Heracles General Cement : The company has completed a €5 million productive investment at the Volos plant.

During an event organised at the plant, Heracles Group of Companies, member of the LafargeHolcim Group, announced today the completion of Phase A of their investment plant for modernisation of the HERACLES Volos plant. Representatives of local authorities and organisations, academia and the business community, journalists, associates and people of the company honoured this event with their presence.

During an event organised at the plant, Heracles Group of Companies, member of the LafargeHolcim Group, announced today the completion of Phase A of their investment plant for modernisation of the HERACLES Volos plant. Representatives of local authorities and organisations, academia and the business community, journalists, associates and people of the company honoured this event with their presence.

With this €5 million investment, the company improves the plant's competitiveness in the domestic market and boosts its exporting activity offering new prospects. Meanwhile, this move is yet another expression of LafargeHolcim Group's confidence in the country.

In 2016, Heracles Group modernised the plant's electrical installations, as part of the process to ensure workers' Health and Safety, improve functionality and achieve sustainable development for the plant. Apart from improving the reliability of equipment, the main aim of such upgrading operations was to further minimise exposure of people conducting electrical work to danger. Moreover, works included the relocation of one of the main fans along with the construction of a new stack, as well as the upgrading of the plant's rotary kiln to achieve maximum productivity and increase the substitution of fossil fuels for alternative fuels.

In greeting the event, the Regional Governor of Thessalia, Mr Konstantinos Agorastos, stated the following: 'Today is a very special day, since a large corporation cares, invests in the Greek market and proves that it believes in our country. We believe that it is the State's obligation to support sound business operations and similar private sector initiatives. We are working closely with businesses to protect jobs and the environment. We are looking forward to having HERACLES with us for many years to come, and hope that it will continue to operate with benefits for all'.

Heracles Group of Companies Managing Director Mr Georgios Michos, noted: 'A key pillar of our strategic development plan, always responding to the challenges faced by Greek industry and the building materials sector, is to achieve high levels of operation with constant improvements adding value not only to our production units and our staff, but to our products as well. Our presence here today confirms that we turn our commitments into action with visible results. The Heracles Group of Companies, will continue to apply advanced operating models and create financially & environmentally viable solutions, pivoting on the needs of our customers, the respect for local communities where we operate and an absolute priority on the health, safety and development of our people'.

It is noteworthy that the HERACLES plant in Volos is the Group's largest production unit and one of the most important ones for LafargeHolcim, with a significant financial and social footprint in local community. With more than 450 direct and indirect jobs for 2011-2015, the plant has contributed more than €150 million to the local community, to associates and institutional organisations. Meanwhile, the plant observes strict environmental management and quality control standards, aimed at limiting dust emissions, reducing CO2 emissions and preserving natural resources. For this purpose, in recent years, Heracles Group of Companies has invested more than €45 million to constantly improve its environmental footprint.