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Aggregate production by UEPG member countries reached a new high of 3.54billion tonnes in 2008 but the industry is more sustainable than ever before, according to the association. In his opening comment, UEPG president Jim O’Brien said, “The first year of my Presidency has been very busy. We have achieved much progress, yet much more remains to be done. It has been a very tough year for many of our members, yet I believe our industry faces the new economic realities with optimism.”

A new Topcon partnership brings the prospect of a versatile monitoring system using imaging technology. Measuring and monitoring is a key part of quarry operations and a new system from Topcon promises to improve accuracy and speed up this essential function. The company has joined forces with German monitoring software provider De Bertges and Switzerland-based inclination sensor manufacturer Wyler to create an image based monitoring system.

"We have taken Topcon's imaging total station technology, add

Cheshire Concrete Products has invested in a former concrete block plant owned by Marshall’s in the UK in a bid to meet demand for materials. The company will operate the site near Wrexham under the name of Clwyd Concrete Products and has said that the investment is strategic as it believes the area is under-supplied for concrete blocks due to manufacturers withdrawing from the market due to the market downturn.

Cemex has announced that its South Ferriby cement plant has set a new industry record by fuelling the facility completely with waste derived fuel. Our 100% record was set over a three day period in March, with the kiln remaining stable and producing good quality cement clinker,” said Cemex plant director Philip Baynes-Clarke. “The challenge is now to exceed our 90% weekly average record and use 100% over a more sustained period.

Uzbekistan-based Kyzylkumcement has announced the completion of its new 1million tonne per year capacity cement production line. The final testing of the Satarem-built plant brings the company’s production capacity up to 4million tonnes per year.

Poland-based aggregate producer Dolnoslaskie Surowce Skalne (DSS) has launched a PLN115.5million (€28.5million) bond issue, which the company has said is to raise funds for acquisitions. DSS has said that is in negotiation with two potential targets - Kopalnia Surowcow Skalnych, which is valued at PLN50 to 60million, and Kieleckie Kopalnie Surowcow Mineralnych, which has an estimated value of PLN90 to 110million.

Metso Minerals' new research and development laboratories in Finland will help deliver both innovative new machines and improve customers' operations. While the theory behind crushing may be fairly rudimentary, maximising production and increasing output is a complex business. To achieve a high rate of productivity it is important to find the right machinery for a specific application, matching crushing technology to the material in a particular quarry.

Finnish crushing and screening manufacturer Me

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.

This September the aggregates industry will be heading to Germany for the 2008 Steinexpo to see the latest equipment innovations for the quarrying sector. ABE takes a look at what will be on offer
Last time Nieder-Ofleiden's basalt quarry near Marburg in Germany hosted Steinexpo in 2005, the country's construction and quarrying sector was still in the grip of a decade-long recession. But since then the market has been revived and returned to growth, plus demand in Germany's Eastern European neighbours has

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.

Budillon Rabatel has completed the first stage of its modernisation work at its Izeaux quarry in south eastern France. The company has invested €15million in upgrading the washing and screening facilities at the 1.3million tonnes per year quarry. Budillon has said that it plans to improve the crushing plant at the site within the next two years.

Investment in new mobile crushing equipment is helping one UK quarry to add flexibility to its production. Leaton quarry was first opened in Shropshire, UK in the 1920s and even after almost 90 years of operation, it is still a thriving business. The site, which is part of the Ennstone Group, extracts olivine dolerite, that has the right polished stone value characteristics for the local roads market. With around 7million tonnes of reserves still available within the 52ha planning permission area, Ennstone

One of the largest suppliers of the world-famous Portland Stone – Stone Firms – has been placed in administration following financial problems. The company based on the Isle of Portland in Dorset operate three quarries and employed 59 people.

Balancing efficient processing of available resources with environmental issues is a challenge but it is one that quarry in Ireland has achieved through water treatment. Difficulties in gaining consent to open new quarries in Europe means that operators are now looking to process material that was once considered too 'difficult' to turn into saleable aggregates. Processing such materials usually calls for more aggressive screening and washing but the environmental impact of these added processes needs to be

Cemex is aiming to promote the concrete sector with the launch of a new photographic competition on its Facebook page, which offers entrants the chance to win an iPad. Under the title of ‘Concrete – It’s all around you’ entrants are asked to upload an image of themselves, friends or family that includes a concrete structure at www.facebook.com/cemex by Tuesday 5 April. Voting will be open from 6 to 13 April and top two images will win the iPads.

Cemex has been presented with accolade at the World Business Development Awards for its contributions toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals through several of the company's programs to foster and facilitate development. The awards is jointly organised by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the International Business Leader Fund (IBLF). The award was presented to Cemex director of social responsibility and community development Martha He

Expanding its interest in major construction schemes is the aim behind the recent appointment by Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK of Gordon Napier as director of major projects. Napier previously held the role of regional business manager South Wales and moves to the newly created role in a bid to secure work that is anticipated to take place in sectors such as nuclear, wind and renewable energy, transport and waste and water.

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

Cemex brought to an end a 150 year history of cement making at its Rochester site in the UK with the demolition of the 114m chimney last week. A controlled explosion was used to bring down the reinforced concrete structure that was built in the 1970s. The button triggering the 10kg of nitroglycerine-based explosive was pressed by former plant employee Dave Dark who won a competition to raise funds for the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester, a local charity, which provides palliative and end of life care for patien