Materials
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Heidelberg Materials is increasing its stake in Akçansa to 79.44%, deepening its position in Turkey and strengthening its cement, aggregates, and ready-mix platform across the Mediterranean basin.
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The collapse of FK’s core facade and construction businesses has thrown fresh light on how legal costs, bad debt, insurance pressure, and regulatory delay are weighing on specialist contractors.
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Saint-Gobain is expanding deeper into specialist construction chemicals in Europe. Its Grouttech deal targets repair, grouting, resin, and flooring applications tied to infrastructure and refurbishment demand.
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Ecocem’s Dunkirk expansion has moved further into view after a visit by EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, with the plant positioned as a major low-carbon cement production hub for Europe.
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Murphy has used Ecocem ACT low-carbon concrete in permanent works at Shipley Depot, marking a notable step in the move from trial pours to embedded use on live infrastructure.
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A French court has convicted Lafarge and several former executives over payments made to armed groups in Syria, sharpening focus on governance in global materials businesses.
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Grayson and Vision have brought the new GripLock masonry support tool to market, aiming to cut installation time, reduce handling risk, and simplify a repetitive but awkward part of façade and masonry support work.
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The Mineral Products Association says rising tax costs and weak demand are constraining investment across the producers that underpin housing and infrastructure delivery.
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Siderise has launched a dedicated firestop and cavity barrier range for precast concrete cladding systems, targeting challenging façade interfaces where access, tolerances, and installation conditions can complicate compliance.
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Tadweld has warned that the UK’s new steel trade measure could raise raw-material costs for domestic fabricators while leaving a route for tariff-free pre-fabricated imports.