Displaying items by tag: Launch
Attock Cement launches new production line
17 April 2024Pakistan: Attock Cement has announced the successful completion of a new production line at its cement plant in Hub, Baluchistan. This additional line is capable of producing 1.28Mt/yr of cement and commenced operation on 16 April 2024.
Global Cement and Concrete Association’s 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge to commence on 20 February 2024
07 February 2024UK: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) will launch the 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge on 20 February 2024. The programme aims to bring together select green technology start-ups and global cement producers. The GCCA will announce details of the challenge's topic at the launch event on 20 February 2024, featuring industry and start-up speakers, including previous challenge participants. Registration is accessible here on the GCCA website.
GCCA chief executive officer Thomas Guillot said "Innovation and new technologies will help unlock our industry’s net zero future. Join us on 20 February 2024 to hear about this year’s exciting challenge."
Register for the 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge3rd Innovandi Open Challenge
James Hardie launches 11mm Hardie Panel in the UK
08 January 2024UK: James Hardie has launched its new 11mm Hardie Panel fibre cement panel in the UK market. The producer says that the panel brings extra robustness in addition to the performance benefits of its existing 8mm Hardie Panel. It added that 11mm Hardie Panel is 50% cheaper than comparable products on the market.
Europe: Germany-based Heidelberg Materials has announced the launch of EvoZero carbon captured net zero cement. The company produces EvoZero cement at its Brevik cement plant in Norway. It says that this is the first cement to achieve net zero CO2 emissions through the use of carbon capture and storage (CCUS), without relying on other methods of compensation in its carbon accounting.
Heidelberg Materials chair Dominik von Achten said “The launch of our unique EvoZero products is a paradigm shift in the decarbonisation of our sector. Carbon capture and storage is a breakthrough technology for the building materials industry and we are frontrunners in deploying it at scale. With EvoZero, we are offering the industry’s most innovative, globally unique product for our customers, enabling them to drive cutting-edge, environmentally friendly construction projects. I am very proud of the dedication and passion of everyone involved in our pioneering project in Brevik.”
Hanson UK becomes Heidelberg Materials UK
02 October 2023UK: Germany-based Heidelberg Materials has introduced customers and investors to Heidelberg Materials UK, its UK subsidiary formerly known as Hanson UK. The latest rebrand signifies increasing collaboration across the group’s geographies as a global business with one voice. Heidelberg Materials UK will launch rebranded packaging for its cement and other products in early 2024 and transition its branding across its sites and vehicles by October 2025.
Heidelberg Materials UK CEO Simon Willis said “The construction sector faces global challenges such as climate change and the digitalisation of our industry; challenges we are better placed to meet as a strong, united group. Having a single brand name and identity sends a clear and consistent message to our increasingly global customers.” Willis added “It will allow us to work together to lead the field in driving down carbon emissions; promote the circular economy by recycling and reusing construction waste; develop digital solutions to provide added value to our customers and develop sustainable and innovative building materials.”
Hanson UK launches construction and demolition waste recycling business
20 September 2023UK: Hanson UK has launched a recycling business line to process construction and demolition waste. The business will supply recycled materials for use in Hanson UK’s operations.
CEO Simon Willis said “Promoting circularity by recycling, reusing and reducing the use of primary raw materials is crucial to reaching net zero. The development of a separate recycling business line will allow us to provide the most sustainable products to our customers through circularity and innovation, to enable building more with less. It is another significant step towards achieving our aim of being the industry leader in the supply of sustainable, circular products.”
Nuvoco Vistas launches Duraguard Microfibre fibre reinforced cement
15 September 2023India: Nuvoco Vistas has launched Duraguard Microfibre Cement, a fibre reinforced cement. The cement’s clinker is 48-52% tricalcium silicate, with low tricalcium aluminate, and contains electrostatically precipitated dry fly ash. The producer says that it offers enhanced bonding, crack resistance, strength and durability and reduced permeability, as well as a smoother surface finish, compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Nuvoco Vistas first applied for a patent for the product in mid-2018.
Managing director Jayakumar Krishnaswamy said "We prioritise innovation. Our Construction Development and Innovation Centre (CDIC) is dedicated to creating sustainable and innovative products that meet the highest global standards. The awarded patent validates our unwavering commitment to innovation and keeps us in the forefront of pioneering advances in the cement industry, delivering exceptional quality and responsible business practices."
Germany: Dyckerhoff has launched Dyckerhoff Weiss Blue Star, a pozzolanic white cement CEM IV/A (P) 42.5 R product. It was approved by the German cement association, the VDZ, in mid-June 2023 and is now being manufactured at the Amöneburg plant. The lower CO2 credentials of the new product have been promoted as it releases around 15% less CO2 compared to CEM I cements. It is also notable for being a blended white cement.
UK: SigmaRoc subsidiary CCP has launched Greenbloc Standard, Ultra and Premium. The new designations correspond to 50%, 80% and 100% cement substitution. Professional Builder News has reported that Using Greenbloc Standard reduces structures’ CO2 emissions by 77% compared with structures built with conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based blocks. For an average semi-detached house, this is equivalent to 2.7t of CO2.
CCP general manager Phil Rotheram said “The expansion of our Greenbloc range continues our commitment to sustainable alternatives to our product offering as we fully commit to the challenges of removing embodied carbon from the built environment.”
Greenbloc Ultra featured in a gold medal-winning garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023 in May 2023.
Europe: Cemex has launched its latest packaging design for its Vertua reduced-CO2 product range at the Low Carbon World exhibition in Paris, France. The new design incorporates products' scores across five 'sustainability attributes:' emissions reduction, energy efficiency, conservation of water, recycled content and design optimisation. Cemex will now deploy the design across Europe by June 2023.
Cemex's Europe, Middle East and Africa regional president Sergio Menendez said “Cemex is attuned to the need to focus on all aspects that can make a product more sustainable - not just achieving a lower carbon footprint. With the updated classification system for Vertua, customers can now more easily identify which of our products leverage the cutting-edge technology and innovation that will enable them to overcome the challenges they are currently facing in construction and renovation." Menendez concluded "The enhanced Vertua brand represents a more ambitious and stronger approach: from a group of low carbon products to a family of products and solutions that encompass more sustainable attributes and contribute to our company vision of building a better future.”