News

Holcim has received unconditional clearance by the European Commission for its proposed acquistion of Cemex West in Germany. The decision follows a detailed Phase II review by the European Commission. The acquisition in Germany is part of the strategic portfolio optimization in Europe that includes a series of transactions together with Cemex and that is separate from the intention to merge with Lafarge. In the Czech Republic, the proposed acquisition of Holcim Cesko by Cemex was cleared by the local co

The previously announced acquisition of Terex’s hauler business by Volvo Construction Equipoment has been completed. The purchase consideration amounted to US$160 million (approximately SEK 1 billion/€118 million) on a cash and debt-free basis.

The deal includes the main production facility in Motherwell, Scotland, and two product ranges that offer both rigid and articulated haulers. It also includes the distribution of haulers in the US as well as a 25.2% holding in Inner Mongolia North Hauler Joint S

Experts forecast that concrete prices in the Russian city of St Petersburg will increase by 10-15% by mid-summer 2014. In May 2014, for the first time in the last five years, local manufacturers raised prices by 4-6% to an average €639.79 (RUB 30,000) per m³ of concrete. It’s reported that according to market players, the increase was initiated by LSR-Bazovie, the leader occupying 16% of the market.

Cemex and BirdLife Europe have released a joint statement backing the EU’s Nature Conservation Policy. It calls for the strengthening of public consultation procedures and strategic land planning and asks the EU and its member states to pass sweeping public procurement policies. The statement also underlines the role that businesses can play in the preservation and management of Natura 2000 sites and the conservation of biodiversity.
EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik has declared that the effectiv

French senator Roland Courteau and MP Marie-Hélène Fabre have told Lafarge they will raise its concerns over claimed unfair competition from rival foreign firms on a local and national level.
The high profile politicians made the pledge to the French construction materials specialist after a recent visit to the company’s Port-La Nouvelle cement plant. The site has reserves estimated at 75 years and produces some 700,000tonnes/year of clinker. The officials noted that although Lafarge has a high-quality env

Italmobiliare, the Italian investment holding that controls building materials specialist Italcementi, has appointed a new board. Giampiero Pesenti has been confirmed chairman, while his son Carlo Pesenti has been appointed CEO and Director General.

Finning customers Andrew Bettney and Paul Marriott are taking a 70-year-old fully operational Cat D8-8R track-type tractor back to France as part of the Normandy landings remembrance celebrations. While it’s not clear exactly how the track type tractor was used on the beaches, it is known that it was in service with the Royal Engineers 79th Armoured Division 819 Dozer Squadron that landed on Gold Beach near Arromanches, and it is believed that the machine may have been used to help lay down roadways and to

In April 2014, sales of aggregates fell 7.8% on the previous month and 5.9% on April 2013, reports Unicem, the French national union of quarries and construction materials. Sales of ready-to-use concrete fell 1.9% in April as compared to the previous month, and 6.2% compared to April 2013. In the first four months of 2014, sales of aggregates rose 6% year-on-year, while sales of ready-to-use concrete rose 2.3%.

HeidelbergCement has opened a new factory in Tbilisi, Georgia, where the latest generation separator has started work, contributing to the rise of cement quality and assortment expansion. About US$10 million (€ 7.4 million) was spent on its installation.

Stuart Keighley and Al Laverty of CEMEX Readymix Central region are on their bikes cycling from CEMEX Uddingston office near Glasgow, Scotland, to eventually reach Thorpe office near Heathrow. They will cover 600miles (966km) in five days calling at three CEMEX offices along the way, all in aid of the charity, RoadPeace.
“RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims is chaired by Cynthia Barlow. She has been involved with the charity since her daughter was killed in 2000 in a road collision invo

Jason Purllant, formerley of Red Rhino Crushers and JCB, has joined Austrian company Rubblemaster as sales and marketing manager in the UK, which the company says is an important market. Purllant, who aims to provide greater focus on this key market, said: “The UK is starting to see signs of coming out of recession.

In the first quarter of 2014, the Cypriot cement manufacturer Tsimentopiia Vasilikou registered revenues of €23.47 million and a net profit of €1.881 million in comparison with €14.983 million revenues and €2.591 million losses in the corresponding period in 2013.

India's Kakatiya Cement Sugar & Industries (KCSIL) reported a net profit of INR 12.40 million (about €155,000) in January-March 2014, down 86.74% year-on-year despite a 10.47% increase in sales to INR 630.8 million.