Comer Industries’ turnover up 6% in 2014
Comer Industries, the Italy-based power transmission solutions manufacturer, saw its consolidated turnover rise 6% to €361 million in 2014, compared to the previous year.
The most significant performance was achieved in the industrial area (+5% over 2013), particularly the wind power sector, while the agricultural market fell 3% compared to 2013. Sixty per cent of revenue was gained in the European Union, and 33% in North and Central America, a slight increase over the past year.
The year 2014 also m
McCloskey J50 and C38 crushers’ go French
McCloskey International’s crushing and track stacking equipment is playing a crucial role in the continued success of a French family quarrying business. Guy Woodford reports Run by brothers’ Jean-Christophe and Stephane Semonsat, Semonsat Fils is the most recently established firm within their family’s impressive quarrying industry history dating back to the 1950s.
Turkey’s Sabanci Holding's profit up 54% in Q1 2015
Turkish conglomerate Sabanci Holding’s (SH) net profit rocketed up 54% in Q1 2015 to €217.52 million (TRY 650 million). Meanwhile, SH turnover for the period was €2.25 billion (TRY 6.72 billion). SH’s cement group companies increased their net profit by 4.5%. The Group's clinker plant in Afyon (Turkey) is to receive a €147.06 million investment to increase capacity to 1.3 million tonnes.
Semen Indonesia report 1.4% sales drop in first 4 months of 2015
Cement producer Semen Indonesia has reported a 1.4% year-on-year decrease in its sales volume from 8.18 million tonnes to 8.06 million tonnes during the first four months of 2015, with sales volume in overseas and local market standing at 136,430 tonnes (up 812.3%) and 7.93 million tonnes (down 2.9%), respectively.
Semen Indonesia sold 1.91 million tonnes (down 4.7%) of cement in April 2015 alone, comprising 27,006 tonnes (up 100%) to overseas markets and 1.88mn tonnes (down 6%) to the local market.
Algeria’s new cement plant’s 2.2 million tonnes/year goal
A new cement plant that will produce 2.2 million tonnes/year is due to be constructed in Algeria thanks to a partnership between Hodna Algerian Cement Company and South African firm PPC.
Abdelkrim Mansouri, director general of the Algerian National Development Agency for Investment (NDAI), says that construction of the cement plant will begin soon as all the administrative procedures had been finalised.
The new cement plant project will cost US$287 million – 80% financed by Algerian banks and the two
Cape Town International Airport terminals’ upgrade creates aggregate sales opportunities
Aggregates suppliers in South Africa and beyond could benefit from the upgrade of Cape Town International Airport’s domestic and international terminals.
The Airport’s runway will also be re-aligned as part of the planned US$640 million (R7.7-billion) expansion by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). The project will be completed in the next three years.
Speaking at the Indaba 2015, spokesperson for ACSA, Collin Naidoo, has said that the airport development was part of his company’s new operation
Cemex’s new US$300 million Philippines investment
Mexican cement giant Cemex says it is undertaking a new US$300 million investment in the Philippines. The significant investment will include the construction of a new 1.5-million-tonne, integrated cement-production line at Cemex’s Solid Plant in Luzon - doubling the capacity of the Solid plant and representing a 25% increase in the company’s Philippines’ cement capacity.
In a recent visit to the Philippines of Cemex CEO Fernando A. Gonzalez and his executive team, highlighted by a meeting with His Excel
Spancrete brings precast building solutions to Indian market
Spancrete, a leading manufacturer of precast building solutions in North America, has entered the Indian market.
In a partnership with SP Precast Solutions India and MAAD Building Innovations Group (MBIPL), Spancrete has supplied the first Spancrete production system in india.
The new plant provides Spancrete brand Hollowcore slabs and other precast elements to residential, commercial and industrial development projects for the MAAD Group’s Realty Development Department as well as other companies.
Tata Steel Europe wins second Caterpillar Gold award
Tata Steel Europe has won a Gold Caterpillar Supplier Quality Excellence Process award (SQEP) for the second year running, for its global supply of track shoe profiles.
SQEP is Caterpillar’s process for assessing and recognising suppliers’ quality performance, and combines industry-recognised systems with demonstrated results. This latest award builds on a strong history of success for the company’s Skinningrove site, north-east England, which received Caterpillar’s Gold Award last year and Silver for
Thomas Concrete Group acquires more plants in USA
The Swedish Thomas Concrete Group has acquired assets of Coastal Concrete, a US company which operates ten concrete plants in Georgia and South Carolina.
As a result, the group is strengthening its position in the concrete market across a large region on the US east coast between Atlanta and Raleigh.
