Displaying items by tag: Germany

Germany: Loesche GmbH has won the Deutscher Bildungspreis 2014 in the category 'Production: small and medium-sized enterprises,' for its training and management programmes. It beat 120 other companies to the award, which was awarded at a ceremonial event at the historic Munich Künstlerhaus on 12 May 2014.

The Deutscher Bildungspreis is presented annually by TÜV Süd Academy and EuPD Research Sustainable Management under the motto 'Learning from the best.' In four sector categories, companies are awarded for best education and talent management under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

"Loesche owes this success to the instruments of the demand-oriented personnel development introduced in 2008 as well as the close cooperation with the Loesche Training Center and the benefits for the staff associated with this," said Christian Trzeczak from Loesche's Corporate Human Resources department. "This result will further consolidate the employer brand Loesche and shows that we are on the right track towards a productive personnel development in the company."

Germany: Gebr. Pfeiffer has announced new orders for mills in Turkey, Iraq and Malaysia.

In Turkey, Bilim Makina has ordered four mills for a cement plant in Elazig. The order covers an MPS 250 BK roller mill with a drive power of 500kW for coal grinding and two safety shut-off dampers. The mill is designed to yield 35t/hr of petroleum coke, with the material being ground to a fineness of 3.5% R90 µm. A MPS 5000 B mill will be used for cement raw material grinding. The mill featuring a drive power of 3800kW will be capable of producing 470t/h of cement raw material ground to a fineness of 12% R 90µm. Two MPS 5000 BC vertical roller mills will be used for cement grinding. Each of the mills features a drive power of 4400kW and will grind 200t/h of Ordinary Portland Cement with a specific surface of 3400cm²/g acc to blaine. All four mills are scheduled to be delivered in the spring of 2015.

In Iraq, Sinoma Suzhou Construction, acting as general contractor, has ordered two MVR 6000 C-6 cement mills. The two MVR cement mills will come equipped with a conventional drive with an installed power of 6000kW. They will grind various cement qualities to the required fineness degrees between 3600 - 5500cm²/g depending on the product type, achieving capacities of 132 - 210t/hr. The cement mills are scheduled to be delivered at the end of 2014.

In Malaysia, Sinoma subsidiary Tianjin Cement Industry Design & Research Institute (TCDRI) has ordered one MPS 2800 BK coal mill for YTL Cement. Featuring an installed power of 700kW, the coal mill will be grinding 35t/hr of a sub-bituminous coal with a total moisture content of 25% to a product fineness of ≤10% R 90µm. The delivery of the mill is scheduled for the end of 2014.

Germany: Holcim has received unconditional clearance by the European Commission (EC) for its proposed acquisition of Cemex West in Germany. The decision follows a detailed Phase II review by the EC. Closing of the transactions is expected for the second half of 2014.

The acquisition in Germany is part of Holcim's strategic portfolio optimisation in Europe that includes a series of transactions together with Cemex, which is separate from the intention to merge with Lafarge.

Holcim said that the decision marks a further milestone towards the optimisation of its strategic portfolio in Europe, which was announced in 2013. It will allow Holcim to create value through an optimised footprint in north-western Germany. It will also allow it to further improve the service and support of existing and new customers.

The transaction includes one cement plant and two grinding stations with a total cement production capacity of 2.5Mt/yr, one slag granulator, 22 aggregates locations and 79 ready-mix concrete plants. They would be combined with Holcim's existing Northern German operations.

Germany: The European Commission (EC) is expected to give the green light to Holcim's planned acquisition of Cemex's German operations without conditions, according to Reuters, which cited two knowledgeable sources.

The transaction is part of several interconnected deals between the companies that were agreed in August 2013. The EC is currently examining the agreement to determine whether it could threaten competition and prompt price hikes. Its decision is due by 8 July 2014.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cemex will combine its cement, ready-mix and aggregates operations in Spain with those of Holcim and will hold a 75% stake in the enlarged firm. In addition, Cemex will take over Holcim's operations in the Czech Republic. Holcim will spend a total of Euro70m in cash on the deals.

In April 2014 the EC started an in-depth probe into Cemex's deal with Holcim in Spain and is due to unveil its decision until 5 September 2014. The local anti-trust watchdog approved the transaction in the Czech Republic in March 2014.

