good on paper. The schedule makes sense. The crews are lined up. The material is supposed to be there. Then, for no obvious reason, the whole job starts crawling. That is what makes it so frustrating. Nobod

Damian Lang
Contractor Tip of the Month
Read More
Sainte-Cécile Cathedral
August 2026

Imagine being handed a set of plans calling for the largest brick cathedral in the world. Now imagine building it without modern cranes, engineered scaffolding, forklifts, power tools, or structural analysis software. That was the challenge facing medie

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
Why SkillsUSA is the Keystone to MCAA’s Outreach
August 2026

When I stepped into the role of the MCAA’s first Director of Youth Outreach and Education, I knew we had a massive job ahead of us. I am a fourth-generation brick mason, and I have spent over two decades teaching the trade, from working with apprentices a

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More
The First Paycheck
August 2026

Several years ago, Huntley Brothers hired a young apprentice. It was his first real job, and he had never had a paycheck before. Friday rolled around, and he got paid just like everyone else. Later that day, one of the guys told me something I have never

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More