Heidelberg Materials has confirmed it will close its Paderborn-based cement plant, citing a “significant decline in cement sales”.
The company has said the closure is due to “weak construction demand” in Germany and its current economic climate.
“The closure applies exclusively to the cement plant. The activities of Heidelberg Materials’ subsidiary Mineralik in the Paderborn quarry, as well as the operation of the local ready-mixed concrete plant, will remain unchanged,” the company wrote in its release.
“A total of 53 employees are affected by the plant closure. Socially responsible solutions are being developed in close consultation with the workers’ council, including internal transfers to nearby sites within the company. At neighbouring cement plants, such as in Geseke and Ennigerloh, open positions created through early retirement programmes are to be offered to affected employees.”
The Paderborn plant, which housed the smallest rotary kiln with Heidelberg Materials’ German operations, was part of a trial operation producing Ternocem, which holds significantly lower CO₂ emissions than conventional Portland cement clinker. Heidelberg Materials has confirmed that the development of Ternocem will continue at another site in the future.
It comes as Heidelberg Materials continues to pursue low-carbon options within its cement production portfolio. This has led to an “optimisation” of Heidelberg Materials’ European network, according to the company.
“Heidelberg Materials is increasingly aligning its cement portfolio towards low-carbon products, which are produced with lower clinker content in all sites,” the company wrote in its release.
“As customers can now source clinker-reduced cements from Heidelberg Materials throughout the country, the Paderborn plant is losing its unique position within the group.”
