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Holcim, which with Lafarge recently unveiled plans for a merger of the two companies, has reported a significant increase in operating profit for the first quarter of 2014. The company says this was mainly driven by higher like-for-like cement volumes in all group regions and the continued strong momentum of the Holcim Leadership Journey coupled with strict cost management across the group

LiuGong says it the first Chinese construction machinery brand that has entered Laos market. It officially launched its first, 2,000m² four-storey store with an opening celebration in the capital Vientiane. The all-in-one store includes sales, service and parts centres and a showroom that will better serve the customers in the area.

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) (HCME) has appointed a new dealer for its customers in Estonia.

The announcement follows the signing of an agreement with Rotator, the official HCME dealer in Finland. Due to the proximity of the two countries, and similarities in their languages and cultures, Rotator was considered to be the logical choice to take over responsibility for the Estonian market from the previous dealer, Laadur.

Rotator Estonia will offer the entire range of Hitachi construction equ

In the quarter of January-March 2014, Thailand-based cement maker Siam City Cement (SCCC) registered a 14% rise in net sales from THB 7.56 billion (€169.39 million) a year ago to THB 8.65 billion.

The rise in net sales was due to increased average selling price and an increase in export sales volume. The company reported a 56% year-on-year growth in earnings for the quarter to THB 1.9 billion.

However, SCCC's outlook for 2014 might be affected by the continued political turmoil and postponements in go

Arqaam Capital of the UAE predicts that domestic demand for cement in Qatar is expected to double to 9.4 million tonnes/year in next three years as the government plans to invest €548.13 billion between 2013 and 2018 for the 2022 World Cup.

The value of construction projects in Qatar is expected to go up 15% year-on-year (year-on-year) to €36.20 billion in 2014.

QNCD is the country's largest cement producer with annual output of 4.4 million tonnes and Al Khalij Cement is the second largest with annual

Kornak Cement, a brand of Dalmia Bharat Group associate OCL India, has introduced a new high-strength dhalai DSP cement for casting, planning for it to become a major revenue source.

The product is billed as being well-suited for casting due to its strength and resilience, flexibility of application, and smooth surface finish.

Swiss cement company Holcim has reached a pre-agreement with trade unions in Spain to reduce by 13.4% to 122 employees the number of redundancies originally estimated by the company. Redundancies therefore will account for 18.7% of the company’s current workforce of 650 staff. Compensation payments will account for 28 days per year at work to a maximum of 20 months. In addition, €600 will be offered per each year working for the company.

The business restructuring plan put forward by Holcim in February i

In the first quarter of 2014, net profit of Saudi Cement Company fell 16% year on year to SAR 286 million (€55.19 million) against SAR 340 million in the previous corresponding period of 2013. The drop was attributed to an associated company's loss and sluggish local demand following slowdown in the construction sector.

Danish Aalborg Portland, one of the biggest cement producers in the world, fears that the high energy taxes in Denmark will cost the company the DKK 900 million (€120.54 million) contract for the supply of cement for the tunnel project included in the Fehmarn Belt link (Denmark-Germany). According to the company, the Danish PSO and NOx taxes will diminish Aalborg Portland's chances to compete for the contracts against rivals that are not burdened by taxes to the same extent.

Sukholozhskcement of Russia (the Sverdlovsk region, Urals) has installed a new Stretch Hood palletiser from German company Beumer in the cement shipping department. Its palletising capacity is 90tonnes/hour.

It has been reported that the Chinese company Betec Resources has expressed interest in construction of the new cement factory around Bela Palanka, Serbia. It was said that that a delegation of the Geology Institute visited the potential location for construction of the new plant. However, the potential investment value has not been mentioned.

Turkish marble company Temmer Mermer has become partners with an un-named Chinese company and will open a marble quarry near Kutahya or Konya in Turkey. Between TRY 3 million (€1.02 million) and TRY 4 million is expected to be invested for the project and Chinese marble investors have invested TRY 240 million in Turkey so far. Turkey's marble exports are worth US$ 2.15 billion (€1.56 billion) and Temmer Mermer's turnover was TRY 60 million in 2013.

Three winners of the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) annual Archaeology Awards have been announced. The Awards recognise best practice in applying an archaeological reporting protocol developed in partnership between the industry and English Heritage.

Mark Russell, director BMAPA, said: “Staff working in the marine aggregate industry, at wharves or on board dredgers, can encounter archaeological finds during their day to day work, so the existence of a reporting protocol is critica

The first concrete mixer truck in the UK said to meet the new European transport stipulations has been introduced to the fleet of Hope Construction Materials.

The Renault Trucks Range C 430.32 X Load 8x4 with a McPhee Mixers 8m³ concrete mixer is said to be the first of its kind in Britain, and is built to the latest diesel engine emission legislation from the European Commission. The Euro 6’s diesel engine’s permitted mono-nitrogen oxide levels are reduced by 75% and promethium levels by close to 99% wh