Europe & CIS

Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK (LACUK) has been ranked 7th in the league table of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Danish engineering group FLSmidth & Co A/S cut its full-year 2011 expectation for cement capacity growth as activity in India stalled and third-quarter profits fell in line with forecast.

Holcim, the world's second largest cement maker, increased its sales volumes for cement, despite price hikes failing to offset rising energy costs and the strong Swiss franc.

CRH plc, the international building materials group, has issued its Interim Management Statement demonstrating slight increase in sales growth.

Italian cement giant Italcementi has produced its third quarter results, reflecting the sale of its assets in Turkey earlier this year.

The UK concrete industry has recently published its latest annual Concrete Sustainability Performance report, which sets out the progress made on a wide range of sustainability targets during 2010.

Dyckerhoff has announced a 14% increase in Group sales to €1.2 billion in the first nine months of 2011. The volumes of the Group’s products increased in most markets, except the US.

UK MPA survey results for the third quarter indicate that overall sector demand was relatively flat compared with the same quarter of 2010.

ABB expects to grow faster than its markets over the period 2011 to 2015 by focusing on sectors where its combined power and automation portfolio offers competitive advantages.

Lafarge has announced plans for a €500 million cost saving programme, as it posts a 9% drop in third quarter profit to €750 million. The group has also announced the closing of the sale of its European and South American gypsum assets to Etex Group.

As sales grew faster than anticipated, HeidelbergCement AG reported third-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates.

Trolex pressure sensors have recently been installed at Lafarge Cement in Derbyshire, as part of an upgrade to their kiln process cleaning system.

Cemex in Poland’s Chelm cement plant has received two awards at the second International EcoForum Conference, held in Lublin, Poland. The plant has also been registered in EMAS.

This month, Paul Maxwell-Cook’s Industry Insight looks at developments in clinker cooler technology.

The Mineral Products Association welcomes the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s commitment to and support of cement and lime manufacturing in the UK.