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Tag: Baustoffe

  • Research project promotes the reuse of concrete in construction

    Research project promotes the reuse of concrete in construction

    The Materials and Structures Group of the Institut du patrimoine construit, d’architecture, de la construction et du territoire(inPACT) at the Haute école du paysage, d’ingénierie et d’architecture de Genève(HEPIA) is leading the Concrete Upcycling Techniques(CUT) research project. The project, led by Professor Maléna Bastien Masse, aims to integrate the reuse of concrete slabs into construction practice, as detailed in a press release. The aim is to reduce the industry’s CO2 footprint. The project is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation(SNSF) and is being carried out in collaboration with Professor Corentin Fivet’s Structural Xploration Lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL).

    The project aims to preserve concrete slabs during the demolition of buildings. The slabs are sawn up on site and then analysed by HEPIA researchers. The aim is to find out whether these slabs can be reused. The panels approved for reuse are then used in new buildings. The project is also investigating how they can be joined together during reuse. Advanced techniques and materials such as high-performance fibre-reinforced cementitious composite (CFUP) will be used.

    “The construction industry loves concrete. It is an indispensable, versatile, adaptable and cost-effective material, but it is also extremely harmful to the environment. One solution is obvious: reuse,” reads the press release. “By recovering and reusing components from existing buildings for new construction projects, concrete consumption is reduced, resulting in a lower CO2 footprint.”

    HEPIA is a Geneva-based university that specialises in education and research in the fields of engineering, architecture and the environment, particularly in the areas of materials and sustainable construction. The university is part of the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland(HES-SO).

  • New strategy pays off – more profit and green share of sales increases

    New strategy pays off – more profit and green share of sales increases

    Holcim achieved half-year sales of 7.87 billion Swiss francs, an increase of 1.8 per cent in local currency. In a press release, the company reported a disproportionately high increase in its recurring EBIT (recurring operating profit) of 10.8 per cent in local currency and 3 per cent in Swiss francs to CHF 1.44 billion. The recurring EBIT margin thus improved by 90 basis points to 18.3 per cent. Earnings per share also rose by 7.4 per cent year-on-year to CHF 1.57 before impairments and disposals.

    The building materials company also reported increased demand for sustainable solutions. ECOPact low-CO2 concrete accounted for 31 per cent of total sales of ready-mix concrete in the first half of the year, compared to 25 per cent in the previous year. Sustainable ECOPlanet cement accounted for 35 per cent of cement sales, compared to 32 per cent a year ago.

    “I would like to thank all of our 48,000 employees around the world for their contribution to our excellent half-year results. Holcim is the leading partner for sustainable construction and we are unlocking significant business opportunities through our new strategy ‘NextGen Growth 2030’ – which lays the foundation for a new era of growth and value creation,” CEO Miljan Gutovic is quoted as saying.

    For the full year, Holcim is forecasting 3 to 5 percent sales growth in local currency, 6 to 10 percent growth in recurring EBIT in local currency, a recurring EBIT margin of more than 18 percent, free cash flow before leases of around CHF 2 billion and over 20 percent growth in recycled construction and demolition materials.

  • New plants strengthen supply chains in growth markets

    New plants strengthen supply chains in growth markets

    Sika is manufacturing its products for the construction industry at five additional plants. According to its announcement, the specialty chemicals company, headquartered in Baar, sees this as an important step towards increasing production capacity and further strengthening its global supply chain in key growth markets.

    Sika has opened a new plant for concrete admixtures in Haines City, Florida. According to the information provided, the factory has the highest level of automation of all Sika admixture sites in the United States.

    In Puerto Tirol in the Argentine region of Chaco, Sika has inaugurated its eighth production facility in the South American country. After “several challenging years,” the local construction market has returned to a growth path, opening up new opportunities for Sika.

    In the Colombian city of Cali, a new factory produces mortar, tile adhesive, interior wall and acrylic coatings, and concrete admixtures. Production there will also be exported. Sika will also gain a foothold in the construction market in Bangladesh with a site in Narayanganj, benefiting from an estimated annual growth rate of over 7 per cent until 2029.

    In the Tanzanian city of Mwanza, Sika is banking on its location in an important and densely populated mining area. Accordingly, Sika produces special mortars for mining and construction, mortars, concrete admixtures and grinding aids for cement plants there. Sika serves local demand with the plant and exports to Burundi, Rwanda and the Congo.

  • Expansion in the area of wall solutions

    Expansion in the area of wall solutions

    Holcim AG acquires Xella International GmbH. The Duisburg-based group, which operates throughout Europe, specialises in building materials, insulating materials and services for the building envelope. With this acquisition, Holcim intends to expand its own portfolio with Xella’s complementary offering, the Zug-based building materials group explained in a press release.

