Global Cement News

US: The Mississippi Lime Company (MLC) has appointed Ryan Seelke as its Director of Safety. His focus will be on proactive risk-based safety practices, leadership, and training.

Prior to joining MLC, Seelke worked at Doe Run as a leader in their safety department. He also owned and led a private legal practice specialising in mine safety law and consulting before that assignment. He holds an MBA from St. Louis University, a law degree from Washington University and an economics degree from the University of Central Missouri. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in Occupational Safety Management from the University of Central Missouri. In addition, Ryan is a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) certified trainer.

France: HGH Group has appointed Vincent Leboucher as president. He succeeds Thierry Campos who is retiring after being in the post since 2001.

Leboucher, aged 40 years, graduated from the Institut d'Optique Graduate School in 2002 and joined HGH in 2003 as an electro-optics engineer. His progression within the company saw him take on the position of Head of Research & Development in 2010 and Deputy General Manager in 2018.

During Campos’ time leading HGH the company launched its Wide Area Surveillance product line and the development of its international sales with growth in Asia and North America. In 2016, HGH acquired the electro-optics test and measurement specialist Electro Optical Industries in California, US. Then in 2018 the Carlyle Group acquired a majority stake in the group.

HGH was founded in 1982. It develops and sells optoelectronic and infrared systems and software for surveillance applications, test and measurement and industrial thermography in different end-markets. The company operates two research and development and assembly sites in the Optics Valley near Paris, France and in California, US. The company provides solutions to clients across 40 countries through two recognised brands, HGH Infrared Systems and Electro Optical Industries (EOI).

Mexico/US: Cemex has invested US$15m in recommissioning a 1Mt/yr cement kiln at its CPN cement plant in Hermosilla, Sonora. The decision is intended to reduce cement shortages in the western US and bolster its supply chain in Arizona, California and Nevada. The project at the CPN plant is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2021 and will create 130 jobs.

Cemex USA cement commercial executive vice president Joel Galassini said, “Many cement customers in California, Arizona and Nevada have been impacted by supply constraints this past year. The decision to recommission this kiln was made with our customers top-of-mind, to give them reliable access through a local supply chain to help meet their growing needs. Our unique network of production facilities in this region allows us to make these types of investments that will have a meaningful impact on meeting our customers’ needs.”

California regional president Francisco Rivera said, “We are excited to build greater synergies with our Mexican operations to strengthen our US cement supply chain and help our customers avoid or mitigate any potential delays to their projects in 2021.”

Turkey: Denmark-based FLSmidth has won a contract to provide a grey-to-white cement line conversion at Çimko Çimento’s cement plant in Adiyaman. The company will supply equipment suited to the production of white cement including its DuoFlex burner, rotary cooler and OK raw mill. It said that it will begin work in 2021 and the producer will commission the renovated line in early 2022.

The supplier said, “Once completed, the upgraded line will offer Çimko Çimento new opportunities to expand its product range and enter new markets. White cement is especially sought-after in countries with relatively hot climates, as it tends to keep buildings cooler with its reflective characteristics. In addition, as a high-quality, value-added product, white cement is often used in the construction of innovative buildings and important landmarks. FLSmidth brings significant experience and know-how to the project, having conducted several similar grey-to-white conversions in recent years, including projects with Turkey-based Adana Cement and Eskisehir Cement, as well as Alsafwa Cement Company and Riyadh Cement Company in Saudi Arabia.”

Germany: HeidelbergCement, Australia-based Calix and a European consortium have chosen the Hanover cement plant in Lower Saxony for the second phase of the LEILAC (Low Emissions Intensity Lime And Cement) carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. The installation will capture 20% of the plant’s capacity or 100,000t/yr of CO₂. The project will take place in three phases, with design completed by June 2021, a complete demonstration installation before the end of 2023 and project completion in 2025. The group previously installed a 25,000t/yr LEILAC CCS system at its Lixhe plant near Liege in Belgium, which completed its test phase in 2020.

Chair Dominik von Achten said, "The LEILAC technology has the potential to enable the cement and lime industries to efficiently capture their process emissions on an industrial scale. The pilot project in Hanover is one of several promising CO₂ capture technologies that we are currently testing at full speed within the HeidelbergCement Group."