Germany: Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have developed a novel cement-free bioconcrete using human urine. DPA Trends News has reported that the team’s recipe mixes sand and a bacterial powder in moulds, where it is rinsed with urine for a period of days. This converts the urine’s urea content into calcium carbonate crystals. This reportedly results in faster hardening than concrete produced using conventional cement, ending in a block with a compressive strength of 60MPa. This makes the resulting bioconcrete blocks suitable for use in load-bearing masonry or as paving materials. 26,000l of urine produced 1m³ of bioconcrete.

Toilet systems producers Arwinger and Kompotoi supported the research, with prospective partners for collaborations including Stuttgart Airport and local festivals in Baden-Württemberg.

Australia: Heidelberg Materials Australia has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the construction materials business of Maas Group Holdings, a diversified industrial group listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Maas’s construction materials business is based across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria and employs more than 1000 people. The business controls 22 ready-mix concrete batching plants, a building materials recycling site and 350Mt of aggregates reserves across 40 quarries. The transaction reflects a total enterprise value of US$1.1bn on a cash and debt free basis.

“This acquisition is part of our growth focus combined with a disciplined approach to continuously optimise our portfolio,” said Dr Dominik von Achten, Chair of Heidelberg Materials. “We are taking a significant step to expand our business in Australia, focusing on further improving our aggregates capacity and concrete supply capabilities in a core market. This reflects our commitment to a pure-play strategy as a leading global heavy building materials company.”

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals, including from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Foreign Investment Review Board, together with other customary conditions, such as Maas Group’s shareholder approval. The parties expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2026.

World: Switzerland-based Sika has launched a concrete admixtures plant in Haines City, Florida, US; a dry mortars plant in Puerto Tirol, Argentina; a mortars, admixtures, adhesives, coatings and finishings plant in Cali, Colombia; a mortars and admixture plant in Narayanganj, Bangladesh and a mortars, admixtures, grouts and grinding aids plant in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Sika noted that the Mwanza plant will serve the Tanzanian domestic market, as well as exporting to Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Australia: The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has applied to the Fair Work Commission to establish minimum contract standards for concrete truck drivers. The Australian Financial Review newspaper has reported that the union cited claims that Boral threatened terminations if drivers refused lower terms and conditions.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said "Telling your drivers you'll sack them if they don't accept lower terms and conditions is clearly a Hobson's choice and it's unacceptable. These are drivers who perform critical work in transporting concrete for building and construction, and who invest significantly in their businesses."

A Boral spokesperson said the producer is working to ‘modernise outdated contract determinations’ and move to an industry-standard approach, using a model that ‘incentivises uptime and productivity.’