Displaying items by tag: readymix concrete

Germany/North America: INFORM has announced new collaborations with two other software developers for the ready-mix concrete sector. US-based BCMI Corp and Canada-based Marcotte Systems will work with INFORM to develop AI tools for despatching ready-mix concrete.

INFORM senior vice president Thomas Bergmans, who concluded the deals at World of Concrete in the US, said “In addition to offering our proven AI-powered transport planning and execution software, we are very excited to see that these collaborations will further speed up the wide-spread use of our AI algorithms beyond our traditional markets.” Bergmans said that the collaboration with BCMI Corp will provide ready-mix producers with ‘enhanced decision-making tools, real-time logistics optimisation and intelligent automation, ultimately elevating operational performance and customer satisfaction.’ Regarding the collaboration with Marcotte, he said “By combining Marcotte's robust experience in concrete production management with INFORM’s AI capabilities, this ready-to-use solution will empower ready-mix producers.”

Sweden: Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe has announced its deployment of a 100% electric concrete mixer truck. The producer said that it bought the truck from Volvo.

Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) & public affairs and vice president for Sweden Karin Comstedt Webb said “This partnership is a beacon for industry-wide decarbonisation, bringing us closer to our climate goals in Northern Europe. With a full-load capacity of ready-mixed concrete, our environmentally friendly truck not only heralds a new era in construction transport efficiency, but also confirms our leading position in the European building materials sector.”

Czech Republic: Cemex Czech Republic has successfully commissioned its Prague-Libuš ready-mix concrete batching plant in Prague, following an upgrade. The upgraded plant can now process five types of cements and admixtures, including Cemex’s Vertua reduced-CO₂ concretes and recycled aggregates. Cemex Czech Republic has installed two recycled aggregates production plants at the site to process residual concrete.

Cemex’s vice president materials, Central Europe, Ruediger Kuhn said “Our plant in Libuš forms an important part of our operation in the Czech republic, thanks to its interesting location in the wider centre of the capital and in the immediate vicinity of the planned construction of the Prague Metro D line. We are therefore very pleased to have this site reopened following a considerable investment.” He added “The development at this site confirms Cemex’s determination to offer its customers superior quality products while also meeting its sustainability objectives, supporting the circular economy and reducing emissions wherever possible.”

Kuwait: Kuwait Portland Cement has won a contract with China Gezhouba Group to supply ready-mix concrete for a housing development in Saad Al-Abdullah City. Reuters has reported that the project will take four years and cost US$117m.

Russia: Belarus-based Belarusian Cement Company plans to establish a building materials production and logistics hub in Moscow. Among other materials, the hub will produce dry mixes using cement imported from Belarus, as well as producing ready-mix concrete, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks and reinforced concrete goods. Business World News has reported that the facility will be equipped with rail and road terminals.

Belarusian Cement Company said "The creation of this facility will secure permanent availability of Belarusian Cement Company products directly in the sales region and will enable more advantageous logistic conditions for Russian partners. Belarusian Cement Company will be able to significantly expand its capabilities for delivering products to consumers that have no access to the railway grid and will be able to introduce a more convenient and accessible level of client service."

Germany: An activist or activists have claimed responsibility for starting a fire that engulfed five trucks, multiple cement silos and part of a building at a Cemex Deutschland ready-mix concrete batching plant in Kreuzberg, Berlin, Zeit Online News has reported.

In a statement posted on news website Indymedia DE, the purported culprit(s) claimed that they targeted the plant for its involvement in supplying concrete for the A100 road expansion project in Berlin. Additionally, the statement alleged that Cemex has supplied concrete for illegal Israeli military checkpoints in Palestine, for which reason the self-proclaimed arsonists chose to target the group’s German subsidiary.

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies signed a partnership agreement with ready-mix concrete producer CRBPE, Dow Jones Institutional News has reported. Under the contract, Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies will supply its clinker-free cement to CRBPE’s four batching plants in eastern France.

Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said "This new commercial partnership with CRBPE, a family-owned company that shares our ambitions to decarbonise the construction sector, strengthens our position in the ready-mix concrete market. It is also a fantastic opportunity to increase our presence in the eastern area of France and expand our territorial coverage."

US: Ireland-based CRH has concluded a deal for the acquisition of Martin Marietta Materials’ South Texas business. This includes 20 ready-mix concrete batching plants, alongside the Hunter cement plant and a network of cement terminals on the Gulf of Mexico. The value of the transaction is US$2.1bn.

CRH CEO Albert Manifold said “The acquisition of these high-quality assets further strengthens our market leading position in Texas and increases our exposure to attractive, high-growth markets. Our ability to leverage our cement expertise and technical capabilities will enable us to enhance and optimise our existing footprint in Texas, resulting in significant synergies and self-supply opportunities. This transaction reflects our disciplined approach to capital allocation as well as our commitment to deliver further growth and value creation for our shareholders. We also believe there is significant potential to unlock additional growth opportunities across an expanded footprint in this attractive growth market.”

US: Solidia Technologies has commenced production of its mineralised CO₂-based supplementary cementitious material (SCM) at a pilot line at its headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. The pilot line increases the company’s production capacity of the SCM by a factor of 25.

Solidia Technologies senior director of strategy and business development Pradeep Ghosh said "With the dramatic increase in production capacity that the new pilot line brings, we are now shipping significant quantities of Solidia SCM to ready-mix concrete producers, transport agencies and contractors to qualify and trial our material."

Mexico: Property developer Immobiliaria Ancore will use Cemex Mexico’s Vertua reduced-CO₂ concrete in the construction of the upcoming 100-storey Rise Tower in Monterrey. Cemex will supply a high-altitude concrete pouring system for the project. The concrete supplier said that the development aims to secure LEED, WELL, Green Globes, bEQ and NMX-164 certifications.

Cemex Mexico president Ricardo Naya said “We’re honoured to be working on a project that will establish the new standard for sustainable high-rise construction in Latin America. Cemex brings vast experience in sustainable construction, providing lower-carbon building materials, lower-waste practices and zero use of potable water in our concrete production.”