Germany: KHD has reported that it has started two modernisation projects for HeidelbergCement's cement plant in Lengfurt, Germany. These projects include the modernisation of the raw meal grinding unit with KHD SKS VC 3000 dynamic separator and the modernisation of an existing preheater with KHD's new PH5835 cyclones.

KHD's responsibility includes manufacturing, erection and commissioning for both projects. The raw meal grinding unit has been in operation since its successful installation in April 2014 and the installation of the new preheater cyclones is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2015.

Germany: HeidelbergCement has announced that its revenue and sales volumes increased in the first quarter of 2014, although it still made a loss for the period.

Revenue was up by 5.7% year-on-year for the quarter at Euro2.75bn, compared to Euro2.60bn in the first quarter of 2013. Operating income before depreciation (OIBD) was Euro229m, a 15.6% increase from Euro198m. The German multinational reported successful price increases and improved cost control as reasons behind the improved takings. Despite this, the group still reported a net loss of Euro108m for the period, although this constituted an improvement on the Euro187m that it lost in the first quarter of 2013.

HeidelbergCement reported that sales benefitted from warmer than usual weather in Europe. In North America sales volumes were adversely affected by the extremely low temperatures seen as the result of the polar vortex weather phenomenon. Elsewhere, the group reported that Asian and African markets 'continued to develop positively.' Across all of its markets, cement and clinker sales volumes rose by an average of 10% with Europe and Central Asia both reporting double-digit growth.

"Business development in the first quarter has strengthened our confidence in the outlook for the 2014 financial year," said HeidelbergCement's CEO Dr Bernd Scheifele. "Deleveraging in order to regain investment grade rating remains the highest priority for us. To this end, we will continue to be very disciplined in our spending in 2014 and focus more intensively on the sale of the building products business line in the United Kingdom and North America as well as other assets that do not belong to our core business. At the same time, we will remain on course with our successful strategy of targeted expansion of our cement capacities in growth markets."

Going forward, HeidelbergCement expects that North America will see a continuation of its economic recovery and some stabilisation in Eastern Europe. Further rises in demand are expected in Central Asia. In Western Europe, the group expects healthy growth in demand based on the strong fundamentals in Germany, the UK and Benelux.

Germany: The member companies of the German Cement Works Association (VDZ) elected a new board of directors on 8 April 2014. After a three-year period of tenure, VDZ president, Gerhard Hirth of Schwenk Zement was again confirmed in office. HeidelbergCement's Christian Knell, Spenner Zement's Dirk Spenner and Cemex Deutchland's Eric Wittmann were elected as vice presidents.

"I would like to thank our member companies for their support over the previous years and I look forward to the pending tasks," said VDZ president Gerhard Hirth. After some difficult years for the German cement industry, he takes a positive view and expects the demand for cement to grow in 2014 due to the favourable trend in terms of building permissions for both residential and non-residential construction, as already indicated by the good figures from domestic cement deliveries during the few first months 2014.

"The agreement with regard to the EU state aid procedure on the Renewable Energies Act (EEG) surcharge is also a great relief for German cement manufacturers," said Hirth. The complete elimination of the so-called special equalisation scheme would have burdened companies with more than Euro30,000 of additional power costs per job. Hirth added, "However, the sharpened competition pressure from abroad, which can be seen from the increase in cement imports and the sinking exports, continues to present our industry with enormous challenges together with the compliance with climate protection goals and emission reductions."

The German Cement Works Association has campaigned for the interests and concerns of German cement manufacturers for more than 135 years. Currently, 20 German cement manufacturers are full members of the Association, which, together with a total of 49 cement plants and around 7300 employees, produce around 32Mt/yr cement and generate a turnover of Euro2.2bn.

Germany: HeidelbergCement has announced its consolidated financial results for 2013. The year saw its revenue reach Euro14bn, a 3.4% increase year-on-year, with operating income 5.2% higher than 2012 at Euro1.61bn. Its profit was up by 79% year-on-year reaching Euro945m, with earnings per share more than doubling to Euro3.98.

The company said that it had brought the year to a 'successful close' in a difficult economic environment. It highlighted a return to steady economic growth in North America and Europe as well as continued growth in Asia and Africa.

"In 2013, we generated our best results since the financial crisis," said Dr Bernd Scheifele, Chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement. "This was mainly due to the successful implementation of our FOX 2013 programme, price increases in major markets, reduced financing costs and lower non-recurring charges. Consequently, we were able to improve revenue, operating income and operating margins in all our business lines on a comparable basis. At the same time, we clearly achieved our target of noticeably increasing profit for the financial year and earnings per share."

