Quarry Products

Italy-based Italcementi is restructuring its position in Sardinia and Sicily with news of an acquisition and asset sell off. The company is reported to have acquired Sardinia-based Star, which specialises in pre-packed concrete, from Promoport. While in Sicily, the company has sold off parts of Calcestruzzi to Betonir, which is a subsidiary of Cementir, for a combination of cash and exchange of assets including a 30% stake in Speedybeton and a 15% stake in Cemencal.

Cemex France has officially opened its newly upgraded Sorèze quarry in South Western France. The company has invested €9million in the aggregate processing plant at the site to increase automation and reduce dust and noise produced at the site. Production at the quarry is expected to be maintained at the current level of 500,000tonnes per year.

Developing an EU strategy for security of supply of raw materials for Europe will be a key topic at this year's European Minerals Forum. The importance of having an EU strategy for the security of supply of aggregates will be one of the main topics discussed at this year's European Minerals Forum. EC vice president Günter Verheugen will present the European Commission's Raw Materials Initiative to an invited audience of senior industry representatives at the event on 26 November in Brussels.

UK-based Border Aggregates has announced that it is to invest in upgrading its aggregates packaging plant with a new system from Chronos BTH. The new packing system is due for installation later this year and is being supplied on a turnkey basis as part of Border’s plant expansion and upgrade programme. Once installed the packing system will be used for filling pre-made polyethylene bags with various products at rates of up to 800bags/hour.

Italy’s asphalt and road association SITEB has reported that asphalt production fell by 10% in 2010 to 30million tonnes due to low investment in maintenance and new road construction. The association has reported that road construction work was at its lowest level for 20 years and around 20% of plants have been closed down in the last two years.

Cemex has announced that it has been appointed as the primary cement supplier for the US$1.2billion Reventazón hydroelectric project in Costa Rica. The 311MW project will be the largest facility of its kind in Central America when it is completed in 2016. Under the deal, Cemex will supply 50,000tonnes of cement for the first phase of the project and was selected as lead supplier due to its ability to meet the requirements for cement that has a low heat hydration, high workability and improved durability.

NCC has announced it has acquired the asphalt and paving business of Finland-based infrastructure company Destia, which will make NCC the second largest asphalt company in Finland.

After 40 years of operation, Ibiza's third largest quarry - Cantera Can Orvay - is investing to step up production. Claire Symes reports. The island of Ibiza has become synonymous with summer holidays and partying the night away in one of its many world-famous clubs. But demand for hotels, apartments and infrastructure needed by the tourism industry also means that the island has a vibrant aggregates market. For the last 40 years the Cantera Can Orvay quarry has been supplying limestone aggregates for