HeidelbergCement has started its Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) in order to continuously optimize the working processes in cement production. The new program, which will be introduced at 65 cement plants worldwide, takes a systematic approach in order to generate ideas among the employees, prioritize, and implement them. The process enhancements shall lead to sustainable result improvements of at least 120…
Read MoreMonth: June 2014
Michigan Approves Use of Coal Ash
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has signed into law the use of coal ash and other industrial byproducts in cement and asphalt, according to Businessweek. The ash is a byproduct of coal combustion that poses environmental threats in landfills but also is commonly recycled for use in roads and parking lots. The laws signed last month shield people and businesses that…
Read MoreHolcim Releases Corporate Sustainability Report
Holcim released its 2013 Corporate Sustainability Report detailing the company’s ongoing activities in sustainable development and disclosing data on a number of key sustainability performance indicators. CEO Bernard Fontana commented: “Reflecting our vision to provide foundations for society’s future sustainable environmental performance and corporate responsibility are firm parts of Holcim’s business strategy. This mindset has also been part of the…
Read MorePCA Analysis Corrects Highway Trust Fund Plan
Last week Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced a plan calling for an increase in federal gasoline and diesel taxes to shore up the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and prevent a potential nation-wide road construction work stoppage. According to initial reports, the taxes will generate $164 billion increase in HTF revenues. An analysis by the Portland Cement…
Read MoreMedium-Voltage Drive
Siemens SINAMICS Perfect Harmony drives feature 50+ proven technologies designed to provide a reliable solution for critical applications. The medium-voltage power output of the VFD drive system is created by linking a series of low-voltage power cells, offering a scalable solution for a wide range of voltage and output power – from 2.4–7.2 kV. This modular design also facilitates the…
Read MorePersonnel De-duster
JetBlack, the blower-powered personnel de-dusting unit from Air Control Industries (ACI), has been remodeled and upgraded. The new unit is more compact yet has a greater air output without any increase in energy consumption. The new JetBlack is the product of a re-configuration of the previous model’s internals which results in enhanced air flow to give 10 percent greater output…
Read MoreDust Collector Pressure Transmitters
The FilterSense Model DP 20T (differential) and SP 20T (static) pressure transmitters feature a non-clogging design for mounting on the dirty side of a fabric filter baghouse or cartridge style dust collector. The 4-20mA transmitters are far more reliable than typical “tube” style electronic and mechanical gauges that easily clog. The transmitters feature a large, flush ceramic diaphragm that is…
Read MoreBrazil Fines Cement Companies in Cartel Case
Brazil’s antitrust regulator, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade), ruled an order including fines against six Brazilian cement producers for a total of $1.4 billion (BRL 3.1 million) as part of a cartel case.
Read MoreMondi Industrial Bags
Mondi has launched the Touch Bag – an industrial paper bag with an embossed element such as a logo or another visual. The embossed element not only draws attention to the brand; it also gives the packaging an emotional touch and presents an obstacle to product counterfeiters. “We are excited to offer this new feature to our customers,” said Thomas…
Read MoreMarch Cement Shipments Up 6 Percent
Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico in March 2014 were 6.1 million metric tons (Mt), up by nearly 6 percent from the level in March 2013, according to the most recent USGS Mineral Industry Survey. Shipments for the year through March were 15.7 Mt, up by about 3 percent from the same…
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