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Lafarge Malaysia to buy Holcim Malaysia for US$77.3m 21 September 2015
Malaysia: Lafarge Malaysia plans to buy Holcim Malaysia, for US$77.3m according to a regulatory filing. The acquisition of the subsidiary of Holcim Indonesia, is expected to be completed the fourth quarter of 2015. It will be paid for using internal funds and borrowing. Holcim Indonesia originally bought the unit for US$37m in 2009.
"The acquisition is also expected to deliver synergies through operational efficiencies, including the increase in economies of scale and bargaining power and reduction or elimination of duplicative functions," said a Lafarge Malaysia spokesperson. The acquisition of Holcim Malaysia will increase the cement production capacity of Lafarge Malaysia from 12.95Mt/yr to 14.14Mt/yr.
Italcementi sells minority stake in West China Cement for Euro39m 21 September 2015
China/Italy: Italcementi has sold its 5.24% stake in West China Cement for Euro39m. The price is subject to further adjustment, the group said in an announcement on 18 September 2015. Italcementi has sold the stake through its CimFra Limited subsidiary in China, and said the transaction would have no impact on earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) generation capacity at group level.
Van Beek develops new Sample Screw for in-line sampling 18 September 2015
The Netherlands: Screw conveyor specialist Van Beek has developed the Sample Screw in order to allow a representative sample to be taken without halting the production process.
According to Van Beek, the machine is ideal for taking representative product samples from containers, hoppers or in-line (for example, after an outlet or in a discharge pipe). Using a small screw conveyor, a sample of the material is taken safely from the product stream without disrupting the process. Even materials with poor running qualities can be controlled in this way because a screw is used.
The sampler is easy to dismantle for quick and complete cleaning. Samples can be taken of powders, flocks, granules, flakes, pellets and slurries. It can also be used in the dairy, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industry. The sample size and frequency can be adjusted.
The sampler is driven by an air motor or electric motor with gear unit. Whether this involves bunkers, silos, hoppers or bulk transfer, in most cases few or no adjustments need to be made to the existing system.
UltraTech Cement to expand Maharashtra cement plant 18 September 2015
India: Aditya Birla's UltraTech Cement has got the Environment Ministry's clearance to increase the capacity of its Awarpur plant in Maharasthra, which would entail an investment of US$37.7m.
The company plans to increase its clinker capacity to 4.5Mt/yr from 3.3Mt/yr and to increase its cement capacity from 4.48Mt/yr to 6Mt/yr.
"Based on the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry recommendation, the Environment Ministry granted the final clearance subject to certain conditions. The EC was issued to the company on 11 September 2015," said a senior Environment Ministry official.
The company has been asked to comply with specific conditions like developing green belt over 33% of the total project area, installing air monitoring devices to monitor air emission and continuous stack monitoring of facilities to monitor gaseous emissions, among others. The company has also been asked to earmark at least 5% of the total cost of the project towards enterprise social commitment and prepare a detailed corporate social responsibility (CSR) plan for every five years for the existing expansion project.
UltraTech Cement has informed the Ministry that the proposed expansion will be carried out within the existing plant area. The additional power required for the proposed expansion will be 5.1MW.
Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua on the lookout for acquisitions in Central and South America 18 September 2015
Mexico/US: Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua (GCC) is ready to grow its operations in the USA and make an acquisition in Central and South America after refinancing its debt and improving its earnings margins via a cost cutting programme, according to local business daily El Universal.
Luis Carlos Arias, director of corporate treasury at GCC, explained that the company currently has only one syndicated bank loan of US$194m, which has been refinanced. As such, it has a more flexible credit structure, which allows it to take advantage of different growth opportunities.
In the US, GCC will invest US$90m in 2015 - 2018 to boost production capacity at its plant in South Dakota by 60% to 1.2Mt/yr. GCC has six cement plants, 117 concrete plants and 21 distribution centres from the north of Mexico to the north of the USA.
According to Arias, GCC is looking for opportunities to expand its business to Central and South America in order to have alternative revenues during the harsh winter in North America, which does not allow production during the coldest months. The company has not decided in which country it could make an acquisition as the cement market is highly concentrated in a few big companies. "There are not many opportunities, we are looking at the region as a whole," said Arias.