News

In Romania, production of construction materials increased by 9.3% in the first half of 2014, compared with the same period of 2013, according to data from the National Statistics Office.

On the other hand, the volume of construction works fell by 9.4% in the first six months of the year.

According to the Personal Analytical Unit (PAU) information and analytic agency, sales volume of ten major types of building materials in Ukraine grew in H1 2014 by 0.3% compared to the same period in 2013.

This includes sales in June of such materials as cement, mixed concrete, reinforced concrete structures, shaped paving units, ceramic and sand lime bricks, and autoclaved aerated concrete blocks. Their production level totalled 2.8 million tonnes in June.

The production decreased by 2% and sales fe

The main producers of special mortars in Spain have seen their revenues fall just 3% in 2013, despite the complicated economic situation in the country.

Although the declining trend continues, the decrease could be reaching its maximum. Some companies, such as Ibermapei, Portland, Gecol and Cementos Capa, managed to achieve growth in their turnover during the year, with many looking to exports to bolster their business.

Cemex, Teais, Molins and Eurocem Morteros all entered new markets abroad during 2

The Norm Sement cement factory of the Norm company has received a CE certificate, which confirms that the produce meets DIN EN 197-1:2011 standard for the Europan Union.

German research institute VDZ has audited the production process at the plant.

The capacity of a cement plant to be built by Chinese company Hengyuan Group in the Orel region (Central Federal District) of Russia will total 2-2.5 million tonnes/year.

The project, which will take three years to implement, will see investments exceeding US$400 million (€309.15 million).

The regional government may participate in the project, although the main share will belong to the Chinese company.

Lafarge Granulats France has appointed Olivier Guise as managing director for the provincial sector.

He will be in charge of strengthening activity in the PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) region, with the aim of ensuring territorial coverage in a bid to be closer to clients, and of developing the local circular economy.

France's national ready mixed concrete union (SNBPE) has appointed Carole Jaillot as the head of its environmental commission. The position was previously held by Arnaud Colson, who is taking on the role of president for the French National Union of Aggregate Producers (UNPG).

The future quarry of Swiss cement group Holcim, which will open in Bayel (Aube) at the end of 2014 or start of 2015, will extract 1 million tonnes of limestone/year.

The limestone will be supplied, via rail, to concrete plants and construction projects in Ile-de-France (notably in the Greater Paris region).

Demelza Mulligan has assumed the role of managing director of Haver Southern Africa, succeeding Joachim Hoppe who directed Haver Southern Africa for three years and who during this period laid the foundation for positive future business development for southern Africa.

He is returning to his successful work at the Oelde-Germany headquarters where he will be founding the new business unit of Bergbau/Mining.

After received her Bachelor’s Degree from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town,

Lafarge has sold its cement operations in the Urals region (Russia) to Buzzi Unicem for an enterprise value of €104 million.

Lafarge UralCement operates one cement plant located in Korkino, 40km in the south of Chelyabinsk.

This divestment will contribute to Lafarge's objective to reduce net debt.

The transaction is subject to the authorisation of relevant authorities and customary closing conditions.

After this divestment, Lafarge will remain present in Russia in the dynamic Central region (Mo

French prefabricated concrete manufacturer SPL is to double production at its Laundal site, which was opened in 2010 and currently employs some 40 people.

The factory has improved capacity by 15% in the summer of 2014, but it is still not enough to satisfy growing demand.

The company produces concrete double walls with integrated insulation that are suited to low energy passive houses. These are already popular in Germany and the Benelux countries and are making inroads into the French market.

The

Germany’s ready-mixed concrete (RMC) association Bundesverband der Deutschen Transportbetonindustrie (BTB) forecasts the production of RMC in the country will grow by just under 4% to 47.4million m² in 2014. The construction market is recovering, especially in western Germany.

In 2013, the approximately 600 German producers with 1,900 stationary and mobile production units saw output fall 0.9% to 45.6million m², whereas sales revenues increased 1.1% to just over €3 billion.