Cemex invest in Dove Holes Building Products facility
Company announces significant investment into concrete products machinery and technology
CEMEX UK are investing in their Building Products facility in Dove Holes, Derbyshire. This will see the installation of new machinery and technology, which will modernize the plant’s operational processes and allow 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 different-sized blocks, strengthening alignment with specifications set by customers. It also presents opportunities to develop new products and expand Cemex’s current portfolio.
Moreover, the site is installing a new SKAKO Concrete batching mixer, offering greater efficiencies, advanced functionalities, and increased health and safety features. This will allow the production of blocks with enhanced properties, such as strength, durability, and performance, developing a higher-quality product that further meets the needs of customers. 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, utilizing 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 allow for 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 decarbonization 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 more than 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.’
