EZExtenz Concrete Chute makes North American debut
The telescoping EZExtenz Concrete Chute has made its North American debut at World of Concrete in Las Vegas, USA.
The hydraulic 9.14m chute swings 180° and suits standard rear discharge models. At the show it was mounted on a Mack Granite-bearing McNeilus 9.6m mixer.
Developed in Sweden by equipment manufacturer Månsarp Svets & Maskin, the telescoping EZExtenz Concrete Chute can move vertically and horizontally at the same time via RF remote control that operators also use to set or vary flow of concr
Hope rocks to bolster Lancashire, England’s storm defences
Hope Construction Materials, the UK’s leading independent supplier of cement and concrete, is supplying 18,000tonnes of limestone to boost the coastal defences in county Lancashire, Northwest England.
The two-year project, which started at the end of 2014, will see Hope supply thousands of limestone rocks - known as armour stone - each weighing between three and nine tonnes, to construct the giant 1,850m long sea wall near Fylde.
The wall, which is 18m wide consisting of 20, 40m-long groins, will br
Cemex CEO says firm may sell some northern Europe assets to drive debt down
Mexican construction materials giant Cemex could sell part of its business in northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia as part of a debt repayment plan, the company’s CEO told Reuters news agency.
Fernando Gonzalez said the firm could also sell 5 to 10% of its subsidiary Cemex Latam Holdings, and set aside 50% of its earnings from asset sales to lower its debt burden.
Cemex recently revealed a plan to cut costs and sell assets to boost its finances and cut liabilities, in a bid to regain its invest
Chicago Pneumatic relishes southern Africa growth
Chicago Pneumatic has expanded its product portfolio with a number of recent new launches in southern Africa. With various new product launches, ranging from compressors, light towers, hydraulic breakers to generators, Jacques van der Westhuizen, Chicago Pneumatic’s business development manager for southern Africa, says the company’s main focus is regional growth. While more growth is coming out of the region than the traditional main market of South Africa, he, however, reports a soaring generator market p
Finning opens its doors to 240 budding apprentices
UK Caterpillar dealer Finning welcomed a host of young adults to its Cannock headquarters for interactive apprentice open day sessions. Held on the 9th and 10th of February 2015, the business showcased the Finning Training Academy facilities, coupled with its commitment to investing in talent from across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The academy had 240 registered applicants for the two days.
Four two hour sessions gave apprentice hopefuls the opportunity to gain valuable insight into their potential
Zoomlion enters Saudi Arabian concrete pump market
Zoomlion is celebrating its first ever concrete pump export to Saudi Arabia.
Zoomlion Concrete Machinery Branch Company’s (ZCMBC) The marketing firm in Saudi Arabia for ZCMBC has signed an order with a Saudi Arabian dealer for an 174RSU concrete pump.
Historically there has been little demand for concrete pumps in the Saudi Arabian concrete machinery market, with sales of most concrete machinery companies concentrated in the areas of concrete pump trucks, truck-mounted mixers, and concrete batching pl
HeidelbergCement operating profit up 13% in 2014
HeidelbergCement, the construction materials group, reported a 13% rise in operating profit to €1.6 billion for 2014. Adjusted sales revenues amounted to €12.6 billion in 2014. The German sector giant is said to be benefiting from the declining oil price, which lowers cement production costs. In addition, CEO Bernd Scheifele is expecting HeidelbergCement to benefit from the weak euro and the development in industrialised countries in particular in North America and the UK.
Meanwhile the company’s supervi
Marathon Tyres is new Magna tyres premium partner for Australia
Magna Tyres Group and Marathon Tyres in Australia have established their strategic relationship.
Marathon Tyres will be premium partner of Magna OTR tyres in Australia, an agreement that is said to be an important step towards further introduction and continuation of Magna as OTR tyre brand in this region.
Magna Tyres says it has been successfully operating on the Australian market for several years, and since 2013 the Magna Tyres Group has sold its radial OTR tyres together with Marathon Tyres to Austra
New product marketing and R&D managers for Atlas Copco Pumps
Atlas Copco Portable Energy has appointed two new Product Marketing Managers and a new R&D Manager to support the rapid expansion of its pump business.
Ola Hällgren is now responsible for the development and marketing of electrical pumps and Joakim Cronstrand will oversee diesel pumps. Martin Lindskog is the new R&D manager.
With the three new managers, Atlas Copco Portable Energy says it has the structure in place to support the growth of its pump business. This organisational expansion follows the appoi
Deutz and Volvo pull out of China joint venture
Deutz says it has agreed with its partner Volvo not to proceed with their proposed Deutz Engine (China) joint venture.
