Displaying items by tag: Launch

UK: Thermoteknix has announced the launch of its ThermaScope HD kiln and cooler camera Multi-View system at the Global CemFuels Conference 2017 taking place in Barcelona. The new measurement, recording and analysis system for Thermoteknix HD kiln and cooler cameras provides real time screen displays with picture-in-picture layouts to coordinate and continuously record video data and events. A user Interface (UI) has been introduced to maximise the image presentation and to carry out temperature recording, I/O, alarms and analysis in the background. Full OPC compliance gives integration to plant automation and control without the need for custom programming.

An updating time line provides access to past history allowing the user to scroll the kiln and/or cooler video backwards or forwards in time to review, recall or compare fuel changes and events in the pyro process. ThermaScope Multiview software allows the operator to navigate graphically through past events, viewing the kiln process as on-going and illustrated in the timeline.

Multi-View provides the engineer with the ability to trend prospectively or retrospectively any point or area in the image by placing tools on the live (or historic) image to show the effects caused by changes in operational parameters, fuel, combustion, kiln speed, or other factors affecting production and clinker quality.

Bangladesh: The Sena Kalyan Sangstha (SKS), a trust run by the Bangladesh Army, has launched 'Sena Cement and Sena LPG brand of cement at its Mongla Cement plant in Dhaka. Military and government officials also attended the event. The new cement brands are intended to grow the welfare activities of the SKS.

India: JSW Cement has launched a new product called Concreel HD in the south of India. It is marketed as an environmentally-friendly product with improved chemical resistance and superior cohesion. It is targeted at strength bearing applications such as beams, columns, slabs and foundations due to its high early and long-term strength as well as its quick setting time.

US: Martin Engineering has launched its new Pin Latch Secondary Belt Cleaner, a tungsten carbide-tipped secondary cleaner that slides in and out for service without requiring any tools. The design features a square, tabbed mainframe with segmented blades connected by a pin mechanism, allowing access and blade replacement by semi-skilled personnel.

The pin latch design provides adjustable tension for varying conditions, such as belt speed, material being conveyed and belt cleaner position relative to the head pulley. It can handle belt speeds up to 5.1m/s and the versatile unit accommodates belt rollback. The carbide tip is acid- and abrasion-resistant, and the assembly is suited for use on belts with mechanical splices, smoothly adapting to and riding over the splices without damaging the splice, belt or blade. The new belt cleaner is considered as a preferred upgrade for Martin SQC2 and SC16 Secondary Cleaners.

“The maintenance-friendly design of the new Pin Latch Belt Cleaner is engineered for a wide range of global applications,” said Martin Engineering South Africa Sales Manager Pieter Opperman. “It can drastically reduce downtime for service or replacement, since no alignment or setting of the blade is required. Inventory is reduced to a one-part blade and buffer, without bolts, nuts or other fasteners.”

Martin Engineering builds products for bulk materials handling. The company has it headquarters in Neponset, Illinois. It has offices in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, India and the UK.

UK: Renold Couplings has announced it will launch two new product ranges of couplings at the Drives & Controls exhibition in April 2016. Both couplings are designed for industrial couplings such as those in mines and quarries.

The Hi-Tec RBI range will extend the existing RB range by incorporating a new block profile to increase torque throughput by 50%. As with the existing industrial RB range, the new Hi-Tec RBI will be available off the shelf.

The new Hydrastart range will now come complete with Renoldflex coupling. This addition will be ‘drop-in’ so the drive assembly can remain in place, allowing the Hydrastart to be swapped out. The only bespoke machining will be the bores at the end of the couplings reducing lead times.

“We are pleased to say that the Hi-Tec RBI and Hydrastart are just the first of our scheduled product launches in 2016. We listened to our customers and recognised that Renold Couplings not only needed to expand our current offering and reduce lead times, but also become more price-competitive in the market. The introduction of new ranges throughout 2016 will go some way to address this,” said Tom Hattersley, Commercial Director for Renold Couplings.

UK: Hope Construction Materials has announced the launch of a new bagged cement product scheduled for later in 2016. The new product, called Professional Grade Cement, will be marketed in the south of England.

“Hope Works has been making cement for more than 80 years and has an outstanding reputation for consistent quality and service. We are delighted to be able to offer our product in our own branded bag to customers for the very first time,” said Hope’s Commercial Director for Cement, Gary Brennand.

