Displaying items by tag: training

Russia: Eurocement subsidiary Belgorodsky Cement has dispatched the first batch of bagged cement from the new packing and palletising line at its 3.8Mt/yr integrated plant in Belgorod West, Belgorod Oblast. The 70t/hr-capacity line produces 50kg cement bags on pallets of 1.7t (34 bags).

Eurocement has also announced the first delivery of cement from its Belgorodsky Cement plant to Yaroslavl, Tolyatti and Nizhny Novgorod by river in 2020. Eurocement senior vice president Alexander Sapronov said, “The delivery of products by river transport is one of the most cost-effective methods of transportation. High-quality loading and reliable packaging guarantee consumers complete cargo safety.”

Eurocement has continued production throughout the coronavirus outbreak, but has restricted meetings, conferences and training sessions since 23 March 2020. The Group said, “Eurocement products are strategically important to the nation's economy. In order to ensure smooth operation of production facilities and of the group as a whole, measures have been taken to minimise the risk of spreading the coronavirus.” These include: ‘regular health check-ups and temperature measurements for employees and subcontractors, air disinfection, antiseptic treatment of operational surfaces, provision of skin antiseptics in toilets and informing employees about safety recommendations.’

Mexico: Cemex has announced that it is currently helping 45,000 young people across 11 countries to improve their employability through such initiatives as its New Employment Opportunities (NEO) initiative, which provides industry training to disadvantaged Caribbean and Latin American youths. The company says it aims to positively impact more than 65,000 youngsters by 2022 through its initiatives including awards programmes and volunteering schemes and its partnership with the Global Alliance for Youth (All4YOUth), through which it aims to promote skills.

India: Dalmia Bharat has successfully lobbied the Sundargarh, Orisha district government to request the inclusion of the company’s proposed 446 acre expansion to its Lanjiberna limestone and dolomite mine in the agenda of a village meeting in Kukuda, in which public opinion and suggestions will be recorded. The New India Express Newspaper has reported that, due to the special status of Kukuda as a Scheduled Tribal area, the village meeting forms a necessary preliminary step prior to district government permission of planned works. In October 2018, villagers in nearby Jhagarpur successfully blocked construction of Dalmia Bharat’s proposed Industrial Training Institute. The Lanjiberna mine will serve Dalmia Bharat’s 2.3Mt/yr integrated Rajgangpur plant, which was completed in 2019 at a cost of US$281m and awaits commissioning.

Tanzania: Dangote Cement has partnered with local police and other stakeholders to train the 600 drivers it employs in Tanzania in road safety compliance. The Citizen has reported that the training programme will involve sessions four times a year, with the objective of reducing road traffic incidents to zero. Dangote Cement Head of Transport Gerald Osagia said, “This training is aimed at ensuring that out drivers avoid any temptation that may cause accidents.” Global Cement has previously reported alleged overloading of a Dangote truck as a contributing factor in collision in August 2019 that killed three and injured 69 in Ikorodu, Nigeria.

US: Ireland’s CRH’s subsidiary Ash Grove Cement has engaged the education technology services provider Zovio Employer Services for the development of its higher education opportunities programme in partnership with Ashford University. “This provides employees with access to education to gain the right skill-set to advance into management positions. We also see the programme as a tool to attract new talent,” said Darcy Pugh, Ash Grove Cement Employment and Compensation Manager. Ash Grove plans to offer a tuition assistance benefit to 3000 employees for bachelor’s or master’s degrees at Ashford University. The university will also provide some full tuition grants.

Argentina: Holcim Argentina opened a technical training centre on 17 October 2019 at its 1.2Mt/yr Campana grinding plant. The Holcim Technical Academy will provide specialist training to managers and supervisors from Holcim’s Campana, Córdoba, Jujuy and Mendoza plants, with courses on quality, processes, maintenance and quarries.

Germany: Six apprentices from Holcim South Germany’s 1.1Mt/yr integrated Dotternhausern cement plant have completed an assignment of real-world application to their plant, at a training workshop in Albstadt. The Schwarzwälder Zeitung has reported that Holcim South Germany required a means of stirring cement used for event demonstrations. The apprentices’ ‘eyecatching’ solution incorporates a filler neck at the top and an outlet at the bottom, is 100% leak-proof and was built entirely from parts constructed at the Albstadt workshop.

Russia: Italy’s Sibilia has supplied vacuum units to Eurocement’s Voronezh and Peterburgcement plants. In connection to the order workers at the plants also underwent three days of associated training. The cement producer also plans to use equipment from Sibilia at different plants in the country.

Bahrain: France’s Fives Group has launched a joint educational initiative with the ‘Tamkeen’ Labour Fund and Bahrain Polytechnic. The project is aimed at increasing the number of Bahraini workforce in the industrial sector, by reinforcing the employability of Bahrainis and by bridging existing skill gaps, in-line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 requirements. Fives plans to contribute in a non-profit initiative as part of its Corporate Citizenship Program. It will provide internship opportunities within the worldwide network of its companies and will partner with Bahrain Polytechnic.

“Fives has a longstanding commitment to Bahrain where we have been established since 2003. As a corporate citizen, we are proud to contribute to the communities in which we operate. This initiative is one of the ways in which the group supports the sustainability of the industry in Bahrain. The partnership between public and private entities that we have created with this initiative is really a model for the future,” said Frédéric Sanchez, Fives’ chairman of the executive board.

The training programs will be implemented and delivered by Bahrain Polytechnic, which was established by Bahraini Government to deliver applied learning, technical education, skills-based and occupational trainings.

Germany: Holcim Deutschland’s Lägerdorf cement plant has won a training award from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Peter Krohn of the IHK praised the plant’s quality of training, focus on younger people and attention to worker development. Holcim Deutschland employs around 2100 people in Germany and the Netherlands. Around 40 young people are undergoing training at Lägerdorf in various engineering and mechanical disciplines.