Cement News tagged under: Switzerland

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Swiss cement market contracts 8% in 2Q24

10 July 2024, Published under Cement News

Cement deliveries in Switzerland declined eight per cent to 965,157t in the second quarter of 2024 from 1,049,481t in the 2Q23, according to cemsuisse. While market contraction has slowed in comparison with the previous year, the uncertain economic environment continues to impact on cement sales. In addition, supply chain issues and comparatively high energy prices are also affecting deliveries. 1H24 deliveries Deliveries in the first half of 2024 were down eight per cent to 1,751,590t f...

Holcim ramps up use of AI

28 June 2024, Published under Cement News

Holcim is scaling up its use of artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing across more than 100 plants worldwide over the next four years, improving efficiency and reinforcing capacity for customers. With AI already deployed at 45 plants to predict and prevent failures before they occur, Holcim will deepen and broaden this application to boost operational resilience. This will entail Holcim further rolling out a state-of-the-art predictive maintenance solution from leading AI platform s...

Holcim invests in Travertine to advance decarbonised cement and circularity

27 June 2024, Published under Cement News

Via its corporate venture capital and open innovation unit MAQER Ventures, Holcim has invested in Travertine to apply the start-up’s proprietary circular technology to the decarbonisation of cement. The new technology binds CO 2 from direct air capture to advanced mineral components, sequestering carbon. Nollaig Forrest, Holcim chief sustainability officer, said: “We’re excited to work with innovative startups like Travertine to advance our goal of making decarbonised cement and concret...

Optimising raw material control

17 June 2024, Published under Cement News

Automated analysis of input materials and adjustments of input material feeders is supporting cement producers in reducing the economic and environmental impact of their operations. By Dr Michael Amrhein and Prof Dr Dominique Bonvin, Online Control Sarl, Switzerland, Dr Mathieu Antoni and Matthias Bürki, Ciments Vigier SA, Switzerland, Rajendra Mishra, Malvern Panalytical BV, The Netherlands, and Dr Murielle Goubard, Malvern Panalytical SAS, France Ciments Vigier, Switzerland, sources...

Holcim acquires UK-based Land Recovery

05 June 2024, Published under Cement News

Holcim has completed the acquisition of Land Recovery in the UK, advancing its capabilities in circular construction. A leading UK supplier of primary and recycled materials, Land Recovery turns rail ballast into new solutions for the UK rail network as well as supplying construction demolition materials for the production of ready-mix, precast concrete and asphalt. The acquisition expands Holcim’s access to construction demolition materials, with Land Recovery recycling more than 300,000t...

Holcim breaks ground on GO4ZERO plant

16 May 2024, Published under Cement News

Holcim has broken ground on its state-of-the-art GO4ZERO plant in Obourg , Belgium. The plant, which marks an investment of more than EUR500m, is expected to produce 2Mta of net-zero cement by 2029.  According to Holcim, the GO4ZERO project transforms cement manufacturing at every stage of the process. Accelerating decarbonised energy use, more than 95 per cent of its energy will be sourced from alternative fuels, while over 30 per cent of its raw mix will come from partly decarbonise...

FIDEtechnology launches low carbon grinding mill

07 May 2024, Published under Cement News

FIDEtechnology, a pioneering start-up dedicated to decarbonising the construction industry, has introduced its revolutionary Low Carbon (LC) Grinding Mill to the cement sector. The debut of the LC Mill prototype occurred at the prestigious Innovandi annual technology and research gathering hosted by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. The event, attended by 450 delegates from 35 leading global cement companies...

Holcim US scoops slag cement award

02 May 2024, Published under Cement News

Holcim US has been recognised by the Slag Cement Association (SCA) as a winner in the 2023 Slag Cement in Sustainable Concrete Awards. The company was honoured in the Innovation Applications category at an awards ceremony held in conjunction with the Spring American Concrete Institute Convention in New Orleans. Holcim US secured the win by showcasing its project at the Duck Lake Country Club, Albion, Michigan. The project revived the club’s distressed, asphalt parking lot by topping it...

Holcim sales dip 2% in the 1Q24

25 April 2024, Published under Cement News

Holcim has reported net sales of CHF5586m (US$6117m) in the opening quarter of 2024, down 2.4 per cent from the CHF5725m seen in the 1Q23. In local currency, sales were up 3.4 per cent YoY. Recurring EBIT in the 1Q24 came in at CHF532m, marking 7.8 per cent YoY growth, or 17.1 per cent growth in local currency. According to the company, the quarter saw a strong contribution from its Solutions & Products business with roofing sales advancing by 67 per cent YoY in local currency. North Am...

Swiss cement market contracts 8% in 1Q24

25 April 2024, Published under Cement News

Cement demand in Switzerland, including Liechtenstein, declined eight per cent to 786,433.2t in the first quarter of 2024 when compared with 855,143.7t in the 1Q23, according to the Swiss cement association, cemsuisse. While cement sales continue to fall due to uncertainty in terms of interest rates, energy prices and supply chains, the decline is slowing. Planned projects in civil engineering, which are expected to stabilise the market, remain positive. Low-carbon cement accounts for 96.5...