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Germany: ThyssenKrupp's consolidated sales rose by 18% year-on-year in its 2021 financial year to Euro34bn. Its adjusted earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) rose to Euro796m, compared to a loss before interest and taxation of 1.76bn in the 2020 financial year. Its order intake during the year rose by 41% to Euro39.6bn.
The company's multi tracks segment, which includes cement plant production, recorded a 2% sales rise and a 34% rise in its order intake. Its plant technology segment's sales fell due to a depressed order intake in the 2020 financial year. It increased its order intake in all business areas and won its first contracts in the hydrogen market. Hydrogen is one of the division's key growth markets.
Chief executive officer Martina Merz said, “After a good two years of intensive transformation work, we can now say that the turnaround is evident. ThyssenKrupp is going in the right direction. Our performance is improving significantly, which is reflected in our figures." She continued, "We aim to benefit from this momentum in the next phase of our transformation in order to restore our businesses to profitable growth. However, enormous challenges remain, especially due to the semiconductor shortage and the uncertainties arising from the coronavirus pandemic.”
RHI Magnesita opens new Indian research and development centre amid capacity expansion drive 24 November 2021
India: RHI Magnesita has opened its new Indian regional research and development centre. The centre is its fifth of its kind globally, and joins existing facilities in Austria, Brazil, China and the US.
The company is in the process of implementing a refractory production capacity expansion plan worth a total of US$53.8m. The plan consists of upgrades to its Bhiwadi plant in Rajasthan, Cuttack plant in Odisha and Vizag plant in Andhra Pradesh. It has already completed US$6.72-worth of the work with a 30% expansion at the Vizag plant. The company says that the remaining upgrades consist of both the establishment of new lines and the automation of existing ones.
RHI Magnesita India managing director and chief executive officer Parmod Sagar said “The centre will help us to better understand local market needs and to react faster to customer requirements. This is a world-class facility that will work closely with our global research and development network for local raw materials development, will provide solutions support for customer’s performance improvement projects and will support local manufacturing in the three India plants.”
Incheon National University team develops cement-based conductive composites for net-zero energy buildings 24 November 2021
South Korea: Researchers at Incheon National University have discovered an optimal conductive carbon fibre volume for cement-based conductive composites for use in net-zero energy buildings. The team reported that a 1% conductive carbon fibre content facilitates maximum energy generation from the movements of occupants and the weather against floors and walls. It also enables the storage of electricity at safe voltages. The product is based on triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology.
The team published its results in the journal Nano Energy in November 2021.
CRH publishes nine-month trading update 23 November 2021
Ireland: CRH’s consolidated sales rose by 11% year-on-year to US$22.8bn in the first nine months of 2021, according to the group’s nine-month trading update. The company recorded earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$3.9bn, up by 15% year-on-year. CRH forecast a full-year EBITDA of US$5.25bn.
CRH said that it invested US$1.4bn in new acquisitions in the first nine months of 2021. It added that there remains a strong pipeline of opportunities open to it. At the end of the third quarter of 2021, the company had completed US$800m-worth of its share buyback programme.
Chief executive officer Albert Manifold said “CRH continues to perform well, with good underlying demand and pricing progress across our key markets. Our uniquely integrated and solutions-focused business model has supported further margin expansion across our businesses, while our strong cash generation and disciplined approach to capital allocation provides further opportunities to create value for all of our stakeholders.” He added “Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, we expect to deliver another record performance for the group.”
Cemex Zement appoints Orcan Energy for waste heat recovery system installation at Rüdersdorf cement plant 23 November 2021
Germany: Cemex Zement has partnered with sustainable technology supplier Orcan Energy for the establishment of a waste heat recovery (WHR) plant at its Rüdersdorf, Brandenburg, cement plant. Orcan Energy will supply six generator modules for the installation. When commissioned in mid-2022, the WHR plant will cover part of the plant’s energy consumption. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy contributed 50% of funds for the project.
Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia regional president Sergio Menendez said “Efforts to achieve carbon neutrality at our Rüdersdorf cement plant by 2030 continue apace, and this project to install a WHR system is the latest significant milestone in our journey. It further demonstrates the value of forming expert alliances to investigate and then implement innovative technologies that will ensure the decarbonisation of our operation.”