LoginPage 3: Location of industry
Industries usually locate in places where they are close to their customers or to raw materials. This allows them to reach their market easily and to keep transport costs low. Examples include coalmines on coalfields or shipbuilding on the coast.
It is important that industries locate in the most sustainable locations. This means that industries need to find suitable locations that minimise any harmful effects on the environment. These could be where the industry produces the least amount of waste or makes minimum journeys of the finished products to distribution centres. All these factors help to protect the environment. They also give a business benefits by reducing its costs and increasing its profits.
CEMEX has operational sites across the UK. It is a constant challenge to identify the most sustainable and efficient means of production across all parts of its business. This includes getting its goods to market effectively, that is, in the most sustainable and cost-effective way. Wherever possible, CEMEX locates its plants close to where the raw materials are.
National supply network
CEMEX has a national supply network in the UK with more than 400 locations. This ensures that quality building materials are available to customers locally. It aims to locate quarrying and manufacturing facilities in the most appropriate locations to meet local market needs. The majority of its readymixed concrete and asphalt plants are sited near quarries to ensure speedy supply and to save time and travel costs.
However, large construction projects sometimes require a different approach. This was the case with the construction of the Wembley Stadium. CEMEX located its readymix concrete plant on the construction site to improve efficiency. As the readymixed concrete operation is automated, this required limited staff resources while still ensuring a steady supply. It also minimised environmental impact by reducing lorry journeys. A similar plant was set up for the development of a wind farm in Scotland.
