Italcementi and HeidelbergCement signed a licensing agreement for joint use of a series of cement and photocatalytic binders developed by Italcementi Group and the TX Active® photoactive cement brand.
The agreement between the world’s third and fifth cement producers will give a strong boost to the construction materials market, expanding the offer of innovative cements based on self-cleaning photocatalytic products that combat pollution.

The interest of two of the cement industry’s top producers in developing applications and services for photocatalytic products will provide the market with a benchmark brand defining specific quality standards and guarantees, based on Italcementi R&D work (certified by leading international research institutes) and now enhanced by the contributions of HeidelbergCement.

The agreement provides for Italcementi and HeidelbergCement to set up a new joint technical research program to define criteria and standards for potential application to photocatalytic products, establishing a European standard.

Through the agreement, TX Active® becomes the world benchmark brand for cement-based photocatalytic products.

“Today’s agreement is the culmination of ten years of research and innovation in our Group,” said Italcementi CEO Carlo Pesenti. “In combining our market-leader strengths in a field that also offers innovative solutions addressing environmental issues we confirm our commitment to Sustainable Development policies.”

“We are convinced that cement-based photocatalytic products will be a big success”, added Bernd Scheifele, Chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement. “Our pilot projects already show their enormous potential to clean the air in towns and communities and enhance quality of life."

Under the agreement, Italcementi is to grant Heidelberg Cement – which also runs a program for development of photocatalytic products – a 10-year license to use the patents and the TX Active® brand in 12 countries (Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, United Kingdom, USA and Canada (in the USA and Canada for 5 years and in certain States only). Italcementi currently markets TX Active® in Italy, France, Belgium, Spain and the USA, and is planning new developments in the other countries where it operates to complement the areas of activity licensed to Heidelberg Cement.