US: Martin Engineering has launched its two-wheeled Martin Gen 4 Railcar Opener. It is designed to aid bulk handlers to unload unprocessed and processed bulk materials from rail transport to facilities, including cement plants and terminals. The fourth generation product is intended to improve ease of use and reduce potential hazards for workers.

Features of the latest version of the railcar opener include simple manoeuvrability and lateral turning wheels for moving capstans, outrigger support and height adjustment. A ‘stepped’ drive tip is also intended to improve the gate opener’s contact with the capstan. This new design boosts efficiency, leading to less demurrage from stalling and a safer workplace.

Marty Yepsen, Business Development Manager for Railcar Unloading Products at Martin Engineering said “We’re excited about the 4th generation of this model because it’s been painstakingly designed over years using real-world feedback from customers.” He continued, “The nearly effortless single operator design transforms a hazardous and gruelling job into a comparatively routine and risk-free task,” Yepsen concluded. “Field tests have shown that the Gen 4 not only improves efficiency, which lowers demurrage, but it also increases safety and reduces labour costs. All this drives down operating costs and boosts ROI.”

Martin Engineering builds products for bulk materials handling. The company has its headquarters in Neponset, Illinois. It runs subsidiaries in Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Spain, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK and the US.

Kenya: A group of four flour mill owners and associates has acquired Savannah Cement for US$29.4m, according to local press. The producer had been under administration for two years after it owed lenders KSB and Absa Bank debts of US$108m. The Competition Authority of Kenya approved the deal on 25 August 2025 without conditions, saying it posed no competition or public interest concerns.

China: Anhui Conch’s revenues fell by 9% year-on-year to US$5.77bn in the first half of 2025 from US$6.37bn in the same period in 2025. Its net profit grew by 32% to US$587m from US$445m. Its net sales of cement and clinker remained stable at 127Mt. The group said that despite facing “insufficient demand, intensified competition and volatile market conditions” it managed to improve its efficiency, reduce operation costs and expand its market. Notable cement sector achievements during the reporting period included signing a deal to buy selected assets from West China Cement in China, acquiring Conch West Papua Cement in Indonesia and completing a 5000t/day production line at Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

Saudi Arabia: The National Center for Waste Management (MWAN) completed a five-month trial with Riyadh Cement on the use of iron slag in ordinary Portland cement, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The study used 1274t of slag and showed that adding 1 - 2% improved the cement’s properties. MWAN said that the results confirm the feasibility of using industrial byproducts to cut waste and reduce CO₂ emissions.