Displaying items by tag: Switzerland

Switzerland: LafargeHolcim has announced measures to limit the ‘volatile’ impacts of coronavirus on health and business. The measures, which overrule its previous 2020 guidance, consist of: a year-on-year capital expenditure (CAPEX) reduction of Euro378m, a year-on-year fixed cost reduction of Euro283m and a reduction of net working capital ‘at least in line with level of activity.’ LafargeHolcim has said that it had Euro7.56bn strongly liquid assets as of 26 March 2020.

LafargeHolcim predicted that global construction’s cement demand will decline in April and May 2020. It said the construction sector has begun to recover in China, where all of its cement plants outside of Hubei province are once more operational. It expects to deliver 70% of it April 2019 Chinese volumes in April 2020.

Azerbaijan: An unidentified sender has threatened executive board members of Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim subsidiary Holcim Azerbaijan and their families. Turan Information Agency has reported that an alleged assault was perpetrated against a non-Azerbaijani manager of the company. Holcim Azerbaijan said, “Apparently the transparent activity of our company interferes with the interest of criminal forces.” Law enforcement authorities have launched a full investigation.

Morocco: Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim subsidiary LafargeHolcim Maroc has recorded a profit of Euro161m in 2019, up by 7.5% year-on-year from Euro149m in 2018. Its sales held steady at Euro744m. The company says that it ‘does not anticipate any significant change in market conditions’ in 2020. Its new Agadir-Souss grinding plant is scheduled to come online in 2020.

El Salvador: Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim subsidiary Holcim El Salvador has announced a planned investment of US$7.5m to establish six concrete plants in 2020, which will bring its total to 18 plants. Esmerk Latin American News has reported that the investment also covers ‘new trucks and other machinery.’ Holcim El Salvador also announced its intention ‘in the long term’ to resume operations at its 1.6Mt/yr Maya cement plant, mothballed in 2008, at an estimated cost of US$20m. It is currently investigating the possibility of installing a US$5m solar power plant at its 1.7Mt/yr El Ronco cement plant.

In 2019 Holcim El Salvador produced 1.2Mt of cement and 710,000m³ of concrete.

Germany: Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim subsidiary Holcim Deutschland has publicised further details of its plan to make its low-CO₂ concrete, EcoPact Zero, carbon neutral. It has partnered with German bog rewetting specialist MoorFutures to offset the remaining CO₂ from the reduced-emissions production process of EcoPact Zero concrete. LafargeHolcim has purchased a climate protection certificate from the company, which in return is restoring enough peatland in Königsmoor, Schleswig-Holstein, to capture 1t of CO₂ for every Euro64 it receives. MoorFutures says “Peatlands are the most effective CO₂ stores on Earth.”

Switzerland: LafargeHolcim has announced a Euro1.95bn profit in 2019, up by 32% from Euro1.48bn in 2018. The profit was a company record, made possible by ‘lower restructuring costs and financial expenses,’ according to LafargeHolcim CEO Jan Jenisch. Sales were Euro25.1bn, up by 3.1% from Euro24.4bn, ‘driven by good growth in Europe and North America, good price dynamics across all business segments and higher prices in most markets,’ according to Jenisch. “We have achieved all our targets for 2019 and have moved our company to a new level of performance,” he said.

France: Vicat’s sales were reduced in 2019 by poor markets in Turkey and, to a lesser extent, Switzerland and Egypt. Its sales fell by 1% year-on-year to Euro2.74bn in 2019 from Euro2.58bn at constant scope and exchange rates. Its cement sales volumes dropped by 2% to 22.4Mt from 22.8Mt but its concrete volumes grew by 1.1% to 9.1Mm³ from 9.0Mm³. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased slightly to Euro156m.

“Strong growth in France, the US, Africa and Kazakhstan helped offset difficult market conditions in Turkey and Egypt. Furthermore, in line with our strategy of targeted acquisitions, the purchase of Ciplan in Brazil, in January 2019, allowed the group to continue its international growth in a region offering strong potential by integrating teams and assets of the highest quality,” said chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Guy Sidos.

The group performed well in France, the US and Italy, especially due to the acquisition of Ciplan in Brazil. Sales in Turkey suffered from a generally poor economic situation. Competition in Egypt and a downturn in the precast concrete market in Switzerland caused problems in these countries respectively.

India: Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim has co-located its global digital and business services at a single site in Mumbai. The company says that the Global Hub will enable it to ‘focus on providing modern global platforms and capabilities, accelerating the pace of innovation at a local, regional and global level.’

France: Following a successful trial that began in December 2019, LafargeHolcim has inaugurated a FastCarb CO₂ absorption accelerator into concrete production at its Val d'Azergues cement and concrete plant (integrated capacity 0.4Mt/yr) in Lozanne. The technology involves the capture of CO₂ from the plant’s cement kiln for reinjection into concrete produced with recycled aggregates. François Petry, LafargeHolcim France managing director, said the installation ‘fits perfectly into our Lafarge 360 approach for more responsible construction.’ The five-pillar approach consists of alternative fuel substitution and development, power consumption reduction, formulation of new cements, cooperation with Airium insulation solutions and assistance with low-carbon building design.

Colombia: Switzerland-based construction materials producer Sika has invested an undisclosed sum in relocating production from a concrete admixture and mortar plant in Colombia to a larger facility in Barranquilla. Sika Americas regional manager Christopher Ganz said, “Our latest investment in Barranquilla will help us capture the potential of the dynamic construction market in the Caribbean region. Our aim is to grow more quickly than the construction market in this region.” The market grew by 15% in 2019.

Sika also manufactures building products for the Colombian market at facilities in Bogotá, Medellín and Duitama.