70 Years of Production at the ZEOCEM Plant | 1955 – 2025

The Beginnings of Production in Bystré

The foundation stone of the plant was laid in 1949 with the aim of building a cement factory as part of post-World War II industrial and infrastructure development. The first production began on February 13, 1955. The planned annual capacity of the plant was 180,000 tons of cement, a target achieved as early as 1956.

A key strategic factor in selecting the site for the new cement plant was the proximity of the limestone quarry in Skrabské, where limestone had been extracted since the 19th century. Raw material was supplied from the quarry to the plant in Bystré via a cableway system, which provided efficient transport and remained in operation until the 1990s.

Expansion and Modernization in the 1970s

During a period of intense construction in the 1970s, the plant significantly increased production to 360,000 tons of cement per year, responding to rising demand for building materials. After 1981, however, cement output gradually declined due to a decrease in investment construction.

Transition to Natural Zeolite Processing

In 1984, a significant zeolite deposit was geologically verified in Nižný Hrabovec, opening new opportunities for the plant’s production program. Initially, zeolite was used as a natural pozzolan in cement manufacturing. After the political and economic changes in 1989, the plant gradually expanded the sale of this raw material. In 1992, the company underwent a major transformation and adopted its current name – ZEOCEM. As the transition to new product lines progressed, cement production was terminated in 1997 due to high energy consumption and outdated technology. The company then focused entirely on zeolite mining and processing.

Modernization and Expansion

In 1998, the plant was acquired by its current owners, who focused on stabilizing the company, securing markets, and subsequently modernizing and expanding production facilities. In 2019, responding to growing demand for cement products, the plant resumed cement production.

Extensive modernization of production lines allowed for the expansion of the product portfolio to include cements and innovative zeolite-based blended binders for soil stabilization.

A Stable Future

Today, ZEOCEM is a key supplier of natural zeolite and cement-based construction materials. We are global leaders in zeolite processing and innovators in introducing zeolite-based construction materials to the market.