Global Cement News

Denmark: FLSmidth has acquired IMP Automation Group, a manufacturer of automated laboratory equipment for the mining industry with a presence in Australia and South Africa. The purchase covers over 130 IMP employees, including the managing director, Boyne Hohenstein. Links between the digital initiatives at both companies are intended to give end users better data on their mineral ores and assist in optimising the processing. The deal also includes a 50% share in a joint venture that IMP owns, providing observation and measurement products for automated labs.

"In FLSmidth we have found a partner with the right global sales network to take us to the next level. For years, we have combined profound laboratory process knowledge with automation skills and developed novel and innovative solutions. I am very excited that we now can reach a global audience with our offerings and solutions", said Hohenstein.

Germany: Claudius Peters’ revenue rose by 7.5% year-on-year to Euro103m in 2018 from Euro95.6m in 2017. Its orders in hand fell by 31% to Euro56.8m from Euro81.8m. The company said that it remained profitable despite low volumes, with only China exceeding expectations. It also reported that a number of major projects were delayed, mainly in Russia and one in Germany. Overall, company owner Langley Holdings said that despite falling revenue and profit, it had experienced a ‘satisfactory’ year following a record year in 2017.

UK: Aggregate Industries has launched a new product range of high early strength concretes, specifically designed for use in structural, void-fill, pavement and track bed applications. The Strike+ range is available in four different strength settings in various levels of consistency, making it suitable for use with a number of placement methods including pump, skip and direct. The range also offers properties, including high resistance to chlorides, low surface absorption, low shrinkage and high freeze-thaw resistance.

“With a greater onus on contractors to deliver ever more complex builds to tighter budgets and reduced deadlines, speed, efficiency and durability during the construction process has never been more critical. That’s why we’ve launched our new Strike+ range of high early strength concretes,” said David Porter, Area Manager Concrete (East Midlands) at Aggregate Industries.

Strike+ products are manufactured and delivered using volumetric concrete mixers, with water only added to the mix at the point of use. The ranges consist of specially blended binders, PC52.5N CEM1 (BSEN 197) and carefully selected concrete aggregates (BSEN 1260).

Italy: Buzzi Unicem’s net sales rose by 2.4% year-on-year to Euro2.87bn in 2018 from Euro2.81bn in 2017. Its cement and clinker sales volumes increased by 4.3% to 27.9Mt from 26.8Mt. Ready-mix concrete sales fell by 3.6% to 11.8Mm³ from 12.3Mm³.

It attributed cement and clinker sales increase to acquisitions in Italy and Germany and good market conditions in the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia. However, poor weather hampered business in the US and a ‘strong’ decrease in business levels was reported in Ukraine. In Italy the cement producer benefited from its acquisition of Cementizillo in the second half of 2017. In Germany it purchased Seibel & Söhne and noted demand for oil well cements.

Japan: Sumitomo Osaka’s sales have risen but national exports have fallen. The cement producer has starting promoting exports to counteract this trend. Its sales revenue rose by 4% year-on-year to US$1.71bn in the nine months to 31 December 2018 from US$1.65bn in the same period in 2017. Its operating profit fell by 27% to US$91.9m from US$125m. The company said that local cement demand grew by 1.3% to 32.5Mt in the reporting period. However, exports fell by 12.8%. Overall, national cement sales volumes decreased by 1.6% to 40.3Mt.