Cemex UK is investing in its Building Products facility in Dove Holes, Derbyshire, England. This will see the installation of new machinery and technology, which will modernise the plant’s operational processes and enable the building materials supplier to enhance its concrete solutions offering.
One of the key features of this investment is the implementation of a brand-new concrete block press from Rekers, replacing the current model, which dates back to the 1980s. This new press will allow the site to manufacture a variety of block sizes, strengthening alignment with customer specifications. It also presents opportunities to develop new products and expand Cemex’s current portfolio.
Furthermore, the site is installing a new SKAKO Concrete batching mixer, offering greater efficiency, advanced functionality, and enhanced health and safety features. This will enable the production of blocks with improved properties, such as strength, durability, and performance, resulting in a higher-quality product that better meets customer needs. Additionally, this machine will consume less energy and produce fewer carbon emissions than the previously used machine, supporting Cemex’s wider commitment to achieving carbon neutrality.
A water recycling system will also be incorporated, ensuring natural resource management within operational activities through the reuse and retention of water. Plus, the facility will upgrade its automated technologies, utilising Siemens Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), to streamline and increase the reliability of its manufacturing processes.
The investment at Dove Holes is in its second and final phase, following the implementation of new innovative Void packs in July 2025. As part of this phase, the facility is undergoing a shutdown to accommodate the installation and replacement of machinery, reopening in early 2026.
Sam Culshaw, National Sales Manager at Cemex, commented: “We are pleased to be investing in our Dove Holes Building Products facility, which will see the implementation of new and advanced technologies. This crucial investment will contribute to making the site’s processes more efficient and aligned with our decarbonisation targets, while enabling us to produce higher-quality concrete blocks that are closely tailored to the requirements of all our customers, including in size and performance. The new machinery will also allow us to develop new products in the long term and expand our solutions offering across the UK markets.
“To ensure minimal disruption to business during the shutdown, we have stockpiled over a million square metres of blocks from our key product range at Dove Holes, helping to keep our customers in constant supply during this period. The facility will resume its operations in early 2026.”
For more information on Cemex’s concrete blocks and concrete products, please visit: https://www.cemex.co.uk/
Cemex R&D, Innovation and Business Development projects are part of the global R&D collaboration network, headed by CEMEX Research Centers, based in Switzerland.