When it reported its most recent quarterly financial results back in November 2014, the German diesel engine manufacturer
announced that both companies would be conducting a strategic reassessment of the joint venture. Having completed a thorough and comprehensive review, Deutz and Volvo have agreed to wind up the production company given the weak prevailing market situation in China. T
Deutz and Volvo pull out of China joint venture
Deutz says it has agreed with its partner Volvo not to proceed with their proposed Deutz Engine (China) joint venture.
When it reported its most recent quarterly financial results back in November 2014, the German diesel engine manufacturer
announced that both companies would be conducting a strategic reassessment of the joint venture. Having completed a thorough and comprehensive review, Deutz and Volvo have agreed to wind up the production company given the weak prevailing market situation in China. T
US-based McCourt & Sons joins CDE Global sales network
Materials washing specialist CDE Global has added McCourt & Sons Equipment to its global sales network.
Based in La Grange, Texas, McCourt & Sons Equipment (MSE) has over 65 years combined industry experience in the supply of sand and aggregate processing equipment. In addition to the headquarters in La Grange the company also covers Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The agreement will see MSE represent the full range of washing and classification equipment that CDE G
Terex Finlay’s new J-1170AS jaw crusher in action
This video shows the new Terex Finlay J-1170AS jaw crusher in a concrete recycling application.
The high performance primary mobile crusher model is said to be built around the renowned and aggressive Terex 1100mm x 700mm jaw crusher, with a proven track record in recycling, aggregate production and mining applications. A key new feature of this model is the on-board detachable sizing screen.
Said to provide excellent material reduction and product sizing in the processing of blasted quarry rock and
Ash Resources pursues growth in Africa
With South Africa’s cementitious industry down 5% in 2014 compared to 2013, Ash Resources, the country’s largest producer of fly ash, is targeting more growth opportunities beyond national borders.
Tshepiso Dumasi, managing director of Ash Resources, says the company is actively involved in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia, where it sees more growth opportunities, and wants to expand the existing footprint. “Unfortunately, ash is a material that doesn’t travel very well and logistical costs become too high
David Meyer is Ash Grove Cement’s new VP and chief financial officer
David Meyer has become US-based Ash Grove Cement Company’s new vice president and chief financial officer.
In his new role at the firm’s Overland Park, Kansas City HQ, Meyer will direct accounting, treasury, internal audit, tax and information technology functions.
“Dave brings 17 years of corporate finance leadership in strategic planning and capital markets as well as financial planning and reporting within a large corporate setting. His prior experience also includes seven years with a Big 4 public
Vulcan Materials sees revenues rise 8% in 2014
Vulcan Materials said its fourth-quarter 2014 earnings surged on continued growth in aggregates shipments and stronger average selling prices.
The largest US producer of construction aggregates, based in Birmingham, Alabama, reported revenues up US$223 million (8%) to $2.994 billion for the year ending December 2014. Meanwhile, Vulcan Materials’ gross profit increased $161 million (38%) to $588 million. Other highlights for the financial year included aggregates freight-adjusted revenues increasing by $
CEA event to tackle UK construction equipment sector skills shortage
The CEA (Construction Equipment Association) will be holding its half-yearly conference - Skills for Profit Day - Tools to Bridge the Skills Gap on Wednesday 25 March at 10am at Woodland Grange Conference Centre, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, central England.
This CEA event is for the UK construction equipment industry to get to grips with the challenge of its skills shortage. CEA chief executive Rob Oliver said: “Our 2014 Sector Study showed that most companies had recruitment and skills issues. The
Egypt’s ACC to ‘grow organically’ in 2015, says CEO
Egypt’s Arabian Cement Company (ACC) will continue growing ‘organically’ in the aggregates and ready-mixed concrete sectors, while also improving its service, according to the company’s CEO, Jose Maria Magrina.
Magrina said ACC’s fleet will be boosted through the use of permanent contractors who will ensure faster and more reliable delivery.
Cemex to focus on cement and concrete in 2015
Mexican building materials giant Cemex will focus on cement and concrete in 2015, with sales of both, and aggregates, growing by one digit this year, according to its senior director Fernando Gonzalez.
Sales of cement and aggregates are likely to rise by around 5% in Mexico during 2015, claims Gonzalez, who also believes national concrete sales will rise above that figure this year.
Russia’s Mikhailovsky Limestone Plant blueprint nearing completion
Detailed technical documents for the delivery of the Mikhailovsky Limestone Plant in Russia are reported to be nearing completion.
The ProLime company project will take five years to deliver, with the first phase involving the construction of a plant worth €54.19 million (RUB 4.1 billion). On its completion, limestone extraction will total 1.472 million tonnes/year, lime production will amount to 360,000 tonnes/year, and aggregate production estimated at 270,000 tonnes/year.