Displaying items by tag: Holcim

Costa Rica: Holcim Costa Rica has acquired the heavy precast unit of Productos de Concreto for US$3.35m. The La Nación newspaper has reported that the company also increased its stake in prefabricated construction company Tecnología de Construcción to 100% from 49%. The latter deal's value was US$774,000.

Holcim Costa Rica's corporate affairs manager José Alfredo Alpízar Guzmán said that these latest acquisitions complement the producer's existing abilities to supply its customers.

Canada: Lafarge Canada has made a donation of US$37,500-worth of its ECOPact reduced-CO₂ concrete to the site of an upcoming recreation ground in Pic Mobert First Nation Reserve, Ontario. The US$562,000-facility will serve 1000 local people.

Lafarge Canada's Hemlo ready-mix concrete plant manager Jared Paris said "For over 20 years, Lafarge's Hemlo plant has been operating and servicing the traditional lands of the Pic Mobert First Nation, supplying concrete for new homes, a water treatment plant and many other projects. The US$562,000 project on the Pic Mobert First Nation reserve is being sponsored by a number of companies, including Lafarge Canada customers, showing their support for this indigenous community."

Spain: Holcim has introduced its EcoPact Prime concrete and mortar range, following a strong reception in other European markets, including Switzerland, Germany and France. The EcoPact Prime range is presented as a sustainable portfolio of concrete and mortar products offering a 70% reduction in CO₂ compared to equivalents based on ordinary Portland cement (OPC).

Manuel Barrero, director of the concrete activity at LafargeHolcim Spain, said “Decarbonisation is a fundamental pillar of our business strategy. Therefore, in our objective to develop materials and solutions that allow us to build better with less, we are going one step further by introducing this new product to the Spanish market.”

All the products in the EcoPact Prime range have their own Environmental Product Declarations (EPD). They incorporate low-emission cements, also from the EcoPlanet range, selected aggregates, additions, water, special additives and use electrical energy generated from renewable sources in their manufacture.

The products are intended for the construction of all structural elements, including beams, walls, floors, foundations or pillars, as well as self-compacting structures, those that need to drain and those that need to exhibit particular aesthetic qualities.

Denmark: Switzerland-based Holcim has made an investment in 3D concrete printer supplier COBOD International. Holcim hopes that the investment will help it to further expand its TectorPrint 3D printing ink range. Holcim and COBOD International's collaboration dates to 2019, since which time the partners have 3D printed windmill tower bases in Denmark, a school in Malawi and a housing development in Kenya.

Holcim's head of global research and development, Edelio Bermejo, said “At Holcim, we are continuously expanding our range of building solutions to build better with less, working to improve living standards for all in a sustainable way. 3D concrete printing will help us meet these goals."

UK: Holcim has acquired recycled concrete and aggregates producer Wiltshire Heavy Building Materials. Wiltshire Heavy Building Materials' material recovery system enables it to process 150,000t/yr of construction and demolition waste for recycling. It operates multiple plants across Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, and generated Euro20.6m in sales in 2021.

Switzerland-based Holcim said that the acquisition will expand its UK subsidiary Aggregate Industries' position in the area between London and the West of England, and help the group to achieve its goal of 10Mt/yr-worth of construction and demolition waste recycled globally by 2025.

Canada: Lafarge Canada has installed its first electric vehicle charging stations at its Kent Avenue ready-mix concrete batching plant in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company’s Vancouver team built the four stations with US$39,200 in funding from Lafarge Canada and US$15,700 in funding from BC Hydro’s CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle charger rebate programme. Dow Jones Institutional News has reported that the company plans to establish 96 further stations at 30 sites in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It says that the electric vehicle charging network will enable it to eliminate 188t of CO₂ emissions by 2028.

Lafarge Western Canada CEO Brad Kohl said "We are thrilled that Western Canada has opened the first electric vehicle charging stations to kick-start this exciting effort planned across our Canada operations to advance our goal of net-zero as part of our environmental commitments."

Argentina: ECOPact reduced-CO₂ concrete accounted for 50% of Holcim Argentina’s cement deliveries at the end of the first half of 2022, a higher share than in any other country apart from the UK. Holcim launched ECOPact concrete across its markets in June 2021. Holcim Argentina plans to execute new investments to further increase its distribution of the product.

The company’s head of concrete José Villacreses said “We have set ourselves even more challenging goals. We will be the undisputed ally for sustainable projects throughout Argentina. Whoever wants to measure their carbon footprint to offer sustainable construction will find in Holcim the necessary solution to be able to achieve the certifications that society demands today.”

Poland: Switzerland-based Holcim has concluded an agreement to acquire ready-mix concrete producer Ol-Trans. Ol-Trans operates five batching plants and is the market leader in Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. Holcim says that its new customers in the region will benefit from access to its CO₂-saving products, including Agila Fibro self-compacting concrete, which can reduce steel reinforcement usage in construction by up to 50%.

Holcim’s Europe, Middle East and Africa regional head Miljan Gutovic said “With this acquisition we will further expand the footprint of ECOPact green concrete, the first and most comprehensive sustainable concrete range in Poland.”

Romania: Holcim Romania has announced its acquisition of independent ready-mix concrete market leader General Beton Romania. The latter operates eight batching plants with a total of 160 employees. Its markets include Arad, Bucharest, Constanta and Sibiu. Holcim Romania says that it plans to use the acquisition to grow its ECOPact green concrete’s footprint.

Europe, Middle East Africa regional head Miljan Gutovic said “General Beton provides an excellent addition to our strong and diversified ready-mix concrete operations. Over more than two decades, General Beton has been a long-standing Holcim partner as well as a growing and highly successful business. I am delighted to welcome them to the Holcim family.”

Canada: Holcim has announced its acquisition of Mathers Group’s quarry and asphalt assets in Quebec. The group says that the acquisition will accelerate its development of local circular construction practices by expanding its recycled concrete offering.