Global Cement News

US: FCT, the rotary kiln pyro-processing company, is pleased to announce that Adriano Greco has joined the team at FCT as Global Sales Director, based in the United States.

Mr Greco is known to many in the cement industry through his previous activities as Managing Director of Greco and as Sales Director for Gebr. Pfeiffer. FCT said that his experience and professionalism would be 'invaluable as FCT extends its reach to the markets across the globe.'

FCT already has operations in Australia, United States, Europe, Middle East and Canada and continues to expand with projects in every continent.

India: India Cements has appointed P L Subramanian as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Subramanian joined the company in 1986 and has served in various positions. He was serving as its executive director of operations and retired from service in May 2015.

US: Ash Grove Cement Company has announced that James P Sunderland, former company chairman and president, died on 27 May 2015. Sunderland joined Ash Grove Lime and Portland Cement Company in 1957 as its corporate secretary in Kansas City. In his 43-year career at Ash Grove Cement, Sunderland held several leadership positions, including serving as the company's chairman and president. During Sunderland's tenure, Ash Grove Cement became one of the largest Portland cement producers in the US.

US: According to local media MiBiz, the planned merger of Lafarge and Holcim will result in a new owner for a Holcim-owned cement plant in Grandville and could lead to more competitive cement pricing in the West Michigan market.

In response to an antitrust complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that the LafargeHolcim merger 'would likely substantially lessen competition,' in 12 US markets, including in Grand Rapids, the parties have agreed to divest 24 facilities in North America. Among the sites is a Holcim (US) -owned cement plant in Grandville, which the company plans to sell to Buzzi Unicem USA. The acquisition of the Grandville plant should be completed in July 2015, according to Patrick Lydon, vice president and general counsel at Buzzi Unicem. Lydon said that the Grandville plant would be the company's first venture into the Michigan market. He does not expect any significant changes to operations.

The FTC weighed in on the proposed merger to create LafargeHolcim, the world's largest cement company with a projected US$35bn in annual revenues, because it said that the acquisition would further concentrate the industry in 12 'already highly-concentrated' markets. In the affected markets, Holcim and Lafarge are either the only two suppliers of Portland cement or slag cement or are 'at most' two of just four suppliers.

"If the merger between Holcim and Lafarge went through as originally planned, it would have likely had a short-term impact, but even more of an impact on long-term competitive pricing," said Greg Kerkstra, president and CEO of Grandville-based Kerkstra Precast Inc. "Now that the FTC has determined a divestiture of some of these assets in particular markets, that could actually encourage even more competition than before the merger, in our eyes."

Other affected markets in Michigan include Detroit and northern Michigan. Holcim is selling a cement terminal in Elmira, Michigan to Buzzi Unicem and it is seeking buyers for terminals in Detroit and Dundee.

India: Sagar Cements has reported that in May 2015 it produced 1.59Mt of cement, up by 14.1% year-on-year. In the same month it dispatched 1.51Mt of cement, up by 13.2% year-on-year.