Argentina: Germany’s KHD has been awarded a contract by Holcim Argentina for the upgrade project of a clinker production line at its Malagueño cement plant near Córdoba. Holcim Argentina intends to recommission its mothballed 1650t/day production line, which originally was supplied by KHD Humboldt Wedag in the early 1980s. Commissioning for the updated line is planned for mid-2019.

KHD’s scope includes the engineering and supply of mechanical equipment for raw material preparation and clinker production as well as electrical equipment in order to modernise and recommission the currently mothballed production line no 1.

Core equipment for the project includes: tertiary raw material crusher with a capacity of 250t/hr; ball mill drive for existing ball mill and new feeding equipment for raw meal preparation; separator for raw material grinding plant; kiln feed dosing system; four-stage preheater; rotary kiln 4.4m x 64m and drive system; revamping of existing clinker cooler with ‘fourth generation’ walking floor grate; main bag house for kiln/mill and clinker cooler; and main process fans.

US: Japan’s Kuraray has completed its acquisition of Calgon Carbon. As a separate subsidiary, Calgon Carbon will be reported as part of the Functional Materials company of Kuraray, along with Kuraray’s Carbon Material business division. The Functional Materials company includes the Methacrylate division and Medical division. Calgon Carbon produces filtration technologies and systems for a variety of industries, including cement.

Saudi Arabia: Al Baha Cement plans to build a 6000t/day plant that will manufacture sulfate-resisting Portland cement (SRPC). The company is looking for bids for a financial consultancy contract for the new plant, according to Inside International Industrials. The project is expected to cost US$100m, which will be raised from banks. The Minister of Commerce and Industry has approved the license for establishing the company. Tendering for engineering, procurement and construction is expected to occur in the second of half of 2018.

Germany: Italy’s Buzzi Unicem, though its German subsidiary Dyckerhoff, has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Portlandzementwerke Seibel & Söhne. The completion of the transfer of shares is subject to the clearance of the German Federal Cartel Authority and is expected within the next weeks. Portlandzementwerke Seibel & Söhne operates a cement plant in Erwitte, North Rhine-Westphalia. No value for the deal has been disclosed.