17 July 2014
Turkey: Austria's A TEC Production & Services GmbH has been awarded a contract by Çimentaş Elaziğ for its plant in Elaziğ Province. The contract covers engineering for upgrades and efficiency optimisations of its preheater tower.
The scope of modifications comprises the redesign of all four cyclone stages, riser ducts and related equipment. The project target is to reduce the total preheater pressure drop by 25% and to increase production capacity by at least 8% on a sustainable basis.
The project will be executed in two phases. The first stage modifications were completed in May 2014, the second phase work is due to be completed shortly, while the third and fourth stages are due for completion in 2015. Phase one resulted in a sustainable production increase of 8% and a pressure drop reduction at the fan inlet by about 19%. Based on the phase one results, it is expected that the pressure drop before the fan will be reduced beyond the target figures after completion of phase two, which will allow higher production at less specific power consumption on the fan than initially targeted.
UK: Hope Construction Materials is bolstering its 300-strong concrete mixer fleet with 36 new Mercedes-Benz trucks. The new Arocs 3236 8x4 B11 4-axle mixer trucks, each equipped with a McPhee mixer system, are Euro 6 compliant, built to the latest diesel engine emission legislation from the European Commission.
The vehicles feature a string of active safety measures, including a vulnerable road user package, as well as a lane control system, collision-avoidance and smart system which warns the driver if pedestrians or cyclists are too close to the vehicle. The system, which was developed by Cycle Safety Shield using Mobileye technology, works to mitigate the risk of collisions and road departure. The Cycle Safety Solution warns drivers when a cyclist or pedestrian is within danger zones, such as the nearside blind spot area. All of the trucks are fitted with TomTom satnavs, allowing the driver to consistently take the most efficient route and for customers to be informed of the exact location of their order at any given point.
"The purchase represents a significant commitment by Hope to providing our drivers with the best possible vehicles," said Mike Cowell, COO at Hope Construction Materials. "They are the most advanced trucks on British roads and will benefit our drivers, customers and other road users."
"This is the first fleet of 8x4 Euro VI Arocs mixers to enter service in the UK and Hope has demonstrated how both safety and sustainability work hand in hand," said James Colbourne, Head of Strategic Accounts (Trucks) at Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd.
Turkey: Turkish cement producer Çimsa Çimento has agreed to take over Sançim Bilecik Çimento Madencilik Beton for Euro163m. Çimsa will purchase all 87.5 million shares of Sançim Bilecik Çimento from Turkish companies AUNDE Teknik Tekstil, E.N.A. Tekstil and six individual shareholders. Sançim Bilecik Çimento has 1.4Mt/yr of cement production capacity. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
Nigeria: The board of directors of Ashaka Cement plc, with the support of parent company Lafarge, has agreed to fast track the expansion of its US$617m cement plant in Ashaka, Gombe State. The move became imperative in order to guarantee the future of Ashaka Cement, to enhance job creation and to deliver economic and social welfare to the immediate communities. Chairman of the board of Ashaka Cement, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, confirmed the developments.
"Having secured sufficient limestone and coal reserves to support the existing plant as well as the new plant, the contracts have been signed with the main equipment and engineering suppliers," said Kwairanga. He added that credit facility lines of US$308m had been secured and signed in addition to internally generated cash flows to support the expansion project.
"Ashaka Cement has operated in harmony with all of its neighbouring communities to the mutual benefit of both parties," said Kwairanga. "In the last three years alone the company has spent US$2.47m on community-related projects and there is the opportunity for the company to do more as the partnership thrives."