News

Gilles Bernardeau has been appointed as the new managing director of French concrete research centre Cerib, replacing Marc Lebrun.

Credit risk rating agency Standard & Poors (S&P) has ratified Mexican cement company Cemex’s global credit rating at 'B+' with a positive outlook. S&P stated that Cemex had increased cash flow generation, consolidated a solid financial performance and improved credit indicators. S&P also confirmed the company's national long-term and short-term debt ratings at 'mxBBB' and 'mxA-2'. The agency estimated that Cemex had capacity to continue improving its financial indicators during 2016.

Pakistan-based Kohat Cement (KOHC) has registered a 54% increase in its year-on-year earnings to PKR 2.1 billion (€18.49 million/US$20.02 million) for the first half of fiscal 2016 from PKR 1.4 billion.

On a quarterly basis, earnings growth was driven by an 18% increase in sales revenue.

Overall, the higher margins are attributed to the increase in domestic demand, lower tax rate, and significant decline in power and fuel costs.

India-based Grasim Industries has increased its net profit in the October-December quarter 2015 to INR 6.5 billion compared to from INR 3.34 billion (€45.42 million/US$49.20 million) in the same quarter in 2014.

The company has recorded an increase in its total income in the quarter under review from INR 80.35 billion previously, to INR 90.44 billion.

Grasim Industries has businesses in Viscose Staple Fibre (VSF), cement and chemicals.

In fiscal year 2016-2017, the company says it will spend INR

Birla Corporation (Birla) of India is said to be discussing with legal advisors to sue LafargeHolcim after Birla's plan to buy two cement plants worth INR 50 billion (€679.98 million/US$736.49 million) from Lafarge India (Lafarge) did not materialise.

It is claimed that Lafarge agreed in August 2015 to sell to Birla its integrated cement plant at Sonadih in Chhattisgarh and a cement grinding unit at Jojobera in Jharkhand along with PSC and Concreto cement brands.

The two plants have annual capacity o

Volvo Penta says it has significantly expanded its around-the-clock customer care service to enable the engine and other power systems manufacturer to offer global coverage in 28 languages worldwide.

The company’s extensive network of over 3,500 dealers is the first line of support for customers. Now, the global dealer network is backed up by Volvo Penta Action Service globally.

The expanded Action Service is truly global, meaning that all of Volvo Penta’s customers will have easy

A 2013 Caterpillar 324DL excavator, a 2013 Caterpillar D6K XL dozer, and a 2014 JCB 5CX backhoe are among the equipment models up for grabs at the next EuroAuctions Dormagen, Germany auction being staged on 10-11 February 2016 – with an 8.30am start both days. Call 0049 2133 479 3640 or visit www.euroauctions.com for more information.

Global demand for cement and concrete additives is forecast to grow 7.2% a year until 2019 to US$24 billion, according to a new report by The Freedonia Group. The US-based industry research firm’s World Cement & Concrete Additives report states that the increases reflect continuing growth in construction activity across the globe that will, in turn, drive global cement usage.

Meanwhile, increasing additive usage rates in developing countries, as well as a broader shift to higher performing specialty add

UK-based Mineral Products Association (MPA) member sales of construction materials were generally positive in 2015, although all materials except ready-mixed concrete (RMC) have seen more modest growth than in 2014.

Sales of aggregates increased by 4.8% compared to 2014, whilst RMC sales accelerated in 2015 (4.2%) compared to 2014 (+3.6%), increasingly influenced by infrastructure projects, with more modest contributions from housing. Reflecting slower housing activity throughout the year, mortar sales

Camso – formerly Camoplast Solideal – has acquired Southern Industrial Tyres, a long-time client, in a strategic effort to strengthen its UK Material Handling tyre distribution and service business.

Located in county Kent, England, just one hour from central London, Southern Industrial Tyres is said by Camso to have established a great reputation by having a fully self-sufficient on-site service for fleet checks, tyre fitment, professional wheel exchange, foam filling and puncture proofing, as well as en

Jan Willem Jongert is to join the Executive Board of Wacker Neuson as the German construction equipment manufacturer’s Chief Sales Officer (CSO). In his new role, 51-year-old Jongert will be responsible for the global sales, service, logistics and marketing activities of the Wacker Neuson Group.

At the start of 2013, Cem Peksaglam took on the responsibilities of the outgoing CSO in addition to his own mandate as Chairman of the Executive Board (CEO). Under the leadership of Peksaglam, the Wacker Neuson G

Angola’s government has decided to maintain restrictions on the imports of cement in 2016, claiming the country's installed capacity surpasses the current needs of the country. Only three provinces with borders (Cabinda, Cunene and Cuando Cubango) with third countries will be exempt from the restrictions. Each province will be entitled to an import quota of 150,000tonnes of cement. Industry experts estimate Angola's installed capacity at 8 million tonnes, while demand in 2014 was estimated 5.022 million ton

A resurgence in the Spanish property industry is said to be prompting a revival in the national cement sector. Cement consumption fell continuously for eight years, hitting a low of 1.8 million tonnes in 2014. The trend changed in 2015, when there was growth of 9.9%. AFCA has seven factories linked to it in Andalucía, southern Spain and domestic sales of cement from those factories reached 2.02 million tonnes 2015. That accounted for 17.5% of the national total. This figure remains far behind the 10mn tonne