Displaying items by tag: Product

Liberia: Liberia Cement Corporation (CEMENCO) has introduced Superplast 22.5X, a new product that is specifically designed for use in plastering and laying blocks and tiles. Speaking at the launch on 25 September 2023, William Gaignard, CEMENCO’s General Manager, emphasised the historic importance of this product, highlighting its overall affordability, making it accessible for all Liberians to build their homes at a lower cost. Expressing his desire to witness a shift from mud houses to sustainable and economical homes made using concrete, Gaignard said that 50kg bags of Superplast 22.5X would cost 19% less than the average price of cement in Liberia.

"Today marks a significant moment in our journey here at CEMENCO,” said Gaignard. “When we do business, we have to assess our position in the market. Are we the leaders? If not, we must find solutions to become leaders. If we are the leaders, we must find solutions to maintain our position. This requires innovation, understanding the challenges faced by citizens and working towards solutions."

Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor, who was present at the launch, praised CEMENCO for its forward-thinking approach in ensuring affordable cement for non-load-bearing applications in the local market. However, she urged the company to provide clear guidance to the public on the proper usage of the cement to avoid misuse, particularly in the production of load-bearing structures, for which it should not be used.

India: 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."

Egypt: Lafarge Egypt has confirmed that it is aiming to reduce its CO₂ emissions in excess of 20% by 2030. Its key steps to achieve this include increasing its use of alternative fuels and lowering its clinker factor, according to the Daily News Egypt newspaper. Chief executive officer Jimmy Khan added that the company is also working on developing digital methods to reduce emissions by improving transport logistics. The cement producer launched its Shatbna Masonry Cement product in 2022, part of parent company Holcim’s ECOPlanet range.

Holcim has set a worldwide target to reduce its gross Scope 1 CO₂ emissions from cement production of 22% by 2030 from a baseline of 590kg/t in 2018. It reported a 5% reduction to 562kg/t in its 2022 sustainability report. Ultimately the group is targeting net zero emissions from its activities by 2050.

Canada: Heidelberg Materials says that its integrated Delta cement plant in British Columbia has switched to exclusively producing its EcoCem Portland limestone cement (PLC). EcoCem PLC is a Portland limestone cement that contains up to 15% limestone and generates approximately 10% less CO₂ compared to other Portland cements. It has equivalent performance to ASTM and CSA standards for Type I/II Portland cement in strength and durability, and can be used in any application where Portland cement Type I is normally used.

Prior to the full transition to PLC production, the plant had already taken steps to reduce its CO2 emissions by using alternative fuels. The Delta cement plant has been in operation since the 1970s.

New Zealand: Fletcher Building recorded sales of US$5.07bn during the 2023 financial year, down slightly year-on-year from US$5.08bn in the 2022 financial year. Its earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) fell by 29% to US$296m from US$419m. The drop in earnings was mainly attributed to additional costs allocated to the New Zealand International Convention Centre and Hobson Street Hotel project. Adjusted for significant items, the group’s EBIT rose by 6% to US$477m from US$452m.

Throughout the year, Fletcher Building’s cement subsidiary Golden Bay Cement co-processed 100,000t of waste as alternative fuel (AF). The producer awarded a bottom ash supply contract to Huntly Power Station. It also launched EcoZero carbon neutral cement, which is its EcoSure reduced-CO₂ cement with the remaining emissions offset.

Chief executive officer Ross Taylor said “Looking forward to the 2024 financial year, we expect some further tightening in our overall volumes and so our focus remains on strong customer performance, cost control and pricing disciplines across our businesses. We have shown we are well equipped to continue performing solidly through the cycle.”

Switzerland: Holcim recorded 7.4% year-on-year growth in its organic sales to US$15.3bn in the first half of 2023. However, in real terms, its sales fell by 11% year-on-year from US$17.1bn during the first half of 2022. Its sales of cement grew by 13.8% on an organic basis to US$7.93bn, down by 21% in real terms from US$10bn. Cement constituted 52% of revenues, compared to 58% in the first half of 2022. Holcim's group share of net income rose by 9% to US$1.47bn from US$1.35bn.

Chair and chief executive officer Jan Jenisch noted 'continued profitable expansion' in the growing North American market and 'accelerated green growth' in the group's Europe and Latin America regions. He said “In line with our Strategy 2025 - Accelerating Green Growth, we reduced our overall CO₂/net sales by 18% while building billion-dollar brands with ECOPact and ECOPlanet. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of decarbonising Europe with three additional grants from the EU Innovation Fund for our carbon capture, utilisation and storage projects, making us the first in our sector with five projects supported by the EU. We look forward to finishing the year strong and to further decarbonising building.” Jenisch concluded that the results 'confirm Holcim’s strong positions across all markets, delivering superior profitability and growth with leading sustainable building solutions and brands.'

Canada: Holcim subsidiary Lafarge Canada has successfully transitioned its Richmond cement plant to exclusively producing ECOPlanet reduced-CO2 cement. The company says that cement produced at the plant in British Columbia will offer at least 30% reduced CO2 emissions compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC).

Lafarge Canada West president and chief executive officer Brad Kohl said “This is a proud moment for our organisation. This conversion in Lafarge’s Western Canada division highlights our strong commitment to accelerating green growth."

Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has applied to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to use the product name Roadcem for its CEM-II Portland limestone cement (PLC) when sold in bulk. The Nigeria Tribune newspaper has reported that Lafarge Africa supplies PLC in bulk for use as a soil stabiliser in roadbuilding. It sells supplies the product bagged to retailers as Classic PLC.

SON certified Lafarge Africa's PLC under its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme.

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.

Nigeria: Lafarge Africa's Roadcem product has been approved by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. The product is a cement additive that is used for soil stabilisation in road construction projects. It was developed to improve the characteristics of soils before they are used for the base, sub-base or sub-grade construction in roads.

Osita Ezedozie, the Director of Highways (Materials, Geotechnics & Quality Control), of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, said “Following the improved performance observed from the tests, pilot study and evaluation of Roadcem over ordinary Portland cement in soil stabilisation, approval has been granted for the introduction and use of Roadcem for stabilisation of soil in highway pavement sub-base course construction. At 5% Roadcem content, the stabilised sharp sand complies with all the specification requirements for a sub-base course and also achieves higher stability at a lower cost than stabilisation with ordinary Portland cement.”