    “This strategic acquisition is a milestone in our vision to be the leading partner for sustainable construction and accelerates the expansion of our high value-added Building Solutions business in line with our NextGen Growth 2030 strategy,” Holcim CEO Miljan Gutovic is quoted as saying. “By complementing our offering in the highly attractive market for wall solutions with a volume of more than 12 billion euros, Xella will open up cross-selling and system sales opportunities for us.” The transaction value is estimated at 1.85 billion euros in the press release. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.

  • Takeover strengthens position in the mortar market

    Takeover strengthens position in the mortar market

    The Sika Group has acquired Marlon Tørmørtel A/S(Marlon) from Brædstrup. The family-owned company, which specialises in the production of mortar, has a highly automated plant and two warehouses, the globally active speciality chemicals group from Baar announced in a press release. The purchase price was not disclosed.

    Marlon’s customer base consists mainly of construction companies, manufacturers of concrete elements and specialised processors. The mortar manufacturer also supplies the building materials trade. Sika plans to use the acquisition to expand its own presence in the mortar market. The Group also intends to increase production capacity in Brædstrup and expand the product range there.

    “With our combined business activities and the expanded production capacities, we have an excellent basis to further accelerate growth in Denmark and the entire Scandinavian region,” said Christoph Ganz, Regional Manager EMEA at Sika, in the press release. “The acquisition strengthens our presence in the important mortar segment and offers us the opportunity to provide new and existing customers with comprehensive end-to-end solutions in an even more targeted manner.”

  • Sustainable products drive earnings stability in the building materials industry

    Sustainable products drive earnings stability in the building materials industry

    Holcim AG generated global sales totaling 5.54 billion Swiss francs in the first quarter of 2025, the Zug-based building materials group announced in a press release. In the same period of the previous year, sales were at the same level at 5.59 billion Swiss francs. At CHF 515 million, recurring operating profit at EBIT level was 3.1 percent weaker than in the first quarter of 2024. In local currencies, however, EBIT growth of 1.7 percent was achieved.

    “We achieved a disproportionately high increase in recurring EBIT in the first quarter and maintained the margin level,” said Holcim CEO Miljan Gutovic in the press release. “The growing demand from our customers for our sustainable building solutions contributed to ECOPact and ECOPlanet’s share of sales in their respective product lines reaching new highs.” Specifically, the sales share of low-carbon ECOPact concrete increased from 26% to 32% year-on-year. At the same time, the low-carbon ECOPlanet cement improved its share of sales from 26% to 29%.

    Against the backdrop of the stable quarterly result, Holcim is sticking to its targets for the 2025 financial year. It aims to achieve sales growth in the mid-single-digit range in local currency and a disproportionately high increase in recurring EBIT. The spin-off of Holcim’s North American business (Amrize) is proceeding according to plan. On March 25, Amrize held its first investor day in New York, explains Holcim. The spin-off is to be listed on the NYSE and the SIX Swiss Exchange in June.

  • Building materials without CO₂ – the change in the industry has begun

    Building materials without CO₂ – the change in the industry has begun

    The construction industry is one of the largest CO₂ emitters in the world. It accounts for around 37 per cent of energy-related emissions. A significant proportion with enormous potential for improvement. The production of conventional materials such as cement, steel and glass is particularly problematic, as their manufacture involves high energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Cement alone causes eight per cent of global CO₂ emissions – more than all international air traffic.

    But the industry is beginning to rethink. New technologies are enabling materials that are more resource-efficient, durable and climate-friendly. Recycled concrete, alternative binders and CO₂-negative bricks are already demonstrating today what could become the standard tomorrow. This shows that sustainability does not have to be at odds with stability, quality or cost-effectiveness.

    Innovation from Switzerland
    The ETH spin-off Oxara is pursuing a particularly visionary approach. The Zurich-based company has developed a patented process that converts mineral waste from the construction industry into cement-free, low-CO₂ building materials. Oxara’s so-called Earth Concrete reduces energy requirements by up to 80 per cent and CO₂ emissions by around 90 per cent. The new “Oulesse” product replaces traditional cement with an innovative mixture of mineral salts and recycled materials such as bricks and concrete. This not only significantly reduces emissions, but also represents an important step towards a circular economy in the construction industry.

    Oxara’s innovations prove that sustainable construction is scalable and economically viable. At the same time, they promote a new understanding of material use, in which not only the building material counts, but also its origin, life cycle and deconstructability.

    The value of natural building materials
    Traditional materials such as wood are also experiencing a renaissance. However, in a new technological form. Cross laminated timber, composite systems and hybrid constructions make wood a high-performance building material with excellent climatic properties. Every cubic metre used binds around one tonne of CO₂, which massively improves the carbon footprint. At the same time, new production techniques ensure maximum load-bearing capacity, even in multi-storey buildings.

    Other promising approaches include sand-lime bricks or CO₂-negative bricks, which actively bind carbon. This shows that stone-based building materials can also have their place in a sustainable future if they are further developed accordingly.

