The Americas

The Portland Cement Association has called on the US Environmental Protection Agency to support resilient infrastructure construction.

In addition to job losses in the cement industry, there is a potential for 45 000 construction jobs to be lost each year if the stricter ozone standards are brought in.

Poor weather conditions, along with lower private investment and confidence, contributed to a 4.1% fall in cement dispatches in Peru in February 2015.

Brennand Cimentos S/A has marked its entry into hydraulic hammer ownership with the purchase of a Bretec L20.

HeidelbergCement has completed the sale of its North American and UK building products businesses to Lone Star Funds.

The Dixon plant in Illinois was closed in 2008 due to the economic downturn, but is planned to reopen this spring thanks to renewed demand.

Julie Buffenbarger has been appointed Chair of the US-based Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative, while James Toscas and Kevin Mlutkowski have been elected as Vice Chairs of Advocacy and Operations, respectively.

Lafarge North America has supplied NewCem® slag cement to the FMS Tower and the Comcast Innovation and Technology Center.

Essroc has launched an app to help troubleshoot concrete and masonry issues.

Cemex Dominican Republic is investing in a new bagging, packing and palletizing line at its San Pedro de Macorís cement plant, mill improvements and widening its fleet to meet rising local demand.

According to the USGS, domestic production of construction materials was down 18% q/q in 4Q14, while gypsum production increased by 3% q/q.

EPA has announced the 70 Energy Star certified manufacturing plants in 2014, including 29 cement plants.

Argentina’s President tweeted in celebration of the 12.9% y/y rise in domestic Portland cement dispatches in February 2015.

The cement company and the NGO work together in many countries around the world to integrate biodiversity conservation into daily business operations.

Holcim Ecuador has inaugurated the second phase of its modernisation project at the Guayaquil cement plant, which enables it to produce 4500 tpd of clinker at the plant and represents an investment of US$400 million over the last 5 years.