Heidelberg Materials products

Cement is a finely milled mineral powder, usually grey in colour. The most important raw materials for the production of cement are limestone, clay, and marl. Mixed with water, cement serves as an adhesive to bind sand, gravel, and hard rock in concrete. Cement hardens both in the air and under water, and remains in its hardened state once reached.

Aggregates are classified by particle size and consistency. They can be subdivided into the categories: natural stone aggregates (sand and gravel) and crushed aggregates (stone chippings and crushed stones). Aggregates are generally available in the form of a homogeneous bulk product. The product characteristics are standardised, in order to ensure the necessary levels of reliability and processability.

The second most used substance on earth after water; Concrete is a mixture of aggregates (approx. 80%), cement (approx. 12%), and water. Depending on the desired application, the characteristics of the concrete can be changed through the use of certain additives.

Asphalt consists of a mixture of aggregates (approx. 95%) and bitumen (approx. 5%) heated to a temperature of approximately 120 degrees C, and delivered to the construction site in insulated vehicles. Asphalt is laid and compacted while hot to form a smooth surface suitable for vehicles or pedestrians. The characteristics of asphalt can be varied by careful selection of the aggregates, the aggregates gradation, special binders and additives.

At first glance, the large-scale excavation of raw materials would appear to destroy nature and undermine biodiversity. Yet quarries and gravel pits actually provide an important habitat for plants and animals that are being increasingly displaced by development in other areas. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that quarries, gravel pits, and other open-pit mines can be extremely valuable for environmental protection, for they offer undisturbed habitats for rare and protected species. Prior to commencing mining operations at a given site, HeidelbergCement conducts environmental impact assessments. In addition to being economically attractive, a potential project must be compatible with the goals of environmental protection. We assign high priority to mining techniques that minimize environmental damage as well as to measures for the subsequent rehabilitation of mining sites.

HeidelbergCement has committed itself to the goal of mitigating the impact of its activities on natural water resources to the greatest extent possible. We comply with stringent environmental regulations to ensure that raw material quarrying will not damage local bodies of surface water and ground water resources. HeidelbergCement does not have a Groupwide water management guideline at the present time. However, we are focusing on concepts and measures for reducing our water consumption in countries and regions where water shortages exist. Within the framework of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) preliminary sector indicators for water management have also been developed. We have started to monitor and report In the near future, we want to be able to report on our water footprint — first in the cement business line and later in the areas of aggregates and ready-mixed concrete.

Sustainable construction materials with a small CO2 footprint are playing an ever more important role for us and our customers. We use special additives in order to improve the CO2 balance of the products based on our Portland cement. These alternative materials, which are waste products from steel mills and coal-fired power plants, partially replace Portland cement clinker in the production of `composite cement`. We have also been working for several years to develop alternative binding materials that almost completely eliminate the need for conventional clinker.