The Americas

St Marys Cement has received county approval for a proposal to upgrade the Charlevoix plant in northern Michigan; Dixon waits for news.

The Aumund Group has expanded the reach of its after-sales service network with the establishment of a new service centre in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Bedeschi will supply a storage system and a crushing group for the Primavera project at Votorantim’s plant in Curimba, Brazil.

A number of cement producers are supporting the Concrete Industry Management programme’s 10th annual auction at World of Concrete.

According to Venezuelan minister Ricardo Molina, cement output is expected to rise from 7 million tpy to 9 million tpy in 2015, and reach 12 million tpy by 2017.

Edward J. Sullivan, PCA Chief Economist and Group Vice-President, will discuss the possible impact of the current oil situation on the construction industry at World of Concrete 2015, including potential near-term gains in the US housing market.

Atlas Copco has been listed in the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index for the ninth time.

New US construction starts in December fell by 16% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of US$568.2 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics.

FLSmidth A/S and Haldor Topsoe A/S have entered into a cooperation agreement aimed at commercialising their EnviroTex™ catalytic filter bag technology on a global scale.

A round-up of some of this week’s key cement sector news items, from construction activity forecasts to sustainability.

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 rating for Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua reflects the company’s strengthening position in an improved market.

The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have released figures for new residential construction in December 2014.

For the second consecutive year, Argos received the Silver Class distinction in RobecoSAM’s 2015 Sustainability Yearbook.

Speaking at the 2015 International Builders’ Show, the Portland Cement Association’s Ed Sullivan forecast a 20% rise in housing starts in the US in 2015.