Cement News tagged under: western europe
ENCI's Maastricht plant to close at the end of August11 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsThe ENCI (HeidelbergCement) cement works in Maastricht, The Netherlands, is due to shut down at the end of this month, according to Dutch News. Limestone quarrying stopped in 2018 and raw materials have since been delivered to the plant by ship. High maintenance costs have also contributed to the factory becoming loss-making. The quarry is currently being redeveloped as a nature reserve. ENCI’s two other cement works in The Netherlands are expected to remain open. |
VDZ to move to new premises10 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsFor more than 60 years, Germany's cement association Verein Deutscher Zementwerke eV (VDZ)'s research institute in Düsseldorf has been the home and focal point not only for many generations of its employees but also for the representatives of the cement industry. Now, in the first week of September this year, VDZ will move into new premises, a step which will provide a new, long-time perspective. VDZ's new home is located close to its previous building, with excellent 15-minute connections ... |
Buzzi Unicem's 1H20 cement and clinker sales fall 3%05 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsBuzzi Unicem reports that group cement and clinker sales declined 3.4 per cent in the 1H20. The drop in volumes was concentrated in Italy and eastern Europe, due to the spread of the pandemic and to the associated restrictions on economic activity. In central Europe shipments were only slightly below the level reached in the same period of 2019. There was strong performance in the USA, despite the increasing challenges presented by COVID-19. Net sales achieved in the half year were substant... |
LafargeHolcim and IBM join forces to develop ORIS05 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsLafargeHolcim is exploring varied ways of expanding its digital portfolio, not just in cement and its 'Plants of Tomorrow' initiative, but also through its portfolio of building materials. LafargeHolcim will work with IBM Services to further develop the first digital platform for road design optimisation called ORIS. ORIS can reduce road project costs by up to one-third and carbon emissions by up to half while tripling road durability and usage lifespans, claims LafargeHolcim. ORIS asse... |
GB sales of heavy-side building materials slump in 2Q2004 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsThe latest statistics released by the Mineral Products Association (MPA) show that sales of heavy-side building materials, including aggregates, ready-mix concrete (RMC), asphalt and mortar saw unprecedented declines during the 2Q20. Aggregates sales volumes were 38 per cent lower, RMC 39 per cent and asphalt 28 per cent on a quarterly basis. The swift closure of housebuilding sites as the lockdown was announced in March resulted in the mortar market suffering an even sharper fall in deman... |
Breedon completes asset acquisition from Cemex03 August 2020, Published under Cement NewsBreedon has completed completion the acquisition of certain assets and operations from Cemex, as announced on 8 January 2020. As previously indicated, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has instructed that these assets should be held separate from Breedon until it has completed its investigation. Accordingly, the assets will be operated as Pinnacle Construction Materials (Pinnacle), a newly-created ring-fenced business led by an independent management team and operating from its o... |
Vicat's 1H20 results see consolidated sales of EUR1.3bn31 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsVicat has announced 1H20 results with consolidated sales of EUR1.304bn, down 2.7 per cent from EUR1.340bn in 1H19. EBITDA reached EUR213m, representing a decline of 6.7 per cent on EUR228m earned in 1H19. The EBITDA margin stood at 16.3 per cent in the 1H20 compared with 17 per cent in 1H19. First-half operational sales of the cement business rose 0.9 per cent on a reported basis, and 1.9 per cent at constant scope and exchange rates. The concrete and aggregates business recorded a... |
FCT Combustion to install Turbo-Flex™ burner at Couvrot plant31 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsFCT Combustion has just delivered a new Turbu-Flex™ burner to a client in France! The Turbu-Flex™ will be installed at Ciments Calcia's Couvrot plant in France, after the installation of its new calciner. The targets of the project are maximised use of alternative fuel, as well as improved control of the combustion. Commissioning is expected for 2021. |
HeidelbergCement's 1H revenue declines by 10% to EUR8.25bn30 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsHeidelbergCement Group revenues decreased by 10.4 per cent to EUR8.254bn compared to EUR9.212bn in 1H19 and the company posted a loss of EUR3.095bn for the 1H20. In addition to lower sales volumes, the decline in revenue is also due to the changed business policy at HC Trading, reported HeidelbergCement. Cement sales reached 56.3Mt in the 1H20, a decline of seven per cent from 61Mt in the 1H19. Aggregate sales totalled 134.8Mt in the 1H20, down seven per cent from 145.6Mt in the 1H19 and r... |
LafargeHolcim records net sales of CHF10.7bn in 1H2030 July 2020, Published under Cement NewsLafargeHolcim recorded net sales of CHF10.693bn (US$11.7m), a decline of18.1 per cent compared to the prior year of CHF13.059bn, reflecting the severe impact of the implementation of strict lockdowns of construction sites in several major operating countries. The strong appreciation of the Swiss franc against all currencies accounted for 6.2 per cent of the absolute decrease. Following the easing of the lockdowns, net sales in all five regions resumed prior-year levels by the end of June. R... |