Global Cement News

Egypt: Reliance Heavy Industries (RHI) has appointed Sameh Saleh as its chief executive officer. He holds over 30 years of experience in the cement sector in both plant operation and engineering. Notably he worked for Arabian Cement for 10 years as a plant manager and then its chief operations officer. He later managed the company’s alternative fuels subsidiary Egypt Green. Other notable placements include those with Tabuk Cement, RHI and the Arab Swiss Engineering Company (ASEC).

Sameh Saleh trained in mechanical engineering at Cairo University. He later gained a qualification in project management and an executive master of business administration degree from the American University in Cairo.

Austria: RHI Magnesita has appointed Peter Steinkellner as Head of Technical Marketing Cement & Lime for Europe, CIS & Türkiye. He has held a number of marketing roles for the refractory producer since 2015. Prior to this he worked Lafarge for seven years as a quality engineer.

Mexico: Vulcan Materials is reportedly preparing to launch new legal action against the government of Mexico. The government supported an alleged illegal entry by Cemex into the company's Punta Venado cement terminal on 14 March 2023. The cement producer is engaged in existing lawsuits against the government for compensation worth a total sum of US$1.9bn. It originally sued the government for US$529m in 2019. Local press has reported that the producer previously filed a subordinate claim to its suit for incursions onto its mining operations in Quintana Roo in mid-2022. The latter supplied limestone to Vulcan Materials' US operations.

Spain: Italy-based CICSA Group has concluded a deal to acquire chains supplier CADERSA. CADERSA serves the Iberian and Central and South American markets, including the cement industry. CICSA Group said that the acquisition will 'complete' its range of chain solutions for bulk materials handling applications. It noted CADERSA's 'deep' expertise, ranging from round steel link chains to pin and bush chains.

The group said "Through this operation, we leverage clear synergies and great product complementarity, while accessing new markets and new industries."

Europe: Cemex has launched its latest packaging design for its Vertua reduced-CO₂ product range at the Low Carbon World exhibition in Paris, France. The new design incorporates products' scores across five 'sustainability attributes:' emissions reduction, energy efficiency, conservation of water, recycled content and design optimisation. Cemex will now deploy the design across Europe by June 2023.

Cemex's Europe, Middle East and Africa regional president Sergio Menendez said “Cemex is attuned to the need to focus on all aspects that can make a product more sustainable - not just achieving a lower carbon footprint. With the updated classification system for Vertua, customers can now more easily identify which of our products leverage the cutting-edge technology and innovation that will enable them to overcome the challenges they are currently facing in construction and renovation." Menendez concluded "The enhanced Vertua brand represents a more ambitious and stronger approach: from a group of low carbon products to a family of products and solutions that encompass more sustainable attributes and contribute to our company vision of building a better future.”