Global Concrete News

Peru: Switzerland-based Holcim has acquired ready-mix concrete producer Mixercon and industrial minerals producer Comacsa for US$100m combined. Noticias Financieras News has reported that the acquisitions mark Holcim’s entry into Peru, strengthening its hold in the South and Central American market.

Regional head Oliver Osswald said "The incorporation of Comacsa and Mixercon will allow us to generate synergies and develop export markets.”

New Zealand: Ready-mix concrete plants produced 3.92Mm³ of ready-mix concrete in the 2024 financial year, which ended on 30 June 2024. According to data from Statistics New Zealand, this corresponds to an 11% year-on-year decline from 2023 financial year levels. Volumes also dropped in the fourth quarter of the 2024 financial year, by 9% year-on-year to 978,000³.

Canada: Cellular concrete products company Cematrix reported revenues of $10.8m in the first half of 2024, up by 11% year-on-year. It recorded adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$364,000, compared to a loss of US$801,000 in the first half of 2023.

CEO Jeff Kendrick said "We continue to work on a number of initiatives to grow shareholder value, as evidenced by our recent uplisting to the Toronto Stock Exchange. We recently completed a new financing round that strengthened our balance sheet and increased Cematrix’s institutional ownership with quality investors committed to our long-term success. Our commitment to growth and shareholder value remains unwavering as we continue to foster strong organic growth and maintain a robust balance sheet. As we execute our strategic plan, we are optimistic about the remainder of 2024 and beyond, confident that our product offerings and the advantages that it delivers to customers will continue to bring tremendous opportunities for our business.”

US: ICON says that it has nearly completed the construction of its 100-unit Wolf Ranch housing development in Georgetown, Texas. The company is 3D printing the development using its Vulcan printer. Reuters has reported that the company designed the buildings to be resistant to water, mould, termites and extreme weather.

Senior project manager Conner Jenkins said "3D printing brings a lot of efficiency to the trade market. So, where there were maybe five different crews coming in to build a wall system, we now have one crew and one robot.”

US: Penetron has supplied its antimicrobial concrete admixture for the construction of the new West Cocalico water treatment plant in Pennsylvania. Contractor Entech Engineering chose Penetron to supply its product due to the specific challenges arising from acid-producing bacteria in this application.

Penetron Eastern US regional sales manager Richard Farmer said "Entech Engineering required durable protection and a waterproofing solution to prevent microbially induced corrosion. We suggested a combination of Penetron's crystalline waterproofing and antimicrobial concrete admixtures as a solution."