HeidelbergCement's cement sales volumes rose slightly year-on-year, driven by the positive development of sales volumes in the North America, Asia-Pacific and Africa-Mediterranean Basin group areas, which more than offset a decline in demand elsewhere, especially in Eastern Europe.

For 2014, HeidelbergCement expects continued improvement, including in Eastern Europe. "In 2014 we will benefit from economic development in industrial countries, particularly in North America, the UK, Germany and Northern Europe," said Scheifele. "These countries generate almost 50% of our revenue. Furthermore, we are improving our market position in growth markets with the commissioning of modern production facilities. In view of these factors, as well as our high operational efficiency, we consider ourselves well-equipped to benefit over-proportionally from the accelerating economic growth in the interests of our shareholders."

Germany: HeidelbergCement has announced its unaudited results for the fourth quarter of 2013 and the full year of 2013.

The German multinational cement producer reported revenues of Euro13.94bn for 2013, a 3.4% increase on 2012 (like-for-like), although revenue was slightly down (by 0.6%) in absolute terms. Operating income before depreciation was also up in like-for-like terms (2.0%) but was down by 2.1% across all business at Euro2.42bn. Operating income was flat at Euro1.61bn in 2013, a 5.2% rise like-for-like and a 0.2% rise in absolute terms.

For the fourth quarter of 2013, HeidelbergCement took revenues of Euro3.48bn (up 6.9% like-for-like and down 0.3% in absolute terms), had an operating income of Euro661m (up by 1.8% like-for-like and down 5.3% in absolute terms) and had an operating income of Euro463m (up by 12.4% like-for-like and up by 2.4% in absolute terms.

HeidelbergCement reported that its cement sales volumes rose slightly year on year, driven by the positive development in sales volumes in its North America, Asia-Pacific and Africa-Mediterranean Basin regions, which more than offset the decline in demand elsewhere, particularly in eastern Europe. It sold 91.3Mt of cement, cement clinker and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) in 2013, a rise of 1.4% in like-for-like terms and a rise of 2.6% in absolute terms.

In the fourth quarter of 2013 it sold 23.6Mt of cement, cement clinker and GGBS, which was 6.3% more than in 2012 in like-for-like terms and 7.5% more in absolute terms. HeidelbergCement said that its fourth quarter sales volumes had benefited from milder than usual weather that led to an extended construction season in Europe.

Western and northern Europe

For 2013 as a whole, HeidelbergCement reported that its interests in western and northern Europe benefited from the emerging recovery in demand for building materials in the UK, which was driven by private residential construction and large infrastructure projects in London. Sales volumes of cement at its UK plants increased from low levels by a double-digit percentage. In Benelux and Northern Europe, sales volumes were steady or saw only a marginal decline. Sales volumes in Germany diminished, partly as a result of the long period of bad weather at the beginning of 2013.

Despite a slight overall decline in sales volumes in this region, revenue before exchange rate effects remained largely stable thanks to successfully-implemented price increases. Falling energy costs also had a positive impact on operating income and profit margins.

Revenue for northern and western Europe was Euro4.15bn, a real-terms fall of 1.3% (a 0.3% fall like- for-like). Operating income was Euro319m, a 4.9% increase in real terms over 2012 (a 5.6% fall like-for-like). Cement sales for the region came in at 20.9Mt, a 1.8% fall when compared to 2012.

Eastern Europe and central Asia

Over the course of 2013, HeidelbergCement had a difficult year in eastern Europe and central Asia. In the first half of 2013, construction activities were adversely affected by the long winter and demand for building materials saw a decline in many countries of eastern Europe due to weak economic development and low infrastructure expenditure. In addition, prices were under pressure in a number of markets, the result of the combination of low demand and increased competition. Increases in sales volumes in Russia due to an increase in the capacity of the Tula plant near Moscow and a slight volume increase in Georgia did not compensate for the weak demand.

The situation improved in the second half of 2013. Poland was the first country in eastern Europe to show signs of a recovery. The fourth quarter was also boosted by a sustained period of mild weather. As a result, revenue and operating income improved despite negative exchange rate effects.

Revenue for the region in 2013 came to Euro1.34bn, a 4.2% decline like-for-like and a 6.9% decline in absolute terms. Operating income was Euro150m, a 20% drop in like-for-like terms and a 21.8% dip in absolute terms. Cement, clinker and GGBS sales for the region were 16.7Mt in 2013, a 2.9% drop in both real and like-for-like terms compared to 2012.