    From trend to obligation
    Sustainable building has long been more than just an image factor. It is increasingly becoming a regulatory and economic necessity. Building owners, planners and investors are under growing pressure to assume ecological responsibility and promote innovative solutions. At the same time, demand for low-emission construction projects is growing, both among institutional investors and end customers.

    The sector has the opportunity to move from being a climate problem to a climate solution. The technologies are available, the expertise is growing and the pressure to act is real. It is up to the players in the construction and property industry to seize this opportunity for the market, society and future generations.

  • New production sites in Singapore and China

    New production sites in Singapore and China

    Sika is expanding its global presence with new production facilities in Singapore and China. The new plant in Singapore specialises in mortar production. In contrast, the entire product range, including tile adhesives, cementitious waterproofing and floor coatings, will be manufactured in Xi’an in north-west China. The new factories should significantly reduce transport distances.

    “The expansion of our production capacities in Singapore and China is an important step in our growth strategy in Asia,” said Philippe Jost, Regional Head Asia/Pacific, in a press release. “Thanks to the new plants, we can serve our customers in these two key markets even better with our innovative solutions. In addition, both factories contribute to Sika’s sustainability performance by utilising energy-efficient processes and environmentally friendly materials.”

    According to Sika, Singapore’s construction industry is expected to grow by 4.1 per cent annually until 2028. A government masterplan for infrastructure development envisages around 22.5 billion Swiss francs for the construction of railway stations and important transport corridors.

    The new plant in Xi’an is Sika’s 35th in China. The construction industry in the country is expected to be worth the equivalent of 4.3 trillion Swiss francs in 2025 and grow by 3.9 per cent annually until 2028. China has reportedly budgeted half a trillion Swiss francs for infrastructure projects and more ambitious quality targets in the construction industry, and a further 12 trillion francs for the net-zero target by 2060.

  • Researchers analyse wood use in Switzerland

    Researchers analyse wood use in Switzerland

    Researchers from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology(Empa) and the Birmensdorf-based Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research(WSL) have analysed the use of wood as one of the most important raw materials on the path to a climate-neutral future. According to a press release, the analysis concludes that there is still considerable potential in Switzerland when it comes to the sustainable use of wood. For example, the recycling rate for wood is just under 8 per cent, compared to around 70 per cent for paper.

    “Of the five to seven million cubic metres of wood that we harvest in Switzerland every year, around 40 percent is used directly for energy – in other words, it is burned,” says the lead author of the study, Nadia Malinverno from Empa’s Technology and Society Laboratory. This is by no means ideal, as wood is used in a variety of ways, as raw wood, sawn timber, wood chips, wood fibres for the paper industry and much more.

    Switzerland has set itself the goal of net zero by 2050. Wood is one of the most important raw materials on the road to a climate-neutral future. It binds CO2 from the atmosphere as it grows and offers alternatives to fossil raw materials both as a material and as an energy source, according to the press release published by Empa and WSL. Many branches of industry want to increasingly rely on wood in the future, be it in construction, in the production of textiles and even in sectors such as electronics or pharmaceuticals and chemicals, it continues.

    The work was carried out as part of SCENE(Swiss Centre of Excellence on Net-Zero Emissions), an initiative of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH).

  • Building materials supplier plans IPO in the USA

    Building materials supplier plans IPO in the USA

    Building materials producer Holcim, headquartered in Zug, will fully spin off its branch in the United States and list on the New York Stock Exchange as Holcim United States, according to a press release. Holcim in the USA is headquartered in Chicago, but also has a presence in 350 locations in 43 states and employs 7,000 people in the USA.

    According to the press release, Holcim is making progress with the planned complete spin-off of its North American business. The North American business is to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange as a “domestic issuer” in accordance with SEC regulations, report under US rules and seek inclusion in relevant US stock indices. An additional listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange is planned in order to meet the needs of European investors.

    The planned spin-off is subject to shareholder approval at Holcim’s Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2025, with a positive resolution expected to be implemented by the end of the first half of 2025, according to Holcim.

    Holcim is a global provider of construction solutions with sales of CHF 27 billion in 2023 and around 63,000 employees. The company says it offers a wide range of advanced solutions, from the sustainable building materials ECOPact and ECOPlanet to the recycling technology ECOCycle and modern roofing and insulation systems from its subsidiary Elevate in Zaventem, Belgium.

  • Investment in low-CO2 cement promotes market launch

    Investment in low-CO2 cement promotes market launch

    Holcim is making a financial contribution to the scaling and rapid market launch of Sublime Systems‘ low-CO2 cement. The investment by the Zug-based company, one of the world’s largest producers of building materials, is driving forward the construction of Sublime’s first commercial production plant. The start-up had already received 87 million dollars from the US Department of Energy in March.

