Displaying items by tag: Europe

France: Axians IAS has successfully implemented its VAS Yard Management software at its 1000th plant. The system is designed to digitise and optimise loading and logistics in the bulk materials industry. It went live across all 14 Heidelberg Materials France cement facilities, including nine production plants and five terminals. The 1000th site is Heidelberg’s Bruneseau terminal in Paris, where the software now manages fully automated truck loading without requiring on-site personnel. In the first week following the rollout, the 14 plants processed more than 3000 delivery notes involving both trucks and full trains.

Jean-Luc Degrange, project manager at Heidelberg Materials France, said “Planning and executing the rollout of this large-scale project across 14 plants was a unique challenge for our team and Axians. Together, we successfully completed this project. We congratulate Axians IAS on its 1000th implementation and wish them continued success with the next 1000 deployments.”

Spain: IKN is progressing with its satellite replacement project at Grupo Cementos Portland Valderrivas’ Fábrica Els Monjos plant. The project includes the replacement of a cooler with an IKN grate cooler, with a new cooler building, burner and a complete vent air dedusting system. On pier two, IKN is fitting a new shell section and replacing the equipment on the pier, including a new base frame, rollers with bearings and CFU.

The company reported two major milestones: the new kiln section, including the tyre, was successfully lifted into place as one piece, shortening installation time; and the pre-assembly and positioning of the cooler, which was moved into its final position.

Greece: As of 10 September 2025, Heracles Group will permanently discontinue its 50kg cement bag, becoming the first company in the Greek construction sector to fully transition to smaller bag sizes, according to a press release. The company said that the decision ‘responds to market needs,’ while setting new standards for healthy and safety and efficiency on site.

The company said that the move is expected to ‘significantly improve’ daily operations across construction sites, creating better working conditions and boosting productivity. According to the company, key benefits of the new packaging include reduced strain and fewer injuries on site, easier handling and transport, compliance with European occupational health and safety standards and minimised waste.

France: Lafarge France has signed a nuclear production allocation contract (CAPN) with EDF to secure a long-term supply of low-carbon electricity for its cement plants. The deal allocates part of the capacity from EDF’s operating nuclear fleet to Lafarge France for more than 10 years under a cost and risk-sharing mechanism tied to actual volumes produced.

The partnership aims to cover part of the electricity consumption of Lafarge’s most energy-intensive sites in France, reducing the company’s carbon footprint while ensuring competitiveness and local presence, according to EDF.

Xavier Guesnu, CEO of Lafarge France, said “At Lafarge, we are already activating all levers to reduce the carbon footprint of cement, from research and development to the industrialisation of new low-carbon products and the use of alternative energies, such as biomass. This partnership gives us visibility and access to decarbonised energy, which are essential elements for continuing our investments aimed at large-scale production of very low-carbon or even carbon-neutral cements.”

UK: Cemex UK has announced a partnership with The Pallet LOOP to roll out reusable pallets for its Rugby Cement products from October 2025. The company said that it is the first cement manufacturer to adopt the LOOP system. The initiative forms part of Cemex’s ‘Future in Action’ strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Initially, the LOOP pallets will be used for the core Rugby packed range, including Premium Cement (paper and plastic bags), High Strength and Sulphate, with expansion across the portfolio planned for later phases.

Vicki Elliott, national sales manager for bagged cement at Cemex UK, said “This is a significant step forward for the cement industry. We’ve supported The Pallet LOOP from day one, signing its charter back in 2022. Now, we’re proud to be the first in our sector to integrate this solution into our supply chain. It’s about doing the right thing, as simply as possible: reducing waste, cutting carbon and helping our customers make more sustainable choices.”

The Pallet LOOP addresses the construction sector’s reliance on single-use pallets, of which fewer than 10% are reused, generating over 250,000t/yr of wood waste, according to the company. The Pallet LOOP’s FSC-certified pallets are built for multiple trips and backed by a nationwide collection service that offers financial incentives for returns.

Europe: PyroGenesis has signed a US$871,000 contract with a European cement industry customer to supply a plasma torch system for a calciner. The client’s name has not been disclosed for competitive and confidentiality reasons. The system will replace fossil fuel-based heating with plasma technology to provide a ‘cleaner, more efficient’ method for high-temperature calcination, according to the company. Delivery is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

Ireland/UK: Mannok has completed Phase 1 of a two-phase upgrade to its pyroprocessing system with the installation of a new satellite burner in collaboration with FLSmidth. The €2.5m project enables the use of solid recovered fuel (SRF) as a replacement for coal, achieving up to 30% substitution and reducing CO₂ emissions by 23,000t/yr.

Phase 2 will involve upgrading the main burner to a Jetflex system, targeting 65–70% coal substitution across the kiln. Mannok produces about 1.4Mt/yr of cement for customers across the UK and Ireland.

Greece: Heracles Group, a member of Holcim, has commissioned a 6.5MW solar power station at its Milaki plant, equipped with more than 11,000 panels. The facility is now fully operational.

The installation is expected to generate about 10,000MW/yr of electricity, covering a significant share of the plant’s energy needs and cutting CO₂ emissions by 2350t/yr.

UK: Cement production dropped to 7.3Mt in 2024, the lowest level since 1950 and around 50% of 1990 volumes, according to the Mineral Products Association (MPA). Imports have nearly tripled over the past 20 years, rising from 12% of sales in 2008 to 32% in 2024, leaving supply chains more dependent on volatile international markets.

Diana Casey, executive director for cement and lime at the MPA, said “We’re calling on the government to help put domestic production on a level playing field so that it can compete fairly with imports. The UK has a choice: to build these vital development projects with UK-made cement, or to build them with imports – sending jobs, investment and economic growth overseas.”

The MPA said that high energy, regulatory and labour costs are threatening competitiveness and jobs, with 40% of cement produced in the Peak District and 60% across the rest of the UK. The group said the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) due in 2027 must be paired with a procurement policy that prioritises domestic cement.

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies recorded revenues of €3.5m in the first half of 2025, up by 8% year-on-year, driven by increased cement sales volumes. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were -€5.7m, down from -€3.1m in the first half of 2024. Net income stood at -€8.4m, compared to -€5.0m in the first half of 2024, following higher depreciation and amortisation charges.

Production reached 19,640t, more than 2.5 times the 7833t produced in the first half of 2024, already exceeding total 2024 volumes. Cement was supplied to over 130 sites nationwide, producing more than 60,000m³ of clinker-free concrete delivered by 10,000 truck mixers. The company targets 50,000t of cement sold by the end of 2025 and positive EBITDA, subject to the signing of new licensing agreements.

Co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said “The first half of 2025 was characterised by a significant increase in our production volumes. Unlike the first half of 2024, during which we received a €2m entry fee from our American partner, all of our half-yearly revenue for 2025 is generated from cement sales, reflecting its growing adoption within the construction sector. Finally, we reiterate all of our objectives for 2030 and are targeting sales of 50,000t by the end of 2025, with the second half of the year traditionally being more favourable to the company's activity.”