Holcim to stop a cement furnace at its Dannes, France site

Swiss cement group 680 Holcim plans to stop a furnace at its site in Dannes, northern France, due to being overcapacity for clinker production. The Group says it is facing a drop in demand and increased competition that is driving prices down. The site employs 84 people, of which 70 will be affected by the furnace stopping activity. Management says that it is working with social partners to establish a job savings plan, which could include reclassification either to other posts at the site or in other Holcim sites in France. It is thought by Holcim that the Dannes site's furnace is likely to be too expensive to modernise. Grinding and mixing activities will continue at the site and the 384,000tonnes of clinker produced each year at Dannes will be distributed to other French sites. A special works council meeting has been held to inform employees of the project.