Displaying items by tag: Latin America

Colombia: Grupo Argos grew its sales by 8% year-on-year to US$739m in the third quarter of 2024. It also grew its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), by 34%, to US$254m. As a result, net profit rose by 75%, to US$74.1m.

Latin America: Denmark-based FLSmidth says it has been awarded a new service contract with an unnamed cement producer in Latin America. The new contract builds on an existing relationship between the two companies and will last a period of 18 months. It will cover the complete production process, from quarry to packing plant. FLSmidth says that will support the customer in improving overall equipment efficiency and thus plant productivity. The scope of supply also includes training and mentoring of plant personnel to ensure successful execution of a jointly developed strategy long after the initial period of the contract ends. No value for the deal has been disclosed.

Jose Gil, Head of Service Execution - USA and Canada, FLSmidth, said “This contract is the result of conversations inspired by a reliability audit in the third quarter of 2022. From that, an action plan was developed in which FLSmidth has responsibility for the execution of activities in operations and the customer takes care of other support areas.” He added “The result is a tailored solution, encompassing a range of factors, including maintenance, reliability and operations, that will ultimately deliver much more efficient and productive cement plants.”

Switzerland: Holcim has launched the DYNAMax range of high-performance concretes. The producer says that the range offers higher compressive strength, rigidity and durability than its other concrete products. In 2022, it plans to begin marketing DYNAMax in ten markets in its Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America regions.

Chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said “I’m excited by the launch of our DYNAMax high-performance concrete, advancing our global range of innovative and sustainable building solutions. With today’s population and urbanisation trends, DYNAMax is an ideal material to build smarter cities. It offers high performance to build more with less with no compromise on aesthetics and functionality.”

US: Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim has announced the start of sales via its local subsidiaries of its ECOPact range of 30 - 100% reduced CO₂ concretes. Chief executive officer (CEO) Jan Jenisch said, “I am proud to introduce ECOPact, the industry’s broadest range of green concrete for high-performing, sustainable and circular construction.”

The company says that, where regulatory conditions allow, ECOPact products integrate upcycled construction and demolition materials, further closing the resource loop. ECOPact concretes will enter the Canadian, Latin American and UK markets in mid-late 2020. “With the roll-out of this Green Concrete, we are accelerating the transition to more sustainable building materials for greener construction,” added Jenisch.

Costa Rica/Latin America: LafargeHolcim has opened the 1000th store in its Disensa retail network in Latin America. The milestone store opened in Costa Rica in late December 2017. Since expanding its Disensa network beyond Ecuador in April 2017, the company has added around 500 Disensa-branded stores in Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico and Nicaragua. LafargeHolcim plans to continue its network expansion in Latin America by opening its first store in Brazil in early 2018.

“The roll-out of the group’s retail strategy in emerging markets such as Latin America is enabling us to get even closer to consumers,” said Oliver Osswald, Head Region Latin America at LafargeHolcim.

The Disensa network is intended to offer self-builders and smaller contractors access to LafargeHolcim’s own building solutions as well as other construction materials and services, including microcredit and technical help. The concept was developed in Ecuador as a franchise scheme. The group also launched its Binastore brand of retail stores in the Middle East and Africa in mid-2017, opening stores in Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Zambia.

Latin America: Cemex Latam Holdings, Cemex's Latin American subsidiary, has reported net consolidated sales of US$864m during the first half of 2014, representing a year-on-year rise of 6%. Company earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) fell year-on-year by 8% during the first six months of 2014, reaching US$283m, due to scheduled maintenance works. EBITDA levels are expected to improve during the second half of 2014. Cemex Latam Holdings recorded net profits of US$121.2m in January - June 2014, 14% down on the same period in 2013.