28 September 2023

Germany: Mexico-based Cemex has agreed to buy Kiesel, a manufacturer of mortars and adhesives, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is intended to grow Cemex’s Urbanization Solution business through bolt-on acquisitions. The acquisition will be subject to conditions including regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to be competed from the fourth quarter of 2023.

Sergio Menéndez, president of Cemex Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia said “This acquisition will enhance our Urbanization Solutions business and allow us to serve our customers better.” He continued, “We remain committed to increasing our capacity to serve growing urban markets with more sustainable and innovative solutions.”

Kiesel was originally founded in 1959 and serves markets in Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic. Its portfolio includes a range of products to ensure efficient installation of all types of floors or wall coverings, as well as mortars for the installation of ceramic and natural stone tiles.

Pakistan: Dewan Cement’s turnover rose by 22% year-on-year to US$69.8m in the year to 30 June 2023 from US$57.1m in the same period that ended in 2022. Its cost of sales increased by 29% to US$68.3m from US$52.8m. It reported a loss of US$2.03m compared to US$2.43m previously.

Kenya: East African Portland Cement (EAPCC) has raised the price of its 50kg bags of cement by around 3%. It said that it made the decision due to higher input costs, according to the Standard newspaper. In a statement David Kilonzo, acting head of commercial at EAPCC, said “Due to the continuous surge in raw materials prices, operating overheads and our commitment to maintain the premium brand quality that our customers have enjoyed over the years, we will be revising our prices upwards.”

Switzerland-based Holcim holds a 42% stake in EAPC through its subsidiaries, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) holds a 27% stake and the Kenyan government, through the National Treasury, holds a 25% share in the company.

Denmark: FLSmidth has signed a deal with Australia-based FCT ACTech to provide a new product for the online analysis of raw materials. Under the agreement, FLSmidth will incorporate FCT ACTech’s X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD) analysers in its new QCX Cube products. The partnership was formalised in August 2023.

Jens Asbjørn Pedersen, Global Product Manager for Sampling, Preparation and Analysis at FLSmidth, said “We are very pleased to be able to integrate FCT ACTech analyser units in our new QCX Cube analysis solutions for cement plants.” He continued, “We are starting with the launch of QCX Cube X10, which primarily targets raw meal applications, but it is our ambition to utilise FCT ACTech's innovative range of analyser units to also deliver advanced online XRD analysis solutions for clinker and cement.” He added that the company believes that such integrated solutions will provide ‘critical’ support for cement plants during the green transition, as alternative fuels and new secondary cementitious materials drive a need for further process and chemistry optimisation.

The QCX Cube X10 online elemental analyser is FLSmidth's newest analysis product for cement raw meal. Offering plug-and-play functionality, it includes sampling components, an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analyser and a fully programmed local control system that are delivered pre-assembled in an air-conditioned container. Analysis results for calcium, silicon, aluminium and iron are provided as standard. Sodium and magnesium analysis can be provided with the addition of a helium purge, while other elements are available on request after a site-specific evaluation. The product is designed to be integrated with FLSmidth’s optimisation software QCX/BlendExpert.

FCT ACTech is the analytical instruments division of FCT International. It has developed and supplied a continuous on-stream analyser for more than two decades with products now covering raw mix, clinker quality and cement blend control.

US: Buzzi Unicem USA’s Maryneal cement plant in Texas hit a production record of 1.03Mt of clinker and 1.18Mt of cement in 2022. The figures were more than 4% over the year’s budgeted figures. The plant says it achieved the result through consistent communication and a positive culture. Managers at the unit also shared updated production figures at daily meetings, kept all employees actively engaged and created an encouraging atmosphere. The plant has set new goals for 2023.

Antonio Corea Cruz, Operations Manager at the plant, said, “We’ve implemented strategies to keep reliable assets which allow the team members to work on continuous improvement. This affects the efficiency and productivity of all aspects of the plant.”

US: Lhoist North America says it intends to add lime production capacity in Texas. It stated that population growth in the south of the country had created increased demand for its calcium-based products, with customers having announced new steel mills, liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, lithium hydroxide production plants and water treatment facilities. In its view these expansions in multiple markets require lime both in the initial infrastructure build and in longer-term production processes.

The subsidiary of Belgium-based Lhoist said in mid-September 2023 that it was expecting to file permits for the expansion in the coming weeks and the location for the new production capacity will be revealed at a later date.

US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has announced the winners of its 2023 Safety Innovation and Chairman's Safety Performance Awards.

The Safety Innovation Award Program recognises companies that have developed innovative practices, projects and programs that improve safety at cement plants in the US. Entries are judged in five areas: innovation, ease of use and ease of construction, effectiveness and risk prevention. The recipients were:

• Distribution: Continental Cement, Continental Port Allen Terminal, Chesterfield, Missouri
• Quarry: CalPortland Company, CalPortland Oro Grande Plant, Oro Grande, California
• Pyroprocessing: GCC of America, GCC Tijeras Plant, Tijeras, New Mexio
• General Facility: Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, Mitsubishi Cushenbury Plant, Lucerne Valley, California

The Chairman’s Safety Performance Awards are given to member cement plants that did not have a reportable injury or illness during the year. Fifteen plants achieved this in 2023, which represented more than 10% of all active cement facilities in the US and its territories. The recipients were:

• Argos USA, Atlanta, Georgia
• Argos USA, Newberry, Florida
• Argos Puerto Rico Corp, Dorado, Puerto Rico
• Ash Grove Cement Company (CRH), Durkee, Oregon
• Ash Grove Cement Company (CRH), Midlothian, Texas
• Buzzi Unicem USA, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Buzzi Unicem USA, Maryneal, Texas
• CalPortland Company, Rillito, Arizona
• GCC of America, Odessa, Texas
• Heidelberg Materials, Bellingham, Washington
• Martin Marietta Materials, New Braunfels, Texas
• Martin Marietta Materials, Midlothian, Texas
• Martin Marietta Materials, Tehachapi, California
• National Cement Company of California, Kern, California
• St Marys Cement (Votorantim), Detroit, Michigan