Global Concrete News

India: Nuvoco Vistas has commissioned a new ready-mixed concrete batching plant in Hyderabad, Telangana. The Hans India newspaper has reported that the new facility brings the producer’s total in the city to five.

Nuvoco Vistas’ chief of ready-mix concrete and modern building materials Prashant Jha said “The newly opened facility strengthens the company’s position in Hyderabad. It also plays a vital role in shaping the dynamic construction ecosystem of Medchal and its neighbouring areas. This expansion affirms the company’s commitment to meeting the changing demands of the construction sector.”

US: Chingle has announced plans for its upcoming Etna ready-mix concrete plant in Ohio’s Licking County. Local press has reported that the Etna Township Board of Zoning Appeals evaluated the company’s plans at a meeting on 30 January 2024.

Middle East/North America: Climate tech start-up Partanna has announced plans for four new plants to produce its carbon negative binder. The plants will be located in the Bahamas, the US and the Gulf region.

Partanna said that the development demonstrates its growing momentum as a construction sector disruptor, offering a sustainable, cost-comparable alternative to cement for users of concrete.

UK: Heidelberg Materials has acquired the outstanding Smiths Concrete shares from the Smiths family. Smiths Concrete operates seven concrete plants, two quarries and an inert landfill site across Warwickshire and Oxfordshire in the centre of England. It has owned a minority stake in the Banbury-headquartered joint venture since its inception in 1957.

Going forward, Smiths Concrete will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity and there are no plans currently to change its branding or day-to-day operations. Similarly, it will continue to seek approval for its proposed new sand and gravel quarry at Wasperton Farm in Warwickshire, England.

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.”