Today we got to visit Vassilikos Cement Works which was founded in 1963 and started their first cement production in 1967. They are the largest heavy industry in Cyprus and the largest producer of cement in Europe. They provided a great opportunity to discuss vertical integration as they control all parts of their production and even have their own port. The company owns 2 limestone quarries, 2 clay quarries, and 1 gypsum quarry. Limestone and clay go through a long process of crushing, mixing, and heating of the material to then create clinker, the main ingredient of cement which is then mixed with gypsum to make cement. This process is all done in house at Vassilikos Cement and after the mixing of cement they then store it, and their customers are able to come either in trucks to pick up the cement or clinker; or they can also transport the cement or clinker by ship using the port that Vassilikos Cement built and owns right beside their operations. The company was very interesting to learn about because I’ve never actually seen a company so vertically integrated that they own all processes from obtaining the raw material to the selling of a finished product.