The Americas

US-based Vulcan Materials Company has announced the completion of six further acquisitions in 3Q.

Cemex has entered into a new credit agreement for US$1.35 billion with nine of the main lending banks from its Facilities Agreement dated 17 September 2012.

The Cement Association of Canada has announced its support of the government of Ontario’s renewed commitment to developing “new alternative fuel rules in 2014 to help big, energy-intensive industries reduce their GHG emissions.”

A report from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) calls for investment in infrastructure to maintain competitiveness with other nations.

DANE has released the latest cement statistics for Colombia, which indicate a rise in grey cement production and domestic dispatches in August 2014, the January – August period, and over the last 12 months.

According to researchers at Rice University, MIT and Marseille University, concrete can be better and more environmentally friendly by paying attention to its atomic structure.

Cohrs will serve as chairman of CTLGroup’s Board of Directors, in addition to his current role as president of American Cement Company, LLC, and chair of the PCA’s Board of Directors.

Votorantim has opened up the application process for its 2015 Trainee Programme, which offers 42 places across its cement, metals, energy and steel divisions.

Winners were selected out of a total of 31 finalists from around the world, each recognised for excellence in a specific area of climate action.

Cementos Argos, in collaboration with EAFIT University, is constructing a new Innovation Center in Medellín, Colombia.

The Holcim Foundation has recognised 13 projects in the US and Canada for innovation in sustainable construction at this year’s award ceremony in Toronto.

Launched at the CSI Forum in Cartagena, the guidance aims to provide practical advice on the implementation of biodiversity into quarry management.

The International Finance Corporation, together with the IIP, has published a report on ‘Waste Heat Recovery for the Cement Sector: Market and Supplier Analysis’, and plans to encourage the take-up of WHR technology in growth markets.

According to the USGS, uncalcined gypsum sales achieved double-digit growth in 2Q14, with mined, synthetic and calcined gypsum also experiencing increases.

Three proposed new standards will emphasise the role of sustainable materials available for use in the road and paving industry.