Global Concrete News

UK: Precast concrete producer FP McCann plans to invest €105m in expansions and upgrades to its plants. The plans include the launch of multiple new product lines, including a new decorative paving range, due for launch in September 2024. Another new line will build drainage pipes, complementing its portfolio of concrete products for below-ground applications. Upgrades include the installation of an additional bagging line at a mortars plant. Local press has reported that a total of 100 new jobs will be created as a result.

FP McCann said “We constantly take on board customer feedback, and the investment in these new products and services is driven by their needs. FP McCann’s unique multi-product load offering has been a fantastic success. Builders’ merchants no longer have to coordinate multiple deliveries of single product loads, each often carrying a part-load surcharge. With the introduction of our new decorative paving range, we can now offer up to eight different products on a single load, and as more products come online we will expand this service further.”

Costa Rica: América Construcciones (Amco) has begun building a new 110m³/hr ready-mix concrete batching plant at Villareal in Tamarindo, Guanacaste Province. Noticias Financieras News has reported that the plant will also have an office building on-site. Amco operates in strategic partnership with Switzerland-based Holcim in Costa Rica.

Amco general manager Pablo Labarca said "The opening of our new plant in Villareal is a significant step in our business growth strategy. We are committed to delivering high-quality products and playing a key role in the economic development of the region." Labarca added "We value our partnership with Holcim, which shares our vision in areas such as innovation and sustainability, helping us bring advanced and eco-friendly solutions to the Guanacaste market.”

Brazil: Gerdau Graphene has launched NanoCONS, a new line of graphene-based admixtures for concrete. Graphene-Info News has reported that NanoCONS increases the durability and strength of concrete, while lowering its CO₂ emissions by 20%, according to the developer. Gerdau Graphene noted that the first product in the line, water-based NanoCONS W104, offers faster drying times, making it well-suited to use in precast concrete production.

Canada: Clark Brothers Contracting has received conditional approval from the council of Wellington North Township to build a ready-mix concrete plant in the town in Ontario. Local press has reported that the plans will be subject to review by the Wellington County Land Division Committee in September 2024.

Saudi Arabia: Doha Concrete Molds Factory (DCMF) has entered into a strategic partnership with Saudi Vitrified Clay Pipes (SVCP). Under the terms of the partnership, DCMF will acquire outstanding shares in precast concrete products company Saudi Land Factory Company for Cement Products (SLFCCP). Arab News has reported that that the partnership builds on a pre-existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) for DCMF to relocate Qatari production lines to SLFCCP’s plant, in exchange for a 55% stake in the latter.