
Expansion of the recycling of building materials in Europe
Holcim has expanded its European portfolio for recycling building materials. Three acquired companies in England, Germany and France with a capacity of 1.3 million tons of construction and demolition materials will contribute to the Group's goal of recycling over 20 million tons by

Hot concrete from Pompeii
At an ancient building site in Pompeii, researchers have discovered evidence of a hot-mixing process for Roman concrete. The discovery strengthens the theory of self-healing concrete and contradicts the traditional description by the architect Vitruvius. With consequences for the understanding of

How the old real estate market is slowing down the new China
China is at a turning point. While electric cars, AI and green tech dominate the headlines, a deep-seated real estate crisis is eating away at the foundation of the economy. Major developers are faltering, provinces are groaning under debt, deflation is eating away at confidence and yet Beijing is

All the world’s buildings in a 3D model
With the GlobalBuildingAtlas, a research team from the Technical University of Munich has for the first time created an almost seamless, freely available 3D map of all buildings on Earth. It forms the basis for new applications in climate research, urban planning, from megacities to rural

Circular building with reeds
On Lake Neusiedl, a detached house with a thatched roof shows how circular construction can be achieved with local, regenerative materials. The building combines architectural quality, ecological responsibility and pioneering work for natural building materials in new construction. With appeal far

Expansion of growth markets through regional production
Sika has acquired Awazil Al Khaleej Industrial Co (Gulf Seal). The manufacturer of bitumen membranes for waterproofing operates its plant in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. It has established export channels to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation

Video technology improves occupational safety on construction sites
Zurich North America and Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS) are teaming up with Arrowsight, an expert in video-based safety for construction projects. The background to this is a multi-year pilot program in New York City, in which occupational accidents on Arrowsight construction sites have fallen

Satellites create new transparency
Europe is entering a new era of earth observation. From 2027, CO2M satellites will for the first time provide comprehensive, high-resolution measurement data on CO2 and methane, right down to individual industrial plants. The necessary technologies were developed by Empa research teams, who are

Engineering highlight and architectural vision in Barcelona
The Sagrada Família has reached a historic milestone. At 162.91 meters, it has topped Ulm Minster since October 2025 and is now the tallest church in the world. However, the building is far more than just a height record. It is an example of visionary structural engineering, digital planning and

Stronger than steel, lighter than wood
A building material that surpasses the strength of steel and yet is renewable. The vision sounds futuristic, but it is taking shape. After years of research, the US start-up Inventwood has brought so-called Superwood into mass production. The material was developed at the Department of Materials

Five mobility trends are driving the real estate industry
Digital parking systems, data-driven land use and artificial intelligence. After Expo Real 2025, it is clear that the mobility turnaround has long since arrived on the land of the real estate industry. Europe's leading free-flow provider Wemolo identifies five trends that are transforming parking

Fraunhofer ISE Testlab sets standard for inverters
Stable system operation is essential for the success of the energy transition. In the future, renewable power sources and storage systems will have to take on grid-forming properties. Fraunhofer ISE's new test procedure provides clarity in the market and accelerates the development of

New silicon acids could destroy “eternal chemicals”
Researchers at TU Berlin have achieved a breakthrough: They have developed a new class of silicon-based super Lewis acids that can break down even extremely stable compounds such as PFAS. This opens up prospects for green chemistry, recycling processes and the degradation of highly hazardous

Nuclear waste as a resource for the energy transition
Nuclear waste is seen as a burden for future generations, but researchers are now discovering an opportunity. Radioactive waste could help to produce the urgently needed fuel tritium for nuclear fusion. This brings closer a technology that could supply enormous amounts of energy and give a decisive

Microfactories with AI are changing housing construction
A new partnership between ABB Robotics and the US company Cosmic Buildings is bringing movement to housing construction. Mobile, AI-powered microfactories will be used to build homes in disaster areas three times faster, safer and more cost-effectively. The approach could fundamentally change the

Light controls electricity in metals
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed a method to control the flow of electricity in ultra-thin metal films at room temperature using light. This discovery could revolutionize the development of new, highly efficient components in optoelectronics and quantum


Switzerland is the most competitive country in the world in 2025
Switzerland climbs to first place in the IMD's World Competitiveness Ranking 2025. An impressive signal of stability, efficiency and future viability in an increasingly fragmented global market. While protectionist tendencies are on the rise and geopolitical tensions are making international

Shanghai relocates Shikumen complex with robots
The Huayanli complex in Shanghai is the first time a 7,500-tonne historical ensemble in the Shikumen style has been relocated with the help of 432 specialized robots. The project combines technological precision, urban planning foresight and the protection of cultural identity in a remarkable

Acquisition in North America strengthens portfolio for precast concrete parts
Holcim has acquired the Langley Concrete Group Inc. It is based in the greater Vancouver area of Canada. The Zug-based building materials manufacturer is thus entering the market for precast concrete components in the province of British

Expansion of the S-Bahn infrastructure in Frankfurt
DB InfraGO AG has commissioned Implenia to build an inner-city section of the suburban railway in Frankfurt. The construction and real estate company will realise the starting excavation pit, tunnel tubes and special civil engineering services. The contract is worth over 200 million

IPO launched for North American business
Holcim has received the green light for the spin-off of its North American business. Under the name Amrize, the building materials group will float the new company on the stock exchange simultaneously in New York and Zurich on 23 June. The background to this is the US government's investment

Netherlands tests recycling train for sustainable road construction
The Dutch infrastructure authority Rijkswaterstaat is using the Asphalt Recycling Train (ART) to recycle asphalt on site. The machine, which is currently in the test phase, removes worn asphalt, heats it, mixes it and rebuilds it on the

New plant strengthens construction chemicals production in Central Asia
Sika has opened a new plant for mortar materials in East Kazakhstan. It is the fourth production site in the resource-rich country. The construction chemicals specialist from Baar will also be involved in major projects in the booming construction industry





