Heidelberg Cement Q2 results: Profit falls 33% to ₹17 crore despite 11% revenue growth. October 30, 2026 | 03:56 IST Heidelberg Cement's September-quarter revenue rose to ₹567.7 crore, but net profit fell to ₹16.7 crore as EBITDA declined 16.5% and operating margin narrowed. Heidelberg Cement shares fell in trade after the company reported a mixed set of financial results for the second quarter, with higher revenue but lower profit and weaker operating performance. The company's revenue rose 11% year-on-year to ₹567.7 crore in Q2, compared with ₹512 crore in the corresponding period last year. However, net profit declined 33.2% to ₹16.7 crore from ₹25 crore a year ago. Operating performance remained under pressure during the quarter, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) falling 16.5% year-on-year to ₹48 crore from ₹57.5 crore. The EBITDA margin, which measures operating profit as a share of revenue, narrowed to 8.46% in Q2 from 11.24% a year earlier, a decline of 278 basis points. Heidelberg Cement shares fell close to 1.5% in the day's trade. The stock has declined more than 20% over the past three months, slipping to ₹123.25 per share.

Residents take stand against quarry. A plan almost 20 years in the making may change the landscape of Bunyip North's Cannibal Creek, and the livelihood of those who live there. Published October 28, 2026 by Aidan Knight A plan almost 20 years in the making may change the landscape of Bunyip North's Cannibal Creek, and the livelihood of those who live there. Heidelberg Materials, a German multi-national formerly operating as Hanson, has entered the independent inquiry and public hearing stage of its roadmap to establish an open-pit granite site close to Mt Cannibal. Planning to operate at the site for up to 75 years, the company bought 220 hectares spanning several properties gradually since 2007, including several multi-generational farming properties as well as the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre. The intention is to supply critical high-grade granite aggregate to address looming supply deficits for south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, projected to experience strong growth in housing and infrastructure over the next 75 years. Since the company released its Environmental Effects Statement (EES), Cardinia Shire Council last week joined more than 200 locals opposing the project, on grounds of potential environmental and amenity impacts. David Bywater, a beef farmer living near the foothills of where the quarry is proposed, is secretary of the Mount Cannibal and District Preservation Group, and warned the project could threaten farms, waterways, wildlife and the area's rural character. He said residents had chosen to live in the area for its rural character and farming, not for a quarry. "The Gazette didn't come here after Hanson got here, and decided to park ourselves next to them. "There are 120 mitigations listed in the EES. When you add them all together, the cumulative effect means that is just the wrong place to put it. "It doesn't bring any net gain for anyone in this environment," Mr Bywater said. The proposed quarry site is located across prominent east-west ridges of Tynong Granite rising 145 to 150 metres above sea level, featuring natural granite boulder outcrops. Across the activity area, there are 20 identified Aboriginal archaeological places, and elevated ridges historically used as travelling sightlines for the local Bunurong peoples. The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC) stated if the quarry proceeded, these places will be altered, removing the sightlines and some trees as old as 400 years, many of which were habitats for native fauna. The proponent has committed to working with BLCAC to establish a dedicated on-site "Bunurong forest garden" near the administration facility, and said it would use buffer zones to protect seven identified Aboriginal places from direct quarry impact, as well as mandating artefact salvage and cultural inductions for workers on-site. One of Mr Bywater's strongest concerns is for equine activities, which were prominent in the area. Whether at the equestrian centre, one of three Olympic-level horse facilities in the state, or the Garfield North Community Centre, he is concerned about excavation noise levels affecting horses. "When they're blasting or backing trucks up with alarms or crushing, the little kids are going to come off, or lose a horse, or have them run wild somewhere," he said, describing the potential scenarios as "mayhem." Heidelberg Materials has committed to not remove or excavate the land where the equestrian centre is located, stating in the EES the property and adjacent No-Name Creek would serve as a protected ecological buffer. But, Mr Bywater argued there was no realistic way to prevent horses being spooked by sounds of blasting. The developer committed to sending SMS alerts to subscribing horse owners around the area up to two days before planned blasting occurred, but Mr Bywater said some of the equine venues hosted large scale events attracting enthusiasts from across the state for competitions and rodeos. Additional measures suggested by Heidelberg include modified charge sizes near receptors, enforced vibration limits, and restricting blasts exclusively to weekdays between 10am and 4pm. The Gazette contacted Heidelberg Materials for comment but was told the company "considers it appropriate to address them (questions) through the independent process rather than through public comment at this stage". An independent Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) will hold a directions hearing on November 4 to set procedural rules before formal public hearings run from November 30 to December 22. Updated October 28, 2026 3:00 pm | a few seconds ago

Claas invests £60.7m in Paderborn production site. 22nd October From left: Stefan-Oliver Strate, Mayor of Paderborn; Jan Uhtenwoldt (Managing Director of CLAAS Industrietechnik (CIT)); Felix Wagner (IG Metall); Ulrich Kleinemas (Works Council); Christoph Rüther, District Administrator of Paderborn; Jan-Hendrik Mohr, (Image: Claas) Claas is to invest more than €70 million (£60.7m) in expanding its Paderborn production site in Germany, creating more than 100 jobs. The investment will increase production capacity for drive technology, including tractor transmissions and crawler track systems, in response to growing demand for soil-conserving tracks and more powerful agricultural machinery. The expansion will involve modernising production facilities, increasing automation and introducing digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve productivity, quality and sustainability. Claas has also acquired large neighbouring plots of land from Heidelberg Materials to provide additional space for the expansion and improve production processes and logistics at the Halberstädter Straße site. Jan-Hendrik Mohr, chief executive of the Claas Group, said the investment underlined the importance of Paderborn within the company's global production network. He said the expertise of the workforce and the commitment of local staff had been key factors in the decision. The investment is expected to secure existing industrial jobs as well as create more than 100 additional roles in agricultural machinery manufacturing. Jan Uhtenwoldt, managing director of Claas Industrietechnik (CIT), said the investment coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Paderborn site. Over the past seven decades, the site has developed into a centre for research, development and production of drive technology and hydraulics. Components manufactured there include Cmatic tractor transmissions, Terra Trac crawler track systems and specialist hydraulic valves. These are used in Claas machinery and supplied to manufacturers outside the group. The Paderborn expansion forms part of wider investment across Claas's European production network. In France, a new multifunctional production hall is being built at Le Mans, while a new final assembly and dispatch centre is planned for Törökszentmiklós in Hungary.