Displaying items by tag: Cemex
Arawak Cement reports fatality at plant in Barbados
04 January 2021Barbados: A worker has died following an accident at Arawak Cement plant in St Lucy. Two employees suffered burns whilst they attempted to fix a blockage at the unit, according to the Caribbean News Agency (CANA). An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Cemex USA makes grants to over 80 non-profit organisations as part of coronavirus relief effort
29 December 2020US: Cemex USA has delivered grants via the Cemex Foundation to over 80 non-profit organisations so far in 2020 as part of its coronavirus relief efforts. The funds donated by Cemex USA employees have provided more than a quarter million meals to those facing food insecurity and overall have positively impacted more than 200,000 people in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida. The initiative also supplied more than 20,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical staff and first responders.
“Covid-19 has created far-reaching impacts and unparalleled challenges, prompting thousands of families to request additional support for food and shelter while they continuously worry about the health and safety of themselves and their loved ones. At Cemex USA, we wanted to help our neighbours and communities during this unprecedented time,” said Cemex USA president Jaime Muguiro. “The help provided by non-profits right now is critical, and we are proud to be able to deliver significant support for their initiatives that are making a difference in our communities.”
Organisations that have benefited from the grants include: United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) in Birmingham, Alabama; Feeding South Florida in Florida; Feed the Frontline Houston in Houston, Texas; Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund (LEAF) in Lyons, Colorado; House of Refuge in South Mesa, Arizona; and Heart of Los Angeles Youth (HOLA) in Los Angeles, California.
HeidelbergCement considering selling assets in California
23 December 2020US: HeidelbergCement is considering selling assets in California. Bloomberg News reports that it is working with Morgan Stanley on a potential divestment and it hopes to raise around US$1.5bn. It is reportedly approaching competitors including Martin Marietta Materials, Cemex, CRH, Summit Materials and LafargeHolcim, as well as companies in China and Latin America. The first bids are not expected until early 2021.
The Germany-based building materials company operates three integrated cement plants in California, as part of its Lehigh Hanson subsidiary, in addition to concrete and aggregates units. Divestment of these assets would focus the company instead on markets in the East Coast, Midwest and Canadian regions of North America.
In July 2020 HeidelbergCement announced that it had reduced its value of its assets by Euro3.4bn following a review. It blamed this on reduced demand for building materials due the coronavirus pandemic and the devaluation of its Hanson subsidiary in the UK, in part related to the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Cemex increases its Cemex Latam Holdings stake to 93%
18 December 2020Colombia: Mexico-based Cemex has increased its stake in subsidiary Cemex Latam Holdings to 93% from 73%. Citigroup Global Markets acted as advisor and Corredores Davivienda acted as intermediary broker for the offer.
The group said, “Through the offer, Cemex is simplifying and strengthening its overall capital structure by further consolidating its indirect interest in CLH.
UK: Cemex subsidiary Cemex UK has concluded a deal with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust for the sale of its Attenborough Nature Reserve near Nottingham. The trust received a Euro828m grant from Biffa Award towards the acquisition. The Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the River Trent is home to over 1000 species including bitterns and otters. The former sand and gravel quarry became a nature reserve in the 1960s when it was opened by the broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough.
Cemex Europe regional land development and permitting director Stephen Redwood said, “After more than half a century of partnership, we are enormously pleased to see the transfer of this amazing and award-winning site to the Trust being completed. To see Attenborough evolve into such an important nature reserve in such close proximity to major population centres has been most rewarding.” He continued, “Our partnership with the Trust - which has included the establishment of the impressive Visitor Centre with support from the company’s own Landfill Communities Fund - has been a major success and we look forward to the Trust taking ownership as the site moves on to the next phase in its development.”
Cemex launches Vertua concretes in US
16 December 2020US: Mexico-based Cemex has launched the Vertua range of low and net-zero CO2 concrete products in the US following introductions in Mexico and Europe. The range consists of Vertua Classic, Vertua Plus and Vertua Ultra. The company has begun by selling Vertua Classic – which it says offers a 20–30% reduction in CO2 emissions – in Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego, California. Vertua Plus and Vertua Ultra products will be introduced in 2021.
California regional president Francisco Rivera said, “Since many customers are motivated to reduce the carbon footprint of their projects, we are delighted to offer Vertua Classic, which is suitable for a wide range of commercial and residential applications. Our Vertua products are uniquely designed to balance limited carbon specifications with our customers’ needs for high-quality performance and resilience.”
Cemex Ventures names 50 most promising start-ups 2020
15 December 2020Mexico: Cemex subsidiary Cemex Ventures has named its 50 most promising construction and technology start-ups for 2020. The year’s list included 14 suppliers of solutions to increase productivity, 12 developers of new materials and construction methods, 13 innovators in the fields of safety and sustainability and 11 suppliers of supply chain-improving applications.
The company said, “The investment ecosystem in construction startups gained traction and closes the year 2020 surpassing US$1.3bn.” It added, “In 2020, Cemex Ventures is one of the companies that leads investment efforts in the ConTech ecosystem, positioning itself as one of the leaders in the industry.”
Cemex Ventures acquires Soil Connect stake
09 December 2020Mexico: Cemex subsidiary Cemex Ventures has invested in excavation materials marketplace Soil Connect. The online platform says that it connects the supply and demand algorithmically based on the users' proximity and needs. It is mainly used for aggregates. In digitising the marketplace it reduces landfill while lowering transportation distances, according to the investor. It says that this results in tremendous cost savings for construction professionals. This also promotes circular economy within the sector.
Cemex Ventures’ investment head Cristina Aparicio said, "For any relevant actor with a view to the future of our ecosystem, it is a priority to offer a solution to the millions of tonnes of materials that are generated annually in demolition projects, since much of the construction materials of tomorrow come from the projects to be demolished. We are very excited about this agreement with the Soil Connect team, which has created a business that adds value, both to those who generate the waste and to those who need construction material, prioritising this tool that provides agility."
Cemex launches Vertua low and net-zero carbon concretes in Mexico
08 December 2020Mexico: Cemex has launched Vertua, a range of low and net-zero CO2 concrete products, in Mexico. Vertua uses a geopolymer binder solution created by Cemex’s Research and Development Center in Switzerland. It forms “one of the main components of the ambition to deliver net-zero CO2 concrete for all products and geographies by 2050,” according to the company.
Ricardo Naya, the president of Cemex Mexico, said, “With Vertua, we are taking a decisive step in addressing climate change in Mexico and the world, by offering a line of concretes with up to 70% lower carbon emissions. In Cemex, we embrace the circular economy concept and put it into action by offering our customers solutions like Vertua to keep them at the forefront of sustainability efforts."
Cemex to merge Cemex España with New Sunward Holding
07 December 2020Spain: Mexico-based Cemex plans to merge Spain-based Cemex España with Netherlands-based New Sunward Holding. The transaction will be registered in late 2020 or early 2021 and dated retroactively to 1 December 2020.