Ireland: Ready Mix Concrete (Ireland) has lost its appeal against paying a €36,000 contribution to Louth County Council’s Development Contribution Scheme. The Argus newspaper has reported that Ready Mix Concrete (Ireland) must make the payment in order to continue its storage, access and water management activities at the Ballaverty and Mullaghattin sand and gravel pit. The Irish planning appeals body, An Bord Pleanála, found that Ready Mix Concrete (Ireland) had not been double-charged for its use of the land.

The company reportedly has no plans to resume extraction at the site. It can now continue its current activities up to 22 November 2029.

US: Lafarge North America, a predecessor company of Holcim North America, has agreed to pay claimants US$5.4m for damages arising from alleged price-fixing of ready-mix concrete in Georgia and South Carolina between 2010 and 2016. Local ready-mix concrete purchasers, including Bremer Construction Management and floor systems supplier ProSlab, brought the claim against Lafarge North America and five other local ready-mix concrete producers: Argos Ready Mix, Coastal Concrete Southeast, Elite Concrete, Evans Concrete and Thomas Concrete of South Carolina – along with two of their parent companies: Argos USA and Thomas Concrete.

The court described Lafarge North America’s settlement as ‘fair, reasonable and adequate.’ It said that the figure covers 20% of all damages, as estimated by the claimants.

US: ModCorr has launched ModCorr PreCast. The launch follows the company’s acquisition of Pennsylvania-based American Correctional Maintenance’s precast concrete division.

UK: Finland-based Hyperion Robotics is assessing locations for an upcoming UK 3D-printed reinforced concrete structures plant. Construction Index News has reported that the plant will be situated in the English Midlands or the North, and will also serve as the company’s Northern Europe regional headquarters.

Hyperion Robotics CEO Fernando De los Rios said "With over €831bn in planned infrastructure projects over the next decade, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our sustainable solutions to the forefront of the UK's construction industry."

The company has previously partnered with utilities providers Iberdrola and Yorkshire Water and civil engineering firm Mott MacDonald Bentley in the UK.