Coastal Concrete is one of the leading producers of ready-mixed concrete in several major cities along the Atlantic coast of Georgia and South Carolina, and the acquisition will reinforce the group's “alr
Aggregate Industries spreads it wings to deliver sustainable transport solutions
Aggregate Industries, a leading UK-based supplier of construction materials, has helped an RSPB project take flight by delivering 10,000tonnes of landscaping products and providing a highly efficient and sustainable solution. Guy Woodford reports Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project in county Essex, Southeast England, is a landmark conservation and engineering scheme and the largest development of its type in Europe. The aim of the project is to transform what was widely considered a ‘no man’s land’ by recre
The Aarhus Convention and private nuisance claims
Simon Trahair-Davies of Stephens Scown LLP outlines a UK case which considered whether a private nuisance claim was covered by the Aarhus Convention, which gives the public access to environmental information. This case is of interest to aggregates businesses because it relates to an application for a protective costs order in a private nuisance claim for dust and noise created during a land restoration project, and the question of whether this is covered by the Aarhus Convention.
Towards a reshape of the EU nature legislation?
The 1979 Directive on the conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive) and the 1992 Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive), known together as the Natura 2000 Directives, are the cornerstone of the EU Nature Legislation.
Ash Grove Cement’s a wildlife champion
Two of Ash Grove Cement Company’s cement manufacturing plants have received Wildlife Habitat Council certifications.
The Midlothian, Texas, plant was granted Corporate Lands for Learning (SM) certification for its wildlife habitat that offers experiential, interactive learning opportunities to youth, the community and wildlife professionals.
The Foreman, Arkansas, plant was granted Wildlife at Work recertification for its efforts to create, conserve and restore 2,000 acres of wildlife habitats, includ
Caterpillar’s new Africa/Middle East regional training centre
Caterpillar is building a Regional Training Centre for the African and Middle East Region (AME) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Centre will offer hands-on machines and power systems technical and sales training to Caterpillar’s dealers and customers in the AME region.
A more than US$7 million project, the around 1,700m² centre will employ about 40 people, mostly high-level technical staff who will primarily be recruited from the region. The more than 7,000 technicians at AME Cat dealers have some of
Camoplast Solideal acquires New Zealand’s Eastwood Tyres
Canadian off-highway tyre manufacturer Camoplast Solideal has acquired Auckland, New Zealand-based Eastwood Tyres, further strengthening its position in the Asia-Pacific market.
“We are committed to being the global reference in delivering enhanced mobility solutions for the off-the-road market,’’ said Gregory Fossey, vice president and CEO Asia-Pacific at Camoplast Solideal. “We are always on the lookout for businesses willing to join us and help achieve this goal,” he added.
The Eastwood acquisiti
Marangoni acquires 25% of South Africa’s Leader Rubber
Marangoni Retreading Systems has signed an agreement with Leader Rubber which will see Marangoni acquire 25% of the South African company’s stock.
This agreement is the culmination of a partnership that has been ongoing for several years, with both companies keen to strengthen their presence in Southern Africa/Africa. The size of the domestic market totalling two million retreads and new tyres, its proximity to fast-growing markets and easy access to the Gulf region make South Africa an ideal location fo
Shantui’s bulk hydraulic dozer export order first is to Philippines
Shantui has completed its first bulk export of hydrostatic bulldozers - delivering them to a customer in the Philippines. The shipment by the Chinese manufacturer included 27 units of the 73kW hydrostatic SD10YE and 51 units of the 95kW SD13-2. The equipment is being used on a large-scale infrastructure development project.
To ensure that the machines operated to their optimum level, Shantui technicians travelled to the customer’s job site to provide on-site service training and machine operation instruc
€5.5 million JCB deal continues Lafarge Tarmac 25-year tradition
Lafarge Tarmac, the UK's leading supplier of road surfacing and highway maintenance solutions, has bought 60 new JCB 2CX Streetmaster backhoe loaders in a major deal worth €5.5 million (£4 million).
The order marks a 25-year partnership between Lafarge Tarmac and JCB for handling road maintenance projects. The latest machines were supplied by JCB dealer Gunn JCB.
The sustainable construction solutions company - which took delivery of its first 2CX Streetmaster model a quarter of a century ago - inst
Lafarge Holcim merger: Holcim shareholders approve all motions at EGM
Lafarge and Holcim have today successfully secured support from Holcim shareholders for their proposed merger and completed one of the final key steps on their way to creating the world’s most advanced building materials company.
Representing around 72% of the company’s share capital, the 738 shareholders attending the extraordinary general meeting of Holcim Ltd approved all motions proposed by the board of directors.
Wolfgang Reitzle, currently Chairman of Holcim and future Co-Chairman (statutory Ch