September 2024
Aumund and Sweidan offer spare parts stock in Saudi Arabia 17 October 2016
Saudi Arabia: Aumund Fördertechnik and Sweidan Industrial Services have opened new spare parts stock at their Riyadh warehouse. In addition a local Aumund supervisor will be present to support customers.
Mexico: Grupo Kopar has won first place at the Cemex Integrate Supplier’s Innovation Program. Three ideas for innovation and their contribution to the company, the communities where it operates, and the environment were recognised from a field of 28 suppliers at Cemex Mexico’s Supplier’s Day 2016. The awards were presented at a ceremony at Monterrey on 12 October 2016.
The ideas submitted, which mainly focused on providing more efficient processes, products and services, were subjected to an evaluation and voting process directed by a group of 20 executives and experts from different areas of the company. Additionally, 40 companies earned the OHSAS 18001:2008 Standard and were recognised as ‘Health and Safety Certified Suppliers.’
Grupo Kopar came first with its idea for a high efficiency valve for dust collectors. The project consisted of making more efficient dust collectors by redefining the pulse filter cleaning valve system by migrating from traditional diaphragm valve technology to efficient Mac spool valves. Grupo Kopar supplies pneumatic and motion control components, with applications ranging from pneumatic valves and cylinders to robots.
Second place was awarded to Equipos y Explosivos del Noreste for its idea for a low-density blasting agent. Its agent is made from a different fuel than the one currently used, offering a cost reduction and improved results for the displacement and fragmentation of each quarry blast. Equipo y Explosivos del Noreste has been present in the mining and construction explosives market since 1989, providing high-quality technology in all of its products.
Third place was won by Vidmar for its automatic bag weigher CWB 25-50. The system is designed to perform automatic random cement bag weight sampling without human intervention to improve health and safety conditions. Vidmar is a specialised engineering group with more than 30 years of experience. It is a global specialised supplier in the industrial weight and automation field.
Maple Leaf applies for licence for captive power plant 17 October 2016
Pakistan: Maple Leaf Power has submitted an application to National Electric Power Regulator Authority (NEPRA) for a power generation license for a 40MW coal-based thermal power plant. The plant will be used to supply power to the Maple Leaf Cement plant at Mianwali in Iskanderabad, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. The project will cost US$52.5m and it expected to start operation in December 2017.
India: The East Singhbhum district administration has asked for guidelines from the government of Jharkhand regarding the purchase of the Jojobera cement plant by Nirma from Lafarge India. There are no provisions for transfers of leased land to any third party without the prior approval of the state government with relation to agreements struck by Tata Steel, the plants previous owner, said East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amit Kumar to the Hindustan Times.
"We are seeking state government's guideline on action to be taken over the reported transfer of management and bank accounts of Jojobera Plant here by Lafarge Holcim to Nirma Limited even though they are yet to respond to our notices from July 2016," said Kumar.
Lafarge India has said that the transfer of management and accounts for the Jojobera plant was completed on 6 -7 October 2016 following approval by the Competition Commission of India for the sale. It agreed to sell five cement plants to Nirma for US$1.4bn in July 2016.
India: JK Cement’s Chief Financial Officer AK Saraogi has forecast that cement demand will rise by 8% in the 2017 – 2018 financial year due to government spending on infrastructure. JK Cement Special Executive Madhavkrishna Singhania said that demand in the current financial year is likely to be aided by ‘good’ monsoons that will boost spending particular in rural areas, according to the Press Trust of India. The forecasts follow several years of poor demand for cement in the country. Ratings agency ICRA also predicts similar increases in demand.
China Machinery Engineering to build cement plant in Iraq 14 October 2016
Iraq: China Machinery Engineering Corporation has signed a US$250m deal to build a cement plant at Qarachog. Once operational the unit will produce 6000t/day of clinker. The scope of the contract includes project design, supply, civil construction, installation, training and commissioning. Once construction starts the project will take 22 months to complete.
Uzbekistan: Ahangarancement has increased its cement production by 6% year-on-year to 1.42Mt in the first nine months of 2016. Clinker production grew by 3.8% to 1.02Mt and cement sales volumes grew by 6.1% to 1.42Mt, according to the Trend News Agency. Ahangarancement, based at Ahagaran in Tashkent, is the second largest cement producer in the country. It is owned outright by Russia’s Eurocement.
Elementia to buy 55% stake in Giant Cement Holding 14 October 2016
US: Elementia has signed a letter of intent with Cementos Portland Valderrivas to buy 55% of Giant Cement Holding for an undisclosed value. Giant Cement Holding is a US cement producer with operations on the east coast that includes three cement plants, three limestone quarries, two aggregate quarries, six terminals and four waste handling facilities.
In a statement Elementia said that the acquisition would grant it access to the third-largest cement market in the world. The acquisition is subject to obtaining all applicable regulatory approvals and the completion of the internal processes by both companies.
India: The Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) has demanded that the state government of Meghalaya cancel a public hearing to discuss the construction of a plant by Dalmia Cement at Thangskai scheduled for 25 October 2016. The group is protesting about mining rights to the site, according to the Meghalaya Times.
"We strongly express our opposition and demand that the proposed public hearing for extraction of limestone from Thangskai village by the Dalmia Cement factory is immediately revoked," said HANM- East Jaintia Hills president Ency Shadap. The group has also asked that the state government give a public clarification on its decision to grant permission to the cement company to extract limestone from the district and cited certification issues with the Ministry of Forest & Environment.
Sagar Cements to raise funds for upgrades 13 October 2016
India: Sagar Cements is planning to raise funds to finance expansion of its cement grinding plant at Vizag in Andhra Pradesh as well as to set up a coal-fired power plant at its plant at Nalgonda in Telangana. A directors board meeting has been scheduled on 19 October 2016 to discuss proposals for the financing.