South Korea: Hanil Cement plans to establish a US$863,000 artificial intelligence-based autonomous ready-mix concrete plant at its Bucheon site. The project has secured US$431,000 in government funding over a period of two years. However, Hanil Cement says that it may complete construction of the plant by the end of 2025.
UAE: Paints producer Asian Paints has launched a world-first internal curing additive for concrete on the UAE market called CureAssure. PBC Today News has reported that it is a chloride-free additive that controls and balances the hydration of pumped, precast, high-fluidity and ready-mix concrete by means of polymers, removing the need for external curing process, agents or coatings. Asian Paints estimates potential water savings through the use of CureAssure as 8bn litres per year.
CEO Joseph Eapen said "We're redefining a foundational step in construction."
US: Local press has reported that a cloud of slag dust from Mountain Ready Mix’s Yreka, California, plant ‘enveloped’ areas of Yreka on 5 August 2025. County authorities issued a shelter-in-place order. The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the situation, according to the authorities.
US: Martin Marietta Materials has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its Midlothian cement plant to Quikrete Holdings. Under the deal, Martin Marietta Materials will also hand over ownership of associated cement terminals and ready-mix concrete batching plants in North Texas. The company will receive in turn Quikrete Holdings’ 20Mt/yr-capacity Kansas, Missouri, Vancouver and Virginia aggregates operations, plus US$450m.
