Global Cement News

Germany: Vecoplan has appointed Daniel Kessler as the Head of Technology. The role covers product development for the recycling machinery company, as well as issues related to digitalisation and engineering. Kessler has worked for Vecoplan since 2005. He started as a Commissioning Engineer before becoming the Head Of Electrical Department in 2020.

Pakistan: Attock Cement has announced the successful completion of a new production line at its cement plant in Hub, Baluchistan. This additional line is capable of producing 1.28Mt/yr of cement and commenced operation on 16 April 2024.

UK: First Graphene has announced a third trial at Breedon Group’s Hope Cement Works to test an optimised formulation of its PureGRAPH-CEM product under full-scale production conditions. The trial aims to further improve the performance of graphene nanoplatelets in cement production using practical experiences obtained from the previous two trials. The third trial is based on a PureGRAPH grade with a particle size distribution and morphology optimised for use in cement grinding mills, designed for direct addition to the mill without the need for additional equipment. The trial will last eight hours and involves close monitoring of cement fineness during the process. It will use just over 2t of the graphene product in up to 1000t of cement, according to the company. The trial is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2024.

Colombia: Cementos Argos and Sistema Verde have collaborated to transform nearly 27t of waste from the Estéreo Picnic music festival in Bogotá on 21 – 24 March 2024 into alternative fuel for Cementos Argos' Cartagena plant. The initiative, which includes converting materials such as plastics and cardboard into fuel, aligns with Cementos Argos’ aim to reduce fossil fuel use and CO₂ emissions per tonne of cement by 29% by 2030.

Mauricio Giraldo, director of alternative resources at Cementos Argos said "We are very pleased to be part of this alliance with which we join the global need to join efforts to make an adequate use of waste in a safe, controlled and clean manner. Our goal as a company is to dispose of more than 300,000t/yr of waste, and with actions like this, we continue to contribute to achieving this goal.”

Equatorial Guinea: A new five-year service agreement has been signed with SSB International Limited (SSBIL) to provide expertise and supervisory support for the operation and maintenance of Abayak Cement’s plant in Akoga. The plant, equipped with key technology including an OK™ Mill and a ROTAX-2® Kiln supplied by FLSmidth, has been largely idle since its installation in 2016 due to power supply issues. With recent investments in a new power plant and the reactivation of equipment, however, commissioning is underway and is expected to be complete by mid-2024.