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The versatility of concrete, the most widely used man-made material measured by tonnage, has been known for thousands of years writes Patrick Smith. Ancient Romans made wide use of concrete, the incredibly flexible and adaptive blend of water, aggregates, sand and cement, and today it is still being developed. For example, outside the more traditional uses, such as highways, bridges and buildings, global cement company Cemex is installing ecological concrete cookstoves to improve the quality of life of thou

The latest conveyors and stackers are proving popular in Europe, while one North American firm has put innovation at the heart of its new stacker models. Guy Woodford reports. The longest conveyor belt in Europe has gone into operation at a cement factory in the small town of Montalieu on the banks of the River Rhône, in eastern France. The conveyor moves limestone to the Vicat cement plant, between Lyon and Geneva, from the quarry 6.2km away.

Dewatering is an essential part of the quarry production process whether it be of the materials produced or to keep a facility working efficiently. Equipment manufacturers regularly upgrade the machinery used, and are expanding their operations in various countries to meet demand and offer top quality service. Weir Minerals has introduced new equipment for dewatering, pointing out that in abrasive slurry handling applications, such as sand and gravel dewatering, it is vital that every component in the circu

Romanian bricks producer Brikston Construction Solutions plans to pay its minority shareholders almost RON 12 million (€2.72 million/US$2.92 million) to delist the company from RASDAQ market.

The company had a turnover of RON 70.2 million in 2014, down 3% from previous year, and a gross profit of RON 963,000, down from RON 1.5 million in 2013.

French investment group Wendel, whose net profit fell from €333.7 million (US$358.33 million) in 2013 to €19.7 million in 2014, aims to strengthen its position in the US.

It has set a priority of investing in unlisted companies, and since 2013 Wendel has invested €1.5 billion in unlisted companies, with notably the recent purchase of Austrian group Constantia Flexibles.

While the group has sold parts of its stakes in Bureau Veritas and Saint-Gobain, listed companies account for around 70% of its asse

China's building solutions company, Boleyn Magic Wall Panel (BMWP) is planning to set up a KES 3 billion (€30.13 million/US$32.45 million) precast concrete factory in Kitengela, Kenya.

It is part of its strategy to capitalise on the growing Kenyan property industry by providing a building solution that help reduce the cost of construction.

In order to settle bank debt, finance possible investment in new projects and raise working capital, Prosperity International Holdings (HK) Limited (Prosperity International) aims to generate CNY 484.10 million (€72.53 million/US$78.12 million) in net proceeds from the disposal of a 15% shareholding worth CNY 580.80 million in Anhui Chaodong Cement Co Ltd (Chaodong Cement).
Prosperity International will likely gain around HKD 339.50 million from the share sale. The shares will be purchased by Anhui Xinli I

Nigeria's cement company, Ashaka Cement has garnered NGN 21.13 billion (€98.47 million/US$106.05 million) in revenue in 2014, down 2.58% year-on-year. Its profit before tax, on the other hand, surged 84.5% to NGN 5.25 billion.

Krakow-based GRC Technologie has become the first company in Poland to benefit from financial support from ARP Venture, a company which receives funds from the Industrial Development Agency (ARP).

GRC Technologie has signed an agreement for a PLN 9 million (€2.21 million/US$2.37 million) loan which will be used to build an environmentally-friendly production line for building materials.

These will include mortar, cement and glue made with fly-ash.

The role of ARP Venture is to provide support for

Announced during an investment forum organised by CGEM to boost development in Moroccan controlled Western Sahara, the Anouar cement works in El Aaiún (Laâyoune) is set to receive an investment of MAD 250 million (€23.38 million/US$25.10 million).

Brazilian cement company Votorantim Cimentos has announced plans to invest a further BRL 5 billion (€1.46 billion/US$1.57 billion) between 2015 and 2018, following the conclusion of its BRL 10 billion investment plan between 2007 and 2014.
The majority of the new funds will go to the construction of new factories in Brazil, with a view to the long term cement market which is expected to recover from the current reduction in consumption.
The new investment plan also covers further expansion of operations a

Buzzi Unicem, the Italian building materials manufacturer, posted a €120.50 million net profit in 2014 from a €43.2 million loss posted in 2013.

Revenues fell 0.1% to €2.51 billion, while EBITDA grew 4.8% to €423 million and by 10.2% at current exchange rates on a like-for-like basis.

The company's net debt dropped by €34.5 million to € 1.06 billion, while Buzzi Unicem's parent company registered a €36.6 million net loss from a €119.6 million loss posted in the previous year.

As part of its integration plan, Kuwait-based ACICO Cement will roll out new production lines for key construction materials, including white and interlocking cement.

The new lines will help the company meet growing demand from the local market. No further details are yet available.

Nigeria-based Dangote Cement has begun exports to north-west African states including Mali and the Gambia, following the launch of its new US$250 million (€230.85 million) plant in Senegal.
According to Dangote Industries' Senegal country head Luk Haelterman, the facility can ship 2 million tonnes of excess capacity a year by rail to Mali and the Gambia.
The local market is saturated with there already being two cement suppliers prior to Dangote's entry.

Lafarge and Holcim have received clearance from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for their proposed merger.
A package of asset divestments has been agreed with the CCI which includes one cement plant (Sonadih cement plant) and one grinding station (Jojobera grinding station) from Lafarge (with a total of approximately 5 million tonnes annual cement capacity) in Eastern India.
India is an important market for the future LafargeHolcim Group with a balanced portfolio in cement, aggregates, and read

Following improvements in the British and Irish construction sectors, Ireland-based producer of bricks Lagan Brick will re-open a plant in Kingscourt in County Cavan, creating 30 new jobs in the area.

The company said brick manufacturing is anticipated to start at the new facility over the summer of 2015.

While 20 of the jobs will be generated immediately, ten will be created when the second kiln is in operation to achieve the company’s aim of having extra capacity of 8 million bricks in the long ru

Finnish construction and infrastructure group Lemminkäinen has agreed on amending the terms of its €185 million revolving credit facility and extending the maturity by one year.

The credit facility will mature on 27 March, 2017, and is currently completely undrawn.

Nordea Bank Finland, Danske Bank, and Pohjola Bank are reported to be involved in the credit facility.

Mexican cement company Cemex has invested close to US$250 million (€229.69 million) in efforts to replace fossil fuels with alternative energy sources over 2009-2014.

This has generated estimated recurring savings of US$130 million/year, depending on the cost of fossil fuels, and according to sustainability director Vicente Saiso, the business is generating 25% of its local consumption and 14% on a global level.

The group has also created Cemex Energia, a new division for the development of renewable

Operating income and profit attributable to shareholders of China Shanshui Cement Group in 2014 fell by 5.68% and 65.81% year-on-year to CNY 15.60 billion (€2.30 billion/US$2.51 billion) and around CNY 348 million respectively.

The China-based company's revenue from the sale of concrete and clinker grew by 21.9% and 4.5% to CNY 1.04 billion and CNY 1.88 billion respectively, while revenue from cement sale dropped by 6.3% to CNY 12.51billion.

Full control of Kenya-based Savannah Cement has been taken over by Savannah Heights after it bought out the 60% majority stake of Seruji.

The acquisition has been approved by the Competition Authrority of Kenya (CAK).

Mauritius-based Seruji is wholly-owned by Benson Ndeta, the chairman of Savannah Cement, and the takeover effectively makes him Savannah Cement's majority shareholder.