    According to a statement from Holcim, the Sublime Systems team has developed a “unique technology” for the decarbonisation of cement, which covers the entire production process from the use of clean electricity to carbon-free raw materials. “We are excited about the potential of this technology and look forward to jointly bringing it to market on a large scale,” Holcim’s Head of Sustainability Nollaig Forrest is quoted as saying.

    Holcim has secured a large proportion of the Sublime Cement produced there through a binding purchase agreement. Both partners have set up their own project team to jointly develop further plants.

    “In the cement industry, size is everything,” says Leah Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Sublime Systems. “By combining Sublime’s technology with Holcim’s advanced global operations, from manufacturing and logistics to commercial distribution, together we can increase our impact.”

    The company currently operates a pilot plant with a production capacity of up to 250 tonnes per year at its headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts, and is developing its first commercial plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes, which is scheduled to open in Holyoke, also in Massachusetts, as early as 2026.

  • Decline in orders continues

    Decline in orders continues

    In the first half of 2023, the main construction industry generated 11 billion Swiss francs in turnover, which is practically stagnant compared to the same semester last year. Building construction and civil engineering developed similarly. Accordingly, capacity utilisation is still high and the employment situation is good.

    Lower construction activity in the medium term

    In the medium term, however, the outlook is becoming gloomier. In the first half of the current year, orders in building construction were CHF 0.6 billion lower than in the same period last year, in civil engineering CHF 0.5 billion lower. Overall, this corresponds to a decline of 8.3 percent. Several companies even reported a negative order intake overall. This means that already planned construction projects were temporarily paused, redimensioned or completely put on hold.

    Accordingly, the work in progress has also decreased in the past quarters, standing at 15.9 billion Swiss francs at the end of June 2023, 2.6 percent lower than a year ago.

    From housing surplus to housing shortage

    The stock of housing orders has also declined. The trend is clear, too few flats will be built this year and next. In the last 12 months, the franc volume of approved housing applications has fallen by 9 per cent compared to the previous 12 months. The housing shortage could be solved more quickly with less regulation. In addition, appeals are often used to push through particular interests at the expense of the creation of new housing. SBC will lobby accordingly at the Federal Council’s next round table on the housing shortage so that construction activity can be accelerated again.

    SBC thanks Credit Suisse for very good cooperation – Construction Index to be continued

    The Construction Index predicts a 2% increase in turnover for the next quarter compared to the same period last year. This edition marks the end of SBC’s 14-year partnership with Credit Suisse on the Construction Index. SBC would like to thank Credit Suisse for the always very good cooperation, it has been greatly appreciated. SBC will continue the established forecasting tool, from the 4th quarter of 2023 in an adapted form and with a new look.

  • Holcim launches platform for recycling construction waste

    Holcim launches platform for recycling construction waste

    Zug-based building materials giant Holcim has launched an internal digital platform for recycling construction waste. According to a media release, this is intended to efficiently distribute, process, shred and assemble demolition materials into new construction solutions. The platform, called ECOCycle, is designed to help in the transition of construction to circularity.

    This will reportedly allow Holcim to recycle 100 per cent of its construction waste. For example, decarbonised raw materials are reused in low-carbon cement formulations. Aggregates can be reused in concrete and fillers in road construction.

    “With our ECOCycle technology, we can build cities from cities by recycling 100 per cent of demolition materials for new solutions, so everything is reused and nothing is lost,” Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch is quoted as saying in the media release. Recyclable construction is imperative in the face of a growing world population and urbanisation.

    Holcim is currently building a residential complex in the UK that is half made of ECOCycle granulate. This granulate in turn consists entirely of recycled demolition material. In France, a residential complex is being built for which Holcim is using exclusively recycled concrete. And in Switzerland, the company offers a cement that consists of one-fifth old construction waste.

  • Hug Baustoffe takes over Stauffacher Beläge

    Hug Baustoffe takes over Stauffacher Beläge

    Hug Baustoffe AG has acquired Stauffacher Beläge GmbH, based in Lachen in the canton of Schwyz. According to a media release, the acquisition represents a logical step for the building materials trader in its expansion around Lake Zurich. “Through the acquisition, we are expanding our local presence with the well-known showroom and personal advice,” Managing Director Dominik Rieder is quoted as saying.

    The full-range retailer stocks 500,000 articles for private as well as public-commercial new construction and renovation projects. At ten locations, Hug operates craftsmen’s shops, building materials warehouses, bathroom and tile exhibitions for interior fittings, as well as a large-scale gardening exhibition at its headquarters. In addition to the building materials range, machines and tools are sold and rented out.

    Hug takes over all employees of Stauffacher Beläge GmbH. The wholesaler has made a name for itself with its selection of high-quality ceramic wall and floor tiles, facades and parquet. The company advises private builders and developers as well as architects, tilers and general contractors on floor and wall concepts tailored to interior and exterior spaces.

