Displaying items by tag: logistics
Cemex UK to build shore power system at Shoreham Port
06 February 2024UK: The UK Department for Transport has awarded Cemex UK a grant of just under Euro2m to build a shore power system for its maritime logistics operations at Shoreham Port in West Sussex. The system will enable the company to eliminate on-board diesel engine use during marine aggregate discharges. It will incorporate battery energy storage and solar power generation to provide constant power, whilst simulating fluctuating power demands. Cemex UK will now work with automation specialist Iconsys and the University of Warwick to deploy a demonstration system, which will run from April 2024 until April 2025.
Cemex West Europe materials operational excellence and business development director Laurence Dagley said "Our initial feasibility study for this shore power system identified an opportunity to save a significant amount of CO2 during each dredger discharge, while also improving local air quality at the port itself. We are, therefore, pleased to have received this funding to progress to the next stage of the project and undertake on-site demonstration."
Titan Cement International buys Vezirhan pozzolana quarry
30 January 2024Türkiye: Titan Cement International (TCI) has acquired concession rights to the Vezirhan pozzolana quarry in East Marmara. The quarry will help TCI to expand its low-carbon cement production capacity. By 2030, the company aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 35% from 1990 levels, and include 50% green products in its portfolio.
Titan Group Eastern Mediterranean regional director Christos Panagopoulos said “Access to Vezirhan quarry’s strong reserves potential and high-quality material will allow Titan to further broaden the portfolio of low-carbon cementitious products available to its customers. The quarry has access to a deep port and railway transport, facilitating both land and seaborne distribution across Titan's global locations.”
Group chief sustainability and innovation officer Leonidas Canellopoulos said “Being future-ready for a net zero world is more than just an ambition for Titan, and the acquisition of concession rights in Vezirhan is part of our solid roadmap that entails over 100 initiatives, covering the entire scope of our geographic operations and span of our value chain.”
Tarmac digitises its rail logistics with Everysens
15 January 2024UK: CRH subsidiary Tarmac has successfully deployed France-based software developer Everysens’ Transport Visibility & Management System (TVMS) in its total operations processing system (TOPS) for rail transport. The TVMS digitally tracks trains, enabling the customer to measure performance, analyse patterns and ensure smooth anticipation and collaboration between stakeholders. Tarmac expects the upgrade to streamline its delivery monitoring and also allow for proactive decision-making.
Tarmac head of rail Chris Swan said "Everysens' integration with TOPS has significantly supported Tarmac to digitise its rail freight operations. Tracking our freight trains has become a lot easier and more precise through digital solutions. With real-time ETA data, we can optimise routes, manage resources, and provide an even higher level of service to our customers. This integration underscores our commitment to staying ahead in technology and embracing digitisation for more efficient and streamlined operations."
Heidelberg Materials sells French cement transport business
11 January 2024France: Heidelberg Materials has completed its divestment of its French cement transport business, Tratel, to multiple local players. Tratel controls 450 trucks and around 770 trailers across France. Groupe Garnier has taken it over in the north western and Île-de-France, e-b-trans in south eastern and south western France, Groupe DESERT in western France and T2GL in eastern France, while Heidelberg Materials France continues to manage order intake, chartering and dispatch activities. Heidelberg Materials says that the move advances its portfolio optimisation strategy, which involves increasing its focus on core businesses.
India: UltraTech Cement has deployed five electric clinker trucks at its Dhar cement plant in Madhya Pradesh. Asian News International has reported that the trucks will convey clinker to the producer’s Dhule grinding plant in Maharashtra. The company expects the trucks to reduce its CO2 emissions by 680t/yr.
UltraTech Cement is committed to electrifying 500 vehicles across its operations by the end of June 2025.
Pakistan raises first-half cement sales in 2024 financial year
04 January 2024Pakistan: Cement producers despatched 23.9Mt of cement during the first half of the 2024 financial year (1 July – 31 December 2023), up by 9.7% year-on-year from 21.8Mt in the first half of the previous financial year. The Nation newspaper has reported that exports more than doubled, to 3.65Mt from 1.73Mt.
