Displaying items by tag: Holcim UK

UK: Gauthier Autrand has been appointed as the new Plant Manager of Holcim UK’s Cauldon cement plant in Staffordshire, England. He has more than 20 years of construction experience in the UK and around the world, having managed significant facilities in France, Belgium and Kazakhstan. Throughout his career, he has spent much time developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)-related partnerships with politicians in various countries to bring the education system in line with the specific needs of the construction industry, and to help address the sector’s growing skills gap.

Holcim UK’s Cauldon cement plant is central to Holcim UK’s involvement in the Peak Cluster initiative, one of the UK’s ‘most ambitious’ CCUS projects. Set to launch in 2031, Peak Cluster aims to capture CO₂ from cement and lime production in Staffordshire and neighbouring Cheshire and Derbyshire, safely storing it under the Irish Sea.

UK: Holcim UK will roll out Fuelre4m’s Re4mx fuel reforming technology across more than 200 sites nationwide, following three years of testing that the company says improved fuel efficiency and helped reduce emissions across operations.

Holcim UK supply chain director Edern Lalanne said “This agreement is the result of meticulous testing, collaboration and operational learning. We have seen consistent results with Re4mx across a wide range of use cases, and it aligns directly with our commitment to sustainable innovation and operational excellence. This is about measurable outcomes, not promises, and Fuelre4m has delivered both the data and the support to back it up. This is part of our mission to make sustainable construction a reality and continues our journey to achieve net-zero by 2050.”

Re4mx will be delivered in pre-measured containers and dosed directly into on-site fuel systems. Holcim says that the rollout has been designed for ease, speed and zero disruption to infrastructure or workflows. Manufacturing is underway, with shipments to the UK beginning once production is complete. From there, Re4mx will be distributed site-by-site across Holcim’s network, through Fuelre4m’s VIRDIS (Virtual Distribution) system, in preparation for full dosing from 1 September 2025.

UK: Holcim UK has published a report called ‘Making Sustainable Construction a Reality’ outlining its plans to support sustainable construction following a survey. It details trends shaping construction and the five commitments the company is making to ensure it reaches a more sustainable future. The key areas include: decarbonisation; circular economy and waste reduction; smarter construction; people and communities; and integrating nature.

The research, involving 2000 participants, revealed that 41% of the group thought that the UK’s urban spaces are currently built sustainably. In addition, 82% of the group believed there should be more access to green spaces across the country, 69% thought that the government should take the lead in driving sustainable action and 54% also held the opinion that businesses must play a key role. Finally, 80% wanted companies to be more transparent about their sustainability policies.

Lee Sleight, CEO at Holcim UK, said “Our research indicates that many recognise the need to incorporate more green spaces across the nation. Yet, it is clear that the government and businesses must work together to achieve this.” He added that the subsidiary of Holcim is addressing the challenges identified through methods such as accurate reporting, higher usage of alternative fuels, its sustainable product ranges and its ongoing Nature Strategy. Projects part of the latter initiative include planting a 64 hectare woodland at Glensanda Quarry in Scotland.

UK: Aggregate Industries has rebranded as Holcim UK. The company operates over 200 sites across the UK with 4000 employees. Following 20 years as a UK-based subsidiary of Holcim Group, the new direction sees the business align more closely with its Swiss-based parent company, which operates across 70 countries and employs over 60,000 people worldwide.

Holcim UK CEO Lee Sleight said “Our evolution from Aggregate Industries to Holcim UK is much more than a rebrand. It represents a commitment to leading the sector towards a more sustainable future through a commitment to innovation and collaboration.”