The new product packaging will feature a large ram, paying homage to the company’s origin in Derbyshire, which is transparent to ensure the consistent colour of Hope cement is always clearly visible. All the bags will be plastic, weatherproof and packed to give end users confidence that they can store the bags outdoors.

Hope cement had previously been available in bags through a third party supplier. This launch marks the first time Hope cement will be on the company’s packaging. The new product follows an 18-month research and development process with consultation of merchants and professional builders.

Austria: BSW Machinery has presented a new type of woven polypropylene (PP) bag that is 20% lighter than comparable bags. Using its Light & Strong (LS) technology BSW has produced 64g bags that they say outperformed standard 80g bags commonly used in the cement industry in drop tests. Key elements of the LS technology include advanced extrusion technology for higher tape tenacity and indexed micro perforation.

The Vienna-based subsidiary of Windmöller & Hölscher has implemented new processing technology on BSW's tape extrusion line tiraTex to achieve higher strength without compromising elasticity. Tenacity values of 7g/den can be achieved with elongation at break values ranging be-tween 25% and 30% using standard PP grades commonly used in industry. The processing characteristics can be maintained at high outputs and production speeds of 500m/min or more.

The LS bags also have higher edge strength by protecting edges and other areas through indexed perforation. The perforation is disengaged whenever vulnerable sections of bag material are passing through the bag conversion machine. Synchronization ensures that the unperforated areas are matched to the print on the bag and are placed such that in the final bag the critical zones are built from un-perforated material.

Sri Lanka: Tokyo Cement Group has launched 'Nippon Cement - Pro'. This new brand of cement is targeted at the builders of large-scale projects such as a high-rise buildings and skyscrapers. Tokyo Cement Group is Sri Lanka's largest cement producer operating a 2.40Mt/yr cement grinding plants in Trincomalee, Eastern Province.

Europe: On 15 July 2015 LafargeHolcim officially launched the new group around the world and announced key elements of its ambitions for the future. Following the successful completion of the merger between Lafarge and Holcim and the listing of the new LafargeHolcim shares in Zurich and Paris, the new group will now work towards its target of creating the highest performing company in the building materials industry.

LafargeHolcim CEO Eric Olsen said, "Now as LafargeHolcim, we will step into the next phase of our transformation to become the leader in every respect – a company that has a positive impact on the world and can make a real difference for its customers, its employees, its shareholders and society."

The company is initiating a strategic transformation by building on the best of both Lafarge and Holcim. LafargeHolcim will now focus on five areas in its first integration phase:

• Synergies: Delivering on a Euro1.4bn synergy target within three years;

• Capital allocation: Adopting a rigorous approach to capital allocation and overall reduction of capital spending;

• Commercial transformation: Creating differentiation through innovative products and solutions;

• Integration: Creating one new group and culture;

• Health and safety: Putting health and safety at the centre of the organisation.

LafargeHolcim says that it will be organised along a new operating model oriented to serve its local customers, while leveraging the group's size, footprint, and capabilities at global scale. It added that this 'combines empowered countries, regional management platforms and expertise-driven group functions.'

The group added that it will present separate results for Lafarge and Holcim results for the first half of 2015. The first LafargeHolcim results will be presented for the first nine months of 2015.

In its official launch in Zurich, LafargeHolcim's CEO Eric Olsen said, with over 115,000 colleagues in 90 countries, LafargeHolcim was now the clear leader in the building materials sector. He highlighted that the company was present in 'all relevant markets' and was not looking for significant capital-intensive growth. Despite economic hardship in various markets, LafargeHolcim expects 'reduced volatility due to a very balanced global portfolio.'

Olsen said that LafargeHolcim would be able to 'thrive in a low-investment environment,' adding that the group would be 'very selective in persuit of growth.' When asked if there would be further divestments, Olsen stated that there were no plans to divest further assets at present, beyond the assets to be sold as part of the merger.

Olsen also acknowledged that there would be redundancies in some countries where Lafarge and Holcim were both previously present, giving the US as an example. No specific headcount changes were announced.

Olsen outlined a timeline of targets for LafargeHolcim. In the first 100 days the company will begin to enact its action plans for its five key areas. A strategic roadmap will be presented before the close of 2015. Within the first 300 days the new organisational structure will be in place and all transactions pertaining to the merger will be complete. At this stage the company will also be able to see 'tangible results' from its synergies plan.

Within 500 days Olsen said that the integration would be complete and LafargeHolcim would be operating 'beyond the integration phase.' By 1000 days the company expects to have achieved the whole of its Euro1.4bn synergy targets.