Displaying items by tag: HeidelbergCement
Suez Cement turns to profit in 2018
06 March 2019Egypt: Suez Cement’s sales rose by 15% year-on-year for Euro375m in 2018 from US$326m in 2017. It reported a profit of Euro6.14m in 2018 compared to a loss of Euro57.2m in 2017, according to Mubasher.
Sweden: Cementa says that it plans to stop production of cement and clinker at its Degerhamn cement plant at the end of April 2019. The subsidiary of Germany’s HeidelbergCement said that it made the decision due to low profitability at the site and tightening environmental regulations.
The unit will continue to be used as a terminal and port operations will carry on at the site. Microcement will also continue to be made at the plant. The site’s quarry permit will be withdrawn but Cementa will continue to own the land and it will be gradually be restored. Six staff members will work at the site and a new site manager, Tommy Pettersson, has been appointed.
US: Lehigh Cement’s Mitchell plant in Indiana has won a 2019 Governor’s Workplace Safety Award for innovations as a medium-sized company. The awards are issued by the Indiana Department of Labor.
The subsidiary of Germany’s HeidelbergCement recorded no lost-time accidents in 2018 and the plant has not had a lost-time accident since September 2015, according to the Herald Times newspaper. The company uses a Safety Action Plan with specific targets that focus on areas of significant risk, including critical risk management and zero fatalities. It also runs weekly safety conversations between employees to raise health and safety issues with management.
Akçansa’s sales rise by 13% to Euro285m in 2018
27 February 2019Turkey: Akçansa’s sales revenue grew by 13% year-on-year to Euro285m in 2018 from Euro252m in 2017. Its net profit increased by 21% to Euro29.8m from Euro24.7m. The joint venture between Sabancı Holding and Germany’s HeidelbergCement attributed its sales growth to continued efforts to protect its domestic market against competition and its growth overseas. Umut Zenar, Akçansa General Manager, said that the company started exporting products from Ambarlı Port in 2018. The cement producer aims to double its exports during 2019.
Ghacem links Kumasi terminal to central logistics system
26 February 2019Ghana: Ghacem has linked its Kumasi terminal to the Data One server, a logistics product, to centralise sales and ordering processing. It follows requests by distributors following a survey, according to the Ghanaian Times newspaper. Sales and orders at the terminal will now use a similar system to that at the company’s plants at Tema and Takoradi. Plans are now being prepared to link the company’s other terminals – at Tamale, Buipe, Techiman and Dwenase – to the system.
HeidelbergCement reduces stake in Ciments du Maroc
25 February 2019Morocco: HeidelbergCement has sold a 7.8% share of its stake in Ciments du Maroc to an unnamed local investor for around Euro140m. Following the transaction the German building materials producer retains a controlling share of 54.6% in its subsidiary. It has reduced its stake in Ciments du Maroc as part of its action plan to optimise its portfolio and improve cash generation. The group has a target of Euro1.5bn of asset divestments by the end of 2020.
“HeidelbergCement is fully committed to remain the long-term majority shareholder of Ciments du Maroc, a key strategic asset within the group’s portfolio,” said Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board of HeidelbergCement.
Bernd Scheifele to step down as chairman of HeidelbergCement in 2020
20 February 2019Germany: Bernd Scheifele has decided to step down as chairman of the managing board of HeidelbergCement in February 2020 after 15 years in the post. He will be succeeded by Dominik von Achten, the current deputy chairman. Scheifele will then be proposed for election as successor to the chairman of the supervisory board at the annual general meeting 2022.
In other changes to the group’s managing board, Lorenz Näger will remain chief financial officer (CFO) until May 2022 and then become deputy chairman of the managing board. Jon Morrish, previously the head of North America, will take on responsibility for Western and Southern Europe from Von Achten in 2020. Chris Ward, currently head of the Canada region, will be promoted to the managing board and take on responsibility for North America from Jon Morrish. Ernest Jelito, currently the head of HeidelbergCement’s activities in Poland, will be promoted to the managing board and take on responsibility for Northern and Eastern Europe-Central Asia from Albert Scheuer, who will leave the managing board in August 2019.
