Germany: Thyssenkrupp’s Materials Services division has launched a platform for digital transformation, enabling machines of different makes to communicate. The system of integrated information exchange, called Toii, has already enabled Thyssenkrupp to improve operating efficiency in-house.

US: The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) will host the 6th International LafargeHolcim Awards, North America, in 2020. The awards seek sustainable design in the construction sector and are open for entries until 25 February 2020. Reed Kroloff, Rowe Family Dean of the College of Architecture, IIT, heads the panel of nine judges.

France/Syria: Four Lafarge Cement Syria executives, including Bruno Lafont, CEO of Lafarge from 2006 until its 2015 merger with Holcim, have appeared in court in France to challenge their June 2017 indictments on charges of funding terrorism. This related alleged payments by Lafarge Cement Syria of Euro13m to IS to ensure the safe activity of its Syrian sites throughout the country’s civil war. A ruling will be handed down on 24 October 2019. Agence France Presse has reported that the Syrian-Canadian Amro Taleb, a former Lafarge Cement Syria intermediary whom executives have described as a ‘crook,’ has been indicted on the same charge.

Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement’s consolidated revenue in the six months to 30 June 2019 grew by 34% year-on-year to US$36.5m from US$27.3m. Its operating profit before working capital changes was US$7.9m compared to US$5.3m in the corresponding period of 2018, an increase of 49%. Negative currency exchange effects reduced the cement producer’s net profit, despite a boost from the local economy and the company’s reduction of its administrative expenses.

Steppe Cement’s consolidated revenue in the six months to 30 June 2019 grew by 34% year-on-year to US$36.5m from US$27.3m. Its operating profit before working capital changes was US$7.9m compared to US$5.3m in the corresponding period of 2018, an increase of 49%. Negative currency exchange effects reduced the cement producer’s net profit, despite a boost from the local economy and the company’s reduction of its administrative expenses.