Global Concrete News

France: Cemex France reduced the total emissions of CO₂ from its concrete and aggregates logistics operations by 10% in the two years between 2021 and 2023. The company achieved this through various initiatives, including equipment upgrades, route optimisation and the substitution of alternative fuels, including hydrogenated vegetable oil in pusher vessels, and biogas where possible. The producer says that the reduction aligns with its FRET21 transport sustainability initiative, as well as its Future in Action 2050 net zero roadmap.

Cemex France is currently preparing to renew or expand its commitment to the FRET21 initiative for another three years.

US: A Licking County court has upheld the county council’s decision to deny a permit for Shelly Co. to build a ready-mix concrete batching plant near Alexandria. The company’s proposal also included the construction of an asphalt mixing plant at the site in Ohio. Local press has reported that Shelly Co. failed in its attempt to argue that floodplain regulations did not apply to the site due to its historical use as an aggregates quarry.

Finland: Betolar has procured a patent for a new accelerator solution for use in CEM III/B slag cement mixes. The company says that the product enables the achievement of conventional demoulding times in the production of concrete elements using slag cement with a clinker content of 20 – 34%. It will also enable its use in hollow-core slabs and as shotcrete in the mining industry.

President and CEO Tuija Kalpala said "Our patented innovation paves the way for the large-scale use of cement mixtures in the production of concrete elements and products, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions."

US: Julpit is seeking a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to build a new ready-mix concrete batching plant in Fort Bend County, Texas. The facility will also be equipped with a stone crushing plant. Local press has reported that a public comment session over the plans took place on 20 August 2024.

This story was amended on 27 August 2024, after a previous version erroneously stated the date of the public comment session as 27 August 2024. Global Concrete apologises for this error.

Costa Rica: América Construcciones (AMCO) is preparing to inaugurate its new Villarreal de Tamarindo ready-mix concrete batching plant and office complex in Guanacaste on 22 August 2024. The entire facility cost US$1.05m and the plant has a production capacity of 110m³/hr.

General manager Pablo Labarca said "We have several areas of interest in the province, but Santa Cruz is particularly interesting to us because we know that many of AMCO's clients that are currently developing projects in the area have particular requirements, both in terms of the quality of the products, as well as the level of service they expect.”