Guatemala: Cementos Progreso has entered into a partnership with 3D printer supplier COBOD. The cement producer has opened its new Innovation and Development Centre in Guatemala to contribute to the development of the construction printing industry in Central and South America. The centre is equipped with a COBOD 3D printer which Cementos Progreso plans to use in housing projects which are currently in the 3D modelling phase.

Cementos Progreso industrial designer Emanuel Ovalle said “I am excited to be working with this exceptional 3D concrete printer from COBOD International for our innovation and research project in the region. We are excited about the possibilities that additive manufacturing opens, and with this technology we can build new things and transform the reality in which we live.”

Pakistan: DG Khan’s revenue grew by 29% year-on-year to US$248m in the financial year to 30 June 2022 from US$193m a year earlier. Its profit for the year fell by 20% to US$12.7m from US15.9m. The main reason for the fall in profit was due to higher taxation in the reporting y

Pakistan: Lucky Cement has distributed ration bags, tents and first aid kits to victims of flooding Dadu, Khairpur, Sanghar and Uthal.

The Balochistan Times newspaper has reported that the company said “The immense destruction of houses and damages to crops caused by the floods, made victims homeless and they are now in the state of starvation.” It continued “In this time of crisis, Lucky Cement, Pakistan's largest cement manufacturer, has reached out to far-flung areas which were worst affected by the flash floods in North and South of Pakistan to provide relief to the victims.”

Zimbabwe: Government capital controls are delaying the handover of a new vertical cement mill ordered from China-based CBMI to Lafarge Zimbabwe. The cement producer still owes the supplier US$5.2m but has been unable to make the payment due to economic measures the government has taken to avoid depreciation of the local currency, according to the The Insider newspaper. The subsidiary of Switzerland-based Holcim is unable to obtain a certificate of completion from the supplier until the transaction has been completed. CBMI handled the order and Germany-based Gebr. Pfeiffer supplied the mill. The outstanding debt to CBMI may also delay Holcim’s deal to sell Lafarge Zimbabwe to Fossil Mining, which was announced in June 2022.