    Customers benefit from the “alliance”, which allows access to new product lines. “In terms of advice, we are now reinforced by the large team of experts at Hug Baustoffe AG,” Edith Stauffacher, owner of Stauffacher Beläge since 2015, is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • Sika is ramping up production in the USA

    Sika is ramping up production in the USA

    Sika has opened a new plant for the production of concrete admixtures in Stafford, Virginia. According to a press release , the additional production capacity and in combination with the existing plant in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, will serve the strong demand in the North East and Mid-Atlantic metropolitan areas more effectively.

    Short transport routes for raw materials and end products reduce CO2 emissions and have a positive impact on operational efficiency. The performance of the new system is geared to the increasing demand from the announced infrastructure program in the amount of 200 to 250 billion Swiss francs.

    For the construction industry, the signs in North America point to growth. The infrastructure will be modernized and expanded over the next few years with investments totaling CHF 1 trillion.

  • Holcim partners with Madaster

    Holcim partners with Madaster

    Holcim Switzerland wants to do more for the circular economy in the construction industry. In this context, the building materials company has entered into a partnership with Madaster , according to a press release .

    Madaster is working on so-called material passports for new and existing buildings. With these material passports, construction waste is given an identity and can be cataloged and reused as resources. The aim is to avoid waste and promote the circular economy in the construction and real estate sector.

    The Madaster platform can also be used during the design phase of buildings to compare different construction methods and material options. Manufacturers of building materials – such as Holcim – can compare and present their products with the product databases on Madaster. They can also trace their products to enable reuse if necessary. Madaster’s services are marketed in Switzerland by Madaster Services Switzerland AG, based in Zurich.

    Holcim Switzerland has set itself the goal of producing only climate-neutral and fully recyclable building materials by 2050. The new partnership should now help to achieve this goal. “By using Madaster when planning buildings, the right decisions for recyclable and resource-saving materials can already be made today,” says Christophe Berset, Team Lead New Solutions at Holcim Switzerland, in the press release. “The more transparency there is at the product level, the more future-proof buildings can be planned, built and dismantled, and materials and products can be used in further phases of use,” he adds.

  • Empa shows the advantages of high-performance insulating materials

    Empa shows the advantages of high-performance insulating materials

    Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research ( Empa ) have investigated when an investment in costly high-performance insulating materials such as aerogels can be worthwhile for builders. According to a media release , the 25 most expensive cities in Europe, North America and Asia were initially compared. The research team found out that the lucrative area gain through the more expensive aerogels at a square meter price of more than 8000 francs exceeds the additional costs of the thinner insulation variant.

    The reason given is that high-performance insulation achieves the same insulating effect as conventional mineral wool, but only requires half to a quarter of the material used. Against the background of rising real estate prices and dense construction in cities, high-performance insulating materials such as aerogels could promote economical construction. Because the thinner the outer shell of a building, the more space is available inside.

    The economic advantages calculated using an equation could have been shown in the 15 most expensive cities – including the four Swiss cities of Zurich, Geneva, Lugano and Basel with the highest prices per square meter in Europe. Amortization was determined in the 14 most expensive cities in North America and in the ten most expensive cities in Asia. The knowledge could also support future planners when deciding on the appropriate insulation material.

  • Holcim and Volvo develop sustainable dump trucks

    Holcim and Volvo develop sustainable dump trucks

    According to a press release , Holcim and Volvo Autonomous Solutions are working together to test and further develop self-driving “dumpers”, ie dump trucks, that run on battery-powered electric drives. Holcim has chosen its Gabenchopf limestone quarry in Villigen as the location for the joint project with the Swedish company from Gothenburg. The limestone and marl required for cement production in the Holcim cement plant in Siggenthal are grown there. According to Holcim, the plant, which has existed since 1912, is one of the largest cement plants in Switzerland and produces over 900,000 tonnes of cement annually.

    According to the Holcim announcement, the new electric and driverless dumpers mark a groundbreaking step. The world's first, commercially available, CE-certified electric and autonomous transport solution for the quarry and cement industry is being tested.

    The project shows a "sustainable transport solution that is commercially viable and reflects the technological changes in connectivity, automation and electrification," Nils Jaeger, President of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, is quoted as saying. And Simon Kronenberg, CEO of Holcim Switzerland and Italy, sees the joint project as “a further step towards realizing our sustainability goals”. According to the press release, Holcim has been using 100 percent renewable electrical energy at all locations since 2019.

    The tests and the possible use of battery-electric dumpers are part of Holcim's Plant of Tomorrow digitization initiative – the plant of tomorrow, according to the press release. Holcim tests automation technologies, robotics and artificial intelligence throughout the production process.

  • Recycling of building materials needs more acceptance

    Recycling of building materials needs more acceptance

    This year, the focus of the Blickpunkt conference organized by the arv Baustoffrecycling association was the quality assurance of the recycling and processing of building materials, even in smaller companies, as well as the requirements for the building products created with them. According to a press release , Blickpunkt 2021 took place digitally on Wednesday.

