Displaying items by tag: construction

India: Adani Group subsidiary Adani Port has sued the government of Kerala for US$9.56m in compensation for on-going delays to the construction of the upcoming Vizhinjam port in the south of the state. A local church-led protest over the rights of fishing communities has stalled construction of the port. The New India Express newspaper has reported that Adani Port had lost over US$12m on 8 October 2022 as a result of the delay. The company rented 12 barges for the work.

The government will hold talks with protestors on 13 October 2022.

Denmark: Switzerland-based Holcim has made an investment in 3D concrete printer supplier COBOD International. Holcim hopes that the investment will help it to further expand its TectorPrint 3D printing ink range. Holcim and COBOD International's collaboration dates to 2019, since which time the partners have 3D printed windmill tower bases in Denmark, a school in Malawi and a housing development in Kenya.

Holcim's head of global research and development Edelio Bermejo said “At Holcim, we are continuously expanding our range of building solutions to build better with less, working to improve living standards for all in a sustainable way. 3D concrete printing will help us meet these goals."

China: China Building Materials Academy has patented a new 3D printing method which uses short rebars to reinforce printed layers. The developer says that this will enable builders to ensure structural strength without the disruption caused to 3D printing by the long rebars of conventional building skeletons.

China Building Materials Academy said that an 'inverted U-shaped or inverted L-shaped short rebar is vertically inserted into the cement slurry layer, wherein the bending mechanism comprises two bending members, separately disposed on two sides of a clamp.'

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies is supplying its low-CO₂ clinker-free cement for the construction of an industrial prototype glass wool recycling plant in Chemillé-en-Anjou by Saint-Gobain subsidiary Isover. The company will supply its H-UKR cement for use in the facility’s foundations.

Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said "This unprecedented project is totally in line with what we want to embody since the creation of Hoffmann Green: the promotion of the circular economy in the construction sector through the revalorisation of waste from industry."

France: HeidelbergCement subsidiary Ciments Calcia plans to lay the first stone of a major upgrade project at its Airvault cement plant on 5 October 2022. The event will mark the start of the construction phase of a new 4000t/day clinker production line, according to La Nouvelle République newspaper. The Euro300m project will be built by Germany-based ThyssenKrupp.

Austria: PERI and STRABAG have used a COBOD 3D printer to successfully build Europe’s first 3D printed office building in Hausleiten, Lower Austria.

PERI board member for innovation and marketing Thomas Imbacher said "The building in Hausleiten is a milestone for STRABAG, for PERI, for all involved. We are convinced that 3D printing of buildings will be part of the future of construction, as this technology offers solutions for challenges that are currently occupying our industry: digitalisation, efficiency, shortage of skilled workers and much more."

India: Adani Group subsidiary HDC Bulk Terminal has concluded an agreement with the ports authority of Haldia Dock Complex for the construction of a new terminal at Berth 2 of the Port in West Bengal. The facility will have a handling capacity of 3.74Mt/yr, and will receive bulk solids including raw materials for Adani Group’s cement subsidiaries in the state. The total cost of the terminal’s construction will be US$37.4m. Work will begin before April 2023.

US: COBOD says that construction of the largest 3D printed building in the US using its 3D printing technology has commenced at a site in Houston, Texas. The building is the country’s first two-storey residential building constructed using the method. PERI handled the order for contractor CIVE and architect HANNAH.

CIVE president Hachem Domloj said “Having the opportunity to be the engineers and general contractor for the first two-storey 3D printed structure in the US has been an honour. We can see how this technology and our team’s approach is providing the scalability to larger commercial developments. Collectively, we're changing the way our country builds, and paving the way for more affordable housing, higher structural integrity and faster building capabilities. The possibilities of 3D printing are endless!”

Sri Lanka: Tokyo Cement Group increased its turnover to US$45.2m in the first quarter of it 2023 financial year, up by 53% year-on-year from first-quarter 2022 financial year levels. A shortage of imported raw materials and the country’s on-going fuel crisis hampered local cement demand. The group’s cement sales volumes declined during the quarter, while its cost of sales increased by 24% year-on-year. ‘Steep’ currency depreciation compounded the effects of the increase in expenses. Nonetheless, the company recorded a profit of US$1.48m.

The producer said “Tokyo Cement has taken many proactive measures to minimise the impact of economic downturn on the group's performance. Anticipating a challenging environment, the group has reforecasted demand, rescheduled sourcing and production plans, and adjusted cash flows accordingly. The group has deployed drastic cost saving measures, streamlined operations, and postponed capital expenditure. While the short to medium term economic landscape remains uncertain, Tokyo Cement has a proven track record of resilience and resurgence, and is committed to rebuilding the nation, stronger than ever before.”

China: Asia Cement (China) reported a 7% year-on-year drop in its first-half sales to US$732m in 2022. Its first-half profit was US$46.1m, down by 70% year-on-year from US$156m. The producer sold 13.4Mt of cement during the half. It plans to achieve full-year cement sales of 29.4Mt.

Asia Cement (China) believes that cement demand in China is now on a ‘downward trend.’ It nonetheless remains ‘cautiously optimistic’ about its full-year 2022 results, foreseeing a degree of demand recovery arising from planned government infrastructure investment in the second half of the year.

The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle (CCEC) in Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality represents a growing market for Asia Cement (China). Of a total of 160 planned key projects in the CCEC in 2022, 152 commenced construction during the first half of the year.