The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) expressed its concern over slow domestic sales. The association said “We are very hopeful that the government will speed up PSDP projects in order to increase cement demand and also give attention to our operational problems. Two major issues currently being faced by the cement industry are related to the new Axle Load regime and Track and Trace system. We have approached the concerned functionaries and expect to get a positive response.”
Holcim Azerbaijan to build cement terminal in Jabrayil in 2024
19 December 2023Azerbaijan: Holcim Azerbaijan plans to build a 2000t-capacity cement terminal in the Araz Valley Economic Zone in Jabrayil. AzerNews has reported that Holcim Azerbaijan will build the terminal in phases, commencing in 2024. The producer’s offering in the local market includes its ECOPlanet Inshaatchi and ECOPlanet Optimal reduced-CO2 cements. In a later phase, it will install a dry adhesive and ready-mix concrete batching plant at the facility. Planned investments at the site total US$2m.
Commercial director Sergiu Stoicov said "We aim to bring new methods to help the construction industry build sustainably. Through Inshaatchi and Optimal, we are taking a step in the race for CO2 reduction and the use of alternative raw materials. Holcim Azerbaijan is the first company in the Caucasus to offer green cement.”
Azerbaijan produced 3.42Mt of cement throughout the first 11 months of 2023. This represents a 4.1% year-on-year rise from 11-month 2022 levels. Meanwhile, clinker production rose by 10% year-on-year to 3.51Mt.
Cemex launches 1000th reduced-CO2 truck
05 December 2023Mexico: Cemex has reached 1000 reduced-CO2 trucks in operation across its global cement business. This includes trucks fuelled by renewable diesel and natural gas. These efforts have reduced its global transport CO2 emissions by 5% since 2020, in line with the group’s commitment to a 30% reduction by 2030.
Chief executive officer Fernando González said “Our net-zero transition is supported by proven and readily-available lower-carbon technologies that guarantee that we meet our short and medium-term decarbonisation commitments. At the same time, we remain at the forefront of innovation and emerging transportation technologies so we can achieve our ultimate goal of becoming a net-zero CO2 company by 2050.”
Transcargo International to build cement terminal at Arish port
01 December 2023Egypt: Abu Dhabi Ports Group subsidiary Transcargo International (TCI) is building a bulk cement terminal at Arish port in North Sinai Governorate. The company says that the facility will be equipped with six 10,000t cement silos. Four silos will store up to 40,000t of grey cement, while two will store up to 20,000t/yr of white cement. Cementir Holding subsidiary Sinai White Portland Cement has signed a cooperation agreement with TCI to use the Arish cement terminal. TCI says that the terminal will serve multiple markets worldwide and help Sinai White Portland Cement to raise its total export volumes, thereby also raising its competitiveness.
TCI’s CEO Mohamed El Ahwal said "This project aligns with our commitment to support Egyptian exports by providing specialised logistics solutions across several industries. Building and operating Egypt’s first bulk cement terminal, we anticipate cost savings for cement producers in Egypt, making prices more competitive globally and increasing global market penetration."
Bruks Siwertell delivers three new road-mobile ship unloaders to cement customers in North America
01 December 2023North America: Sweden-based Bruks Siwertell successfully delivered three new road-mobile ship unloaders to two cement industry customers in North America, including one in Mexico, in November 2023. Both customers selected the supplier’s 10 000 S Siwertell unloaders. One of the cement producers now has four such units in operation, and the other now has one.
Bruks Siwertell project development engineer Pedro Alfaro said “The US is seeing a huge rise in demand for cement, and our technology is helping operators meet these volume increases in the most sustainable way possible.” He continued “Road-mobile units ensure minimal dust emissions and enclosed and spillage-free conveying, and offer excellent through-ship capacity and the flexibility of being able to move between sites. We are also one of the few companies able to supply a ship unloading solution that can discharge cement from vessels directly to trucks.”