    National Councilor Isabelle Chevalley spoke at the French-speaking digital Blickpunkt, the “Point de Mire”, in a lecture on strengthening the circular economy with regard to building materials. The importance of recycling building materials to conserve natural resources and scarce landfill volumes has meanwhile also been recognized politically and included in the deliberations of parliament. The Commission for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (UREK) is working on measures to promote the recycling of building materials, she is quoted as saying. Still, more efforts are needed, according to Chevalley. Companies should offer building owners such products in a targeted manner. Measures are also necessary in procurement.

    Quality assurance is central here. The lecturing experts provided information about the implementation of in-house production controls as well as the reuse of reclaimed asphalt. The standards for this are currently being revised. Here, the association arv Baustoffrecycling Switzerland is committed to promoting recycling and for greater acceptance by all stakeholders, according to the media release.

  • Sika expands in the Mexican market

    Sika expands in the Mexican market

    Sika AG expands in Central America and takes over Bexel Internacional SA de CV . The acquisition of the family company will significantly increase the production capacity of the producer of construction chemical product systems and industrial sealants and adhesives, according to a media release . Bexel achieved sales of 35 million francs in 2020.

    Bexel has five production sites, including Mexico City, and primarily supplies hardware stores and building materials dealers. The takeover is intended to strengthen Sika's market position in this rapidly growing metropolitan region. In addition, Sika hopes that the purchase of Bexel will generate sales synergies for its products.

    “Thanks to Bexel, we can ideally expand our geographical presence and our range on the large Mexican market for mortar products in the building finishing sector. So we have together, not least because of the improved market access, an excellent basis for further growth and a strong position in this market. We warmly welcome all new Bexel employees to the Sika team and look forward to a successful future together, ”said Christoph Ganz, Regional Manager Americas at Sika, in the press release.

  • Holcim launches CO2-reduced cement

    Holcim launches CO2-reduced cement

    With ECOPlanet, Holcim is bringing a green cement onto the market. According to a press release by the company, this causes 30 percent less CO2 emissions than conventional products. According to CEO Jan Jenisch, this will be the world's first cement that consists of 20 percent recycled construction and demolition waste. In addition to the use of low-emission raw materials, the CO2 reduction is achieved, among other things, by decarbonising the production process.

    ECOPlanet is already available in Switzerland as well as in Germany, Romania, Canada, Spain, France and Italy. In the current year, the product is to be launched in a total of 15 European countries. Holcim plans to double its market presence with ECOPlanet by the end of 2022.

    "In view of the increasing world population and rapid urbanization, solutions like ECOPlanet are of crucial importance to create greener cities and smarter infrastructure and to build more with less effort," Jenisch is quoted in the press release.

  • Nidwalden receives facility for recycling building materials

    Nidwalden receives facility for recycling building materials

    ARGE EvoREC has put a new recycling processing plant for building materials into operation in Oberdorf. This is to transform concrete and mixed demolition from the region into high-quality new building materials, according to a media release . Specifically, for example, concrete and mixed granules are to be created in different grain sizes, rock compositions and with different properties.

    ARGE EvoREC, a subsidiary of the Zurich based Holcim Kies und Beton AG and the Nidwaldner Zimmermann Umweltlogistik AG , wants to use the system to promote the circular economy in the construction sector. A large part of the recycled aggregate is used directly on site at the Holcim plant in Aennerberg for the production of recycled concrete. This closes the material cycle.

    According to Reto Zimmermann, CEO of Zimmermann Umweltlogistik AG, the new facility is not only a commitment to sustainability, but also to the region. "We receive concrete and mixed demolition from the Nidwalden market and process it into granulate for the local production of concrete – which in turn can be used to create new, sustainable structures in the region," he is quoted in the press release.

  • Sika is growing at a double-digit rate

    Sika is growing at a double-digit rate

    According to a message from Sika , the Zug-based building materials group closed the first half of 2021 with new record values. In concrete terms, sales grew by 23.1 percent to 4.45 billion Swiss francs. The operating result at EBIT level rose by 67.2 percent year-on-year to 685.9 million francs. The EBIT margin reached a new record at 15.4 percent.

    "We asserted ourselves again in a market environment that remained challenging and achieved very good business results in the first half of 2021", Thomas Hasler is quoted in the press release. "COVID-19 will continue to challenge us," says the CEO. "But we are well positioned and have proven our resistance to crises under difficult economic conditions and created new growth platforms."

    All of Sika's business regions contributed to the positive development in the first half of 2021 with double-digit sales growth rates. In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa), a year-on-year increase in sales of 25.2 percent to 2.04 billion Swiss francs was achieved. The Americas region grew by 15.8 percent to 1.10 billion Swiss francs. In the Asia / Pacific region, sales increased by 26.4 percent to 960.8 million francs. Business with the automotive industry (Global Business) grew by 26.4 percent to CHF 351.0 million.

