August 2025

Denmark: FLSmidth has acquired IMP Automation Group, a manufacturer of automated laboratory equipment for the mining industry with a presence in Australia and South Africa. The purchase covers over 130 IMP employees, including the managing director, Boyne Hohenstein. Links between the digital initiatives at both companies are intended to give end users better data on their mineral ores and assist in optimising the processing. The deal also includes a 50% share in a joint venture that IMP owns, providing observation and measurement products for automated labs.

"In FLSmidth we have found a partner with the right global sales network to take us to the next level. For years, we have combined profound laboratory process knowledge with automation skills and developed novel and innovative solutions. I am very excited that we now can reach a global audience with our offerings and solutions", said Hohenstein.

Germany: Claudius Peters’ revenue rose by 7.5% year-on-year to Euro103m in 2018 from Euro95.6m in 2017. Its orders in hand fell by 31% to Euro56.8m from Euro81.8m. The company said that it remained profitable despite low volumes, with only China exceeding expectations. It also reported that a number of major projects were delayed, mainly in Russia and one in Germany. Overall, company owner Langley Holdings said that despite falling revenue and profit, it had experienced a ‘satisfactory’ year following a record year in 2017.

UK: Aggregate Industries has launched a new product range of high early strength concretes, specifically designed for use in structural, void-fill, pavement and track bed applications. The Strike+ range is available in four different strength settings in various levels of consistency, making it suitable for use with a number of placement methods including pump, skip and direct. The range also offers properties, including high resistance to chlorides, low surface absorption, low shrinkage and high freeze-thaw resistance.

“With a greater onus on contractors to deliver ever more complex builds to tighter budgets and reduced deadlines, speed, efficiency and durability during the construction process has never been more critical. That’s why we’ve launched our new Strike+ range of high early strength concretes,” said David Porter, Area Manager Concrete (East Midlands) at Aggregate Industries.

Strike+ products are manufactured and delivered using volumetric concrete mixers, with water only added to the mix at the point of use. The ranges consist of specially blended binders, PC52.5N CEM1 (BSEN 197) and carefully selected concrete aggregates (BSEN 1260).

Italy: Buzzi Unicem’s net sales rose by 2.4% year-on-year to Euro2.87bn in 2018 from Euro2.81bn in 2017. Its cement and clinker sales volumes increased by 4.3% to 27.9Mt from 26.8Mt. Ready-mix concrete sales fell by 3.6% to 11.8Mm³ from 12.3Mm³.

It attributed cement and clinker sales increase to acquisitions in Italy and Germany and good market conditions in the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia. However, poor weather hampered business in the US and a ‘strong’ decrease in business levels was reported in Ukraine. In Italy the cement producer benefited from its acquisition of Cementizillo in the second half of 2017. In Germany it purchased Seibel & Söhne and noted demand for oil well cements.

Japan: Sumitomo Osaka’s sales have risen but national exports have fallen. The cement producer has starting promoting exports to counteract this trend. Its sales revenue rose by 4% year-on-year to US$1.71bn in the nine months to 31 December 2018 from US$1.65bn in the same period in 2017. Its operating profit fell by 27% to US$91.9m from US$125m. The company said that local cement demand grew by 1.3% to 32.5Mt in the reporting period. However, exports fell by 12.8%. Overall, national cement sales volumes decreased by 1.6% to 40.3Mt.

Cambodia: Siam Cement Group’s (SCG) sales in Cambodia grew by 15% year-on-year to US$396m in 2018 due to higher sales of cement. The Thai company operates six subsidiaries in the country, including Kampot Cement, according to the Phnom Penh Post newspaper. Chiv Sivpheng, general manager of the Cambodia Constructors Association, said that demand for construction materials had been increasing annually as the population increases and urbanisation intensifies.

Kyrgyzstan: Shukhrat Sabirov, the head of the State Antimonopoly agency, has reported to parliament that South Kyrgyz Cement was fined for selling exported cement at a price lower than it sells cement locally. The official made the comment in response to questions from a member of parliament, according to Kyrgyzstan Newsline.

India: Anjani Portland Cement’s revenue grew by 16% year-on-year to US$44.5m in the nine months to 31 December 2018 from US$39.1m in the same period in 2017. However, its expenses rose by 20% to US$42.1m from US$35m due to fuel and logistic cost increases. Its profit before tax fell by 31% to US$2.54m from US$3.68m.

Germany/Russia: Intercem has been awarded new orders in Germany and Russia. In Russia it will supply a high-efficiency separator ICS 143, as well as the associated plant aggregates to a new cement plant. The high-efficiency separator, an in-house development manufactured in the company workshop, has a capacity of 115t/hr at 3000cm²/g acc. to Blaine and a total output of 258t/hr. The volume flow classifying air is 143.000m³/hr. The scope of supply also includes the engineering for the complete grinding plant as well as the supervision of the assembly and the commissioning of the components included in the delivery.

In Germany it will supply silos for Zementwek Lübeck’s grinding plant. The order includes a silo unit consisting of four steel silos with a capacity of 1200m³ each. In addition, the bulk loading and the complex cement conveying via air slides and bucket elevators leading over the complete area of the plant are part of the scope of supply. The scope of supply also includes the engineering and associated plant components, such as support structure, catwalks, filters, bucket elevators, return lines, electrical equipment, as well as building application and dispatch automation. Completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2019.

The German engineering company has also won a contract to optimise a secondary fuel dosing system at a German cement plant.

Mexico: Cemex’s operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBTIDA) rose by 1% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis to US$2.56bn in 2018 from US$2.57bn in 2017. It has attributed this decrease in real terms to lower earnings from its territories outside of Mexico and the US. Its net sales rose by 5% to US$14.4bn from US$13.6bn.

“We are pleased with our 6% top-line growth during 2018, supported by higher consolidated volumes and prices in our three core products. Operating EBITDA grew by 1% on a like-to-like basis in this period,” said Fernando A Gonzalez, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cemex. He added the company had reduced its total debt to nearly US$1bn in 2018.

By region, Cemex’s sales and earnings rose in Mexico and the US, fell in the rest of the Americas and were mixed in Europe. In the Asia, Middle East and Africa sales increased due to growth in the Philippines but earnings fell.