Global Cement News

US: Mississippi Lime Company has appointed Kenny Adams as the Plant Superintendent of the Vicksburg lime plant in Mississippi. He holds over 20 years of experience in plant production. He joined the company’s Verona plant in 2010 as a Lead Kiln Operator. In 2014, he was promoted to Supervisor. In his new role, he will oversee Vicksburg’s production and support operations.

US: Tim Breen, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Motion Industries, has died suddenly. The 58-year old began his career with Berry Bearing Company in 1982 and worked as a Sales Representative, Branch Manager, Regional Manager, and Corporate Accounts Manager, according to the Birmingham Business Journal.

His responsibilities continued to grow after Berry Bearing and Motion Industries joined forces in 1993. He worked as a Division Officer and Group Officer and took responsibility of all the US locations in 2011 as Executive Vice President and chief operating officer (COO). Breen was promoted to Motion Industries President and COO in 2013, before his promotion in November 2014 to President and CEO.

"Motion Industries has lost a great leader and the world has lost an amazing human being," said Motion Industries. "Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Tim have lost a dear friend and an inspiration. Tim leaves behind a great company, a great culture and a great team that he affectionately referred to as 'The Motion Family.' His spirit will forever live on at Motion."

Motion Industries is an industrial parts distributor of bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical and industrial automation, hydraulic and industrial hose, hydraulic and pneumatic components, industrial products, safety products, and material handling.

Australia: Adelaide Brighton’s cement sales volumes rose in the first half of 2018 due to new infrastructure projects and ‘strong’ markets in Melbourne and Sydney. Its sales rose by 11.7% year-on-year to US$593m from US$531m in the same period in 2017. Its net profit after tax increased by 17.7% to US$62m from US$53m.

Chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director Martin Brydon said that the company had benefited from improved demand across residential, non-residential and infrastructure sector in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, with ‘stable’ demand in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The building material producer’s cement prices increased in most markets. However, it said that import costs were ‘adversely’ affected by higher shipping and material procurement costs, and negative currency effects. Demand for lime was stable with sales similar to the first half of 2017. Margins were hit by increased energy costs, although this is expected to be recovered through price increases.

Australia: Wagners’ sales revenue grew in its 2017 financial year due to ‘strong’ growth in cement volumes as well as better utilisation of its transport, quarry and pre-cast assets. Its sales revenue rose by 20.2% year-on-year to US$170m in the year that ended on 30 June 2018 from US$142m in the same period in 2017. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 25.4% to US$37m from US$29.5m. Its cement sales volumes rose by 14.8% year-on-year.

“We have experienced strong cement sales as a result of increased concrete consumption and increased activity in the renewable energy projects in South East Queensland. We have also seen significant improvement across the balance of the construction materials and services business compared to the previous financial year,” said chief executive officer (CEO) Cameron Coleman.

India: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved UltraTech Cement’s acquisition of Century Textiles & Industries. UltraTech Cement said that the CCI had approved the proposed combination under sub-section (1) of section 31 of the Competition Act, 2012. Century Textiles, the cement production subsidiary of BK Birla Group, holds three integrated plants in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra respectively with a combined production capacity of 11.4Mt/yr and a 1Mt/yr grinding plant in West Bengal. The takeover has been arranged via a demerger process whereby Century Textiles’ shareholders will be given shares in UltraTech Cement.