    For the year as a whole, Sika expects sales growth of between 13 and 17 percent in local currencies. The operating result is to be increased disproportionately. Sika expects the EBIT margin to be at least 15.0 percent despite rising raw material prices.

  • Holzernte hat 2020 zugenommen

    Holzernte hat 2020 zugenommen

    Mit 4,8 Millionen Kubikmetern wurden 2020 insgesamt 4 Prozent mehr Holz geschlagen als im Vorjahr. Vergleicht man diese Menge mit dem Durchschnitt der Jahre 2016 bis 2019, so resultierte ein Plus von 1 Prozent. Der seit 2016 steigende Trend zu mehr geerntetem Nadelholz setzte sich auch im vergangenen Jahr fort: Dessen Ernte stieg um 8 Prozent auf 3,4 Millionen Kubikmeter.

    Wie das Statistische Bundesamt in der Schweizerischen Forststatistik 2020 weiter dokumentiert, setzte sich dagegen der Rückgang der Laubholzernte weiter fort. Mit 1,4 Millionen Kubikmeter wurden 3 Prozent weniger geschlagen als im Vorjahr. Gleichzeitig werden wegen der Klimaveränderung und des zunehmenden Aufwands bei der Bekämpfung des Borkenkäfers immer mehr Laubbäume neu gepflanzt, vor allem im Mittelland. 563’000 Bäume markierten dort gegenüber 2019 ein Plus von 9 Prozent. Gleichzeitig gingen die Nadelholzpflanzungen mit 430’000 Bäumen um 8 Prozent zurück.

    Ein weiterer Trend ist seit 2016 ungebrochen: In der Schweiz wird immer mehr Hackholz verwendet. 2020 waren es mit 1,2 Millionen Kubikmetern rund 5 Prozent mehr Holz als Hackschnitzel. Dagegen sinkt die Ernte von Energiestückholz stetig: von 0,75 Millionen Kubikmetern im Jahr 2016 auf 0,70 Kubikmeter im Jahr 2020. Das meistgeerntete Holz bleibt Stammholz. Dieses Segment wuchs nach einem starken Rückgang im Vorjahr wieder um 5 Prozent.

    Die Einnahmen der 660 Schweizer Forstbetriebe sanken 2020 um 2 Prozent auf 525 Millionen Franken. Deren Ausgaben nahmen um 1 Prozent auf 569 Millionen Franken ab. Daraus resultierte eine Unterdeckung von rund 44 Millionen Franken. Das sind 5 Prozent mehr als 2019 und 13 Prozent mehr als im Durchschnitt der Jahre 2016 bis 2019.

    Bei den 160 Betrieben aus dem forstwirtschaftlichen Testbetriebsnetz der Schweiz, die eine Vollkostenrechnung führen, verschlechterte sich die Situation im Vergleich zum Vorjahr. Durch erhöhte Kosten und tiefere Erlöse hat sich deren Defizit pro Hektare produktive Waldfläche um 6 Franken auf 66 Franken vergrössert.

  • Model clarifies the cycle of building materials

    Model clarifies the cycle of building materials

    With his dissertation, industrial engineer Daniel Kliem wants to create the basis for the recycling of building materials at the OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, across cantons. As it is said in a media release, the “cantonal spirit” is a hindrance in the political process. If, for example, the price for mining gravel and dumping demolition and excavation is raised in one canton in order to provide incentives for recycling, the problem would only shift to other regions: “Dismantling material and excavation would then be transported to other cantons and new material would then drive from further away, ”said Kliem.

    Now a participatively developed model wants to clarify the system dynamics. In addition to three OST institutes, experts from the Universities of St.Gallen and Bergen , the Zurich Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air as well as Energy and Resource Management GmbH are involved in this four-year project. Despite the complex dynamics, it has already created a comprehensive understanding of the problem and has been able to identify actionable fields of action. For example, the processes and spatial planning measures would have to be redefined. In addition, construction-intensive cantons such as Zurich should be included and the taxation of resources should be regulated nationally.

    "The realization that even experts can learn new things with models and gain new perspectives and inputs was exciting," Kliem is quoted as saying. “The obvious measure to increase the price of gravel is good and works. But if the catchment areas are included, the cooperation between cantons serves as a key to prevent additional transport. "

  • Sulzer and Blue Planet are working on CO2-negative concrete

    Sulzer and Blue Planet are working on CO2-negative concrete

    Sulzer and Blue Planet want to work together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable cement industry. For this they have now entered into a partnership. The Californian specialist for CO2 capture and mineralization uses technologies from the Winterthur company to reduce CO2 in order to lower greenhouse gas emissions from industrial operations.

