Cement news highlights: 19 – 23 January

Construction activity

USA

• Responding to President Obama’s State of the Union address, the Portland Cement Association says that resilient construction should be key for infrastructure bill.
• The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have released figures for new residential construction in December 2014.

Europe

• According to Chevin Fleet Solutions, the UK construction industry has taken the opportunity to review its fleet operations during the economic upswing.
• In November 2014, production in the construction sector fell by 0.1% in the euro area (EA18) and by 0.2% in the EU28, compared with October 2014.
• The UK government has released an update for its construction pipeline, which includes £127 billion-worth of investment to 2020.

Asia Pacific

• According to the latest CommSec State of the States report, construction work was higher than decade averages in all Australian states and territories in the September quarter.
• Timetric’s Construction Intelligence Center (CIC) reports that the major economies in the Asia Pacific region are set to spend over US$1 trillion in industrial sector projects in the next few years.

Environment and sustainability

• Turboden will provide the world’s largest biomass-based Organic Rankine Cycle power unit to Maine Woods Pellet Company.
• For the second consecutive year, Argos received the Silver Class distinction in RobecoSAM’s 2015 Sustainability Yearbook.
• The UK’s Mineral Products Association and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust have renewed the memorandum of understanding that they originally signed in 2012.
• The updated Greenhouse Gas Protocol Accounting Guidance includes instruments to document and track electricity used from renewable energy sources.

Corporate news

• Russian real estate development and building materials company, OJSC LSR Group, has completed the sale of its Slantsy cement plant to the Eurocement Group.
• Windmöller & Hölscher has announced that it has upped its stake in BSW Machinery (Bag Solutions Worldwide).
• Talks ongoing between Sika and Saint-Gobain.
• ANH Refractories rebrands as HarbisonWalker International.

This week’s not to be missed articles…

• CRH has addressed press speculation over its discussions regarding assets being divested as part of the merger between Holcim and Lafarge.
• BIMCO has launched a survey to collect data about the quality of facilities and services at dry bulk terminals worldwide, with the end-goal of providing information to shipping companies and driving improvements at the terminals.

Written by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/23012015/cement-news-highlights-19-23-january-2014-196/