“The changes in 2020 are part of long-term succession planning for the Supervisory Board and Managing Board of HeidelbergCement,” said Fritz-Jürgen Heckmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of HeidelbergCement AG. “Since assuming office in 2005, Dr Bernd Scheifele has decisively shaped the Group and successfully moved it into new dimensions both operationally and strategically. By introducing effective management processes and a lean organisation, he significantly increased the competitiveness of HeidelbergCement, propelling us to the forefront of the industry. He has also overseen expansion of our geographic footprint and the scope of our core activities and made HeidelbergCement the leading vertically integrated building materials company globally,” said Fritz-Jürgen Heckmann, chairman of the supervisory board of HeidelbergCement. He added that the changes in 2020 are part of long-term succession planning for the supervisory board and managing board of HeidelbergCement,”
Dominik von Achten has served as the deputy chairman of the managing board since 2015. He has been a member of the Managing Board since 2007 with responsibility for North America Group area and other topics. Currently, he is in charge of the Western and Southern Europe Group area and the Competence Center Materials. As Chief Digital Officer, he also oversees the digital transformation and digital ventures.
Lorenz Näger has been the CFO of HeidelbergCement since 2004. In addition, he is the head of finance, accounting, controlling, tax, treasury, insurances and risk management, information technology (IT) and shared service centre.
Ernest Jelito joined HeidelbergCement in 1982 and held various technical and management positions before taking over as Director Global HTC in 2009. Since 2015 he has worked as General Manager Poland.
Chris Ward has been with the group since 1996, holding various management positions in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas before taking on responsibility for the aggregates business in the Southeast region of the US. Currently, he is responsible for the Canada region in the North America Group area.
Germany: Poor weather in the US and lower asset sales than expected reduced HeidelbergCement’s earnings in 2018. Its operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 6.8% year-on-year Euro3.07bn in 2018 from Euro3.3bn in 2017. Its revenue rose by 4.7% to Euro18.1bn from Euro17.3bn. Cement sales volumes grew by 3.4% to 130Mt from 126Mt and ready-mix concrete volumes increased by 3.7% to 49Mm3 from 47.2Mm3.
“In operational terms, we were almost able to offset the impact of adverse weather conditions, particularly in the US, and the higher than expected cost inflation through growth in sales volumes and price increases,” said Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board. He added that the company achieved record sales volumes and revenues in 2018. He also said that its action plan is producing its first results, with a reduction in debt to below Euro8.4bn due to portfolio ‘optimisation’ and spending discipline.
By region the group reported that construction activity in North America was hampered by a long winter in the north and heavy rainfall, particularly in the north and southwest of the US. A ‘strong’ level of construction was noted in the group’s Northern and Eastern Europe-Central Asia Group area leading to revenue increases. In Asia-Pacific its operating EBITDA fell by 4.4% due in part to high competition in Indonesia and infrastructure project delays in Thailand. Cement sales volumes growth was reported in most counties in Sub-Saharan Africa.
FYM-HeidelbergCement to invest Euro2.5m at Port of Malaga
15 February 2019Spain: FYM-HeidelbergCement plans to invest Euro2.5m in a new 4900m2 plot at the Port of Malaga. The company will use the unit to export cement and clinker, according to the La Opinión de Málaga newspaper. At present the cement producer exports 0.5Mt/yr of clinker to markets in Africa, South America and Europe. FYM-HeidelbergCement operates an integrated cement plant in Malaga.
HeidelbergCement India’s sales grow
13 February 2019India: HeidelbergCement India’s sales rose by 11.9% year-on-year to US$222m in the nine months to 31 December 2018 from US$202m in the same period in 2017. Its expense increased by 3.5% to US$193m from US$186m. Its net profit nearly doubled to US$22.6m. The cement producer reported a strong third quarter of its 2017 – 2018 financial year due to improved construction activity in central India.