    According to a press release from Sulzer, Blue Planet has developed a profitable CO2 capture, use and storage system that captures CO2 from a variety of emission sources such as power plants, refineries, steel and cement plants. The CO2 is mineralized in solid, crystalline form and thus permanently bound. The granulate is added to concrete as a 70 to 90 percent main component. As usual, these aggregates are then bound by cement. With a share of 7 percent, cement makes a significant contribution to global CO2 emissions. But the CO2 footprint of the cement in the concrete is "more than compensated for" by the CO2 bound in the synthetic limestone aggregates, according to Sulzer.

    "We are pleased to be able to contribute our expertise in circular applications to such a future-oriented project," said Sulzer's Chemtech division manager, Torsten Wintergerste, quoted in the press release. "It will help reduce carbon emissions from industrial applications and the cement sector – a major concern of our customers."

  • Circulit concrete is being delivered for the first time

    Circulit concrete is being delivered for the first time

    In Stadel, the recyclable concrete was delivered circulit for the first time. This will create three apartment buildings on Hinterdorfstrasse. “The circular age begins with the delivery of the first cubic meters of circular concrete,” writes the newly founded company , which calls itself just like its product, in its press release .

    Thanks to the use of 1850 cubic meters of circular concrete, the builder EBI Immobilien saves 3260 primary raw materials. It also reduces the construction project's carbon footprint by 18,500 kilograms. This is achieved by using a “new type of technology” to store CO2 in the concrete.

    This building material "gives me the opportunity to achieve a significant reduction in the biggest influencing factor, concrete," Sarah Heinle from EBI Immobilien is quoted in the press release. "We hope that other clients will follow suit so that we can achieve the ambitious environmental goals together."

    Theoretically, according to Circulit, the construction industry can remove 7.5 million tons of construction waste annually and at the same time store over 42 million kilograms of CO2 in the concrete. The technology is ready for the market and the national expansion has started.

  • LafargeHolcim purchases in Greece

    LafargeHolcim purchases in Greece

    LafargeHolcim has strengthened its Heracles group in Greece. The Zug-based building materials manufacturer bought Halyps Domia Ylika, namely its large aggregates business and two ready-mixed concrete plants, from its competitor Heidelberg Cement. As stated in a media release from LafargeHolcim, this acquisition will strengthen the position of the Heracles Group in the flourishing metropolitan area of Athens with its important infrastructure projects.

    "I am excited about the opportunities and growth prospects of this acquisition in the Attica region in central Greece," said Miljan Gutovic, Region Head EMEA, in the press release. "With our leading range of sustainable building solutions such as the green concrete ECOPact, it will also support us in our pursuit of net zero."

    The acquisition will offer Heracles customers an expanded product portfolio of aggregates and concrete solutions that are suitable for all construction projects. This April, for example, the Heracles Group launched its ECOPact range of green concrete with a reduced CO2 footprint.

  • Sika raises the bar

    Sika raises the bar

    Sika closed the first quarter of 2021 with record sales of just under 2.0 billion francs, the Zug-based building materials group announced in a press release . In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 10.2 percent. Sika writes that growth of 12.6 percent was achieved in local currencies. The announcement puts organic growth at 11.1 percent.

    All market regions of the globally active group contributed to the positive development. In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa), a year-on-year increase in sales of 13.2 percent in local currencies to 914.7 million Swiss francs was achieved. The Americas region grew by 6.2 percent in local currencies. In the Asia / Pacific region, sales in local currencies rose by 25.8 percent to 422.8 million Swiss francs. In business with the automotive industry (Global Business), growth of 2.7 percent in local currencies was achieved after a minus in the previous year.

    "In the new year we were able to seamlessly build on our strong performance from the fourth quarter of the previous year", Paul Schuler, chairman of the group management, is quoted in the announcement. As a consequence of the development, Sika is adjusting its growth targets for the year as a whole upwards. Instead of the 6 to 8 percent originally communicated, the aim is now to achieve double-digit sales growth in local currencies. The margin on the operating result (EBIT) is also to be increased to 15 percent for the first time this year. In the previous year, an EBIT margin of 14.4 percent was achieved.

  • Sika invests in Qatar

    Sika invests in Qatar

    Sika has increased the production capacities for concrete admixtures at its location in Qatar's capital Doha, informs the Zug-based building materials group in a press release . In addition, the production of epoxy resins has now also started there, it says there. They are needed for the production of floor coverings and adhesives.

    The expansion investments are intended to put Sika in a better position in the competition for major government contracts in Qatar. Here, the national procurement policy stipulates that primarily domestically manufactured products are procured, explains the group. According to the announcement, high investments in the supply infrastructure for energy and water are pending in Qatar.

    "Our latest investment in Qatar positions us for further growth and strengthens our competitiveness in the country", Sika Regional Manager EMEA Ivo Schädler is quoted in the press release. "As a result of the expanded production, we are assuming a significant increase in demand and volume for our high-quality adhesive and flooring solutions for our business."