With the aim of meeting the high demand for product in Florida, Rinker Materials will add a new line at its Brooksville facility, supplementing an existing 800,000-tpy line to reach an output of 2 million tpy. Bethlehem, Pa.-based FLSmidth was recently successful in winning the $64 million contract for the job.

In 2000, Florida Crushed Stone was in the process of planning this new line, when they were purchased by Rinker Group Limited. The project was placed on hold, but was recently resurrected due to the strong demand for cement in the hurricane ravaged Southern Tier of the country. The plant is now scheduled to begin commissioning in early 2008.

In addition to engineering, project management and commissioning support, FLSmidth will provide all major equipment, including an Airmerge blending silo; TMS 46 × 9 + 4.15 ball mill for raw material grinding; Atox coal mill; in-line calciner, 4-stage preheater with low NOx and low CO calciner; ROTAX-2 kiln, 4.35-meter diameter × 51.0 meters long; Duoflex kiln burner; SF multi moveable cross bar cooler; OK 36-4 vertical roller mill for finish grinding; FLS Automation control system; and proposed Ventomatic cement packing and palletizing system.

The OK 36-4 mill will provide Rinker with operating cost savings as a result of low power consumption and high efficiency. However, due to the unusual size and characteristics of the raw material, a traditional ball mill was the preferred solution for raw material grinding.