US: MAG Capital Partners subsidiary Superior Concrete Products has acquired precast concrete wall forming systems producer Advanced Forming Technologies (AFTEC).
MAG Capital Partners Principal Dax Mitchell said "The acquisition of AFTEC expands Superior Concrete Products' offerings and its geographic reach to meet increasing demand from data centre, infrastructure and new construction developments.”
US: Marquette University’s McShane Chair Yong Bai has received a US$1m grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for research into construction and engineering using concrete. The grant will cover projects including one investigating 3D concrete printing for affordable homebuilding, and another investigating retrofitting residential buildings against natural disasters. The 3D printing project will seek to standardise different local 3D-printed concrete mixes based on available materials.
Bai said "There is an increasing challenge in the construction, maintenance and replacement of US civil infrastructure, especially here in Wisconsin, where much of the infrastructure requires capacity or maintenance upgrades or is reaching the end of its expected lifespan. In addition, there is a growing crisis in the construction and engineering industries, which is the shortage of a skilled workforce. The current situation calls for an innovative approach that integrates research with teaching, learning and training in infrastructure construction and engineering."
Moldova: Construction company Gido Park has signed a funding agreement with the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitisation for a €14.3m reinforced concrete elements plant in Ratuș, Criuleni District. The government will contribute €8.53m, including a €2.18m grant, with the remainder made up of partial income tax exemptions. IPN News has reported that construction will commence in June 2025 and conclude in July 2026. When operational, the plant will generate 40 new jobs.
Argentina: Holcim Argentina has completed its acquisition of ready-mix concrete producer Horcrisa. Horcrisa employ 130 people across seven plants, with 1.2Mm³/yr production capacity.
