Global Cement News

Germany: Siemens has announced what it calls a ‘plant lifetime-increasing’ Simotics HV M slipring motor for mills, crushers, conveyors or fans. The 4.5MW motor fills the gap in Siemens’ slipring range with powers between 0.5MW and 8.2MW. The product uses Global Vacuum Impregnation Technology to increase reliability, giving maximum plant reliability. Siemens Large Drives Applications CEO Hermann Kleinod said “The motors can be easily integrated using 3D-model data.”

Indonesia: Semen Indonesia has reported revenues of US$2.00bn in the nine months to 30 September 2019, up by 31% from US$1.53bn in the corresponding period of 2018. The Group’s acquisition of Holcim Indonesia in February 2019 expanded its domestic cement production capacity to 39.4Mt/yr, which it says has bolstered its competetiveness against importers in a crowded domestic market.

The company recorded US$91.7m in profit over the period, down by 38% year-on-year from US$148m as its foreign sections failed to grow.

Ireland: CRH has concluded a deal with an unspecified party for the sale of CRH Europe Distribution for Euro1.64bn. The Financial Times reported in July 2019 that private equity funds managed by American-based Blackstone would buy the company’s European distribution division. CRH will reportedly use the proceeds of sale for future acquisitions including its own share buyback programme.

Pakistan: The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers’ Association has released figures showing a total cement output of 4.98Mt in October 2019, up by 9.2% from 4.56Mt in October 2018. Business Recorder recorded that this is a national record for monthly despatches; the second month of growth following year-on-year falls in July and August 2019. Exports continued to rise, to 0.79Mt, up by 28% from 0.62Mt in October 2018.

UK: The Mayor of London visited Mexican-based Cemex’s Stepney readymix concrete plant to launch a road safety initiative along with Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils. The initiative consists of a ratings scheme of up to five stars for in-cabin vision for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), with a ban on zero-star vehicles inside of Greater London. The regulation comes into effect in November 2020, before which time HGV operators may install a ‘Safe System’ consisting of sensors and noise alerts, in order to apply for a Safety Permit to keep their vehicles on the roads.