India: Three construction workers have died after scaffolding collapsed inside the chimney of Saurashtra Cement’s Porbandar cement plant in Gujarat. India Today Online News has reported that a team of ten builders was performing repair work before the accident occurred. Four of the seven survivors remain trapped. District officials have established contact with them via a drone.

Denmark: FLSmidth recorded consolidated sales of Euro1.05bn in the first half of 2021, down by 7.0% year-on-year from Euro1.13bn. Its cement business’ sales fell by 17% to Euro346m from Euro419m. The supplier recorded earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Euro76.9m, up by 6.0% from Euro72.9m. Its total order backlog grew by 10% to US$2.24bn from US$2.05bn. It expects the majority of this to be converted into revenue in 2021. During the second quarter of the year, the company took in an order for Europe’s first full-scale clay calcination installation.

Chief executive officer Thomas Schulz said “Our second quarter showed positive progress across the board: A strong order intake, higher revenue from both service and capital businesses, 50% higher earnings before interest, taxation and amortisation (EBITA), further reduction in net working capital and a strong free cash flow.”

Argentina: Loma Negra recorded first-half 2021 consolidated sales of US$290m, up by 44% year-on-year from US$201m. It increased its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) by 64% to US$100m from US$61.0m. Its net profit was US$86.0m, compared to US$12m in the first half of 2020. The company sold 2.79Mt of cement in the period, up by 39% from 2.01Mt.

Chief executive officer Sergio Faifman said “We are pleased to announce another quarter with an excellent performance. Demand continues with a strong momentum, and after several quarters of recovery is now exceeding pre-pandemic levels.” He continued “For the second half, we expect strong recovery to continue and an expansion vis-à-vis pre-pandemic levels, as seasonality and public works should begin to contribute positively. Nonetheless, we remain cautious, as the macroeconomic context may affect the recovery and some degree of uncertainty remains in relation to the pandemic.”

Canada: Giatec has launched Roxi, an AI testing programme designed to reduce cement use in ready-mix concrete production. The programme combines with Giatec’s proprietary sensing technology. The supplier has received funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) for Roxi’s development and industrial roll-out.

CEO Pouria Ghods said “Based on two case studies, we estimate that up to 20% reduction in cement usage can be achieved using our technology. With this funding, Giatec will provide a solution that will bring not only economic, but also environmental benefits, by reducing CO2 emissions, air pollution, and water use in the construction industry.”