We are excited to introduce the first issue of the CemWeek Magazine - an in-depth and analytical complement to our leading CemWeek.com News platform.

CemWeek decided that it was time to introduce a new, fresh format to the cement industry for covering the business of the global industry. The CemWeek Magazine takes a different approach and is research-driven format, managed by industry researchers to deliver thoughtful and original content in a comprehensive, exciting format.

The CW Group’s CemWeek 2010 Africa and Middle East Business Sentiment Survey provides a broad evaluation of emerging trends and themes that have dominated the African and Middle Eastern cement sectors over the recent months, as well as are likely to be important in the months ahead.

Mr. Oliviero Collarini, Managing Director of Italy-based Cimprogetti, recently spoke with BMweek and offered an overview of the lime production market as well as an update on Cimprogetti. Mr. Collarini shared geographical data on the lime industry as well as equipment design considerations with a comparison of rotary kiln technology versus vertical kilns.

As the three-day Arab-International Cement Conference and Exhibition drew to a close in Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E. on Wednesday; Ahmad Al-Rousan, Secretary General of the AUCBM, expressed pleasure with attendance and the participation of CemWeek and the global cement industry. 

KHD Humboldt Wedag has played a prominent role in the India cement plant engineering and machinery supply business for the past 30 years. In that time span, KHD has come up with leading innovations that have changed the face of the local cement industry, and is now working on new innovations to fulfill the needs of its valued customers.

Bolivia is an emerging cement market with a rapidly growing demand profile. Recent developments are changing the producer landscape, but leaving aside political considerations, CemWeek spoke to Mr. Marcelo Alfaro, the head of the Bolivian Cement and Concrete Institute, about the sector today in Bolivia.

In the first article in the CemWeek series Terry Pavlopoulos examined the reasons that cement and concrete managers offered in support of vertical integration. In the second, Terry looked at how vertical integration might help in a downturn scenario and also explored the characteristics of markets that are ready to vertically integrate. In this final article in the vertical integration mini-series we examine changes in international trade impact cross-border vertical integration and climate change legislation and its potential impact.

In the article published on CemWeek last week, we examined the reasons that cement and concrete managers offered in support of vertical integration. In this note we will examine the following topics: Does vertical integration provide a “shelter” in a downturn situation? The behavioural impact of vertical integration on market participants versus economic arguments? What are the characteristics of a market ready to vertically integrate?

Given the recent turmoil in construction activity across the globe, a number of market participants in the cement industry have begun to consider the possibility of vertical integration into ready-mix concrete (and other concrete products) and the impact such strategy may have on their business.

CemWeek, in its special features section will post a mini-series of three articles on vertical integration by Mr. Terry Pavlopoulos.

Following the announcement that the two industry leading pyroprocess specialists A TEC and GRECO were joining forces, CemWeek took the opportunity to speak to the two respective company leaders, Thomas Liebert and Adriano Greco. The conversation touched on the drivers behind the move, evolving customer need and cement industry changes.