Displaying items by tag: precast

Singapore: Malaysia-based YTL Corporation has concluded a conditional sale and purchase agreement for an 81% stake in NSL for US$169m. YTL Cement will launch a mandatory unconditional cash offer for all outstanding shares in NSL after completing the acquisition. NSL manufactures precast concrete components and operates an environmental services division.

Romania: Concrete paving slab producer Symmetrica's sales grew by 40% to €30.2m in the first half of 2024, driven by strong demand for road and water infrastructure projects. Sales volumes also grew, by 30%, to 2.7Mm². The producer noted high costs, which it partly offset by raising its prices. It also faced collection issues and a decline in residential demand.

SeeNews has reported that Symmetrica is currently building a new €48m concrete paving slab plant Bucharest. When commissioned in mid-late 2024, it will be the largest plant of its kind in the region.

Australia: Climate Tech Cement and Polevine are due to showcase a newly developed reduced-CO₂ geopolymer concrete in a ‘major infrastructure project’ in Western Australia. Proactive News has reported that the partners will supply backing blocks for the project later in July 2024.

The joint venture aims to develop geopolymer concrete formulations to achieve strengths of 10MPa, 20MPa, 30MPa and 40MPa and to assess their performance and costs.

Japan: Sumitomo Mitsui Construction has successfully switched its Notogawa precast concrete products plant to 100% renewably-powered production. Nikkei News has reported that the company has switched the plant’s boilers to green hydrogen. These were previously the source of 60% of the plant’s emissions. The plant has also switched to using electricity entirely from renewable sources.

Sumitomo Mitsui Construction says it is working to make each of its precast plants carbon neutral.

Russia: Belarusian Cement has concluded a deal with the Moscow regional government to build a logistics facility in the region at Naro-Fominsk. Prime Press News has reported that the facility will cost US$22.5m. It will be equipped with ready-mix concrete, precast concrete and dry mix plants, as well as a rail terminal, storage areas and loading zones for despatches by road.

Director General Alexander Dovgalo said "This investment will not only bolster our logistics capabilities but also enhance our service quality for Russian partners and extend our market reach within Russia and the CIS member states."

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Ingram commissioned a new €5.11m ready-mix concrete plant in Tuzla on 6 June 2024. The producer says that it has also begun the construction of a fully automated precast concrete products plant. Local contractor Bingo is responsible for both projects.

Argentina: Holcim Argentina has paid US$28.5m to acquire Tensolite, a producer and supplier of precast and prestressed concrete products such as concrete blocks, fences, tiles and paving stones. This move aims to diversify its domestic product portfolio in response to the ‘significant’ decline in local cement dispatches.

The acquisition is valued at US$28.5m, according to The National Securities Commission has reported that Holcim will pay US$19m upon closure of the transaction and another US$6.65m 12 months thereafter. The remaining US$2.85m will be due in five equal annual instalments.

Christian Dedeu, CEO of Holcim Argentina, said “In March, we recorded a 40% year-on-year drop in dispatches, according to the Portland Cement Manufacturers Association. The decision to expand our product range is key to mitigating the sharp drop in sales.”

The deal includes integrating two precast and prestressed concrete plants located in Los Pocitos (Tucuman) and Río Segundo (Córdoba), and adding over 150 employees to Holcim Argentina's workforce. The acquired plants have a total production capacity of 12m concrete blocks per year and 14Mm/yr of concrete beams. Holcim aims for 30% of its revenue to come from non-cement construction services by 2025.

Chile: UNACEM has gained full ownership of precast concrete company Prefabricados Andinos. The group said that it completed the acquisition of the outstanding 50% stake in the company on 6 February 2024.

Spain: Switzerland-based Holcim has acquired a majority stake in precast concrete systems producer Arterpref. Holcim says that Artepref’s smart design systems combined with its own range of low-carbon and circular solutions will help Spain’s fast-growing construction sector to build better with less.

Holcim’s Europe regional head Miljan Gutovic said “Fully in line with our strategy, this expands our range of innovative and sustainable solutions in high-growth markets.”

Romania: CRH subsidiary Romcim has acquired precast concrete producer Bauelemente from Michael Dietrich. Bauelemente operates plants at Aricestii Rahtivani in Prahova County, Bolintin in Ilfov County and Cristian in Sibiu County. The company will continue to operate under the new branding 'Bauelemente, a CRH company.' Romcim now controls six precast concrete plants, with 500 employees.

Romcim's building materials general manager Monica Tudor said "We are happy to welcome our new Bauelemente colleagues to Romcim and the CRH family."