US: SSI has announced the launch of the Pri-Max, a primary shredder “built to reduce the volume of bulky materials while achieving processing rates of up to 150t/hr.” The product design incorporates new patented technologies, including “a new method for maintenance and replacement of wear parts as well as major assemblies.” The company says that this will “substantially decrease maintenance costs and improves ease of use.”

Director of sales and marketing Dave Fleming said “The Pri-Max is typically the first step in large processing systems, making it a critical component to customer productivity and success. Customers wanted longer service intervals and more flexibility in how they could choose to maintain wear parts in their machines.”

Australia: Boral plans to increase raw limestone production at its Marulan South quarry in New South Wales to 4.0Mt/yr. Additionally, the company will increase aggregate extraction at the site to 1.0Mt/yr. The Goulburn Post reports that the new South Wales state government has agreed to the US$3.23m upgrade on condition that the building materials company upgrades and realigns a local access road to improve safety. Boral originally applied to expand the open cast mine in 2018.

Pakistan: Cement producers sold a record 5.21Mt of cement in September 2020, up by 22% year-on-year from 4.27Mt in September 2019. Exports were 1.12Mt, up by 41% from 790,000Mt. The Pakistan Observer has reported that domestic cement dispatches rose by 27% in northern Pakistan to 565,000t from 446,000t and by 16% in southern Pakistan to 3.52Mt from 3.03Mt.

Mexico: Cuautinchán city council granted permission for Cemex to resume cement production at its 7.2Mt/yr integrated Tepeaca plant in Cuautinchán following its suspension on 1 October 2020 for failure to pay city rates.

The Municipios Puebla newspaper has reported that Cuautinchán mayor José Pérez opposes the reopening, accusing Cemex of quarrying over 4.44km² in a remote area where its licence extends over a site of just 12.0km². He stated that Cemex has caused environmental deterioration and failed to comply with road upkeep requirements, adding, “It is not a company that has established co-responsibility against municipalities.”