Page 72 - Sigmaroc Annual-Report 2023

SIGMAROC ANNUAL REPORT 2023 STRATEGIC REPORT
Benelux
Following the Group taking-over of all LafargeHolcim’s production installations located at CDH in April 2021, shortly followed by the acquisitions of the B-Mix and Casters businesses in Belgium, SigmaRoc created the Granulats du Hainaut aggregates brand and separated its European heavy-side materials operations into two separate platforms.
CDH continued as a Europe wide dimension stone platform and a new, integrated, concrete and construction aggregates Benelux platform was created, including the GduH, Cuvelier, B-Mix and Casters businesses. There are >190Mt of aggregate reserves and resources attributable to the Benelux platform, in addition to the CDH bluestone reserves and resources.
The Benelux platform produces over 2 million tonnes of aggregates and over 350,000 m3 of concrete, servicing the Hainaut, Liege and Limburg markets. Our aggregate products supply a range of partners and construction companies with products for concrete, sea defence work and riverbank fortification.
The aggregates business is led by Christophe Huyghebaert and concrete by Dirk De Leus.
PLATFORM HIGHLIGHTS
The Belgian ready-mix concrete plants had a very strong year, with dynamic pricing and active cost control translating into improved profitability. Cuvelier also reported a good year, bolstered by strong market demand that led to increased production volumes and solid profit margins.
Our quarry in Soignies, Granulats du Hainaut, also performed commendably. The volumes produced were in line with our projections, primarily driven by our contract with Holcim, resulting in the quarry's EBITDA being in-line with budget. Looking ahead to 2024, Granulats du Hainaut is gearing up for a busy year. This includes the establishment of a new sales and logistics department, a strategic move in anticipation of the conclusion of the Holcim contract at the end of 2024. Additionally, the quarry is set to commence investments in a new crushing and screening plant.
Toward the end of 2023 the Benelux platform expanded into the North of France with the acquisition of four ready- mix concrete plants from CdB. The plants are strategically located near the Soignies quarry and operated under newly incorporated Betons.
PLATFORM METRICS
Key operational metrics for the Benelux Platform during the year were as follows:
People
Reserves and Resources (tonnes)
Sites
The Benelux platform welcomed 44 new people with the acquisition of Goijens in Belgium in January 2023 and the creation of Betons in the north of France in September 2023. With this, the Group added 5 new sites to the platform.
CHRISTOPHE HUYGHEBAERT
MD OF BENELUX
Christophe Huyghebaert, who joined SigmaRoc in 2021 to manage the Group’s dimension stone platform. Prior to joining SigmaRoc, Christophe
worked for Heidelbergcement Benelux. He has held different management positions in cement, aggregates and concrete operations.
DIRK DE LEUS
MD OF BENELUX
Dirk has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry in the aggregates, ready- mix concrete (General Manager Inter-Beton) and
cement markets in Belgium (General manager of Cemminerals). Dirk joined SigmaRoc in April 2022 as general manager of the Benelux platform. He oversees, integrates, and streamlines all the ready-mix and aggregate businesses in Benelux. His main priorities are to grow the business, to professionalise and to make our Benelux business more sustainable. Dirk holds a degree of commercial engineer from the University of Leuven.
2023
131
2022
Change
91
+44%
192.8m
195.6m
-1%
10
5
+100%