News

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) says that data on sales volumes of aggregates, asphalt and concrete in the UK in second quarter show significant declines in all product areas. These materials represent the largest element of the construction supply chain and the results are based on recorded sales volumes.

Cemex’s consolidated net sales reached US$3.9 billion during the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 1% on a like-to-like basis for the ongoing operations and adjusting for currency fluctuations, versus the comparable period in 2011.

Concrete pumps manufacturer, Putzmeister Holding, has acquired Intermix, a move that it says strengthens its market position and expands its product line to include additional construction machinery. “This acquisition rounds out our portfolio perfectly,” says Norbert Scheuch, CEO of Putzmeister Holding.

Led by Cemex in Germany, a consortium is supplying ready-mix concrete for the stunning, eco-friendly Kö-Bogen complex in downtown Dusseldorf, one of the most acclaimed building projects in the region. The company is carefully coordinating multiple construction activities to help the dynamic new office and retail complex reach completion.

Grants totalling £17,000 (€21,600) from building materials firm Lafarge are helping provide super new facilities at a County Staffordshire, England, cricket club. The three donations, made by Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK through the Landfill Communities Fund, have contributed to a new cricket square, purchase of mobile wicket covers and a state-of-the-art mower for Alrewas Cricket Club.

According to Oficemen (Spanish Association of Cement Producers) 7.2 million tonnes of cement were consumed in Spain in the first half of 2012. This represents a decrease of 34.7% in comparison to the same period in 2011. Oficemen also noted that exports have increased by 40% in comparison to the first half of 2011, although cement production fell by 28% in the first six months of 2012.

John Laing has joined Schenck Process as head of UK sales for the light industries. Schenck Process UK has recently combined with Clyde Process and Redler, who are all members of the Schenck Process Group, to be able to offer a combination of equipment and technologies for weighing, feeding, conveying and air filtration process. The key product areas for the company are the extensive range of loss-in-weight feeders and mass-flow weighing machines which can be used in combination with the company’s pneumatic

The UK’s Mineral Products Association (MPA) says that the new data on energy/climate change policies confirmed what it had been telling government for the past year. It was commenting on a report published by the government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which shows that the UK cement industry is significantly disadvantaged by the cost of energy and climate change policies compared to its main European and global competitors.

Breedon Aggregates, the UK’s largest independent aggregates business, is still on the look-out for acquisitions. Its results for the six months to 30 June, 2012 show group revenue for the half-year was broadly in line with the previous year at £83 million (30 June 2011: £84.7 million).

Anaconda Equipment International, the Northern Ireland based manufacturer of compact screening and conveying equipment, launched the DF512 tracked screener, the ‘big brother’ of the DF410 mode. It is said to be a significant move away from the compact range of screens on offer from Anaconda up until now.

The first 70tonne Doosan DX700LC crawler excavator in the UK and Ireland has been sold to Loughran Rock Industries in Armagh, Northern Ireland. Loughran Rock Industries supplies a range of rock products including concrete aggregates, high PSV materials, rail ballast, drainage materials, sub-bases, rock armour and surface dressing chippings.

Contractor Carlomagno Gaetano from Lagonegro in northern Italy has been contracted by main contractor SIS to build the new Renazza Tunnel on the A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway. The previous tunnel, which collapsed in the past, is constructed through fragile ground conditions of mainly sand and clay, calling for delicate operations.

Bauma 2013, the international trade fair for construction and mining equipment and machinery, covering a record 570,000m², is fully booked and has a waiting list for all sections. However, a further 15,000m² of space has been made available for the event which runs from 15-21 April in Munich, Germany.