Malvern Instruments has landed a multi-year contract with Brazilian construction materials giant Votorantim Cimentos to supply Insitec online particle size analyzers for at least 30 of the company's production lines throughout North and South America. The deal follows a successful trial during which rapid commissioning, high instrument availability times, and significant economic gains combined to demonstrate the potential of the system. The trial was carried out at the company's St. Marys, Ontario, Canada site in October 2003.

Brazil's top cement producer, Votorantim also is the main shareholder in Florida's Suwannee American Cement and presented a $400 million offer for Cemex's plants in Charlevoix, Mich., and Dixon, Ill.