India: The Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) has issued a closure order to Pasura Tellapur Builders for an unauthorised ready-mixed concrete batching plant at Kollur in Telangana’s Sangareddy District. The New Indian Express newspaper has reported that the order follows an inspection based on complaints by local people. The inspection showed that the Kollur plant had violated the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and fell short of the mandatory distance of 200m from residential areas by 73%.
Holcim acquires Land Recovery
UK: Holcim has completed its acquisition of rail ballast recycling specialist Land Recovery. Land Recovery produces raw materials for use in ready-mix concrete, precast concrete and other building materials from recycled rail ballast. Holcim says that the acquisition advances its own aim of recycling 10Mt of construction-demolition materials (CDM) in 2024. In 2023, Land Recovery recycled 300,000t of CDM. It employs 85 people across the UK.
Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals’ CHRYSO Quad Lab wins Tarmac 2023 Innovation Challenge
UK: Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals has won Tarmac's 2023 Innovation Challenge with its CHRYSO Quad Lab, a digital admixture optimisation tool. CHRYSO Quad Lab analyses sand prior to mixing, aiding in the reduction of the cement content of concrete.
Tarmac’s procurement manager, capex and sustainability, Mark Lewis said "Circularity within the materials industry is crucial to reaching net zero and reducing our impact on the environment. To achieve our sustainability ambitions, we know that collaborating with our suppliers is key to developing innovative new ideas and solutions.”
EFE expands in Ukraine
Ukraine: ONUR Group’s concrete products subsidiary EFE has announced a new US$15m investment in its operations in Ukraine. Ukraine Business News has reported that EFE is paying ‘special attention’ to automation within its investments.
CEO Erhan Oztop said "Although we were able to increase our staff by 30% after 24 February 2022, the need for new employees remains. This motivates us to make large investments in the automation of production processes."
EFE produces ready-mix concrete, reinforced concrete products and paving slabs in Ukraine. It inaugurated two new ready-mix concrete plants in 2023, raising its production capacity to 800m³/hr.
