Philippines: Germany-based Gebr. Pfeiffer says a ready2grind system it supplied to Petra Cement started in early December 2019. The clinker grinding mill is operational at a grinding plant on the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao. No value for the order has been disclosed. Petra Cement’s sister company , Big Boss Cement, has also ordered a modular mill system from Gebr. Pfeiffer.

Russia: Eurocement subsidiary Kavkazcement has announced the launch of a new CEM-II Portland limestone cement product. The company says that the cement has a wide range of applications, from “general purpose structures to objects operating under aggressive environmental conditions: concrete and reinforced concrete structures, monolithic structures, massive foundations and indoor structures, as well as in screeds, plaster mortars and dry building mixes.” Kavkazcement general director Nikolai Muradov said, “The use of cements with mineral additives provides a high-quality concrete surface; in finished products, the risk of efflorescence, cracking and other defects is reduced.” Customers can purchase the product in 50kg or 1t bags.

France: LafargeHolcim France says that it has “responded to the demand for low-carbon concretes” with the launch of a CEM-II Portland limestone cement product with 25% lower carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions than Ordinary Portland Cements (OPC) in its Galaxim Planet range. The new addition to the range, of which LafargeHolcim plans to produce 100,000t by 31 December 2020, contains 35% limestone, up by 23% from 12% in ordinary Portland limestone cement.

LafargeHolcim France south region cement sales director Olivier Mespouilles said, “Our goal is to offer all builders a cement offering properties equivalent to a conventional cement with the advantage of a reduced carbon footprint. This tour de force was successful thanks to the involvement of all our teams, and we are the first player in France to offer this type of limestone cement in such a volume." The cement is due to enter the market in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. From 2021 the company hopes to supply 80% of customers there with the low-carbon cement.

US: Mexico-based Cemex has announced its investment in Arqlite, a producer of aggregates from waste plastic. Arqlite won the Cemex Ventures Global Construction Startup Competition in 2019. Other investors in the company, which began its research and development process in Argentina in 2016, include Kamay Ventures and Chris Graff.

The Cemex Ventures Global Construction Startup Competition 2020 remains open to applicants until 26 July 2020.