Rock Products is the aggregates industry's leading source for market analysis and technology solutions, delivering critical content focusing on aggregates-processing equipment; operational efficiencies; management best practices; comprehensive market
Issue link: https://rock.epubxp.com/i/511782
102 • ROCK products • May 2015 www.rockproducts.com CAC Sees Public Transit Fund as Key to Boosting Competitiveness, Growth T he Cement Association of Canada (CAC) applauded the recent release of Budget 2015, which indicates that sev- eral billion dollars have successfully been invested in critical infrastructure projects across Canada. The association took the opportunity to highlight the critical importance of infra- structure investments in boosting the competitiveness and growth of the private sector, both of which it says are crit- ical to the continued economic recovery and job creation, and applauds the federal government's continued action to encourage productivity-enhancing investments by provid- ing an extended tax incentive until the end of 2025. "It is clear to our members that the new Building Canada Plan has played a key role in assisting Canadian manufacturers recover from the recession and has allowed the construction of critical infrastructure in Canada," said CAC President and CEO Michael McSweeney. "It is equally clear to us that mea- sures that improve Canadian competitiveness and promote private sector growth to lead us through this fragile recov- ery period are more imperative than ever. The creation of the Public Transit Fund is one such measure." As part of an ongoing effort to reduce the infrastructure defi- cit that Canada faces, the government has committed signif- icant long-term funding through the new Building Canada Plan to ensure that priority projects throughout Canada get built, and are built in a more sustainable way by promoting full life-cycle considerations in the design phase. McSweeney added, "Although Canada has managed its economy better than many other countries during the glob- al downturn, we cannot take continued growth for granted, as fluctuations in oil prices have shown us. Growth depends largely on investment and the competition for investment from multinational companies is fierce and intense. Achiev- ing and sustaining a comparatively low tax rate is also essential to maintain any advantages we have gained on this front." As Canadian infrastructure investments are planned and made, Canadians need to also understand that life cycle assessment and resiliency are key components of how we all must plan and design new construction. "As noted in Budget 2015, incenting the delivery of projects on time and on bud- get and to minimize costs over the full life cycle of an asset are critical considerations. This is vital to the construction and manufacturing sectors and Canada's efforts to drive sustain- able investments in infrastructure," McSweeney concluded. Essroc has signed an agreement to acquire the Holcim (US) Inc. slag cement grinding plant in Camden, N.J., along with an Everett, Mass., cement terminal. With a capacity of 700,000 metric tons, the Delaware River facility stands to triple the slag cement output for Essroc, which mills the supplementa- ry binder at Picton, Ontario; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Mid- dlebranch, Ohio, operations. "The acquisition reiterates Essroc's commitment to the Northeast market," said CEO Francesco Carantani. "With the focus on sustainability and durability, there is a pro- jected growth in the demand and usage of slag cement … Slag cement compliments Italcementi's i.nova marketing approach by offering products based on market needs and differentiated by performance." Sale of the New Jersey and Massachusetts properties is pend- ing completion of a Holcim Ltd. and Lafarge Group merger projected for July. The European parent companies have jointly announced a package of Lafarge North America and Holcim (US) assets they will unload following negotiations with the Federal Trade Commission, whose approval would weigh on a merged entity with strong cement, aggregate and concrete positions in major U.S. markets. Essroc to Buy Holcim's Slag Mill, Cement Terminal In 2014, Colombia-based Argos recorded historic results in terms of both income and EBITDA, which rose above $2.9 million (17 percent) and $534 million (8 percent), respec- tively. The company reported unprecedented consolidated figures in terms of cement and concrete sales volumes, dis- patching 12.5 million tons of cement and 11 million cubic meters of concrete, and it increased its net profits by about 59 percent. Argos Prepares For 'Vibrant' Growth In U.S.