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Displaying items by tag: Switzerland
Swiss cement deliveries decline
10 July 2024Switzerland: Cement deliveries in Switzerland decreased by 8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024, reaching 965,200t. Over the first half of 2024, a decline of 8% to 1.8Mt was also reported. Industry organisation Cemsuisse attributes the drop to economic uncertainties, supply chain disruptions and high energy prices. Although civil engineering projects may stabilise the market, a quick recovery in residential construction is not anticipated, according to a press release given by Cemsuisse on 9 July 2024.
Holcim to close original Holderbank site
03 July 2024Switzerland: Holcim will close its historic site in Holderbank, Argovia, relocating approximately 200 employees to its headquarters in Zug from 2026. This move ends Holcim's 114-year presence in its founding location. Holcim will provide financial assistance for relocation or for those whose commute is affected, according to The Geneva Tribune. Prior to the transfer, the Zug headquarters will undergo renovation and expansion, eventually accommodating over 400 staff.
A spokesperson for Holcim said "The merger of the site and offices will not lead to any job cuts. There will be no layoffs."
Holcim to invest US$278m in Swiss cement plants
28 June 2024Switzerland: Holcim plans to invest around US$278m in its three Swiss cement plants to reduce the use of fossil fuels in cement production and comply with future limits set by the Swiss Air Quality Control Ordinance. The ‘Phoenix’ project alone is expected to cost between US$78 and US$111m, according to Clemens Wögerbauer, chief commercial and sustainability officer at Holcim Central Europe West.
The Phoenix project will reduce the use of lignite for heating cement kilns. A gasifier will be constructed to process waste materials like residual wood, paper sludge and plastics into synthesis gas for heating the kilns. Additionally, a catalyst powered by the kiln's waste heat will be used to reduce nitrogen and ammonia emissions, aligning with future Swiss environmental targets. The Siggenthal plant is expected to reduce its CO₂ emissions by over 30,000t/yr from its current output of 450,000t/yr.
The new facility is scheduled to start operating in 2028 and may be replicated in other Holcim cement plants if successful. The Phoenix initiative will increase the proportion of alternative fuels used from the current 57% to 80%, targeting over 85%.
Switzerland: Holcim plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based software at 100 production plants by 2028. The company will use the technology for predictive maintenance, in order to increase operational efficiency and resilience. It has installed the system at 45 plants to date. C3 AI is providing its predictive software products, and the group is also piloting generative AI techniques.
Holcim CEO Miljan Gutovic said "AI is a transformative technology that will revolutionise our industry. Already widely embedded across Holcim, AI catalyses operational efficiency and enhances customer service.”
Holcim completes acquisition of Cand-Landi Group
27 June 2024Switzerland: Holcim has acquired recycling, ready-mix concrete and aggregates company Cand-Landi Group. The company employs 250 people across its operations in Western Switzerland. Holcim plans for Cand-Landi Group to supply alternative raw materials and fuels for use at its Eclépens plant. It says that the acquisition will increase its recycling capacity of construction and demolition materials by 100,000t/yr.
Holcim CEO Miljan Gutovic said "The acquisition of the Cand-Landi Group will advance decarbonisation and circularity in Switzerland, a lighthouse market for innovation at Holcim. I look forward to welcoming all 250 employees of the Cand-Landi Group and investing in our next chapter of growth together."
Switzerland: Neustark has raised US$69m in a growth equity round to scale up its carbon dioxide removal technology. The funding, led by Decarbonisation Partners—a collaboration between BlackRock and Temasek—will support Neustark's aim to permanently remove 1Mt of CO₂ by 2030. Climate tech growth investor Blume Equity also joined the round, alongside existing backers Holcim, Siemens Financial Services, Verve Ventures and ACE Ventures.
Neustark has developed a technology that captures biogenic CO₂ at its source and utilises it in building materials through an accelerated mineralisation process. This method is currently applied at 19 carbon capture and storage plants in Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Germany, with 40 more under construction across Europe.
Johannes Tiefenthaler, co-CEO and founder at Neustark, said “We turn the world’s largest waste stream, demolition concrete, into a carbon sink. In the past year, we have already deployed our unique solution at 19 sites. This growth investment will take us into the next exciting phase of our mission, helping us to further scale our impact across Europe, enter new markets in North America and Asia Pacific, and develop new solutions to store even more CO2 in mineral waste streams.”
Switzerland: Holcim has appointed Marco Maccarelli as its Director of Central and Eastern Europe. He will succeed Simon Kronenberg in the post in June 2024, according to the 24 Heures newspaper. The position includes the responsibility of head of Holcim Schweiz.
Maccarelli is currently working as the CEO of Holcim Colombia. Prior to this, he worked for Holcim Mexico first as Director Innovation and Commercial Development and later as Director Cement Sales & Retail. He has worked for Holcim for over 15 years and holds more than 20 years’ experience in the construction sector.
Holcim publishes first-quarter results
25 April 2024Switzerland: Holcim recorded net sales of €5.71bn in the first quarter of 2024, down by 2% year-on-year from €5.85bn in the first quarter of 2023. Nonetheless, recurring earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) grew by 8% to €543m from €503m. The group noted continuing profitable growth. Its Solutions & Products unit raised roofing sales by 67% in local currencies, including 38% organic growth. The unit also acquired Germany-based advanced green roofing systems producer ZinCo and Argentina-based precast and pre-stressed concrete construction systems producer Tensolite. Additionally, Holcim closed three separate acquisitions in the ready-mix concrete, aggregates and construction-demolition materials segments.
In North America, Holcim grew its recurring EBIT by 3.9% in local currency, and anticipates continuing growth in 2024. In its Latin America region, the group noted a strong pipeline of infrastructure projects and increased nearshoring in Mexico. Europe yielded double-digit recurring EBIT growth, while Asia, Middle East & Africa remained profitable in local currency terms.
Switzerland: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) is holding its Innovandi Global Cement and Concrete Research Network (GCCRN) Spring Week at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) campus on 22 – 26 April 2024. 450 delegates from over 40 academic institutions will attend the event, featuring workshops, idea exchanges and progress reviews focused on the decarbonisation of cement and concrete by 2050. Topics include the use of AI, alternative materials and processes, concrete recycling, renewables, kiln electrification and carbon capture.
GCCRN industrial chair and Cemex global research development vice president and Davide Zampini said “If we are to reach our goal of net zero concrete by 2050, then we cannot do so alone. We need to explore as well as harness solutions and collaboration well beyond our industry. That’s why Spring Week is so important.”
GCCRN scientific chair Karen Scrivener said “Everyone here at EPFL is proud to be hosting this year’s Spring Week, anticipated as our largest gathering yet, marking a significant milestone in our journey toward net zero research.”
Cement production in Switzerland falls in first quarter
10 April 2024Switzerland: Cement production fell to 786,000t in the first quarter of 2024, representing a year-on-year decrease in volume of 8%. Cemsuisse attributes this decrease to ongoing challenges in planning construction projects amidst uncertainties in interest rates, energy prices and supply chain stability.