Global Cement News

Spain: Cementos Portland Valderrivas plans to implement a temporary downsizing plan that will affect 620 of the company's 630 total employees. The Spanish cement producer will run the plan for 12 to 15 days, according to news agency Europa Press.

Brazil: América Latina Logística (ALL) plans to increase the volume of clinker and cement it transports for Votorantim Cimentos in the south of Brazil by over 30% before the end of 2013. The Brazilian logistics firm intends to increase its shipments for Votorantim to 1Mt/yr from 0.75Mt/yr, according to Brazilian news service Agência Estado.

ALL recently invested US$3.4m in trains and improving unloading bays in the southern state of Paraná and has borrowed a total of US$771m from the Brazilian Development Bank so far in 2013. The construction market represents 15% of its client portfolio in the industrial products sector.

Indonesia: PT Holcim Indonesia has commissioned a new cement packing plant and silo in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. The packing plant and 6000t silo will be located at Jalan Raya Wajok Hilir, 25km from Pontianak and it is intended to improve the company's logistic network in Kalimantan.

"With the facility we hope to reach our operational target. Our customers will easily find our product in the market in West Kalimantan," said President Director of Holcim Indonesia Eamon Ginley. Holcim Indonesia currently operates packing plants and silos in Dumai, Batam, and Celukan.

Turkey: Kupeliler AS has started the construction of a Euro100m integrated cement plant in the north-western province of Eskisehir, according to local media. The Turkish cement and wood products manufacturer intends to start production in August 2015 with a cement production capacity of 2Mt/yr and a clinker production capacity of 1.5Mt/yr.

Kupeliler is financing the project with its own funds, the company's board chairman Hasan Kupeli told the Turkish newspaper Dunya. The plant will create 97 jobs and will operate in conformity with European Union emission standards.

Austria: Starlinger, a technology supplier for woven plastic packaging production and plastics recycling, is opening its factory and showrooms in Weissenbach on 14 – 16 and 21 – 25 October 2013. Packaging producers and plastics recyclers will have the opportunity to see the latest models of the Starlinger machine range in operation.

Highlights on show include the new lamiTEC coating and lamination line that features roll change at full production speed and increased output, the RX 8.0 circular loom for heavy-duty fabric weaving, the conversion line ad*starKON SX+ and the newly developed linTAPE tape winders with linear drive technology for smooth winding and gentle tape treatment.