Cement News tagged under: Cost-cutting
Boral to cut 28 jobs as Maldon prepares to cease clinker production, Australia20 June 2014, Published under Cement NewsBoral is to axe up to 28 jobs as the Australia-based producer ceases clinker production at its Maldon works as of 31 December. Ross Harper, executive general manager of Boral Cement, said a decline in demand for off-white clinker, which forms the basis of a range of specialty cement products, was behind the decision. “Unfortunately demand has declined sharply as consumers switch to products made from imported ‘white’ clinker. “This decline has coincided with a downturn in demand, ... |
Holcim sees better performance in Morocco21 May 2014, Published under Cement NewsHolcim Morocco improved its business results in 2013 despite the difficult economic context. By lowering its production costs and optimising its support functions, the company achieved a cost saving of MAD100m (US$12.23m), despite a five per cent decline in operating income compared to 2012. The company succeeded in optimising its clinker factor, lowering power consumption and increased thermal substitution rates as well as rationalised its production process. In the first quarter of ... |
Holcim to reorganise Obourg, Belgium24 April 2014, Published under Cement NewsHolcim Belgique announced its plans to adapt the organisational structure of its Obourg cement works near Mons, a step which would affect 48 jobs. The company attributes the reorganisation to the significant fall in Dutch cement consumption and a slowdown in French cement demand. Holcim Belgique serves the markets in the north of France, Belgium, southern Netherlands and western Germany. Holcim says the move is expected to bring the plant back to profitability as its products improve ... |
Cemento Melón cuts investments to US$15m due to 10% sales decline23 April 2014, Published under Cement NewsChile’s Cemento Melón has seen sales drop by 10 per cent in the first quarter of 2014. "Earlier this year we estimated that we would at least maintain 2013 sales, but in the first quarter the market fell about 10 per cent, and we saw sales drop by a similar number," Jorge Eugenin, the company’s CEO, said. In addition, as the cement industry is nearly 100 per cent dollarised, the depreciation of the Chilean peso has also impacted profit margins as costs jumped. In terms of investments m... |
Holcim Spain to cut staff by 12217 April 2014, Published under Cement NewsHolcim Spain and unions have reached a preliminary agreement to reduce the company’s staff of 650 by 18.7 per cent, according to the Spanish news service ABC. As a result 122 workers would be affected, rather than the 141 as stated in the initial ERE employment regulation record, reported earlier. Since 2008, Spain’s cement market has contracted considerably with cement producers making significant adjustments in terms of plant closures and staff lay-offs. Holcim employed over 2000 peop... |
Holcim Spain issues new ERE02 April 2014, Published under Cement NewsHolcim Spain has presented a new record of employment regulation (ERE) that will affect 141 staff. While Holcim is reported by construction organisation Fecoma to have plans to sell its Gádor (Almería) cement works, the ERE mainly affects workers in the concrete mortar and aggregates divisions. The adjustment in its workforce is part of ongoing changes made in recent years by several Spanish cement makers, including Cemex and Cementos Portland. Spain’s cement sector has made considerab... |
Hima outlines sustainability initiatives, Uganda02 April 2014, Published under Cement NewsUgandan producer Hima Cement has outlined ambitious sustainability plans focussed on five main pillars. The company, owned by Kenya’s Bamburi Cement and part of the Lafarge Group, said the plan will be a key focus this year. Projects will be aimed at improving the areas of operational cost management, environmental conservation, job creation, health and safety and community development. Hima Cement's general manager, Daniel Pettersson, told AllAfrica.com that as global market demands chan... |
Mixed full-year performance for Holcim28 February 2014, Published under Cement NewsHolcim reported a mixed performance in 2013 as attributable profit doubled while turnover declined. Overall volumes were down due to weaknesses in key emerging markets, but European shipments were finally on the up. For the full year Holcim’s turnover declined by 6.8 per cent to CHF19,719m (US$22,349m). Operating EBITDA edged ahead by 0.2 per cent to CHF3896m, though ignoring last year’s restructuring there was a 5.6 per cent reduction. Trading profit rose by 34.8 per cent to CHF2357m but w... |
Cockburn reduces Munster workforce, Australia27 February 2014, Published under Cement NewsCockburn Cement has cut 44 jobs at its Munster cement plant in Australia and indicated that another 20 further jobs could go over the next 18 months as it restructures its operations. WA Business News reported that the move comes as Cockburn Cement plans to import clinker to grind at its Munster and Kwinana facilities. By 2016, all of the 0.4Mta of clinker previously produced at Muster will be replaced by imports, the report stated. The lime kiln facilities will remain operational follow... |
Holcim's full-year volumes down, net income rises on Leadership Journey initiatives26 February 2014, Published under Cement NewsHolcim reported saw volumes decline in its cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete segments in 2013, but operating EBITDA margin and net income increased due to the implementation of the Holcim Leadership Journey. Full-year net sales were down 6.8 per cent to CHF19.72bn, but increased on a like-for-like basis by 0.2 per cent. The group reported that it was significantly harder to implement price increases in various markets than in the previous year. The Swiss franc exchange rate rose in... |