US: Cement mixer truck driver Allard Tigchelar, from Cemex USA’s Prescott, Arizona, ready-mix concrete plant, won gold representing his company at the National Mixer Driver Championship 2024 at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s ConcreteWorks concrete conference in Aurora, Colorado, on 12 – 13 October 2024. Concrete Products News has reported that the championship pitted drivers against one another in an eight-challenge truck driving course designed to test vehicle handling skills. This was followed by vehicle inspection and an exam for drivers. Florida-based Maschmeyer Concrete driver Damion Wynter came second and Illinois-based Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete driver Garret Lytle came third.

Allard Tigchelar claimed US$6000 in prize money from the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau. Wynter won US$3000 and Lytle US$1500.

Czech Republic: Austria-based Wienerberger has successfully acquired concrete paving products company Betonarna Lesonice for an undisclosed sum. Betonarna Lesonice’s auxiliary product lines include acoustic insulation.

Wienerberger CEO Heimo Scheuch said “The acquisition of Betonarna Lesonice puts us in an excellent position to meet the demand for concrete paving solutions in infrastructure and residential construction in the Czech Republic. While boosting local value-creation, this acquisition also aligns with our sustainability goals by reducing transport distances to cut emissions. It further supports the circular economy, as the solutions incorporate a high percentage of recycled materials. All these factors are integral to our value-accretive growth strategy, which has been furthered by this step.”

UK: Graphene-enhanced concrete admixture developer Concretene has raised €3.5m in an investment round led by technology venture capital (VC) firm Molten Ventures. Fellow VC LocalGlobe supplied additional funding. Concretene says that the finances will support scale-up and product certification of its liquid admixture. The product increases various performance metrics of concrete, while reducing cement requirements, according to the developer. It derives its graphene from industrial by-products from the energy sector.

Concretene chief operating officer Mike Harrison said "We’re delighted to welcome Molten Ventures to join with us and LocalGlobe on our mission to decarbonise concrete. We also want to thank LocalGlobe for their enthusiasm and support in getting Concretene off the ground. Our team in Manchester has a unique combination of expertise and experience across construction and nanomaterial science, which will enable us to deliver our next stage of development and earn industry confidence and certification.”

George Chalmers, head of climate at Molten Ventures, said "Concretene has made tremendous strides in getting its technology out of the lab and into meaningful real-world projects and applications. Its solution, viable today, is poised to make a meaningful impact in reducing emissions in one of the hardest to abate sectors. We are delighted to support Concretene’s world-class team of scientists and operators in scaling its solution across the industry.”

US: C-Crete Technologies has poured its granite-based cement-free concrete in its first construction application at the upcoming JPMorgan Chase headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, Manhattan. Ecology, Environment and Conservation News has reported that the concrete generates no net CO₂ emissions by sequestering atmospheric CO₂ in its curing process. The concrete conforms to ASTM International standards, with a compressive strength exceeding 5000psi. Other partners on the project included engineering firm Severud Associates Consulting Engineers and construction management firm AECOM Tishman.

C-Crete Technologies president Rouzbeh Savary said "We are thrilled to introduce our new granite-based concrete at such a prestigious and iconic location. The building at 270 Park Avenue is set to become a landmark not only for its architectural grandeur, but also for its sustainable construction practices."

Severud Associates Consulting Engineers senior associate Fortunato Orlando said "The performance of C-Crete for concrete on metal deck, topping slabs, pavements and landscape work, coupled with its eco-friendly attributes, makes it a revolutionary product for the future of the construction industry."

AECOM Tishman chief operating officer John Kovacs said "Just a few years ago, constructing devoid of Portland cement and CO₂ emissions would have seemed unimaginable. And yet today, we stand as the world's first, setting new thresholds of what's possible in sustainable construction. We thank all of our partners on this project and look forward to the day when CO₂ emission-free construction is not simply an idea or a new innovation, but the industry standard across every build."