Displaying items by tag: construction
Pakistan: The government of Punjab has granted no-objection certificates (NOCs) for 22 new cement plants. Pakistan Press International News has reported that 10 plants are currently under construction in the state.
Turkey: 120,000 members of the Construction Contractors Confederation (IMKON) downed tools on 9 September 2021 in protest against high cement prices. Emerging Market Watch News has reported that the strike will last until 21 September 2021 or until ‘satisfactory developments.’
The Ministry of Trade has tightened procedural restrictions on exporting clinker. Trade Minister Mehmet Mus is in talks with construction and cement industry representatives.
Australia: Adbri’s first-half sales in 2021 were US$545m, up by 7% year-on-year from US$508m in the first half of 2020. The group’s cement and clinker volumes increased by 11%. It said that this was due to a rise in demand in the eastern states of Australia and the recommencement of regular supply to a customer in South Australia. The group increased its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to US$64.0m, up by 81% from US$35.3m. Its net profit increased by 95% to US$41.1m from US$21.1m.
CEO Nick Miller said “Adbri delivered a robust first half financial performance for 2021 recording solid growth in revenue and profits with improving margins as demand for construction materials rebounded, supported by increased residential housing activity and infrastructure spending.” He added that full-year 2021 earnings would increase less sharply year-on-year than first-half earnings have, due partly to the anticipated impacts of the opening of a rival cement terminal in New South Wales in the second half of the year.
Lafarge Canada supplies EcoPact Zero concrete in Canada
24 August 2021Canada: Lafarge Canada has supplied the first EcoPact Zero near-zero net CO2 ready-mix concrete in Canada. The subsidiary of Switzerland-based Holcim supplied the concrete to a Habitat for Humanity housing development site in Kingston, Ontario.
France: Cemex France has supplied 40,000m3 to the site of the now completed Paris Duo Towers in Paris, Île-de-France. The company also provided construction waste removal services through its multimodal transport network. The producer said that the strong commitment of its technical teams ensured the success of the operation. It said that excellent communication between its various departments and the concrete production teams enabled ‘smooth and consistent’ concrete deliveries.
Cobod using 3D printer to build house in Arizona
14 June 2021US: Cobod’s modular BOD2 3D construction printer is being used to build a 160m2 residential house in Tempe, Arizona. The new house will be ready for its occupants by September 2021. The building has been designed by Candelaria Associates.
General manager Henrik Lund-Nielsen said, “Our 3D construction technology and printers have enjoyed immense success in Europe, Africa, The Middle East, and Asia. Obviously, due to our long-term cooperation with GE, we have some success with US customers also. Still, we are really pleased that our printers are now beginning to make a stronger inroad into the US construction market. More and more US companies realise that our technology is superior to what local suppliers can deliver. Our printers have done buildings in two US states now and more will follow in the coming months.”
UK construction sector increases research and development spending by 8% year-on-year to Euro432m in 2020
01 April 2021UK: Business consultant Catax has reported an 8% year-on-year rise in the UK construction sector’s research and development spending in 2020 to Euro432m from Euro401m in 2019. Total UK spending in the area across all sectors grew by 5% year-on-year to Euro45.1m. Gross domestic product fell by 9%.
Chief executive officer Mark Tighe said, “The pandemic stopped businesses in their tracks but those reliant on innovation clearly didn’t take their foot off the gas.” He added, “The construction sector shut completely in the first lockdown but, even so, the industry still grew its research and development spending on an annual basis last year. This will put the sector on a strong footing as we recover from the impact of the pandemic.”
Germany: Denmark-based COBOD has supplied its BOD2 3D construction printer to the site of the world’s first 3D printed commercial apartment building in Wallenhausen, Bavaria. COBOD partner PERI will use the product to print a 380m2 complex, consisting of five apartments across three stories.
General manager and founder of COBOD Henrik Lund-Nielsen said, “We are incredibly pleased, that we are beginning to see the fruits of the many 3D construction printers we have sold. The actual building projects have been delayed by the Coronavirus outbreak, but now they start to be revealed. This new German project is really a great milestone as the commercial nature of the building proves the competitiveness of the 3D construction printing technology for three floors buildings and apartment buildings. This, again, opens entirely new markets for our printers.”
Australia: Adelaide Brighton has recorded a net profit of US$21.1m in the first half of 2020, compared to a US$13.0m loss in the first half of 2019. Revenues fell by 7.3% to US$508m from US$548m due to a 12% construction decline over the period, according to the company. Residential construction fell by 16%, however mining and infrastructure activity remained consistent with levels in the first half of 2019. Adelaide Brighton said, “Cement demand is likely to continue to benefit from a strong production outlook for gold, nickel, and iron ore in particular, and stable demand from the alumina sector.”
Sunchon Cement supplies flood reconstruction efforts
26 August 2020North Korea: The state-run KCNA news agency has announced that cement, iron and steel and timber production units throughout North Korea are ‘pushing forward’ with production to supply building materials to flood-ravaged areas, including in Unpha County (North Hwanghae Province) and Ichone County (Kangwon Province). It stated that the Sunchon Cement plant had provided 10,000t of cement to reconstruction sites in ‘a short span of time.’