Air cannons have been used for many years to solve blockages and build-up issues within cement plants, be it in the cooler, preheater towers, cyclones or burner pipes: Snowmen, Christmas trees and rhino horns can be easily removed with a sudden blast of air. However, the design for releasing this powerful blast has remained virtually unchanged since the early 1970s. Until now...

Efficient material flow is a critical element of cement manufacturing, as accumulation or blockages can reduce profitability. Hang-ups in storage systems and build-up in process vessels can impede material movement and cause bottlenecks that interfere with equipment performance and reduce process efficiency. Poor material flow also raises maintenance expenses, diverting manpower from core activities and in some cases introducing safety risks for personnel. There are a number of ways to avoid these pitfalls...

Global Cement explores three small cement sectors in mainland South East Asia...

Global Cement speaks with Bassam Abdrassoul, Technical Director at Sinai Cement...

Global Cement's monthly cement price round-up