News

The Finnish State is to sell Finnish infrastructure and construction company Destia to Ahlström Capital for €148 million.

The ownership no longer bears a strategic significance to the state.

Pekka Haavisto, Finland's Minister responsible for ownership steering, justifies the sale saying that the government decided to support new investments and to slow down the state's running into more debt in the framework budget talks.

Lafarge has sold its cement operations in Ecuador for an enterprise value of US$553 million (equivalent to €405 million) to Union Andina de Cementos (UNACEM).

Lafarge Cementos operates an integrated cement plant of 1.4 million tonnes capacity, located in Otavalo in the north of the country.

This divestment will contribute to Lafarge's objective to reduce net debt below €9 billion in 2014.

This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

Screening and crushing company McCloskey International has welcomed Mexican dealer Maquineria to its global network of distributors.

“Having MAQSA on board will further strengthen our distribution network globally. Mexico presents some unique and exciting possibilities that we anticipate will contribute to our growth in the marketplace,” says John O’Neill, vice-president of marketing and sales for McCloskey International.

“MAQSA has excellent relationships with customers in the mining and construction

According to Andre Martin, CEO Lafarge Russia and Ukraine, the France-based group plans to increase sales of cement to 700,000tonnes in 2014 against 2013, as it will launch a new plant in the Kaluga region (Central FD).

Sales of non-metallic materials are expected to increase by 30%. The plant in Kaluga region will switch into partial use of alternative fuels (solid waste) from 2015, and in the future, alternative fuels may account for 45% of the enterprise's total consumption. Dry kilns will help to im

In what is said to be a first for the ready mix sector, UK customers are set to benefit from the introduction of new mobile Ultra ready mix concrete plants.

Lafarge Tarmac has invested in two units to strengthen its existing nationwide concrete offering and provide customers with 24-hour security of supply to projects in remote locations.

CEMEX UK has won 13 awards at this year’s prestigious Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Occupational Health and Safety Awards, which recognise significant safety achievements within all areas of the CEMEX business: concrete, cement, aggregates, asphalt, building products, rail, logistics, marine and ash.

“It is an outstanding achievement to win so many health and safety awards and to be recognized for our work in this area, especially when you consider the challenging environment of

The UK Mineral Products Association (MPA) is warning about the dangers of swimming in quarry lakes, and asking people to Stay Safe and Stay Out, following two recent water-related fatalities in Wales, one involving a young man at a disused quarry.

It also urged people not to ignore the warning signs and fencing designed to protect them from potential risks in both active and disused quarry sites.

School holidays and the warmer weather often mean an increase in the number of young people who may be tem

British independent construction materials company, Hope Construction Materials is on the lookout for new talent to join its £300 million (€370 million) business in the County Derbyshire and County Yorkshire areas.

The company has launched an Apprenticeship Academy which is looking to appoint four new apprentices this year at its quarries at Dowlow near the town of Buxton, County Derbyshire, and Holme Hall, near Rotherham, County Yourksihire and its cement works in the Hope Valley, also County Derbyshire

At the Hillhead show, which is to be held near Buxton, England (24-26 June, 2014), John Deere Power Systems (JDPS) says it will be showcasing its Final Tier 4/Stage IV engines for the most demanding off-highway applications.

The company says that its UK distributor E.P.Barrus will display a 9litre FT4 engine; 6.8litre FT4 engine; JDPS FT4 Integrated Emissions Control System elements, and a 4.5litre GSPU Stage III A engine.

JDPA says that for the Final Tier 4/Stage IV, John Deere adopted the best avai

Some 400 people have protested against a project by French construction materials group Lafarge to deepen its Grand-Vallon quarry in Sénas, amid concerns that it may pollute the groundwater.

Lafarge Granulats Sud is looking to reach a depth of 15m across 7hectares, as the granulate deposit is beginning to run out. Some of the organisations to take part included Agir pour Orgon, La Ligue de Défense des Alpilles, Confédération Paysanne and France Nature Environnement.

The project must now be considered

Swiss cement manufacturer Holcim was ranked in the top 50 most valuable Swiss brands for the first time in 2014 with a value of CHF 1.2 bllion (€982.27 million). The food production giant Nestlé retained the highest position in the ranking, with an overall value of CHF 20.2 billion for its Nescafé, Nestlé and Nespresso brands, followed by watch producer Swatch in second place with a value of CHF 7.5 billion.

Turkey's Competition Board (RK) has launched an investigation on the country's cement sector. RK claims that the sector is involved in serious competition issues, such as region and customer sharing, refusing to provide products, and destructive pricing. It adds that the number of complaints have grown in time despite the number of penalties issued on companies.