Zambia: Zambezi Portland Cement (ZPC) has ordered raw mill products from SpectraFlow including an Airslide Analyzer, Raw Mix Proportioning (RMP) Control Software and a Crossbelt Analyzer for coal measurement for its integrated plant in Ndola.

The online Airslide Analyzer works with RMP Control Software to optimise raw mill production and it automates the control of the six raw material weight feeders. It is also intended to avoid feeder blockages as the plant operates a continuous-flow silo rather than a homogenisation silo. The RMP software works with the Airslide Analyzer to report the chemical composition of the raw meal to allow additive weight feeders before the raw mill to be adjusted as required. SpectraFlow says this is useful for raw mills with high production capacities (>200t/hr) where a frequent adjustment of the additive weight feeders is useful to avoid off-spec raw meal is entering the silo.

A Crossbelt Analyzer will also be installed to measure the coal quality for the kiln firing. ZPC is using washed and unwashed coal supplied locally. To detect variations in the fed coal quality and have a solid monitoring of the incoming coal, SpectraFlow will provide a continuous measurement of the calorific value, ash, sulphur, volatiles and moisture content.  The analyser will continuously monitor the incoming coal quality and reduce sampling and laboratory work.

ZPC was established in 2005 and plant operations started in 2009. Its plant has a production capacity of 0.8Mt/yr and employs over 700 workers.

Switzerland-based SpectraFlow says that this order is its 72^nd for the cement industry and the first SpectraFlow Online Analyzer installation in Zambia. This order raises the installed base worldwide to more than 110 analysers, over 65 Crossbelt and over 45 Airslide, in 33 countries across all continents. SpectraFlow Analytics provides online analysis for the cement, bauxite, gold, platinum, copper, potash, phosphate, coal and other minerals industries. It markets its products as not using any radioactive sources.

China: CNBM has issued a profit warning in which it states that it expects to record a loss of approximately US$113m for the nine months ending 30 September 2026. This contrasts with a profit of US$442m in the same period of 2025.

The expected swing from profit to loss was mainly attributable to lower selling prices for major products, including cement, concrete and aggregates, as well as lower sales volumes of cement, concrete and gypsum wallboard. The impact was partly offset by higher selling prices and lower sales costs for fibreglass, higher selling prices for electronic fabrics and increased sales volumes of fibreglass, electronic fabrics and lithium battery separators, as well as lower sales costs for cement and concrete.

Germany: Compressor specialist Aerzen is expanding its screw blower product range with new Delta Hybrid sizes D100S and D120S. These provide higher volume flow range of up to 7320m³/hr. The D100S package is designed for a volume flow of up to 6060m³/hr and the D120S covers volume flows of up to 7320m³/hr. Both models have a turndown ratio of 1:5, differential pressure of up to 1250 mbar (g), motor ratings of 160kW and 250kW respectively and a sound pressure level maximum of 78dB(A). The manufacturer says that the Delta Hybrid range offers, “high energy efficiency, minimum life cycle costs, 100% pure process air, high operational reliability and a long service life.”

Austria: Cement producer Kirchdorfer Group and Scheuch GmbH have both welcomed the planned lifting of the ban on CO₂ storage in Austria. According to the partners, the defined volume limits will allow for the implementation of initial carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the country for the first time, provided that the approval processes move forward quickly.

The partners have explicitly welcomed the proposed new legal framework for the geological storage of CO₂. Following a de-facto ban in place since 2011, the partners say that this creates the legal foundation necessary to implement CCS in Austria. According to them, the initial national upper storage limits proposed offer ‘more than enough scope’ for the pilot phase of CCS, demonstrating that legislators are considering the entire trajectory, from the first facility to large-scale expansion, rather than imposing a static cap on how much CO₂ can be stored.

Success will now depend on implementation; whether CCS gains momentum in Austria or becomes mired in administrative bottlenecks will hinge on the permitting procedures, according to the partners. They are hopeful that the classification of such projects as being of ‘overriding public interest’ will provide the necessary momentum.

Joao Paulo Pereira da Silva, CEO of Kirchdorfer Group, said "As a cement manufacturer, CO₂ storage is not an optional extra but a matter of survival, as there is a portion of our emissions that we simply cannot avoid through technical means." Thomas Rainer of Scheuch added "We have the technology, we have the know-how, and now we finally have the legal framework for CCS as well. This allows Austria to become a pioneer rather than just a bystander. It is crucial that the permitting processes for the initial facilities are streamlined and efficient."