28 CRH Europe Products Operations Review – Products CRH manufactures products for use in residential,  non-residential and, to a lesser extent, infrastructure  construction applications. Complementary value-added  exterior products include architectural glass, aluminium  glazing systems, clay brick and block, outdoor security  products and shutters and awnings. Europe Products’ strategy is to build and grow scalable  businesses in the large European construction markets.  The strategy is pursued by increasing the penetration  of CRH products, developing positions to benefit  from scale and best practice. We create competitive  advantage through product, process and end-use  innovation, while maintaining a balanced exposure to  demand drivers. Operating in 21 countries, this business is a regional  leader in concrete products, concrete landscaping, clay  products, construction accessories and outdoor security.  Leveraging the benefits of our regional platforms, we  realise operational and procurement synergies across  the network. Pan-European product development  provides construction solutions which increase  efficiencies on site, creating mor design freedom for  architects while enhancing the built environment and  reducing energy consumption of buildings. Europe  Products’ development strategy is to further penetrate  the growing RMI markets of developed Europe and to  broaden the product range in developing regions as  construction markets in those regions become more  sophisticated. This segment employs approximately  16,100 people at close to 400 operating locations. Americas Products’ strategy is to build an optimised  portfolio of businesses which offer leadership positions  across a balanced range of product markets and end-use segments. Our activities are organized into  three product groups under the Oldcastle name:  Architectural Products (concrete masonry and  hardscapes, clay brick, packaged lawn and garden  products, packaged cement mixes, fencing), Precast  (utility, drainage and structural precast, construction  accessories) and BuildingEnvelope™ (glass and  aluminium glazing systems). A coordinated approach at  both a national and regional level achieves economies  of scale and facilitates sharing of best practices which  drive operational and commercial improvement. Through  Oldcastle’s North American research and development  centres, a continuous pipeline of innovative value-added  products and design solutions is maintained. Operating in 40 states, CRH has the breadth of product  range and national footprint to provide a national service  to customers with the personal touch of a local supplier.  Focussing on strategic and national accounts, the  new Oldcastle Building Solutions initiative provides an  additional platform for growth as it is uniquely positioned  in the industry to offer solutions to customers across  all phases of building construction. Employees total  approximately 15,500 at over 400 locations. Bottom: Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope™  played a key role in a major expansion  and renovation of Iowa State  University’s student recreation centre  in Ames, Iowa, using products that  allow for high thermal performance and  maximum use of natural light. Top: CRH companies Calduran  and Dycore came together in the  construction of the Eenspan project  in Zeewolde, Netherlands. Calduran  constructed and assembled the walls  of the office block/storage units in  Calduran Limestone whilst Dycore  supplied the slab flooring. Americas Products