Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va. Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico were 7.6 million mt in June 2012, according to the USGS. This was almost 5.0 percent higher compared with shipments for June 2011. Shipments for the year through June were 37 million mt, up about 15 percent for the same…
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Holcim shakes up management as CEO unveils new leadership
Sources: Holcim Ltd., Switzerland; Bloomberg, New York City Holcim Ltd. announced a management shake-up as new Chief Executive Officer Bernard Fontana said the Swiss cement maker may need to further streamline its business in Europe to stem falling demand. Holcim will introduce a “leaner and more efficient” structure, including a new head of Europe, as of September 1. The cement…
Read MoreProduct packaging adhesive keeps pallets aligned, stable
Established in 1999, Antwerp, Belgium-based Diamur produces cement mortars. With a capacity of about 700,000 metric tons a year, the plant produces product in bulk silos and 25-kg bags. The company has become a leading producer by developing a reputation for quality and user-friendly products. Quality is not only recognized in the product itself, but also in the manner in…
Read MoreEdwards to head cement sales at CalPortland
CalPortland Company President/CEO Allen Hamblen recently announced the promotion of Thomas Edwards to the position of senior vice president, cement sales, for the company. Effective July 1, 2012, Edwards assumed responsibility for cement sales for CalPortland’s entire North America division operating in the Western United States and Canada. Edwards has 37 years of experience managing cement sales in the Southwest.…
Read MoreCemex to be sole supplier for Central America’s first Metro line
Mexico-based Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. announced that it is supplying nearly 100,000 tons of cement for the construction of Line 1 of the Panama Metro, a stretch of approximately 14 km that is intended to connect two key hubs of the metropolitan area of Panama City. With this project, Panama would become the first country in Central America with a…
Read MoreNew construction starts to rise 2% in 2012, says McGraw-Hill midyear update
McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies recently released its 2012 Dodge Construction Outlook Midyear Update projections, which revise the forecasts provided last October at the firm’s annual Outlook Conference in Washington, D.C. The latest forecast predicts that total construction starts for the U.S. will increase 2% this year to $445 billion, up from the $434 billion reported for 2011.…
Read MoreCemex sprouts corporate sustainability seal
Products and services in Mexico-based Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V.’s building solutions portfolio with outstanding sustainability performance will carry a green- and blue-lettered seal, “ecoperating.” Earmarked for 2012-13 roll out in European and Latin American businesses, it was developed through a rigorous internal process that measures the environmental or social impact of a wide range of value propositions—from low (embodied) carbon…
Read MorePopulation growth drives PCA’s long-term construction outlook report
Population growth during the next 25 years will likely account for most of the gains in construction, according to Portland Cement Association’s Long-Term Cement Outlook. By 2035, the population of the United States will add 78 million people compared to 2010 levels.
Read MoreAsh Grove Midlothian earns Texas safety honor
Ash Grove Cement Co.’s cement plant in Midlothian, Texas, received a 2011-12 safety award recently from Texas Aggregate and Concrete Association (TACA) for its third-consecutive year of high safety ratings. In addition, the plant recently received a 2012 Chairman’s Safety Performance Award from the Portland Cement Association (PCA).
Read MoreEconomists differ on 2013 construction market outlook
During a June 20 national online news conference, American Institute of Architects Chief Economist Kermit Baker, National Association of Home Builders Chief Economist David Crowe and Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu shared their thoughts on the 2013 construction market forecast. Baker began by reinforcing the market’s state: “Construction unfortunately is the last major sector in the economy…
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