News

Archaeologists have started the careful reburial of a model of the town of Messines, Belguim, covering an area of over 1,400m², which commemorated a battle victory in the World War I and helped to train troops for future battles.

A team of archaeologists working on Cannock Chase, central England on behalf of Staffordshire County Council and funded by Natural England, uncovered the historic treasure after a painstaking dig. The scaled terrain model was built by German prisoners of war at Brocton Camp in

HeidelbergCement has priced a Eurobond issue (ISIN XS0985874543) under its €10 billion EMTN (European Medium Term Note) programme with an issuance volume of €300 million and a maturity date of 21 October 2020. The proceeds of the transaction will be used for general corporate purposes.
“The new Eurobond is a great success,” says CEO Dr. Bernd Scheifele.
“With the seven-year bond, HeidelbergCement could raise capital at more favourable terms for a longer maturity compared to one year ago. This is a clear

As part of a global effort to expand its dealer and service network, Volvo Penta has signed a deal that will make CJD Equipment in Australia its national importer and distributor for industrial engines.

With most Volvo Penta dealers historically situated on the coastlines where marine engines are sold and serviced, now industrial engine customers across the country will have access to dedicated dealer and aftermarket service.

From 1 November 1, Volvo Penta will have representation at each of CJD’s 17

The British Aggregates Association (BAA) says that more than 11 years after ”the ill-conceived Aggregates Levy was introduced in April 2002, real progress is finally being made.”

In an update on the situation, the BAA says: ”Following a favourable judgment by the EU General Court, HMRC [HM Revenue and Customs] are being compelled to suspend most of the exemptions and the Treasury has opened a consultation: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/briefs/excise-duty/brief3113.htm

“This consultation is open for submiss

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, plans to spend €258.84 million building a new cement plant in Niger.

With a 1.5 million tonnes production capacity annually, the plant is part of a continent-wide drive to boost output by Africa's largest cement producer, which is looking for production of 55 million tonnes by 2016.

The realisation of the project is expected to create 6,000 to 7,000 jobs according to Dangote.

Land in County Shropshire, England, has been sold by Michelmersh Brick to help fund investment to raise production.

Some £4.6 million (€5.42 million) has been paid by Bovis Homes for the 15 acre former factory site adjacent to the brickworks in Telford.

The brick maker says it will look to maximise the value of other land assets.

A prototype self-healing concrete is going to be trialled by the UK contractor Costain.

The company is going to invest £600,000 (€709,000) into the project, which will attempt to develop an inbuilt concrete immune system able to repair cracks and wounds.

Scientists are planning to add special bacteria to the concrete, and this is contained within protective microcapsules, which will come to life as soon as water enters a crack. They will then produce limestone deposits, which will plug cracks in the

Austrian cement manufacturing company Kirchdorfer is forming a new used tyre company named KIAS with Austrian construction materials maker Asamer.

A subsidiary of Asamer has been operating a used tyre processing plant in Ohlsdorf, Austria, since 2002. This is to be merged equally with Kirchdorfer to form the new joint venture company KIAS, which will be managed by Kirchdorfer on an operational level.

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has launched its new National Nature Park in the UK, a nationwide network of quarries that have been restored for wildlife and which are accessible to the public.

The online resource includes 50 sites around the country totalling 4,000 hectares, with a range of facilities including nature trails, viewing hides and visitor centres.

Titan Cement of Greece has managed to establish strong foundations for its future growth during the years of recession devastating the local economy, according to the company’s officials.

Reports say that Titan has reduced its borrowing by almost 50%; its fixed costs by 16% and its costs of sales and administrative by 22%, while increasing its production capacity by about 20%.

In 2012, the Spanish corporate holding Nefinsa, which owns construction materials company Uralita and airline Air Nostrum, posted losses of €89 million, which were added to the €57 million losses that the company had posted a year before. Subsidiary Uralita, with losses of €43 million in 2012, was responsible for most of the holding's debt but losses of Air Nostrum were also high at €41 million.

HeidelbergCement India, a unit of Germany-based HeidelbergCement, has posted a loss of INR 283.50 million (€3.41million) between July and September, 2013, overturning the net profit of INR 75 million it reported for the same quarter in 2012.

Total income was INR 3.02 billion, higher than INR 2.56 billion in 2012, but so were total expenses, which were heavier with INR 3.14 billion noted, up from INR 2.43 billion in the September quarter in 2012.