Global Cement News

Austria: Lafarge Zement has ordered a new conveying system for raw materials and alternative fuel (AF) for its Mannersdorf cement plant from Germany-based Beumer Group. The system consists of two pipe conveyors. The first will be 192m long with a capacity of 22t/hr. While the second will be 87m long and have a conveying capacity of 10t/hr. The lifting heights will be approximately 39m and the maximum angle of inclination will be 15 degrees. The order also includes three buffer bins and a weigh feeder.

The system replaces the cement plant’s pre-existing conveyors, which were seriously damaged in a fire in June 2020. Beumer will be responsible for delivery, installation, engineering and commissioning of the new conveyors. Commissioning is scheduled for mid-April 2021.

US: Martin Engineering has launched the N2 Twist tensioner, an autonomous tensioning system that continuously monitors and delivers proper cleaner tension. The company says that the system integrates with its Martin Smart Device Manager software product to alert operators when the blade needs changing or if there is an abnormal condition. It says that this facilitates efficient cleaning, increased safety, reduced labour and a lower cost of operation.

Product development engineer Andrew Timmerman said, “We designed the unit for heavy-duty applications and tested it outdoors in punishing environments and applications. The N2 Twist Tensioner has proven itself to be a rugged and highly effective way to maximise both cleaning efficiency and blade life.”

Spain: Germany-based HeidelbergCement is reviewing its Spanish assets, which includes three integrated cement plants and related businesses. It is considered ‘likely’ it will sell its plant in Malaga and it might sell its other plants at San Sebastian and Bilbao also, according to Bloomberg. The company’s assets in the country have been valued at around Euro300m by one source quoted by Bloomberg. Group chairman Dominik von Achten told Reuters earlier in February 2021 that the company completed a review of its business and identified five assets to sell.

Russia: Eurocement recorded earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$182m in 2020, up by 6% year-on-year from US$172m. Sales remained consistent with 2019 levels at US$674m.

Interfax reports that the Auction House of the Russian Federation partly disclosed the group’s 2020 results in a presentation related to the sale of its parent company, GFI Investments, and related debts. Potential investors have until 15 March 2021 to submit price indications. The sale is scheduled for conclusion in April 2021.

Pakistan: DG Khan’s profit after tax was US$5.03m in the first half of the 2021 financial year. In the corresponding half of 2019, it recorded a US$5.33m loss after tax. Its sales grew by 5% to US$138m from US$131m. Cement sales volumes fell by 6% to 2.76Mt from 2.95Mt.