
Displaying items by tag: Holcim
Mexico: Holcim Mexico says that its supply of cement to the government’s Tren Maya railway project is 170,000t/month. This corresponds to 50 – 60% of its total production volumes. Local press has reported that construction of the 1500km-long Tren Maya railway will consume 1Mm3 of concrete. Holcim supplied its cement for Sections 1 – 3 of the line between 2020 and 2022. It is currently supplying Section 5, which is 50% complete. The cement comes from the company’s Orizaba, Veracruz, plant; its Macuspana, Tabasco, plant and its Mérida, Yucatán, plant.
Holcim Mexico’s infrastructure development manager Fernando Roldan said "Our participation has been a challenge, but the relationship we have with the suppliers and with the construction companies in charge of the railway has allowed us to meet the requirements."
US: Holcim US has inaugurated a 1300 – 1500Mwh/yr solar power plant at its Fort Totten ready-mix concrete plant in Washington DC. Resources News has reported that the solar power plant consists of both silo rooftop modules and carport-mounted modules. Madison Energy Investments will operate the solar power plant, and solar power engineering companies Centennial Generating Company and Halo were also partners for the project. Holcim US is committed to powering 100% of its operations renewably by 2030. It expects to reach 40% by the end of 2023.
France: Lafarge France is participating in a 76-unit housing development project called Recygénie, at Gennevilliers in Hauts-de-Seine. Lafarge France will supply the project with 100% recycled concrete for use in facades, interior walls and roof slabs. It produced 2000t of 100% recycled 'clinker' at its Altkirch cement plant in Haut-Rhin during a suspension of ordinary clinker production in 2022. It has produced 1600m3 of recycled concrete to date. The concrete won the New Materials Prize at L'Usine Nouvelle's Sustainable Industry Awards 2023.
The Recygénie housing project is due for delivery in late 2024.
Philippines: Holcim Philippines and Sungshin Cement have signed a memorandum of understanding whereby Holcim Philippines will be priority supplier of cement for use in Sungshin Cement's ready-mix concrete operations in the Philippines, InPR News has reported. South Korea-based Sungshin Cement is anticipating growing demand from infrastructure projects, partly due to a US$3bn development loan agreement between the government of the Philippines and South Korea.
Holcim acquires Minerales y Agregados
15 June 2023Guatemala: Switzerland-based Holcim has acquired mortars and adhesives producer Minerales y Agregados, Reuters has reported. Holcim described Guatemala as a 'high-growth market.'
Argentina: Holcim Argentina has commissioned its new 120,000t/yr mortar plant at its Malagueño cement plant in Córdoba. The plant cost US$5m to build. It is equipped with six 100t raw material silos and eight 1t additive silos. It also has a 2000l mixer, three packing machines and an automated palletiser. Holcim Argentina says that the plant will produce its Tector Adhesive and Tector Revoques ranges of mortar.
Holcim Argentina CEO Christian Dedeu said “This new plant is aligned with our purpose of generating progress for people and the planet, accompanied by a diversification of our product portfolio. It consolidates us as the leading company in innovative solutions for construction.”
Holcim US launches ECOPact concrete in Colorado
11 May 2023US: Holcim US has begun selling ECOPact reduced-CO2 concrete in the Colorado Springs, Denver and Pueblo markets in Colorado. The producer says that the range offers 30 - 90% lower CO2 emissions than concrete produced using ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Colorado aims to achieve CO2 emissions reductions of 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050.
Holcim US' Mountain regional general manager and senior vice president Kevin Peart said "Sustainable construction is essential to building a net-zero future in Colorado and across the nation. Denver has consistently ranked as one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation, and Colorado Springs is projected to become the state's largest city within the next 15 years. Low-carbon, high-performance building solutions such as ECOPact are essential to mitigating climate change and creating a more sustainable, resilient urban landscape."
Holcim acquires HM Factory
16 March 2023Poland: Switzerland-based Holcim has acquired precast concrete producer HM Factory. HM Factory supplies precast concrete products manufactured in Poland to the Scandinavian export market. It employs 70 people across its operations.
Holcim’s Europe regional head Miljan Gutovic said “HM Factory is a perfect complement to our existing operations, offering multiple technological and raw material synergies. I look forward to welcoming the employees of HM Factory, whose expertise will be invaluable in accelerating green growth, especially in highly efficient modular construction.”
Canada: The city administration of Langford in British Columbia plans to enact regulations requiring all public and private projects to use reduced-CO2 concrete. It plans to support the rules with parallel measures affecting the design of buildings.
Victoria News has reported that the city authorities previously mandated reduced-CO2 cement for all projects in June 2022, but subsequently relaxed the regulations after only one company – Butler Concrete and Aggregates – completed the transition. Butler Concrete and Aggregates produces its reduced-CO2 concrete using slag cement supplied by Lafarge Canada.
US: Holcim US has announced the launch of its ECOPact reduced-CO2 concrete in the Fargo, North Dakota, and Twin Cities, Minnesota, metropolitan areas. ECOPact products offer up to 80% reduced CO2 emissions compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concretes, and can also integrate construction and demolition waste. Holcim US has sold the ECOPact range in Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington DC since 2020.
Holcim US' North Central regional senior vice president Randy Gaworski said "With countless developments already in the pipeline, and so much on the horizon, engineers, architects and developers are driving demand to integrate sustainable building practices throughout the region. This is an exciting opportunity to offer our customers high-quality, low-carbon products for meeting our shared commitments to sustainability and net-zero construction."