India: The Rajasthan government has imposed fines worth US$8.17m and registered three First Information Reports against illegal mines in Nagaur. The Business Standard newspaper has reported that most of the illegal mining in the district involve gravel or masonry stone.
US: Geneva Pipe and Precast has commenced full-scale operations at its new precast concrete pipe and manhole plant at its Salt Lake City site in Utah. The new plant features Austria-based Schlüsselbauer Technology’s Exact 2500 dry cast concrete production system and Transexact crane robot, Germany-based MBK Maschinenbau’s cage welding machine and Advanced Concrete Technologies’ batching plant.
The Financial Times newspaper has reported that parent company Northwest Pipe Company President and CEO Scott Montross said “The demand for high-quality infrastructure products continue to grow, and we are committed to expanding our precast manufacturing capabilities.”
UK: Heidelberg Materials UK has secured a new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for its EvoBuild 30% reduced-CO₂ ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) supplementary cementitious material (SCM). Norway-based EPD-Norge supplied the EPD, which confirms the material’s production in line with the European standard EN 15804.
Heidelberg Materials UK said “The company has a safe and secure volume of GGBFS available for supply across the UK for many years to come.”
UK: Cemex has announced an upcoming dry mortar and sprayed concrete production plant in Swindon, Wiltshire. The plant will produce Cemex UK’s 30% reduced-CO2 Vertua mortar. It will also feature a drying system designed to minimise heat consumption. The Builders Merchants Journal newspaper has reported that the plant is scheduled to open in late 2025. The move is aimed at increasing Cemex’s market penetration in South East and South West England.
