Greece: Titan Cement Group says that it has accelerated its innovation strategy with new investments in cement-aligned start-ups. The producer has invested in AI-based industrial process optimiser developer Optimitive, in concrete design systems developer Concrete.ai, in demolition materials-based concrete developer C2CA Technology and in property technology investor Fifth Wall.

Canada: St Marys Cement, Votorantim Cimentos’ North American subsidiary, has ordered SpectraFlow Analytics’ Airslide analyser for its Bowmanville cement plant in Ontario. The analyser will replace the plant’s existing XRF Atline system installed at the back end of the plant’s 450t/hr raw materials mill. It will provide continuous one-minute sampling results, without the need to prepare samples separately. This in turn will facilitate real-time adjustments to the line’s additive weight feeders.

SpectraFlow Analytics says that its equipment will now be installed at plants across 30 countries globally.

Zimbabwe: South Africa-based Robtek is working on a ‘refurbishment’ project at Khayah Cement’s integrated plant in Harare. The project work on the kiln includes replacing 10 planetary coolers, installing 23m of kiln shell sections and refurbishing eight support rollers. Work on the raw mill includes replacing trunnion bearings, overhauling raw mill bearings, upgrading the internal diaphragm and head wall liners and installing a new double-flap valve to replace the star feeder.

US: Holcim’s CEO Miljan Gutovic says he does not expect any effects of proposed US tariffs upon his company. "I don't really see any impact, because our business is a local business (in the US)," said Gutovic in an interview with Reuters. "We are producing locally, we are sourcing the equipment, the spare parts locally, so how is this going to affect us? I do not see it." He added that the proposed tariffs were also unlikely to pose any problems to the group’s planned spin-off of its business in the US. The listing of its North America-based business is remains scheduled for the first half of 2025.

The US government proposed tariffs upon imported goods from Canada and Mexico in early February 2025 but these have been paused for one month. Tariffs on China are set to start on 4 February 2025. US President Donald Trump has also spoken about implementing tariffs on the EU.