Pouring it on

According to the Association of Cement Producers, cement sales in the first 11 months of 2006 increased by 19 percent compared to 2005. This result was much higher than the previous market's demand calculations and was caused by the construction sector's prosperity.

As a result, Cemex, a concrete and cement producer, has implemented a new sales strategy in 2006, which is focused on the end users. According to the company, this tactic means it is junking any agent services and the firm can now more rapidly adjust its offer to meet market demands.

Besides changes into the company's sales strategy, Cemex has also invested zł.64 million in its Chełm and Rudniki cement factories. The firm is also expanding. It has taken over the Unicon company, which boosted the number of its concrete factories by nine new industrial plants. Today Cemex operates 40 commercial concrete plants.

Taking over two producers of aggregate in 2006, Cemex is currently able to product four million tonnes of crushed stone per year.

"Last year was a year of many successes within all sectors of Cemex's production," said Ruediger Kuhn, the president of Cemex Poland. "Through the new sales system, we were able to increase our production base, which helped to cement our market position."

Thanks to greater demand, the company plans to invest up to zł.200 million more in its factories in Rudniki and Chełmie, which will boost the company's production capacity.