Global Cement News

Yemen: Saudi Arabia’s Al Jouf Cement says it has completed its first export to Yemen. It transported 9000t of cement. The financial impact of the shipment will be recorded in its financial report for the third quarter of 2018.

Tanzania: Energy minister Medard Kalemani has inaugurated a new natural gas connection project to Dangote Cement’s plant at Mtwara. The project is being implemented to two phases with a new power plant planned that will generate up to 45MW, according to the Tanzanian Guardian newspaper. The upgrade will cost around US$875,000. Phase two of the project will see the construction of a 2.7km pipeline to the cement plant as well as supporting infrastructure. This is expected to be completed by the end of October 2018. Using natural gas is expected to significantly reduce the running costs of making the cement, which has been using diesel generators.

Denmark: Engineering company FLSmidth is working with insulation manufacturer Rockwool and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) on a research project to develop sustainable process technologies that will increase the use of renewable fuels and raw materials and reduce CO₂ emissions. The project has received a Euro2.7m grant from Innovation Fund Denmark.

The project plans to investigate and optimise high-temperature processes throughout the entire production chain in both companies. The DTU holds experience in this field from the CHEC research centre at DTU Chemical Engineering, which has focused on combustion research and emission abatement in recent years. FLSmidth plans to explore using alternative cement formulas and production methods to enable the company to launch more efficient technologies for using renewable fuels and reducing emissions. Rockwool intends to lower CO₂ emissions and reduce its fuel consumption to make its production become more sustainable.

China: Lubao Cement has ordered three vertical roller mills from Germany’s Loesche for a new 4500t/day plant that is being built at Bei Liu in Guang Xi. The project is being handled by Sinoma (Suzhou) Construction, part of Sinoma International Engineering and China National Building Material Group (CNBM) in turn.

Loesche is supplying three mills for the project, one each for raw material, coal and clinker/slag. One four-roller mill with a capacity of 450t/hr will be used for grinding cement raw material to a fineness of 12% with a sieving residue of R 80μm. Another mill with a throughput of 200t/hr will be used for the subsequent grinding of cement clinker to a fineness of 3400 - 3600 Blaine. A large three-roller mill with a capacity of 42t/hr will be used for grinding fuel coal to a fineness of 2% and a sieving residue of R 80μm.

No value for the order has been disclosed.

UK: Germany’s Schenck Process has acquired Process Components and its subsidiaries, including Kemutec Group in the US, with its brands Kemutec, Kek-Gardner, Mucon and PPS Air Classifier Mills from EPIC Private Equity. Process Components is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of powder processing and handling equipment, components and spare parts, serving the Chemical, Food, Pharmaceutical and Environmental industries.

The product portfolio of Process Components includes the brands: Kek-Gardner - founded in 1860, recognised for milling and sieving as well as mixing and blending technology; PPS Air Classifier Mills - founded in 1980; Mucon - founded in 1946, known for Iris Valves; and Kemutec - founded in 1980, known for powder processing equipment and systems.

“The acquisition of Process Components with its very well established product lines, a large installed base as well as a great reputation of its brands Kek-Gardner, PPS Air Classifier Mills, Mucon and Kemutec enriches the expertise and capabilities of Schenck Process. We are delighted to add key process steps in the area of mixing, milling and classification for our customers,” said Jay Brown, President Food, Chemicals & Plastics at Schenck Process.

Anthony Goodwin, managing director of Process Components will continue to lead the business following the takeover. No value for the purchase has been disclosed.