Lafarge Romcim, owned by French building group Lafarge, added to its products portfolio Rapidcem quick drying cement with high pressure resistance, it was reported on April 29, 2005. Concrete made with Rapidcem reportedly reaches 34 Newton per sq mm (N/sq mm) compression in only two days, three times faster than one made with normal cement which obtains this compression in three or four weeks. Concrete mixed with Rapidcem also reportedly reaches a maximum resistance of 54 N/sq mm to compression, almost double compared to the regular concrete which is 32.5 N/sq mm.
The new cement, available in 50 kg packages, is produced in the company’s plant in Medgidia, southeastern Romania, and is SR EN 197-1/2002 certified. The company targets a 6.0 pct to 8.0 pct increase in operating profit for 2005.
