Please note that we will not be able to receive emails addressed to the old domain name after June 1, 2012. In such cases where no reply has been received to your inquiry, please re-send the inquiry using the new domain address.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding.

New company email domain name

• Old domain name: xxx.xxxx@aso-lafarge-cement.jp
• New domain name: xxx.xxxx@aso-cement.jp

This decision is in line with Lafarge's strategic divestment of assets, and Aso Group accepted Lafarge's offer to acquire the 34.4% stake.

Lafarge Aso Cement continues to enjoy its technical alliance with Lafarge under the renewed technical support agreement. Under this new organization, we continue to reinforce our operational excellence and provide quality products and services to meet our customers' needs.

Japan recognized as champion in people mobilization

Lafarge Aso Cement's winning practice, SMILE Project, was first implemented in 2009 in Japan. It aims at involving all employees towards our priorities in reinforcing financial and H&S performances. Its systematic project management approach and thorough internal communication has contributed to promoting employees' continued strong engagement in the company's priorities, demonstrating to the Group exemplary performance in mobilizing people.

Boosting the Group's performance

The Lafarge Cement Awards aim to transfer experience within the Group and boost its performance. In all, the Group awards 46 prizes in 6 different categories: Health & Safety, Cost Reduction and Cash Management, Market Differentiation & Solution for Customers, People, Sustainable Development, and Transfer of experience. This year, 823 entries have been submitted worldwide, with a strong increase in participation particularly in fields that are most important to the Group, i.e. Cost Reduction, Health & Safety and Solutions for Customers.

Health and Safety is a top priority for Lafarge Aso Cement as it is for Lafarge worldwide. With a stringent safety policy in place, we continue to promote a culture of health and safety and establish Lafarge Aso Cement as one of the world's safest companies.

Once again, we confirm the safety of our products and we continue to ensure that our products remain safe.

There were a total of 12 trainees to participate in this seminar, who came from 7 countries including Algeria, Serbia, China, Kosovo, Thailand, Turkey and Mexico. In this seminar, our expert staff explained energy-saving initiatives implemented in Lafarge Aso Cement and Japan's cement industry.

This year, we also held charity events to raise money for Tohoku earthquake victims and all the proceeds through the event will be doneted to Habitat for Humanity Japan, an international NGO who has been working on the ground in Tohoku to help rebuild the earthquake affected communities.

Safety is our top priory. Lafarge Aso Cement holds this vessel safety meeting twice a year, in our effort to help ensure safety for everyone involved in the company.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm thank you to our valued customers and all our stakeholders for helping us reach our 10th anniversary in business together. We continue to strive toward delivering quality products and service to meet your expectations.

Lafarge Aso Cement continues to send our employees to the on-site volunteer work on a regular basis as part of our long-term relief efforts. We wish for the safety of those who are in the affected areas and for a quick recovery of the communities.

Comment from the participant

"Having the chance to join this volunteer trip to Ishinomaki was a great experience and allowed me to understand the real extent of damage to which the earthquake and tsunami caused other than just detached images seen on television. Seeing this damage with your own eyes makes it real and helps understand the effort required to help the people rebuild their lives. The amount of clean-up work required to help people return to their homes is immense but being overwhelmed by the task ahead does little to help and inactivity means nothing gets started. The work will get done little by little. I saw this 'looking forward' attitude in the smiles of the locals in Onosaki where we removed debris and sludge for two days. Also, in the energy of full-time and part-time volunteers in Habitat for Humanity Japan and other NGOs who showed a very positive attitude to the task ahead. We can only continue to help, even if only a little, in any way we can. After all, if this natural disaster ever struck our homes, they would surely come to help us rebuild, and we would expect it."
(Scott Bubner, Human Resources)

1. Reception of sewage sludge and incinerated ash
Our Tagawa Plant (Tagawa city, Fukuoka) and Kanda Plant (Kanda-machi, Miyako-gun, Fukuoka) do not receive either sewage sludge or incinerated ash from the Tohoku and Kanto areas.

2. Results of radioactive measurement on our cement products
There has been no radiation detected in our cement products as a result of a measurement conducted by an external institute.

Kentaro Yamazaki, HFH Japan National Office Manager says, "HFH Japan has been working together with the local residents to help reconstruct the earthquake affected areas. Lafarge Aso Cement employees have also been active in our volunteer missions and having their support has been very encouraging for us," He continues, "long-term support is key to restoring normal life for as many families as possible and to realizing it sooner."

Lafarge Aso Cement continues to provide long-term support, including sending the employee volunteer team on a regular basis as well as supplying equipment used in reconstruction of the affected areas.

This seminar was designed for concrete engineers who have not yet gained much experience in the field. Through the seminar, the participants are able to learn the basics of dealing with concrete.

Lafarge Aso Cement contributes to developing concrete engineers for tomorrow by holding technical seminars on a regular basis.

Lafarge Aso Cement continues to send our employees to the on-site volunteer work on a regular basis as part of our long-term relief efforts. We wish for the safety of those who are in the affected areas and for a quick recovery of the communities.

Lafarge Aso Cement is committed to working in a sustainable manner. We position efforts to preserve the neighboring environment as one of the most important challenges in our activities.

Note: Tagawa plant uses only the minimum lighting required to ensure safety at night. It looks bright in the photo due to the camera's high exposure setting.