North America

In 2013 the recovery of cement demand continued in North America, driven particularly by growth in residential construction. HeidelbergCement reported that revenue and results in North America had benefited from successfully-implemented price increases in 2013 but that these parameters were also adversely affected by the weakening of the Canadian Dollar in comparison with the Euro.

Revenue for North America was Euro3.41bn in 2013, a 3.4% rise in like-for-like terms and a 1% fall in real terms. Operating income was Euro378m, a 19.9% rise in like-for-like terms and a 17.4% rise in real terms. HeidelbergCement sold 12.5Mt of cement, clinker and GGBS in North America in 2013, a 6.8% rise in both like-for-like and absolute terms.

Asia-Pacific

Demand for HeidelbergCement's products remained very strong in its Asia-Pacific region, with construction activity stimulated by the economic growth in the region. Sales volumes also benefited from the increase of its share in Cement Australia from 25% to 50%. The Asia-Pacific Group area recorded the largest negative exchange rate effect as a result of the weakness of the Indonesian Rupiah and Australian Dollar against the Euro.

Revenue for HeidelbergCement in Asia-Pacific came in at Euro3.42bn in 2013 as a whole, a 5.2% like-for-like rise year-on-year and a 1.7% fall in real terms. Operating income for the year was Euro686m, a 0.7% rise like-for-like and a 6.3% fall in absolute terms. The company sold 31.9Mt of cement, clinker and GGBS in the region, a 3% rise in like-for-like terms and a 6.3% rise in absolute terms.

Africa and Mediterranean basin

HeidelbergCement reported a continuation of positive demand development in Africa in 2013. It said that it was able to increase its cement deliveries, partly as a result of new capacity. The building materials business in Turkey also developed positively and only the Spanish market remained in decline in this region. Although revenue and results in the Africa-Mediterranean Basin Group area were also impaired by negative exchange rate effects, HeidelbergCement reported that it was able to improve these figures thanks to strong operational development in Turkey and Israel.

Outlook for 2014

In North America, HeidelbergCement reports that it expects a continuing economic recovery and consequently a further increase in demand for building materials.

In eastern Europe, a stabilisation of the national markets is expected following the weak phase experienced during 2013. Poland should be the first country in this area to benefit from the emerging recovery. In central Asia, a further rise in demand for building materials is anticipated. In western and northern Europe, positive market development is expected in all countries. This is based on the healthy economic development in Germany and northern Europe as well as a recovery in the UK and Benelux. In Asia and Africa, HeidelbergCement still expects sustained growth in demand.

"Considering the positive outlook for the world economy and our advantageous geographical positioning, we are cautiously confident about the future," said Bernd Scheifele, CEO of HeidelbergCement. "However, substantial macro-economic risks still remain. The effect of the tapering of the Federal Reserve on the currencies in emerging countries represents a considerable uncertainty. The decline in exchange rates in the second half of 2013 will also impair our revenue and results, particularly in the first half of 2014."

"We will focus on what we can directly influence: the management of our operational business," continued Scheifele. "In 2014, we will once again work on further improving our margins by means of our ongoing programmes and a continued focus on reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Price increases will continue to be at the forefront of our efforts in 2014."

The complete consolidated financial statements of HeidelbergCement including a full outlook will be published on 19 March 2014.

Germany: ENTECCOgroup announced on 2 December 2013 that it has acquired Turbofilter GmbH in order to further strengthen its activities in the steel and flue gas cleaning industry.

Turbofilter GmbH, founded by Fritz von Opel in Essen in 1958, has more than 50 years of experience in offering process-oriented solutions for industrial dust removal and flue and exhaust gas cleaning worldwide. It manufactures standard filters and complicated turnkey plants in the field of environmental technology.

"The union with the ENTECCOgroup and the restructuring of Turbofilter GmbH concerning long-term job and location security, as well as the positioning in the market, are the right steps at the right time. Together with the ENTECCOgroup we will speed up our expansion even faster," said Rainer Bertling and Jürgen Waller, shareholder and manager of Turbofilter GmbH.

ENTECCOgroup has made the environmental technology industry a priority. The industry expanded from US$560m in 2003 to US$744m in 2010 and currently employs more than 3.5 million workers in Europe. These numbers are expected to double by 2020.