The mining sector also includes the Cementi Joint-Stock Company in Schio with its factory(1) building provided with a rotary kiln installation used for the production of cement, which is obtained from a mixture of dry treated limestone and clay.
The complex(2), active since 1929, comprises the factory itself, which is the result of the juxtaposition of the various structures(3) dominated by a tall terracotta chimney and distinguished by the typical turret(4) supporting the industrial water reservoir, as well as the limestone quarry(5) located in Via Palazzina(6) at the foot of the Magrè hill. Originally the material extracted was transported to the main processing body by means of cars carried along on a dual cableway(7) about 2800 metres long and supported by reinforced concrete pylons(8) and bridges, only a few traces of this system remain in the area.
The limestone and clay (the latter came from a quarry situated in Via Pista dei Veneti which has been abandoned for some time) were first dried and then poured into two connecting silos, discharged from the bottom of these and then divided into batches which were transported along a conveyor belt to feed the 12-metre long and 2- metre(9) diameter sphere(10) mill which was capable(11) of grinding 15 tons an hour. Appropriate elevators(12) were used to carry the ground material to the rough mix silos. It was then remixed and sent to the baking kiln which was heated using coal dust. The clinker which came out of the kiln in the form of granules was transported by appropriate conveyors and elevators to the large 6,000-ton silos(13), it was discharged from the bottom of these and mixed with 30% chalk then sent to the ball mill which could produce 12 tons every hour. The cement powder obtained was lifted up and poured into 16 circular 230-ton silos, it was then discharged from these by means of automatic weighing extractors and put on the market(14).
The factory, which had been part of Italcementi in Bergamo since 1930, was fully active until 1982. After that, due to the low productivity of the kiln, the factory was reduced to a grinding centre and consequently the kiln was shut down and the limestone quarry closed. In 1993 clinker grinding completely stopped. Today this grand establishment, which is in a good state of preservation, and provided with houses for the office staff(15), the managing director(16) and the chemical laboratory manager, is only used for the marketing of cement coming from other plants belonging to the group.